As a vegan, one of the most rewarding things that can happen... is for someone to tell us that we inspired them to, as well, adopt a vegan lifestyle. I can't explain how ecstatic it makes me everytime someone tells me "I got the vegan one this time" or "I checked to make sure it was cruelty free" or "I tried that _____ you were talking about." Anything like that is amazinggg. But recently something even better happened. Any convert to the "dark side" (which is actually the compassionate, loving side) is always exciting... but the most exciting to me are the extreme converts. Let me explain... When someone goes from phrases like "I could NEVER be vegan" "How do you live?! You must be starving!" "Eating vegan just sounds gross" to phrases like "I will never make fun of a vegan ever again. You're one of my hero's now" and "The more I learn, the more it upsets me that it never bothered me before." ... Seeing the light just completely switch on in someone's head. Watching their eyes be truly opened to something for the first time that they may have previously dismissed... is a beautiful, beautiful thing. People may brush off what we say when they don't understand it... but when they start doing their own research, the facts cannot be denied. And I couldn't be more pleased about the additions to this wonderful team of enlightened minds.
I often have people asking me for tips or for advice... what they can eat, where they can eat, what they should look out for... the usual questions of a new vegan. So I thought I'd make a little post just with a few basic helpful hints. Just answering some of the questions I've recently gotten. Hopefully it will help some baby born again vegans <3
First off, let me say that Search Engines and Happycow.net are your best friends! You can look almost anything up on your favorite search engine and find out if its vegan. As well as look up your area on Happycow.net and find somewhere to eat that serves vegan options no matter where you are.
FAST FOOD
Before I start talking about eating out (food! ...you dirty minded children) let me say that I refuse to eat from most fast food chains regardless of if they sell veg friendly options, for the sheer fact that they are one of the biggest reasons animal enterprise has become what it is today. I also fear cross contamination like it's going to kill me. If I can't watch you make my "fast food" I'm not going to eat it. God knows what you cooked in that oil you cooked my fries in. So they only "fast food" I will eat is...
1. Subway: The workers are usually really good about changing their gloves if you ask them politely and cleaning the knife before cutting your sub with all the last persons death meal on it. Get a veggie delight on Italian bread. (the Italian bread is the only vegan bread at subway) load that baby up with every veggie you can think of. Top it off with some Mustard, or oil and vinegar. Delish!
2. Chipotle: Believe it or not... the tortillas, black beans, rice, veggie fajitas, guacamole, and lettuce at Chipotle are ALL vegan. If that's not a satisfying meal... I don't know what is.
3. In N Out: If I'm REALLY craving fries... the only fast food place I will purchase them from is In N Out. They only use vegetable oil and they do not cook anything else in the oil so you're clear of cross contamination scares!
AND ACTUALLY I am happy to say that we have a couple Vegan "Fast Food" chains popping up all over the place.... if you come across a Veggie Grill, Native Foods, or Evolution... those are all fully vegan menus!
RESTAURANTS
When going out to eat with friends or family at restaurants... a lot of new vegans fear for their stomachs due to not knowing what they're going to be able to eat or what they'll need to look out for. After a while... you become a pro at ordering out. I can find something to eat no matter where we go! What I usually look for first is a nice salad, fruits or veggies. Most places will have these sides, just make sure the salad doesn't have cheese or croutons on it. And your best bet for dressing is oil and vinegar. If you want fries or hash browns or anything like that... just nicely ask to waiter to check with the cook to see what kind of oil they are cooked in. Most places will tell you Vegetable or Canola... and you're golden! You may also want to request they use a fresh batch of oil... to ensure nothing once living was cooked in the same oil your fries were cooked in. A lot of places now have a veggie burger on the menu. Just double check and make sure it's a dairy free veggie patty and ask for a whole wheat bun (add some avocado, mustard and catchup to that bad boy and you've got yourself some tasty noms). Usually waiters will be able to work with you to find something that can be make vegan on their menu... just be polite and sweet when asking your questions and they won't get as annoyed with your dietary needs. Sometimes it actually sparks some good conversation. Make it clear that you don't eat meat, milk, butter, eggs, or honey when talking to them, because a lot of people don't understand the full extent of veganism.
GROCERY STORES
We are lucky these days to have so many health food and nutrition stores popping up out of the woodworks so if you happen to have a Trader Joe's, Clark's, Mother's, Whole Foods, Spouts, Henry's... anything along those lines... those shelves are stocked with vegan options and are often labeled with a "V" to let you know it's friendly. (Or if you're lucky like we are where I am... there's a fully vegan grocery store called Viva La Vegan and that's the BEST place to shop, hands down.) But even regular grocery stores are starting to line their isles with option us compassionate folk can partake in the consumption of. Sometimes I shop at Vons and they have a fully Vegetarian/Vegan isle with faux meats, cheeses and condiments. I know that Ralphs has something similar, but I don't shop at many regular grocery stores so I don't know the extent of their selections. What I do know though is that every grocery store has a produce section, and that's a haven for vegans. Also, a lot more vegan friendly breads are becoming readily available. Start reading labels. if there's no milk, eggs. whey, casein, etc. in it... chances are it's good to go. (and for health purposes... when reading labels... one thing to always think about... if you don't know what an ingredient is... if you can't pronounce it... chances are it's not good for you... so just steer clear.)
EVERYDAY THINGS
Bathroom items such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc.... Lot's of companies are starting to label their products if they are vegan. They'll put a "Cruelty Free" or a "Certified Vegan" emblem in the back of their products (a cute little bunny or a V inside of a heart). Look for that first. Also check for a "Not Tested on Animals" disclaimer... just be weary is it says "This finished product is not tested on animals" because that usually means that an ingredient in the product was tested on animals sometimes down the line of production just not the finished product.
CLOTHING
I'm going to make this simple. DO NOT WEAR LEATHER, FUR, WOOL, SILK, DOWN, CASHMERE.
There are quite a few other things to not wear... but those are the more common products on the market made from animal products. Try to buy Cotton, Polyester or Acrylic, etc.
The best piece of advice I can really offer of all though... is to purchase anything you possibly can from Vegan establishments and manufacturers. We are a small but mighty group of people and we have to be supportive of people who support us and stand beside us in this cause. So purchasing from strictly vegan places whenever possible is always a fantastic idea. Loyalty is key... if we keep these places thriving, we will never be out of reach from the food and products that we need to function in life as a happy and healthy vegan, and these options will stay available for other people to start opting to use in place of what they might be used to.
Alright... I think I'm going to take a rest now... I know I left a TON out... but there's some starter points. I mainly wrote this to help out a friend who just went vegan... so the more she asks... or other people ask... the more I'll answer. <3
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Let's get down to Ethics...
So... a close friend of mine contacted me last week because she's doing a project for school where she has to write an advocacy letter. Her's happens to be for animal rights (though she is not an animal rights activist) so she came to me asking me for an animal rights activists viewpoint of places like Sea World... So I thought I would post my response... Now my mind is all over the place these past couple weeks... so it's not as well thought out or written out as I may have liked... but however scatterbrained it may be... it is my view nonetheless. And I am proud of my views... hence the reason to post them for the world to see... Enjoy.
Alright... where to even begin. I'm sorry Ive been so busy lately and my mind is all over the place so this might not be as well thought out or well written as I'd like. I'll keep it simple and to the point. Animals at Wild Animals parks... are just that. WILD ANIMALS. Beautiful creatures such as whales and dolphins and other cetaceans are used to, and made for life in the Open Ocean. They are used to swimming hundreds of miles in one day. Used to being able to dive down to the bottom of the ocean... but then they're moved to places like Sea World and they're in Tanks. Tanks that seem big to us... but to a 50 foot creature... they're tiny. They can only swim in circles and are only fed when they do what their Trainer wants them to... the way I see it is... how would you feel if someone took your baby from you and put them in a tiny room with glass walls... taught them to do weird acts that aren't natural to them and then only fed them when they performed properly... in front of hundreds of strangers they don't know... all for a fucking profit. Your child would be exploited, tortured and starved... all in the name of money and entertainment. God knows none of us would let that happen to our own children... so why is it ok for us to steal someone (other people may reference animals as somethings... but I prefer to call them someones) else's child and put them though that sort of life? It's a double standard and it's sickening to me. No wild animal should be kept in captivity... its not natural, its not healthy, its no way to live. One thing that animal rights activists see differently then the rest of the world... is that... in our eyes... we are no better than any other creature... therefore we should hold no authority over any other creature. Just as we would not like someone else deciding our lives, our professions, our lovers, and our deaths... how is it our place to decide those same things for other sentient, living, breathing, feeling brothers and sisters in life. And some people say it's good for learning purposes... and that's bullshit. You want to really learn about marine animals... go out to sea and swim with them... in their natural habitat. I promise you it will be NOTHING like swimming with them in captivity. Animals that are kept in captivity have so many health and psychological issues because they are so for from what is natural to them. I know all the dolphins look so happy out there dancing for your enjoyment but they're only happy because they're finally getting their meal for the day. They didn't wake up that morning and go tell their trainer what tricks they wanted to do.... they didn't tell their trainer what kind of food they wanted for dinner... they didn't tell them what other animal they wanted to be tanked with... or mated with... no... all of that was planned our for them. They have no say in their own lives and they have no freedom, until the day that they die. Which in parks like Sea World is much earlier than their natural deaths. Whales actually have quite a long life span... but in captivity usually only last like 6 years ... and that's if they're lucky. Though, I guess that depends on how you look at it... I'm sure some of them wished they were dead instead of living that kind of life. I don't know.... I guess all I can really ask you to consider is would you be willing to subject yourself or your children or your loved ones... to the same life that an animal in a park like Sea World lives? No? Alright then, obviously it's not morally ethical.
Alright... where to even begin. I'm sorry Ive been so busy lately and my mind is all over the place so this might not be as well thought out or well written as I'd like. I'll keep it simple and to the point. Animals at Wild Animals parks... are just that. WILD ANIMALS. Beautiful creatures such as whales and dolphins and other cetaceans are used to, and made for life in the Open Ocean. They are used to swimming hundreds of miles in one day. Used to being able to dive down to the bottom of the ocean... but then they're moved to places like Sea World and they're in Tanks. Tanks that seem big to us... but to a 50 foot creature... they're tiny. They can only swim in circles and are only fed when they do what their Trainer wants them to... the way I see it is... how would you feel if someone took your baby from you and put them in a tiny room with glass walls... taught them to do weird acts that aren't natural to them and then only fed them when they performed properly... in front of hundreds of strangers they don't know... all for a fucking profit. Your child would be exploited, tortured and starved... all in the name of money and entertainment. God knows none of us would let that happen to our own children... so why is it ok for us to steal someone (other people may reference animals as somethings... but I prefer to call them someones) else's child and put them though that sort of life? It's a double standard and it's sickening to me. No wild animal should be kept in captivity... its not natural, its not healthy, its no way to live. One thing that animal rights activists see differently then the rest of the world... is that... in our eyes... we are no better than any other creature... therefore we should hold no authority over any other creature. Just as we would not like someone else deciding our lives, our professions, our lovers, and our deaths... how is it our place to decide those same things for other sentient, living, breathing, feeling brothers and sisters in life. And some people say it's good for learning purposes... and that's bullshit. You want to really learn about marine animals... go out to sea and swim with them... in their natural habitat. I promise you it will be NOTHING like swimming with them in captivity. Animals that are kept in captivity have so many health and psychological issues because they are so for from what is natural to them. I know all the dolphins look so happy out there dancing for your enjoyment but they're only happy because they're finally getting their meal for the day. They didn't wake up that morning and go tell their trainer what tricks they wanted to do.... they didn't tell their trainer what kind of food they wanted for dinner... they didn't tell them what other animal they wanted to be tanked with... or mated with... no... all of that was planned our for them. They have no say in their own lives and they have no freedom, until the day that they die. Which in parks like Sea World is much earlier than their natural deaths. Whales actually have quite a long life span... but in captivity usually only last like 6 years ... and that's if they're lucky. Though, I guess that depends on how you look at it... I'm sure some of them wished they were dead instead of living that kind of life. I don't know.... I guess all I can really ask you to consider is would you be willing to subject yourself or your children or your loved ones... to the same life that an animal in a park like Sea World lives? No? Alright then, obviously it's not morally ethical.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Earth Day!
Alright, so tomorrow is Earth Day! I don't know if everyone else is stoked... but I am. Sadly, I'll be at work all day so I won't be able to participate in any events or anything like that, but there are plenty of other ways in which I will participate in the celebration of our lovely planet. So I thought I'd compile a list of small, random, easy things that anyone can do to help make even a small impact... some may seem silly... but they really do add up. Now, I'm no expert on environmentalism, and a lot of these things I, myself, have to work on as well... but I thought it'd be fun to compile what I could think of... and attempt to follow them as best I can.... and encourage others to do the same... as well as anything else they can to help impact this place.
I know I'm missing a lot of things... but my brain is slowing turning off, and that's what I've come up with. 25 simple things you can try to do tomorrow... and try to continue doing from here on out, to make whatever impact you can in saving this precious place we like to call our home. <3
- For starters... the biggest thing anyone can do to help the environment is Give up Meat and Animal Products. The factory farming industry and animal enterprises are the single largest contributor to this planets depletion. Veganism is environmentalism
- Walk or Bike instead of Drive
- Turn lights off that aren't needed
- Turn off and Unplug what's not being used
- Buy and start using a water canteen instead of plastic water bottles
- Start a recycling bin at your work or home
- Take shorter showers
- If you're a Starbucks junkie, bring a reusable cup with you
- Air dry your hands after washing, or use reusable cloth, rather than paper towels
- Purchase only Organic and Local produce
- Don't watch television, go outside and take your pet for a walk
- Wash your clothes/hands/dishes/anything... in cold water
- Plant a tree or garden
- If you spot litter... pick it up and put it where it belongs
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
- Take a reusable lunchpale to work, not a lunch bag
- Use tupper-ware, not plastic bags
- Use reusable bags at the grocery store
- Don't use the air conditioner or heater
- Get off the computer for a while and read a book
- Use Eco-friendly and cruelty free household and cleaning products
- Buy Less! (as Tonya Kay would say... the Non-Consumer is the Green-Consumer)
- Donate old clothes
- Don't print it if it's not absolutely necessary
- Opt to go Paperless - pay your bills online
I know I'm missing a lot of things... but my brain is slowing turning off, and that's what I've come up with. 25 simple things you can try to do tomorrow... and try to continue doing from here on out, to make whatever impact you can in saving this precious place we like to call our home. <3
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Update....
I know I was posting a bit recently about a possibility of moving across the country to go work for Farm Sanctuary... and then I never posted about what happened with that... so I just wanted to do a little personal update on what's going on in my life right now, for those that may be interested.
Seeing as how I am still here in Southern California... I, obviously, did not get the job. Last week was pretty hard on me after getting the news, but it's all sort of coming together now. I understand why I was not chosen to go work in New York, and am partially grateful that I did not get the position. As amazing as the experience would have been to live and work at an animal sanctuary.... many more opportunities are arising for me here at home, and I can see that now was not the time to leave.
A lot is changing (as my life always seems to be changing) and a lot of awesome things are coming up in my near future. Not moving across the country has given me the opportunity to continue my newly embarked on volunteer work for an amazing organization called Action for Animals. They are based outside of California. so my involvement with them is proving to be beneficial for them, since I can do events here in Southern California when they don't have the ability to fly down... as well as be great experience for me, seeing as how they are requesting that I help table some really incredible events with them such as the Animal Rights National Conference, Worldfest and Warped Tour. So I'm extremely excited about the upcoming events that I'm so privileged to be a part of, as well as continuing to find my niche here along this crazy road. All the reading I've been doing lately has really got me hooked even more in this crazy world of animal rights activism and I find myself wanting more and more to be a part of everything that's going on. Though I know I do not have that ability right now... so I'll continue to do what I can... while experiencing everything else through books and computer screens.
I hope that one day soon, I find myself at a place in my life where my entire days can be dedicated to animal rights and activism. Instead of sitting behind a desk doing work that means absolutely nothing to me, aside from being a way to pay my bills, I'd like to be sitting behind a desk, researching and reporting on issues that I care about... or organizing and participating in events that support this movement and spread awareness...
At this point in time... I honestly have no idea where I'm headed... or when I'll get to where I'm suppose to be. I know I'm not there yet... but I feel like everyday I'm inching closer to the right path... and that is good enough for me.
Seeing as how I am still here in Southern California... I, obviously, did not get the job. Last week was pretty hard on me after getting the news, but it's all sort of coming together now. I understand why I was not chosen to go work in New York, and am partially grateful that I did not get the position. As amazing as the experience would have been to live and work at an animal sanctuary.... many more opportunities are arising for me here at home, and I can see that now was not the time to leave.
A lot is changing (as my life always seems to be changing) and a lot of awesome things are coming up in my near future. Not moving across the country has given me the opportunity to continue my newly embarked on volunteer work for an amazing organization called Action for Animals. They are based outside of California. so my involvement with them is proving to be beneficial for them, since I can do events here in Southern California when they don't have the ability to fly down... as well as be great experience for me, seeing as how they are requesting that I help table some really incredible events with them such as the Animal Rights National Conference, Worldfest and Warped Tour. So I'm extremely excited about the upcoming events that I'm so privileged to be a part of, as well as continuing to find my niche here along this crazy road. All the reading I've been doing lately has really got me hooked even more in this crazy world of animal rights activism and I find myself wanting more and more to be a part of everything that's going on. Though I know I do not have that ability right now... so I'll continue to do what I can... while experiencing everything else through books and computer screens.
I hope that one day soon, I find myself at a place in my life where my entire days can be dedicated to animal rights and activism. Instead of sitting behind a desk doing work that means absolutely nothing to me, aside from being a way to pay my bills, I'd like to be sitting behind a desk, researching and reporting on issues that I care about... or organizing and participating in events that support this movement and spread awareness...
At this point in time... I honestly have no idea where I'm headed... or when I'll get to where I'm suppose to be. I know I'm not there yet... but I feel like everyday I'm inching closer to the right path... and that is good enough for me.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Green is the New Red.
As most of my friends know... I enjoy reading the way most of my friends enjoy partying. I'll do it willingly on a Friday night cozy in my bed with my puppies... while everyone else is out being crazy. I've even been known to read out loud to my pups... not because I'm expecting them to retain all the information along with me, but simply because reading aloud helps me remember what I've read (and it's just fun to read to my dogs, I admit this). Above all sorts of reading material, if you tell me that it has to do with veganism or animal rights... I'm all in and willing to read immediately. And I've read some really amazing books on said topics, but none like this. Never has a book grabbed me so intensely, that I finished it in 3 days. I work full time and never have the time to finish books as quickly as I'd like, but I couldn't put this one down. I've read books and books about the treatment of animals... the effect that their consumption has on our human health... the detrimental effects that factory farming and animal enterprise has on our planet... but I had yet to read a book about the things that people have done to take action for these movements, or the consequences that these people have been faced with.
Up until recently the only thing I ever associated with "terrorism" was the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. I had heard of nothing prior and did not keep up with much news after. I'm 21 years old and only recently have I become interested in political affairs, so my knowledge is pretty bleak. I never thought that a seemingly compassionate movement that I strongly stand beside day in and day out could be put up in the same ranks as terrorist acts such as 9/11... but it has. In "Green is the New Red" Will Potter documents numerous accounts of animal rights activists and environmental activists being labeled as terrorists and being put on trial (and convicted) for acts such as protests, leafleting, information distribution, speeches, civil disobedience, running websites, etc ... all these acts protected under the First Amendment... (and then of course the bigger issues of animal liberation acts of freeing laboratory animals, arson to animal enterprises and things of that nature). He tells of animal enterprises lobbying to further legislation and widen the gaps in passing the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, to attempt to invoke fear in these "terrorist" (whom the rest of us like to name as activists) and how people pressed on in the movement and continued their underground actions despite what the government has been doing to try to stop them (or us, depending on how you view it). It's crazy reading about all these stories of actions that have been made and deemed as terrorism... when in the history of Animal Liberation Front actions, not a single human being has ever been harmed. It's considered terrorism because the government is feeling the economic strain by an ever growing group of conscious human beings. Money, money, money... it's all anyone seems to care about anymore. Potter goes into detail about other convictions outside of animal activism and environmentalism and how they are not tied to terrorism though their characteristics are much more along the lines that most of us understand, due to physical harm being done to humans.
I wish I could explain all the points that Potter made in this book, but I cannot... I'll have to read it another couple times before I can even retain all the incredible information (not because it's difficult to understand, but because he covers so much ground). And besides... I don't want to ruin the book for other people. Honestly... it doesn't matter what your stance in on the animal rights or environmental movements... this book is such an amazing source of information on those subjects as well as how our government works these days... and it's truly mind-blowing. I have to admit that for the first time in my life, I actually kissed this book upon its conclusion. I've been a vegan/vegetarian for quite some time now but I've just recently been wanting to take that further and be able to call myself an activist... and this book doesn't scare me away from that wanting... it actually makes me want it even more. I'm proud of what the people of this movement have done and the successes they have made and the repercussions they have been willing to endure... and I hope that one day I have the courage that they do, to truly stand up to what they see as wrong and use direct action to bring about change.
Now, I find myself hungry to know more and get more informed about what's really going on. Thank you Will Potter for filling my head with knowledge and making me more aware of what I stand for and even more proud to continue standing for it.
I highly recommend that everyone read "Green is the New Red" by Will Potter and keep up with his website greenisthenewred.com
Up until recently the only thing I ever associated with "terrorism" was the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. I had heard of nothing prior and did not keep up with much news after. I'm 21 years old and only recently have I become interested in political affairs, so my knowledge is pretty bleak. I never thought that a seemingly compassionate movement that I strongly stand beside day in and day out could be put up in the same ranks as terrorist acts such as 9/11... but it has. In "Green is the New Red" Will Potter documents numerous accounts of animal rights activists and environmental activists being labeled as terrorists and being put on trial (and convicted) for acts such as protests, leafleting, information distribution, speeches, civil disobedience, running websites, etc ... all these acts protected under the First Amendment... (and then of course the bigger issues of animal liberation acts of freeing laboratory animals, arson to animal enterprises and things of that nature). He tells of animal enterprises lobbying to further legislation and widen the gaps in passing the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, to attempt to invoke fear in these "terrorist" (whom the rest of us like to name as activists) and how people pressed on in the movement and continued their underground actions despite what the government has been doing to try to stop them (or us, depending on how you view it). It's crazy reading about all these stories of actions that have been made and deemed as terrorism... when in the history of Animal Liberation Front actions, not a single human being has ever been harmed. It's considered terrorism because the government is feeling the economic strain by an ever growing group of conscious human beings. Money, money, money... it's all anyone seems to care about anymore. Potter goes into detail about other convictions outside of animal activism and environmentalism and how they are not tied to terrorism though their characteristics are much more along the lines that most of us understand, due to physical harm being done to humans.
I wish I could explain all the points that Potter made in this book, but I cannot... I'll have to read it another couple times before I can even retain all the incredible information (not because it's difficult to understand, but because he covers so much ground). And besides... I don't want to ruin the book for other people. Honestly... it doesn't matter what your stance in on the animal rights or environmental movements... this book is such an amazing source of information on those subjects as well as how our government works these days... and it's truly mind-blowing. I have to admit that for the first time in my life, I actually kissed this book upon its conclusion. I've been a vegan/vegetarian for quite some time now but I've just recently been wanting to take that further and be able to call myself an activist... and this book doesn't scare me away from that wanting... it actually makes me want it even more. I'm proud of what the people of this movement have done and the successes they have made and the repercussions they have been willing to endure... and I hope that one day I have the courage that they do, to truly stand up to what they see as wrong and use direct action to bring about change.
Now, I find myself hungry to know more and get more informed about what's really going on. Thank you Will Potter for filling my head with knowledge and making me more aware of what I stand for and even more proud to continue standing for it.
I highly recommend that everyone read "Green is the New Red" by Will Potter and keep up with his website greenisthenewred.com
Sunday, April 3, 2011
On Blitzen!
I actually cried while watching this just now.
Tears of happiness.
THIS is why I NEED to be at Farm Sanctuary.
Tears of happiness.
THIS is why I NEED to be at Farm Sanctuary.
Life is Changing...
I've never been happier than I am right now. I've never felt closer to a dream or so excited about my future. I'm starting to see that big steps actually make a difference sometimes. I finally took a huge risk for me... and it just might be paying off. Last weekend I applied for a job with Farm Sanctuary believing it was a huge longshot, that they probably wouldn't even consider me... you know, all those doubtful thoughts, but still hoping for the best and proud of myself for even taking a step like that. Well, I was very wrong, in the best way possible. They contacted me yesterday stating they wanted to interview me for the New York shelter! (Now, let me just explain that I've ALWAYS wanted to live in New York. It was my biggest dream when I was little, but I gave up on it because it just hasn't been feasible in my life) I had a phone interview yesterday and it seemed to go really well! And the woman I interviewed with informed me that she'd be in touch this week to give me more details and let me know... My heart has been racing for 24 hours straight! I can't even explain how exciting this is for me. I was barely expecting to hear from them, but I was especially not expecting to hear from them about working at the NEW YORK shelter. But I'm crossing all my fingers (I'd cross my toes too but my recent surgery makes that humanly impossible for me) and sending out the most positive energy into the universe. I feel like this experience will completely change my perspective on life. I feel like it's going to start a domino effect of me actually beginning to live how I've always wanted to. Working at something I'm passionate about and not just something that pays my bills.
I've started planning my road trip up there (yes, I'm going to drive all the way across the country from my home in Southern California, to my new home in Upstate New York)... I've already decided that I'm stopping at every "Welcome to (State Name)" sign and taking a picture (since I'll be passing through 11 states to get there, and I've never really been anywhere in the United States). I've started cleaning out my apartment... since I know I won't be able to take much. I'll be living in shared housing on the farm with other employees and interns so I won't have much room for things... which I'm actually really excited about. I often times rely too much on "things" and I hate that. I'm going to bring clothing, my writing books, my guitar, my computer and some books to read. That's it. I feel like this is going to be such an amazing experience for me to just get away from the real world for a while and just get in tune with nature. Spend time with these animals that I care so much about. Educate myself a bit and do some good writing. I want to document my time on the farm and just use my computer to skype home and see my friends and family and puppy. That's one thing I'm not stoked about... I have to leave Goliath behind (and all my friends and family too haha) but my mom is going to take good care of my baby and everyone's ready to skype me and keep me update on home life.
So depending on how a call goes later this week... my world could be Drastically changing and I should be on a road trip to New York in 3 weeks. And I'm hoping so badly that is the case.
I need this. But most importantly... I deserve this. I've been working too long just to pay my bills, it's time that I work to make me happy and support a cause that I am attached to and extremely passionate about.
So here's to living and making life everything you want it to be. It shouldn't be any other way.
I've started planning my road trip up there (yes, I'm going to drive all the way across the country from my home in Southern California, to my new home in Upstate New York)... I've already decided that I'm stopping at every "Welcome to (State Name)" sign and taking a picture (since I'll be passing through 11 states to get there, and I've never really been anywhere in the United States). I've started cleaning out my apartment... since I know I won't be able to take much. I'll be living in shared housing on the farm with other employees and interns so I won't have much room for things... which I'm actually really excited about. I often times rely too much on "things" and I hate that. I'm going to bring clothing, my writing books, my guitar, my computer and some books to read. That's it. I feel like this is going to be such an amazing experience for me to just get away from the real world for a while and just get in tune with nature. Spend time with these animals that I care so much about. Educate myself a bit and do some good writing. I want to document my time on the farm and just use my computer to skype home and see my friends and family and puppy. That's one thing I'm not stoked about... I have to leave Goliath behind (and all my friends and family too haha) but my mom is going to take good care of my baby and everyone's ready to skype me and keep me update on home life.
So depending on how a call goes later this week... my world could be Drastically changing and I should be on a road trip to New York in 3 weeks. And I'm hoping so badly that is the case.
I need this. But most importantly... I deserve this. I've been working too long just to pay my bills, it's time that I work to make me happy and support a cause that I am attached to and extremely passionate about.
So here's to living and making life everything you want it to be. It shouldn't be any other way.
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