Thursday, February 16, 2012

Simply Me

There is a novelty in meeting the man of your dreams and being told that he is planning on living abroad for the rest of his life. Thoughts of experiencing a different way of life, seeing beautiful lands with deep historical roots, and knowing that you will raise your children around such rich culture are exactly what fairy tales are made of. Being whisked away with my knight in shining armor was all I could have dreamed of but of course I didn't think of everything. He had a plan, knew exactly what he was doing and where he was going to do it, but where did I fit in? What would my place in this new world be?

Ireland was always the goal. It is the place Branden has felt called to since he was a young teen. His drive and determination to be a University Professor could be a relatively fast reality if he finishes his PhD in two and half years when he's the ripe young age of 27...where I am now. 

I've had a slow story. When I was very young I used to tell my mom that I was going to go to Africa and feed all the starving babies. I couldn't stand to see suffering and such need. As I got older, I realized that I would have to have ridiculous amounts of money to feed all the starving babies, so then I thought maybe I could be an actress. They made lots of money so it seemed perfect. As I got even older, I acknowledged my stage fright and social anxiety, so an acting career was out of the question. I volunteered in the church my family attended. Typically I worked with children, anywhere from babies up to teens; despite that I was a teen myself. My place still didn't feel right. After working in the church from the age of 13 up until I was about 22, I burned out.

I wondered if I made a hint of difference in my small, barely there town, let alone my giant world that I longed to be in. When I finally met Branden when I was 24, I was ripe and ready to get out and take the world by storm. Getting married just over a year later and then moving to Edinburgh, Scotland 2 months after our wedding, we prepared for a different life but not one we could get settled into as home. It wasn't Ireland, so we couldn't get cozy so to speak.

My social anxiety took a turn for the worse when we moved. Moving to a country 4,500 miles away from the only home I had ever known, living in a city one hundred times the size of my tiny town, and having a completely different culture was the most shocking thing I probably could have done to my anxiety. My only plan for living in Scotland while Branden went to University was to work, but with days when I couldn't even get out of bed from depression, I didn't even apply for a job until we'd been in Edinburgh for 6 months. It was a dark time, but luckily I married a man who was determined to get me through it...even if he considered sending me back to the States a few times.

My first job in Scotland was through a temp agency. I received a call asking if I'd be interested in working at a medical office with 'sensitive clients'. My mind thought, "Mentally disabled? Physically disabled? Elderly?". I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I agreed and then felt excited over maybe getting to make a difference to someone. I arrived the next day to discover it was a clinic for drug users, prostitutes, HIV patients, and some homeless people. My job was to be the front receptionist, so I got to meet most all of the clients. "Protected" behind my plexiglas window, I heard stories, met family members, and got to see a group of people that were generally considered the scum of the city. A lot of them begged on the street, and I soon learned where their regular spots were and made sure they never saw me. We met as equals in the office, so I never wanted them to feel below me by having me see them as they begged.

There were hard days. Days when I cried over the situations I knew they were in and days when we had scares with particularly violent clients. For the most part though, I came home feeling refreshed. I told my friends and family back home that if Jesus would have been on the Earth today, these are the people he would be with. As he told the Pharisees in Mark 2:17,
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
I'm not taking this to call anyone a sinner but I found reason in my excitement for working with those who are typically looked down on society. I became burned out working at my church because I think in my heart, I felt as if I was the doctor healing the healthy. It doesn't mean that churches don't need volunteers because they definitely do, but I now knew that my work was outside. It's not everyone's passion but it is my passion.

I worked at the drug clinic for 4 months and I was sad to go, but a fire had been lit within me and I wasn't sure what to do with it. Branden and I got new jobs that took away any available time I could have put into volunteering. Soon things changed again and we found ourselves moving to Ireland years before we ever thought possible. Moving to Cork was exciting but scary all at the same time. We didn't know if I was even going to be allowed to work but it was a risk we had to take for Branden's continuing education. When we discovered that I wouldn't be allowed to work, a small part inside of me smiled at the thought of finally being able to put time into volunteering. I had a couple of opportunities to volunteer but they were a bit far off and public transportation was too expensive for a couple with no income. So I waited. Finally after 7 months, I caught a break. I met a woman at church who plugged me into all sorts of avenues and my life has been changing and growing ever since. I'm so excited for all of the opportunities I have and for all of the people I have met.

This blog is my place to note my experiences, to share my growth, and to hopefully encourage others to see what they can do in their communities. I don't have money, I don't have a lot of stuff, but I do have time. Time is the most precious thing we have on this earth. Without it, we would be non existent. I spent too much of it focused on myself and what made me happy. Now that it's the only thing I can give, I am learning that it's much better spent on others because then I don't become happy, I receive joy.

25 comments:

  1. First follower! First comment! Okay...now I'll go read the post. ;^)

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  2. I'll admit that I know absolutely nothing about the labor laws of Ireland, so I'm still confused why you can't work. Especially because it sounds like Branden will be able to work once he's done with school. Can you talk about that sometime?

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    1. That is definitely a post on it's own so I'll be happy to explain. Lots of crazy details that suck, seem archaic, but are maybe a desperate attempt to ensure jobs for the people of a struggling country. One day it may change. Thanks for asking and I'll be sure to do a full post on it :)

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  3. I think we could be twins. I, too often, feel like the doctor. I feel a need to help everyone, even if it wears me down. What a wonderful heart for people you have. I'm excited to read this blog. -alicia

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    1. It's hard to want to help everyone when you feel like just one small person. I try to slow myself down and just help one at a time, even if just for a brief moment, because that's at least something.

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  4. This sounds exactly like what I pictured your heart to be. Make sure you let me know when you post here. I'm doing something similar but just writing it right now.. Big hugs girl.

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    1. I'll let you know when I post and heck, I can even email you my posts so that you for sure get them. I really want to Skype you sometime soon! Still haven't figure out our time difference but I think it's either 6 or 7 hours difference. I'll arrange something soon ;)

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  5. Great blog woman privileged to read it and learn more about you :) thanks for being so honest and open and I'm thanking god you ended up in our little group :) no doubt he is gong to use you greatly he already is. Xo

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    1. Thank you! I'm constantly thanking God for being in your little group! I don't know what I do without you ;) xx

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  6. Maggie you have a gift. Your words come to life and let people see themselves. Even though we just moved 500 miles away across state, I too went through a depression that was so hard on Billy. When we moved to Dayton Mary was 2 and Nik was 9 mos. One day Mary wanted a Banana and so I gave her one and she kept wining and Nik was crying about something. Mary kept coming to me with her banana and was saying "icky momma icky" I said to her "Sissy it is just a little bruise it is ok" she kept wining and crying and I was getting so frustrated and then God said to me "Isn't this how you are behaving Robin?" Wow what an eye opener that was. I was treating our move to Dayton like and Icky in my life cuz it wasn't what I liked. 11 years later I would never go back to the Coast. I love reading your blogs.

    "

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    1. Thanks Robin and thanks for sharing. I love how God used the littlest things to show us huge points; it makes such an impact! I would never want to go back to the US now so it's a true testament that if God calls you somewhere, He'll help you feel at home :)

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  7. I love this new post! I'm hoping to find out more about what makes Maggie Maggie.

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    1. I'm hoping to find out more about what makes me me too! Life and learning is so exciting here and I love that I get to share it :)

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  8. 'I don't have money, I don't have a lot of stuff, but I do have time.' That's beautiful. I like that. Tells me a lot about you. And you're right, time is the most precious thing we have on this planet. Last year there was the possibility I had lung cancer. That's when I not only knew - in the academical sense of the word - time was the most precious thing I had. I also felt it.

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    1. I am so glad you didn't have to go through lung cancer! I would say that I'm blessed that I didn't have to learn about the precious gift of time through a health scare, I just had to learn it because I all of a sudden found myself with all the time in the world. It isn't often that you get to ask yourself, "What will I do with my time if I can't work and I don't have kids or go to school?". It's a gift and I don't want to waste it!

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  9. OK. This makes me LOVE you! The world needs more people like you.

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    1. The world needs more love so if I can give it, then why not? Everyone is capable of love and everyone is capable of giving love and I hope maybe I can encourage other to see that and live it. :)

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  10. Great first post young one. I'm totally impressed that you can keep up with two sites. I'm having trouble these days with just my one.

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    1. Thanks! I have been a bit slacking on my usual blog but I think if I keep things more occasional here, then I can handle the two...we'll see how it goes ;)

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  11. Off to an excellent start. I know social anxiety. It's on my list of stuff I have. It's hard to conquer, but we can do it. Slow deep breaths when you're anxious.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Social anxiety is just one on my list as well but it's the one that seems to attack me the most frequently. My depression gives me years off so I can handle that but the anxiety likes to make daily appearances. Slow deep breaths are very handy...they calm me down enough to pray :)

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  12. You will always make a difference because YOU are amazing! You sure do inspire me :0)

    I feel like I'm in a fairy tale when I read your blog sometimes. It sounds so neat being in a different country!

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    1. I feel like I'm in a fairy tale all the time! (even if my anxiety does try and take the fun out of it sometimes). You inspire me as well, even before I read The Golden Sky! I love how blogging can bring so many inspiring people into your life that you normally would never encounter. What a blessing!

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  13. Maggie, you are a brave and insghtiful writer. Thank you for sharing your journey and thoughts. In some ways we share something so unique in common, both of our husbands are getting PhD's abroad. You are correct in saying that some elements seem like a fairy tale, and others are extremly difficult. I am serious when I say we hope to get to Ireland in the next few years. Garrick got accepted into PhD and we are planning to stay. I am very excited to hear about your new volunteering opportunities! -Andrea

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  14. Great first post! You have such a wonderful way of bringing people together and making people feel good. I'm sure you'd be great in all avenues of volunteering.

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