So this isn’t my first blog but I am starting over. Mainly because I can’t get back into my old one…but also because that was 8 years ago and everything is different now. I will however start off by plagiarizing myself. The majority of this first post will be a post I submitted for class for my time in Nicaragua.
I am a physical therapy student about to start my third and last year of school. As an elective I chose to do a cultural learning experience with 5 of my peers in Nicaragua. It is a two week trip that forces you to grow in the way you think, feel, and understand. It’s not my first cultural or service based learning experience. You get something completely different out of each trip. My first was an “AWOL” trip with USD. Alternative Week of Off-campus Learning. We went to Agua Prieta, Mexico. I’ll try to remember to tell you about it sometime but that was in 2009. My second trip was with the University of Iowa in 2012. We went to southern India- Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. This is my third trip (and definitely not my last). Most of our work has been in Leon but we have spent significant time in Chacraseca and a day in Chichigalpa. Anyway, here’s my first blog from this trip. Enjoy!
Recipe: Bigger than Yourself
Ingredients:
1 c. Passion
1 c. Curiosity
1 tsp Knowledge
½ pkg Willingness
1 lg Heart
Sprinkles of thirst and hunger throughout
Directions
Surround yourself with similar people. Stay courageous. Be willing to fall and try again. Start with some thirst and hunger and passion. Let this grow. Slowly mix in curiosity to develop the passion. Add knowledge to compliment the curiosity and passion. This will grow and develop together into a fuel that will allow you to pursue your dreams. Dump in the willingness.
Apply all ingredients with thirst and hunger sprinkled throughout to 1 large heart.
Grow and develop all ingredients throughout 1 lifetime. Do this by trying new things, going to school, reading books, going on trips (vacations, volunteer work…etc), putting yourself in uncomfortable positions, falling down, and most importantly, getting back up and trying again.
You’ll never know how it turns out because it’s the journey that matters. What did you do today that allowed the world to change you? You’ll never see how you changed the world except through seeing how the world changed you. Then, for a brief moment, you’ll know what it feels like to be “bigger than yourself”. It’s a fleeting feeling that you’ll vaguely remember. You will have to participate more and more. It’s like a high – a runner’s high, adventure high, you name it. Once you get a whiff of it, you need more. It may start with “faking it ‘til you make it” but that’s ok, many things in life start that way. What’s important is to seize the opportunities to go out and give whatever is inside of you to whoever needs it. You’ll get more from giving yourself than anyone else ever will.
✌🏼 extravagantly simple
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