We're lucky enough to have Erika's good energy here at Green Team every day. But it would be wrong of us to horde it all for ourselves (come on, we're not that selfish). So, last Friday, we gladly gave her the day off so that she could spend Halloween weekend brightening the lives of a group of kids living with chronic and/or terminal illnesses. Erika's reflections on the experience inspired us all to put down our coffee, look up from our keyboards and pause to appreciate both the delicacy and the power of life - so we wanted to share her words with you all:
Life often presents us with challenges and for some those challenges are so large they feel as if they are faced with an insurmountable wall. This weekend I squeezed though a hole in that wall and into another world and here’s my feeble attempt to share what I saw and felt.
Before we go there though we must know where we’re coming from. Of course
most of us are coming from “normal” lives where we often take our
health for granted. Some of us, however, are coming from a place that is full
of sick days, doctors, and very long hospital visits, where great pain and
suffering often reign supreme. This is a world where the walls are high and
made of the thickest stone. Fortunately, as I have already told you that wall
has a small hole. And within that hole is a world where we are allowed to live instead of hoping we don’t
die. There is no best or worst, no first or last. There’s no need for
locks on the doors as respect is a given. There is no judgment passed and
therefore no inhibitions. Energy is constantly circulating, those that are on full-throttle
are always eager to share with the ones who are running low, as everyone here
knows that energy is a loop with no beginning or end. The language of this
world is love, it’s in every spoken word and every silent gesture.
Laughter and happiness and hope reign
supreme and are the sole goal of every
endeavor. In this world, “impossible”
is just a word and a dream can become a reality.
This world is The Hole in Wall Gang Camp – a
special camp for children who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. I
was lucky enough to have spent my past Halloween weekend there with a group of
unbelievably selfless and inspiring counselors, and children who have reminded
me of the most valuable lessons in life. It’s amazing the strength,
courage and wisdom found in this group of 8 and 9 year olds. I will take away
with me many memories and lessons from this weekend but what touched me most is
the power of love, hope and the human spirit.
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