Living My Dream: La Ciudad de Mexico City
I had a
dream. Years ago, as I sat in a trivial English class with no windows in the
entire room of my high-school, and I was instructed to write myself a letter
for where I would be in 10 years. It was thoughtless work at the time. Mundane.
However, I went through with the assignment and wrote myself the letter. Almost
a year ago I was home in Chicago and stumbled across the letter and could not
resist the temptation to open it. Inside
were the dreams of a 16 year old with dreams of adventure and love. Two words
that make my heart sing in this world 10 years later.
I sit here
on this stormy night in Mexico City, watching and listening to the thunder
outside, as rain pours above my head while sitting at the hotel bar sipping a
Malbec wine. Comforts of home swim in my head with each sip of my favorite
wine. I smile as I look up to the dark sky. The rain pounds above me on the window above, and I realize the
16 year old Kelly would be proud of me. As a culture, we tend to listen to
society and let it dictate what life steps you should take next. Sometimes we
give into pressures of what is expected of us, and don’t listen to our heart.
My heart has always yearned for adventure. I knew that as a girl when I would
frequently run away from home. I was curious. I hope to be curious for the rest
of my life. Curiosity is what makes my heart sing. It’s why I “pin” endless
quotes on Pinterest about adventure. It’s why my custom artwork vibe at my
office includes the word “adventure” on it. I've taken risks this last year and strayed
from what I feel society would have thought otherwise.
Adventure
takes all shapes and sizes. Adventure does not have to be traveling thousands
of miles to see new places. I've learned this whole heartedly these past few
years as my international travels slowed from what they used to be. I've learned that adventure is a state of mind. It’s saying yes to all new experiences. It’s putting yourself in uncomfortable situations with new people.
It’s a risk. Adventure is about leaving a piece of you behind in everything
that you do.
I sit here
on this stormy night and feel like my heart is singing. Travel mixed with
adventure ignites and stirs my soul. I
become a different person when I travel. I see more clearly. I see the big picture of life, something I crave and look for everyday. No, it’s not just
the wine in me that speaks. It’s the free spirited little girl in me that comes
out. I see myself as exactly God intended me to be when I’m in a new place, in
a new culture. And you know what? It’s beautiful. My heart and soul are
beautiful in these places when I travel. A girl who sometimes gets muddled when
she’s in her day-to-day routine.
But here I
am, in Mexico City experiencing new people, speaking in Spanish, and eating
lots of tasty food. My work brought me down here on my first international work
trip. Somehow I know more are in my future. The 16 year old me is cheering and
clapping right now at what I've accomplished. The 16 year old girl said, “I had a dream” in the letter I wrote to myself. No, I am living that
dream.
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