One of my dream jobs was to join the peace corps. Graduating college, shy to divulge my aspiration, I confided in my father. He bluntly told me, “Joanneo, you can do a lot of good with a little cash. Get a job.”
So I did. But the idea of helping people in poor places develop water projects, farming projects and education projects haunts me still. And when I had a retreat client a few months back who worked at the United Nations doing just that, I was intrigued. She embodied who I might have been had I followed that path: living in the capitol, working environmental projects and helping people have a better life.
Serendipitously, she’d registered to return for our yoga and writing retreat. I was excited she was coming back. Until yesterday when she told me she was afraid to leave the US for fear she wouldn’t be allowed back in.
She’s on a work visa. She’s legal and fits what I’d consider a desirable demographic: educated, paying taxes, working a job that many people don’t want since they’d prefer to “do good making a little cash.” But since January there’ve been rumors that immigration will block reentry to non citizens. She doesn’t want to risk it. Bottom line, she’s afraid. And when fear controls us, we all lose.
So rather than rail at the injustice of it all, coax her to face her fears and get on the plane or even research if that is in fact true, I told her it’s ok. We’ll do her retreat on line.
You see, we don’t need to panic. We don’t need to freak out. We need to support each other in the ways that we can. On line’s not my favorite thing. But I can do it. Wear a microphone, get the internet booster and help her find the space she needs in her life with yoga and writing.
That’s how I can make the world a better place.
If you were hesitating to join our Yoga and Writing retreat for travel or financial reasons, this is your moment to give yourself some time to look inward, set your story free and share it. Don’t kid yourself: losing fear, finding your inner voice and being open and free are revolutionary acts. We begin Thursday the 13th in the afternoon. Contact me at hello@tribaltulum.com to start your personal revolution.
Find your bliss and resist however you can. Let’s be there for each other.