When I was about 9 years old I had a huge growth spurt. Each night I would wake up in tears because of intense cramps in my legs. I was growing so quickly that my body could not keep up with it and would ache terribly. Each night I would come to my parents crying because it hurt so badly, and almost every night for months they would draw a warm bath for me to soak my sore muscles in. Over time those growing pains came less often, and before I knew it I was hardly looking like a child anymore!
I am going to be honest with you guys, I am in a period with intense growing pains right now. On more nights than I like to admit, I cry myself to sleep because my spirit and my mind ache from the changes. It's not that I hate my life, quite the opposite actually. I love what I'm doing, who I'm working with, and the culture in which I'm living. Every day my heart is filled by the wonderful life I'm having the opportunity to take part in, and almost every night my heart aches from the walls being spread so thin. I am growing. I am learning. I am becoming.
I am learning that my value does not solely lie in what I can achieve or who I can help.
I am learning to not cling so tightly to a specific circumstance or season.
I am learning I cannot change others, I can only honor where they are.
I am learning that success is not only in my hands, but a team effort.
I am learning to honor the journey over the destination.
I am learning that it is okay to ask for help.
I am learning how to say no sometimes.
I am learning that I need people.
I am learning how to rest.
Each time I look ahead at one of these learning experiences I am knocked down by my inability to overcome. Each time I look back at one of these experiences I am amazed at how much more I have become. Like with my yoga practice, I am frequently sore and achy, but always astonished by how much stronger I am than I was the day before.
I thank this country for all I am experiencing here. I love this place because I am happy and sad and whole and broken and growing.
