One month. 30 days until I am reunited with my squad. 30 days until I begin Launch, a four-day program before we leave the country for nine months. 29 days until i leave my home. 29 days until I say goodbye to my little brothers until their kindergarten (and second grade) graduation. 31 days until I hug my parents goodbye. 31 days until I leave my home family. 32 days until I join my race family.
And then, I am on a mission to find my world family. There are so many beautiful people that I can’t wait to meet, to hug, to cry with, to play with. I am so excited to enter into other people’s worlds; to live in their homes, to eat their food, to share their burdens. To speak their language. I can’t wait to live life with my siblings all over the world.
So close, yet so far. Right now, i am consumed with tasks. I catch myself thinking, “I have such a long to-do list, I don’t have time for anything (read: anyone) else,” and then my friends leave for college. I feel like there are so many things I need to do before I can think about other people. What I really need to do is to dedicate this next month, like the next nine, to the people around me. Getting the best deal on a compression sack or having the best system for packing will not make me a better racer in a month. What will prepare me for the Race is praying for my teammates, playing with my brothers, and investing in the people who I am dreading saying goodbye to.
So, welcome to the introduction chapter of the World Race. My book begins right now. My race will not consist of reading blogs that I think will tell me what my race will or should be like, or stressing out over whether or not to bring this navy shirt or that blue one. My race will be day after day of living life with family. So, in this one month, my World Race is beginning.
