We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shannon D. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shannon below.
Shannon , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I would say I get my resilience from living a life in survival mode from a very young age. From food and shelter insecurities growing up and being raised in a one parent home where I was left to my own devices most of the time.
I grew up seeing my mother struggle to raise us as best she could on what she had and now I understand what that struggle feels like.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I run a small goat dairy farm where I breed and raise Saanen goats for thier milk. I make goat milk soap and hope to expand into teaching people how to raise and care for goats as well as how to use thier milk to make cheese and soap.
The name of my farm is EscapeGoat Farm named after the situation that brought me where I am today.
I, along with my animals, escaped a severe situation of domestic abuse. We are now rebuilding.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say the three qualities that helped to get me to the path I am on now are stubbornness, resistance and resilience. I know what I want to do with my life and being a farmer and homesteaders is at the top of my list.
I have hit so many roadblocks, mostly due to broken promises or straight up lies from others who I was told had the same dreams as me.
Someone once said to me ” No one has the same exact dream as you. You have to do what YOU want, how you want in order to make those dreams come true…Don’t settle.”
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I was say those that have been the most helpful in overcoming the challenges I’ve faced after my situation have been my partner, my friends who supported me through my tragedy and continue to cheer me on… and my therapists. I have learned so many coping skills by talking and also listening.
Therapy has been a number one factor in overcoming issues and rebuilding faith in myself.
Image Credits
PC EscapeGoat Farm
