“You must not ever stop being whimsical. And you must not, ever, give anyone else the responsibility for your life.” – Mary Oliver, Wild Geese
Mary Oliver, I am learning, was a wonderful poet who recently passed away.
Oxygen is amazing. It enters our body through our breath, without which, we (and other mammals, including goats) would not survive. It nourishes us, sustains us, and we don’t even have to think about it, yet we do it 20,000 times a day. Amazing!
Breathe in, breathe out.
The best answer I ever heard to the question “so what are your career goals?” was “I want to be free.” I hope freedom for all of you, whatever that may mean.
Define your own freedom, define your own path.
I don’t know about y’all, but goats sure do spark a lot of joy in my life.
I wonder how many goats Marie Kondo would recommend for a joyful life?
In our never ending quest to find true happiness and satisfaction in our lives the solution is so incredibly simple: just be kind. Believe it or not, even with all of the terrible headlines, it is in our nature to be kind. Not only is it something that has been observed in human infants, but kindness is also contagious, costs nothing and is good for your body and soul. So open your heart and open your borders – before you make up your mind shift your perspective towards kindness and compassion. You never know, it might lead you somewhere wonderful.
Don’t be walled in, set yourself free.
You can do it, just put one foot in front of the other. Breaking down goals into smaller steps makes them seem less daunting, plus more goals gives you more reasons to celebrate success.
You’ve got this!
Two years before I knew I would actually be living in Cambridge, U.K., I discovered something amazing on the internet: The Oxford-Cambridge Goat Race. During this time, I was not involved in photographing goats, making inspirational internet posts, or the wide world of information on our caprine friends. However, I was fascinated by the concept of a goat race, and immediately placed the Oxford-Cambridge Goat Race on my life’s bucket list. One day in the early springtime at Spitalfields City Farm in London, one goat representing Oxford and one goat representing Cambridge race. The event includes live music – including mariachi bands, some delicious foods, and loads of goats. I was lucky enough to attend this event in 2017 and 2018, where I met Bramble.
Bramble was a Golden Guernsey Goat, a rare breed goat known for its golden goat, with moderate milk yield good for cheese and yoghurt production. The Spitalfields Facebook page described Bramble as a “matriarch of the herd” and was well known for her strong spirit. Sadly, Bramble passed away earlier this week. I looked through my archive and found this photograph of her from 2017, running the yard, prepping her farmyard friends for the big race day. Rest in peace, Bramble. If you are keen, you can donate to Spitalfields City Farm on their Facebook page.
Goodbye to a caprine friend ❤
Set a purpose and intent this week – perhaps there is a milestone along a goal you would like to accomplish you could achieve, or maybe commit to spending an hour in the evening with a good book. Either way, Monday is the perfect time for new beginnings!
Perhaps today can be the start of something wonderful!
We are now nearly two weeks into 2019. Hopefully, at some point between the holiday festivities, embarking on resolutions and returning to work, you have carved out some much-needed time for rest. Although for many of us (myself included) it is hard not to fill every moment with seemingly important tasks, there are many benefits to devoting ourselves to relaxation. Rest can enhance creativity, productivity and focus. Setting aside time for regular rest can also reduce stress, inflammation and your risk of heart disease. Your sleep and immune system will get a boost from the reduction in sleep. So, never feel guilty for indulging in a lazy Sunday – it will make you a happier, healthier, more creative version of yourself!]
Rest today for a more productive and energized tomorrow!
Perhaps consider that you already have everything you need to achieve your dreams, maintain or improve your health and wellbeing, and find true happiness.
Goat of the Day 