a NEW chapter

NEW Beginnings

We all want them sometimes.

Since the beginning of 2012 I've had the chance to rebuild my life the way I've always envisioned it.

I've hit a few bumps in the road (some life altering ones as a matter of fact), but I've had the ability to see past them and look at the bigger picture.

It's really a beautiful thing.

Sometimes 'bumps' are a necessary act of life to throw us in the right direction.

EMBRACE THEM.

South Africa

Something I've been dreaming about for years now....

AND IT'S HAPPENING.

In just a few short hours I will be on a 24 hour flight to my dream destination (I consider the 24 hour flight another bump in the road....isle seat please!).

I couldn't have done it without the support of every single one of my friends/family/coworkers (really, all in the same).

It brings me to tears.

This is something I want so much and to know that I have an endless amout of support has left a place in my heart, a warmness in my soul, that is earth shattering.

So here we GO!

South Africa medical mission whoop whoop!!!!

Ekkkkkk :)

I will update on the blog as much as time and South African internet connections will allow.

If it so happens I can not, I will update when I get to Italy!
And most definitely amazing pictures to come when I get home.

Do me a favor....do something for YOURSELF today that the future YOU will thank you for.

Because I did that a few months ago and I am forever grateful.

XoXo

Meagan



Blessed.

As time draws near to make my final payment to African Impact for my medical mission in May I want to thank everyone individually who donated to this amazing cause.

Richard - Duhhh ;) ALWAYS there for me, whenever I need you. Whenever. You should win an award or something.......

Dee - My right hand (wo)man, my go-to girl, my seeeeester.  You have done nothing but support me since December 2nd 1988.  I love you more than words can describe!!!!

 

Lynette- THANK YOU for being such a dedicated friend! You have made mutiple donations AND supported me emotionally and I'll never be able to repay you for that.

Grandma and Grandpa Sharkey - You guys have been my biggest supporters! Grandma thanks for always reading my blog and following me religiously. It's really a huge encouragement for me.

Grandma and Grandpa Lindsey - So far away, yet so close in my heart.  Thank you SO much for all that you have done for me. Supporting me financially and emotionally.

Katelynn - My BFF(ffff), THANK YOU. You have been supporting me since Jr. High :) Giiiiirl we still have a lot of memories to make!

Beth - Getting to know you girls has been such a blessing! Wish we could have worked together more. You are truely an amazing nurse and I thank you from the tippy top of my heart for your donation! I will carry out the kind of compassion that I saw you give to your patients in Africa!

My parents

Jessica - After spending a year in Vietnam donating your time to spread the word of the gospel I look up to you as a mentor for the journey I'm about to embark on. You are truely a God sent for me. Thank you for everything.

Sarah - Your act of kindness, whether you realize or  not, will stick with me for a very long time.

Kyle - "Go change the world" I wish you could come with! Thank you SO much for the donation!!!

You guys will never know how thankful I am to having you in my life.

And to all of those who have supported me through pep talks, letting me express my fears and then reassuring me that YES, I can do this, thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Now lets do like Kyle says to......lets go change the world.

We can all learn from others experiences.....

Exciting NEWS!

I bought my flight to St. Lucia, South Africa!!!!

And I'm telling you....that was no easy feat. I was on the phone for 4 hours trying to get the best deal.

$2500 later.....

BUT I told myself money would not be an issue because I was meant to do this and be there.

And when you are meant to do something....it will work out.

Life has shown me that.

The more I research about my journey the more excited I get!

Today I stumbled upon as awesome journal entry from a girl who took the same journey I'm about to embark on in (read more here) 2008.

You can read that journal article here.

The more I become aware of what exactly is taking place in Africa the sadder my heart becomes.

I literally feel an ache inside my heart when I read articles like this.

I hurt for them.

I cry for them.

And it keeps me moving.

I want to help.

I'm getting more and more (and more) excited for this opportunity as every day passes.

Read the article, read the African Impact tab, and get excited with me!! :)



Reality Distortion

Reality Distortion:

Doing the impossible, because you didn't realize it was impossible.

Page 117-124 of Steve Job's biography will change your life.

I'm telling you, it will!

Before Steve Jobs passed away tragically of pancreatic cancer he journeyed through his life with the author of his biography Walter Isaacson.

Pages 117-124 are dedicated to, what Steve's friends called, "the reality distortion field."

Every one of Job's friends explained there was a aurora about Steve that no one could explain, except for Steve literally distorted reality to get you to believe that his ideas were possible.

As he pushed, and pushed against all odds, Apple was born.

He changed technology forever.

He left his mark on this world as he said he would because he didn't believe in 'no' or 'can't' or 'won't'

Because these words didn't exist in  his vocabulary he, subsequently, never had to face the 'what ifs'

He did it because in his reality.....it was possible!

During a graduation speech Steve Jobs was quoted saying....

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone elses life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

So distort your reality, believe that ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is possible.

Make your mark on this world.

Happy Sunday.

 

VOLUNTEER.

Happy Sunday.

(My sister and I volunteering in Downtown Pheonix)



Kindness

‎"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

When I had to decided to go to Africa I knew that the experience would change me forever.

I know there is no way to see what my eyes will see and not be forever altered by the experience.

HOWEVER

so far....it has been the journey of getting to Africa that has changed me.

It has forever left an imprint on my heart that I truly wasn't prepared for.

From emotional support to financial support and all the other supporting business in between....

I've have seen true, soul shaking, life changing kindness from everyone around me.

Today, one incident got me thinking about how blessed I am to have such an amazing support system!

A girl by the name of Sarah Roth.....she got me thinking about the word kindness.

Sarah and I went to school together back in the day. She has since left us Red Mountaineers for a fulfilling life in Colorado.  Sarah, I don't know if I've ever told you this, but I LOVE how free of a person you are!!!!  You are who you are and I love the free-ness in that.  It is truly an inspiring characteristic that I wish I had more of!

I haven't seen or talked to Sarah in a long time....but today I received a little notice in my mailbox saying she donated to my Africa fund!!!!!!!!

It really touched me :)

And I want to say thank you from the tippy top of my heart!

Thank you for being so kind.

You did more than just donate to me today, you touched my heart and got me wanting to pay this act forward!

You truly are an amazing person.

And so are the rest of my friends and family.

I can't thank you enough.

As of today I believe I have received $1500 in donations!!!!

How awesome is that :)

Thank you!!!!!

TOMS

 a MUST-READ.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Whoever you are and whatever you do, giving is important. Start now. Start by helping other people - anyone you can. Do something simple. You don't have to start a business or big initiative right away - you can begin by just changing your mindset. Commit to seeing the world through the lens of how you can initiate meaningful change."

Well said Blake <3

Complicity and Mediocrity

The TWO things I fear.

Complicity.

Mediocrity.

While reading "Start Something That Matters" I had to face many personal questions.

What do I stand for?

What are my ultimate life goals?

What's stopping me from achieving them?

I'll be the first to say, I have accomplished a lot in my short time here on earth.

I've met many of my career and personal goals, some being....

- Graduating nursing school at 21.

- Moving out on my own shortly after.

- Traveling to Europe on my own (and made it home alive) twice.

- Receiving my BSN last February.

- Helping open the cancer center of my career dreams a few months ago.

So why do I still feel so void?

I'm just now scratching the surface of the answer to that question.

Complicity and mediocrity.

In my hearts of heart I know I'm not meant to be a floor nurse.

I hate the routine, I hate the structure, I hate the hours

But I know I was born to help people!

Don't get me wrong, nursing was a fine start to a fulfilling life of helping others.

BUT it doesn't completely fill my heart up to the tippy top.

I still walk away from the hospital every morning feeling like something is missing.

I want to leave Arizona and find my true calling, so what's stopping me?

COMPLICITY

I've complied to a life that may come across very fulfilling to others and that has suited me well until NOW.

Before I would get anxiety over taking drastic changes in my life.

Jumping with eyes closed.

Leaving the known for the unknown

for fear of failure.

Why?

Because we are wired that way! Fight or flight.


Our ancestor used this once during times in which a wrong turn mean life or death. Aiming an arrow wrong meant not having dinner that night.

The hormones released back then over life and death situations are still being released today among all of us during times of fearfulness.

It's an exaggerated response.
And when we feed into it we become complacent.

Leading us to live a life of mediocrity.

That, my friends, is dangerous state to live in.

Learn to FIGHT.

Not flight

You have to overcome those instinctual feelings of fear.
(To learn more about this I suggest reading Buddha's Brain: the practical neuroscience of happiness, love, and wisdom By Rick Hanson)

Do you have dreams?

Stop dreaming them, DO THEM.

"Someday is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave....."

Leaving Arizona for Africa on a medical mission gives me a bit of anxiety, but when I woke up and decided to take a leap a faith I vowed to not live a life of complicity.

I will start with AFRICA.

How will you start?

SelfLESSness

"To know that one life has breathed easier because I have lived. This is to have succeeded."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Selflessness (n) : Having, exhibiting, or motivated by no concern of oneself.

Take a second to think about the last time you were motivated to do something for someone without expecting something in return??

.............

Okay, times up!

Remember how good that felt?
Making someone SMILE.
Maybe you didn't even know who they were, maybe you didn't witness the gratification your act of selflessness brought them, maybe you did it without realizing...

The fact is, is that we all have performed acts of selflessness.
We have all allowed someone to breathe a little easier because we have lived.

This is my goal for Africa EVERYDAY!
Every-single-freaking-day.


If we all would pay it forward...the world would be such a happier place!
So do something nice for someone to (EVERY) day.

It might just change your life.

Raffle time!!!!

My FIRST raffle!!!

This raffle is for a $100 gift card to Sanctuary Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This resort offers many spa services including massages, facials, and yoga/pilates studio.  You can use your money however you like :)

Dinner, a night's stay , or (my choice) the spa services!!!

Or use it as a gift for someone you love :)

Check out their website:

http://www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com/index.html

SO, how do you enter???

* Up above you will see my African Impact tab....read it :)

* Understand what it is I'm trying to accomplish

*  On the right hand side of the blog you will see a donate button

* Donate any amount....seriously!

(the people who have already donated will be put into the drawing already!)

After donating leave me a comment or send me an e-mail saying you did and you will be entered to win!!
(The comments are open to public so you don't have to have a Blogger account or e-mail me at MLindsey712@hotmail.com)

I'll leave it open for 2 weeks.

(Closes Jan 17th, 2012)

I'll announce the winner on Facebook and by e-mailing you :)

-

2011 in pictures.

It has been a crazy year!

Highlights of 2011:

Travel.

Learning to paint.

New friendships.

Old friendships.
Meeting the man of my dreams.
New job.
 Scratching the surface of what I want from life.

A walk down memory lane 2011.....

Friends/Family

 Travels

My Love and I

My New Love For Painting/DIY