Surviving vs. Thriving

Before we forget:

From The Himalayas to Blind Massage : A Nepal Volunteering Adventure
A slide show presentation by Evan Meyers, LMP & Andy Griffiths, OTR/L
Thursday, November 19, 2009; 7 – 9 pm; Bellingham Public Library Meeting Room
(Parks and Recreation Travelogue Series; requested $2 donation)

We had some great news this week from Seeing Hands Nepal – all the students we worked with have now passed their final practical and academic exams, and are qualified massage therapists. This has occurred just at the right time as the clinic is now recommended in the latest Lonely Planet guide book, and clients are soaring. We were also pleased to hear of the unexpected increase in the number of local (Nepali and long term volunteers/ex-pats) who are also visiting the clinic – something that we had worked hard to try and establish when we were there.

Personally, we have been working on the theme of imprisonment (self-imposed)…. It is quite a surprise to us that we are not only surviving, but thriving (if we let ourselves), under our recent changes. Embracing simple living and frugality principles, we are more than able to pay all our bills (including a mortgage), save money and still go on trips (Florida in January!) while only working 2 – 3 days a week each. While this is very exciting, it also brings to mind two big questions – What have we been doing all this time? and … What do we do now? It is both a luxury and a challenge to feel this free. Yeah … we don’t expect any sympathy!!! But what we mean is that for so long we have been trained to do the usual routine of work-spend-work, that when we are free of that to a greater extent, it is unclear what to do next… The best way to explain it is when you hear about a prisoner who is released after years of being in prison … and how they don’t have any idea what to do once they are free. You hear that many end up reoffending and going back inside – if not freedom, at least there is safety……
Something to think about.

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“Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.” (Maya Angelou)