Social interactions are a little weird lately. The very few times I have ventured out, I have made sure to keep a safe distance, even from my good friends. These are simple adjustments we all have to make to stay safe. Social distancing supports your community and keeping that 2m or 6 foot distance will help stop the spread. We will all be able to share in an epic high five and hug eventually, but for now keep your distance and wash your hands.
So here we are. There are a lot of terms being used by the government and world science officials like “self-isolation” and “social-distancing” to describe behaviors we can take to limit the spread of coronavirus. As both require adjusting our social schedules and withdrawing from many group events it is easy to get both mixed up. Here is a friendly definition of both.
Social distancing refers to choosing to work from home whenever possible, refrain from taking unnecessary travel especially on public transportation, and avoiding public places like restaurants, cinemas and bars.
Self isolation requires completely cutting yourself off from the outside world. You might be asked to self-isolate if you start experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, or have close contact with someone experiencing symptoms of coronavirus. In self-isolation you don’t leave your home for two weeks and avoid all face to face contact with the outside world.
Both can be quite lonely, but try not to worry too much. This too shall pass, and there will be wonderful things on the other side.
It seems strange to keep writing little things and posting pictures of pigs and then goats, but here we are. I assure you, I fully intend to carry on; however, at some point, I may run out of photographs. So, please send me your goat photographs, pig photographs, and whatever else you got to goat.of.the.day.blog@gmail.com
That said, I have been told to limit all non-essential social contact for at least three months. It is really hard to have to stop going to work and doing a lot of things I love to do out and about and in the community, BUT maybe something wonderful will come out of all of that. Maybe, with all of the time I will create something beautiful, or develop a new skill, or read and learn about fantastic things. And most importantly, I will be doing my part to stop the spread of the coronavirus. What a time to be alive.
Think of something happy and wonderful today. It may be hard, but there is always SOMETHING. Even if it’s as simple as you enjoyed a wonderful meal, had a good cup of coffee or saw something funny on the internet.
There is so much information out there about how to handle current events. The best advice is of course, stay calm and wash your hands. Washing your hands protects you, your loved ones and your community and is generally just a good idea. Even in normal circumstances, hand washing is important to prevent the spread of disease and to stay healthy – and to help keep your loved ones who may have compromised immune systems healthy.
Pigs are super smart and considered to be the most intelligent domesticated animal – even smarter than dogs. Like dogs, pigs can be trained and appear to have a high degree of emotional intelligence. In addition, pigs have very good memories and are curious and creative.
Feeling overwhelmed? The past week it may have felt like an overload of information. It is perfectly ok sometimes to switch off, turn off your phone, ignore social media, and shut down notifications. Rest comes in many forms, and even when the news seems to change every hour taking a mental break is key to staying sane.
Did y’all know there are more pigs than humans in Denmark? For every 100 human residents of Denmark, there are 215 pigs. Why so many pigs? Well, for better or worse, Denmark has the largest pig meat industry in the world. However, it is starting to decline as more people are adopting vegetarian and vegan diets, in fact between 2014 and 2017 there was a 600% rise in vegans in the United States alone!
Always do your best and everything will turn out ok.
After a major event, a big trip or something really demanding, the best way to celebrate is to make sure to get adequate rest. It is totally ok to put your feet up sometimes even if you have other things you could do. Getting enough rest and relaxation can help you be stronger and more productive overall. Take a hint from Avery the official spokespig of The Haven Zoo, having a cuddle under the blankets can be the best way to recharge!
Goat of the Day 