Sometimes it might feel difficult to get through life’s inevitable obstacles. You may not think you are where you need to be, or worry that you have fallen behind on achieving certain milestones and goals. Fear not and be resilient. You’re not as far behind as you might think.
Is the glass half full or half empty? Or is it just right?
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.
You may have noticed that for the past week or so, Goat of the Day has featured animals from The Haven Zoo, outside of Atlanta, Georgia. The Haven was founded by JohnieSue Thurman, an anthropologist who studied human and primate interactions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has over 14 years of experience working with animals. She also designed and conducted a research project that analyzed zoos in 15 different countries on four different continents to understand how each zoo cared for animals as well as making information about conservation available to the public. It is really inspiring that there are people like JohnieSue who set out with a dream dedicated to the greater good, and make it happen. Check out ways to support JohnieSue’s mission and/or volunteer.
JohnieSue, Otis the goat and Hutton the llama
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.
Seize the week ahead – you never know – something marvelous might happen!
Maybe it’s a part of your story, maybe you are a part of its story.
It is easy to get lost thinking about what might have been or worrying about future plans. Perhaps take some time this weekend to just focus on what is going on in the present – take a few moments to be content and find joy in the now.
Accept the way things are in this moment.
A good friend is one of life’s most important and precious gifts. You never know where and who might become one of your most closest confidants.
Make friends wherever you go!
Always look on the bright side, because things always have a way of working themselves out. There is always a positive spin on everything – if you miss your bus stop then you can enjoy a longer stroll home.
There is a positive spin to everything – are you having the same boring thing for lunch, or is it nutritious, delicious and enjoyable?
Goat of the Day 