Twenty-four years ago today it was -13 below, which is not too far off how cold it is today.
On this day in history: the Iranian hostage crisis ended in 1981, Indira Gandhi was elected as the first female prime minister of India (why is it taking the U.S. so long to respect female politicians/presidents.), William Pitt became the youngest prime minster of England at 24 yrs. old...Those are pretty lofty accomplishments, but I hope to make my own.
William Pitt became prime minister at 24 yrs. old...what have I done?? Today I turned 24! It's such an arbitrary number that I'm not exactly sure how to respond to this feeling of urgency. It all depends on my current stage in life; I have just graduated college, I've joined the Peace Corps and am waiting to go to Romania, I'm single but most of my friends are married, and today I became another year older. I feel like I'm on the edge of what my life is to become. In May I'll take a leap of faith (think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and forever be changed. That's so exciting, and I'm smiling because I'm thinking about what my next birthday will be like. Perhaps I'll be in Bucareşt, Istanbul, or Prague...maybe I'll be on a train to my next adventure...maybe I'll be in a classroom looking into the eyes of the future...or just maybe I'll be doing something that I don't even know exists yet.
When I'm 24 -- I'm gonna say goodbye to my family, friends, and Indiana. I'm going to move to Romania for 2 years to serve in the Peace Corps!! I'm going to teach people English to help them increase their chances of success in this world of globalization. I'm going to travel extensively throughout Europe. I'm going to volunteer in an orphanage. I'm going to do my part to stop the genocide in Darfur. I'm gonna watch a few of my best friends get married. I'm gonna continue to grow in my relationship with Christ! And so much more...
Wow! Now that I think about it...24 and 2008 is going to be awesome! Here's to hoping that you have a great year too no matter what your age!
Romanian Time
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed are those of Tara Ulmer, and do not represent the views of the Peace Corps or the United States government.
Something I'm keeping in mind
For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
--The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
In that moment, my entire life changed forever. It was like a rebirth. I had been so restless and rebellious and unsettled and unfocused, and I had all this energy and passion but nowhere to channel it. Now I had something I could do with my life. In that moment...with my tongue tied and my heart on fire, I found something I could give my life to.
Or it found me.
It wasn't planned. No angels were involved that I know of -- just a young, restless soul discovering a purpose.
from Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
--The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
In that moment, my entire life changed forever. It was like a rebirth. I had been so restless and rebellious and unsettled and unfocused, and I had all this energy and passion but nowhere to channel it. Now I had something I could do with my life. In that moment...with my tongue tied and my heart on fire, I found something I could give my life to.
Or it found me.
It wasn't planned. No angels were involved that I know of -- just a young, restless soul discovering a purpose.
from Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
About Me
Peace Corps location
No comments:
Post a Comment