The Introverted Advocate

The Power of Kindness. Every human being is born with the capacity to be kindhearted.

At our core, we humans need the warmth of a friendly gesture from those around us.

Our lives are centered around feelings. We are not thinkers who feel. We are feeling beings who think.

This episode is important to me. It's been on my mind for a couple of years. But first, I need to ask YOU a question. It is a bit personal. You ready? Are you sure? Once I ask, you won't be able to "un-hear" it.

Happy Thanksgiving! My sister, once again, made "vegan versions" of our favorite family dishes. Wow! Deliciousness. Thank you, sweet sister!

I admit it. This was my strangest purchase ever on Amazon. It was a bit of an impulse. But in my defense, I have one of these in my home, so I knew exactly what I was buying.

I purchased an assistive listening device for a blind and deaf baby goat. Leo the baby goat arrived at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary this past summer. His preliminary health check confirmed he was blind. He was only two months old, so he was born with no vision.

But thankfully for Leo, the animal care team at Catskill Animal Sanctuary is experienced with special needs. Over the years, the team has welcomed and worked with over a dozen blind animals.

I saw a social media post by Glennon Doyle that took my breath away.

Here goes, as I quote Glennon now:

"Two questions folks ask me the most. How do I find my purpose? How do I find my tribe?"

Here's my chat with Marc S. Wood who is a Certified Plant-Based Nutritionist. Marc studied at Cornell University (taking the T. Colin Campbell nutrition course). He earned his Family Health Coaching Certification from the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute. This was a delightful chat. You may find Marc at http://marcswood.com/

Enjoyed a day at the Central Florida VegFest. It is my three-year anniversary of launching my vegan advocacy. I reflect on folks who helped me find my courage to advocate. After this 2018 VegFest, I am so stoked for the future of plant-based living. What a great community in this global social-change movement!

While vacationing at the Homestead B&B at Catskill Animal Sanctuary, I booked a tour to get a close-up experience with some of the animals. Kaden was my tour guide - his knowledge and compassion impressed me. The next day, I asked Kaden if he would join me for a 10-minute chat.

This is a true story. I say this because there are parts that feel like a dream. Recently I returned from Catskill Animal Sanctuary in New York state. My memories still fresh, I recall little details that make me smile. So, I open this podcast with "This is a true story." Because it is.

I'd like to reflect on what it takes to be a trailblazer, a mentor or a social change leader. For 7 years, I've followed the work of individuals whose courage, wisdom and leadership have inspired me. And here are my reflections of these people.

They work at it. They persevere. They walk the talk -- Every Dang Day. These are individuals with their own backstories, their own struggles, and their own hard-earned wisdom.