Monday, June 4, 2012

Reflections

Do you ever stop and wonder if you’ve made a difference in anyone’s life? Do you reflect on your day when the day is done? I would like to think that what I do or have done in the past has made a positive impact and made someone’s life just a little bit better. Sometimes what we do becomes so routine that we don’t realize the good we are doing.
For some reason, we dwell on the negatives. The mistakes we have made. We may not notice we just smiled at someone when they needed it the most. When we gave that compliment and made the person’s day.
The greatest accomplishments are the ones we do quietly. No one else has to know you did what you did. When you go around boasting and singing your own praises, it diminishes the good.
This world is made up with a lot of little things that make a big impact. We all donate what we can to charities that mean something to us personally. We all have had cancer touch our lives in one way or another, so the American Cancer Society may be near and dear to your heart.
I love to garden. I like to nurture living things and watch them grow. I planted trees in my backyard when my grandchildren were born, and long after I am gone there will be a lasting legacy for them.
Planting just one seed can make a huge difference in our world. I take that same thought into the shelter with me. If I’ve made a difference in just one life of our shelter animals, then that is all I could hope for.
Going into the shelter and feeding and cleaning each morning can become very routine. A lot of days I go about my business and never think about my actions, and at the end of the day I ask myself, “What have I done to make a difference?” Most days I really have to think. Sometimes I think too hard.
A lot of the times we think it must be this huge, monumental accomplishment when in reality the small gestures make the most impact. The extra hugs and cuddles given to the scared new cat that doesn’t understand where it is or why it is there. The dog that just needs a little human contact to let him know it will be OK. These gestures are done without much thought behind them, because they come so naturally that we may not even notice we do them.
I will admit around people I notice my flaws way more than I should. I am very hard on myself when I reflect on my words or actions. Why did I do that? Why did I say that? Over and over. When I am with animals, I don’t feel that way.
Growing up I always had a pet there for me in my time of need. I could say or do anything and it never judged. That is why my charity of choice has always been one with animals. 
Animal Welfare Society is a refuge for these wonderful, caring animals that are waiting for their forever homes and would love to have their own person they could show unconditional love to. If these same animals could think and reflect on their day and wonder if they did any good, they could without any doubt or regrets answer “yes.” All those purrs, rubs, tail wags, barks and nothing beats those big eyes and a tilt of an understanding head to let you know you are loved. They do all of this without thinking or expecting anything in return. Can you say the same?
Together, we can make a difference in the life of a shelter animal.