GO ROPE NEW YEAR’S CHALLENGE
The New Year is upon us, which means many are making resolutions for 2016. Gym memberships and home exercise equipment sales are spiking. I sit here at my iPad, with my workout complete for the day, drinking a vanilla protein powder/spinach concoction that I’m pretty sure even the barncats would turn their noses up at. Collectively, we resolve to eat better, move more, spend less, etc. We reflect on the year and think of the highs and lows, the failures and success, the laughter and tears, the love and loss that the year has brought. Whenever I slow down long enough to reflect (note to self–take more time to slow down and reflect in 2016), I am always overwhelmed at how blessed I am with the health of family, the laughter of friends, the ability to lead the ranch lifestyle we love, and now–the continued growth of Go Rope.
For me, the highlights of 2015 for Go Rope have nothing to do bottom lines, expense reports, or sales summaries. As I’ve said before–the very best part of watching Go Rope grow is seeing the message behind the brand impact people across the country. The success of Go Rope is measured in those moments, those conversations, those emails from strangers who have experienced a similar devastation or loss, and been touched and inspired by the Go Rope backstory. It’s meeting a 6 year old girl in the fight of her life against leukemia, spending a few moments with her and her family and being brought to your knees by the realization that this sweet little soul has more innocent strength and quiet courage in her little finger than most adults have at all. It’s watching Dennis Tryan and his Wrangler Team Roping Championships staff decorate the arena at this years national championships with gigantic “God Bless Our Troops” banners and watching ropers wear one of our army green Go Rope shirts to show support for our military, past and present. It’s receiving emails from people asking if I might want to donate a few silent auction items to a benefit for a great lady who is battling stage 3 ovarian cancer. It’s meeting incredible fans and customers like Gabby and Gabbi (affectionately known to many as “G Squared”) who both lost their dads recently and therefore recognize and relate to the deeper meaning of “Life is short, go rope.”
Because of continued success and growth, Go Rope was able to raise and donate (with YOUR help) nearly $2,000 to the little girl battling leukemia. Go Rope was also able to add nearly $1,000 to the WTRC’s fundraising efforts to honor and support our military. We were thrilled to donate silent auction items to many individual fundraising events across the country. And, we feel incredibly blessed to read each email from people all over who are touched by the Go Rope backstory and meaning of the brand because of the loss they’ve suffered or the struggles they are facing. Often times, we read those emails through blurry eyes but with a renewed sense of purpose to connect with people and be a positive light in someone else’s dark days. I cannot tell you how proud I am of this company and people like you who have helped us give to such noble and worthy causes.
My challenge to you is to add GIVING to your list of New Year’s resolutions. It doesn’t have to be big and it doesn’t have to be monetary. Resolve to give your time, your experience, your help to someone who needs it. I promise you, it’ll be far more fulfilling and rewarding than fitting into those smaller jeans.
“I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or do that, but now I pray that he will guide me to do whatever I’m supposed to do, whatever I can do…I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I believe that prayer changes us, and we change things.” ~Mother Theresa
All the best to you and yours in 2016~~ Jenny