Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Boggio
Hi Susan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I believe in helping others, human and animal and this understanding of our obligation to do so began many years ago. Even as a child I truly enjoyed helping and being with others, Trick or Treat with UNICEF, Girl Scout projects, raising funds for the underprivileged or disabled. I continued that forward trajectory after my father tragically passed away when I was a young girl. Getting my mind off just myself and focusing more on others who needed it, was an increasing theme in my life. My widowed mother has always been a strong influence and role model about how to be more unselfish and giving day to day, the real power of reading and education, how to conduct yourself in life, have fun, laugh but in the end to finally to be able to “suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” I believe that you should just show up and do good works, whether it’s difficult or not, whether you’re criticized or not, whether folks know it or not, or whether even the beneficiaries will ever know your name or will remember you, if they do. All of your good intentions and good works matter, in this life or the next. I do believe these are the things you can “take with you.”
I look to other role models, too with the many amazing people in the world I’ve either read about or have met as they inspire so many by their intrinsic decency, generosity and good works. I have fellowship with many types of friends who support and inspire me, as well. I work hard to not just emulate what’s “popular” but instead I try to follow my heart. I’ve made mistakes and have regrets, but overall, I believe we all should all try to follow our heart–and head–by using compassion, logic and decency in our interactions.
When I began my volunteer work as a full time avocation, I started smaller scale when younger then increased over time with more work like helping animals, helping those visually impaired, with the homeless or otherwise physically impaired, then with children in need, locally and internationally. I began trying to identify who is in the most need and those innocents who are suffering the most and how best to help. This began my Board membership with organizations that help the world’s children through UNICEF, with my Board membership for Houston’s Children’s Assessment Center (for abused children), and with PACE universal for girl children’s education and safety in Calcutta, India, supporting Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston with their Meals on Wheels, Animeals (for their animal care), refugee families and interfaith dialogue, Extending support for anti-child trafficking wherever it is, protecting victims generally and promoting safety as with our Houston Crime Stoppers, supporting animal shelters and animal organizations. After years of rescuing, I started my own animal charity Happy Faces Pet Ranch a few years ago, helping physically rescue, foster, give needed medical care, heal, provide transportation and finally a better outcome with finding good homes for a better quality of life to these creatures who I believe possess “nephesh” (Hebrew for soul). We have much to learn from animals as they are innocent and often give love and protection, unconditionally. Regardless of whatever else one believes, they don’t deserve to suffer. It matters to the animals and it matters sometimes even more to the people who love them.
I also believe in fighting fiercely for others in need. We should aim high, “for the stars” in our positive ambitions, but also be aware that if/when we fall short, we will only forgive ourselves if we know we’ve really tried. I think if we leave the world better than where we began it, we have done our job here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The struggles of being raised by a single mother, after the devastating unexpected loss of my father at a young age were challenging. But I also saw how my mother triumphed over this soul-breaking tragedy by raising two grateful, hard working children by herself. I’ve had many other struggles in many ways and I believe whether emotional, spiritual or physical that we must “find a way” through it to get to the other side. The other side, being a life we create that is enmeshed with making a difference for others while simultaneously making ourselves stronger. It ‘s also a struggle to realize that with any charity work, human or animal or other, there are some that don’t “get it” and think that their doing x, y or z is “better, more important.” I also believe in establishing a hierarchy in making decisions based on learning what and who to give to and why, but sadly, frustratingly at times, I’ve wrestled with how to explain to some how it doesn’t and shouldn’t matter where a child is born, for instance, that if they suffer, we all should care about them as well as if they lived “next door,” especially when their suffering can be extreme, chronic and/or ignored. The same with helping animals or even refugee families that are seen as “the other” – not like us and so helping them is less important than some other issue they care about. Getting others to see, then to understand, then to want to help also, is always a challenge, but I have faith that if even a few more will learn and help a few more themselves, it has a positive ripple effect.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is 24/7, literally not just a hobby. I spend most all my days embedded in my charitable work, especially as I find the sands of time in my hourglass getting more full at the bottom than at the top. We can’t get back that time, that sand, but we can make the remaining time count.
I would say I “specialize” in making a difference for those that need it the most and many who are often overlooked or marginalized. I am not sure what I’m most known for as others may just see a portion of my true self but on my life resume’, I’d have to say that I’m most proud of the friends and acquaintances I have made and the good work we’ve been able to accomplish together. I think the ability to work hard and to see past some of the superficial divides we each have and try instead to see the true core of a person and how they conduct their lives and treat others is more important. I can get unhappy or even upset about someone’s personal life choices or intractable differing views on some issue or other, but when I try to see them as a fellow traveler on this earth, learning, making mistakes, sure, but at least trying to do some good, I see them in a different light. I believe in the concept of “wise selfishness” in Buddhism. Unwise selfishness is when you act solely with an aim of getting everyone to do what you want them to and/or to do things that focus more attention on oneself. Wise selfishness, on the other hand is when you act in a generous or altruistic way because you understand that it makes YOU more truly happy than being merely self-interested. And that, in a real way, our own well-being is connected to the well-being of others we help. On a deeper level, we actually benefit more than those we help, which takes some time and contemplation to understand.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the city’s large heart and that no matter what, when there’s a tragedy like flooding or hurricanes, we pull together for those times. We see each other in the light we should try to see them in every day. I do love that we’re a charitable city and that we can work together when needed.
I do tend to get disheartened when we don’t work together and when we don’t see that our neighbors as really everyone, everywhere. I am also disappointed when we don’t spend enough energy on trying to mitigate the large animal suffering crisis in our city that many complain about but when it actually comes down to helping, they ignore it as unimportant, when humans are responsible for causing it, whether inadvertently or purposely. I’d like to see more humane education on why animals also matter, just the same as why all innocent beings–human or animals, matter. I’m disappointed at so much misinformation or ignorance “ignore-ance” as I sometimes pronounce it, when we purposely “ignore” real problems and focus on minor or even manufactured ones when we believe misinformation and don’t use critical thinking to more readily discern fact from fiction and further, don’t understand that it’s not helpful to spread untruths and misinformation, it’s hurtful. It’s as if enough folks can’t or won’t, see the interconnectedness of what we should be doing and why it matters to them, too.
It takes time, but I will never lose faith in our ability to work through things, no matter how long it takes, but we must work together.
Like the attributed African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://happyfacespetranch.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyfacespetranch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyfacespetranch
Image Credits
I think the UNICEF award picture was done by their photographer but I have permission to use. Others, a friend took.
