Sometimes the smallest moments teach us the biggest truths about one another and about ourselves. In the rolling green pastures of a small farm in Austria, a gentle Swiss Brown cow named Veronika quietly surprised the world. For years she lived not as livestock, but as a beloved companion, walking the fields, feeling grass beneath her hooves, greeted each morning by the voice of her human friend. Along the way, something remarkable happened. Veronika began using objects around her not out of training or performance, but out of need, curiosity, and understanding. What captures our hearts isn’t simply that she picked up a stick or a brush. It’s how she used it with purpose. She learned to choose the right end of a tool. The bristled side of a deck brush to scratch her back. The smoother side to gently rub more sensitive places she couldn’t reach. Her actions weren’t random. She selected, adjusted, and used the tool with clear intention, showing awareness of her body, her surroundings, and the problem she wanted to solve. Scientists say this is the first documented case of tool use in a cow, a milestone that gently expands how we understand animal intelligence and invites us to look with more curiosity and kindness at those we’ve long taken for granted. Veronika didn’t perform for applause. She didn’t seek a spotlight. She simply figured out how to make her life more comfortable. And in doing so, she reminds us that intelligence, empathy, and ingenuity aren’t limited to the animals we already admire. They often live quietly in those we overlook. May her story encourage us to look more closely at the beings we share this world with and to listen with open hearts. 💛 Watch a short video of Veronika here.

I learned something tonight that made me laugh so hard I had to share it. Did you ever hear this growing up? “Don’t let a praying mantis spit in your eye. You’ll go blind.” I had not. But after a good laugh and some skillful Googling, we learned it was a case of mistaken identity. Praying mantises do not spit. But the two striped walking stick bug has a defensive spray mechanism that could easily be mistaken for spitting. They can activate this gem if you are bold, curious, or making questionable life choices and put your face too close. At that point, congratulations. You've won a memorable life experience and a same day appointment with your eye doctor. The spray is not poisonous or acidic. It is, however, very good at making you regret your decisions. And while going blind is incredibly unlikely, so is getting sprayed in the eye by a two striped walking stick bug… yet here we are talking about it. So what is the takeaway? Marvel at these fascinating creatures. Appreciate them from a respectful distance. And please, keep your eyes to yourself.

Have you ever wondered what whiskers do? They are not decoration, they are tools. Very clever ones. Here are a few functional fun facts about cat whiskers. • Whisker fatigue is real A cat’s whiskers are highly sensitive. When they eat from deep or narrow bowls, their whiskers constantly brush the sides, which can feel overstimulating. Think of it like trying to eat every meal without a fork, stuffing your face into a bowl that is just a little too small. Not comfortable. Not relaxing. • Cutting whiskers is disorienting Whiskers help cats with balance, spatial awareness, and navigating in low light. Trimming them can leave a cat confused, unsure of their surroundings, and more prone to accidents. Whiskers are connected to the nervous system, so cutting, and touching them, can be uncomfortable and distressing. It would be a bit like someone pulling your hair while kicking your legs out from under you at the same time. 😯 • Whiskers are built in measuring tools A cat’s whiskers are roughly the width of their body. If the whiskers fit through a space, chances are the cat will too. It is like carrying a personal toolbox at all times. No tape measure needed. Pretty cool, right? Did any of this surprise you? Do you know any fun facts about animals?

Most of us live busy lives, and we look forward to the weekend so we can catch up on all the things we did not get to during the week. We line up our to do lists and plan to work our weekends away, just so we can get up Monday and start all over again. I’d like to offer a gentle weekend challenge. Instead of working straight through until the daylight is gone, what if you took 5 to 10 minutes every hour to do something just for you or your family. A small get to do list suggestions for you: 1. Sit quietly with your favorite hot beverage. Extra bonus points if there is a critter on your lap. 2. Take a short walk outside in the sunshine. If that is not possible, walk around the house or do a few gentle stretches. 3. Grab your favorite book and read for ten minutes. 4. Give yourself permission for a 15 minute power cat nap. Bonus points if you have a sleeping furry friend with you. 5. Pause and notice how these small you breaks make you feel lighter, and how your to do list gets done with more presence and peace. Let me know how this weekend goes for you, and I will do the same. 🙂

Every training I have ever taken around animal care includes a section on preventing burnout. Working with animals is heartwarming, and it is also heartbreaking. And it is not just animals. Any role where you are in service to another soul opens you to this risk. That is why it matters so much to build in small moments of care for yourself each day. A few 5-to-15-minute pauses to step away, breathe, or find a little joy can help prevent burnout, or at least slow it to something more manageable. This weekend, I took my own advice. For me as much as for you. They say you teach what you need to learn. But my favorite reminder is this, practice what you preach. I spent the last 12 hours today working on a mix of personal and business things. This time, I made a point to honor what I wanted to do while still tending to what needed to be done. I did not push through. When frustration or brain fog showed up, I listened. I got up. Had a snack. Gave some kitty belly rubs. Switched projects. Or simply walked away for a few minutes. It might sound like a time game, but I actually get more done when I do not push myself to the breaking point. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. We were not put here just to endure our days, but to live our purpose and enjoy the one life we were given. I hope you found moments of care and presence this weekend. 🙂