(this entry is from last year ... but seeing as it is almost Valentine's day, the sentiment seemed appropriate <3 Suzy)
Last night we all sat around the café in our hotel sharing a
piece of chocolate cake, catching up with Oko (our translator from last years
trip). Allison and I started asking her about dating in UB, wondering why this
smart, attractive, well-travelled young woman was single. As the conversation
expanded, we started hearing the stories of how each of the members of our team had met their wives/husbands and how the rollercoaster of their courtships evolved.
Charming stories, familiar patterns, life.
When the talk turned to me I offered the only perspective
that I could – I still haven’t found what I am looking for … Smart questions by
smart people inspired the honesty of my true heart – what is the deal breaker?
Well for me, there is really only one deal breaker …. It is not a physical
characteristic, a job title, or a religion; it is not a bank account, a
diploma, or a car … the deal breaker for me is passion.
I have met many people through my wanderings and the ones
who inspire me, make me feel like a kid, encourage me to be better and learn
more – those people have a passion – for something. Be it art, travel, a chosen
profession, a volunteer project, an exploration … show me that you care deeply
about SOMETHING, ANYTHING.
I am passionate about living, stealing all that I can from
this experience and taking all the chances and opportunities that are offered.
I am passionate about being a good doctor but an even better friend. I am
passionate about trying, everyday, to learn something, try something new. I am
passionate about feeling it all, experiencing it all and about finding someone
who wants the same ride.
I love my life. There are challenges, and twists and turns,
there is a lot of laughter and a healthy dose of tears, but I love it all.
Someday, maybe I will sit in a café in Mongolia, or Africa,
or South America, or California and tell a cute story about how I met the love
of my life, how we danced around it for awhile and how finally, our passions
made us a team. I hope for that, and I keep on loving this life and those who
challenge me to live it to its fullest.
