We were lucky to catch up with Gabby Wild recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gabby, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Many of us struggle to find meaningfulness in our lives and that is a significant fault of our upbringing from society, parenting, and education. From a very baseline understanding of purpose, each creature is needed on the planet to be a member of that species. Literally, every single individual matters because they are alive to do their function in the world. Because we humans have a greater capacity than most animals for higher level creative and critical thinking, we add complexity to our lives to seek deeper meaning. That meaning goes back to your core moral values. What is meaningful to one person may not find great significance to another. For example, some women find tremendous meaningfulness and purpose in ensuring that their homes are kept up (i.e. clean, organised, well-stocked, etc) with their focus of life being their children and partner’s welfare, whilst other women may find that their purpose is in their profession, in their friendships, or in a personal goal. However, purposefulness sometimes feels empty when the answer to a purpose begins and ends circularly around oneself. It is at that point that most people, over time, feel that they perhaps missed an opportunity to improve life in general. As social creatures, we like to make an impact on at least another creature (not necessarily even human). Thus I found my purpose when I was very young: to help animals. The method in which I go about my purpose evolves yearly, but the goal remains the same. To find your purpose, think about what inspires you to do what is right. Think about what gives you pizazz to your step.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a wildlife veterinarian, National Geographic author/educator, and founder of the nonprofit, The Gabby Wild Foundation, whereby we provide complimentary veterinary services for threatened wildlife internationally, manage conservation projects for critically endangered species in Indonesia (Sumatran rhino, Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, and many more) + reforestation projects, and we provide educational campaigns and classes to children & adults. No matter where in the world I wake up, it is inspiring to know that each day we are somehow closer to making an impact on a species that we are saving from extinction or elating the dreams of a child or changing a person’s outlook to how he/she approaches the world of nature that we are all apart of. For those with a love for National Geographic, please check out my books (most conveniently at Amazon or your local libraries): “How to Speak Animal” and “Wild Vet Adventures: Saving Animals Around the World with Dr. Gabby Wild”.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1) Perseverance: find your focal point and don’t take your eye off that target. The target may move, but keep your eye on it. 2) Positivity: things can always get worse. If you remember that you’re lucky enough to have access to read this, then you are in a position that is lucky enough to improve in life.
3) Compassion: life is not fair, with very unequal cards dealt to everyone. Learn to be compassionate, as that will inspire you to be less angry when someone does an act that does not necessarily make sense to you or when you see something that offers you the opportunity to be the helper.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
One of the greatest challenges in running a nonprofit is securing funding for the very important programs. Sadly, people do not like to simply donate money. They often want something in return, like a t-shirt, experience, or a mug. Unfortunately, providing product feeds an unsustainable system that I try to combat, so I only support as much of a circular production process on limited goods. However, I wish I could inspire more people to donate and become involved in my work from their homes. Not everyone can go off to distant lands to help the animals, and nor do we have the capacity to offer that, but we would love to encourage ways for people to feel a part of the solution.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gabbywild.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.gabbywild/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drgabbywild/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabby-wild-743b2153/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabbywild
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrGabbyWild
Image Credits
Image credits: Dr. Gabby Wild
