"Gratitude is the seed from which our love for the Earth blossoms."~Dana Urban

In a sun-kissed meadow on the Soulshine Farm, a tapestry of spring flowers are in full bloom. A gentle breeze begins to dance through the field while birds serenade the day, and butterflies paint the air with their vibrant hues. Two donkey pals have recently made a 'true connection' on the farm, sharing their love of music, fun t-shirts, silly socks, crazy hats, and all things nature. Sunny and Sky have become inseparable from sun up to sun down these days, forming an unbreakable bond based on kindness, compassion and purpose. Since they both like to do things a little differently, whether it be the wild outfits they come up with while rummaging through the farm's give away stash, or the ukulele jam sessions they've grown to love in the late afternoons, they've managed to capture quite a bit of curiosity from the other animals. Perhaps their quirkiness will find ways to inspire the curious in the days to come.

Today is April 22 and they've just learned, it is Earth Day. While celebrating their many differences, Sunny and Sky have also acknowledged the abundance of similarities between them. They love everything this earth has to offer, so it is declared, today is a a special day and they must acknowledge it properly. "Let's Celebrate" Sunny proclaims with a mischievous grin. "YES! Let's go tell the others" Sky replies, her eyes beaming with anticipation of making new friends. "TIME TO RUMMAGE", they bray loudly as they make their way to the barn, their hearts pumping to the beat of their hooves pounding upon the earth. With pure excitement and joy, they alert the others on the farm and proceed to get ready for the big event.

It's early in the day for their regular rummage through the farm's give away box, but they were on a mission. This box is filled with old t-shirts, all kinds of hats, socks, shoes and other random items often left by the humans working on the property. Typically, they would sneak in after 'lights out' on the farm while most of their humans were sleeping, but today they ventured into the barn, in broad daylight, to pick out some worthy wears for this special day. After all, another odd similarity they share is to dress with purpose and fun, with hopes of inspiring the others on the farm with a giggle, or even just a smile. It's always entertaining to see a donkey in human clothes. They genuinely don't mind being laughed at, or laughed with, as long as there's smiles abound. It's all about perspective when your desire is to inspire. They are unable to find garments to perfectly match such a celebration, so they improvise, crafting their own designs on a couple of tees from the box and some old paint they found on a shelf in the barn. Their t-shirts are now ready with a unique, and creative, touch, misspelled words and all. Each of them pick one of their favorite hats for their ensemble as they venture back out into the field, eyes on them from all around the farm. "Let the celebration begin", they bray with glee.

Now surrounded by fellow donkey companions, a few horse friends, the pig, and a few of the farm's chickens, Sunny and Sky celebrate Earth Day and meditate on the beauty of the many sights from where they stand. The sun beams with brightness, casting a warm glow over the entire farm like a force field from the skies above. "How Magnificent Is This Earth" Sky declares. "There are no words" Sunny murmurs. The curiosity continues as the others take notice. They begin to join in from behind, inspired by these strange donkeys with their silly clothes and their deliberate appreciation for this earth, but even more curious about their vibe.

As the day continues with an act of gratitude from all, they shift their gaze skyward, their eyes reflecting in awe at the vast expanse above, as if a reminder of the boundless beauty we've been blessed with on this planet. In this moment of unity amongst friends, they understand the preciousness of life and the interconnectedness of all living beings. With each smile and curious glare, Sunny and Sky have managed to inspire the others and make new friends as they celebrate the beautiful grounds for which they are bound. With each breath of fresh air and each beat of tiny feet or hardened hooves, they vow to cherish and protect the land they share, this magnificent planet, their home.

As the day turned to dusk, the two donkey friends continued their gaze to the skies, grateful for the gift of existence and the opportunity to revel in the splendor of nature. With hearts full of love and appreciation, they whisper a silent prayer of thanks to the Earth, and to the heavens above. They pledge to protect their farm and the land on which they stand, to honor our differences and inspire others to not only acknowledge, but preserve this earth's beauty for generations to come.

Artwork and Tale by Dana UrbanUrban SoulShine Inspirations:Donkey Tales/Donkey Talk Series