We were lucky to catch up with Ellie Laks recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ellie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I have been the only one in the room that is like me for my entire life. When i was a very young child, hearing animals, seeing them, understanding what they needed, and wanting to help them was my superpower. I didn’t understand at that time that the people around me didn’t see animals the same way. Once i got to elementary school and later high school, i started being teased for my gifts and abilities and it was then that it became clear that i was different. While when i was five, six, and seven years old and thought my gifts were my super powers, by the time i hit high school, my gift felt like a curse. I wanted to fit in, be accepted, and feel “normal”. Little did i know at the time that there really is no such thing as normal. Denying who i was caused me enormous pain and ultimately caused me to self medicate, which led me down a very dark and scary road until i almost took my own life in my early twenties. Surprisingly in that moment of truth, i chose to live, and in doing so, chose to be all that i am and accept myself regardless of what others thought about me. Since then i have learned how to practice self care, step completely into who i am, what i do, and own my gifts. I am still the only one in the room that looks like me, but now i wear it well, hold my head up with pride, know that my differences are my superpower, and love being unique.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the Founder of The Gentle Barn, a national organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of farm animals who have nowhere else to go, and through partnership with the animals when they are ready, offer healing and hope to humans going through their own trauma. We are located in Los Angeles, California, St Louis, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee. We are home to horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, llamas, alpacas, emus, and dogs. We are open on Sundays for guests to hug the cows, cuddle the turkeys, hold the chickens, pat the goats and sheep, feed the horses, and hear their stories of resilience. During the week we host private tours, school field trips, bday parties, and our legendary animals assisted therapy programs. I am also an animal communicator with clients all over the world, helping them connect more deeply with their animals and know what they want, need, and feel. I founded The Gentle Barn in 1999 after discovering an abusive petting zoo and bringing sick animals home to my half acre back yard to help them. The much longer version of that story is in my first book, My Gentle Barn; creating a sanctuary where animals heal and children learn to hope. You can find more information at www.gentlebarn.org and www.ellielaks.com
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I have always had a strong intuition and could hear what animals were telling me. As a child i trusted that still small voice inside me without hesitation. As an adult i have had to relearn to trust it and use it as a compass and guide everyday in my life as well as in my work.
I am a very stubborn and determined person when i get an idea in my head. When i set my sights on something there is nothing that will stop me. During the early and very difficult years of The Gentle Barn, instead of giving up and choosing an easier life, my determination made me even more focused and persistent, thank goodness.
My mom modeled generosity and thoughtfulness to others, and my father illustrated an impeccable work ethic and the ideas that our lives must be in service to others. Those qualities have made it easy for me to follow in their footsteps and give of myself everyday. That is my joy.
When we trust ourselves, won’t take “no” for an answer, and live every minute in service, we will end up with our dream jobs and dream lives.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
The idea of self care is something that i have hear my whole life, but have ignored. When i founded The Gentle Barn, I was young, full of energy and idealism, and thought i could work forever. Co Founder, Jay Weiner and I have certainly accomplished a lot. As our organization is growing, as we have much more responsibility, and as we are getting older, we are realizing that self care is critical for our future. I have learned that the rest is as important as the work. To me, self care is not just about relaxation, but also knowing what fills us up and recharges our batteries, not big fancy things, but small, easy, inexpensive, simple things that we can do each day, and can have in our back pocket in times of crisis. Knowing what and who to turn to when i am depleted, and what fills me up, allows me to work even harder and have more to give to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gentlebarn.org and www.ellielaks.com
- Instagram: @thegentlebarn @ellielaks
- Facebook: @thegentlebarn and @ellielaks
- Twitter: @thegentlebarn
- Youtube: @thegentlebarn
- Other: Tick Tock @thegentlebarn
