On a very non-African-note, I have been doing some life
pondering again. I do this sometimes,
and my friends usually got pretty annoyed when I got up to these philosophical,
life’s tricky question kicks, so here is your warning; stop reading if you
like.
So there’s this girl; her name is Maddie. What a neat woman Maddie is. Let me tell you her story, and how our paths
crossed:
Maddie is a Bennie, two years behind me, but in a very different
place than I was when I was 20. She has
spent the last 3 months living in a tent in Namibia working for a conservancy,
tracking game, and recording population. See, Namibia is in a major drought, and life for people and animals alike is difficult. She showered 10 times, and wore the same outfit. Her fingernails got sunburned, and she ate only
tinned food. She was almost an afternoon
snack for a hyena, and has memorized every bird species on this side of the
world. Basically, she is the pretty
dynamic, adventurous, earthy type!
Now Maddie is moving her African journey a bit south, as she
will now be starting a program with CSBSJU at NMMU, but since she was just over
yonder, it made financial sense to just stay in country with me till her
program started. So, that she did, and now
we are enjoying quite a bit of bonding time!
She is good for me; in the 3 days that I have spent with her thus far,
she has reminded me of my purpose here.
It is easy to get to get caught up in the material world, but what
really matters? It’s easy to say that,
but let me tell you, it’s difficult to live it.
Ok on to the question that I really want to ask: Would we be the people we have come to be
without the people who have come into our life?
Maddie and I were talking about paths crossing, and people who
have spun our worlds. For example, she
had an orientation leader that introduced her to environmental studies, and
PRP, which has really helped her decipher who she is. I have had a similar mentor, or RA, rather
who helped me figure out how I fit in this world. And all of these people that I am working
with now! Wow! So would I have come to
Africa, to work in New Brighton, and meet my kids if I didn’t go to CSB? Would I have found this path through other
people? Would I have been as content,
living a lucid life, in… say fashion design, or nursing? And what about the people I meet? Would they be on their own journeys if I
never challenged them, or annoyed them, or forced them to have these
conversations? Ubuntu? (google it) Maybe,
maybe not.
I don’t know the answers- nobody really does. But I just find it fascinating. Fate, Freewill, God? Whatever you may dub it,
I am sure grateful for the path that has gotten me here, the people in my life
that have influenced my decisions, and the opportunities that were
presented. And I hope that, if even in
some minuet way, I am opening that door which were opened for me.
PREACH.
For now, I'm just happy to have a little MN in my life for Christmas. We are making Christmas cookies and Lefse this weekend. How American!!
Merriest of Christmases to all of you from the greatest place on Earth!!
Wow little girl how you have grown into a bright, fantastic and compassionate woman. Continue to explore, grow and DO YOU in a way only you can. I love you!
ReplyDeleteEven at 46, I continue to ask and marvel at those questions! I think we are all challenged to take the good that comes into our lives and connect it in the way that fits with us! The greatest value we can give to the world is to be proud of how we fit in the world, because it won't be like anyone else. It is so freeing to just do what fits best with ourselves. Let me tell you - there are not many farmer-teachers out there! So happy you are who you are!
ReplyDeleteWell put, Danika. This made for a good read.
ReplyDeleteNo. No, we would not be the same people. I strongly believe that. Everyone comes into our lives for a reason. I am still figuring out who I am. I was given a job by my new boss over break to reflect on where I've come, where I am now, and where I am going. In doing so, I need to look at the key players in my life: positive or negative. There certainly are people in my life who have altered my path and helped me discover more of who I am. And you. Still influencing me from across the globe. Pretty neat! <3
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