Important Note:
The inclusion of links or references to third-party sites is provided for informational purposes only. While we strive to share helpful and relevant resources, we cannot control or guarantee the content on external platforms. You are encouraged to explore these resources thoughtfully and at your own discretion, understanding that your experience may vary.
BrightHaven
BrightHaven is a nonprofit offering animal hospice, rescue, holistic education, and caregiver resources.
More than a decade ago, I had the incredible opportunity to study animal Reiki with Gail Pope in the warm and welcoming Santa Rosa, CA home she shared with her late husband, Richard.That experience remains one of my fondest memories.
Gail and Richard created a sanctuary where animals were not only deeply loved but also received exceptional care. Whether it was the cats and dogs, the equines and goats, or even Harley the hog, they understood the importance of consulting with specialized veterinarians to ensure the best possible support for every member of their animal family.
Because of their thoughtful and thorough approach, Gail’s guidance is now sought after by veterinarians and animal caregivers around the world. She brings a rare blend of compassion and deep knowledge to everything she does, and BrightHaven continues to be a beacon of hope and dignity for aging and ailing animals.
For Veterans and Their Families
Military Spouse
Provides a wide variety of information for military families
Vets 4 Warriors
According to their website Vets 4 Warriors is located at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care National Call Center. They are a 24/7 peer support network operating independent of the VA and the U.S. military.
They serve “every active-duty military service member, National Guard and Reserves service member, veterans of every generation, as well as their family members and caregivers.”
The "Don't Wait. Reach Out." Campaign
This site was created by the VA and the Ad Council to offer support to veterans, along with helpful resources for family and friends. They’ve also got phone numbers for crisis intervention.
Just in case you’re not able to access the site for any reason, I’ve listed the key info here.
Veterans: If you’re struggling, please call 988 then press 1 or send a text to 838255. If you have hearing loss call TTY – 800-799-4889
Civilians: If you’re struggling, please call or text 988. For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988
If you’re trying to decide whether or not to reach out, why not make the call and give yourself the benefit of the doubt? What do you have to lose?
Everyone struggles at some point. Please, make the call. Your life matters.
And if you find that you’re not clicking with the person on the other end, don’t give up. Try again.
You’re allowed to keep reaching out until someone hears you the way you need to be heard. The connection matters, and so do you.
Love and light, Robin G. (and Moxie too.🐘)
P.S. If you’re curious about who the elephant is, she made her debut in my first blog post and you can meet Moxie here.
Find A Helpline
An online service that allows you to find confidential support from a helpline or hotline. You can locate confidential support services by topic and geographic location, both within the United States and abroad.
Love, Your Mind
A campaign from the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council, offering inspiration, community resources and education. This site offers a lot of online tools, guides, and information on where to find support.
https://loveyourmindtoday.org/
Reddit is a free online platform that hosts thousands of online communities, including many dedicated to veterans, military families, and local areas. These groups can be great resources for sharing information, asking questions, or connecting with others, especially when adjusting to a new location. While browsing is open to all, posting or commenting requires a free account and a valid email address.
Resources for Everyone Else (Predominantly U.S. Based)
988 Lifeline
Suicide and crisis hotline. Free one-to-one assistance 24/7/365.
Call or text 988 to be connected to a counselor.
For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988
If you’re trying to decide whether or not to reach out, why not make the call and give yourself the benefit of the doubt? What do you have to lose?
Everyone struggles at some point. Please, make the call. Your life matters.
And if you find that you’re not clicking with the person on the other end, don’t give up. Try again.
You’re allowed to keep reaching out until someone hears you the way you need to be heard. The connection matters, and so do you.
Love and light, Robin G. (and Moxie too.🐘)
https://988lifeline.org/
P.S. If you’re curious about who the elephant is, she made her debut in my first blog post and you can meet Moxie here.
Find A Helpline
An online service that allows you to find confidential support from a helpline or hotline. You can locate confidential support services by topic and geographic location, both within the United States and abroad.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Confidentially serving all people impacted by domestic abuse 24/7.
Their website states that there is a high demand for their services and the
wait time to speak with someone can be longer than expected. The site also provides a directory for local providers and an AI assistant if you are unable to reach a live advocate. Call 1-800-799-7233 or text “Start” to 88788.
If you are in immediate danger call 911.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. They offer 24/7 hotline support. Call 1-800-656-4673 to speak with a trained professional.
If you are in immediate danger call 911.
Love, Your Mind
A campaign from the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council, offering inspiration, community resources, and education. This site offers a lot of online tools, guides, and information on where to find support.
Covenant House
Per their website they are a non-profit servicing youth who are experiencing homelessness. Additionally, they also provide services to survivors of human trafficking. Services provided include shelter, food, and health and wellness services.
A free online platform that hosts thousands of online communities. These groups can be valuable resources for sharing information, asking questions, or connecting with others locally or internationally. While browsing is open to all, posting or commenting requires a free account and a valid email address.
Discover: Free Streaming, Recipes & Knowledge
YouTube
Our number one pick for free videos, music and podcasts in the jungle of plenty.
Pluto TV
A free, ad-supported streaming service featuring live TV channels and on-demand movies and shows. Content includes news, sports, movies, reality TV, and retro programming. The provided link below is for those based in the U.S. If you are outside the U.S. You can do an internet search for Pluto TV supported countries.
Plex TV
A free, ad-supported streaming platform where you can watch live TV, on-demand movies and shows, and even organize your personal media collection (like videos, music, and photos) all in one place. It also supports DVR, podcasts, and news—accessible across many devices. If you are based outside of the U.S. you can do a quick check on the internet to find out if Plex TV offers streaming in your country.
Tubi TV
A free, ad-supported streaming service with a large library of on-demand movies and TV shows. Content includes mainstream films, indie titles, anime, documentaries, and kids programming across various genres. You can do a quick internet search to learn if Tubi TV is available to stream in your country. The link below is for people based in the U.S.
The Roku Channel
A free, ad-supported streaming service offering a mix of live TV, on-demand movies and TV shows, Roku Originals, and news content. Content spans genres like drama, comedy, reality, and family entertainment. A quick web search should provide you with a link if the channel is available in your country.
Retroflix
Offers classic and vintage movies and TV shows, focusing on public domain or cult-favorite content. Expect genres like film noir, Westerns, old horror films, and classic sitcoms. The link below is for people based in the U.S. If you are based in another country, a quick internet search should provide you with a link if streaming is available for your location.
Playing For Change
Watch and listen to the music of street artist from around the world as they come together with the mission of breaking down barriers and bringing people together through music.
One Stop Radio
Over 65,000 FM radio stations from over 230 countries.
Typically an aggregator or individual platform offering themed internet radio stations, often focused on specific genres (e.g., jazz, gospel, oldies).
Eating Well
A source for nutritious recipes, science-backed health tips, and sustainable food guidance. Main focuses are on promoting a balanced, healthy lifestyle through clean eating and mindful living.
No Money No Time
An initiative of the University of Newcastle, Australia. Their focus is on helping people eat healthy and balanced meals without spending a lot of time or money.
Skinnytaste
Created in 2008 by Gina Homolka, author of several Skinnytaste cookbooks. Her website offers calorie-conscious recipes for different dietary needs and she includes nutritional information for each recipe.
TED
TED (technology, entertainment and design) started in 1984 and has become globally recognized for their TED Talks. The company focuses on providing platforms for experts and thought leaders to publicly present ideas and knowledge to drive meaningful change.
Goodreads
A social platform for book lovers where you can discover, rate, and review books. It offers personalized book recommendations and allows members to join an active online community to share reading experiences. One standout feature is that Goodreads often provides access to more preview pages of a book than many bookseller sites.
Project Gutenberg
Provides free access to over 70,000 classic eBooks in the public domain. It’s a digital library offering literature from across the world, including novels, historical texts, and reference materials.
LibriVox
A volunteer-driven platform offering free public domain audiobooks. It features recordings of classic literature read by volunteers worldwide.
Internet Archive
A non-profit with a massive library offering free access to texts, videos, music, images, and software. Their Wayback Machine allows you to view the history of billions of web pages.
Google Scholar
A search engine for academic research. It indexes scholarly articles, theses, books, conference papers, and court opinions from a wide range of disciplines.
Khan Academy
A non-profit offering free online courses for math, economics, computing, language and arts, Reading, life skills, social skills and more.
Coursera
An online learning platform offering courses, certificates, and degree programs from universities and companies worldwide. It covers a wide range of subjects from data science, to arts and allows users to learn at their own pace. Many courses are free to audit, with optional paid certifications.
edX
An online learning platform founded by Harvard and MIT. It offers university-level courses and programs, including professional certificates and full degrees, in subjects like computer science, business, and humanities. Many courses are free to audit, with paid options for certificates and graded assessments.
Future Learn
FutureLearn is a UK-based online education platform that provides short courses, microcredentials, and online degrees from global universities and institutions. They offer free courses and paid options to earn undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.