Traveling Thoughts

Five years ago today, I was in Cambodia with a group from Methodist Theological School in Ohio . This group spent two weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia for a cross-cultural immersion .  When I start any trip, as a way to reflect daily, I make room in 3 pages these prompts: ·       First Time ·       Person of the Day ·       Kodak Moments This is a practice I started as a teenager thanks to the coaching of a mentor. I have found this way to reflect and remember on trips so meaningful that I encourage others to do some sort of daily reflection practice too. Hence the "Pro Tip" post.  How often do you go on a trip and return home with many stories to share or find yourself unable to fully articulate your experience? This idea is one way to tangibly share your story with others.  Kodak Moments are moments that will continue to stick with you post trip and moments that yo...

Have you ever reflected on idea that when you were younger the year seemed to draggggggg on but as we grow older the year seems to just fly by? The saying is true, there is always “an app for that” and the TimeHop app illustrates just how quickly time can fly. Or…remind you what happened so long ago. The TimeHop app pulls images and posting from social media and your phone to let you know what you were doing a year ago on this date, two years ago, three years ago, and so on. Last year (in 2014), I spent the first two weeks of the new year in Vietnam and Cambodia with a group from Methodist Theological School in Ohio . It wasn’t a mission trip, but a mission of being, learning, and experiencing another culture and context. Learning this practice in high school, I’ve been conditioned to find those one or two Kodak moments to share with others when I return. The term “Kodak moment” I’m realizing is starting to become obsolete as we aren’t taking pictures on Kodak cameras anym...

“Please tell me a story!” I would request at bedtime at my grandparents’ house.  My grandmother is a great storyteller and there are so many of her stories that have stuck with me. Who needs Dr. Seuss or fairytales when you have a real life person who can share their story?! She always started each of her stories with "Once upon a time..." because that gets everyone's attention. Sometimes, I find myself mimicking that introduction. It was this nighttime ritual with my grandmother that instilled in me a love for people’s stories.  Being a little too old for bedtime stories, I had to improvise with books. I love to read...all kinds of things, but I find myself drawn to autobiographies. I find it fascinating what people decide to share; how they view themselves, what milestones and parts of history they found formative, and how they perceived the people around them. I always find myself questioning the stories that are left untold in the autobiographi...