Thank You Nicaragua

Excuse me while I get philosophical...

La Isla De Ometepe

As we prepare for our next adventure, I'm reminded of what an amazing year we leave behind us. After letting go of all we've been told we needed, all we that was expected that we should do, we headed out to see new land. Like our immigrant grandparents before us we took chance on change, on different, on the unknown. Life beyond normal was a challenge, it was at times frustrating and strange, and beautiful.

A wise man once said, "without challenge there is no growth." I believe this to be true. A small seedling must push the dirt aside to see the sun. I too, needed to push the dirt aside. This is my thank you note to Nicaragua.

Thank you Nicaragua for making my life so much more. More of the important things, more dreams, more love, more real life.

Thank you for the silence, for with silence I was able to listen. I was able to listen to the truth and drowned out the noise, the misconceptions, and the judgement. I was able to hear the truth, my truth.

Thank you for the distance....Thank you for the distance.

There are those that say that travel will change you. I say, it allows you to be who you were in the first place. Some say it is risky to take chances like this, and I suppose to some to degree it is. The thing about life is, everything is a risk. Crossing the street is a risk. One can do everything right and still, "unforeseen occurrence befalls us all." We took a risk, ( a calculated risk ) I'm not suggesting fool heartiness, and we are so much better for it.

Thank you Nicaragua for showing me so clearly that things do not make us happy. Have you ever had a conversation with that guy down the street? That one that likes to let you know how much stuff he has? Does he seem happy or does he complain about how many people don't measure up? Did he make you feel good by telling you about all his things? Probably not, you probably don't care and you probably think he's a tool for bragging. Is that real happiness? If you have to tell everyone how smart you are, how you know the most, how you have the most sought after items to make yourself feel good, you're not happy. Happy people don't need to make others feel less, they don't need to make themselves feel more. It was this kind of misconception about what's important that Nicaragua gave us distance from. It was this kind of misconception that Nicaragua gave us freedom from. Thank you Nicaragua, for the freedom.

Thank you Nicaragua, for showing me that all I need is less.

For now, we're moving on, working on yet another language, and challenging ourselves once more.

Thank you Nicaragua, until we meet again.