Good frustrations

(think “Good Vibrations” the song here!)

Over a Casa Dixson pizza dinner on Saturday night in Butare, some of us were musing about our frustrations at work, living in Rwanda, etc. I will not get into specifics, but we all have frustrations about living here. Anyone who has lived overseas for longer than a few months (especially in a developing country) will understand where I am coming from. With these frustrations come a desire to want to change it somehow, and after multiple attempts at changing the system, the realization sets in that it will either take a lot longer to change than one thought or not change at all. And we discussed how strange it is that we get fired up over certain frustrations over other ones. It wasn’t all serious; we even discussed kids, politics, and Cleveland sports (sigh…)

The next day I was having coffee with one of the dinner guests who had only spent a month here in Rwanda, and was on her way back to the US to complete her training. She said something that has really stuck with me: our frustrations are good. I asked her to explain. She said that those frustrations were coming from a place of true caring, of compassion for our work and our lives here in Rwanda. While frustrating, we should use those “good frustrations” to find the drive and the will to continue to do the good work that we are doing. Her observation really put things in perspective, and I have been thinking about it ever since.

I am reminded of the Serenity Prayer, something I learned growing up in Catholic school and that I have learned to use while here:

“God, Grant me the Serenity to Accept the Things I cannot Change, the Courage to Change the Things I Can, and the Wisdom to Know the Difference.”

Lesson for the day: May we all learn how to deal with frustrations, to find solutions, and find peace in the process.

Until next time…

Love life, Find meaning, Be Happy,

Craiger

Live life forward

Originally written Wednesday, 26 Oct.
 

The real quote is the following: “You live life forward, but understand it backwards.” Which is another version of the classic quote: “Hindsight is always 20/20.”

I am reminded of this today, a Wednesday. I am just now returning from Kenya, after a fantastic, relaxing trip. I am back in Kigali, preparing for the bus trip home to Butare. I am already back in it: motos not showing up, no butter to be found in any supermarkets, catching up on emails. And as I go, I learn and understand better each day about my life. I have learned all of the information on slowing down, not rushing, not wanting things my way, not having expectations, but truly understanding it and incorporating it into my everyday life, now that is the real struggle, n’est pas?

I have heard it said that we should strive for progress, not perfection. And this applies here as well. We are not perfect, we are human beings; we are supposed to makes mistakes. If we work on our shortcomings, and show progress towards improvement, that is the most important.

Until next time…

Love life, Find meaning, Be happy,

Craiger

If you are in a hurry, you are in the right place

originally written Tuesday, 25 Oct.

“If you are in a hurry, you are in the wrong place”

African proverb (haha, not really; African bumper sticker seen in Tanzania)

I have always had a wanderlust. In fact, I never really unpacked my life.
I have had 5 apartments/houses since college, and there were usually unpacked boxes and bare walls somewhere. My last house in Columbus had a sense of home; cool furniture, best bed and couch ever (hope you are enjoying them Jeff and Ridhima Corcoran!) walls decorated, etc. But something was missing, it was never really finished. I wonder if that was intentional; my subconscious saying: time to leave, time to go elsewhere, don't settle.

Part of me feels the need to establish a place, the other part says keep traveling, keep searching. This world is too big not to explore, to enjoy, to hurry up and see it all...

I have always walked fast, learned that from my Dad. Also an Aires, we walk fast, head first, forging ahead to our destination. Living in Africa has not really taught me to walk slower, but it certainly makes me think that I need to slow down, take it easy.

Even waiting for lunch or dinner, I get impatient. As I write this, I am at this hole in the wall beachside restaurant, thatched huts, somehow passable tables, waiting on freshly caught, grilled lobster. I can smell it, taste it, yet impatient for its arrival.

The best meals are those that you wait for, and you cherish those meals.

And I have noticed that if I am in a hurry to eat, I am in the wrong place.

Until next time…

Love life, Find meaning, Be happy,

Craiger