Sometimes all you hear about is the hate, but there is more love in this world than you could possibly imagine. Charlie Mackesy

True solitude is found in the wild places, where one's inner voices become audible. Wendell Berry

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. William James

It takes a village to raise an elephant

To be a baby elephant must be wonderful. Surrounded by a loving family 24 hours a day... I think it must be how it ought to be, in a perfect world. Daphne Sheldrick

Find that place where the voices fall silent, free from guilt and deadlines and failed expectations. Give yourself the chance to remember what it is you love, what is truly important to you, and then come back ready to fight for it.  Paul Nicklen

Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children. African Proverb

“Good morning, mon ami! It's a brand-new day. Chimps are going ape, giraffes remain above it all. Chicks are panicking, rhinos are running wild.”  Zazu from The Lion King

We can judge the heart of a man by the way he treats animals. - Immanuel Kant

June 21st marked World Giraffe Day, a fitting choice to celebrate the tallest mammal on earth on the longest day of the year. Here’s a story about an encounter with orphaned giraffes I will never forget and the man whose loving kindness helped them return to the wild.

Every meaningful encounter (with wildlife) is a kind of enchantment — it comes unbidden and breaks without warning, leaving us transformed. Maria Popova

The best place in the entire world to see and to make photographs is wherever you are. Freeman Patterson

When we are fully immersed in nature, there is no past and no future, only the present. Michio Hoshino

Wonder is a choice, and we can find it if we look for it. Seth Godin

“If children grow up not knowing about nature and appreciating it, they won’t understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it.” David Attenborough

A creature becomes ordinary only when I stop paying attention. Seen fully, nothing is ever ordinary.

From The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Franck

We are born from the womb of our mothers; we are buried in the womb of the earth. African Proverb

If I look long enough, the wild animal in front of me stops being ‘subject matter’ and becomes a fellow presence. Frederick Franck

Happy Earth Day! Yes, you can make a difference. Plant a tree! Donate to protect a natural habitat that has meaning to you. Pick up garbage, reduce, reuse, recycle. Be an aware consumer, spend your money on items and experiences that don’t harm the environment. Your choices make a difference. Save nature and we save ourselves!

When women lead, ecosystems heal. Daughters for Earth

When relationships are centered on trust. Fear is easily conquered. Dr. Winnie Kiiru