When it comes time to clean up the attic, you think you know what may be up there. After starting this process you come to realize that there are hidden “gems” that you have totally forgot about. These gems may be small in nature but could also have a larger impact on you life. Within these first few weeks in Panama, i have found some of the forgotten “gems” in my life. These have also reminded me of certain times in the younger ages where the “gem” was formed. They have been tucked away in the past memories.
The first “gem” is the beautiful scenery that is always present up here in the mountains of Rio Sereno. Everyday a new beautiful view can be seen from dawn until dusk. Back at home when i was younger, i was always out in nature whether that be hunting, playing outside, or camping with family. As i grew older, more and more of my time was spent at work. This didn’t allow me to fully focus on the beauty of God’s handiwork in nature. Just having the opportunity to see all that God created here has awoken my eyes to the beauty in nature.
Another “gem” that has been brought back into appearance is quiet and alone time. The world we live in so fast paced that we hardly have time to relax, reflect, and connect with others. The time here spent after the work day at the farm is always a relaxing atmosphere, where you have the time to reflect to yourself. Compared to back home, where there is always an event planned or social media to keep up on. The connection that is made with others in person is also more enjoyable than hearing through a social media site back home. These gems that I described remind me of times in elementary years when our family would set at the dining room table in the evening and be able to talk about the days event without someone being rushed to attend some event.
The last “gem” i have realized in the last 3 weeks is that relationships with God, family, and friends are vital. I have pushed off many of these relationships due to the notion that I didn’t have enough time to invest into them. Setting aside the time to communicate and interact with family and friends allows someone to enjoy the time spent together and understand each other. This reminds me of the times I would spend at my grandparents for a weekend and got to enjoy each their company and do activities together. A fully committed relationship with God hasn’t always been in my life but over the last couple years and especially during the start of this journey has shown me that i have been missing out on something amazing!
These are just a few of the “gems” I have realized so far and is probably a start of a long list of them to come within the next 11 months. Realizing these things has made life more enjoyable than it ever has before. They have also taught me to enjoy each day as its own and not to be nervous about the next days event before they happen.
