I hope I'm not stepping outside my friendship boundary for mentioning her but I feel that I must. My fellow educator and friend, Traci M., posted something on her FB wall that got me to thinking. It read, "Travel while you're young and able. Don't worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be." It was a repost from a group called D.J. MOD and Traci had commented, "This is pretty much my new philosophy in life... Unfortunately... It cuts down on my buy me, give me, get me philosophy... But... I'll make it work somehow..." I couldn't help but chuckle as I read it because it is such a Traci thing to say. She really digs in deep and gets after her goals even if it's not easy. She'll make it work....somehow.... She's like a superhero. I'm already a huge advocate of travel and giving children experiences while they are young and while their personalities are still developing. Traci's post just made me think about it. Travel, especially foreign travel but any travel outside of one's own region, makes a person more compassionate, more forgiving, more interesting and dare I say, more smarter. hee hee.
As I quietly reflect on the past thirty some odd years of my life, I am in awe and wonder of what those years have taught me, and I am amazed at how different of a person I have become, mainly because of my travels. The path that was set me for all those years ago was markedly different from that permanent detour I walked down less than ten years ago. Those years seem like a lifetime and in many ways each year really is a lifetime in it's own way.
Many years ago, I weepingly left my little yet comfortable township in the deep south and embarked on a scary and adventurous journey to a city that would turn out to be just a layover on the route to numerous other residences all over the US and Asia. That new journey has given me the pleasure of meeting some of the most wonderful people I never dreamed I'd encounter, and those encounters, some of which turned out to be close, personal friendships, changed me.
From Amy B, I learned to never to stop enjoying life and to always find the beauty in the flora and fauna around me. From Tammy P and Jeanette H, I learned to stray strong even while staring in the face of sudden and traumatic loss. From Shirley S, I learned the importance of staying firm, but flexible and loving. From Mary Ann J, I learned how to be a better and more supportive wife. From Karen P and Jennifer B, I learned how to be a better mother. Kristen S. and Sarah F. taught me how to find the silver lining, to make the best of any situation. Liza B. and Vicky S. taught me how to find my way in a foreign country. Julie W. introduced me to all of the wonderful things the Jewish culture has to offer and Aileen O. taught me to never judge a book by it's cover. I could go on and on because every single one of you has touched me in ways that changed me and that made me who I am today. I am eternally thankful.
Every country that I've traveled to added new words to my language, flavor to recipes, spice to my life. Because of my travels, I can relate to so many more ethnicities, cultures, races, religions and languages and those travels have given my children the ability to accept all walks of life, no questions asked, not even a flicker of prejudice.
I am no longer that naive, sheltered and inexperienced person that left Alabama so many years ago. My children never will be. From different cultures we learned different ways to celebrate birthdays, but there is one common characteristic that all cultures share. That common idea is that all birthdays are special days and should be celebrated even it's just to spend quiet time with the people that we love. We are not guaranteed another birthday. My father's candles burned out in his sixties, Wade P's flame was extinguished at 45, and Melanie C. lost her battle with cancer at just eleven-years-old. If we wait until we have money or time, it might be too late. We will never get to have experiences and it's the experiences that make us better people.
So yeah, I'm turning thirty-something soon and I am proud of every year that I have spent on this earth. I am so thankful that I was graced with another year of travel, experiences and learning. I'm so thankful that I get to have new adventures while I'm still young enough to enjoy them and so I can add them to my potpourri of cultures that cause my personality to constantly grow, adapt and improve. Even though the potpourri in my bowl is mostly southern, it's wonderful that I've added a few sprinkles of each culture that I've experienced. I hope I never stop growing and improving. I hope you don't either. Visit a national park, a museum, the beach. Go rock climbing, hiking, river rafting. Just don't keep going to the same places over and over again. Get out of your comfort zone and experience something new.
Happy belated or early birthday to everyone: 2015! : )
