what are these things that make you really uncomfortable cringe-worthy
really uncomfortable cringe-worthy
really uncomfortable cringe-worthy uncomfortable I hate the sound of
uncomfortable I hate the sound of
uncomfortable I hate the sound of fingernails screeching across the
fingernails screeching across the
fingernails screeching across the blackboard and I really hate being dirty
blackboard and I really hate being dirty
blackboard and I really hate being dirty I especially hate when my feet are
I especially hate when my feet are
I especially hate when my feet are covered in filth so yeah I am on a rainy
covered in filth so yeah I am on a rainy
covered in filth so yeah I am on a rainy day in a remote Ugandan village or
day in a remote Ugandan village or
day in a remote Ugandan village or waiting to shin deep muddy water and I’m
waiting to shin deep muddy water and I’m
waiting to shin deep muddy water and I’m afraid of the leeches and the parasites
afraid of the leeches and the parasites
afraid of the leeches and the parasites my clothes are soaking wet and I am so
my clothes are soaking wet and I am so
my clothes are soaking wet and I am so so cold
so cold
so cold at this point my thought he’s got it
at this point my thought he’s got it
at this point my thought he’s got it entirely into it I’m finding all the
entirely into it I’m finding all the
entirely into it I’m finding all the constants were limit pillows and my
constants were limit pillows and my
constants were limit pillows and my precious feet of caked in mud I had not
precious feet of caked in mud I had not
precious feet of caked in mud I had not comfortable where is my podomatic
comfortable where is my podomatic
comfortable where is my podomatic and where are those Louboutin shoes it’s
and where are those Louboutin shoes it’s
and where are those Louboutin shoes it’s now almost dusk when we finally get to
now almost dusk when we finally get to
now almost dusk when we finally get to the fifth and last water source of the
the fifth and last water source of the
the fifth and last water source of the day it’s a contraceptive spring future
day it’s a contraceptive spring future
day it’s a contraceptive spring future smells and even more mosquitoes greet us
smells and even more mosquitoes greet us
smells and even more mosquitoes greet us at this brown murky almost stagnant hole
at this brown murky almost stagnant hole
at this brown murky almost stagnant hole in the ground but there’s something else
in the ground but there’s something else
in the ground but there’s something else here beautiful women encircling the
here beautiful women encircling the
here beautiful women encircling the watering hole and they’ve dressed in the
watering hole and they’ve dressed in the
watering hole and they’ve dressed in the most vibrant colors blue green purple
most vibrant colors blue green purple
most vibrant colors blue green purple orange but there’s one color that shines
orange but there’s one color that shines
orange but there’s one color that shines the brightest and that’s yellow with
the brightest and that’s yellow with
the brightest and that’s yellow with each having a low Jerry camp just like
each having a low Jerry camp just like
each having a low Jerry camp just like this except there’s a worn and dirty
this except there’s a worn and dirty
this except there’s a worn and dirty from Daily News we take turns getting
from Daily News we take turns getting
from Daily News we take turns getting down on their knees to fill the skin
down on their knees to fill the skin
down on their knees to fill the skin with their share of brown monkey water
with their share of brown monkey water
with their share of brown monkey water this is the same water that they have
this is the same water that they have
this is the same water that they have washed their dirty clothes in
washed their dirty clothes in
washed their dirty clothes in it’s the same water that the animals
it’s the same water that the animals
it’s the same water that the animals have Putin they will drink this water
have Putin they will drink this water
have Putin they will drink this water and they will feed it to their children
and they will feed it to their children
and they will feed it to their children and if this isn’t bad enough a herd of
and if this isn’t bad enough a herd of
and if this isn’t bad enough a herd of cows comes by when you move to the side
cows comes by when you move to the side
cows comes by when you move to the side so they too can have their fill to
so they too can have their fill to
so they too can have their fill to survive it’s at this moment that I see
survive it’s at this moment that I see
survive it’s at this moment that I see one of the most striking images I have
one of the most striking images I have
one of the most striking images I have ever encountered the reflection of these
ever encountered the reflection of these
ever encountered the reflection of these beautiful women and me looking back at
beautiful women and me looking back at
beautiful women and me looking back at me from the still water these mothers
me from the still water these mothers
me from the still water these mothers were standing in solidarity watching
were standing in solidarity watching
were standing in solidarity watching over and protecting their only water
over and protecting their only water
over and protecting their only water source their main source of life and as
source their main source of life and as
source their main source of life and as I looked at this reflection I no longer
I looked at this reflection I no longer
I looked at this reflection I no longer saw dirty water
saw dirty water
saw dirty water I saw shed humanity I saw an intense
I saw shed humanity I saw an intense
I saw shed humanity I saw an intense will to survive because no matter who
will to survive because no matter who
will to survive because no matter who you are or where you’re from or what you
you are or where you’re from or what you
you are or where you’re from or what you do we all need water to live it’s one of
do we all need water to live it’s one of
do we all need water to live it’s one of those great beautiful equalizers and
those great beautiful equalizers and
those great beautiful equalizers and this dirty water was the only choice
this dirty water was the only choice
this dirty water was the only choice these mothers have with their families
these mothers have with their families
these mothers have with their families survival and as I look deeper at this
survival and as I look deeper at this
survival and as I look deeper at this reflection I saw myself even more
reflection I saw myself even more
reflection I saw myself even more clearly and I was no longer feeling that
clearly and I was no longer feeling that
clearly and I was no longer feeling that extreme discomfort what is a city girl
extreme discomfort what is a city girl
extreme discomfort what is a city girl who hates being journeys doing at this
who hates being journeys doing at this
who hates being journeys doing at this remote waterhole in Uganda and how am i
remote waterhole in Uganda and how am i
remote waterhole in Uganda and how am i no longer uncomfortable what brings me
no longer uncomfortable what brings me
no longer uncomfortable what brings me here and what will take me to the remote
here and what will take me to the remote
here and what will take me to the remote mountains of Haiti and the winding
mountains of Haiti and the winding
mountains of Haiti and the winding rivers of Cambodia I’m here because I
rivers of Cambodia I’m here because I
rivers of Cambodia I’m here because I made a bold choice to give up those
made a bold choice to give up those
made a bold choice to give up those products and follow my breakfast
products and follow my breakfast
products and follow my breakfast I started
I started
I started search for water an organization that
search for water an organization that
search for water an organization that works hand in hand with local leaders to
works hand in hand with local leaders to
works hand in hand with local leaders to provide safe water and sanitation to
provide safe water and sanitation to
provide safe water and sanitation to people in need and it all started when I
people in need and it all started when I
people in need and it all started when I was just a few years ago but I was just
was just a few years ago but I was just
was just a few years ago but I was just seven years old these Indians were born
seven years old these Indians were born
seven years old these Indians were born and raised in Dubai we’d go back to the
and raised in Dubai we’d go back to the
and raised in Dubai we’d go back to the motherland every summer and one of these
motherland every summer and one of these
motherland every summer and one of these trips we were in our comfortable
trips we were in our comfortable
trips we were in our comfortable air-conditioned car from the colorful
air-conditioned car from the colorful
air-conditioned car from the colorful chaotic streets of Mumbai and we stuck
chaotic streets of Mumbai and we stuck
chaotic streets of Mumbai and we stuck in traffic in this little girl around my
in traffic in this little girl around my
in traffic in this little girl around my age knocks on the glass window she’s
age knocks on the glass window she’s
age knocks on the glass window she’s covered in dirt and her torn tattered
covered in dirt and her torn tattered
covered in dirt and her torn tattered clothes barely cover her bare bottoms a
clothes barely cover her bare bottoms a
clothes barely cover her bare bottoms a little baby and equally counted clothes
little baby and equally counted clothes
little baby and equally counted clothes whose nestled in one of her eyes and her
whose nestled in one of her eyes and her
whose nestled in one of her eyes and her other arm it’s just missing so here I am
other arm it’s just missing so here I am
other arm it’s just missing so here I am in my prettiest pink dress of always
in my prettiest pink dress of always
in my prettiest pink dress of always life dresses nothing into the eyes of a
life dresses nothing into the eyes of a
life dresses nothing into the eyes of a girl who could have just as easily been
girl who could have just as easily been
girl who could have just as easily been me except she’s on the other side of
me except she’s on the other side of
me except she’s on the other side of this glass window begging for survival
this glass window begging for survival
this glass window begging for survival as our car moved away her hand friend
as our car moved away her hand friend
as our car moved away her hand friend was smeared on the glass and etched
was smeared on the glass and etched
was smeared on the glass and etched forever in my heart even as a
forever in my heart even as a
forever in my heart even as a seven-year-old I knew that there was
seven-year-old I knew that there was
seven-year-old I knew that there was something wrong but I did what children
something wrong but I did what children
something wrong but I did what children do they return home and I continue to
do they return home and I continue to
do they return home and I continue to live my relatively privileged life when
live my relatively privileged life when
live my relatively privileged life when it plenty of food water clothes presents
it plenty of food water clothes presents
it plenty of food water clothes presents for every occasion and sometimes for no
for every occasion and sometimes for no
for every occasion and sometimes for no occasion at all I was a happy child only
occasion at all I was a happy child only
occasion at all I was a happy child only truly remembering children less
truly remembering children less
truly remembering children less fortunate when we returned to India on
fortunate when we returned to India on
fortunate when we returned to India on the summer
the summer
the summer patience and then as a junior in college
patience and then as a junior in college
patience and then as a junior in college I signed up for a volunteer teaching
I signed up for a volunteer teaching
I signed up for a volunteer teaching assignment in the lush green foothills
assignment in the lush green foothills
assignment in the lush green foothills of the Indian Himalayas and on this trip
of the Indian Himalayas and on this trip
of the Indian Himalayas and on this trip we get this icy cold water once
we get this icy cold water once
we get this icy cold water once in three days but I was dragged over to
in three days but I was dragged over to
in three days but I was dragged over to the shower stalls stalls that had the
the shower stalls stalls that had the
the shower stalls stalls that had the floors smeared in urine and the stench
floors smeared in urine and the stench
floors smeared in urine and the stench of poo overshadowed the crisp mountain
of poo overshadowed the crisp mountain
of poo overshadowed the crisp mountain air but I’d still relish washing
air but I’d still relish washing
air but I’d still relish washing Malaya’s of dust and dirt off my body
Malaya’s of dust and dirt off my body
Malaya’s of dust and dirt off my body because even this bucket of icy cold
because even this bucket of icy cold
because even this bucket of icy cold water was so much more than what my
water was so much more than what my
water was so much more than what my fellow villagers had and that’s how I
fellow villagers had and that’s how I
fellow villagers had and that’s how I experienced water shortages for the
experienced water shortages for the
experienced water shortages for the first time a few more friends happen on
first time a few more friends happen on
first time a few more friends happen on this trip I started to understand the
this trip I started to understand the
this trip I started to understand the correlation between water access poverty
correlation between water access poverty
correlation between water access poverty and the result of choices that people
and the result of choices that people
and the result of choices that people had I often see my students young
had I often see my students young
had I often see my students young children up in the distant Hills
children up in the distant Hills
children up in the distant Hills fetching water for their family’s
fetching water for their family’s
fetching water for their family’s survival they’d be trekking hours
survival they’d be trekking hours
survival they’d be trekking hours carrying 30 to 40 pounds of water is
carrying 30 to 40 pounds of water is
carrying 30 to 40 pounds of water is really heavy so heavy but I’m not making
really heavy so heavy but I’m not making
really heavy so heavy but I’m not making this up I can still bear any lifting
this was not let the choices I have but
this was not let the choices I have but instead the difference between life and
instead the difference between life and
instead the difference between life and death
death
death and that’s when it hit me but even
and that’s when it hit me but even
and that’s when it hit me but even having the choice is a privilege in
having the choice is a privilege in
having the choice is a privilege in itself and so if this intense experience
itself and so if this intense experience
itself and so if this intense experience a spark had been ignited but instead of
a spark had been ignited but instead of
a spark had been ignited but instead of erasing it I chose to do nothing I came
erasing it I chose to do nothing I came
erasing it I chose to do nothing I came back to the u.s. graduated college and
back to the u.s. graduated college and
back to the u.s. graduated college and joined corporate America and very early
joined corporate America and very early
joined corporate America and very early on I got
on I got
on I got into the system and I did what I was
into the system and I did what I was
into the system and I did what I was supposed to do I left the motions happen
supposed to do I left the motions happen
supposed to do I left the motions happen did in and day out and completely forgot
did in and day out and completely forgot
did in and day out and completely forgot about that inner seven year old and the
about that inner seven year old and the
about that inner seven year old and the new fonts box so for yours I would wake
new fonts box so for yours I would wake
new fonts box so for yours I would wake up early check my email drink some tea
up early check my email drink some tea
up early check my email drink some tea what are my high view take a bus to the
what are my high view take a bus to the
what are my high view take a bus to the office work really hard run errands come
office work really hard run errands come
office work really hard run errands come home and work some more and of course I
home and work some more and of course I
home and work some more and of course I had to balance all of this hard work
had to balance all of this hard work
had to balance all of this hard work with an adequate amount of tithing so
with an adequate amount of tithing so
with an adequate amount of tithing so there were plenty of fancy restaurants
there were plenty of fancy restaurants
there were plenty of fancy restaurants bars exotic trips clothes even more
bars exotic trips clothes even more
bars exotic trips clothes even more designer shoes and bags I was winning
designer shoes and bags I was winning
designer shoes and bags I was winning business awards Chuck setting the world
business awards Chuck setting the world
business awards Chuck setting the world and earning six figures at a really
and earning six figures at a really
and earning six figures at a really young age my life was full so full of
young age my life was full so full of
young age my life was full so full of meaningless minutiae and that when I
meaningless minutiae and that when I
meaningless minutiae and that when I realized I had to do something about it
realized I had to do something about it
realized I had to do something about it I had to take control of the situation
I had to take control of the situation
I had to take control of the situation and no longer that life just happened to
and no longer that life just happened to
and no longer that life just happened to me I decided to embrace that inner seven
me I decided to embrace that inner seven
me I decided to embrace that inner seven year old and that spark and so I started
year old and that spark and so I started
year old and that spark and so I started to make a series of really uncomfortable
to make a series of really uncomfortable
to make a series of really uncomfortable and scary choices that led me to my
and scary choices that led me to my
and scary choices that led me to my partner I decided to walk away from my
partner I decided to walk away from my
partner I decided to walk away from my precondition American Dream an immigrant
precondition American Dream an immigrant
precondition American Dream an immigrant dream that my parents had worked so
dream that my parents had worked so
dream that my parents had worked so incredibly hard for so that it was
incredibly hard for so that it was
incredibly hard for so that it was within my reach and I had the privilege
within my reach and I had the privilege
within my reach and I had the privilege to just walk away I chose to leave my
to just walk away I chose to leave my
to just walk away I chose to leave my secure stable corporate job and exchange
secure stable corporate job and exchange
secure stable corporate job and exchange my fancy Chicago downtown apartment for
my fancy Chicago downtown apartment for
my fancy Chicago downtown apartment for storage unit I started to strip away
storage unit I started to strip away
storage unit I started to strip away non-essential shopping and all the
non-essential shopping and all the
non-essential shopping and all the staple luxuries who wants an essential
staple luxuries who wants an essential
staple luxuries who wants an essential part of my life like gym memberships the
part of my life like gym memberships the
part of my life like gym memberships the process yeah
process yeah
process yeah the process was really hard I was no
the process was really hard I was no
the process was really hard I was no longer meeting the life and career
longer meeting the life and career
longer meeting the life and career expectations of my family and friends
expectations of my family and friends
expectations of my family and friends and it started to get lonely and I
and it started to get lonely and I
and it started to get lonely and I started to feel disconnected from some
started to feel disconnected from some
started to feel disconnected from some of the people who are once in my closest
of the people who are once in my closest
of the people who are once in my closest circle
circle
circle but through this conscious transition of
but through this conscious transition of
but through this conscious transition of choices something really beautiful
choices something really beautiful
choices something really beautiful happened I found in search water I start
happened I found in search water I start
happened I found in search water I start to live my purpose and today nearly
to live my purpose and today nearly
to live my purpose and today nearly 400,000 people in 11 countries have
400,000 people in 11 countries have
400,000 people in 11 countries have access to safe water a few weeks ago I
access to safe water a few weeks ago I
access to safe water a few weeks ago I was in the Dominican Republic and I met
was in the Dominican Republic and I met
was in the Dominican Republic and I met seven year old Diana Vasquez she dreams
seven year old Diana Vasquez she dreams
seven year old Diana Vasquez she dreams of becoming a chef’s when she grows up
of becoming a chef’s when she grows up
of becoming a chef’s when she grows up now that her family has take water in
now that her family has take water in
now that her family has take water in their homes
their homes
their homes Diana can go to school get an education
Diana can go to school get an education
Diana can go to school get an education and do what all children should do which
and do what all children should do which
and do what all children should do which is dream big that’s what water did for
is dream big that’s what water did for
is dream big that’s what water did for Diana and does for so many children
Diana and does for so many children
Diana and does for so many children around the world do you remember that
around the world do you remember that
around the world do you remember that dirty watering hole in Uganda that I
dirty watering hole in Uganda that I
dirty watering hole in Uganda that I told you about well I’ll never forget
told you about well I’ll never forget
told you about well I’ll never forget this moment almost a year later the 70
this moment almost a year later the 70
this moment almost a year later the 70 year old village Aldo he would propose
year old village Aldo he would propose
year old village Aldo he would propose this looked me in the eyes and thanked
this looked me in the eyes and thanked
this looked me in the eyes and thanked me for making you feel like a human
me for making you feel like a human
me for making you feel like a human being again
being again
being again he used to be on his knees drinking that
he used to be on his knees drinking that
he used to be on his knees drinking that same water as those cows and bass now
same water as those cows and bass now
same water as those cows and bass now not only does a booth who have safe
not only does a booth who have safe
not only does a booth who have safe water but he also had dignity
people like buco and Diana I what
people like buco and Diana I what inspire me and I’ll tell you something
inspire me and I’ll tell you something
inspire me and I’ll tell you something I’ll never forget this other moment
I’ll never forget this other moment
I’ll never forget this other moment because we’re who looked me in the eyes
because we’re who looked me in the eyes
because we’re who looked me in the eyes not only did he inspire me he also made
not only did he inspire me he also made
not only did he inspire me he also made me feel like a human being but yet I
me feel like a human being but yet I
me feel like a human being but yet I would choose Lucas
would choose Lucas
would choose Lucas Dianna’s and my life a million times
Dianna’s and my life a million times
Dianna’s and my life a million times over that Prada bad
over that Prada bad
over that Prada bad all those Louboutin shoes when I started
all those Louboutin shoes when I started
all those Louboutin shoes when I started served I chose to break away from the
served I chose to break away from the
served I chose to break away from the systems and the expectations and
systems and the expectations and
systems and the expectations and imprison me I started to live a
imprison me I started to live a
imprison me I started to live a conscious mindful life and because of
conscious mindful life and because of
conscious mindful life and because of that I got gets now get to live
that I got gets now get to live
that I got gets now get to live purposefully and fully I have exposure
purposefully and fully I have exposure
purposefully and fully I have exposure to beautiful villages on stunning
to beautiful villages on stunning
to beautiful villages on stunning mountains across running streams all
mountains across running streams all
mountains across running streams all across a beautiful world I meet local
across a beautiful world I meet local
across a beautiful world I meet local heroes that inspire me to become a
heroes that inspire me to become a
heroes that inspire me to become a better person every day teach me about
better person every day teach me about
better person every day teach me about love privilege perseverance and strength
love privilege perseverance and strength
love privilege perseverance and strength so I ask you what if some of the choices
so I ask you what if some of the choices
so I ask you what if some of the choices that you are faced with which side of
that you are faced with which side of
that you are faced with which side of the glass window are you on are you
the glass window are you on are you
the glass window are you on are you filling your can with mosquito-infested
filling your can with mosquito-infested
filling your can with mosquito-infested brown murky water or are you choosing
brown murky water or are you choosing
brown murky water or are you choosing between your morning milk obverses latte
between your morning milk obverses latte
between your morning milk obverses latte or perhaps your afternoon sandwich
or perhaps your afternoon sandwich
or perhaps your afternoon sandwich versus a salad do you have privilege in
versus a salad do you have privilege in
versus a salad do you have privilege in your choices and if so what do you do
your choices and if so what do you do
your choices and if so what do you do with that privilege and let’s take this
with that privilege and let’s take this
with that privilege and let’s take this even further are you living a life that
even further are you living a life that
even further are you living a life that the system has precondition usefulness
the system has precondition usefulness
the system has precondition usefulness or are you living the life you really
or are you living the life you really
or are you living the life you really want
are you using meaningless choices to
are you using meaningless choices to distract from that one choice that
distract from that one choice that
distract from that one choice that really means something
what is that inner voice what is that
what is that inner voice what is that voice you can no longer ignore what is
voice you can no longer ignore what is
voice you can no longer ignore what is that one choice but is so authentically
that one choice but is so authentically
that one choice but is so authentically you that will make you a slightly better
you that will make you a slightly better
you that will make you a slightly better and happier person what is that one
and happier person what is that one
and happier person what is that one choice that could defy all reason to
choice that could defy all reason to
choice that could defy all reason to make the world just a slightly better
make the world just a slightly better
make the world just a slightly better place I definitely don’t have all the
place I definitely don’t have all the
place I definitely don’t have all the answers and I still have a lot of Life
answers and I still have a lot of Life
answers and I still have a lot of Life to Live stories to tell and choices to
to Live stories to tell and choices to
to Live stories to tell and choices to make I feel like my life’s work has just
make I feel like my life’s work has just
make I feel like my life’s work has just begun but what I do know is that when
begun but what I do know is that when
begun but what I do know is that when you embrace the uncomfortable and start
you embrace the uncomfortable and start
you embrace the uncomfortable and start making mindful conscious choices change
making mindful conscious choices change
making mindful conscious choices change becomes possible and perhaps tomorrow
becomes possible and perhaps tomorrow
becomes possible and perhaps tomorrow because of you one more person will have
because of you one more person will have
because of you one more person will have the privilege to choose
”
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