"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman
I spent my first year of university with that quote glancing down at me from its place on the wall of my dorm room - a simple reminder that unintentionally changed my views and my "five-year plan." For me, being an organized person doesn't just mean being organized from day-to-day, but also having my goals mapped out a little bit in advance (sometimes years). However, I've decided to stray off my preconceived path in an attempt to listen to my heart rather than my head, in an attempt to learn about life rather than how to "make a living." Quote number two on my wall at university was from Oscar Wilde, which read, "Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." This one always has me wondering where the most important lessons I've learned so far have come from and what is really worth knowing. What are the most valuable lessons we learn? To top it all off, good old Mark Twain piped in and said, "Don't let your schooling get in the way of your education"... I think I'll take his advice on this one. Here's the new plan: 241 days. 8 months. 6 or more countries. Three months of volunteering in Arusha, Tanzania. Five months of backpacking in Southeast Asia. A full lap around the world by airplane. Tanzania. Indonesia. Cambodia. Thailand. Laos. Vietnam. An adventure that some may say is a little ambitious. Oh, and by the way, I've never left North America before. My decision to embark on this journey has received various responses, one being: "you're so lucky." But before I go, let me just clarify and say this: luck is not responsible for landing me in this position. Luck did not allow me to deny succumbing to the obstacles, societal beliefs, and expectations I had placed upon myself and others had placed upon me. Luck did not give me the courage to turn this massive, untouchable dream into a reality. Nor did luck put a handful of plane tickets in my hand, a yellow fever jab in my arm, and a stubborn determination in my mind. I did. And so can you. What I've truly come to recognize in the past while is that your dreams and aspirations are not meant to be silenced. Give them the time of day. The battle between your head and your heart doesn't have to be perpetual. Avoiding picking sides may be considered the right thing to do in most situations, but it's also exhausting. Please, just choose one already. The goals we make should not be based on validation and the prospective magnitude of our bank account balances. They should be based on that dream you have that is dying to live. On the fact that doubt is just a five letter word, and you are more than capable of overcoming it. On the fact that the world needs you to come alive. Think about this: what would you do if you weren't afraid? Now, go do it. Just try. Believe me, it feels great! Anyways, I'm off. Wild at heart. Free spirit. Lost. Found. Risk-taker. Change-seeker. Believer. Wanderer. Dreamer. Whatever you want to call me. I'll be chasing the sun. See you soon?
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