Before I came on this trip, the world seemed like a pretty huge place. There was so much to see, so much to do, and so much to wrap my head around. My worldview was a patchwork of blank unknowns. Coming on this trip, with its incredibly diverse schedule, seemed like it would help to fill in the white spaces on my map. And seeing and doing the things we have has done that. But if anything, it’s made the world feel so much bigger than it did before. It inspired me with the senseless awe of the unknown, looking out into the white left on my map and imagining what could be there. The trip crossed a lot things off my bucket list, but added so many more.
This week is our last week together, but I’m sure nobody back home needs the reminder. We sure don’t. On the beautiful island of Roatan, in Honduras, we’re learning to scuba, eating wonderful food, and crying our eyes dry. (And a few of us are clearing our bowels dry, too.) Many of us are enjoying the surreal underwater landscapes of the Roatan coral reef – a few even had a close encounter with a dolphin! There’s nothing quite like scuba’s weightless exploration, tinkle of bubbles, and fish flitting by your face. But there’s nothing like saying goodbye to friends like the ones we’ve made, either, and amidst scuba classes and postcard beaches we have to prepare for the end.
On this trip, we’ve talked a lot about the power of attitude. In myself, I’ve connected to the wellspring of emotion, and choose what I hold on to. This is a perfect time to practice that mindfulness and presentness. In the words of some famous person, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” But who am I kidding, it’s not a question of whether I break down and bawl but when. Will it be on the last dive we have together, salt water filling up my mask? Will it be in one of our farewell rituals, breaking up the solemnity, or at the airport making a fool of myself? It might be after the trip is over, and I realize how lonely I am, but I will cry. This whole group has been such a treasure, and I’ll sorely miss them.
Family back home, and new family down here, I love you, and can’t wait to see you again.
Drew