| "Religion is for people afraid of going to hell and spirituality is for people who have been there." ~Stephan Jones (son of Jim Jones) I have been to hell...and survived. I've learned that anything you put out into the world, you will get it back. My motto is to always do the right thing, even when noone is looking. I learned this during four weeks of Officer Candidate School for the United States Marine Corps. I left physically injured, but learned a valuable spiritual lesson. When all of your daily comforts are taken away from you, you seek God. Maybe this isn't true for all people, but it was a profound lesson in my life. That four weeks was nothing compared to what I endured as a child. I won't put it out here for all the world to see, but if you truly are interested, you may ask. I (and many others) suffered for a reason. I am learning day by day my purpose in this world. The lesson is simple. Be a good person. Be selfless, but be bold. Be compassionate, but remember that you cannot save a drowning man if you yourself are drowning. Don't wait around for someone else to do what needs to be done. If you see something wrong, fix it. I am drawn to helping animals. My passion is to do my part to end their suffering. I am not a zealot. I am not a vegetarian or vegan or any of that (although I do admire people who are). I do not put animal rights in front of human rights. I just feel a certain fondness for them and their plight. I want to make a difference in what happens to them. They are innocent creatures who have no way of standing up for themselves. I leave you with my all time favorite quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” ~Margaret Mead |
