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Friday, 04 July 2008 |
 To be still with ones self sounds like such a simple thing. Something that should happen naturally and regularly. Yet, in the hectic helter skelter of the rat race rush, most of us don’t make enough time to be with our loved ones. And here I am, so incredibly privileged to be journeying the coast line of my beloved country with so much time to be still and feel. Yes, it is special that we are helping children with facial deformities to be able to smile for the first time. Yes, it is special that I am showing children and adults that ‘nothing is impossible’ are just about attitude. Yet, it is all for nothing if we don’t find the time to dream big. That’s where every great journey starts; with the big dream. We can be easily motivated by a great deed or even by an inspirational movie. But it seems to end the next day. Why? Because we are trapped by so called circumstances. We somehow can’t seem to break out of the cycle and we convince ourselves that all is okay. It’s almost as if we become frightened to dream big. We are frightened of change. Yet it is change that evolves us.
 While running along a dirt road today, the wind at my back gently pushing me south, a steenbok ran across the road meters in front of me. I stopped and watched as he danced across the veld in front of me. I was still, just watching him and listening to my breathing. I was in the moment, this was real. This was rare. I ran on as the rain came and painted the orange earth a splattered red. I ran, listening to the rain and my breathing. All the physical pain is worth this joy. This simple appreciation of me in my natural state running quietly across this beautiful land.
I have had the courage to dream big and the courage to try to reach them. Sometimes I have and sometimes not. But I have never failed; I have simply learned a lesson: the greatest gift in life is giving.
The journey continues …
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008 |
 Standing in front of all those school children in Oranjemund, watching their smiles and hearing their laughter, was incredibly motivating for me. The sun still low on the eastern horizon, shining on the many faces with the Namibian and South African flags shining brightly in their vibrant colors held proudly by the kids, brought a lump to my throat. I spoke to them about what we were about to embark on and told them to have huge dreams and to never let any adult take them away by saying ‘you can’t’ or ‘it’s impossible’. I explained the privilege we have of being able to smile and laugh and how what we were doing was going to make an unbelievable difference in the lives of children who looked ugly on the outside and often felt ugly on the inside. The regional councilor for the region had the honor of being the first signatory of the Children’s Charter that will accompany us from town to town and city to city on our ‘smile’ around this beautiful country. Then, after the children loudly counting us down …5 4 3 2 1, we were off.
David and I had an arm around each others shoulder and the tears in my eyes prevented words.
A new journey has begun.
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