The Start of a New Year

I’m linking this post to Sunday Post, Mailbox Monday, and It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Well, it’s the start of a new year. Looking back at 2021 I realized that I had my world flipped upside down. I quit my job right before the new year, found out we were moving to Okinawa in June. Got ready for said move. Said goodbye to all my friends and family before hopping on a plane to a foreign country. Then dealt with adjusting to the new country while covid raged on, shutting down locations upon our arrival. Not to mention finding my calling while out here by helping as many stray, feral, and dumped cats on the island. So, it’s no surprise that my reading and blogging took a nosedive. I kept beating myself up for my lack of reading and blogging, but at the end of the day, we are all human. Reflecting back on the last year really put into perspective why I haven’t been as active as I’ve wanted to be. And ya know what, that’s okay.

I won’t lie, my focus has shifted a lot from blogging and more into helping the cats here in Okinawa. There are just so many of them. It’s insane. Not only do I spend a lot of time doing TNR (trap, neuter, release), but I have rescued and taken in a handful of cats and got them either into a home or into a foster system with the local rescue on island. Unfortunately, I did lose a couple of the cats. My first being Kazu. He was a feral cat that was not only deaf but had a diaphragmatic hernia that needed emergency surgery. While he survived the surgery, the vet got back to the office the next morning to find that he has choked in the middle of the night and passed away. The other angel baby is Leeloo who was a tiny kitten that was battling upper respiratory infection and parasites. Sadly, my friend (who was holding her at her house), woke up to find that the kitten had passed away in the night. While it has been really difficult to get past these losses, it pushes me even more to continue to help as many babies as I can. This past month was especially hard because I came across 3 dumped cats. One I have a friend watching who is about to go into the foster system for the local rescue, I have a different friend who has taken on the other cat which has a upper respiratory infection and mange, and the third is one that I have in my custody. All three of these babies just randomly popped up in an area with no one looking for them. It’s heartbreaking to witness, and sadly this is a common occurrence since I am on an island with a heavy military population that rotates on and off the island. So a lot of animals get dumped when the military members move off island. While I try to focus more on doing TNR, I can not sit by and watch an animal suffer. Hence, my current house guest. If anyone would like to help me on my mission, I will leave my links below.

So, with all of that being said, what does 2022 hold in store for me? Hopefully a lot of success stories, a bit more reading, a lot of exploration of this beautiful area, and some much need rest and relaxation.

What are you hoping for with the new year?

 

The cats I helped in 2021


 

 
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16 Thoughts on “The Start of a New Year

  1. 2021 brought a lot of changes for you. I am glad you adapted to your new environment and making an impact at the same time. All the best for 2022.

  2. The work you’ve been doing is amazing, but I also understand how emotionally taxing it is.

  3. Oh what a wonderful, wonderful person you are! I am also a rescue kitty and I know how precious people like you are.

    I think you still did very well on the reading front in 2021 as well and may this year bring you lots of peace and strength to continue with your rescue work and lots and lots of extra time for reading and blogging.

    Happy New Year!!!

    Elza Reads

  4. Happy New Year! Hope 2022 is excellent for you (and the kitties). Thanks for sharing the pics too. It’s nice to see all of them (and heartbreaking too).

  5. i know because of covid your move was not easy, but i applaud you for taking on the issue of all the cats being dumped. i feel the military should do something to help. after all the service people are responsible for ALL their actions. wishing you a happy new year and many adoptions for the kitties
    sherry @ fundinmental

  6. It is really difficult moving countries, we lived in 4 different countries in 10 years and I never want to move again. We will, just thankfully not to another country (or at least I hope not!). It’s definitely a time to give yourself grace. It is awesome that you are able to help so many cats! Happy New Year!

  7. It’s awful that people just dump their animals like that when they move. The military should be helping.

  8. Congratulations on your achievements in the past year, particularly in caring for the abandoned cats and I wish you continued success in your mission.

    Wishing you a happy, healthy new year

  9. Juli @ A Universe in Words on 3 January, 2022 at 3:50 am said:

    You helped so many cats, that’s amazing! My friends and I lost kittens who we’d picked up and tried to foster, it is a rough experience when you know they’re finally so close to being saved but don’t make it. But know you helped make their last few hours or days all that much brighter! I hope you have a lovely weekend and a Happy New Year 🙂
    Juli @ A Universe in Words

  10. Aww, I’m glad someone is looking out for the cats. I can understand why blogging had to take a backseat. Happy New Year!

  11. Happy New Year!

    You are an angel to help all those kitties!

  12. All those beautiful kitties! It’s wonderful what you’ve done for them.

    Happy New Year!

  13. You had to make a lot of changes this past year and what a hero you to those cats! We need more people like you. The books you did read look really good. A few of them are in my wish list. I would really like to get to Ex Talk this year. I hope you have a Happy New Year!

  14. A lot for you to juggle in 2021. The house and view look lovely.
    So nice of you to help the stray cats.
    You still got to do some good reading. And I think I will get The Love Hypothesis to read.
    Glad you are linking up with MM.
    Wishing you a wonderful New Year with lots of Happy Reading!

  15. That’s how I felt since my move a few years ago. I’m not done reading or blogging but a lot has shifted – in addition to the huge adjustment. Not as big as yours though!

    Animal rescue is tough. I did it both in a country setting with no spay/neuter program and a let them live free on their own mentality and then in a college town – similar to the military situation. Animal welfare out here is totally different. There are always challenges but the spay/neuter & adoptions are so good out here that they go and take in animals from shelters in other states that would otherwise be put to sleep.

    Don’t forget to take care of yourself so you don’t burn out! and have a great new year in your beautiful new area!

    Karen @For What It’s Worth

  16. So glad you loved The Love Hypothesis! I’m adding that to my tbr list

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