I’ve spent the last few years messing around with a small hobby farm on the outskirts of town, and let me tell you, keeping goats is nothing like the peaceful picture you see in storybooks. These animals are loud, stubborn, and they will literally eat the cigarette butts out of your pocket if you aren’t looking. But after a while, I started noticing there’s a lot more to these guys than just mischief. Living with them day in and day out actually taught me a few things about life that I couldn’t find in any self-help book.
The first thing I realized is that goats are the ultimate survivors. I watched one of my does, a scrappy little thing I call “Patch,” climb onto the roof of the chicken coop just to get a better view of the sunset. It hit me that goats represent incredible persistence. They don’t care if the path is rocky or if people think they’re crazy for trying to climb a vertical wall. They just keep going until they get to the top. It made me rethink my own career struggles; I stopped complaining about the “steep hills” in my office and just started climbing.
What I Learned from the Herd
- Unstoppable Independence: Unlike sheep that just follow the guy in front of them, goats think for themselves. If a goat sees a gap in the fence, he’s going through it. It’s a huge symbol of personal freedom and not just being another face in the crowd.
- Grounding and Stability: Even though they climb high, they have these weird rectangular pupils that let them see almost 360 degrees. To me, that means staying alert and keeping your feet on the ground even when your head is in the clouds.
- Curiosity as a Tool: A goat investigates everything with its mouth. While it’s annoying when they chew my shoelaces, it reminded me to stay curious about the world. You can’t learn anything if you’re afraid to touch it.
One rainy Tuesday, I was out in the mud trying to fix a broken gate. I was frustrated, soaked to the bone, and ready to quit the whole farming thing. Then, my biggest buck walked up and just stared at me. He didn’t look bothered by the rain at all. He looked… solid. That’s when it clicked for me that goats are symbols of sacrifice and provision. Historically, they gave everything—milk, wool, meat—and they did it while living on the harshest land. It taught me about being useful to the people around me without making a big deal out of it.
I also started looking into the older stories, the ones from back in the day. People used to talk about the “Scapegoat,” the one who carries all the mess so the rest of the group can stay clean. In my own life, I realized I was playing that role at my old job, taking the blame for things I didn’t do just to keep the peace. Seeing it reflected in the behavior of my herd helped me stand up for myself. I realized I didn’t have to be the one carrying everyone else’s junk anymore.
Lastly, there’s the balance of it all. Goats have this reputation for being “naughty” or even a bit “dark” in some cultures, but they’re also the providers of life in others. It’s about that duality. They are playful kids jumping around one minute and grumpy old men the next. They remind us that it’s okay to have a wild side while still being dependable. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to be real.
After three years of fixing fences and dodging headbutts, I don’t look at these animals as just livestock anymore. They’re like little four-legged philosophers. They taught me to trust my gut, climb my own mountains, and not worry so much about what the “sheep” are doing down in the meadow. If you ever feel stuck, honestly, go hang out with a goat for an afternoon. You’ll probably lose a button or two, but you’ll definitely find some perspective.
