My Journey in Review

Six weeks isn´t a lifetime, but I am certain my life will forever be changed by these six weeks. I began this journey asking for a full heart, reenergized soul, and the ambitious hope to find ¨it¨. I am not quite sure what was missing when I began my trip a mere month and a half ago. Maybe it was a 1/3 life crisis, boredom, possibly the remnants of a broken heart, maybe a combination. I am not quite sure. I just know I was unhappy, something needed to change, and an adventure seemed to be the best way to pull myself up by the bootstraps.

I can honestly say I am returning tonight in a new space. I got my full heart and reenergized soul, I may have even found ¨it¨. I am beginning to think I always had it, but just didn´t know where to look. It is not made of glitter nor does it wear a neon sign to direct us its way. For most of us, if we are lucky, it is always there, usually taken for granted and going unacknowledged.

Ecuador was a place unlike any other place I have ever witnessed. Such poverty and daily struggles a majority of its population reside in. There are the dishonest ones, yes, the ones which have succumbed to that way of life to make ends meet. However, the others are some of the kindest, most gracious and generous people I have ever met. They have nothing by some of our standards, yet they still let the poor man off the street have a bowl of food as he passes by, they always stop to ask your life story during a short 5 minute cab ride, or maybe they wake their son up at 5am to take you to the airport, so you don´t have to hail a cab from the dark street. Kids do not complain or throw temper tantrums, people do not walk with a scowl or with the force of needing to be somewhere 5 minutes ago. They live modestly, walk by expensive shops made for tourists or the small Ecuadorian population which can afford such luxuries, yet I do not believe they know the feeling of bitterness. They are happy and grateful.

I have many times over wondered how they find such contentment when they have to make sure to turn off each and every light in the house that is unoccupied, go without hot water, dishwashers and washing machines. They will always reheat what was served for lunch to not be wasteful and to ensure their families are fed. Many have a handful of clothing options each morning, most likely from a closet in a room shared with a spouse as well as their children.

It took me coming to Buenos Aires before it dawned on me. Here I was, resorting to old shopping and Starbucks habits, in all of maybe 10 minutes upon my arrival and days later I was starting to feel those same feelings I had before coming down here - loneliness, unfulfillment, boredom.

I am certain God blesses people like those I was so lucky to encounter in Ecuador, people like Mercedes and Julio, my host family, with full hearts becuase they have their priorities in order. Money and success do not sit perched on the top of their food chain. Perhaps it is because they do not posess the optimistic idea of endless opportunity, but maybe it is simply because they are wise. Family and friends are their focus and priority. They don't seem to get lost in material posessions or the constant need to increase their earning potential, never satisfied with where they are at, always looking for more. Again, I realize it may be a result of lack in opportunity, but I am not going to allow myself to think that way. It provides me with a greater sense of warm fuzzy feelings to believe they have found a zen type state with pure hearts, keeping the tradition and importance of family at the forefront, finding gratitude in the simple necessaties such as food and shelter.

My family and friends are not made of glitter nor do they wear a neon sign, but they are always there, right where I left them, at home. Even when I was teary eyed and coming to them with some kooky idea to take a leave of absence in a down economy to try and find something, anything, they were there. So thank you, to all of you who have supported me through life and on this journey. You have been in my back pocket this whole time and I am so grateful to have found you again, my "it".

All my love and thanks.

Alison