Month: November 2018

It’s sometimes easy to get into a rut. A rut where everything can feel the same, to the point where it’s easier to do nothing than to get up and get motivated to find something to do.

• I’m bored
• I’m too tired
• It’s too late
• It’s too early
• I have no-one to do anything with
• I’ll start tomorrow
• I can’t think of anything to do
• I don’t have the money
• I don’t have the time

It’s unfortunate that so many people actually live their daily lives by the philosophy that they’re in a rut – but it’s not impossible to get out of one.

One of the best ways to de-rut?

• Think about YOUR blessings
• Be thankful for every one of them
• Promise not to take advantage of them
• Use your blessings to make a difference

What does that mean?

Okay, so you’re bored. But (BUT), you have the luxury of being able to get up, get out, get a drink or grab a bite to eat. If you’re cold, you can go in. If you’re hot, you can open a window. If you’re hurt, you can go to a doctor. If you’re tired, you can rest in comfort and in safety. If you’re anxious, you can go for a walk. If you’re itchy, you can use a back-scratcher.

You get where I’m going with this, right?

• Most animals in need do not have even the most simple luxuries you might take for granted.

The point?

No matter what YOUR rut, YOU can do something to change it. It might not be the change you desire on every level, but you CAN do something to change it.

• You can be thankful for what you have right now, and use those blessings to make a difference.

YOU are blessed. No matter what your situation is today, right now, you have the option to turn it around. And that’s a lot.

That’s more than most animals in need have, or hope to have.

If you can change the world for YOU, you can go one step farther, and change the world for an animal in need.

Today, and every day, take a moment to count YOUR blessings, and then use your blessings to make a difference for an animal in need who needs YOU to be their blessing.

Be thankful, be grateful, be appreciative, and live. And then take THAT and make it MORE for an animal in need.  It matters.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I am blessed in many ways. It’s the reason for my many blessings that I am able to advocate in all the ways I do to save and better the lives of animals in need.

Advocating is a difficult passion. It’s hard, exhausting, emotionally tiring, a time-stealer, and many times, the call to help is not on  your schedule.

Advocating is also one of the very bests part of me.

In my journey of advocating, I have spoken with people from all over the world who have similar ideals, goals, and passions. During more than one conversation (and I have had hundreds), the topic has come up of how advocating affects family life.  There are many passionate individuals just like me who told me that they have had to limit their time and efforts in Animal Welfare because it was negatively impacting their spouse or partner.

That just floored me.  

With so many roadblocks in advocating, it greatly saddened me to hear that many individuals were getting similar treatment on the home-front.   

In part, I get it. Advocating, and all the comes with that, takes TIME. Sometimes it takes more time than we have in a day, a week, a weekend. It can mean using spare time, or time from/after work, to finish those calls or e-mails, meet that person, or  – literally, go save a life.

I guess if your spouse or partner does not feel the same passion, or his/her views on animals is different, or they simply dislike having to share your time (jealously and feeling left out/ignored comes to mind) – then things on a personal level can become conflicted and even get nasty.  I have heard a few really awful stories.

However, if your partner does not feel the same passion – but understand yours, or his/her views on animals is different – but you’re helping to save and better lives and that’s recognized, or if they simply dislike having to share your time – but have hearts big enough to work around that; then your relationship, from an advocacy standpoint is pretty golden.

My relationship is pretty golden.  

And, when it comes to my endeavors:

Despite the nights and weekends when we are two ships passing in the night because of my endless running for animals, we are golden.

Despite the times he finds me crying at the computer because of the horrible things I read, see and share for animals in need, we are golden.

Despite the times I need to talk something out because I am upset, angry and frustrated over an abuse/neglect situation, we are golden.

Despite the hours I spend worrying over an animal that I cannot get to or trap, we are golden.

And, when he so adventurously offers and accompanies me when I go to the aid of an animal in need, we are golden.

I think loving someone, really loving them, means also being open and big hearted enough to be able to embrace your partners’ passions, goals and endeavors, even if they are something you don’t share or completely understand. You can still support and encourage – and yes, be there – for your partner, even if you need to keep some distance because you want or need to. Committing to someone also means you are willing to be a testament to your partner’s story and experiences, even if they are not in sync with yours.  

My husband really loves me. But he was a loving, big hearted, kind soul long before we met. I think his heart just grows bigger each year.

And I’m glad, so glad, his heart grows bigger for me every year.

James, I love you so. Thank you for every moment, every way you love me.

And thank you for supporting me with one of the very best parts of me – my advocating.  You don’t have to support me, which makes it all the more special.

So happy to be so golden with you.

Happy Birthday.  xo