TALE OF OVERCOMERS

What an interesting journey I have been on the last six months. Upon my return from Africa, I was invited to be involved in an anthology project with 38 other authors. The request was to pen a story of a moment in our life that would in turn inspire others to overcome by giving them hope, inspiration and courage. What resulted in saying yes, was a summer of dealing with emotions that I thought had dealt with years before. It was like I took one last layer off and was finally released from a piece of history that still had a piece of me. Whether it has been released or not, the realization dawned on me that my journey matters....all of it!

I should be proud of who I am, where I have come from and it is from those personal and one of a kind experiences that make up my life that makes me the person I am today.

There is something empowering in realizing this. I work with hundreds of people a year and the majority of the time we are focused forward, moving intentionally toward achieving powerful results while allowing ourselves to "let go" of the past.

I have sinced realized that while I let go of the emotional ties, I can still hold on to what the experience taught me so that I may move, grow and aspire beyond where I was.

"Meaning is derived from the moments in life that matter"

Cheers Paula

JOURNEY TO AFRICA

Never in my life and in my travels have I met hundreds of children at one time who wanted nothing but an opportunity to smile with you.

In May of 2009, I joined an incredible team of seven strangers and we set out as an International Relief Team on a Mission to Liberia, Africa with Samaritan's Purse Canada. The goal of the trip was to view many capacity building projects in the country as it continues to rebuild after years of strife and civil war. We arrived just before raining season was about to set in and spent most of our time in Foya District near the border of Sierra Leone and Guinea. I am amazed and humbled by the level of joy and appreciation that I felt from the hundreds of people that we were able to spend time with but much of my admiration was directed to the incredible women of Africa. The ones that work tirelessly day in and day out to provide food for their family, tend to their children and are willing to walk for miles (and for some hours) for an opportunity to learn to read and write. To the women of Africa, I salute you and look forward to seeing you again real soon.