rambling gratitude

I can tell you right now this post is not going to do justice. My head and heart are flooded with emotions and thoughts. So much has happened, so much is about to happen. Life is so good to me.

Today, Junior said "When it rains, it poors good things". SO TRUE! Life has been poooorrinng good things on me for the past two years and it seems to just keep getting better.

Young RYLA 2011 has come to a close.  Young RYLA in the form I have known in for the past three years has come to a close. And I could not have asked for a better ending. We had THE most amazing week, something that I cannot explain to you if you werent there. Things just went right. Some of it was luck, some of it was a great balance of leadership and personality between Jess, Junior and I,  and most of it was the amazing team we were so lucky to have chosen. Every single JC and SC we wanted there was able to be there and they ROCKED it. For the past two years as a JC I watched my team and relished in how much they learned and grew, how amazing they were, and hoped that my week with them would leave an impact. This year I watched 12 JC's kick butt. I relished in how well they did and I knew that this was only the beginning of how much fire they would spread to this world, how much change they would make and how huge of an impact they have and will continue to have on this world. I cannot describe how amazing each and everyone of them is. Each in their own way, spreading love and hope and inspiration and so many things to these kids, to me and to so many other people. They put their hearts and souls into this week and did such an amazing job. I feel so grateful for each one of them for being there to make this last week of Young RYLA so easy and amazing and fulfilling. They taught me so much and forever will hold such a huge place in my heart.

Then, there were the kids. Amazing and mind boggling as always. At first I worried I wouldnt have the chance to get to know them. Slowly I found the ones that would be so meaningful, open my eyes and remind me of all that is beautiful and scary in this world. They taught me so much. Their tears and smiles, their questions and fears, their laughter and dance moves. Its all gonna stick with me for so long. The boy who told me that 1 of the first 5 awesome things in his life is Young RYLA and another is hope, the one who cried in the lunch line, the sweet girl who reminded me when I woke up too sleepy that I was supposed to be thinking "this is the first day of the rest of my life", the one who knows her life isnt as long as she deserves it to be, the one who cried and cried before he would finally leave, the one who finally made eye contact with me, the ones who struggled and struggled but finally came into the Young RYLA world, showed their team all their moves and were amazing, and so many more. Faces and stories flood through my head when I think of all the amazingness in those kids. They come from hard and somewhat easy, ups and downs, different colors, religions, families, so many different lifestyles. But they know how to dance their hearts out and they have so very much to give to this world. As I told them Thursday night, I belive in them more than anyone else in the world. I feel so lucky to have known them, to be inspired by them and to be living in a world with them. One that they will without a doubt make a better place.

We danced, we sang, we hiked and learned and had meaningful conversations. We expected so much of the JC's, SC's and kids and they all far exceeded our expectatons. They came together and held each other up. They broke down barriers. I could go on for hours. Its a beautiful thing, one that you should try to be a part of someday if you arent already. It changes lives, and Im not just saying that.

RYLA has given me so much, and as sad as I am to let go.. it has prepared for the world. As Jess said yesterday "We cant dissapoint the program, lets go set the world on fire". And that is exactly what we will do. Take all that the last four years have taught us and make this world a beautiful place. We will create change and spread love and passion. We will live as best as we can and work to always be the best versions of ourselves.

I have learned so much this summer. So much about leadership and myself and other people. About organization and logistics, about working with others, about what it takes to create a team and to be a leader that people can turn to for support and so much more. I am so grateful. Im rambling, I know... so you get the point. It was amazing. It fueled me. It will fuel me for the rest of my life.

And it best keep fueling me right on through cause I AM LEAVING FOR EL SALVADOR IN ONE WEEK! Crazy crazy crazy. Its time to get into go mode (ha, like there was ever time to not be in go mode). Packing, dentist, doctor, hair cut... seeing everyone I can possibly fit. Breathing some. Soaking up this mountain air. And hopefully sooner than later taking a little time just to process. This is the beginning of that.

I am as ready as I will ever be. This summer has prepared me just as I hoped it would. Time at home to think. Time with my mama. Honesty like I have never known it before. Vulnerability. Learning. Self evaluation. A little relaxing. And Young RYLA to push all of that even further. To remind me how to soak it all up. To bring out the tears when they need to come out, but to be compassionate, caring, and to live with integrity always. I have learned so much. Life is preparing me for the next adventure.

So I will spend the next 6 days packing, loving my mama and the people in this world as much as I can. Preparing my head and heart. And just enjoying a little more time at home.

Sorry for the ramble. Heres to a really good life.

XOXOXO