The world outside of myself...

The past three weeks I have been very much inside my own little world. I have been consumed in my own issues, decisions, emotions, and thoughts. And I'm OVER IT. While I recognize the necessity of taking time to check in with yourself and make sure you are headed in the direction you want to go, I am realizing (rather gradually) that the reason I have been feeling a little blank and uninspired is because I need to be a part of something BIGGER than myself. Something more than promoting wellness and helping individuals lead healthier lives (which I know is an important and noble thing), but something GLOBAL, something separate from what I do to earn money. Something that is selfless and truly making a difference for people who are in great NEED.

Last night we watched a movie called "War Child". It is a documentary about Emmanuel Jal, a native of Southern Sudan and a former child soldier during the civil war in the 80's and 90's until he was rescued by a British aid worker named Emma McCune. He now lives in the UK and has become a rap artist; he speaks and sings about his story and this is how he is healing from his unbelievable experience. He is only one of millions of people who have similar stories, and he is doing good by helping rebuild the lives of other young people like himself. He started a non-profit foundation called Gua Africa, Gua means Peace in Nuer, a tribal language of Southern Sudan (see above picture). Gua Africa is an effort to raise money in order to build a school in Leer, Emmanuel Jal's home village. Because of the 20 year civil war in Sudan, the children in this village and many others, no longer have a way to become educated. As an up and coming music artist, he has been able to support, not only his own family in Leer, but also young people in Kenya and Sudan who have been affected by the war.

I am going to become a part of this starting with setting up a monthly donation to the "Survivors of War" group of Gua Africa. I am also going to think of a fund raiser that I can organize and put on in Portland, similar to how people run a race for certain causes, but something more creative and fun than just running (although I did realize that although I have no desire to ever run a marathon, I would do it for something other than myself).

With all of that said, I have been thinking about my blog a lot lately: I am going to take it in a whole new direction. From here on out, this blog is not just about me in MY world, it's about me in OUR world. Stay tuned...