We had the good fortune of connecting with Delaney Wray Griffin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Delaney Wray, how do you think about risk?
I think of risk as a necessity in any happy life or career. Your passions can only be pursued with a little (or a lot!) of risk. For someone with little to no fear around risk, I find it easy (thrilling, really) to take; as long as it has nothing to do with physical heights, YIKES! As humans in a free-spinning world, we take chances with every step, driving to work, walking our dog, or even mowing our lawn. Risk brings up fear: fear of failure, fear of injury, fear of judgment, fear of not being accepted/loved, fear of disappointment, etc. A million different things could happen to you if you take a risk, so our human brains weigh out each risk.

For example, there is a risk in staying unhappy in a career you’re comfortable doing AND there’s a risk in going back to school to learn a new trade you’re more passionate about. Here, you are risking your happiness OR risking money being spent and a bet upon yourself to “succeed”. Typically, your brain is going to choose the one that is familiar, even if it isn’t what’s best for you. Our brains are all about safety & comfort – the less mystery, the better. This is why we can look around and see unhappy humans EVERYWHERE. Everyday, we choose the smooth, paved path we’ve been handed or walked down a thousand times before.

Personally, (my mother can vouch for this), I think I’ve always looked at risk as more of an opportunity – to learn, explore, or just shake things up when life is feeling stale. When risk presents itself to me, I ask 5 questions:

1 – “Am I going to die?”
2 – “Could this negatively impact another life?”
3 – “If the risk works out, is it worth the reward?
4 – “If this doesn’t work out, is the loss detrimental?”
5 – “Is this risk based on my efforts only, or does it require the work or involvement of another?”

If 1-4 check out, the last one is the MOST important. because if the involvement of another isn’t needed, your reward is standing right in front of you. You just have to put in the work. One of my favorite quotes, from the diva herself, “I don’t like to gamble, but if there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.” – Beyonce.

If you are not going to die. If no one else is going to die. If you dream about the reward the risk can give. If the loss isn’t detrimental. And if who you’re counting on is yourself, trust yourself, and TAKE IT.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The newest business I have ventured into is SOS Animales Nicaragua. In November 2020, my business partner and I started a non-profit animal relief and rescue organization in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua that has now turned into a donation-based veterinary clinic. We started this organization to address the animal suffering population & create a healthier & happier environment for our town. Our hope is to alleviate animal suffering by targeting the source of the problem through community education, offering low-cost sterilization clinics, hosting vaccination campaigns, offering donation-based veterinary care, and by rescuing neglected animal and finding them responsible homes.

The most difficult part in starting from the ground up was (and still is) receiving enough donations from individuals to fund our mission. Every dollar we receive pays for our overhead (rent, utilities, medications, etc.) and the salaries of our local staff. Everything leftover goes back into our community projects. By relying on others to continuously fund our organization, it requires constant creativity to find more avenues for income. We host both small and large scale fundraisers and use our social media to spread our mission, as most of our financial supporters are in the US and Canada.

What I am most proud of is how far we have come in just 7 months. We have sterilized almost 500 animals, found responsible adoptions for over 100 cats and dogs, and implemented educational community outreach programs to begin to shift how people view and care for animals. I am most looking forward to seeing what unfolds for our organization and this community in the next few years as our team continues to educate, advocate, and learn.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a Colorado native, but I spend most of my year in Nicaragua. When I am with family in Denver or Boulder, some of my favorites include Red Rocks shows, any local Mexican food joint, Little Man Ice Cream in Denver, tubing in Golden, spending a morning hiking, and strolling down Pearl Street in Boulder.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success (AKA my happy life) was molded & encouraged by too many people & inspirations to list. To name a few: – My Mom & Dad for encouraging to explore my passions from childhood to adulthood.
– My husband, Grant Griffin, for making me feel like my own here, everyday.
– My yoga teacher, Claudia Castro Leverett, for opening my mind & showing me my own personal power.
– My dearest friends, all over the world, you inspire me, you love me, you’re the best.
– My Aunts, for showing me that a life in a foreign country is possible and can be the best decision you ever make.

Website: sos-animales-nica.org

Instagram: @sos.animales.nica & @happy.meets.healthy

Facebook: SOS Animales Nicaragua

Youtube: https://youtu.be/hL0B6cFcdNg

Image Credits
Kallie Droher Lauren Rudrick

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.