Life can be an interesting book, depending how you write the chapters.

As I pack and prepare to leave (procrastinating every step of the way, of course). I’m reminded of one of my favorite poems by Shel Silverstein

The Voice

There is a voice inside of you

That whispers all day long

“I feel this is right for me,

I feel this is wrong”

No teacher, no preacher, parent, friend

Or wise man can decide

What’s right for you – just listen to

The voice that speaks inside.

This poem works for me in a few ways. For a long time, I listened to others and let their fears or doubts influence my choices but recently I began to listen to my instincts, or as my mom would say: my gut. Since making that decision I’ve had this amazing opportunity to go to a country that I’ve always wanted to go. I stopped listening to the people who had negative things to say. ‘Oh won’t that be expensive?’ ‘Won’t you be scared?’ ‘Won’t you miss home?’ Well, yeah, but if you never take chances, you never know how far you can push yourself.

If there’s one thing I hope to instill in my work with youth, both here and in Ireland, it would be to listen to that voice to decide what feels right and what feels wrong. Don’t let negativity bring you down or stop you from going after a goal. Never let your fear (or others) decide your fate.