Living a Dream – The Gentle Barn

Sometimes, I am in the barnyard reading to an animal, training staff, or taking a donkey for a walk, focused and in the moment. Other times, I feel like I am dreaming and cannot believe that I get to live this fantasy every day. I think about how much we have done and how far we have come, and I feel giddy. Most of the time, I feel like a seven-year-old just wanting to be with animals and help them like they’ve helped me. We planted pollinator gardens for the bats, butterflies, and bees. When I see monarch butterflies, I instantly remember laying down in the neighborhood field as a child and being covered in butterflies. I felt seen, valued, and part of something way bigger than myself. The cows that hug people who come to The Gentle Barn looking for hope make me feel like I live in an enchanted garden surrounded by mythical creatures. I am so happy! The earth itself is healing when you step out of your car. The animals all have so much to teach and to offer us. The Gentle Barn experience will connect you to your own empathy, unconditional love, and connection to all life. Come and be a kid again at The Gentle Barn nearest you!
The Gentle Barn is a national non-profit organization in Santa Clarita with additional locations in St. Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee. We are home to animals rescued from trauma and hosts 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. For more, follow The Gentle Barn on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok, and YouTube. To visit and donate, go to www.gentlebarn.org.