Just Jump

One of the (many) things I learned in Guatemala is that I am mentally and physically capable of far more than I ever imagined. So when I got back from the trip, I started to mull over some personal and professional goals that I’ve been thinking about but have yet to take action on.

Last weekend after we dropped our son off at camp in Maryland, I vocalized a few of these goals to my husband. And he responded “just jump”. He went on to say something like this. “When faced with a pool of cold water, do you choose to jump in quickly or ease yourself down the ladder? Either way you do it, the water is still cold. You might as well just jump. Do it, get it over with. You’ll feel so much better once you do”.

My response “well, when I was a kid I didn’t like to get water up my nose so I’d have to wear nose plugs and even then I wouldn’t jump in. I’d probably just sit on the edge”. Yep, that pretty much describes me now, certainly not a risk taker. I’m cautious and over-analytical, sometimes to my own fault.

Yet this past year, and especially after Guatemala, I feel the need to be more, do more. To take action, make an impact. So after my husband and I had our goals talk, I jumped.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, one of my goals is to be a Weight Watcher’s Leader. Once I hit my WW Lifetime goal again, I filled out the paperwork and it sat on my desk.  I have wanted to be a Weight Watcher’s Leader for 15 years, yet I’ve never taken the final step to make it happen. Sometimes, I get locked up in my own “what ifs”.  What if I don’t know enough? What if I’m not good enough? What if people don’t respond to me? What if I fail? Have you ever been so caught up in yourself that you don’t do something you really want to do?

So I jumped. Last Monday I mailed my Weight Watcher’s paperwork and by Thursday I got a call that the Lansdale office has a potential opening. Holy cow, this is really happening! I have an interview set up for August 18^th and if I make it through, training starts September 8^th! Buckle your seat belts baby, it’s gonna be a wild ride.

Here’s the question folks, are you sitting at the edge of the pool, too worried about the cold water to make your move? Jump! Have you had a goal that you’ve been thinking about but are too afraid to take action? Jump! Maybe it’s a new job or a change in career? Jump! Pursuing a new friendship or re-kindling an old one. Jump! Facing your finances or a difficulty with your spouse or children. Jump! Trying a new activity or hobby. Jump! Tackling a project you’ve been putting off. Jump!

Maybe it’s walking through those Weight Watcher’s meeting doors for the first time? Or getting back to your health and wellness plan? Jump!

The reward of what can happen certainly outweighs the fear of what may.  

Ask for help. Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Continue with courage. And jump! J

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Guatemala Reflection #2: Abundance

It’s really hard to explain what third world poverty looks like to someone who hasn’t been there. Back in 2005, I had the opportunity to fund raise for a group called Stephen’s Children that provides education, moral guidance, spiritual development and medical care to the poorest of the poor in Cairo. These families live in devastating circumstances in the garbage dumps. I also had the opportunity to visit and interact with the families which changed my life forever. I wished that my husband and kids had been with me so they could understand the change that happened deep within me.  

This is why it was so important for me to take our entire family to Guatemala, to not only witness the change you can bring to someone’s life, but to experience that change within their hearts. The experience of the trip far exceeded my expectations. Given what I felt in Cairo, a part of me it couldn’t be beat. But I guess it’s just like parenting, there’s always more love for one more person.

What hit me on the head over and over again during the trip is just how abundant our lives are. The people of Guatemala that we built the home for lead simple lives. They lived in a corn cane hut, with a tin roof, dirt floor and no windows. Their running water came from a hose. To get hot water, they boiled it. Their kitchen consisted of an open fire. They had no refrigeration. Any furniture was hand-made with scraps and burlap sacks. They had minimal clothing, no dressers or walk-in closets. They grew or raised a lot of their food. And the bathroom? Let’s just say it makes the port-a-potty at my son’s baseball games look promising.

The families were extremely poor, yet something about them made me see how rich they were. They were always smiling. They understood the value of family. They lived within their means. They weren’t afraid of hard work. They appreciated everything. Their children were with them during the day. They were kind to each other. An education was something to be treasured. They were generous and courteous neighbors.

Witnessing widespread poverty like this can sometimes be overwhelming. You think to yourself, with so much need, how will it ever be met? It is comforting for me to know that while they might need everything, but they wanted for nothing. They had something that eludes so many Americans, happiness. And I also know that God changes lives, one person at a time.

It’s this belief that now has me collecting donations for some proud parents in Guatemala. These parents have children in the Morning Glory school marching band. We had the pleasure of watching this band perform and man OH man, they were rock stars.  They played their hearts out all while having HUGE smiles on their faces. And they have such a gift. They not only won National’s in Guatemala, but they are now going to Central American finals. These children are in need of band uniforms, without them, they might have points deducted from their performance. The school needs 118 uniforms at $60 US dollars each. ONE band uniform costs TWO month’s salary for these hard working families.

Over the next week, I will be taking donations for the band uniforms. If you’d like to give any amount big or small, please mail a check made payable to NIMA to: Tara Watson- 2021 Sandstone Terrace-Phoenixville, PA 19460.

Remember to count your blessings today, they are abundant!

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Guatemala Reflection #1: Joy

After having one of my most life-changing weeks ever, how could I not write about my experiences in Guatemala? So for those of you who are looking for some weight loss tips and tricks, hang with me over the next few weeks because I have about a gazillion and one thoughts racing in my head that I need to get on paper. How can I possibly make sense of the thoughts and emotions that come flooding back with a sound, smell or an image? Well, I had to start somewhere, so I jotted down a few words- joy, strength, beauty, abundance and gratitude and we’ll see where it goes from there.  

This morning, as I was trying to muster up the energy to get out of bed to start my work day, there was a mourning dove cooing outside my window. I just love the fluid, long and low sound of their call. Contrast that to the high-pitched, gawking crow of a rooster. Every day last week in Guatemala, I awoke to the sound of not just one rooster, but multiple roosters crowing to each other. It’s like they were saying hello to each other over AND over again. At first it was kind of cute and funny, but then I was like “enough already”.

Not too long after the crowing roosters, we were greeted by early morning fireworks. I’m not sure of the local tradition of this, but here’s how it went down---there was an explosion of fireworks, followed by the whoops and hollers of the Guatemalan people, ending with lively singing. It was absolutely nuts, and it’s one of my favorite memories. Why? The sheer joy of it all.

When was the last time you hopped out of bed to greet the day whooping and hollering with joy?  I know you’re shaking your head right now and saying really Tara? Really? Do you have any idea the challenges I face each day? The responsibilities I carry?

My experience in Guatemala made me think of a portion of this verse from Matthew 6:25:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

If we gave God our worries, would we have more time for joy? And could starting each day with a joy-filled attitude help overcome our daily challenges and seemingly overwhelming responsibilities?

When I first heard the Guatemalans singing and laughing at 5:30 in the morning, I thought to myself, they are flipping bananas, especially because mornings are NOT my friend. But as the week went on I realized they’ve got it right. When you begin your day in the right mindset, focused on what really matters, surrounded by people that energize and love you, appreciating the gift of a brand new day, knowing that God’s got your back, how can you go wrong?

Ask for help. Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Simple Abundance

Fellow blog readers, this week I'd like to share with you a poem I wrote about my experience in Guatemala. Over the next few weeks I'll be reflecting on living a life of simple abundance.

Make the choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara 

Dawn breaks, the rooster crows and we greet God’s promise of a new day.

A quick breakfast and a moment of prayer and team CCV is on the way.

Families waiting, anticipating, a dream of hope that is here to stay.

Tools unloaded, instructions given and we become God’s hands and feet.

Foundation is poured, walls complete. We take a rest to beat the heat.

Friendships growing, teamwork showing, faces glowing.

Joy-filled faces watch from quiet places as the house begins to unfold.

Side by side we work together on tasks most grueling and tedious.

Yet we keep on working knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

The corn cane hut with the tin roof no longer stands.

In its place is a solid home that God built using our feet and hands.

Though we are worlds apart our needs are still the same- food, shelter, family, love and a God that   knows our names.

Friends of San Raimundo who are in our hearts no matter where we go; you have blessed us far more than you’ll ever know.

This life of simple abundance anyone can achieve. By seeing that God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and grace is available to all who believe.