525,600 minutes... how do you measure a year?

I have officially been in Colombia for three weeks, so I am well aware that I have a lot of catching up to do. However, before I delve into the highs and lows of moving to a new country, meeting and falling in love with my fellow volunteers at orientation, and getting acclimated to my new home and workplace, I want to take a few minutes to talk about life. how its measured and how we go about navigating it.

I recently read the blog of an amazing young woman, exactly like me. She graduated in May, absolutely loves children, and felt the need to avoid the working world by volunteering abroad. She had an infectious smile, an adventurous spirit, and a quiet resolve to make the world a better place. The only difference between us was that she left for her year of service in June instead of January, and she chose Haiti instead of Colombia. Otherwise, our paths were similar. I read countless posts about working with the kids, the difference she made in the lives of orphans, and the numerous things she learned about the human spirit and its ability to endure. She had titled her blog 535,600 minutes and was in the process of discovering how she would measure a year. this year. However, the world changed, things shifted, and in a split second an earthquake in Haiti trapped her in a building collapse and she died. Her year of service ended on January 12th in the first of two earthquakes in Haiti. She never finished her year. never saw the fruits of 525,600 minutes of giving of herself.

For me, this blog severely challenged my perspective on my year. The effect was subtle at first. the emotions simple. surprise. sadness. But I couldn't help identifying with this girl. She wasn't out to save the world. She just wanted to do what she could, with what she had. I had previously been thinking about my year in the big picture. What would I accomplish in a year? What did I hope to leave behind in December? I thought about my projects in long term, even learning Spanish. Would my projects be sustainable? Would I set myself apart from the group in my own way, as everyone else seemed to be doing? However, her blog made me remember that the whole point of this year, for me, isn't the big picture. It's not what I can write on my resume, the long list of accomplishments I can compile, the connections I can claim to Shakira or her foundations, or the countries I can visit. The big picture is certainly important and sustainable change is undeniably crucial in developing countries. However, for me, this year is all about the small things. The day-to-day victories will make this year, or month, or day, worthwhile. I may not change the school system or inspire all of my students to speak English, but I will teach some. I will inspire some. I may not be fluent in Spanish when I leave (and in fact, probably won't be) but I will be better. I will smile every day and make the people I encounter feel special, worthwhile. I will do what I can with what I have. every day.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to remind myself, and anyone else crazy enough to read this blog, to find the small victories in the every day. I wanted to remember that we never know how long we have: a month, a year, two years, ten years. I can only hope that I accomplish in my time here, however long it is, half of what this girl did in Haiti and inspire others the way she did me, reminding me about why I came here. for the smiles. the small victories. and a chance to grow as a person. one day at a time.