A Need To Write

Wow! So many times this week I have felt that I have needed to write, but haven't had the opportunity due to a variety of excuses. My emotions have been up and down. There have been days where I just want to sleep, and days where I have just wanted to shut the world out. The lack of motivation to be social and my extreme need for sleep isn't anything unusual, it's actually quite normal in my book. I've found that in starting my own business, it really important to listen to my body and allow myself to feel whatever I need to feel. I'll sleep whenever I need to sleep, I'll work until all hours of the night if I feel motivated or compelled to, I'll take time to walk to the beach or hike if I need to clear my head. After all, if I don't take care of myself, I can't keep going. In brief, here is an update on the last few weeks: 

About two weeks ago, I found myself enjoying the sunshine with a friend on a patio eating ships and salsa. Stepping out of the routine and into the moment, I listened more closely to our conversation. Rather than just responding in reaction to a conversation, I started laughing at the fact that we talked about the discomforts of couch surfing and how are couches are too small for us and how we have to maneuver our body into certain positions to fall back asleep. Thankfulness was also discussed in regards to the people in our lives who have been supportive to our life choices and helping us to continue playing out our dream(s). It was interesting to capture the moment, and to recognize the content of a conversation that we will be able to forever look back at and laugh. 

Emotions, emotions, and more emotions. Friends getting engaged, friends getting married, friends having babies, and more babies. Filled with excitement for the new advances and adventures in the lives of my friends, it can also be difficult to not look around me and think that I am becoming the black sheep or outcast that doesn't fit in to society.  It is important to acknowledge the emotions as they come up and understanding that my life is playing out a different purpose for the time being. 

Some much needed family time also occurred within the last few weeks. Within my two days "off" (there is never really a day off), I made my rounds visiting my grandmother and my uncle, my brother, one of my mentors, and my father. The visits were nothing short of amazing, and of course always too short. 

This week, I am back in my natural flow and working away at a local coffee shop. After processing how I am going to get a website up, where (if anywhere) am I going to live for the upcoming months, how I can increase the finance of CreateACTivity to keep going, and how to focus to be more efficient, the overall message that I have been sending myself is to just take it a day at a time. An overall knowing that  contacts and players have been entering my life and offering their time, their homes, their skills, and their love makes this process a but easier. The more I let go of seeing an expected outcome, the more I am able to see things take shape. 

....And to prove that point.....As I sat at my local coffee shop and open up my computer this morning, in walks Tiffany, the founder of an organization called Shine On Sierra Leone, a women who I have never actually met, but have spoke to one the phone over a year ago. After returning from Argentina in  November of 2009, I had a desire to do more with my time than work for a paycheck that served no purpose for my soul. Skimming the non-profit section of Craig's List I stumbled on a listing for Tiffany's company. Interested in the cause, and compelled by the accomplishments of this amazing entrepreneur, I felt compelled to contact her. Turns out Tiffany was interested in helping the girls of Seirra Leone make soap, since they currently use dish and clothing detergent to wash their bodies. It was an instant connection, but due to the chaotic time of transition in which we met, she was unable to move forward on the project. Fast forward to about two years later, we live in the same town, and came to the same coffee shop on the same day. Even more magnetic in person that over the phone, it was nice to finally officially meet her. Check out: www.shineonsierraleone.org for information on her cause. 

Adding to the validation, there has been several help offerings the past few days. One, opportunities to house sit for two friends for the next couple months while they are out of town have come up, giving me the opportunity to spend less time driving, more time alone, and more time on CreateACTivity. Also, I received an email asking for a web lay out to move forward on our landing page by a gentleman that is willing to donate his time. And one more opportunity that came from our partner organization in the UK... Facing Africa has decided to move forward with becoming a us based 501 c 3 organization, and if funding begins to filter through their US based website (which it will), there is a strong chance that I will be able to dedicate 100% of my working time to the non-profit world by working for them in the US as well as advancing CreateACTivity. 

Until The Next Update...

Es-Bee