A former business professional has discovered profound fulfillment after abandoning corporate success for the demanding work of running a farm animal sanctuary in rural Austria.
Andreas Nussbaumer and his wife operate a sanctuary for rescued farm animals in Weppersdorf, Austria, where they care for 150 animals. The transition from his previous career brought Nussbaumer face-to-face with what he describes as the emptiness of his former professional life.
Crediting his wife for drawing him toward this new path, Nussbaumer was pulled away from the business world and "into just being, surrounded by the vegetables and the animals," he told DailyGood.
The sanctuary work has proven transformative in unexpected ways. According to Nussbaumer, the animals serve as constant teachers about mindfulness and authenticity. They "show you, every single moment, whether you are actually present," he said, speaking to DailyGood. "The horses will tell you the truth about yourself that you were too busy to hear."
One particularly instructive episode involved a massive snail infestation. Rather than resorting to poison, the couple chose observation and patience. Their restraint revealed a surprising pattern: the snails avoided healthy plants entirely, consuming only vegetation already weakened or dying from other causes. This discovery shifted their entire approach from pest elimination to cultivating plant vitality.
The lesson extended beyond gardening. Nussbaumer acknowledges that global problems continue to weigh on him and his wife, yet the animals and plants have taught him the value of directing energy toward what he can actually control. Physical and emotional health have become priorities, replacing the anxiety of trying to solve problems beyond his reach.
"I can be fully present here at the sanctuary, pet the animals, laugh, feel grateful, and put my energy into the things I can actually influence," Nussbaumer told DailyGood.
The sanctuary represents more than a career change for the couple. It embodies a fundamental reorientation toward presence, authenticity, and the wisdom that emerges when humans slow down enough to learn from the natural world around them.