This past weekend, four of us in our group visited La Fortuna, one of the more well-known tourist hot spots in Costa Rica known mostly for its recently active volcano. After making the 3 1/2 hour bus ride from Heredia to La Fortuna Saturday morning, we hiked to see las cataratas--the waterfalls--during the day and then spent the evening at Las Aguas Termales a Baldi, or Baldi Hot Springs. It was a fun-filled day and definitely worth the trip for the activities of Saturday alone.
As for Sunday, I had it in my head that I would sleep in as late as possible before we went zip lining with Ecoglide Canopy Tour Ziplining...but my body had another idea. Like clockwork, I woke up at 6:30 a.m. (the same time I have woken up every day for class for the past 5 weeks) and was as alert as could be. I decided not to fight what my body clearly wanted, so I got up, took a shower, had breakfast, and sat down to some journaling. Last weekend in Punta Mona, our director, Janiva, had given us several journal questions to answer when we felt the time was right. With 3 hours of free time, I decided to revisit the prompts and see what I could come up with. Of the several reflective questions, including "What do I really want to get out of life?" and "What are some of my lifetime goals?", I was able to come up with sufficient and satisfying responses to all of the questions--except one. With nearly every inquiry, I needed a mere 5-10 minutes to reflect and then I would come to an answer that felt right. But in my journal filled with abundant notation, there is still only blank, white space beneath these words (and in my brain): "What can I offer the world that no one else can?"
Indeed, as I grow older and see more of our world I am humbled with the realization that there is really so much out there--so much love, hope, and faith but perhaps just as much death, helplessness, and despair. My former well-meaning but naive mentality that I could cure world hunger or help create world peace has therefore been checked, as I take a step back to survey the vast universal damage my hands alone cannot fix. I have also realized how many incredible, inspiring people there are who are the movers and shakers of humanity, actively working to help this world reach its fullest potential. So when it comes to the unanswered question above, I am presently at a loss. I enjoy serving others, but there is so much to do; I can be passionate and determined, but so can a lot of other people; I can contribute my writing, but is my writing good enough?
I do believe that each of us has a unique role to play and an impressive amount of unrealized potential only found if one is open to it, and I believe that I possess something special to offer the world...but I have yet to fully discover or embrace what that something special is. As I continue to reflect on this inquiry, then, I now pose the same query to you:
What can YOU offer the world that no one else can?
I'd say it's a question worth exploring.
Writing is contributing in a BIG way even in something like a blog. In history, and in events that I am sure are occurring as I type, there are voices that go unheard. An accepted mainstreamed version of an event becomes universal truth over time and the people who are less vocal about their perspective will disappear. Writing is a way to document an experience. When the collective experience of a group is silenced, there is oppression. By documenting your own experiences you serve as another voice to be heard when so many other voices fall silent. I don't know if that made any sense... it's late here lol
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