Animal Welfare Professionals

I want to say Thank you for allowing the call & discussion flow organically. I felt that the topic was needed & for me it helped to lift some of the "heavy feelings" that I have been feeling since the mass deportations started. Taking 5 minutes to write a"Thank Note" was such a wonderful exercise. I wrote one to myself which felt odd at first,but then I realized that I have been more unforgiving to the worker that is me. Forgiving myself for tasks that I felt that I failed in,and giving myself permission to be okay with setting boundaries for things or situations that don't suit me was helpful.  Taking a stance that the word "no" is a complete sentence and not a dirty word.  I shared the same exercise with my volunteers and it was an amazing eye-opener. Many of them felt the same way. We practiced taking deep breaths and more importantly we really listened to each other.  There were tears & heavy sighs,but no judgements and no "fix-it" solutions  were offered. We just released the negative energy & supported each other in the moment. It was something that we all needed in that moment. I feel that it is a practice that we need to continue,and to safe-guard it as a healing moment to charge our batteries. 

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Michelle Robinson
Cause 4Paws Gary,INC
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Thank you for sharing this. I'm grateful the discussion created space for reflection and release. Your insights on self-forgiveness, boundaries, and saying "no" are so important. I love that you shared this with your volunteers and that it became a moment of deep listening and support. Let's continue to protect and nurture these healing spaces-we all need them.

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Donell Randolph
Human Animal Support Services Coordinator
Friends of Oakland Animal Services
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Hi Michelle,

Thank you for sharing this reflection-it truly means a lot. I'm so glad that the conversation and exercise resonated with you and created space for self-compassion, release, and connection. Writing a thank-you note to yourself can feel unfamiliar at first, but your insight about being more forgiving to the worker that is you is so powerful. We often extend grace to others while holding ourselves to impossible standards, and it's inspiring to hear how you embraced self-forgiveness and boundary-setting.

Your decision to bring this practice to your volunteers is beautiful. The way you all showed up for each other-with deep listening, no judgment, and no need to "fix"-is exactly the kind of compassionate space we need more of. Sometimes, just being present and allowing emotions to be acknowledged is the most healing thing we can do.

I love the idea of continuing and safeguarding this as a healing practice. In a world that demands so much from those who care deeply, creating intentional moments to recharge is an act of both resistance and self-preservation. Thank you for the work you do, and for sharing this ripple effect of compassion and community.

With gratitude,

José

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José Ocaño
Founder and CEO
Hatching
CA
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