The 8-Second Myth & The Human Behind the Chutes

We all know the spectacle of the arena. The crowd roars, the gate cracks open, and for eight chaotic seconds, it is nothing but dust, adrenaline, and survival.

But here is the truth about those eight seconds: they are a myth.

Those eight seconds do not just happen. They are the final, explosive result of days, weeks, months, and years of grueling, unseen work. There is a whole lifetime that goes into preparing for that single moment, and that is exactly where I am pointing my camera.

At Every Moment Is A Choice Studio, my focus is no longer just on the action in the dirt. I am stepping behind the chutes to document the humanity of the rodeo world.

If you ever get the chance to sit down and actually talk to one of these athletes, you will see a side of them the grandstands never get to witness. You will see an incredible, grounded humility. You will see a quiet, honest bravery—a kind of resilience that goes far beyond the physical courage it takes to get on the back of a 2,000-pound animal. (Because let’s be honest, you could not pay me enough to get on one of those bulls.)

I want to capture the tape jobs, the silent prayers, the heavy exhales, and the camaraderie. I want to hear their stories, and I want to use my images to show the world the perfectly imperfect humans beneath the cowboy hats.

Why This Matters to Me

People ask why I am so drawn to the unseen, quiet moments of resilience. The answer is simple: I know what it is like to fight a battle that nobody else can see.

My own path has not been a highlight reel. My daily life is a constant navigation of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and the heavy realities of mental health. Furthermore, my journey involves the lifelong process of healing from the trauma of childhood sexual assault. I know firsthand what it means to be completely broken down and having to figure out how to piece your mind and your life back together.

That is why I believe the mind is the most critical part of the human body. If your head isn't right, the rest of the machine stops working.

It is also why the "Patchwork" philosophy is the foundation of my life and this studio. We are all stitched together by our experiences. We are all a little bruised, and we are all beautifully, #PerfectlyImperfect. This is the exact reason I run the Social Santa program—putting symbolic patchwork bears into the hands of children who have been hurt by adults or who are facing their own mental health crises, letting them know it is okay to be put back together.

Grit vs. Grace

The rodeo arena is a mirror of that same human experience. There is intense Grit in the dirt, but there is profound Grace behind the scenes.

As I step deeper into the rodeo community, my goal is to bridge that gap. I am here to listen. I am here to document. I am here to show that even the toughest athletes on earth rely on faith, connection, and grace to survive the grit.

Thank you for following along on this journey. The stories are just getting started.

 #EveryMomentIsAChoiceStudio #GritAndGrace #MentalHealthMatters #PerfectlyImperfect #TBI #WesternStorytelling #BehindTheChutes