Find someone in this world who you can rest your head on. At the end of the day, a good partner is someone who supports you no matter what, even if you need to take a nap using them as your pillow for a bit.
A good friend will always have a place for you.
Many goats are so beloved by the communities they live in. For example, recently in the United States, the town of Fair Haven, Vermont, elected a goat named Lincoln to preside as mayor. The village of Cushendun in Northern Ireland had a similar beloved town goat; however, Johann, to my knowledge, never held elected office. He served the village of Cushendun as a volunteer greeter to visitors hoping to enjoy the Victorian architecture settled along the sea. Sadly, Johann served Cushendun until 2001, when he was the last animal to put to rest during the great Foot and Mouth Outbreak that brought the agriculture to a halt in the United Kingdom. Many people now visit Cushendun because it was the setting of an infamous scene from the popular television show Game of Thrones when sorceress Melisandre birthed a shadow. If you find yourself looking for the cave of the shadow baby, you can’t miss the statue built to celebrate the life of Johann the goat, welcoming you to the village.
The statue commemorating Johann the Goat was sculpted in 2002 by artist Deborah Brooks.
Every now and then it is good to stop what you are doing and take a look around. You might glimpse something amazing.
You might witness something wonderful if you pause for a moment!
Today is one of my favorite days of the entire year – the Vernal Equinox, when the sun stands over the equator and the night and day are equal in length. Most importantly, due to the location of the sun, this marks the beginning of spring and the end of winter. From this day onward, there will be more sunlight than night until the sunlight begins to descend back southward at the beginning of summer in late June. I hope that wherever you are, you enjoyed some sunshine today.
Today, I am introducing a friend of the goats from The Haven Zoo, a donkey named Rocky. Goats are not often discriminatory of the friends they chose on the basis of species, as goats have notably been friends with tigers, dogs, giraffes, cats and horses. In addition to being friends, donkeys are often kept on farms to protect smaller animals from predators like coyotes and wild dogs. Check out how to support Rocky and his friends at the Haven!
Rocky and the herd enjoying some sunshine
There are those of us who have the ability to totally go with the flow. Meet Brownie, another caprine friend from The Haven Zoo. Brownie is known for being super chill and getting along with everyone, humans, animals, and even our shy, special goat of the day from yesterday, Cece. Sometimes, the best thing to do in life is just to accept where you are, in the now and be grateful for what’s around. Things aren’t so bad, and you might realize that your now is actually your sanctuary. Please check out The Haven and consider their opportunities to volunteer and support!
Brownie knows how to chill and is a friend to all.
Wonderful things come in small packages, for example Cece from The Haven Zoo! Before she found a home at the haven, she was attacked by wild dogs when she was young, affecting her growth. She doesn’t usually hang out with the herd, due to her smaller size and some of her particular needs she gets extra attention from her human caregivers and non-caprine zoo-mates, especially the pigs! Cece is proof positive that you don’t have to be the biggest and you don’t have to blend in to find your place in the world. If you are interested in opportunities to support Cece and her friends, check out opportunities to volunteer and support The Haven Zoo!
Doesn’t Cece have an amazing smile?
I am pleased to introduce you to Annie, Ernest’s sister from The Haven Zoo. Annie and Ernest are known around the Haven as a warm and friendly pair who greet visitors. Research has shown that goats often try to form relationships with the humans in their lives, similar to dogs. Perhaps it is because after 10,000 years of living together, goats see us as kindred spirits? Or perhaps it’s because The Haven Zoo is a wonderful home and Annie and Ernest are keen to show visitors around? Find out more about how to support Ernest, Annie and the rest by clicking here and come back for more goats tomorrow!
Annie loves showing people around her home at the Haven
Feminism is the belief in the social, economic and political advocacy of women in terms of the equal treatment of all people along the basis of sex and gender. A lot of places on the internet might tell you that feminists are all terrible man-haters hell bent on destroying society, but that simply isn’t the case. Feminism seeks to create a world that is more fair, where people are not constrained to certain activities or roles on the basis of their sex and gender identity. If you are reading this, you have probably in some way benefited from the ideals of feminism – even if you are male! Today is International Women’s Day, which aims to celebrate the accomplishments of women while creating a more equal world for women, but really, I think we could all use some feminism in our lives everyday.
Celebrate women, celebrate everyone
If you find yourself in a bind and you don’t know what to do, sometimes the best act of kindness is just to be present. Simply being there can make all the difference. 
Things may not be perfect, but they are also not so bad if you look around. Spring is on the way and there is no one quite like you in the universe.
The challenges and disappointments we face make the great times even more wonderful.
Goat of the Day 