During this trip I have met some great people, whom I truly hope to maintain friendships with in the future, and I`ve completely enjoyed being a part of the Matiz family here in Colombia (although God knows my liver hasn`t!). But I must say that I really miss all my family and friends back in VA and beyond, and can`t wait to return and see everyone.
I went away on this trip for several reasons: 1) I´ve always had a desire to travel and experience other cultures (don`t think I don`t already have a growing list of future destinations! :)), 2) I´ve always been attracted to latin culture (the music, colors, dancing, food, spirit...it really suits me), and 3) I needed change in my life.
Oh, and I got change! In one month I went from stressed-out legal publisher living in Charlottesville, confused about love and unsure what to do with my life to...free-as-a-bird unemployed 27 year-old, living at home and unsure what to do with my life. Do you see the common thread? :)
The good thing about quitting my job and moving home was that I got the ¨clean slate¨ I so desperately needed. But as anyone that`s ever been shopping with me knows, I can be extremely overwhelmed and indecisive when there are too many options - which is exactly what a clean slate presents! ¨Where do I want to live? What do I want to do?¨ I didn`t have a clue.
But after this trip everything`s all good because I still don`t have a clue! :) But the difference is that I`m more okay with that now. Before I left, I felt like I had to make big moves to be happy - move away from Charlottesville/VA/the east coast to a ¨better¨ place. Make a sacrifice to get that ¨perfect¨ job. And I`m not sure when or how, but this trip made me realize that`s not necessarily the case.
From the places I visited and people I met, I learned a very valuable lesson that I already knew, but couldn`t accept before...that happiness isn`t a result of circumstance, but of attitude. I met people that worked their entire lives only to live in mud huts and barely support their families...but played volleyball with a piece of string and deflated ball and laughed and had a blast! Yes, it`s good to strive for growth and advancement, but it`s more important to pause a bit and enjoy what you`ve already got...however little or great that is.
I know I know. You are wondering where I`m going with this, and I`m sorry I sound like a pep talk tape you listen to in your car. The point of this little ditty is that now that I`ve been outside of my world for a bit, I`ve realized that I already have everything I need to be happy. Yes, there are a million places to live and jobs to do (and let`s not forget about men to date! :)), and it`s going to be interesting to see where my path leads me, but my focus when I get home isn`t going to be on those things (as it was before). I`m just looking forward to enjoying my family, friends, and life (and the rest will fall into place). That is very much the Colombian spirit here - celebrate everything and anything! I like that. :)
2 comments:
My mom commented.....you should totally watch the end of the Wizard of Oz.
I think you are finally ready to come home now :o)
Post a Comment