The thirtieth of May 2020

goats, kindness

The pandemic has caused many problems beyond a lingering dry cough and fever. Many people have died, lost employment, and had struggles with mental health due to prolonged isolation and uncertainty. Sadly, my friends, another effect of the pandemic situation has hit animal sanctuaries very, very hard.

The majority of photographs I have shared on this blog come from Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in southern England. Set in the beautiful countryside, this haven is home to 140 goats making it the largest sanctuary of its kind in the UK. At present, they are appealing for any help possible to help keep the sanctuary afloat while they cannot accept visitors due to COVID-19. Please consider sending them a donation – no matter how small – for the goats and for the sanctuary to carry on.

The twenty third of May 2020

goats, kindness

It is easy to list platitudes and tips about how to boost your mental health, but some mental health issues are beyond a simple walk in the sun, round of sun salutations or a distraction of a good book or movie. If you feel as though you cannot cope, it is absolutely ok to ask for help from loved ones or professionals. You never should feel as though you have to go it alone.

The twenty first of May 2020

goats, kindness

Life is full of inevitable ups and downs. Sometimes, if someone is having a rough go of things humor can be a kind way to lift their spirits. Take Dover for example – after two days of constant rain at The Haven Zoo, she made the best of it by sporting a goaty mohawk. Thanks for passing along this lovely photograph! Another way to practice kindness? Supporting charities that might be losing income due to lockdowns and social distancing like the Haven – make a donation

The twentieth of May 2020

goats, kindness

One way to share kindness is to reach out and share something that you enjoy with another person. Sharing these experiences can bring you closer together and really let the other person know that you care about them.

After two months of social distancing, we are feeling the quarantine fatigue. However, this week my son and I have been sharing the experience of painting. I am no Michelangelo by any means, but using some scrap cardboard and acrylic paint I am passing it forward by sharing with you my creation for today’s goat of the day!

The eighteenth of May 2020

goats, kindness

Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK. For my family, it also marks two full months of COVID lockdown. It has not been easy to say the least. The theme of this year’s mental health awareness week is kindness. The organisation picked kindness specifically because:

We have chosen kindness because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive.

Mental Health Foundation 2020

This is so important, especially now, to practice kindness to others and especially to ourselves. I hope y’all stick with me this week, as I will also adopt the theme of kindness for goat of the day.