Proactive Rather Than Reactive
Getting older is fun! And I’m sincere in that statement. Getting older could be more fun if, perhaps, the aging process could be supported better both mentally and physically by talking openly about all the weird “getting older” stuff, and if we didn’t need to stress about receiving health care. But I digress.
Getting older for me means a lot of self-reflection and learning from the past, and setting healthy boundaries. A big piece I have been wrassling with is being a bit more proactive in certain areas rather than waiting for the worst-case scenario to happen. And this, of course, ties in with the San Clemente Island goats I have at the farmstead.
This breed is critically endangered, which means many different things to many people. To me, it means that countless paths and projects could be followed with these goats. I have been raising this breed since 2013, and I have seen and dealt with “a lot”. Over this short yet long span of time, I have been recognizing cycles that lead me to pursue some proactive paths regarding the short and long-term well-being of these goats. It’s easy to be an armchair psychologist regarding why certain people make the choices they do. While this might bring me a sense of assumed understanding to help navigate interactions, time is much better spent on achieving my own goals.
Some of that forward momentum I am working on is creating more defined goals and a specific community around those goals. Community doesn’t just “happen”; it needs to be curated and nurtured. As well as establishing better short and long-term goals with the goats at the EB Ranch Farmstead. An aspect of that is becoming even more prepared to weather unpredictable obstacles. Such as actual catastrophic weather or life circumstances, such as injury, death, or financial upset.
Some projects involve other people or a community as a whole. Ranging from fundraising to help with genetic preservation projects. To engage and find wonderful new stewards for this breed. I don’t want to raise funds or engage with the community because there is a catastrophic issue. (Although I know people would be here for emergencies!) I want to make sure I have done my due diligence, being able to handle the number of animals I have, and know there are multiple places they can be moved in case of an emergency. As well as raising any extra money for genetic projects. I can pay for these things myself to a degree. But getting financial and other support from communities helps immensely.
With that, the best organized plans can also fail.
Being able to rebound from setbacks and problem-solving are all part of life, especially farming life.
Get in touch if you want to partner or collaborate with any goat-centric events or projects. I’m an open book, and am happy to work with other people who share common values and enjoy working on projects.
ebranchllc@gmail.com
