Some of Transcend’s best ideas come to us over breakfast at The Donkey Sanctuary here in Sidmouth; we actually schedule our business meetings specifically now to reflect their serving hours!
Both of us have strong affiliations with donkeys - and is it just coincidence that we now live down the hill from the sanctuary itself?!
Donkeys are beautiful creatures who can teach us, mere mortals, so much. Dr Elisabeth Svendsen (founder of The Donkey Sanctuary) realised this; she would speak about the fact that donkeys give so much and expect so little in return. She felt that donkeys had helped humankind more than any other animal on Earth, which is why she dedicated her life to them and why she set up the sanctuary, where “donkeys come first, second and third!”
They are, traditionally, working animals and many families, especially in less developed parts of the world, rely on the family donkey for their livelihoods. They are very special members of the family.
Over the years, the sanctuary has reported some shocking stories of cruelty across the globe; one story sticks out, where a donkey had had his ears cut off by a drunk man (in Greece I believe). I’m unaware of said man’s issues, but he clearly felt the need to exert his dominance over the gentle creature. What’s truly inspiring is that that donkey learnt - somehow - how to trust humans again (he was rehabilitated by The Donkey Sanctuary out there).
Wow! There’s true strength, right there!
I think it’s that level of stoicism and faith in humanity that appeals to this counsellor and this therapeutic social worker!
Trust is what our clients give us, invest in us - without it there can be no therapy; it’s for us to create that trusting relationship, but without our clients reciprocating…? There is nothing. It’s a big ask on their part, because there is great risk in daring to trust - and undoubtedly part of why your client might be coming to you in the first place, their trust has been abused.
How much is overcome the moment a person reaches out for support and dares to believe that this person is different to the ones that came before. It may even be that people that should have helped, should have cared, as in the case of the donkeys, are the very people that hurt, let down and abused. To dare to trust again is huge and we have every respect for anyone who is even considering taking that step.
People who attend our retreats, courses and groups are doing just that, daring to trust that they will be met with kindness and compassion – and we hope that we model what we talk about. We know that taking that risk and feeling unheard can set people back such a long way we, and those who work in similar roles, should never take the privilege of being trusted lightly. As the grooms that work with donkeys will tell you, that trust takes time, but is a real gift when it is offered.
Donkeys do a fine job in “just being” - I challenge you to find your nearest donkey and watch them for half an hour! Any animal that can sleep standing up with their eyes only partially closed has my admiration!
Stand with them, near them, and let some of that ‘donkey calm’…’donkey peace’…rub off on you!
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