Awakening Moments

One of the things I love about The Little Give is that it’s truly a win-win initiative – not only for our incredibly dedicated charity partners, but for those of us who get to step outside of our world for 48 hours to learn more about our community, our colleagues, and ourselves.

One of #TeamSpuds’ challenges for Camp Awakening  was to build profile around the camp’s 30th anniversary in 2012.  We started to reflect on what it means to turn 30, and on our own “awakening moments.”  Originally, we were going to share said moments during the final presentation – but time constraints dictated otherwise.

So, Little Give and Camp Awakening – thanks to you, I’ve been reflecting.  

For me, turning 30 really was the start of my awakening moments.   Just three short years into the decade, I’ve experienced true love, true loss – and true understanding.  

True Love?  My son, of course, who came into my world and changed it forever the year I turned 30.  It sounds cliché, but for those of you who have kids, you know what a profoundly awakening experience it truly is. Let’s just say, I’ve been schooled. Having my son challenged everything I thought I knew about myself.  It’s scary. It’s unbelievably joyful.  It’s just the most powerful, take-your-breath-away mix of emotions I’ve ever experienced.      

Just two short years later, I experienced the most profound loss of my life – the death of my brother.   There’s just no way to describe the moment when you’re told there’s nothing more that can be done.  Or what it’s like to watch your parents crumble with grief before you.   You see the agonizing side of what it means to be human.   And you realize that a lot of the things that keep you up at night, just really shouldn’t.

And true understanding?  My jury duty experience this past fall. No – really.  People always laugh and roll their eyes when jury duty comes up.  But for three weeks, I got to experience a world that I never hoped I’d see.  I came to understand how preconceived notions can jeopardize the freedom of others.  How very different someone’s life can turn out if they’re given a chance – or not.   And how you may think you know the answers – until you hear the perspectives of 11 other jurors who have walked a completely different path than your own. 

So now, I’m about to turn 34.   And if what I have in store for the remainder of my 30s even comes close to what I’ve already been through in the first few years of the decade – well, let’s just say I’ve told the universe I’m cool to just coast for awhile.  But if that’s not what’s in store for me, so be it.  My awakening moments have shaped who I am – and I’m a better person for it.    

Thanks Little Give – and Camp Awakening – for reminding me of that fact.

— Jen C

 

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