KENYA

In a little over a month, I'll be in Kenya. Africa. For two weeks. I feel a mixture of shell-shock, from this decision that I've made, and gratitude that this decision came to me. I feel undeservedly fortunate to be going. The group is a model UN. I'm awestruck by the discussions today, and can't wait to meet again next week and learn more about this diverse group. Yet we are setting out with the same purpose. I feel good. And inspired. And good. I feel human again. What does it mean to be grateful. To have gratitude. Where does it entwine with my own spirituality. I've read that "the only way to welcome anything is with gratitude." That does include suffering. I'll allow myself to be vulnerable to change, beginning now. Open my heart to feeling gratitude for every story, for every person, every struggle and hardship. A woman today was so grateful for her pain; so proud to have gone through it, fought through it, really. She fought for her faith. She fought for herself. And in that battle, no matter what, she won. Having a reason to fight for something, in itself, that's something to be grateful for. Did something tear you up inside this week? Did you struggle through a hardship? Did you fight for a value, a religion, a loved one, a feeling? Did you feel fear and defeat it? If the response was yes, to any of these, you've lived. And be grateful for that.