We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bruce Dunbar . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bruce below.
Bruce, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hopes that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Being a recovering Alcoholic who has had bi polar issues can be challenging when dealing with so many personalities and day to day business decisions. For me the donkeys and horses keep me grounded, centered and focused. They put things in perspective and allow me the space to work things out in my own time frame. They bring home the importance of being part of the herd while allowing for individuals to be themselves. They help me realize I am not always in control and that is ok. Things will work out if I continue on my path and not wander off on tangents or get distracted by issues I cannot control. The donkeys just want to be safe and be cared for, after all isn’t that we all want? They teach me patience and acceptance while being strong from within one’s own skin.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
At My Sweet Ass Beverage Burros our goal is to put a smile on your face and hopefully teach you something about donkeys at the same time. By bringing these amazing animals to your wedding, your school, library or event we hope to share the joy they bring us. People think donkeys are stubborn or stupid neither of which is true. A donkey won’t put itself in a situation it is afraid of or does not understand, something I wish more people would do. They work on trust and trusting a leader figure, it’s great to see people take that role with our donkeys. Seeing the look of excitement when the donkey trust someone is always a special moment for us all .
We take our donkeys on regular hikes with people and let them experience the donkeys out in the desert, one on one where the relationship can flourish.
One of the best things about our job is watching people’s faces light up when they see the donkey arrive.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Patience, perseverance and compassion would be 3 qualities I think most important in building any business that involves people and animals. My background was in hospitality, primarily the kitchen, while my partner is an artist with background in teaching young people. Our skill sets line up well with our present business as we deal with the public and peoples special occasions. We need to pay attention to detail and be considerate of different clients level of comfort around animals they may have no experience with.
It is also important to not let negativity or ignorance stop you from doing what you love. Sharing our animals is very rewarding, but not everyone is ready for that experience or interested in trying it out. So we offer what we can and if it doesn’t work out, we move on, always hoping for a positive outcome.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We would really like to partner with local businesses, organizations and civil groups, police, fire ect doing team building and hiking excersises. Getting them to see the value of working with the donkeys, learning about the animals and themselves to bring a calming joyful experience to their busy hectic day. The donkeys are very therapeutic and working with them can open you up to learn more about yourself and your fellow human beings.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @beverageburro
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysweetasspip?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Youtube: Bruce Dunbar@brucedunbar4790
Image Credits
Bruce Dunbar
