“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
This is just one of my absolute favorite quotes by renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, a man whose life work inspires me every single day.
As far back as I can remember, animals have held a soft spot in my heart. Wildlife photos have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Whether I was falling asleep at night clutching my raggedy Blue Bunny stuffed animal or petting every dog I could find, there is just such a fundamental and straightforward pleasure that comes with the comfort of a pet. Reflecting, the cats and dogs I had as a kid were the light of my life. And I can still remember screaming my head off the first time I saw someone run over a squirrel as a kid, and I’m pretty the old film Old Yeller permanently scarred me (when the had to put down the namesake dog) – shivers, still makes me so upset.
Growing older, my love for the animal world only deepened. From a stint as a noisy vegetarian in high school fighting with PETA to end factory-farmed chickens to volunteering at my local animal shelter, I’ve always been drawn to animals. In many ways, as a deeply introverted person, animals have always been my friends.
