What's your most prized possession?

Do you ever look at something, or have an experience that makes you think, "that is what I need to do"?

It sparks something inside of you. It ignites your passion. It makes you feel direction. It may not tell you exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life, but you can just feel something inside of yourself stirring because it spoke to you.

Today I saw this amazing photo shoot. It's a photo shoot of children from all over the world with their most prized possessions.

Keynor – Cahuita, Costa Rica

Watcharapom – Bangkok, Thailand

Tangawizi – Keekorok, Kenya

 Julia – Tirana, Albania

Chiwa – Mchinji, Malawi

I feel this innate need inside of myself to help people. Looking at these pictures of these children brought that all up again for me. Maybe that's why I want to be a doula? So I can help these mothers feel in control of their births, and educate them of their options. Maybe that's why I want to live abroad again?  

This weekend I heard about a school where a friend worked where they help refugees adjust, and learn to live in America. I want that job!

I'm not really sure what the point of this post is other than to say these photographs inspired me. Please check out the rest of the photos here.   What has inspired you lately? What's your most prized possession?

Once in Cambodia I asked some of my students, (who most of them were from wealthyish families in my town) what is your most prized possession? what would you try to save if you could only save one thing?   Lets just say they weren't very sentimental. Almost all of them said they'd save their cell phone, or their computer if they were lucky enough to have one. I think only one student gave a different answer. I wish I could remember what they would have saved. I would have loved to do this with children all over Cambodia.

Finding Fulfillment

I like it when blogs are real, when the writers share their struggles; whether they're in the midst of them and are looking for support, or are just coming out of them and are sharing their story and advice how to emerge from a rough time. But it's hard to know when is the time to share your struggles, or if you can even form them into a cohesive post so that people can understand what your personal struggles are.

Last night I had a great conversation with my in laws, and I've had many recently with Hal about how I just feel lost.

In Cambodia I felt so full of purpose and I loved what I was doing, maybe not everyday, but overall I loved it. Since we've been back I haven't felt like that. It has made me remember all of the reasons we left here in the first place. It has made me feel lost in wondering what is my purpose other than working at a job I hate to support my husband through school. Of course that is a good purpose, and I know Hal is really grateful that I am sacrificing for him, and he has been supportive of my struggle with this, but I just need something more, you know?

So when you feel lost, how do you find yourself again? It's so easy to make yourself feel complacent with tv or Internet or books in your free time, to make yourself forget that you aren't fulfilling something within you.

I guess that's the hardest part, I don't feel fulfilled. There is a part of me that just wants to create something beautiful. I'm not exactly one to be amazing at making crafts, they usually turn out sub par, but I still like doing them. But just doing a craft here and there isn't enough anymore. I find something that I can consistently enjoy doing.

Only I can change this. If I don't feel fulfilled, I need to do something about it other than distracting myself, or wallowing.

So I've started a search to find something I am passionate about. I wool felted elbow patches on my sweater the other day. My mother in law bought me all of the supplies necessary to learn to tat. These are things that have made me feel excited, and have potential.

I may have not found my passion yet, but I'm searching for it, and it's the closest I've felt to fulfillment since I've been back.

If you have found your passion, how did you find it? How have you found fulfillment in your life?