The Home Stretch, and Freedom in the Unavoidable

We all knew this day - the day we would leave India - would come.

Some of us thought it would be quick, some of us felt it would be long, and others believed it would be just right; but we all knew this day was unavoidable.

For nearly 90 days we have ventured into the heart and soul of this country and its people, and challenged ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We have seen, heard, felt, smelled and tasted an inimitable, stunningly elaborate but simplistically internalized experience that now places us amongst a minority which separates us from much of the world, and from most in our home country.

How do we carry so many memories, and how do we share them?

When staring into the face of the unavoidable, a magical thing happens - we are given a clear choice, and the freedom to chose how we want to handle it; we can decide for ourselves how we will face the unavoidable obstacle, and what pieces we will take away with us when we move on.

My experience is purely my own doing, and it is completely my fault. I faced the many unavoidable challenges India threw at my feet and surrendered to the consequences as we all have, and yet we have all grown only in the ways we chose to. I am happy for my growth and for my experience; but I am more appreciative and aware of the strength, patience and courage necessary - which we have each internalized throughout our journey - to remain present during the unavoidable and learn from our choice at that moment and carry it with us onward. It is in this way we experienced India, as opposed to India experiencing us. It is in this same way that India is only "magical" because we internally choose to make it so; that experience comes from us.

I'm looking forward to returning to the United States to engage myself with/in new and old activities, friends, and locations with the fresh vigor, understanding and awareness required to embrace them for what they truly are, with incredible clarity and while assumption-free.

I appreciate the camaraderie, the laughs and the memories, and am thankful for both our leaders as well as the Carpe Diem program and all those responsible. Andrew, Karen, Chrys, Ben, Graham, Willa, Hillary and Nina - I'll never forget the time we've shared and what you each have taught me, even if you may not be aware of it.


Although the journey is over, the unavoidable challenges India has mercilessly thrown at my (now no longer broken) feet are not over - now I need to capsulize this epic trip to my friends.


It's mildly entertaining,

Desmond
A.K.A. "Chocolate Thunder," "War Pig," "Crutch n' Stuff," "Dizzerie Do," and "Dizzy."

p.s. A little bird told me (I think somewhere in Ladakh) that Karen has a pretty cool mom who reads blogs too much. Yes, Karen's mom, she told me what you said.