2012 - The year my life will change forever!

Following the drama of 2 weeks ago, life has gone back to normal.

Knowing that I am not about to face a life-altering change, I got back to the business of planning my USA trip and looking for opportunities in the animal field with fevour!

My plan for 2012.

• Resign from my mind-numbing job.
• Travel to the USA and spend about 2 months there.
• And go about the business of following my passion, which is a combination of three things: animals, writing and travel.

Animals, writing and travel - none of these things will make me much money! And therein lies the problem. So when I come back to South Africa - what then? I know I don't want to continue working the way I have been and I will not have a job to come back to, so when the money runs out - what then?? How do I get to do the things I love and make a living out of it?? This is the scary part. And I cannot lie - I am terrified! I am taking a big risk. But then lots of people have done just that - quit their jobs to follow their passion and never looked back.

In Oprah's final show, she encouraged everyone to "Find your passion and get about the business of doing it!"

Oh Oprah, my dear, you make it sound so easy!!

But Oprah is right. It may not be easy. But only when we are doing what we are meant to be doing with our life, are we really happy, fulfilled and content. And as Oprah says, everyone has a purpose and something they are meant to be doing. We have all been given different gifts, talents and passions and God expects us to use those talents and gifts - that's why he gave them to us. We become unhappy, miserable and dead inside when we are stuck doing something we should not be doing. Ask me - I've been dead for years - I tap my wrist searching for a pulse - NO PULSE!  I am the living dead. People who are following their passions have a light that shines from them - they are ALIVE! I long to be alive again.

Wise people say, once you start to follow your passion, money will come. Yes, it may be a struggle in the beginning, but once you start opening yourself up to the things you are meant to do, opportunities come and doors start to open and eventually money comes. I damn-well hope so!!

So, my trip to the USA will involve visiting friends and family and doing lots of sightseeing and I am super excited! Even a short trip to Mexico is on the cards!

But once done visiting friends and family, I would like to volunteer and spend time at an animal organisation / sanctuary. I found a great one - Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

After stumbling across the website, I then discovered they have a Veterinary Technician program for students currently studying, an internship doing general animal care and volunteering. First prize for me would have been the Veterinary Technician program as I did study a Diploma in Animal Health and would love to do some hands-on Vet work. But because I am not a current student and do not have 3 months hands-on experience in a Clinic, they won't accept me for that. However, I can do the 4-week internship. Whoo-hoo! So Utah here I come!

I am little worried about being in the Utah dessert at the tail end of summer as I don't cope well with heat! But oh well...!

Click on the links (in blue) in this post for some info on this awesome animal sanctuary.
Or go to http://www.bestfriends.org/

If you love animals - consider supporting or donating to this wonderful organisation! There's a branch in Los Angeles as well.

Here's a video clip of Dogtown at Best Friends!