No, I haven’t disappeared.
I’ve just been spending the last two weeks drinking several cuppas*, bundling up in my warmest jumpers*, and getting lifts* from my new friends. Thanks to my trip in June, adjusting to life
in Ireland has actually been quite relaxing.
I’m finally sleeping pretty regularly these days, but life is commencing
at a ridiculously fast pace here. I
think we’ve learned that, even though the Irish value their downtime, there is
still a crazy amount of work to be done.
The trick will be figuring out how to check everything off the list
while still saying yes to all the tea breaks and surprise hour-long chats.
Part of the adjustment over these two weeks has been getting
acquainted with entire groups of new people.
The questions are endless, meaningful, and sometimes very
challenging. Sure, it’s easy to respond
with, “Cleveland, Ohio,” every time someone inquires about where I come from,
but it’s a completely different story when someone asks, “So, why are you
here?” The answer to that one could take
me eons to come up with. For now, a
simple, “Because it’s where I need to be,” has been sufficient for everyone.
There’s one question I’ve been asked a few times, in a few
different contexts, that has thrown me off guard each instance, though – “What
makes you passionate?”
I can very easily answer what I’m passionate about. Music, theatre, traveling, working with
children – those are just a handful of the things that keep me going from day to day.
But, what makes me
passionate? I have no clue. Seriously, I don’t. Other people have great answers, which often
are in some form of “people.” Unfortunately,
I don’t think people are what make me passionate. People make my passions great, and people are
certainly involved in my passions, but they’re not the driving force. So, what is?
One answer that I’ve heard does come closer than all the rest. It’s quite simple, really. I only wish I had realized it myself. It’s hope.
Hope is what makes me passionate.
Hope has been the catalyst to so much of what I’ve done; it just never
dawned on me until now.
When I was told majoring in music and theatre was a poor
choice for someone who graduated top of her high school class, I sought to
prove everyone wrong. My hope for a future where I could do what I love, what I’m
passionate about, and still be successful at it drove me to accomplish this
lofty task. And I did.
When I was lucky enough to travel to China with my college
choir and got bit by the travel bug, it only made me more eager to study abroad
in France. My hope for a life beyond that of my small hometown inspired me to see
as much of Europe as I could in my short time there. Not only did I travel to several countries
and explore some amazing places, but I now also have the bragging right of
saying that I live in Europe.
Working with children is something that I’ve done since I
was in high school. From teaching theatre
to volunteering in Title I, I’ve worked with a wide range of ages and
backgrounds. My hope for each child is that they take advantage of every
opportunity and grow from it. Whether it
takes me running around like a lunatic to demonstrate some acting exercise or me helping them learn how to write their name, I’m hoping that something I’m teaching them sticks with each of them for the
rest of their lives. I want them to know
and understand that they are capable of achieving whatever they want to if
they’re willing to put in the effort. My
passion is driven by the hope that no
child will ever have to grow up facing the same resistance that I did. If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing today, I
wouldn’t be happy. Without this
happiness, what would be the point of living any other life?
Man, who knew that Ireland would teach me such an important
life lesson in such a short amount of time?
Not only knowing what I’m passionate about, but also what makes me passionate, will be important as I continue my ministry here. Sure, there’s a big part of me somewhere deep
down that still wants to perform on Broadway or tour with an opera company in
Europe. But, just like those kids I work
with, I have time. Loads of time. For now, I need to live in the present and
face the task(s) at hand. I’m somewhere
where my actions can truly make a difference in a significant way. I have plenty of time to chase the big
dreams. Right now, it’s imperative that
I take this time to use my passions to help others. I can only hope that what I’m doing here will stick in some way.
Peace.
--Joy.
* Cuppa = Cup of
Tea; Jumper = Sweater; Lift = Ride (in a car)
