Three Cups of Tea.

Reading books like this and learning about organizations like this act as both a positive and a negative.

The positive: Learning that what I am doing with my life has been done, can be done, and can seriously change the path of a community. That understanding culture, language, and people is as important to building bridges as stones and mortar. That someone else shares my fascination and dedication for the parts of the world people have written off. That Pakistan and Afghanistan are as beautiful and incredible as I imagine.

The negative: I'm reading about it, not doing it.

If you want to understand an important aspect to responsible ethnographic participative action research and development implementation, working with Islamic communities, and what I am attempting to do with my career - this book articulates a lot of what I believe. Everyone should understand the incredible potential of one person, one idea, and some tea.

tonight's the night.

I got this email this morning.

Maddie,

On May 1, you sent yourself this message. Today is the day that you thought you should read it.

"applications are due in November. make a decision. what could you do with it? where could you go? who could you impact? it's up to you."

We hope you've enjoyed the adventure of knowing yourself.

Dreaminder
www.dreaminder.com

So I got the date wrong, but tonight I will see what comes of the decision I made. Elections are about eight hours. We'll see what happens. Either way - today is a good day. I can feel it.

in the words of the Shining Beacon himself.

If I try to be like him, who will be like me?

--Santiago, The Alchemist

I read this quote this morning, and all I could think of was someone telling me - "be authentic". I don't know why it struck me at this moment, right now, and so hard - but it did. And I think I am beginning to understand what that means.

truth.

yes. yes i do.