inspiriting you to live your authentic life

Stop and pet a goat

Emotional 𖤓 Social 𖤉

I can't resist birds or horses or goats. I cannot wait to touch them and hanker to go face to face. They are at once aloof and personable. They are curious. 




So I am not surprised to be drawn to the goats from the moment I arrive at a farm sanctuary near Paia, on the island of Maui. But we aren't here to pet goats. We are here as volunteers to do whatever the director needs us to do. We rake, shovel and cart composted manure. We rake, cart and pile manure to make a new compost pile. Manure turns out to be an amazing generator of work.   

We weed tree beds and feed them to the rabbits, and then because we can't help ourselves, we brush the rabbits. We paint rabbit houses with thick green paint. We cover the organic garden space with new netting. It's physical, satisfying, tiring work, feeding more than one of the 7 Aspects.

What makes the work feel especially good, though, is stopping regularly to pet a goat. Goats are apparently a common rescue in this part of Hawaii. It is simple, tactile medicine distilled from what is right in front of me. Peaceful interaction with creatures where words don't get in the way. A way to rest briefly and spread the love. A way to feel connected to something bigger. When we're working hard and navigating change in our lives, we often forget that down time is the breather we require to be resilient. We must have a regular dose of something sweet to sustain our positivity. Whatever "goats" you've been gifted in your path could be just the respite you need.


Emotional 𖤓
Physical 𖧽
Spiritual 𖧏


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