Usually don’t mention my birthday or expect the day to be anything out of the ordinary (just the way I like it ?), but sharing this selfie with Merlin and his magnificent beard is well worth breaking tradition over.

This morning, I was thinking about how I’ve been told over the years that I live an interesting life.

If you’re a close friend or a volunteer, we may have discussed this after an exceptionally random string of shenanigans. It’s always fun to hear how this life looks from the outside looking in. While there are some out-of-the-ordinary moments, most of the time it’s pretty quiet around here. Again, just the way we (all the inhabitants of LP) like it.

Most mornings, I’m responsible for 100% of the animal care here. After all the residents are looked after, I take the opportunity to watch them go about their day.

Whether it’s through the right nutrition, deep bedding, mobility aids, medication, or a tweak to our infrastructure, when the animals are feeling well and cared for, their age doesn’t seem to change their zest for life. They remain resilient, curious, and engaged in their surroundings. They bask in the sun, socialize with each other, bounce around the pasture, and dive headfirst into a fresh flake of hay.

When I look around at the residents enjoying their days after I’ve lifted water buckets that I couldn’t carry in my 30s, walked farther in one morning than I could in a full week in my 20s, and feel a deep sense of purpose that was missing in my teens, I tend to believe my mom’s generation that tell me I’m still a “youngen” despite being in my mid-40s.

I suspect Bob, our oldest resident here, and Merlin, who’s a fraction of Bob’s age, but whose body is worn down from years of neglect, would say the same thing.

So here’s to being young at heart and growing in resilience, for all of us here.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Jamie Sabot
Executive Director, Lily’s Place Animal Sanctuary