I didn't know if I was coming out of the bathroom stall.
I didn't know if I was going to walk onto the plane.
I was alone. It was up to me to unlock the door, to look myself in the mirror, to tell myself - this is it.
And that was it, I was on my way to Ghana.
That was a year ago -
A year ago today I was scared of the unknown, of where I was going, of what I was doing.
"I believe writing changes you," he told us.
I believe experience changes you. I believe you can change as much as you allow yourself to be open.
And being open is one of the hardest challenges.
I opened myself up to Ghana and I don't ever want to close myself off.
There are no doors, just caution tape.
But when the future is intimidating, when you don't know what is going to happen next,
when you realize it's all up to you, a little luck, a lot of work, and ton of support,
it seems easier to crawl back under the covers,
to distance yourself,
to turn down the volume.
Let it play, loudly,
Let it hold your hand, tightly,
Let it pull you out of bed, quickly,
Let it open you up, forever.
I didn't know what would happen,
I wasn't prepared to fall in love,
with a place, with a people,
that created a space for me to grow.
But it happened,
A year ago today it started.
And this writing, it has changed me, and it is continuing to.
