Over the Christmas holidays, we had the most amazing experience. We joined my parents and sister & brother-in-law on a visit to Zambia and Zimbabwe. My mum still has family there so we were hosted by many extended family.
We were also able to safari at the luxurious Mukambi Lodge along the Kafue river in Zambia and stay at the Sherlanga Lodge at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Seeing wildlife impressed me over and over.
I found that life there is a contradiction: on one hand, the beauty of the animals and the environment is tainted with garbage strewn on the sides of the city roads, the clear days were punctuated by the pitch-black nights with no or no-longer working street lamps.
But the people there have an amazing outlook on life. Many would still not leave Zims, even with all the strife and hardship that occurs there. The clearly strong people, in particular, the strength of the women was really amazing for me to see. They work so hard, smiles on their faces, a real joy to be alive.
I have struggled with chasing joy for many years. What I mean is that I have difficulty living in the present and constantly forsee many problems that may come down the road. Ironically, I am part of a military family and so constant life changes happen every year or two for us. And what is even more shocking to me is that I love this life. I admit that moving and leaving dear friends has a toll on the heart but the chance to make new has me hooked.
I have been told many times in my life that I am a "glass 1/2 empty" person so when I meet new people, I really make a concerted effort to be the person that I want to be - a person happy to be alive, a person looking at every occasion as an opportunity, a person living each moment with joy. So the experience to witness people in Zambia and Zimbabwe living life with joy impressed me so. It also reminded me how precious life is and how many blessings I have in mine. And when I say that I'm blessed, I think of my family, first and foremost. My family knows how to bring joy to life. I laughed so hard on our trip, sometimes over very funny happenings and sometimes out of the absurdity of what we experienced.
Just as 2019 starts anew, I feel like I have another opportunity to start fresh as well. Yesterday is behind me and today is just beginning.
