In Love with Life: The Power of a Man

Yassu my sweet dear friends,

Do you believe in change?

I do. But oh my god how much doubt and frustration I had during the covid madness.

I think that there is hope for us. I also believe that one day we all gonna disappear from this beautiful planet, and there will be other life forms that perhaps can take more care of their home. However, in the meantime, I do my best to live harmoniously, to stand up and speak up for my values and ethos. I also try helping and volunteering as much as I can because this life, for me, is about that. Creating a change, creating lives we wanna live and helping the ones that can’t take care of themselves.

Most of you probably know that for these past 11 years, since I left Lithuania and started moving around, I have been visiting and helping at various animal shelters. Animal rights is a very touching cause for me, perhaps, once before I was one of them, perhaps it’s from my sensitive mom, or maybe I just really wanna help the ones that cannot help themselves.

So the past 3 weeks I have been extremely lucky to be volunteering at the Bronx Familia Animal shelter in Crete island. Living with no electricity, no wifi, in the hills of beautiful Crete, surrounded by barking but ohhh so lovely 160-170 dogs.

And you know what? This place was born because of one man. One single man. No money, no previous fancy job, no support from the government, no possessions, but true, honest and dedicated love and compassion for animals. This place now has around 170 dogs. Created by one single man. ONE. SINGLE. MAN. These 170 dogs that perhaps have been abused, injured, hated by some cruel people, nearly killed have survived because of one man. I am so extremely inspired in this place.

Nikos completely dedicated and sacrificed his life towards the animals. There is no ego, not a single selfishness involved. He owns nothing and ask for nothing and yet he is able to help so many beautiful dogs.

Of course, the shelters, however loved and caring they are could never replace a loving home for a dog. Here, dogs are at the kennels, and even with volunteers it is impossible to give a lot of attention to each of them every day. It’s a transition stage between saving the dog out of the street and looking for a new loving and caring home. So guys, let’s stop the dog breeders, we really don’t need more dogs in this world. There are so many loving, sweet, adorable, well behaved dogs that are waiting for somebody to adopt them.

I am so mind blown by Nikos love to the animals and all the work he does.

During those 3 weeks I have been here, we got 10 more new dogs. Left out, some ill and injured, some sad and frustrated and confused of what wrong did they do to get treated so badly.

I believe that every single person on this planet has something good inside, the true and beautiful spirit, but many of us grow up in dysfunctional families, abused homes and horrible conditions so we forget or not even know how to love every single being on this planet.

Let’s inspire each other, let’s do one good thing a day, let’s find a compassion for the ones that need it the most. So many of us have so many opportunities and potential to change this planet. And Nikos is just one example.

Believe in change, believe in compassion.

P.S. Forgot to tell you that in the meantime I fell in love with Greece and decided to stay here for a winter. Athens is where I am most likely stop and live for a bit. If you know anybody looking for a nice flatmate or a creative vegan cook, give me a shout 😊

P.P.S My camera's battery died so I had no chance to take pics of the beautiful dogs out there :(

With so much inspired thoughts,

Ligita