We read the news sometimes and can experience despair, right? Some of what has changed in the past fifty or more years is the speed at which we receive what is considered news. From newspapers or word of mouth, we now add to that instantaneous receipt of what is marketed as news on radio, then television, and now the internet.
With a barrage of information all-day-all-the-time, it can be exhausting, but with a little effort you can filter the news coming your way to be a little less biased and a little less overwhelming. Get outside! Even in an urban area, there should be some form of greenspace or small green haven. The saying goes that everything can benefit from unplugging for a bit, even us!
So many of our efforts here at the Sanctuary are focused on rescuing farmed animals, but did you know we also feel passionately about helping people and the planet? For some people, that is volunteering here with the animals, or perhaps walking the trails. Right now, I am watching cardinals and woodpeckers in the woods behind the Feathered Friends area at the Sanctuary, and deer, raccoons, squirrels, foxes, and many more species roam the woods, often just as travelers for the day.
The Sanctuary has embraced the LEAP Changemakers program to work with high school students, built our programs for the Scouts, and now our partnership with the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network will begin as well. You will soon see many preschoolers on weekdays here, out in 60 acres of woodland and meadow, in all weather. They have built a charming yurt onsite for the required nap period, and we love that these children will feel affinity for the outdoors from a very young age. We welcome YOU here as a volunteer in any capacity large or small.
We can make a difference in someone’s life with just a few kind words, and we can make a difference in the world for animals and the planet with kind and compassionate actions. Doing these things has a great extra benefit too: you will feel better about YOU!
When we know better, we can do better. And as part of the Sanctuary family I hope you can reach out and talk to me about what you might find hope and joy with: doing more, being more, helping more whether you are here or out in the broader community.
"What is success? To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!"
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
