Thinkers – We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems.  We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

People say that I should stop thinking so much.  I respond that they should just ask me to stop breathing.  It’s what I do.  I was blessed to be able to do a lot of thinking in Ghana.  In the beginning, middle and end of the hard work, it is customary to have a meeting and discuss what is happening (again I am reminded of American culture).  I would usually take that time to snap photos or to just observe what was taking place.  I did a lot of thinking, feeling, and absorbing in those moments.   Currently I am currently sitting in the London airport getting reacquainted with my western life.  I’d be lying if I said I looked upon the bright lights, shops, hot cappuccino, clean floors, etc in disgust.  I may still have dirt under my fingernails but I haven’t forgotten how to hold a glass of prosecco!  (I am worried about the upcoming Christmas season of excess, but hey, I’m always dreading that, so what really is new there?)   However, I just opened up my computer to catch a glimpse of the last photos I took and tears sprang to my eyes.  The connection to the people I met this week will be forever with me.  I feel very protective of them.

I had so much fun this week THINKING.  I was in constant awe.  I compared, I contrasted, I problem solved, I gave up on problem-solving, I contemplated, I pondered.  It is the part that will prompt growth in myself for the future.  It will be the part that will propel future choices, will shape how I look at the world.  But, it’s the connection, the emotion, that I felt with the country and the people that will fuel that change.  I can enjoy all that our country has to offer, but I no longer just think of myself as I do so.  I have faces, smiles, and curious eyes in my memory that I take along with me.  I say that WATERisLIFE works on providing the basic needs to people around the world and when you meet those people, the connection will be felt to them at a basic level as well.  No words needed, no thinking needed, just heart.  Save your brain cells though, the thinking will come later when you are trying to make their world a little better or when you are trying to hold on to what they showed you about the basics of life.

Blessings to you all!