Happy Thursday, dear friends. Have you ever had a day when your brain didn’t show up for work? Your usually intelligent and quick mind simply decides it doesn’t want to function. Yesterday, was a day like that for me.
I already had a bunch of work scheduled and two conference calls. Nature had other plans for my attention though, depositing 4 inches of snow, then icy rain, and another 9 inches of snow to top things off. Since my kids are away at school and my husband works in New York City, it was left to me to deal with the driveway.
Oh, the irritation of having to do things we do not wish to do! To add insult to injury, as they say, I also had to assist my parents in shoveling out a path from their home. When I was done with all the maintenance, I simply had no juice for anything else.
In the past, I would have forced myself to get things done. I would have pushed myself to simply accomplish the tasks I had set before me. Now, I know better. When there is no juice, no excitement or drive, to do something, it is best to leave it for another day. I was able to reschedule one meeting, and simply did the basics on my list that had to be addressed.
Before I even did that though, I loved on myself. I put on my headset, and danced around to some music. I got myself a nice afternoon snack, and sat on the couch to recharge for a bit. I addressed my own body and soul needs first, because I love myself. I am no longer willing to push myself beyond my limits, simply to accomplish tasks that happen to appear on my to do list. My brain turned off for a reason. Trying to bypass that very direct indication that I must shift focus, would only cause me more stress, and the work would be far more difficult. It would most likely turn out poorly as well.
Change is like that. We have a plan, something comes up to replace that plan and even though we might not like it, some things simply must be addressed. Taking it easy on ourselves during these times, shows ourselves how much we care about our own being. It is also the simplest way to get right back to being juicy and into the swing of things.
Burlington, Vermont goes green in a big way.
I adore Burlington, Vermont. Nestled on the shores of Lake Champlain, across from upstate New York, it is a mixture of so many flavors. It was a mill town, sprinkled with French-Canadian flavors. It is a college town, with many students coming from around the world to study, ensconced in its scenic beauty. For many years, I visited this city often, as a group of college friends ran a number of restaurants in the area.
Burlington exists as a fixture in nature, and part of its charm is its natural setting. Many of its citizens also have a hippy flavor, which is a high form of praise in my book. That this New England city, of 42,000 beings, would be the first in the area to produce all of its electricity from renewable energy does not surprise me.
What it proves to the US, is that a good sized municipality can address energy needs, evaluate what is available, and get things done. Burlington does not exist in the sunshine belt. It is cold for a good portion of the year. Solar alone was not going to cut it, and so they supplemented, using the surrounding environment as a benefit.
What was available? Got wind on the top of mountains? Check! Got biomass, like wood chips from lumber and agricultural waste? Check! Got water flowing in rivers? Check! Add it all together and Burlington is covered, and it’s all renewable, sustainable and carbon emission free!
It also didn’t cost its citizens more money. Burlington actually predicts that going in this renewable direction, will save the city over $20Million in the next few decades. Way to go Burlington, and thanks for being a role model for other communities who are evaluating making the switch to renewables!
A positive switch in the interaction between wild animals and humans.
Most of us have all lived in this world long enough to see a change in the perceived value of wild animals to the collective. Years ago, animals were seen as something to conquer, capture and captivate for amusement. That thought process probably began to shift after the turn of the 20th Century. People went to Africa to photograph wild animals on Safari, instead of shooting them. The shift is a wonderful one.
But what happens when wild animals create a situation, that infringes on the rights of humans to their outdoor activities? In the past, the animals usually wound up on the losing end of the stick, being moved or penned or worse. This week, a story unfolded at the Three Sisters Springs, in Florida, US. Manatees, which are an endangered marine mammal, began flocking in record numbers to the tidal inlet that leads to the fresh water springs. Animal behaviorists believe it is due to the cold weather as well as higher tides from the full moon.
Over 300 individual manatees were counted, almost double the unusual number for this location and season. Some believe the increase is due to increased protection of this species, while others claim that some habitat has been lost recently, causing populations to congregate.
In an unprecedented action, the waterways were closed to human activities, such as kayaking and swimming. When the animals disburse, human activities will resume, but officials want to make sure every precaution is taken to create a safe environment for these animals.
If that means some humans can’t go canoeing, then so be it. It is a wonderful move in the right direction towards sharing habitat supportively between the wildlife that exists there and the humans who live nearby. A balanced existence can and should be reached.
Over 300 manatees close down Three Sisters Springs by Gillian Finklea, WTSP-TV on USA Today
And finally….
Finding a surrogate mom for Kecil.
The care of captive endangered species has evolved tremendously over the past few decades. Animal specialists all understand that protecting endangered species means, first and foremost, protecting them in the wild. They create awareness and outreach programs at zoos to garner public support and educate beings about the unique needs of endangered animals in their home habitats.
We shared an article last week, about a large palm oil supplier creating a transparent supply chain website. This information is a direct result of individuals and environmental and animal rights activists challenging the devastation of wild habitat in Southeast Asia. The primary species effected by palm oil plantations are the Orangutan. We are happy to see shifts to protect these beautiful beings in the wild.
I am also happy to see that the care of captive bred individuals is husbanded in such a loving way. When little baby Kecil was born, his mother did not care for him. They found him a surrogate Orangutan mother who also did not give him adequate care. Instead of moving him to human surrogate care, they tried again, and this time they hit the jackpot.
Maggie, an experienced surrogate, at the Brookville Zoo in Chicago. has become little Kecil’s new mother. Her gentle care and ability to teach him how to be an Orangutan, gives him a much better chance at living a healthy life. While we all wish wild animals could live in the wild, endangered species breeding programs are imperative to maintain species’ genetic diversity and ultimately supplement wild born populations. Kudos to the team of loving individuals who went above and beyond to help Kecil find a new momma!
Baby Orangutan and Surrogate Mom Maggie at Brookville Zoo on YouTube
You can see more on the beautiful relationship between Maggie and Kecil in the following videos.
Kecil and Maggie in August, 2014 on YouTube
Kecil and Maggie in October, 2014 on YouTube
That’s the news for today. Have a day filled with silliness and fun. I hope to see you back here tomorrow for more news.
Be Well. Be Joy. Be Love!
Alex