How did more than four months go by with no blogpost? I have missed writing but have had other things taking my energy and time since September, including getting a job in Boulder, and all the things that go with coming back into “responsible adult life” in a community I was away from for a long time. Since returning I’ve been on a wonderful streak of feeling content, happy, and grateful for so many things I had somewhat come to take for granted before I moved to Colombia.
But happy and grateful…really, they aren’t that interesting to write or read about. It’s great, yeah, thumbs up for you, good for you, big smile emoji! …But I haven’t felt as inclined to write because I don’t have that many stories lately. Which, in itself is a story that I’m telling myself. That’s something I’ve been practicing noticing- whenever I feel anxious or feel old habits that I don’t want to rear up- whatever they are – I’m trying to ask myself what part of the scenario is true and what part is my own narrative. Because I have the ability to change the narrative.
Sometimes I just have to come to terms with the true parts, like, readers probably don’t really care that I love my local grocery store, work is going well, I sleep great in my big bed with lots of pillows with no barking dogs or crowing roosters right next door or behind the wall. I rarely take public transportation and I never walk to work. To my dismay (after becoming accustomed to the alternatives in Bogotá) I am extremely reliant on my own personal vehicle which in general costs a good deal of money and contributes to the deterioration of the environment. I speak great English and everyone understands me perfectly everywhere I go. I have no more funny language blunders to share. I’ve been meaning to get into a Spanish group of some kind, or volunteer somewhere that I will use my Spanish and I haven’t done it yet. Head hanging…it’s so lame that I’m letting this slip away!
Hmm, is that a narrative or a truth??
So, life is good. For the pleasant details and for the lessons learned that are behind me, and for those still to come. For the language blunders that made us laugh in the past, and for the life blunders that happen constantly but are part of what make life a beautiful mess, a messy beauty.
I gave a presentation on Colombia at my current work a few weeks ago, followed by a second one at my former workplace. There was a good turnout at each, and I think my message was well-received. Several people told me they’d now consider taking a trip to Colombia because they know more about it and have less fear. It makes me very happy to have shared my experiences as well as facts and truths about the country and its people and as a result have some fellow Americans walk away from my slideshow with a mind more open to visiting a beautiful, amazing place. That feels very successful to me. And that is a narrative I’ll keep sharing.
