i want to thank all of the volunteers and staff who have gone above and beyond helping us get ready for today. great job everyone!!!!
i hope visitors look past the scratch and dents caused by the hundreds of animals thru here and see the real heart of saints. we may be getting tattered and worn around the edges but the bones of us are still pretty great.
one day we will get the place re-painted but quite frankly the animals do not give a shit about fresh paint.
i get really nervous with each annual open house cuz this is the time that we open ourselves full up to the work that we do here.
what if no one comes? what if no one cares? what if they come and don't like it here?
and to be quite honest..this is my shameful "all about carol" fear every year...what if hundreds of people come and traipse thru my bedroom and house and walk away thinking i am insane?
it is a big worry, you can't get much more personal then what i do around here.....nothing like inviting the world into judge how you personally live your life every day.
still...it is like going to the dentist...totally necessary. down and dirty 24/7 rescuers tend to want to go underground..it is personally safer and less of a risk that way. we are in some ways like the abused animals we care for..slightly afraid that someone might unexpectedly take a whack at us today.
but i believe that if we believe we are doing what we are supposed to do...then we must stand up, and afraid or not, be willing to do it in full public view. that is what will ultimately stop us from going too far and slipping into the dark side of rescue.
it is hard because rescuers are not wired like most of the rest of the world. i don't know if it is because our wiring is totally messed up or if it is a unique gift....or maybe a combination of both.
all i know is that we are different and being different somedays scares the shit outta me...like on open house days.
today is our pubilic report card day...wish us luck!
(and please god, on a personal note....don't let anyone think i am totally insane.)
I am sorry I am out of town for the open house and glad to hear it went well today.
On Carol's comment about feeling like being judged:
I am not a pessimmist however I do find people are quick to judge and less willing to actually do something.
The ones willing to do something outside of what is consider normal are going to be judged; so let them judge.
The like minded people who are caring and kind will prevail.
Hugs to all : )
Barbara