From Christina:

I’ve been on trips to Mexico volunteering at several orphanages and for me I have to make sure my life is “in-balance”. That way my compassion comes from my heart and soul, I’m able to soak it all in – and be grateful I was able to give and make that human connection with others. Then when I come back to the states….I feel so “out of balance” and a bit overwhelmed, but grateful at the same time. How do you fuel your heart while in Africa and when you get home? As humans when we “give” we need to also be able to receive. The more we receive the more we are able to give. Do you think the villagers feel a part of something or someone? We all just want to be loved, touched and feel like we’re a part of something. BTW, your compassion for helping others and the human spirit is contagious!

Hi Christina,

These are all thought-provoking questions. I think the desire to feel a part of something bigger is a huge part of why I do this kind of work. It’s definitely a big passion in my life and very fulfilling for me.

I definitely know what you mean about needing to fuel your heart while away and feeling out of whack upon returning home; everything is a bit too loud and fast for a couple of days. After returning to Canada, I was at a wave pool with my family and I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing – gallons of water sloshing around for amusement when, just days before, I was witnessing women and children drinking from dirty mud puddles on the side of a road. There is an unbelievable contrast between our worlds that often stops me in my tracks.

It always takes me a few days to readjust and years ago I would feel guilty coming home to such luxury (even when we lived in a basement apartment) compared to what I’d left behind. Now I just focus on the progress we’re making with each trip and am thankful I’m in a position to make a difference. Guilt weighs my heart down and I’ve somehow managed to find a way to turn these feelings into committment and productivity.

In particular, I really appreciate your comment about being able to ‘give AND receive’.  Being completely open on all levels to people is a hard thing for many people to do, for many reasons. I feel a lot of this has to do with our daily experiences living in a western world. We do daily exchanges with people without ever really connecting. We are all likely guilty of ‘going through the motions’ with someone at a coffee shop, or a bank or on the phone with a service provider. We are rarely connecting, just getting from A to B. When you are constantly surrounded by this, I believe patterns and routines form and we become accustomed to the disconnect.

I noticed this on our last trip. I stood in line to check my bags, get my boarding pass and clear customs without one real exchange between us.  Twenty-four hours later, I’m in Africa on a jungle path with kids hanging off of me, strangers shaking my hand, receiving a greeting and a smile from every single passing person. It is initially hard to open up, accept and receive something outside of my normal boundaries, but as soon as I do, I am filled with a satisfaction and a happiness that proves that dropping our boundaries and opening our heart allows us to connect with others the way we were intended.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments and questions.

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