As I continue to follow my dream of going on the World Race, I have received a beautiful amount of support. Still, there are people that have their concerns.
What are you going to do if you get malaria?
Your poor family…have you thought about them?
That country has HIV…you know that right?
You want to go where and do what? Are you crazy?
Why? I just don’t understand the need.
The concerns are sincere – but I understand that they come from a place of fear. Ultimately, these concerns take away from the message I am sending when I say that I am going on the World Race.
What’s the difference between the faithful and the fearful? Where is the line that dictates if you’re one or the other? Better yet…where does that line no longer exist?
In Miami, a primarily Hispanic city, fear is everywhere. Growing up, my Cuban family begged me to not go for walks around the block because “Hay locos por todos lados Madeline no puedes ser eso a mis nervios!?” That’s fear.
I won’t be a hypocrite here – I have fear about the World Race too.
Fear of not being accepted into the World Race because of my own vices.
Fear of leaving the comforts of my current life.
Fear of failing to fundraise enough money.
Fear of missing my family to the point that I want to come back home.
Fear of never wanting to come back home.
I am the fearful…but most importantly, I am the faithful. I am working towards living a life where fear no longer is a choice. I am working towards living a life of faith – every single day.
To the fearful:
I am CRAZY, so are my 35 squad mates (HASHTAG E SQUAD) and I LOVE it.
My family understands. My family SUPPORTS me.
I know that there are medical risks, but I am PREPARED for those risks.
Why? Because I CAN make a difference. And I WILL.
And finally, what I have told myself:
You are willing and ready to change – the World Race will accept you.
You will fundraise the money.
You don’t need all this “stuff”.
You will follow your calling to wherever it takes you.
You will be the faithful.
The line between the faithful and the fearful is your own creation – it doesn’t exist. Sometimes, we are both. Sometimes, we are confused and uncertain of which way to go. Do we listen to the voice of fear telling us to run for the hills? Or do we surrender to our greater intuition? Do we take the path of faith? Since I have chosen to be the faithful, good has followed me EVERYWHERE. My fear is fading away, and my faith is growing stronger.
In life, we have a choice. We can choose to live in fear, or we can choose to live in faith. We are ALL the fearful and the faithful. It is simply a question of which do you choose?
Be extraordinary.
Be the faithful.
