Jed Laskowitz’s Post

Did you know that a horse can sense your heartbeat from a distance? Life can push you around, knock you off course, wreck your mojo. One of the best ways to: -get back in the groove -get re-centered -unwind is by connecting with nature. Horses can help you de-stress by just being in their presence. They require you to come correct, get your mind right, relax. If you only knew what a horse can teach you by just being in their presence. You don't need to ride, shoot, you don't even need to buy a horse. Just go stand with one. Better yet, go stand with the herd for a while and let them accept you. There's a place you can do that. And if you volunteer to help you could do that alot. It's cheaper than counseling. Barn tours are held just about every weekend. Reserve a spot and see what this rescue is all about. Get outdoors. Get your head right at Reality's Chance Rescue & Sanctuary. https://lnkd.in/ghEgWGtq

it's so true

I took part in my first proper agility competition this weekend with my rescue dog Buddy. It was a weekend of 'firsts'. First time using our caravan in 'off grid' mode. First time in such big arenas, first time among so many (hundreds of other dogs and large crowds of people). Sadly no firsts for us in terms of prizes, not even a clear round as we were eliminated in every run. Did Buddy care? Nope, he had the best time and got his tennis ball reward at the end of each run. Our elimations were down to small errors (mine not his) and I've learned about the areas we need to work on together. Buddy coped brilliantly and fearlessly in a strange environment, he calmly sat and waited for my command to move off the start line and mostly followed my commands when going round. This is from a dog who at 18 months was nearly put to sleep for being 'reactive'. https://lnkd.in/e7hj7W_V I was reflecting that there's a lot I can take from my experience this weekend into everyday life. Failure isn't a bad thing if you learn from it. Failing in front of a crowd isn't so bad, others failed too and being supportive and encouraging when people fail goes a long way. Not being afraid to try again and building resilience is important. If you're having fun along the way that's the best experience of all. #bemorebuddy **Update, after I posted this we did one last run in the steeplechase competition. Nailed it!! Only went and won the class in our height. If at first you don't succeed...**

🇺🇸 What is July 4th to the grandnephew of a sharecropper? Growing up, we would rise early to prepare the ingredients for Alabama gumbo on the land we lived on. My Uncle Tommy would use a huge black pot on an open flame, while Aunt Molly seasoned fresh vegetables and meats. The aroma was scrumptious, but under the careful gaze of the white landowner and his wife, we were simply told to "Have a Happy 4th." The Black help, including Ms. Maryanna, spent the day serving Mr. Elmer's family and guests. Our celebration consisted of a new white t-shirt and the annual baseball game—a brief moment of fellowship, fun, and a pause from everyday oppression. We enjoyed hot dogs, fried whiting fish, BBQ chicken, Kool-Aid, and homemade ice cream churned by us kids.Oh and the landowner gave us one Mason jar of the gumbo. Laughter filled the air as the sun set. For this grandnephew of a sharecropper, July 4th is a reminder that we remain in the middle of a mountain. As Gil Scott-Heron sings, we must keep climbing. Today, let's recommit to the struggle. Winter is coming, and my impatient optimism is for ALL who chase liberation to keep climbing. Liberation is not found in the middle of this mountain, and our movement is not a hustle. Liberation in health and healthcare equity is making the impossible possible. It's #Heartwork #IndependenceDay #KeepClimbing #Liberation #SharecropperLegacy #July4th #SocialJustice #ImpatientOptimism

Twice in my #life I've gone down the "rabbit hole." I still really have not climbed out. ▶ Obsession #1: The Donner Party. Who were they? (Just ask Jack Nicholson's character in Steven King's "The Shining.") They were a group of covered wagon settlers who traveled from Springfield, IL to what today is Sacramento, CA, in 1846, only to get to present day Truckee, CA on the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and become snowbound. As in they had to build cabins and winter there for 6 months, with almost all of the food running out in the first few weeks. Yes, they ended up resorting to cannibalism to survive. But the stories of #personal and #communal #perseverance in this story has always captured my awe and attention. Of rescuers trekking 80 miles through 15-20 feet deep of snow only to find the #survivors so starved, that many could not even return with the rescuers (and were eventually cannibalized). I have personally covered about 75% of the Donner's cross country #journey on foot or car in the last 30 years. Best spots are in Utah and Northern California, but there are fascinating remnants of the trail in Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Nevada, too. ➡ Do I have a single person in my network who shares my interest in the Donner Party? ➡ Would anyone like a book recommendation to learn more? ➡ Are any of my Mormon friends aware of the incredible significance the Donner's had on modern day Mormon life? P.S., I already used up too much LinkedIn real estate describing my first rabbit hole. Rabbit hole #2 to follow in a separate post.

Recently, I came across a heartwarming story that truly touched my heart. A helpless, cute puppy was heartlessly thrown into the trash, left alone to face an uncertain fate. But life had other plans for this little one, giving the puppy a second chance to live happily and find a loving home. This story serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of life and the importance of compassion. Whether it’s towards our fellow humans or the animals that share our world, our purpose in life is to spread love and kindness. Let’s remember that every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a huge difference. Whether you’re rescuing an animal in need, lending a hand to a colleague, or simply offering a smile to a stranger, your compassion can light up someone’s world. Please share your thoughts: How have acts of kindness—big or small—impacted your life or the lives of others around you? 💬 Learn free lead Gen and marketing:https://lnkd.in/dUqkx6Aj Get my courses:https://lnkd.in/d35cDCNz One-to-one Session: Mubashir Nazar #Compassion #Kindness #AnimalLovers #SpreadLove

🌟 THURSDAY TRIVIA CHALLENGE! 🌟 Ready for another round of trivia? Let’s see how sharp your knowledge is today! 🤔🔍 1️⃣ What is the hardest natural substance on Earth? 2️⃣ Which animal is known to have the longest lifespan? 3️⃣ Which social media platform was the first to reach 1 billion active users? Think you know the answers? Drop them in the comments below! Let’s see who can nail all three! 💬🔑 Let’s have some fun and get those brains working! 💡✨ #ThursdayTrivia #FunFacts #ChallengeYourself #SocialMedia #EngagementTime #KnowledgeIsPower

Bridle Paths GivingTuesday is on!!!! Every day, our healing herd gives our community the gifts of presence, acceptance, and trust. The ability to come as you are, and be who you are, in the presence of our horses helps those with invisible injuries to be vulnerable in a safe space, and to reclaim the power associated with being fully seen, heard, and understood. Consider the sentiments expressed by a group of combat veterans who recently completed an equine-assisted psychotherapy series with our herd: "Learning about the horses' stories tells me something about who they were. Both we and the horses have experiences and scars, but who we were is not who we're going to be. Speculation is different from presence - I don't know where life will take me, so I take things one day at a time as the horses do. The horses bring back emotions you thought you'd forgotten forever, and you feel alive again. Combat felt natural to me - nothing else mattered. I fought every second as if it was my last. I felt my strongest when I didn't dwell on what had happened or what could happen. Horses bring that feeling back. I never feel better than i do when I'm enjoying and experiencing the moment as it is." This Giving Tuesday, please consider giving of your time, talent, and treasure to support our healing herd. Here's how you can help: • Make a cash donation - every contribution fosters transformative experiences with our healing herd. • Participate in our horse sponsorship program to nurture horse-human connections, learn more below! • Amplify your impact with a company match. • Engage and follow us on social media and share, like, and comment. Thanks, and Happy Holidays too! www.bridlepathsva.org

I totally love donkeys 🫏🥰 - so much that my husband and me even had a little photo shoot with donkeys on our wedding (funfact aside 😅🫏💫) And this is what I love about their character: 🫏 Persistence: Donkeys are known for their determination to carry heavy loads for long distances. In my career (and especially during my duals master studies) persistence was the key for achieving my goals. 🫏 Humility: These animals are often seen as humble and unassuming - I guess maybe cause of the furr colour which is not very eye catching? Anyway I think humility can foster a better collaboration and open-mindedness in the workplace. (I mean no one really enjoys working with non-humble people, right?) 🫏 Reliability & Responsibility: Donkeys are dependable and often serve as reliable companions. Only if we take over the donkey's reliability we get entrusted with responsibilities and can move further in our career. Do you agree? #SuccessMindset #animals #schleich #wherestoriesbegin #donkey photo©: Uwe Haider