Reality Check
After being away from home-base for a few weeks or more, it’s always tough for us to transition back. A month’s worth of piled up mail to catch up on is enough to drive us mad and is not something we look forward to as we prepare to head home. Ugh.
After being in Kauai, though, we were sort of floating. Our transition was kind of a blur.
Merry Christmas to us.
The day before leaving, our guests in Kauai had surprised us with a last-minute helicopter ride. The ride took us to every corner of the island. We saw the Grand Canyon-like Waimea area and the rugged Napali Coast from a whole new vantage point. It was awesome to see the places we had hiked and swam from far above. The island made so much more sense.
So, when we jumped on the airplane bound for SEA, we were out of touch with reality. We were buzzing about “living the life” as we took mental trips down memory lane – Kauai edition.
Really, who writes letters any more.
Going through that mountainous stack of mail back at home, something jolted us back to the here and now. Amidst all of the junk, we saw a letter poking out. It was a letter from the girl we sponsor in Africa. (If you don’t know the scoop on that, head on over here.) The letters are rare, so it’s always exciting to find one waiting in the mail. Besides, who receives hand-written letters anymore. It’s fantastic.
This letter was particularly heartwarming. It was the first one that Ailess had written herself. Being as she is 12, that may seem strange. Truth is, though, that she’s way ahead of her peers in the shantytown. When you live in a shack and your family worries about AIDS and putting food on the table, education is a luxury that doesn’t get much attention. That’s poor poor, as Oprah says.
The real deal.
A few years ago, we reached out to Ailess, her family and even the community because we believe that, as world citizens, we’re all connected. A “what’s good for you is good for me” sort of thing. We think about all of these people – our friends that we came to know during our visit to Zambia – often. We know they’ve got it tough, so we use their harsh reality as motivation to live a No Vacation Required live. With all the luxuries we enjoy simply because we were born in the USA,we owe it to them.
We’re still spun up about Kauai and that ridonkulous helicopter ride (you can check out a few of the pictures over at our Kauai album). Back in the real world, our inspiration comes from the fact that we are lucky to live the life we live – to be able to see the things we see, to go the places we go and to make the decisions we make. To have true FREEDOM.
That alone makes it worth striving for a dream day every day, and it’s what we’re thankful for as 2010 draws to a close.
What about you… What are you thankful for as we head into 2011?
Hey guys,
Thanks for sponsoring Ailess and giving her some hope. Kauai sounded great. By the way, “what’s mountainous stack of mail”? People actually still send mail though the USPS? ;]
Jason
It’s mostly junk mail. Good thing we went through it all – actually a few important things in there.
It’s very heartwarming that you guys sponsor Ailess. We are all so fortunate that we’re able to see the world and experience different cultures and ways of life.
It sounds like your trip to Kauai was amazing… back to the real world now!
Thanks, Michael. Yes, we are lucky to experience what we get to experience.
Last week we were in Hawaii, now we are in Vegas. How fortunate are we to have this kind of freedom. We try hard to stay “grounded” and not take it for granted.
You guys are great. Child sponsorship brings many benefits to the child, her family and her village.
We sponsor 3, India,Ethiopia and Timor Leste, and have visited 2 so far, on arranged visits with Childfund. Very humbling experiences.
Take the time and go visit, you’ll be welcomed and gain a different insight into life and culture there.
Hi, Jim – Yes, visiting is cool. We went to see her in Zambia, and it’s probably been the most life changing experience for the NVR Guys.
Great post, blogging serving the highest causes. I think what we should be thankful for are things we naturally have and most often give for granted, such as health, possibility of travelling, freedom to write a blog post. They might be obvious for us, but they’re not so for many people.
Keep up the good work, thoroughly enjoying your articles!
As I head out tonight for 2.5 months of travel I know I’m blessed. I think it’s important that we all give back. At the moment I do my giving through Kiva.
Kiva is awesome! Wishing you a safe and wonderful journey, Nancie.
Yes, we can only be grateful for being able to live the life we want and sponsoring a child is the least one can do to give back. I sponsor two in Peru but never talk about it.
That must be so nice watching a chiold grow up like that and seeing her progress…really rewarding!
I’ve had many moments this year where I just looked around me and thought, “Wow – I have and amazing life!” I’m most thankful for family and the tremendous support I’ve felt from my family and friends, especially some of the people in my life who I haven’t known forever, but we found each other late and have such a strong relationship. I feel really fortunate to be able to travel in 2011 as well. Wishing you guys a fantastic holiday season and New Year!
Isn’t it incredible when you have those moments of realization – when you can look around and see how great you have it.
Last night, we lost a few bucks in a casino here in Vegas. The NVR Guys almost got cranky and then thought… “We have money to gamble. Win or lose, life is pretty good.”
Noce thoughts. I think I’m most thankful that heading into 2011 I’m in much more positive and hopeful shape than I was heading into 2010!!
You guys are doing something great with Ailess. She is getting hope on a future she might have never had without your help. I admire you for that. I think it is so important to give back, one way or another. We are very blessed to be able to do what we want and see the world. So, why not give back at the same time…
Keep on doing what you’re doing because you’re rocking!
Merry Christmas guys!
I’m grateful for so much this year – mostly that I am so privileged to be able to see so much of this beautiful world. I’m in Laos at the moment and I am constantly stuck by how much I have and how easy it is to take it for granted.
What a wonderful thing to do. It must be so wonderful to know that you are making a difference in someone’s life.
Aww you gusy are very kind to sponsor Ailess. It’s a good thing to make a difference in another person’s life.
Very heartwarming to read about your sponsorship of Ailess.
It is so important to keep things in perspective and to be grateful for what we have, isn’t it? And you guys take the next important step — actually helping someone who is far less fortunate.
Merry Christmas to two awesome guys!
Sounds like a lovely way to return home from your trip. It’s so great that you guys are so giving and conscious and thankful for everything you have.
I still have never been on a helicopter ride which is unacceptable to me because when Scott and I started dating, he was in school getting his private pilots license!!
It’s on my list!! I bet Hawaii was an amazing place for a ride.
I think those little reality checks are a VERY good thing. Every time I start to whine about something here in my life, I think about the families I’ve met in Cambodia. After that I have NOTHING to complain about.
How wonderful of you to sponsor her and it must be so great to get personal letters. I can’t remember the last time I got an actual *letter* in the mail.
i love you guys! honestly, i’m a bit choked up right now. you’re such great role models for give & take. you’re living life to the fullest while enriching the lives of others. i’m grateful for so much! not least of all the awesome travel community i’m so happy to have been welcomed in to
great post- thanks guys!
@ Robin – Isn’t it great to see a better year ahead (rather than looking ahead in despair). So motivating.
@ Norbert – And you are doing something great by providing International Toilet Etiquette (I had to say that because of the comluv that is showing up with this post!) Seriously, though, you and the other peeps here inspire us and remind us how lucky we all are.
@ Amy – LOVED your post on the importance of gratitude. Are we on the same page or what
@ Christy – We HAVE to talk. Get Scott to get you on a helicopter pronto!
@ Kristina – Yes – the hand written letter thing is a trip. We feel like old people when we get a letter from Ailess and say “Aw honey a hand written letter came in the mail today.”
@ Lorna – Love the way you say “give and take” – we like to live fully and give fully.
Wow, seriously y’all are amazing. Not many people would ever take the time to do what y’all do. That lil girl is one lucky girl.
I am so glad and thankful we have met through twitter.
It would be cool if you could post a pic of the letter… I wanna know what she said.