Whenever it rains heavily or snows a lot, I make it a point to go out and check on Lulu and Fanny. They are warriors for acceptance, they respect life and adjust to it.

They look and act the same in heat, cold, rain or snow. They are never surprised by bad news – flies, ticks, dogs or sheep.

It poured all day yesterday, and I couldn’t help but notice when I went outside that Lulu and Fanny were dry and cozy inside of the pole barn.

They stand by the gate and peer out over the horizon, watching for birds or rabbits or predators out in the woods behind the farmhouse.

They are timeless creatures, they have been living with humans for thousands of years, and absolutely nothing seems to surprise them.

I imagine them to be laughing sometimes at us humans, who are very much the opposite. We rarely accept life and are always stunned by its surprises and challenges.

It doesn’t really matter to them if it’s pouring or freezing cold, the leave the drama to us. I think humans taught them acceptance, they saw all of our fear, hysteria, ambition, greed and warmongering for so long.

Donkeys take what they need, and no more. And they don’t need much.

They are grounded creatures anchored in history and the radical acceptance embedded in the animal world. They teach me a lot.