Back on Track

Back on track now, both literally and figuratively.

Some days it's real easy to doubt yourself; to look at what you are doing and think you are not capable. The fear that comes with such thoughts is enough to push you off your perch and cause you to retreat into your cosy little shell.

At these times it becomes really important to quickly remember that this is the ego talking; the part of your sub-conscience who's job it is to make you feel unworthy, incapable, unable, not smart enough and fearful. The ego wants you to fail because then he can say "I told you so".

When these thoughts come, you need to push them aside as fast as you can.

I am currently in the midst of organising an event which I love; a charity event which comes around every second year. The amount of work and effort that goes into this event is mind blowing, to say the least. The proceeds from this event will go towards a cause what we have affectionately named #ProjectOverseas. The project involved a trip to Cambodia which was as soul nourishing as it was productive.

Yesterday, I had to reassure myself of the reason we travelled to Cambodia in the first place. It's easy from an outsider's point of view to perceive us as "do- gooders" or wealthy individuals who believe they can go into someone else's community to "fix' things.

It has been a month to the day since I, along with four other beautiful, talented and compassionate women, embarked on this journey. Yesterday, I had the privilege of going through all of the footage taken during that wonderful week.

And it just so happened, that on the day I needed it most, the reassurance came from watching, reminiscing and loosing myself, for those few hours, in those images which I will treasure forever.

I was back on track, and I am thankful that I didn't stray too far from the path because I have a hell of a lot to do. The images reminded me that were invited into homes and communities with love and respect and with no expectation of what, if anything, we could provide.

These people need help and it is understandable that they look to westerners as a potential source of that help. We extended a hand to them; to learn, to understand and to witness what they are going through. This problem is so vast, that it will possibly take an entire generation to fix. That's why the answer lies in investing in the next generation in terms of their education, their skills, their self worth, and empower them to learn to sustain themselves. The future of Cambodia lies in the beautiful children and young adults who are already on their way, they just need some care and support along that way. There is hope for them, and that is all that matters.

So our trip to Cambodia was never about trying to 'fix' things, it is about providing the tools and the support so we can empower communities to help themselves and to rise above their circumstances.

Sure, we gave to them; our affection, our time, our ears, and as Amanda would say "our hands and feet", but in return they gave us so much more. They gave us life lessons in humanity, in humility, in gratitude and in finding happiness and beauty in the most unlikely of places.

A timely reminder for me to ignore any negativity which may come my way and refocus on what is really important and why I embarked on this journey in the first place.

As Mother Teresa once said "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across waters to create many ripples".