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PLANB by Briana Westmacott

Twenty years and we are still smiling!

e met twenty years ago when I

was twenty. Nine years later we
married. Shortly after, the kids came
along, one then two. Now there are
pieces of my heart walking around
outside of my body. Sometimes they
beat so hard I feel like Ill burst.
My heart began this marathon with
Buy, my rst love. Buy had sandy
blond, curly hair, and a wet nose. Buy
got my ticker running when I was just
a baby. For close to fteen years, we
did everything together. When Buy
died, my heart broke. It broke again
when I was sixteen and my parents got
divorced. No matter how much you
train, there are circumstances that arise
to test your endurance. Divorce and
death have been known to atrophy a
heart.
THE HEART IS A MUSCLE
I did a sprint in high school and a
couple more races in college before I met
my husband. I learned how to give my
heart away and for the most part it felt
good. Training with a partner can really
push you further than you thought you
could go on your own.
Then he came along and everything
changed. It happened the rst time he
took my hand. My heartbeat shifted and
would never be the same again. We ran
up hills and down the other side, and
we realized that our hearts worked well

together, so well in fact, that we created

a couple of new souls to walk this earth.
I did not know what love truly was until
they were born.
The other day my ten-year-old took
my hand and said, I love you more
than anything, Mommy, and I realized
what all of this training is about. We
are programed to love. Its in our DNA.
And the more we love, the more love we
have to give. The heart, like any muscle,
gets bigger the more we use it.
So be it Valentines Day or not, its
important to remember that in lifes
crazy race, the only way to win is to love
with all your heart.

BRIANAS BEST BET

y husband and I are not big

fans of Valentines Day. We
dont usually go out to dinner that
evening due to the set menus and
difficulty making reservations. We
do have a ritual that involves a picnic
basket, a bottle of Qupe Syrah, a
baguette from Our Daily Bread, some
accessories from Cest Cheese, and a
treat from Crushcakes. If you pack this
kit and nd a sweet spot to sit, you will
be happy.
f you are interested in the Hearts
Therapeutic Program that Elli wrote
about, check out all of their services at:
www.heartsriding.org

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ES NOTE by Elliana Westmacott

When Briana isnt lecturing for her writing courses at UCSB and SBCC, she contributes
to The Santa Barbara Skinny, Wake & Wander and Flutter Magazine. Along with her
passion for writing and all things Santa Barbara, much of her time is spent multitasking through her days as a mother, wife, sister, want-to-be chef and travel junky.
Writing is an outlet that ensures mental stability... usually.

A WORKOUT FOR THE HEART

F E B R UA RY 1 2 2 6 | 2 0 1 6 |

Elliana Westmacott was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She is 10. She loves to
play the piano and soccer. Skiing, swimming in the ocean, reading, and visiting her
Nanas house are some of her favorite things to do. Her family and her dog George
make her happy. So does writing.

I HEART HORSES!

orses are pretty cool animals; I

have always been really fond of
them. We have been looking into horse
programs in Santa Barbara, and I really
like the Hearts Therapeutic program.
They do a lot of great things for injured
people who fought in our wars, and they
help people with all kinds of disabilities
and diseases. You can support their
program by taking riding lessons from
them or volunteering.
Many other horse programs are just
for lessons, but the Hearts program uses
their horses to help people get through
their struggles. What an incredible
is me! I grew up riding horses at my Nanas
experience for people who need support This
house. I love them so much.
to get to ride these animals! People, like
veterans, can get to know an animal and
that animal can get to know them. It
can be like making a new best friend for
some people. The Hearts Therapeutic
program gives many veterans and people
with special needs an opportunity to
connect with horses.
Lifes most urgent question is: What
are you doing for others? Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. said. I found this quote
in the volunteer section on the Hearts
Therapeutic website. And its true, even
one little act of kindness matters.
Riding,
summer
programs,
volunteering there is so much you
can do with Hearts Therapeutic! Help
a horse help you and others. Oh, Im so
excited to get started!
Love from,
Here I am at two years old, brushing a horses belly
E

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