Celebrate Others

"In friendship’s garden, blooms so rare,
The kindness of petals, from a loyal stem’s care.
The fragrance of laughter, peace’s embrace,
Celebrate friends, and their unique grace.

Their light ignites our own soul’s fire,
Brightening hearts, and lifting us higher.
So let joy bloom, forever unfurled—
In celebrating others, we light up the world." 

~Dana Urban~Urban SoulShine Inspirations

Sunny and Sky: The Melodic Donkeys of Soulshine Farm Celebrate World Donkey Day (May 8)~ A Donkey Tale

In the heart of the Florida countryside, where the sun painted the fields in golden hues and the sky with vibrant shades of blue, lay the Soulshine Farm. It was a place where laughter echoed through the live oaks, and the air smelled of fresh hay and jasmine blooming near the fence line. At the heart of this idyllic farm were two very unique donkeys—Sunny and Sky.

Sunny, with his deep, caramel-colored coat and a penchant for his ball caps, was the unofficial mayor of Soulshine Farm. He greeted everyone with a toothy grin and ear waves that swivel like satellite dishes, catching every whispered secret in the wind. He was always very observant of his surroundings, near and far, and could magically understand the language of other animals, and humans alike. Sunny was also known for having a real ‘long ear’ for music and loved a good reason to take out the ole ukulele he kept in the corner of his barn stall, especially when he had the opportunity to play with his best donkey pal, Sky.

Sky was quite the troubadour with her poetic ways, and a true music lover. Her grayish tan fur was speckled with stardust, and she never needed a special occasion to wear her wide-brimmed hat. Sky’s musical soul resonated with the rhythm of the wind that rustled through the Spanish moss flowing from the limbs of the trees. Her ukulele hung from a peg on the barn wall outside of her stall, always ready for an impromptu jam session with Sunny, or a sunrise melody after their morning feed. It had once belonged to one of the farm hands, but she had taken such a liking to it, he left it behind for her keeping. When she first met Sunny, they made an instant connection, sharing their uniqueness with a common interest for wearing hats and playing music. If Sky wasn’t playing her melodies somewhere along the fence, you could usually find her under Sunny’s favorite oak, either playing along or creating harmony with her bray.

Joy, the newest addition to Soulshine Farm, had arrived just days ago. Her eyes sparkled with wonder this fine morning as she explored the meadows, her high top sneakers sinking into the dew-kissed grass. Joy had moved from the bustling city with her family to find solace among the animals—the ones who understood the language of whispers and sunsets with heart to heart conversations.

Joy had first met Sunny on the farm, but was eager to meet the other animals. Being the curious, and very aware, kind of donkey Sunny was, he had trotted up to her the day she arrived, hat askew, and felt an instant connection from just a few beats of her sweet heart. Intrigued and enticed, he nuzzled Joy’s hand that day and let her attach a lead rope, and the rest is history. It was an instant bond—the kind that transcends words. Joy laughed, and Sunny brayed in response, as if sharing a private joke. From that moment on, they would be the best of friends. In a very short time since Joy’s arrival, Sunny had already taught her so many things, like the art of patience—the way he stood still, watching the sunrise, as if holding the world in his hooves, his love for quirky hats and fun tees, the way he dared to be different and loved to create fun. She was beyond excited to discover more about Sunny, his love for the ukulele and his friends. The day was new and the hay was fresh as Joy ventured out to see the animals just after sunrise. In the morning haze, she spotted a donkey near the fence with grayish colored fur and thought “that must by Sunny’s friend, Sky. I really want to meet her.” and off she went.

Sky immediately captured Joy’s heart. She found Sky perched on the wooden fence in the pasture, strumming her ukulele. The notes danced in the air, weaving tales of distant lands and forgotten dreams. Sky’s hat flapped in the breeze, and her long, grayish ears perked up, as if to give Joy a wink. “Welcome to Soulshine,” she sang, her voice like honey and moonbeams. “Is that your ukulele?” Joy asked, eyes wide. Sky nodded. “Music is the language of the soul,” Sky said. “And donkeys? Well, we’re fluent in melodies, I’m sure Sunny would agree.” “Where is Sunny?” Joy questioned with curiosity “He went to the barn to get his uke out for the big celebration.” “The celebration?” Joy gleamed “YES! Today is World Donkey Day! We’re about to have a music party to celebrate and we’d love for you to join us.” Sky exclaimed. Joy glanced around the farm and noticed the other animals beginning to gather as Sunny lead them out to the field, his ukulele strapped across his back. Her eyes filled with wonder and gladness. She was instantly illuminated with pure excitement, and Joy for what this day would bring.

Together, they planned the grandest celebration Soulshine Farm had ever seen to recognize and celebrate, World Donkey Day. It was a day to honor these long-eared friends, the kind of friends Joy had determined, the gentle guardians of the earth. Sunny insisted on decorating the barn with sunflowers from the back field to symbolize friendship and loyalty, while Sky composed a special song for the occasion and Joy worked on  a speech that would later magnify these wonderful beasts. Soulshine Farm was now buzzing with excitement. Sunny wore his ball cap and a t-shirt that read “Loungears Rock”, while Sky donned her fanciest hat and a sunflower sash Joy made for her from the leftover sunflowers. The other animals gathered in their natural form and began to make some noise, appreciating the care and entertainment the donkeys always seem to bring. The chickens clucked and you could hear excited quacks from the ducks in the pond, while the pig joined in with a harmonious snort. The farm had come so alive that even the old oak trees seem to be sway with the rhythm as the wind carried the tune through the moss in a dance. 

Sunny and Sky strummed their ukuleles as Joy led the other animals in a procession. They paraded through the meadows, her hightop sneakers and their hooves kicking up the earth’s dust. Joy danced with glee, her laughter echoing across the fields. Sunny continued to play as Sky joined the others to dance with the sounds. The villagers from a few of the neighboring farms joined in, clapping and singing along. The farm and the community shimmered with gratitude—a chorus of donkeys, humans, and animals alike. Joy had prepared her speech and was ready to acknowledge her new friends on their special day. She stepped up on to an old tractor tire and raised her voice so all on the farm could hear. She spoke of the donkeys’ natural ways with such appreciation—the way they stubbornly stood their ground, refusing to be rushed and how they must access every situation with full awareness and care. She praised their gentleness—the way they nuzzled away tears and carried physical loads and heavy emotional burdens without complaint. She also marveled at their wittiness and silly ways—but most of all, she emphasized the way that just being in the presence of a donkey could heal the most wounded heart. “Today,” Joy declared, “Today, we celebrate The Donkey, not just for their incredible endurance, but their magnificent magic—the way they can turn ordinary moments into symphonies with their melodic charm.” and the crowd roared. In celebrating her friends and acknowledging their special ways, Joy lit up the farm with a positive light, a light she felt inside as well. It’s always a good day when you’re showing your appreciation for others and this was one special day. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the animals scattered about and the day was coming to an end. Sunny plopped down under his favorite oak and played one final chord as Joy clapped and Sky brayed in approval. In that moment, Joy knew she had found her happy place -being in the company of donkeys and discovering more adventures on the Soulshine Farm. Her appreciation for donkeys and their many characteristics had grown even deeper. She was not only inspired to learn how to play the ukulele, she was now moved to find more ways to create a broader awareness of donkeys, and to plan an even bigger event for next year. This wonderful celebration would become a yearly tradition at the Soulshine Farm and the news would spread far and wide. For in the gentle eyes of a donkey, she found a reflection of her own soul—a melody waiting to be sung, a story, just waiting to be told. Happy World Donkey Day 2024! 

Artwork & Short Story Created by: 

Dana Urban / Urban SoulShine Inspirations / A Donkey Tale / Donkey Series