Korea was great! I can honestly say, looking back (even though things didn't turn out in the end as I had hoped) that I wouldn't change anything from my time there. It was an amazing, eye-opening experience that allowed me to explore a different culture, meet new people (some of whom changed my life) and really gain life experience and perspective. I discovered things about myself since Korea (even while I was there) that I didn't know about myself. Now, with all of that said, I'm not sure that I'd want to go back. I mean Korea is nice, but when you ask someone about traveling to Asia, Korea isn't the first country that comes to mind. My time there has given me the travel bug and if I could figure out how to get to another country, the same way I was able to get to Korea, I'd be signed up and headed out ASAP! Of all of the things I miss, from my time in Korea, I think, the lifestyle and schedule that I had are at the top of the list. I mean, I liked that I had to be at work by 9am every morning and then I worked until 5pm (or later, a lot) and then Amanda and I would make dinner or go out and run errands and see Seoul. I don't miss a lot of the Korean culture and I really don't miss the food (no rice for me!). I miss the easiness of my life and the less is more mentality that you take on when you're there. The things I thought I needed I really didn't need and the things I wanted weren't priorities either. I suppose the biggest thing I can say I took from Korea was contentment with the things that I have and a better understanding of what my needs vs. my wants really are, as well. Of everything that I was able to gain from Korea, the friendships that were forged will be forever cherished. Amanda was (is) a God-send to me and our boss Helen is a great friend who is missed daily. Amanda and I try to skype with her as often as possible but we miss her greatly. Hopefully she'll be able to make here, to the States, at the end of July...? Amanda and I are planning a great week of exploration, around the Southeast, to show Helen a bit of what America is like. Almost caught up... Upon leaving Korea I was able to take a brief vacation-first to Hawaii and then to Miami. Spending time with my Mother and Tracie and her family was amazing and perfect for where I was, at that time, in my life. Upon arriving back to Nashville, I found that I was very restless and really wasn't ready to return. It turns out that the anonymity that I disliked so greatly in Korea, was something I longed for, after I left. Having just been in Miami and Tracie in need of a good friend, as well, I packed everything up and moved down to Miami! From the moment I left I have been traveling a road of trust with God. I learned, the hard way, that planning your life out isn't very smart. When you're dead set on how you think your life should be and you don't even consider a contingency plan, God probably is going to find a way to humble you. He did and I'm humbled. But I think all of this, no I mean I know, all of this was for a reason. I don't think I could have come down to Miami with no plan and limited resources if I hadn't spent a year in Korea learning what I truly needed to survive and what was really important. As of right now, I'm living with Tracie (my oldest closest friend in the world) and my basic needs are being met. I am getting paid enough to pay my bills and cover my necessities and I can honestly say that I'm quite happy. I'm working for Tracie. She started her own company called Luvmeyoga (www.luvmeyoga.com) and while it's not what I thought I'd be doing (getting a teaching position is a lot harder that you'd think) it's a challenge for me and I'm happy. I'm trusting God. Believe me this did not come easily. Wanting to be the control freak that I am, He found a way to break me. It took the car not starting, 3 weeks after arriving (after just having some work done to it), sitting in a preschool parking lot, for met to finally have an out-loud conversation with God, that basically went something like this: "Ok God, fine you can have all of the control you want! I'm done!" Turns out once you relinquish that control and start praying for God to just do as He will with you and start asking for the blessings that He wants to give you He will indeed bless you. Along with those blessings He'll always make sure that you stay humble and aware of what's going on around you and always make sure that you receive a daily dose of perspective. I suppose that brings us current and my daily dose came today, when I volunteered at a homeless shelter, in downtown Miami.
Today I say a side of homelessness that I never anticipated. I mean, we see homeless people whenever we go downtown (whether it's Nashville, NYC, ATL or Miami). It's prevalent-especially in the last few years since the recession started taking its toll on this country. Today, though I didn't see the usual face of homelessness-the dirty individual on the corner, begging for food. I saw black people, white people, latinos, teenagers, middle-aged, elderly and handicapped all faced with a lack of shelter and a lack of nourishment. Homelessness is such a generalization. What I saw today weren't just people who lived on the streets. I saw people who work so hard to make ends meet that at the end of the day, after their rent and utilities have been paid they don't have enough to feed themselves or their family and they have to come down to the local shelter to eat. Talk about humility. Of course there's another side to homelessness too. There's the vulgarity of it all and the jadedness that comes from not catching any breaks and being on the streets and never having anything. It's understandable how these peoples' spirits can be so broken; with that said, it is interesting to me that they can be picky and ungrateful for the food that is being given to them. When you don't know where your next meal is coming from, it's probably not the best idea to complain about what is being served. The negativity that was heard certainly didn't outweigh the positive, grateful attitudes of those walking through kitchen line though. It was truly an eye-opening afternoon that brought me to tears as soon as I got into my car. I mean, even though, it is so easy to become bogged down by the troubles that each of our lives has, when you take a look around at the beautiful home and comfy bed that you have or the delicious meal that is put in front of you, by mom or wife, or the fact that we have so many other extravagances in our lives (i.e. iPhone, computer, car, vacations, etc.) how often do we just take time to thank Christ for the blessings he has bestowed upon us? A couple of years ago, one of my friends (Gail or Deb) bought me a copy of a devotional called "Jesus Calling" and it has little 5 minute readings, as though being spoken by Jesus, and they give you reminders to thank or give it to Christ no matter what the issue. The other day I read that I should thank God for even my troubles-"Thank Me in the Midst of the Crucible!"-how powerful to think that we should be thanking Him for our troubles? Regardless of why we're giving thanks or asking for strength, perseverance, humility or trust, there is comfort knowing that all of the obstacles and blessings that have been put in our lives were put there for a reason-a reason most assuredly that is to lead us back to God!
Upon my return from Korea I have become a different person. I practice yoga, I pray, a lot, and I meditate. I don't think many of my friends back home have ever heard me say these things before. Please do not think that I am free from anxieties, because I do have my moments, but I try to remain conscious of the fact that compared to many I have a very charmed and blessed life and so therefore I have no complaints.
P.S. I'll try to update more often...
