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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>"Rescuers Need Rescue, Too"</span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Animal rescue is deeply rewarding yet extremely
difficult work. To survive in this realm, one must find healthy ways to cope
with the emotional challenges. Here are 10 points to ponder.</span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>You can't save them all. Even if you spent every hour
of every day working to save animals, you still wouldn't be able to save them
all. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your efforts.</span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Work smarter, not harder. Manage your rescue efforts
like a business. Organize tasks to make the best use of time. For example, time
spent recruiting more volunteers may make more sense in the long run than
trying to do more yourself. If you find yourself pulled in many directions, you
might be more effective if you focus on one rescue facility, one geographic
locale, or one species or breed.</span></font></b></strong><b><font size=4
color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Just say no. Many people feel guilty when they can't
take care of everything that comes up. Be realistic about how much you can
handle! If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to say, "I can't right
now." Delegate to others when possible, and ask for help when you need it.</span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>You are making a difference. Whenever you question
whether you're helping very much, remember the old parable about the man
walking on the beach, picking up starfish who have washed ashore and tossing
them gently, one by one, back into the ocean. Another man approaches, notices
that there are starfish on the beach for as far as the eye can see, and asks,
"What difference can you possibly make when there are so many?"
Looking at the creature in his hand, the first man replies, "I can make
all the difference in the world to THIS starfish." </span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Celebrate victories. There are happy endings to many
rescue stories. Rejoice in what is working. Of course, seeing an animal go home
with a loving family is the greatest reward of all.</span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Small kindnesses do count. It's common to think that
small efforts don't mean as much as large victories, but stopping to pet an
animal, even for just one minute is worth doing. Your touch may be the only
friendly attention he or she receives that day. Grooming, holding and
comforting, or intoning softly that you care, are activities that many shelters
don't have time for.</span></font></b></strong><b><font size=4 color=blue
face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;
font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Find outlets for emotional release. Rescue work can
be physically exhausting, emotionally draining and spiritually challenging.
Don't dismiss your feelings or think you're a wimp for being affected by it
all. Talk to someone you trust about what you're experiencing. Cry when you
need to. Write your feelings in a journal.</span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Channel your emotions into action by writing to the
editor of your newspaper or your local representatives about the need for
animal protection legislation.</span></font></b></strong><b><font size=4
color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Take care of yourself. Make time to do whatever makes
you feel good. Take a relaxing bath, or go out to dinner and let someone else
do the cooking. You need to recharge your batteries in order to maintain mental
and physical health.</span></font></b></strong><b><font size=4 color=blue
face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;
font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Don't downplay your compassion. When people ask me
why I rescue animals, often I'm tempted to say, "Oh, it's not big
deal" or "Somebody's got to do it," when in reality I rescue
animals because I care so deeply about them. Compassion is healthy, normal and
necessary for this work. Let people know how important this cause is to you.
You just might inspire others to become involved.</span></font></b></strong><b><font
size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Never give up. When you get discouraged, it is
tempting to throw in the towel. Take a break, and come back fighting. And
remember the man and the starfish. </span></font></b></strong><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial'>By Chandra Moira Beal</span></font></b></strong><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=5 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>The man and the starfish</span></font></b></strong><font
size=5 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>.</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:
Arial'>There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn. In
the distance he saw a frail old man. As he approached the old man, he saw him
picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. </span></font></b></strong><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:
Arial'>The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the
small starfish from the sand to the water. He asked, "Old man, why do you
spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?"</span></font></b></strong><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:
Arial'>The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in
the morning sun. " But there must be thousands of beached and millions of
starfish!" exclaimed the young man. "How can you make any
difference?"</span></font></b></strong><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:
Arial'>The old man looked down at the small starfish in his hand and as he
threw it into the safety of the sea, he said, "I made a difference to this
one."</span><!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/ending.lbi" --><!-- #EndLibraryItem --></font></b></strong><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Helena Poist<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Proplanner<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>2500 North Loop Drive</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ames</span></font></st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">IA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">50010</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>helena@proplanner.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>515-296-7526<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>fax: 515-296-3229<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>http://www.proplanner.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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