In the late evening of April 5th, 2022, I made one last check Facebook for news of Ukraine. One headline made my heart stop.
“Ukraine Zoo Says it May Have to Euthanize Animals
After Russian Shelling Damages Enclosures”
I was shocked. This was not only beyond absurd but totally unacceptable.
The second line explained further:
Feldman Ecopark Founder Alexander Feldman said the damaged zoo
is prepared to euthanize animals if the residents cannot be transported to safer locations
Reading this, my mind tumbled and screamed: “This cannot be!”
To give you some background, I’m not only an environmental journalist, I’m also a supporter of numerous wildlife conservation and rescue organizations – including Animals Asia, World Wildlife Fund and Four Paws. I’m also a member and donor for various internationally-based companion rescue organizations, including Harmony Fund and Soi Dog Foundation. I’m deeply passionate about caring for wildlife and animals in general.
Once I could think again – THAT took a minute or two to happen – I fired off a Facebook post to all these wildlife organizations, pleading for them – for SOMEONE – to help and/or for them to reach out to other organizations they knew who might be able to do so.
All that time, I kept saying this mantra: “There MUST be a solution. There MUST be a solution.”
After firing off my Facebook plea, not knowing what else to do, I paced the room.
Then I realized two things.
First, I’d done all I knew to do. And second, I took a stand. And my stand was: “There WILL be a solution and those animals will live.” And, I added, “I am the stand that this will be.”
Now you may think this was a waste of time and/or energy on my part. But let’s dive a bit deeper.
Over the years I’ve done a lot of transformational work. I know how powerful the spoken word can be. What we think and what we say becomes reality.
I know that any negative self-talk I do / have limits me and risks me falling over the edge into depression. When I turn that self-talk around into something positive (or at least more positive), I’m empowered to move forward, rather than get stuck in negativity.
If you’re familiar with prayer chains – where a group of people focus their prayers and thoughts towards someone being healed in some way – then you know that prayers can make a substantive difference. They’re a powerful action we can take to help someone else.
Taking a stand is another powerful action. It creates a positive energy in the world. My taking a stand for those captured and threatened animals in Ukraine was me sending a positive energy towards them and their caretakers. It was the most positive and powerful thing I could think of to do in that moment.
Let me be clear. I’ve faced shocking situations and horrible news before. I’m very aware of how intensely I can react to bad news. And I knew that dealing with the shock of this particular horrendous situation could go one of two ways for me. I could let the shock, upset and outrage I felt take me down into my depression pit, where it was dark and where nothing seemed possible – and who knows how long I might have stayed there? Or I could get up, do something – take some kind of positive action that would empower me in the face of the unimaginable and the unthinkable of what could be.
I chose the positive action path.
Did what I did have a direct impact? Who knows? But here’s the update I read today:
“The difficult situation we have, which seemed almost hopeless, has caused an incredible response in Ukraine and abroad!
Transport is already coming to us, the necessary cages are coming,
people are coming who are not afraid to take animals out of
the shelled zone,
our pets are ready to receive in many places.”
Many animals have already been evacuated although some still remain. And donations are being asked for to help fund this remarkable, dangerous and incredibly important rescue effort.
As I’ve said numerous times in my book You Aren’t Depression’s Victim, when things happen to throw us – when difficult situations happen, when upsetting circumstances occur – there is a moment where we can choose what happens to us next. Will we go into the “inevitable” and fall into the dark pit, to lay there amidst the negativity and pain? Or will we take a step into the positive to help ourselves (and others as the case may be) so that we (and our lives) move forward?
In my shock and upset, I did what I could and then I stood up and took a stand. It was a stand for the animals of the Ukrainian zoo AND it was a stand for myself. It was a positive action that helped me stay out of depression and despair.
The next time you’re faced with upsetting or difficult circumstances, remember. What will you choose?
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article! It is the little changes that will make the most significant changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Good web site! I really love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your RSS which must do the trick! Have a nice day!
Hey! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!
Thanks so much!
whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, many people are searching around for this info, you can help them greatly.
You are a very smart individual!
I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on some general things, The website style is ideal, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers
Its good as your other posts : D, thanks for posting.
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was looking for!
It’s actually a cool and useful piece of information. I am glad that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Utterly written subject matter, Really enjoyed looking through.
That is the suitable blog for anybody who desires to find out about this topic. You realize a lot its almost arduous to argue with you (not that I truly would want…HaHa). You undoubtedly put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, just nice!
I enjoy what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever work and exposure! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve included you guys to our blogroll.
Very interesting info! Perfect just what I was searching for!
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is wonderful, let alone the content!
I am glad that I detected this web site, precisely the right info that I was searching for! .
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Great job.