We Can Make a Difference for Animals! But How?

I am feeling rather reflective today.
People are very angry about what happened with Cecil the lion and understandably so. 
For me, it is not only about this beautiful lion but with all our wild and domesticated animal friends whether they live on land, fly in the air or swim in the sea.
I thank God for all those people who are out there who are trying to protect, ensure good living conditions and educate people about the plight of animals.
There is a mass extinction happening right in front of eyes and yet with all our sophisticated technology, we do nothing except yell and scream obscenities over the internet. To be honest with you, this does nothing to help our animal friends.
All this anger just creates more anger which in turn does nothing to help. The animals and their cause gets lost in the background.
All of us can make a difference in an animal's life. Buy no animal testing products.
Support an animal organization that makes a difference in your neck of the world or abroad.I do not eat rammen noodles anymore because of the palm oil which contributes to the loss of habitat for orangutans. If you hunt, hunt responsibly. Do you really need the trophy head on your wall. MOST of all, educate your children about respect to all animals. It is not JUST a chicken, pig, cat or dog. Each animal has it's importance on this planet of ours.
Do your part and make a difference.
Here's to you Cecil and all the animals. Thank you!.

Help! How do I Get off this Ride?

Nothing like unemployment time to help you find perspective.
Think of this image of the Great Wheel in Seattle as a big giant hamster wheel in our own cage of life. We are running around in circles going around and around but going no where. We are going from our jobs to our families and then to bed wishing we had more time. The truth is, we will never have enough time or is it?
So far in this 4 months of free time, I have learned that time STILL goes by quickly.
There is always something to do, someone to visit or somewhere to go. The question really is HOW do I use the time that I have?
As an artist, I now realize that God has given me a gift. God has given me the gift of time to reflect on which direction to go with my life and passion. Prior to this, I was too busy paying my bills and working my job to see the truth. I was living in fear.
Now that I am actually not working, I have learned that my world is not falling apart.
I am learning that I want to have a life of purpose and meaning. I am connecting with friends that I love and appreciate even more.
I want to take classes to get better with my craft of photography and take business classes to help me get my work out there. I now realize that in order for more people to see my work, I have to put my work out there for people to see.
I love to travel and explore so I am finding out about travel tours to be able to do that.
My first gift to myself will be to go to my whale watching tour in September. This has been part of my living list for a long time. I want to connect with these beautiful giants and hang out with them.
Use your time wisely. Do what you need to do but put some time for yourself to enjoy your passions. It is not selfish but necessary. You will be a happier person and it will open doors that you didn't dream of.
Happy Tuesday everyone!

The Animals at the Zoo are not Always the Animals at the Zoo

"Carol, even animals in captivity need our support and love."  Kathleen Shelton

Going to the Zoo should be a fun and educational experience.   I know that the Zoo is not an ideal or natural way for the animals to live but it is an easier way to see, photograph and connect with the animals in my neck of the world that are not naturally in my neck of the woods.   I love to say hi to my animal friends and hang out with them.

Whenever I go to the Zoo, I always hope that there are not many people there and I was not disappointed.
Why do I say that?   The less people, the less distraction for me and the animals.  To get that one special shot, one has to wait patiently.  I want to photograph the animal's essence as much as I can even though it is not in it's natural element.  I also love to hang out with the animal and observe them.   It fills me with a sense of wonder.

I was lucky on this particular day indeed.   There were 2 Cheetahs resting by the window gazing out.  I sat beside them and spent some time photographing them.  1 of the Cheetahs looked right into my eyes.   The expression on the Cheetah's face reminded me of my cat Chance who always gives me this particular look.
My heart melted and it reiterated the connection that we have with the animal world.  I was blessed to have these moments with these beautiful big cats.

I heard the sound of adults with their children and I knew that my time was up.  I always say thank you to the animal that I was able to photograph and spend time with.  I got up so the children could experience what I was so blessed to have witnessed.  A little boy had his toy car and threw it against the window where the Cheetahs rested.   This action and sound startled the Cheetahs which made them jump.   My mouth has a mouth of it's own and told the little boy that we do not throw cars at the window of where the animals live.   I must admit that I was shocked by the action of this child but I have seen teenagers do the same thing with their hands banging against the window.   All I can say is that they were all lucky to have a piece of glass between them.

People need to understand that when you are at the Zoo be respectful of the animals.   They did not volunteer to live there.  They are not living in their natural environment.   They are living in a enclosed area where they usually go around and around in circles trying to keep themselves occupied.   On top of that, there are people tapping on the windows, yelling at them.  Some are even calling them stupid and ugly.  I have seen this time and time again.   It is up to parents to teach their children Zoo etiquette.  Each animal has it's place in the circle of life.   How would you like that to happen in your own home?

Animals are a wonder and delight.   They can teach us about ourselves.   Whether they live on the farm, the zoo or out in the wild, isn't it time that we give animals the respect they deserve?  They are not a commodity.
They were not created just for us.  Each and every animal has it's purpose on this planet, not just

the cute and fuzzy ones but ALL animals.  Let us give them ALL the love and respect that they deserve.

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Girl Gone Green. The Guide to Compassionate and Conscious Living

"How many times have humans wailed in their own darkness over the horror of wars, over the the inhumanity of humanity over the fate of nations?  How many times have we heard "How can God allow this to happen?" when the real question ought to be "How can we not recognize our own role, our own responsibility?"
The Messengers (A True Story of Angelic Presence and the Return to the Age of Miracles)
Julia Ingram and G.W. Hardin

When I read this sentence, it resonated within me in a very profound way.  This simple question made me look at how I contributed to the world around me.
As I look at my life, I realize for a very long time I was unaware of the world around me.  Funny statement I know, coming from a military background.
There is a saying that if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.   Girl Gone Green is really a story about myself.  When I lived in Texas, I did not realize how many problems our planet was facing.  I did not know about climate change, animals and humans living conditions.  Not that I didn't care but didn't realize how serious it was.
 Symposium - Pachamama Alliance | Pachamama Alliance educated me to the world around me.
I would recommend this to anyone.  It will open your eyes and heart to the world around you.   It will show you how the choices you make effects someone else in a different part of the world.  Thus the ripple effect.
You will start to see the connection that effects everyone and everything on this planet.
Apathy is the enemy.  We are have more power than we can imagine.   We can make a difference but it has to start from within.
Being Green is a way of life  It is about being compassionate and conscious of our simple decisions that we make everyday.  It is not expensive that is a myth.   There are different budgets for everyone.
I am not trying to change anyone, but show people what is going on in our world.   What you will take from it you will.  I am simply trying to be part of the solution.
I want to hear from you.  Let us work together to make the world a better place.  Let us set the example of how we should be.  Someone is looking and learning from us.
Check us out on www.facebook.com/pages/Girl-Gone-Green-A-Guide-to-Compassionate-and-Conscious-Living/552569908179131

Do You Know Who YOU Really Are?

To thy own self be true.   What does that mean exactly?   In order to be true to yourself, you must know yourself.   That is what loving yourself means, to love all the facets of you.
One of the hardest things to do is look at yourself for who you really are.
We have to look deep down inside.   This is not something that is done in a day, week, month or even a year.  It is a constant and ever learning process till your last breathe.   
We are not the same person that we were in our 20's, 30's or what ever age we are.  
We won't be the same person in 20, 30 or even 40 years later because we change with life.
When I started asking the question of why I was not so happy with my life, the answer was Me.   I had to take a look at who I was and why I can continuously going down a road that was leading me nowhere.

I realized with time that I believed the things that I was told when I was younger.  I had to be a certain weight, personality or look to be loved.   I am sure that most of us heard that recording in our heads over and over again.    These are labels that are put on us from the day that we are born.  Labels are what people perceive about how or what we should be.
Are they a reality?  For the most part, I would say no.   Why?   Because it is the perception of the other individual.

When I took the time to take a closer look at who I was, I called this 'My Love Affair With Myself'.  I started getting to know who I really was.   I went inside.   I learned what was great and not so great about myself.   I found out that I didn't need to prove to someone else that I was lovable.    I can see why now why I was in dysfunctional relationships.

Love all of yourself!

It is not my job to fix or change anyone.  The only person that I can fix or change is me!   When I start seeing the signs that a person is not right for me, I can walk away.  Does that make that person a bad person?   No, just not the right person for me.
I learned that love is not outside myself.   I learned that I AM love.