Free

We take for granted how free we are. We can do anything we want. Anything! People limit theirselves and limit their spirit, therefore limiting their happiness.

My friend Denise said to me today, "You know, sometimes I have random urges. Like...I'll look at someone, and I'll just want to poke them, and then run away laughing." I laughed when I heard it, and then I put some thought into it. And my answer is this: If you feel like doing that, then do it! We hold back so much of what we want to say or do; whether its something major and life altering, or whether its something as silly as poking somebody and laughing. And we shouldn't. We are FREE.

The day went on but this thought stayed with me, and carried with me to my night as I put it into action. I went to go get yogurt with my friend Kayla. I put my car and park as a great song came on. We started dancing in our seats. I was enjoying the song so much and laughing and having so much fun, that I took my energy to the street. And it was there that I danced with my friend. Cars drove by us, people walked by, the lights changed from green to red and back again. But I was completley immersed in the present moment. I was feeling great, and so free.

Moral of the story is...don't hold back.
Do the craziest thing, the silliest thing, do anything.

University Group Raises Concerns About BP Oil Spill Contaminants in Livestock Feed

Our story made headlines. Over 1,000 people have read it so far, and growing. We went to the Gulf of Mississippi this past summer (for a second trip), and an amazing reporter, Chris Rodda, wrote all our findings.

Brace yourself. You might want a stiff drink after reading the truth about what is going on to our beautiful world and to the human race.

Please take the time to read what you will NOT see on the news. Thank you.

http://www.truth-out.org/university-groups-raises-bp-oil-spill-contaminants-entering-food-supply63367

Inspirations

Inspiration.

It moves us, it change us. It makes us stop in our tracks. It gets under our skin and it tickles at our senses. How do you describe a feeling of inspiration? We often find ourselves saying "that really touched my heart." And it does, because it is a feeling that goes beyond the physical. It is an emotional awakening of the soul.

Sometimes people inspire you when you least expect it. I've known my friend Jessica for years and years. I've always known her to be kind, warm, and beautiful. I didn’t know much more. It was only until recently that I ran into her. When I walked in the door and saw her and she smiled at me, it was as if a wind of good energy came my way. In minutes, I learned about her soul and how much she has grown in recent years. She knows what she wants. Shes found her heart and contentment. She is calm. She is grounded. She is strong.

I am genuinely filled with gratitude of her success and new findings in her life. She is finding herself. It is a journey that goes on all our lives, but yet some of us will die never finding ourselves. In fact, we seem to run away from who we are most of the time. Never run. Your heart and mind will be with you all of your life, whether you like it or not. What better time to learn about them, then NOW?

To a woman who inspired me to dig deeper into my soul, thank you.
I wish everybody the best of luck on this amazing journey.



“Tell me, what is it you plan to do,
with your one wild and precious life?”
-Mary Oliver

Talking is Overrated

Talking is so overrated. Animals don't utter one word, yet we love them unconditonally. I think we should base our relationships and every encounter on feelings. What is unsaid is so much more powerful than what is said.

Try this at home. Look at your friend in the eye for a couple minutes. Do not speak one word to eachother. Focus on your feelings, acknowledge them and recognize them. Our mind and our heart can get confused, but it is important to recognize them as one in the same. When we can do that, we become content.

Forgiveness

We've all been hurt. This is life. In this life, there would be no beauty without suffering. We learn this the hard way, but the hard way teaches us a lesson. People in our lives will hurt us. It's inevitable. Our instant reaction is quick..."I could never forgive that person." Forgiveness is a decision. Remember, the only harm we think we are doing to someone else - we are only doing to ourselves. When we learn forgiveness, and we hurt someone in our lives, and its OUR turn to be forgiven -- you will understand the significance even more.

If someone cuts you off on a highway - forgive them.
If someone says a bad word about you  - forgive them.
If someone does you wrong, in any way - forgive them.

We think that forgiveness is only for the other person, and it's not. Forgiveness is something we need to do to free ourselves from the pain.

I learned this because somebody fought hard for me at a point in my life. That person never gave up. That person made me believe in a second chance, when I could never see it possible. I learned a lesson when I was 19 that I will never forget for the rest of my life. Forgiveness is a beautiful thing. It restores our faith in one another. It reminds you what is important. It makes us love again.

"There is no love without forgiveness,
and there is no forgiveness with out love."

25 cents

I was on the Garden State Parkway the other day, and I was approaching my toll (by the way, $1.00...a little insane, isn't it?Imagine how much money the state makes a day! Thats another topic all together, so anyway)...I noticed that the woman in front of me was taking a longer time than usual, so I put my car in park and approached her. I asked her if she needed any change. Our conversation went like this.

Woman: "You're serious?"
Me: "Of course, why not?"
Woman: "I can't believe you're willing to help me, and you're not angry, or beeping your horn..."
Me: "Of course not. I'd love to help. How much change do you need?"
Woman: "Wow, thank you so much. 25 cents."
Me: "Heres 25 cents. Have a great day." I smiled at her.
Woman: "Thank you so much, thank you, thank you." She smiled back.

It is amazing to me how shocked this woman was. She would have never thought that a "stranger" would be willing to help her. And she isn't the only person in the world who feels this way, either. It took 25 cents to restore her faith in humanity.

Lets change this mindset. Lets help eachother. Sometimes, it just takes 25 cents.

Mans Best Friend

Alex,



It wasn’t my own plan for you to come into my life, but God had a bigger plan for the both of us. I went to Teterboro Animal Shelter three years ago to donate blankets, with no intention of bringing home a friend. I was walking up and down the endless isles of animals just like you who were looking for a home and a second chance at life. But they weren’t just like you, because you were different… so different that you made me stop right in my tracks.


You are a Pit-bull; 85 solid lbs of a Pit-bull to be exact. In fact, I looked twice to double check the breed; wondering if they had mistakenly brought in a wild bear. But it wasn’t your size that made me stop, it was your aura. Inside the 85 lbs that you were, and underneath your beautiful black and white spotted coat, was a beautiful soul bursting out of its seams. The sign was loud in clear in red bolded letters: “DO NOT PUT HANDS INSIDE OF CAGE.”


I didn’t think twice when I read these words. A normal person would assume the odds were against them in making it out in one piece. I found a hole big enough in the cage to let me take a chance. I lowered my palm slowly into your cage, but before I could get close enough to touch you, you had embraced me first. You rested your big head on my small little palm, and looked up at me. Your eyes were dark brown, and so very kind. Chills ran through me as we locked eyes. You didn’t take your eyes off me, and I didn’t take my eyes off you for minutes on end. I knew then in that moment that this was sacred. I had to have you.



It took a solid month to adopt you, with interrogating questions from the shelter such as “why do you want a dog with cropped ears?” With the horrible reputation your breed has, they must have wondered if I had plans on fighting you. Their assumption was whoever owned you before must have tried to make you a fighter, and you weren’t what they trained you out to be.



That’s because you weren’t born to fight, you were born to love. It always hurt me when I would look at you; wondering where you’ve came from, or where you’ve been. I wonder who had hurt you in your seven years before you came into my life. Knowing someone hurt you, hurt me twice as much. And when I had those thoughts, I hugged you a little harder and longer than usual.

The shelter even asked me if I had any pets. Because of course, with the horrible stereotype of Pitt-bulls, they had assumed you were dog aggressive. I have pets. I have two pugs. But, I lied. They told me the ASPCA would come to my house to check. I said that would be just fine. And as soon as I said that, I put a call into my mom. I told her “Listen, don’t be mad. I fell in love with a dog. He’s not dog aggressive; in fact I know he wouldn’t hurt a thing. So, hide the pugs.” [Click.] And I was right, the three of you were the best of friends.


You taught me so many things. First, you taught me to fight for what you love. But the most important thing of all that you taught me was unconditional love. You followed me into every room I went into. Actually, I don’t think there was one time at home that I didn’t pee in solitude. If I walked a simple three feet, you walked them too. And if I turned around after those three little feet, as did you. Finally, you taught me you need no words to love. It amazed me how an animal could not utter a single word, yet could love and be loved so deeply.



It was your eyes. There was something in them, something that was felt. It was in them when we first locked eyes, and it never left. It encompassed all heart, soul, kindness, peacefulness. To be honest, I felt that you were my guardian angel. I kept those thoughts to myself, not thinking anybody could believe a dog could be much more. Until my friend said to me, “his eyes are…human-like.” And it was then I knew that I wasn’t alone in the great depth that I thought of you.



I remember pulling up to my house and from a far, I saw you laying on my bed..yet another endless night of you waiting up for me to come home. From then on, when I would come home late at night, I knew your eyes found mine even through the darkness.

I’ve always loved all animals, and I love my pugs too. But you were something special. You weren’t just the throw-the-toy kind of dog that makes you laugh and cuddles with you. Actually, you were too big to cuddle. But you laid as close as you could. And you didn’t even kiss much, either. But you loved much. What made you special was the feeling of love you emitted, and the stare of protection you gave me for three blessed years.


You got cancer shortly after I had adopted you. I’ll never forget coming home to a pool of blood, and even in that pool of blood, you walked towards me as strong as a horse and gave me a kiss. They had told me you had 3 months to live. Well, you showed them, didn’t you? You lived longer than 3 months, you lived 3 years. At one point, you were called the “Miracle dog” at Oradell Animal Hospital, being tumor-free for over a year. The only miracle there was, was the miracle of you in my life. Medication didn’t cure you, I know love did…as it cured me, too.

 Three years later passed, and June 7th, 2010 came. You were weaker now, and I knew it. We got up in the morning for a walk. You couldn’t make it up the hill at first, and I told you, “Alex, its okay, we’ll go back inside.” You wouldn’t budge. It took you ten minutes, but you made it up that hill. You amazed me.


I had spent the day with you, going for what would be your last car ride, as you propped your black and white nose out of the car to breathe your last breath of fresh air. We stopped at my dad’s office too, and you and I ate lunch together on his floor. My dad, the biggest neat freak in the world, didn’t care at all as you slobbered all over. He too, knew you were leaving us soon.


I came back from our school field trip, and you were lying on the downstairs floor with my mom and her friend Jack. We locked eyes then for what would be the last time. I saw your pain so much it was as if it ran through me. In that moment, I was weak. I kneeled down in a quick embrace and grazed your head. I went upstairs to go to sleep, and set my alarm for 7am to spend the morning with you, because I knew it would be your last before the doctor saw you. Well, the morning never came for you, because you passed away before it. All alone.


I will never forgive myself for that. I know if I was sick, you wouldn’t ever leave my side. You wouldn’t take your eyes off me, or let them close to sleep. It pains me beyond words to know you took your final breaths alone. I never got to say goodbye. So if you can hear these words please know this: From the beginning…I didn’t save you, you saved me. And up until the end…I was a better person, because I was loved by you. Thank you for being my best friend, for your protection and everlasting love that has now forever encompassed my heart and soul.


“Dogs are the most amazing creatures, because they give unconditional love. They are the role model for being alive."


The right side of the bed is still yours. I love you.


- Nicolette