Out of the Blue

Yes! Money shouldn’t be the sole reason people do things or get up in the morning. I personally know people that have worked really hard all their lives just to accumulate a small fortune. Now, they’re old and retired and yes, they have money but their whole youth was wasted on making that money instead of just living and enjoying life. 

The other day at the paddle out for whales, Bob Irwin and I were discussing the Dugong hunt in Queensland and he said “You better hurry up and get that degree of yours because we’re in need of conservationists with marine biology degrees! Dugong biologists are in demand!”

I’d rather be poor. At least I’ll go to sleep with a clear conscience knowing that my life was devoted to an unselfish cause rather than ambition and glory…or paper. 

<3 Love you too! 

For a long time, family members and other adults would laugh at me for being that kid that wanted to study lions in the Serengeti instead of wanting to make money as a lawyer or a doctor. They would make comments like “You’re going to die of hunger” or “A smart girl like you should be a doctor not a biologist, that’s silly”. As a young kid, that CRUSHED my self-esteem and this taunting by “mature” adults was a great source of anxiety for me. 

I found, however, that marine science is truly my passion. I got accepted into an excelling high school in Florida that is based around maritime studies and I took classes such as Marine Biology and Environmental Science. I also got involved with local ocean activists a few years prior to my acceptance to that school. I changed a lot mentally during this period and I would go as far as to say that I was enlightened. Money no longer defines success in my  world. In fact, I let go of many social constructs. I seek fulfillment and money isn’t part of that. I’d rather wake up and do something I’m passionate about than live a miserable life doing something I dread. 

Sorry for the long answer! I just think that it’s important for all my followers, especially the young ones, to know that they’re in charge of their own lives and they shouldn’t let other people’s definition of success define their achievements or dictate who they need to be.