Growth
From a few weeks ago:
A group of teenage Costa Rican boys did not rob me when I walked to the AmPm to get food on Friday night in San Jose. Nobody sleeping in my 8 bed mixed dorm room stole my belongings, or even so much as disturbed my sleep. My shuttle did not forget me, or get lost, or just not come at all.
In fact, everyone whom I met was friendly, kind, and helpful. A week ago, although I knew deep down it would turn out this way, I was gripped with worry. It is my nature to calculate all the worst case scenarios, walk through them in my mind so I am positive I won’t be in a situation because of naivety, and then, step through the fear and go anyway. That’s right. This was a case of acting in spite of fear for sure. Just ask my Mom, my sister or my roommate and they will confirm- I was very worried as I booked hostels, and planned travel routes for my trip to a country where I do not speak the language, where I had never been before, where no one knew I was coming, and no one would know if I left. But I went anyway.
It is so rare, and so surreal to have the experience of being thousands of miles from anyone you have ever known, or even so much as smiled at before, and realizing…
I am here. I am still Emily.
I am fine. 
.
Bran thought about it. ‘Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?’
‘That is the only time a man can be brave,’ his father told him.
—George R.R Martin
On Celebrating Triumphs: @KWPoetrySlam. Bravery is baby steps.
Quotes: “On Becoming Fearless..In Love, Work, and Life”
by Arianna Huffington
God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change,
COURAGE to change the things I can, and
WISDOM to know the difference.
I wrote this card for my friend and I right after the first official batch of SEEN CARDS were printed and cut! Not only did we stand up for what we needed, without settling, (which was a huge lesson for us both in itself), but, we also conquered the fear of putting a personal idea out into the world without knowing how others will react! We were (and are) brave -and now I have the SEEN CARD to prove it!:)
-E
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.
— Andre Gide
Rideshare: Ottawa to Toronto
Greyhound bus to Toronto: $55
Pretty sure of what you’re in for, knowing there’s potential to sit beside someone either interesting or uninterested.
VS.
Silver Honda Accord to Toronto: $30
Not quite sure what you’re in for with a random stranger driving.
RESULTS:
Meeting 3 new people with interesting stories to share: priceless
Finding out the driver, Dillon, is a)an extremely legit dude, and b) is actually driving all the way to WATERLOO = God is good.
Until I was actually in the car and found out Dillon was actually just making drops in Toronto, I was prepared to take the subway from Yorkdale to Downtown (35-40 mins), catch a bus to Kitchener from there (2 hrs) , then a city bus to Waterloo. (20 min). Estimated arrival time: 12am.
Now,here I am, on my way direct to Waterloo, no transfers required at all, and a new estimated arrival time of 8:30 or 9:00 pm.
I think it takes putting yourself out there, out of your comfort zone, and experiencing suffering in order to in turn experience and witness the blessings God has instore just around the corner.
