Saturday, June 12, 2010

Travel is not so glamorous

I was reflecting this morning on our tour in the USA. We recently left Poland for almost 7 weeks! When it was time to leave I felt unprepared and not ready to leave. There was just so much work to do, I was uncertain of how our staff could manage without us. (They did just GREAT, by the way!) I got on the plane with that nagging feeling of so many things forgotten, you know how that is...

Our time in the states was, at best, rushed and hurried. We were in Maryland, Texas, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. We did try to spend time with family. In fact we had several days with each of our girls (and the grandbaby) and several days with each of our parents. In between these days were speaking engagements, flights and road trips, LOTS of hotels, and some very uncomfortable beds. I have to say that free breakfasts in most hotels today offer EXACTLY the same fare...waffles, powdered eggs, some cereals, yogurt and coffee that tastes like bad tap water. The first day you are just so happy to see someone else prepare a meal. By day 49 you are ready to forget the word breakfast.

Planes and airports have gotten increasingly more difficult. They continue moving the seats closer together to accommodate more people. (I guess they think we don't notice, though your nose is almost now touching the head of the person seated in front of you.) Most airlines are now making you pay for baggage, which greatly increases the cost of your flight. Negotiating security in some airports demands that you walk through security with no shoes, while others actually missed a pair of forgotten scissors with four inch blades, thus negating the term "security".

When people hear that we live in Europe I sometimes feel as though they envy our "glamorous lifestyle" of travel and experiencing foreign countries. To be sure, there was a day when people probably dressed up to fly, there was an air of elegance about being able to travel, and air line attendants actually felt what they did was a privileged and appreciated job. I thought a great deal about this while the flight attendant on my flight home was pouring water down my back while trying to assist a passenger behind me.

Traveling is not so glamorous anymore. Still, there is only one way to get from Poland to the USA. You have to get on that bird and fly! I am just lucky that when I arrived I had this sweet little person waiting for me!


I got to be next to her bed the day she woke on her second birthday!




We sang happy birthday and played all morning with pink balloons while she danced about in her little pink tutu.




While the travel was not so good, what waited was certainly worthwhile!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Brave Girls Camp

I still cannot believe that I was able to attend Brave Girls Camp in May. Because I was traveling in the USA at the time I had no way to reflect at that time how much it meant to me.

When a group of over 20 women get together who have never met there can be complications. You know, personalities and differences of opinions etc. There was no such feeling when Brave Girls May 2010 got together. Sure, at first we were nervous about what it would be like. Every woman has her insecurities. (Did you know that?)
We all worried whether we would be accepted and whether we could contribute.


Arriving at camp, I will never forget, the staff gathered outside the lodge to greet us. They giggled and screamed and clapped as we all made our way off the van and into the lodge. They greeted each of us by name and welcomed us in the truest sense of the word. Some of the faces I will never forget from Brave Girls Camp will be the lovely faces of the staff as they served us in such a beautiful way. They became part of the experience.



For me Brave Girl Camp opened up a place in my heart. I allowed myself to see others in a different way. It was very freeing and therapeutic. My cabin mate, Maureen, made the comment that we had received about $40,000 of therapy in just four days. SO TRUE!


By the way, my roommate was amazing and I really loved the time I spent with her. We connected on a deep level and I will always be thankful for her. I have thought about her every day since I left camp.


It is impossible to explain just how much fun I had and yet how much I grew from this experience. I have sent some people to the moon, and made some new Starbucks friends. I have restored my house and cleaned house. (All Brave Girl terminology)
I have found a new love for every day art in my life. The simple expression of myself and who I am through art is something I will never put aside.


For now, I am back in Poland. You know what? I talked to Mel and she said she would like to bring Brave Girls to Poland. I think this is amazing! In fact Mel is planning a trip to Europe in July. I can't wait!

If you have a chance please go to camp. Your family will thank you for it, and you will NEVER BE THE SAME!


Sing along with me now... "Everybody, everybody wants to love! Everybody, everybody wants to be loved.. :)

all the pictures come from Brave Girls Facebook fan page

Friday, June 4, 2010

Home Sweet Home

Hi everyone! I have taken a break from blogging because I was on a speaking tour in the USA. We were gone for almost two months. We have just returned to Poland and I have so much to blog about. So I will be posting bits and pieces of my time away in the next few weeks.

Just one note. I did get to go to Brave Girls camp and it was AMAZING! If you ever get the chance to go it will change the way you see life. I am so blessed to have been able to go. You can look it up at bravegirlcamp.com I will be posting more about it soon. They have sold out for this year but still have available opening next year, so get started!!


There is nothing like being in your own bed and waking up in your own space. I am thankful to be HOME!