The High Cost of Survival.....

Imagine being a child, alone, living on the street, in a new country where the language is not your own and where you must rely on your own to survive as your parents are dead? Who can you trust? Who really cares about you? Who preys on you in the depths of night? Where there is a system that provides you with some food and assistance during the day, but at night, there is no help for you because there is no foster type system and like 1 shelter, which has a 1year waiting list? Or imagine being a a single parent of 5 children under 12-years-old, seeking asylum to escape gender-based-violence and learning to trust, again without knowing the language or the system of norms living in a group home. These are some of the stories I heard today based on the women in the trenches in the Balkans. I can show some of the pictures, but to in the interest of cyber security, I cannot give names or show photos #elevateoneanother #venturvie.org #vitalvoices #inspired #compassion #community #loveislove

Already inspired

As I sit in the gorgeous roof garden, listening to what sounds as a Greek version of a Spanish version of an American song (?), overlooking the sea as the sun sets a brilliant orange, I am amazed (oh wait, now it’s a Sting song (“on-and-on”— how appropriate!), I am filled with amazement at the beauty and diversity in every way. So many types of people, as the light goes down. How fragile we are, as Sting says. I am working on my parts of the program and not get distracted by the multitude of humanity all around me. Not easy! But beautiful .

I am already inspired by it all. And the program hasn’t even started.:-)

Thessaloniki.... so many ways to say it

Well, I am here! 15 hours, 4 airports, almost missing last flight (I must have fell asleep in Munich becase I heard what sounded like my name in my dream. next thing, I am running to make the plane and they closed door behind me... whooo. adventure. It is lovely here. Chilly but Sunny Everyone is gracious. met with the Vital Voices impressive facilitators for rooftop breakfast and we hiked up to see a Sunday morning ancients cathedral, complete with peacocks, chickens and lots of felines. Nap, then reconfigure for tomorrow’s program. #smellslikehoney #grateful #openheart #opensenses

[My] room with a view in Thessaloniki, The Balkans

Thessaloniki, The Balkans