Time Flies ...

when you are having fun crazy busy.  It is hard to believe that a year ago today I officially could say "I have biked across the country."  

I am reminded almost daily about the incredible summer I shared with 26 other bikers, as well as the amazing hosts and volunteers we met along the way.  As I mentioned on my blog last summer we were encouraged to find our next big adventure.  While mine has kept me in the confines of classrooms, hospitals and libraries, it has been amazing to see how this trip has inspired fellow teammates.  Two riders became AmeriCorps members, two riders decided to take on biking across the country and everyone continues to follow their love of biking and volunteering with affordable housing organizations.  

While I am not the most religious person you will ever meet (I consider myself to be agnostic), I am a firm believer that everyone has a purpose and a destiny.  Some people are born knowing what their purpose is, while others discover it along the way thanks to experiences and people they meet along the way.  In fact, I have talked with several patients about this, and despite being diagnosed with a laundry list of chronic diseases, they still believe they have a purpose.  Many are still trying to figure out what that purpose is while they are fighting to stay alive. 

For me I have yet to discover what my true purpose is, but at least I think that I am on the right track.  Sometimes it is interesting to retrace your steps to see how decisions have helped to get you to where you are today.  Like with me:  as a high school senior I wanted to double major in applied mathematics and athletic training (nerd I know) and live in a major city so GW was one of my few options, while on an alternative spring break trip in NOLA I met a girl who inspired me to become a human services major, from there I was able to work abroad which sparked my interest in public health, the economy crashed so I ended up going for my MPH, while there the ACA was passed and while I had started in the policy track I ended up switching to the community oriented primary care concentration, it was there I discovered I should have become an NP and started to look at nursing school.  All this time I was working as a bike tour guide where I met someone who rode with Bike and Build one summer and that planted the seed of me wanting to transverse the country on a bicycle. 

And yes, I know, I digress A LOT, but all of that led me to signing up for the trip of a lifetime and I was able to create these new, life long friendships.  While I hate clichés Margeret Meade's quote could not be more true:  "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."  While I had met many service minded people in undergrad (I mean that was my major), last summer restored my faith in humanity.  We met countless of "ordinary," concerned citizens trying to help perfect strangers, whether it be volunteering on weekends to help fundraise/build homes or offer to give a stranded biker a lift to the nearest bike shop for some new tubes/water on a 100+ degree day.  

Clearly it was in my destiny to become involved with Bike and Build, although the real reason still remains a mystery.  Maybe it was because I needed to become an advocate for the AH movement, maybe it was to help remind me to take time out and smell the roses, maybe it was to meet some incredible people who would continue to amaze and inspire me for years to come.  Who knows, but it definitely makes me think and extremely greatful!  So, what do you think is your purpose?