Independence Day

Independence Day is not just a time to remember getting our independence, but a time when I like to think about the kinds of bondage we can illuminate moving forward. Knowing our own history when we felt imposed upon, gives me a greater empathy toward those still persecuted. I yearn for the day that we all can celebrate who we are without fear, when Ukraine can celebrate their own Independence Day, and when all those who call Mother Earth home, can be free to live and love.
When I want to see more peace in the world, knowing I lack the ability to control others, I turn inwards, take responsibility, and find a way for me to be more peaceful. I ask myself every morning how I can practice more peace, how can I be more loving, and how can my actions allow others more liberty. I’d like to invite you to come out and visit The Gentle Barn, hug the cows, cuddle the turkeys, hold the chickens, give the pigs belly rubs, look our animals in the eye, hear their stories of resilience, and maybe celebrate July fourth differently this year, with plant-based food on your grill, making gentleness our tradition moving forward. Together we can declare our independence from what we have always done and move towards a more loving and gentle future for all of us.
The Gentle Barn is a national non-profit organization in Santa Clarita, California, with locations in St Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee as well. We are home to animals rescued from trauma, and host to people with the same stories. We are open to the public on Sundays and host private tours, field trips, birthday parties, and cow hug therapy sessions. Please follow The Gentle Barn on FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, TickTok, and YouTube. To visit and donate, go to www.gentlebarn.org.