Love, Longevity, & Living The Best Life!
By Gary Quinn
As individuals, we each face unique life challenges, but despite our differences, we all desire love, wellness, and happiness. The pursuit of these emotions gives us purpose in life and encourages us to always live in a state of gratitude and selflessness.
Recently I spoke with Belinda Carlisle, a beautiful, loving, spiritually conscious woman who is making a difference in the world.
Belinda believes that we make our paths in this life far more difficult than they need to be. She explained that our struggle with resistance is constantly entangling us when it doesn’t need to be so challenging. Whatever you put out into the Universe will be reciprocated on all levels. With a confident smile, she said to me, “Our main job in life is to align with the energy that is the source of all energies and to keep our frequency in tune with gratitude and love. When you live in the consciousness of making a difference in your lifetime, opportunities and experiences will be abundant.”
Not many people can say they’ve had the transformative journey of becoming a world-renowned international recording artist, a New York Times best-selling author, a mother, wife, seeker of spirituality, and the founder of Animal People Alliance (APA), a nonprofit based in India that treats thousands of animals each year.
In 2014, Belinda Carlisle and Paul Suit co-founded Animal People Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in Calcutta, India. Its mission is to provide excellent quality and compassionate care, of the highest standards, to neglected street animals in India and Thailand. Animal People Alliance trains and employs vulnerable people from the community and pays living wages that help them improve their standard of living. They work with passionate and respected local and global organizations, activists, and veterinarians. Animal People Alliance establishes strong community links and helps educate locals on animal care and safety while partnering with local organizations to promote adoptions, vaccinations, and compassionate care. Belinda proudly asserts that this organization and the impact they have is her true passion in life.
Belinda is the lead singer of The Go-Go’s, a band she formed in 1978 while living in Southern California. In 1981 their hit song “Beauty and the Beat” topped the charts, and the group transformed the music scene in the United States. So, it’s no surprise that The Go-Go’s have managed to sell over seven million records across the world.
After The Go-Go’s split up in 1985, Carlisle continued making music and had a very successful solo career with many hits such as “Mad About You,” “I Get Weak,” “Circle in the Sand,” “Leave a Light On,” and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” All the members of The Go-Go’s rejoined to make music in 1999, and Carlisle still performs with them often while also maintaining her solo career.
In 2010, Carlisle published her autobiography, Lips Unsealed, which quickly became a New York Times Best Seller.
The Go-Go’s, the most successful all-female rock band of all time, are finally Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees. After 43 years of fame, many of which were spent at the top of the charts, the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame will induct them Saturday, October 30, 2021. The Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame is a museum located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, on the shore of Lake Fury. The museum documents the history of rock artists, producers, engineers, and other notable figures who have influenced its development.
I reached out to Arturo Cisneros, the personal manager for The Go-Go’s, to get more details on the upcoming Go-Go’s TOUR. I asked what it’s like touring with these famous girls and how everyone manages to keep on their diets and routines when they’re on the road all over the world. He stated, “Touring is challenging on many levels, especially eating healthy. But, The Go-Go’s make it easier by setting a good example, and they always have healthy foods and snacks around on the tour bus, dressing rooms, and catering.”
The Go-Go’s will embark on a US tour this fall 2021, followed by Belinda’s 2022 solo tour in the UK.
The Go-Go’s: Documentary, directed by Alison Ellwood premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was awarded the 2020 Critics Choice Award. The Go-Go’s: Documentary is a candid, archive-rich, feature documentary that assesses the iconic group’s place in pop history and examines the personalities and dynamics behind their rise, fall, and numerous reincarnations.
When I sat down with Belinda, I delved into her personal life, but I really wanted to find out what her growing organization, Animal People Alliance, was all about.
Belinda, what was life like before The Go-Go’s?
I remember working as a secretary at the Hilton Hotel Corporation in Century City in LA. I was always the freak in the office. I had to cover up my green or purple hair back in the late ’70s, back before really anyone knew what punk rock was. I remember while I was photocopying
papers for my boss, I would just stand there thinking, “I’m going to be a Rockstar one of these days.” That was the attitude of everyone in The Go-Go’s. We were all enjoying the ride every step of the way instead of worrying about the outcome. Whatever we didn’t know about music, we made up for with charm on stage.
What led you to succeed and overcome your obstacles?
I always had to keep total trust in myself and my path. When we first started The Go-Go’s, several of us had no idea how to plug guitars into amplifiers or play music. Yet, against all odds, we succeeded because we never gave up along the way. We all held on to the deep belief that we would all be rockstars someday. I always had to keep total trust in myself and my path. When we first started The Go-Go’s, several of us had no idea how to plug guitars into amplifiers or play music. Yet, against all odds, we succeeded because we never gave up along the way. We all held on to the deep belief that we would all be Rockstar’s someday.
How did you ever start a band if you didn’t know how to play music?
Well, you know, The Go-Go’s was a group of five manifesters. Looking back, it all came down to setting an intention and never giving up the power of saying, “We can do it.” Back then, we were all manifesting before we even knew what “manifesting” was. We were just completely determined, and we were having so much fun learning and growing along the way.
You started a foundation to rescue animals and empower vulnerable people. Tell me about your intention for co-founding Animal People Alliance?
I started my organization Animal People Alliance to improve the lives of people who are at risk of falling below the poverty line, including women who are trafficking survivors. The goal was to train and employ vulnerable or impoverished youth and women as veterinary technicians, dog handlers, and animal caregivers. The organization offers continued support and resources to the employees to prevent them from becoming vulnerable again. In addition, the local shelter homes for women and children are partnered with us and help us integrate animals into their communities. I believe in the work we do because we give these survivors a way to help each other recover from their traumas and struggles.
When did you decide that you wanted to create Animal People Alliance?
On a trip to India fifteen years ago, I met some people from Seattle who owned the largest animal sanctuary in India. I thought to myself, “I’m going to do this someday.” It was always floating around at the back of my mind. Finally, my friend Paul Suit said to me, “We need to do animal services in Calcutta.” After I thought about it for a while, I called him and told him that I loved the idea, and I wanted to do it. It has been growing and expanding since then, and to me, it’s been a great example of the power of manifestation. This project is something my friend and I had a strong intention about, and then before we knew it, the organization was growing and finding its way in Calcutta. It’s impressive knowing we’re making a difference for animals and people alike.
What is your primary objective when rescuing homeless and sick animals?
Besides the many street treatments our team on the ground does in both Calcutta and Chiang Rai, Thailand, we are also teaching people that animals have feelings. We teach the importance of helping animals, and then we show people how they can recognize a street animal in distress. In India, there is a developing middle class. They still don’t have proper vet care, so a lot of what we do is educational. We’re partnered with a hospital in Calcutta to obtain access to emergency rooms and teach the general populace about animal care and adoption.
Tell us a story from your work with Animal People Alliance?
When the project started, I drove an auto-rickshaw for five days across north India to raise funds. I was trying to raise $25,000 for Animal People Alliance. I decided since I love traveling in exciting ways that this would be an excellent opportunity to bring attention to the project. And getting to travel through India off the beaten path was an experience like none other.
What’s your overall goal for Animal People Alliance?
We are focusing on Calcutta and Chiang Rai, But I would love to expand in both India and Thailand. I believe there’s definitely a need for animal services in both areas, and so myself and the team would like to cover more territory as time goes on. I also want to grow the team and provide more employment for people in need, which has been hard to do this year, but I’m confident we’ll accomplish it eventually. In Thailand, we are currently working with the Hill Tribes, who generally are stateless people who can’t travel or get work outside their communities because they have no government identification, so I feel it’s essential to offer them our services. I want to keep growing our team up there and work more with the Hill Tribes because they’re truly incredible people.
I know you often say you struggled with substance abuse in your past. What was your journey to recovery and health?
For me, it was a choice between life and death. It’s something I struggled with for a long time, until one day I could clearly hear a voice telling me, “You’re going to die if you go on like this.” It could have been a hallucination or a message from above. Either way, I knew it was true. I will never forget looking at myself in the mirror or pictures back then and seeing how I looked as if I had the life sucked out of me. I knew it was time to start the healing process and choose life and that I had no more time to waste. After that, I decided I would turn my life around. I stopped drinking and using drugs, started exercising, and I became a vegan. I treat my body like a temple and practice Kundalini Yoga and chanting every day.
When did you start practicing Kundalini Yoga?
It’s funny because I was always so put off by any kind of spirituality, I was raised Southern Baptist, and none of it ever resonated with me. After bible school and bible camp, all that spiritual stuff turned me off. But when I was pregnant, I became very ill and then met Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, who was from the Golden Temple, a vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles. I had food delivered there by a network that delivers to sick mothers, and they usually had Gurmukh come over. I loved Gurmukh, and I thought she was the coolest with all her jewelry and beautiful white clothes.
She practiced some Kundalini yoga with me to help me feel better, and it stuck with me even though I didn’t like doing it at first. Later on, I took a class with her at her yoga studio, and she invited me to come to India with her, so of course, I said yes and flew out. was the beginning of my experience with Kundalini Yoga and chanting, and now 15 years later, I’m still practicing it daily.
Tell me about your love of art and painting?
This last year we’ve all had plenty of time to work on ourselves during the shutdowns and the pandemic. I’ve learned to slow down and focus on a lot of important things in my life that I might have overlooked, like spending more time with my family and pursuing my passions. I used to paint all the time, and I’ve always loved painting. I’m so happy because I’ve had all this wonderful time to go back to art classes a few times a week and study, and it’s helped me make some beautiful paintings.
What medium do you use when you paint?
I love using oil paints. They are easier and more forgiving.
What is your inspiration when you are creating art?
I have definite tastes, and I’m learning what my strengths and weaknesses are. For example, I love Jean Cocteau and Bernard Buffet, and you can see that influence in my paintings.
When did your passion for art first begin?
I was always great with art back when I was in school, but I never really picked it up after that, so I’m glad I took the time to go back and reignite my passion. Painting has always been like meditation for me. It’s allowed me to center myself and stay in the moment. I sold one of my paintings for APA last year, and it felt very powerful to use my art to help improve the lives of people and animals on the other side of the world.
What is your plan for the future of APA?
I want to keep changing the global consciousness about the treatment of animals. In some developing countries, there’s not really widespread public knowledge about the dangers of animal abuse, and sometimes people need to understand that animals have feelings too. The organization is expanding, but it takes a lot of time and hard work, so hopefully, we can go even more global and spread knowledge that could save the lives of innocent animals.
When people donate to Animal People Alliance, what can they expect?
Any donation will go to the team on the ground and help supply them with medicines and equipment used to treat a large variety of animal medical emergencies such as vaccinations, dog bites, traffic accidents, and cancer treatments. Donors can see where their donation has gone on our social media pages. We have treated close to 20,000 animals since 2014, so you can be sure that every penny is going straight to the team and put to good use.
How do you feel when you work with Animal People Alliance in India or Thailand and can see the good things your foundation is doing in the world?
I can’t even describe the profound feeling that I get from knowing that so many animal and human lives are changing for the better. True happiness comes from helping others, and Animal People Alliance is one of my great joys in this life.
What was the most important lesson you learned in life?
I think to live in the moment and not take anything too seriously, and have fun!
Belinda Carlisle is living the dream of a magical life. Thank you, Belinda, for your time, talent and wisdom.
If you would like to donate or find out more about
Animal People Alliance,
visit https://www.
Follow Animal People Alliance on Instagram
@animalpeoplealliance, and on Facebook at the official Animal People Alliance page.
Special Thanks to:
Editing:
Dina Morrone
Photography:
Nick Spanos
Arnold Neimanis
Chris Cuffaro
Vicki Berndt
GOGO’s manager
Arturo Cisneros
Interview Transcriber and Copy Editor
Gregory McKay
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