So Long, Month #10.....Goodbye, October

Goodbye October ~

I've learned to better accept things that have taken place recently, situations which all along, were out of my control. The last 31 days were not wasted, but I come out of this month realizing many do not and will not, ever grasp the struggles some of us face.

Reasons to Adopt a Shelter Pet: #14

"Reasons to rescue" ~ When you take the chance on a pet sitting in a shelter, waiting for a home, you are showing others it's cool to be kind. You may be teaching by example, or showing your children how to make thoughtful choices for the greater good, that it isn't always about just "buying", but taking in an animal in need.

Grief

I wish there were words I could reach up to pluck out of the air to describe certain times in life; pre-arranged phrases one could fish for in a pond or giant glass bowl, to use to spell out the tangled emotions which often pile up. There are days when it all feels complex and overwhelming, full of painful memories mixed with beautiful recollections and sweet images. Maybe i just put off letting myself be sad when things happen, trying to stay focused and get through.....maybe we all do that to some extent, but one day an anniversary date will surface and it feels like the world falls down with the scope of emotions and bitter sense of loss.

You - No One - Needs to Suffer Alone

I'm going off topic a bit, out of my normal scope of posts or conversations, and sharing something more serious and important with you today. September is Suicide Prevention Month, a tragedy that is some way has likely touched most of our lives, and September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. Included below are several images I've collected over the years, added on Facebook in albums titled "Between the Lines"; content that feels essential and important to spotlight, and I will tell you why.

I Would Love to Volunteer But.....

Why You May Think the Local Shelter Is Not For You

Lending a hand, helping out or volunteering at an animal shelter.....

questions/comments we hear constantly include "how do you do it?", "isn't that so hard?" and the very frequent "I could never go to the shelter, it's so sad there it would break my heart." Actually......what breaks hearts is NOT going to the shelter....but there's more you may not know, thus the reason for this blog post.