FOR THOS WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO ANIMALS
Photograph shows
Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA South Africa with rescued cape fur
seals
THE
FOUR PHASES
By Douglas Fakkema
Those of us who work on behalf of and who dedicate our lives to
animals, go through four phases in our career evolution. As we are
unique, so are our individual stories, but we all go through a
similar process, and if we survive that process, go on to
understand that we have achieved what we wanted in the first
place.
PHASE
1
Red hot and raring to
go, we are out to change the world. We are high on life. We know we
can make a difference, that our efforts on behalf of animals will
ease their plight. We work what seems like 25 hour days, yet remain
energised. Our enthusiasm overflows, our capacity for challenges is
limitless. We eat, sleep and live in the cause for animals. Our
friends don't understand our obsession and turn away or just fade
away, and we let them for we meet new ones. Some of us though don't
make new friends, we’re too busy working for
animals.
Some of us become loners
with only our canine or feline companions to keep up from total
isolation but we're content, because we have a cause. In our zeal,
we tend to affix simple solutions to complex problems - every
animal should be sterilised or no animals should be
euthanised.
We're often late because
we try to rescue animals from highways and streets. We think we
understand the problem and we know we can fix it, if only people
would get out of our way.
PHASE
2
Our phase one enthusiasm
has turned sour. The bubble bursts and we crash and burn. We see
the same people coming into the shelter with yet another litter!
They haven't heard our messag . . . .
We continue to
euthanise, there seems no end to it. Even our friends, those we
still have left, don't understand us. We can’t seem to reach
anyone.
Animals are still abused
and neglected, their plight seems unchanged despite all our
efforts. We’ve lost the boundless energy that characterises Phase1.
We no longer wish to talk about work, don't even want to admit
where we work. We're tired all the time. We go home from work, lock
the doors, turn out the lights, turn off the answering machine and
close the window blinds. We're too exhausted to cook, and go for
fast food, pizza, potato chips or chocolate.
Some of us buy useless
objects we can't afford. Some of us turn to alcohol, for it takes
away our feelings of hopelessness. We ignore our families and even
our pets get less attention than we know is right. We seem
powerless to affect any of the changes that drove us to such
ecstasies of dedication in Phase1. We have become horrified by the
work we have to do.
Even our dreams are
filled with the horror. Every animal we take in, every animals we
euthanise is yet another nail in our coffin of defeat. Somehow
we're to blame for our failure and it's destroying us.
Raise the shields
Scotty, the Klingons are on our tail!
Our shield gets thicker
and thicker. It blocks the pain and the sadness and makes our life
somehow tolerable. We continue on because every now and then we get
a spark of Phase 1 energy.
P.T.O.
PHASE
3
Our Phase 2 depression
has turned outward and we're mad as hell!
Hopelessness turns to
rage. We begin to hate people, any people and all people, unless,
like our co-workers, they dedicate their lives to animals the way
we do. We even hate our co-workers if they dare question us -
especially about euthanasia.
It occurs to us: let's
euthanise the owners, not the pets. Let's take everyone who abuses
an animal or even surrenders an animal and euthanise them
instead.
Our rage expands to our
out-of-work life. That guy in front of us on the highway, the one
who's in our way, euthanise him too. We rage at politicians,
television, newspapers, our family. Everyone is a target for our
anger, scorn and derision. We have lost our perspective and
effectiveness.
We're unable to connect
with life. Even the animals we come in contact with seem somehow
distant and unreal. Anger is the only bridge to our humaneness.
It's the only thing that penetrates our shield.
PHASE
4
Gradually, and over
time, the depression of Phase 2 and the anger of Phase 3 become
replaced with a new determination and understanding of what our
mission really is. It is big picture time.
We realise that we have
been effective locally and in some cases regionally and even
nationally so we haven't solved the problem - who could - but we
have made a difference with dozens, even hundreds and sometimes
thousands of animals. We have changed the way others around us view
animals. We begin to see our proper place in our own community and
we begin to see that we are most effective when we balance our work
and out-of-work lives. We realise that work is not our whole world
and that if we pay attention to our personal lives, we can be more
effective at work.
We understand that some
days we work 14 hours and some days we knock it off after only 8.
We take vacations and we enjoy our weekends. We come back refreshed
and ready to take on daily challenges.
We see that all people
are not bad. We understand that ignorance is natural and in most
cases curable. Yes, there are truly awful people who abuse and
neglect animals but they are a minority. We don't hate
them.
When we find them we do
all we can to stop them from hurting animals. We recognise that the
solutions are just as complex as the problems and bring a multitude
of tools to the problem at hand, and use them any way we can and
begin to see results - one small step at a time.
We reconnect with the
animals. Our shields come down. We understand that sadness and pain
are a part of our job. We stop stuffing our feelings with drugs,
food or isolation. We begin to understand that our feelings of
anger, depression and sadness are best dealt with if we recognise
them and allow them to wash over and past us. We recognise our
incredible potential to help animals. We are changing the
world.
I've noticed that some
people get frozen in Phase 1 (the zealots) or 2 (the zombies), or 3
(the misanthropes). Some shift back and forth between 2 and 3 and
even between 4 and 3 or 4 and 2. Many leave animal work during
Phase 2 or 3, never to return. Some seem to move rapidly to Phase
4, while for others it takes years and years. Some never get a
sense of peace to go along with our purpose, they work their entire
lives on the frantic pink cloud of Phase1 or depressed and angry. I
know, I've been in all four phases in 25 years in animal
protection. Can the journey from Phase1 to 4 be speeded up? Can we
avoid the pain, discomfort and agony that goes with the
journey?
I wish I knew!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...AND MAY I ADD THESE
OTHER WORDS TO AVOID BURNOUT?
Do get involved in
animal rights, YES... BUT: pace yourself! Don't assume you will end
these atrocities tomorrow! Lots of people with lots of more
knowledge before have been working over hundred years to end this
obscenity. Do take time to play! Celebrate frequently the beauty
that does exist despite the world's brutality. Do unite with others
who share your views. Every individual who gets involved takes a
single stone from the enslaving wall until one day the wall must
inevitably crumble and fall! While many animals and many of us will
not live to see that day, we are working to help build the
foundation for the activists of tomorrow who'll continue our work.
Our torch must not be allowed to fall to the ground, but passed
from generation to generation without a stop until that glorious
day of animal liberation arrives! Tomorrow's activists will
remember the early animal soldiers with respect and
affection.
Mary McDonald-Lewis,
Dir. (Last Chance for Animals)
So keep at it animal
rights fight and keep cool. We are not trying to achieve the
impossible. We are trying to accelerate the inevitable. Steven
Tiger, Physician Assistant-Certified (The Anti-Vivisection
Society)
"Tips for Preventing
Burnout", by Joan Zacharias
www.satyamag.com/may04/zacharias.html
AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE .
. .
Set your own
pace........When someone is pushing you, it's OK to tell them
they're pushing.
Take nothing for
granted........Watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow,
your neighbors mow.
Allow yourself time to
be lazy and unproductive.......Rest isn't a luxury, it's a
necessity.
Listen to the wind
blow........It carries a message of yesterday and
tomorrow........And now.........Now counts.
Rest on your
laurels........They bring comfort whatever their size, age or
condition.
Talk slower. Talk less.
Don't talk. Communication isn't measured by
words.
Give yourself permission
to be late sometimes........Life is for living, not
scheduling.
Listen to the song of a
bird........The complete song.
Music and nature are
gifts, but only if you are willing to receive
them.
S! low down. God is
still in heaven........
You are not responsible
for doing it all...yourself... right now.
Remember a happy,
peaceful time in your past........
Rest there. Each moment
has a richness that takes a lifetime to savor.
When you walk with
someone, don't think about what you'll say
next........
Thoughts will spring up
naturally if you let them.
Talk and play with
children.......It will bring out the unhurried little person inside
you.
Create a place in your
home...At your work....in your heart...
where you can go for
quiet and recollection. You deserve it.
Take time to
think........Action is good and necessary, but it's fruitful only
if we muse, ponder and mull.
Make time for
play........The things you like to do.
Whatever your age, your
inner child needs re-creation.
Watch and listen to the
night sky........It speaks.
Listen to the words you
speak........Especially in prayer.
Learn to stand back and
let others take their turn as leaders........
There will always be new
opportunities for you to step out in front
again.
Direct your life with
purposeful choices, not with speed and
efficiency........
The best musician is one
who plays with expression and meaning, not the one who finishes
first.
Take a day off
alone........Make a retreat. You can learn from monks and hermits
without becoming one.
Pet a furry
friend........You will give and get the gift of
now.
Work with your
hands........It frees the mind.
Take time to
wonder........Without wonder, life is merely an
existence
Sit in the
dark........It will treach you to see and hear, taste and
smell.
Once in a
while........Turn down the lights, the throttle, the invitations.
Less really can be more.
Let go........Nothing is
usually the hardest thing to do...but often it is the
best.
Notice the sun and the
moon as they rise and set........They are remarkable for their
steady pattern of movement, not their speed.
And as you ramble on
thru life my dearest friend........Keep your eye upon the doughnut,
and not upon the hole.
"AND SLOWLY COUNT YOUR
BLESSINGS ONE AT A TIME"
ONE STEP AT A TIME
When your mind is
troubled
and you don't know what
to do,
Remember, the sun will
rise tomorrow
love will bring you
through.
When your heart is
heavy
and you see the darkest
hues,
Envision the beautiful
rainbow
your eyes have often
viewed.
When your spirit is
broken
but you're forced to
start anew,
Believe in new
beginnings
for someone believed in
you.
Life is never
easy
with all its twists and
turns,
But hardship has a
value
if you allow yourself to
learn.
It's not the
destination
that makes the spirit
soar,
It's the challenge of
the journey
that enriches to the
core.
Put the goal in
sight
Though the marathon
runner may be completely exhausted from the effort, when the finish
line is in view her pace will quicken.
When the goal is in
sight, things change dramatically. Those who can clearly visualize
the goal from the farthest away are the ones who will surely reach
that goal. When the goal is clearly in sight, you are drawn to it
by a force that is nearly unstoppable. You cannot help but make
whatever effort is necessary to reach it.
When the goal is in
sight, so is the path which will get you there. The more precisely
you can visualize your ultimate goal, the more clearly you will
understand how to achieve it. What are you working to accomplish?
Precisely, exactly, specifically, what is it? What color is it? How
does it feel when you touch it? What does it smell like? How does
it sound? Make it real in your mind. See all the rich details.
Clearly visualize where you're going and you will find a way to get
there.
END
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