Homage to My Greatest Teacher

 This month marks the 3rd anniversary of Buddha’s transition, but it feels like yesterday.  Buddha was my partner, my teacher, my confidante, and my friend, and when she left it was by far the most painful thing that has ever happened to me.  I know she is still with me in spirit and will always love me, but not being able to bury my face in her fuzzy shoulder and wrap my arms around her causes an ache inside me that will never go away.
The minute I met Buddha I knew for sure that she was no “ordinary” cow.  She would lie down in the middle of a crowd of people and close her eyes, allowing them to cuddle with her.  People came to see her from all over the world and Buddha gave out over 300,000 hugs in her lifetime.
Part of Buddha’s tremendous work here was when she helped me with the at-risk children we hosted.  They would come into The Gentle Barn angry, shut down, and closed off.  The first thing I would do was bring these teens to Buddha and ask them to hug her.  At first, they would refuse – not wanting to get dirty or seem weak to the other kids.  But soon Buddha’s reassuring charm would win them over and they would put their faces down on her soft back.  The minute their cheeks hit her furry warmth, their faces would melt and soften, and they would become humble, vulnerable, and young again.  For the few hours that they were at The Gentle Barn, these kids could forget about their harsh lives and their struggles, just have fun, and remember how to be curious, open, and love life again.
Buddha taught the world who cows really were.  She helped people see the beauty, magic, intelligence in all living beings. She was a giant force for good in our barnyard and guests could feel her energy the minute they entered the property.  She understood forgiveness, living in the moment, real courage and embracing second chances, and modeled that for children overcoming their own challenges.  Buddha really knew who she was and what her purpose was and helped me find myself. Thank you Buddha for spending 13 years with me and for being my greatest teacher and inspiration!
The Gentle Barn is home to hundreds of animals rescued from abuse and neglect, and host to at-risk, inner city, and special needs children.  We are open to the public every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so you can hug a cow, cuddle a turkey, give a pig a tummy rub, and hear their stories of resilience.
To get tickets to visit the Gentle Barn or for more information, go to www.gentlebarn.org.