Go Cherish Inspire

Last night I met up with six women who had just seen "Eat Pray Love" at the movies. I had been invited to see it, too, but declined with the arrangement that I would meet up with them afterward to join them for dinner. I have absolutely no desire to see that film. In fact, many who know me back home know that I've been badmouthing that movie for awhile. My reasoning is solid, too. (Don't get me started!) To have gone to see it for the sake of getting out of the house would have been totally hypocritical. And, probably painful. So, I met up with them once the credits rolled.

At dinner, at an incredible nice Italian restaurant called Ristorante Bella Napoli over near Oysterbay, Dyan suggested we each come up with three words and three locations of our own; a personalized "Eat Pray Love." It was a great idea as I was new to the group and most of the other girls had only met once or twice before. We all took a few minutes to ponder our words and worldly places. Finally, I came up with mine: "Go Cherish Inspire."

I'm sure I could have come up with a stronger verb than "go" (that's the editor in me), but there is some reasoning behind it. Sometimes when I feel hesitant about something, whether it's doing something or thinking something, a little voice inside me says "just go," kind of like "just do it." Maybe it's sort of like a forced spontaneity coaxing me. I don't know. I certainly associate this kind of "go" with "adventure."  Anyway, I chose "go" and matched it with Costa Rica, although there are several places I could have picked. Since we've met, Dave and I have always talked about going to Costa Rica. He's talked about retiring there. Well, I don't know yet about retirement, but I would love to "go" and use my Spanish (which is coming out quite well here in the land of Swahili) and do a zipline across the rainforest and just live life in Central America for a little while. Vacation or not, I don't know, but that is what I thought of last night.

Surrounded by some well-traveled ladies, I felt a little lame choosing a domestic location for my second word "cherish." But, in my heart it means a lot, so it's OK. I would go back East to Maine with my dad and cherish my time with him touring places special to him and learning about my paternal family history. In June 2009, I was blessed with the opportunity to tour Nebraska, home to half of my maternal heritage. I got to see where my grandmother grew up, where my great-grandmother lived, and where my great-great grandparents are buried. To see the resting place of my great-great grandfather, where I get my Irish from and who came straight from Ireland to the States (and to Nebraska), was a deeply moving experience for me. I hope to someday share an experience like that with my dad and his lineage. I've been to New England many times before, but to go as an adult would really be incredible and much more valuable to me now.

Lastly, my word "inspire" brings me to the present day experience in Tanzania. I've always loved the word and it is one of the reasons I am here in-country today. I was inspired in 2007 after my first visit here, and I have returned because I hope to use my skills, my gifts and my life to inspire my students and those who know me or will meet me. I also believe God will be imparting on me many inspirational experiences that will help me grow closer to Him while I'm here and even after I leave.

So, as lame as "Eat Pray Love" is to me, I guess I indirectly benefitted from it after all, for today I reflect on "Go Cherish Inspire" and am excited for what new words might arise during my time and contemplations here.

L