Before leaving the Keprta home, you would only hear one phrase: “Be Smart.” My mom would yell it through her door or as we drove away without fail. As the saying goes, “if you’re being smart, you don’t have to be careful.”
I have found this to be a valuable lesson on the World Race. Realistically, I wouldn’t be on this trip if I were being careful. Traveling is never one hundred percent safe one hundred percent of the time.
The World Race is not always safe, but it is always good.
I find myself saying “Be Smart!” to my squad before they go on little adventures. I like to look our teams in the eye and get confirmation that they actually heard me. I need to know that they understand someone cares about their safety and wants them to arrive home in one piece. They can be pretty adventurous and definitely not as careful as I would want them to be.
The most unexpected injuries occur out here. I had a squadmate that got stepped on by an elephant. I also had a teammate that tripped while climbing an ancient temple ruin and sprained her ankle. We live on the edge. We go on fun adventures. We also explore places that normal tourists wouldn’t go to. Last month we lived with ex cons. This month, we are in Myanmar. (Google it if you don’t know. The bank thought I made this country up.)
Being smart does not mean you run from any risk. It means taking care of yourself and others by understanding your surroundings.
This “Mama Kep” moment was something my mom packed with me. She stuffed it down a crevice of my 70 Liter backpack and sent me across the ocean. She implanted a nurturing gene in my body and taught me how I can love people well with it. I adore it. I smile every time I say it without thinking.
Thank you, Mom, for teaching me how to love people but also let them go. I am learning that you make it look easier than it is. I can’t wait for you to visit and live this ridiculous, not always careful, life of mine in just a few months.
Happy Mother’s Day!
P.S. this month I am trying to swim with sharks… I hope this blog softens the blow a little bit.
