Island love and farm animals

Written By Suus
June 10 ~ Texel, the Netherlands
Mama sheep with 2 lambs sleeping in a barn

A few weeks ago I went on a day trip to my favorite island in the Netherlands. A place where I have so many warm childhood memories. The moment I step on the ferry I feel my muscles relax, and those first minutes driving on the island feel like everything I was worrying about, any stress or tiredness, simply melt away. It’s like the whole world narrows down, everything beyond the island no longer matters. I am completely in the here and now. Islands always do that to me. I lived on an island for 8 years, and I hope to do so again one day, because I simply love it.

This visit didn’t start off too great. I have been dealing with a heavy burn-out since January, and although I had been longing to visit my island, I woke up with -1000 energy, emotions raging and doubting if an entire day out and about would be the end of me. My mum and I decided to go anyway, and it ended up being a lovely day. We went to a farm to cuddle the animals, had lunch on the beach, and finished with a short walk in the forest, which smelled SO amazing! It was simply wonderful.

At the animal farm there was a section where we could cuddle guinea pigs. An experience I didn’t know I needed, but afterwards wondered how I could live without it. I had the sweetest little girl on my lap, nibbling on straw, while I was stroking her smooth fur. When I looked around the barn, everyone cuddling a guinea pig was staring off in the distance, completely zen. Nobody spoke, nobody moved, soft smiles on everyone’s lips.

I don’t know a better form of therapy than cuddling animals.

So, my invitation to you is this: go cuddle your dog, cat, bird, pet fish (maybe not). Or, if you don’t have a pet, visit a farm and spend some time among the animals living there. We live among the most beautiful and intelligent beings, who, I believe, are here on Earth with us to be our companions, friends and teachers. Let’s start treating them that way. With gratitude, love and kindness.

Enjoy the pictures!

White sheep sleeping with her head on another sheep
Farm dog in a barn
Baby sheep sleeping on straw
Flock of sheep grazing and sleeping outside
Rooster walking in a barn with sheep
Black and white guinea pig on someone's lap

mum cuddling with our guinea pig

White lamb sleeping in a barn
Brown sheep laying down in barn with soft, loving eyes
Group of sheep grazing
Brown and white pregnant goat in a barn
black sheep sleeping with his head on a white sheep
Suus
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