we haven’t been able to guess already I’m American and like most females
I’m American and like most females
I’m American and like most females growing up in the 80s and 90s in America
growing up in the 80s and 90s in America
growing up in the 80s and 90s in America i religiously watched The Oprah Winfrey
i religiously watched The Oprah Winfrey
i religiously watched The Oprah Winfrey Show I loved her in fact I kind of
Show I loved her in fact I kind of
Show I loved her in fact I kind of thought we should be frightened we both
thought we should be frightened we both
thought we should be frightened we both like dogs and the other thing was is
like dogs and the other thing was is
like dogs and the other thing was is that I really wanted her to teach me how
that I really wanted her to teach me how
that I really wanted her to teach me how to have an aha moment if you don’t know
to have an aha moment if you don’t know
to have an aha moment if you don’t know what an aha moment is merriam-webster’s
what an aha moment is merriam-webster’s
what an aha moment is merriam-webster’s actually put it in their decks and
actually put it in their decks and
actually put it in their decks and dictionary thanks to her and their
dictionary thanks to her and their
dictionary thanks to her and their definition is it’s a moment of sudden
definition is it’s a moment of sudden
definition is it’s a moment of sudden realization inspiration insight
realization inspiration insight
realization inspiration insight recognition or comprehension and I
recognition or comprehension and I
recognition or comprehension and I figured yeah that’s something I could do
figured yeah that’s something I could do
figured yeah that’s something I could do why not with her help but the next thing
why not with her help but the next thing
why not with her help but the next thing that happen it’s her and Eckhart Tolle
that happen it’s her and Eckhart Tolle
that happen it’s her and Eckhart Tolle they got together and they kind of dug a
they got together and they kind of dug a
they got together and they kind of dug a little deeper they decided that an aha
little deeper they decided that an aha
little deeper they decided that an aha moment was some sort of spiritual
moment was some sort of spiritual
moment was some sort of spiritual awakening when something outside of you
awakening when something outside of you
awakening when something outside of you resonates or something deep inside of
resonates or something deep inside of
resonates or something deep inside of you that was dormant now I had a little
you that was dormant now I had a little
you that was dormant now I had a little bit of an issue with this because I’m
bit of an issue with this because I’m
bit of an issue with this because I’m not the most spiritual person you’ve
not the most spiritual person you’ve
not the most spiritual person you’ve ever met
ever met
ever met however I’m very competitive so I
however I’m very competitive so I
however I’m very competitive so I figured I could still have this type of
figured I could still have this type of
figured I could still have this type of moment as long as I ago she ated with
moment as long as I ago she ated with
moment as long as I ago she ated with spirituality just to sit as it died and
spirituality just to sit as it died and
spirituality just to sit as it died and let me go forward the other thing with
let me go forward the other thing with
let me go forward the other thing with being a competitive is I really didn’t
being a competitive is I really didn’t
being a competitive is I really didn’t want to have a small aha moment I wanted
want to have a small aha moment I wanted
want to have a small aha moment I wanted something pretty big I didn’t want one
something pretty big I didn’t want one
something pretty big I didn’t want one of these daily things where you’re
of these daily things where you’re
of these daily things where you’re driving to work and you get caught in a
driving to work and you get caught in a
driving to work and you get caught in a ton of traffic and you kind of get all
ton of traffic and you kind of get all
ton of traffic and you kind of get all aggro and then you think the universe is
aggro and then you think the universe is
aggro and then you think the universe is trying to tell you you need to practice
trying to tell you you need to practice
trying to tell you you need to practice your patience no that’s not what I was
your patience no that’s not what I was
your patience no that’s not what I was looking for so today I’m gonna tell you
looking for so today I’m gonna tell you
looking for so today I’m gonna tell you how I did get my aha moment and in hopes
how I did get my aha moment and in hopes
how I did get my aha moment and in hopes that maybe some of you can follow suit
that maybe some of you can follow suit
that maybe some of you can follow suit but for me my moment led to the
but for me my moment led to the
but for me my moment led to the following it led to quitting my job
following it led to quitting my job
following it led to quitting my job starting an animal rescue immersing
starting an animal rescue immersing
starting an animal rescue immersing myself in Indian culture and blowing all
myself in Indian culture and blowing all
myself in Indian culture and blowing all of my savings now as you can see the
of my savings now as you can see the
of my savings now as you can see the last one is not recommended
last one is not recommended
last one is not recommended I didn’t want to be like so what
I didn’t want to be like so what
I didn’t want to be like so what happened it was about 2008 I was turning
happened it was about 2008 I was turning
happened it was about 2008 I was turning 40 and life was good
40 and life was good
40 and life was good ish I mean I was living in Boulder
ish I mean I was living in Boulder
ish I mean I was living in Boulder Colorado I was snowboarding on the
Colorado I was snowboarding on the
Colorado I was snowboarding on the weekend I had a good job I had great
weekend I had a good job I had great
weekend I had a good job I had great friends but I still felt something kind
friends but I still felt something kind
friends but I still felt something kind of gnawing inside of me something that I
of gnawing inside of me something that I
of gnawing inside of me something that I felt like I had to be doing there had to
felt like I had to be doing there had to
felt like I had to be doing there had to be something more to do in my life so
be something more to do in my life so
be something more to do in my life so one day I met a friend of a friend
one day I met a friend of a friend
one day I met a friend of a friend someone who I had never met before
someone who I had never met before
someone who I had never met before and I was just sort of talking to him
and I was just sort of talking to him
and I was just sort of talking to him and he said to me you know what if you
and he said to me you know what if you
and he said to me you know what if you really want to fuck with your head go to
really want to fuck with your head go to
really want to fuck with your head go to anything so guess what I don’t know if I
anything so guess what I don’t know if I
anything so guess what I don’t know if I had any sort of spiritual awakening at
had any sort of spiritual awakening at
had any sort of spiritual awakening at that point in time but I did know that I
that point in time but I did know that I
that point in time but I did know that I did have to go to India to fuck with my
did have to go to India to fuck with my
did have to go to India to fuck with my head so six months later I went now a
head so six months later I went now a
head so six months later I went now a lot of my friends we’re like what’s
lot of my friends we’re like what’s
lot of my friends we’re like what’s gonna happen I mean India is the land of
gonna happen I mean India is the land of
gonna happen I mean India is the land of spirituality and yoga and gurus and
spirituality and yoga and gurus and
spirituality and yoga and gurus and meditation it sounds pretty peaceful and
meditation it sounds pretty peaceful and
meditation it sounds pretty peaceful and I was like let me be the first to
I was like let me be the first to
I was like let me be the first to enlighten you it may be all of that but
enlighten you it may be all of that but
enlighten you it may be all of that but it also is the land of honking pollution
it also is the land of honking pollution
it also is the land of honking pollution poverty and limited personal space all
poverty and limited personal space all
poverty and limited personal space all of which was very shocking to my
of which was very shocking to my
of which was very shocking to my American psyche however what really
American psyche however what really
American psyche however what really really shocked me the most was the
really shocked me the most was the
really shocked me the most was the amount and the condition of the dogs
amount and the condition of the dogs
amount and the condition of the dogs living on the street I had been to other
living on the street I had been to other
living on the street I had been to other Dell developing countries but I’d never
Dell developing countries but I’d never
Dell developing countries but I’d never seen anything quite like this everywhere
seen anything quite like this everywhere
seen anything quite like this everywhere I turned it felt like I was seeing
I turned it felt like I was seeing
I turned it felt like I was seeing shaking dying puppies in one corner and
shaking dying puppies in one corner and
shaking dying puppies in one corner and dogs you know fighting for a scrap of
dogs you know fighting for a scrap of
dogs you know fighting for a scrap of food scrap or garbage on the ground and
food scrap or garbage on the ground and
food scrap or garbage on the ground and it was heartbreaking I was really
it was heartbreaking I was really
it was heartbreaking I was really worried about this one dog in particular
worried about this one dog in particular
worried about this one dog in particular that lived right near the preschool
that lived right near the preschool
that lived right near the preschool where I volunteered every day and he was
where I volunteered every day and he was
where I volunteered every day and he was missing a lot of fur he was scabby and
missing a lot of fur he was scabby and
missing a lot of fur he was scabby and bloody and even the kids and the
bloody and even the kids and the
bloody and even the kids and the preschool would throw rocks at him and I
preschool would throw rocks at him and I
preschool would throw rocks at him and I was just horrified I just didn’t
was just horrified I just didn’t
was just horrified I just didn’t understand what was going on I started
understand what was going on I started
understand what was going on I started asking people who live nearby if there’s
asking people who live nearby if there’s
asking people who live nearby if there’s anyone to call there was anyone that
anyone to call there was anyone that
anyone to call there was anyone that could do something to help this dog and
could do something to help this dog and
could do something to help this dog and I was
I was
I was met with indifference I was met with
met with indifference I was met with
met with indifference I was met with either being ignored shoulder shrugs
either being ignored shoulder shrugs
either being ignored shoulder shrugs maybe a little head wobble and I just I
maybe a little head wobble and I just I
maybe a little head wobble and I just I just felt helpless
just felt helpless
just felt helpless but luckily somehow on my trip there I
but luckily somehow on my trip there I
but luckily somehow on my trip there I met a man who actually was gathering
met a man who actually was gathering
met a man who actually was gathering volunteers to give treatments to the
volunteers to give treatments to the
volunteers to give treatments to the street dogs in need so I told him about
street dogs in need so I told him about
street dogs in need so I told him about this dog and he promised to go visit and
this dog and he promised to go visit and
this dog and he promised to go visit and see if there was anything they can do so
see if there was anything they can do so
see if there was anything they can do so a few days later I’m going to the
a few days later I’m going to the
a few days later I’m going to the preschool for my volunteer placement and
preschool for my volunteer placement and
preschool for my volunteer placement and this one guy comes running up to me
this one guy comes running up to me
this one guy comes running up to me super animated he’s like ma’am ma’am
super animated he’s like ma’am ma’am
super animated he’s like ma’am ma’am Tommy he’s doing great
Tommy he’s doing great
Tommy he’s doing great I’m like who in the world is Tommy and
I’m like who in the world is Tommy and
I’m like who in the world is Tommy and he’s like the dog the dog you called
he’s like the dog the dog you called
he’s like the dog the dog you called about you know my sister’s giving him
about you know my sister’s giving him
about you know my sister’s giving him medicine thanks for the doctor and he’s
medicine thanks for the doctor and he’s
medicine thanks for the doctor and he’s feeding him and I’m like what the dog
feeding him and I’m like what the dog
feeding him and I’m like what the dog you couldn’t care less about two weeks
you couldn’t care less about two weeks
you couldn’t care less about two weeks ago it has a name and you guys are
ago it has a name and you guys are
ago it has a name and you guys are taking care of it I was just very happy
taking care of it I was just very happy
taking care of it I was just very happy but just completely dumbfounded and my
but just completely dumbfounded and my
but just completely dumbfounded and my head just started spinning like how did
head just started spinning like how did
head just started spinning like how did this happen um just because I opened my
this happen um just because I opened my
this happen um just because I opened my big mouth and asked him question you
big mouth and asked him question you
big mouth and asked him question you know it made a huge shift and someone’s
know it made a huge shift and someone’s
know it made a huge shift and someone’s thoughts about a stray dog and it may be
thoughts about a stray dog and it may be
thoughts about a stray dog and it may be save this dog’s life I was just thinking
save this dog’s life I was just thinking
save this dog’s life I was just thinking did India just fuck with my head yes yes
did India just fuck with my head yes yes
did India just fuck with my head yes yes it did and I actually recorded this at
it did and I actually recorded this at
it did and I actually recorded this at the time with this lovely selfie to
the time with this lovely selfie to
the time with this lovely selfie to remember how I felt during this time
remember how I felt during this time
remember how I felt during this time period now around now I hated to admit
period now around now I hated to admit
period now around now I hated to admit it but Eckhart Tolle and Oprah were
it but Eckhart Tolle and Oprah were
it but Eckhart Tolle and Oprah were probably right it’s hard to have a
probably right it’s hard to have a
probably right it’s hard to have a moment like this and not have some sort
moment like this and not have some sort
moment like this and not have some sort of spiritual awakening I still hesitate
of spiritual awakening I still hesitate
of spiritual awakening I still hesitate to use that word because I don’t like it
to use that word because I don’t like it
to use that word because I don’t like it but that is what happened something
but that is what happened something
but that is what happened something really deep within me resonated and I
really deep within me resonated and I
really deep within me resonated and I knew that I needed to do everything in
knew that I needed to do everything in
knew that I needed to do everything in my power to help the stray dogs of
my power to help the stray dogs of
my power to help the stray dogs of Dharamsala and I also wanted to do it by
Dharamsala and I also wanted to do it by
Dharamsala and I also wanted to do it by helping to change the viewpoint of the
helping to change the viewpoint of the
helping to change the viewpoint of the locals about these dogs I’d seen it
locals about these dogs I’d seen it
locals about these dogs I’d seen it happen once and I wanted to see if we
happen once and I wanted to see if we
happen once and I wanted to see if we could keep repeating this action
could keep repeating this action
could keep repeating this action what happened is that my competitive
what happened is that my competitive
what happened is that my competitive side teamed up with my newfound
side teamed up with my newfound
side teamed up with my newfound spiritual side and flew myself back to
spiritual side and flew myself back to
spiritual side and flew myself back to America to see how I could get started
America to see how I could get started
America to see how I could get started so I get back to America and I’m telling
so I get back to America and I’m telling
so I get back to America and I’m telling all my friends and family about my time
all my friends and family about my time
all my friends and family about my time in India and what I’m gonna do and of
in India and what I’m gonna do and of
in India and what I’m gonna do and of course they all think I’m absolutely
course they all think I’m absolutely
course they all think I’m absolutely bonkers you know what are you talking
bonkers you know what are you talking
bonkers you know what are you talking about Deb you’re gonna do what
about Deb you’re gonna do what
about Deb you’re gonna do what so my spiritual gut really didn’t waver
so my spiritual gut really didn’t waver
so my spiritual gut really didn’t waver I knew this was something I had to do
I knew this was something I had to do
I knew this was something I had to do however the competitive side of me
however the competitive side of me
however the competitive side of me definitely was taking a beating and I
definitely was taking a beating and I
definitely was taking a beating and I started to think you know who the hell
started to think you know who the hell
started to think you know who the hell do I think I am what do I know about
do I think I am what do I know about
do I think I am what do I know about starting a charity in India what do I
starting a charity in India what do I
starting a charity in India what do I really know about saving animals so
really know about saving animals so
really know about saving animals so coming from a sales type background I’d
coming from a sales type background I’d
coming from a sales type background I’d been through many training and I found
been through many training and I found
been through many training and I found this quote from Dale Carnegie about fear
this quote from Dale Carnegie about fear
this quote from Dale Carnegie about fear and it goes as follows an action breeds
and it goes as follows an action breeds
and it goes as follows an action breeds doubt and fear action breeds confidence
doubt and fear action breeds confidence
doubt and fear action breeds confidence and courage if you want to conquer fear
and courage if you want to conquer fear
and courage if you want to conquer fear do not sit home and think about it go
do not sit home and think about it go
do not sit home and think about it go out and get busy so that’s what I did I
out and get busy so that’s what I did I
out and get busy so that’s what I did I went to India so today when people meet
went to India so today when people meet
went to India so today when people meet me the first question they ask is like
me the first question they ask is like
me the first question they ask is like how in the world did you end up in India
how in the world did you end up in India
how in the world did you end up in India starting an animal rescue and now you
starting an animal rescue and now you
starting an animal rescue and now you guys know and somehow I was capable to
guys know and somehow I was capable to
guys know and somehow I was capable to find the resources and the people to
find the resources and the people to
find the resources and the people to help me get moving and what I also
help me get moving and what I also
help me get moving and what I also realized is that there were many locals
realized is that there were many locals
realized is that there were many locals it really didn’t want to help the stray
it really didn’t want to help the stray
it really didn’t want to help the stray dogs but they just had no idea on how to
dogs but they just had no idea on how to
dogs but they just had no idea on how to go about it so I wanted to just support
go about it so I wanted to just support
go about it so I wanted to just support them in any way I can or any way I could
them in any way I can or any way I could
them in any way I can or any way I could so that they could be the true agents of
so that they could be the true agents of
so that they could be the true agents of change and there’s this community and
change and there’s this community and
change and there’s this community and here are some of those folks these guys
here are some of those folks these guys
here are some of those folks these guys are here
are here
are here they’re working everyday in the
they’re working everyday in the
they’re working everyday in the community looking back at my experience
community looking back at my experience
community looking back at my experience with Tommy I realized that the family
with Tommy I realized that the family
with Tommy I realized that the family learned that dogs can bring happiness
learned that dogs can bring happiness
learned that dogs can bring happiness love and affection just by giving them
love and affection just by giving them
love and affection just by giving them food and by giving them care I realized
food and by giving them care I realized
food and by giving them care I realized that when you treat Stan’s stray animals
that when you treat Stan’s stray animals
that when you treat Stan’s stray animals as part of the community as opposed to
as part of the community as opposed to
as part of the community as opposed to unwanted pests that is when the true
unwanted pests that is when the true
unwanted pests that is when the true magic happens it is the realization that
magic happens it is the realization that
magic happens it is the realization that the stray animal population can be
the stray animal population can be
the stray animal population can be managed with compassion and education
managed with compassion and education
managed with compassion and education instead of neglecting cruelty in the
instead of neglecting cruelty in the
instead of neglecting cruelty in the past nine years of mounting this human
past nine years of mounting this human
past nine years of mounting this human canine connection happened a thousand
canine connection happened a thousand
canine connection happened a thousand more time we’ve realized that when the
more time we’ve realized that when the
more time we’ve realized that when the locals have a number to call to call
locals have a number to call to call
locals have a number to call to call about when a dog sick and when it needs
about when a dog sick and when it needs
about when a dog sick and when it needs a rabies vaccine when it needs surgery
a rabies vaccine when it needs surgery
a rabies vaccine when it needs surgery the connection develops so much so that
the connection develops so much so that
the connection develops so much so that today we even have many families that
today we even have many families that
today we even have many families that adopt these stray dogs into their home
adopt these stray dogs into their home
adopt these stray dogs into their home like their cat
like their cat
like their cat what’s even happened is one of our
what’s even happened is one of our
what’s even happened is one of our rescues has become a celebrity of his
rescues has become a celebrity of his
rescues has become a celebrity of his own and he has his own Instagram page
own and he has his own Instagram page
own and he has his own Instagram page [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] all joking aside let me leave you with
all joking aside let me leave you with
all joking aside let me leave you with these three things what he kind of
these three things what he kind of
these three things what he kind of strayed they didn’t ask to be stray and
strayed they didn’t ask to be stray and
strayed they didn’t ask to be stray and you may just find a new best friend to
you may just find a new best friend to
you may just find a new best friend to taking even the smallest step asking
taking even the smallest step asking
taking even the smallest step asking even the littlest question can lead to
even the littlest question can lead to
even the littlest question can lead to change and yes change can happen because
change and yes change can happen because
change and yes change can happen because I’ve seen it with my own eyes and lastly
I’ve seen it with my own eyes and lastly
I’ve seen it with my own eyes and lastly I leave you and encourage you to step
I leave you and encourage you to step
I leave you and encourage you to step into fear and fuck with your head and
into fear and fuck with your head and
into fear and fuck with your head and you may just find your true heart
you may just find your true heart
you may just find your true heart you
you
you [Applause]
”
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