In this journal entry, Chenoa Manor Executive Director Dr. Rob Teti describes a typical day on the farm
One of the questions Chenoa Manor visitors most frequently ask is "How do you do it all? How do you work full time and still do all you do with Chenoa Manor?" I believe it has to do with how I fill my personal time as well as my personal beliefs.
Confucius believed if you work at what you love, you never truly "work" a day in your life. Everything I do on a daily basis with Chenoa Manor is not what I consider work. At the same time, my full-time job at the veterinary hospital is also something I truly enjoy, also not "work."
One of my biggest of a very short list of pet peeves is when people say "I'm too busy." To put things into perspective I thought it would be interesting to record my daily activities.
The alarm chimes at 5 a.m. and I pop out of bed like a Pop Tart from the toaster, assuming I haven't already gotten out of bed to start the day at 4:30. The day starts with a brisk walk or jog with one or sometimes all of the dogs, usually for 3-5 miles. By the time we get back home, the sun is just thinking about waking, the dogs are fed, and I usually do a morning meditation. As daylight comes up and the incense fades, the parrots exercise while their enclosures are cleaned and their food is being prepared. After the parrots, the chinchillas and guinea pigs have their morning meal. Then it's off to visit the farm animals.
Veggies are chopped for the rabbits; bales of hay are placed for the goats, sheep, and cows; grain is scattered for the chickens, emus, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, turkeys, and pigeons; and the pigs happily eat whatever is offered. Water is replaced and sleeping quarters are tidied and freshly bedded.
Indoors, the reptiles are allowed to soak while I prepare their daily meal. I have breakfast while the dogs are playing outdoors, and then I'm off to the animal hospital for my first appointment.
After work, the parrots and dogs are exercised again; barn doors are closed; there's usually an evening walk or jog; fresh hay is given to the guinea pigs, chinchillas, and rabbits; messages are checked, e-mails returned; and mail opened. With the rare "extra" time, I make telephone calls to catch up with close friends, then usually some reading, espresso drinking, my daily episode of The Young & the Restless , and then off to bed.
That's a typical day, but time is always made for dinner with friends, yoga, grooming Solomon the Persian and Phillip the angora, brushing dog teeth, teaching English as a second language, practicing the tango, and an occasional day trip.
Like Helen Keller said: "One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
Posted: 3/19/2007