“Life is a journey. You will make this journey once. Why not make the most of it.” – Billy Graham

When you visit theme parks or malls, they often have maps that help you find your bearings with a big dot labeled “YOU ARE HERE”. Sometimes we are more interested in where we are going than where we are. But it is important to know where we are.

Growing up in Jamaica we had our share of hardships and my parents, like so many other hard working parents hoping for a brighter future for their children, made many sacrifices for our family. One of the biggest sacrifices was made by my mother, who left the island, leaving behind her husband and 2 teenage daughters, all her family and friends and everything that was familiar and comfortable to go to the States in search of a better life for us. My mom was a nurse and she was recruited to work for a small hospital in Southern Texas. She packed one suitcase and left, not knowing how long she would be gone or when we would be together again as a family. That’s what heroes do. They make personal sacrifices benefiting others and expecting nothing in return. As the months went by, I longed for the day when we would be reunited as a family. I really missed my mom. I couldn’t wait to leave the island.

We joined mom in Texas in the summer of 1987. It was a culture shock coming to America. Kenedy, Texas, population 3,000 was nothing like the America I saw on TV shows as a little girl growing up on the island. It was a culture shock. Life in small town Texas took some getting used to.

I could not wait to experience life beyond Texas, so after a year in high school, I headed off to Washington, DC to Howard University for college. Big city Washington DC, population roughly 600,000, was nothing like the America I saw on TV shows. It was a culture shock. Life in the big city of Washington, DC took some getting used to.

I couldn’t wait to leave DC, and I left right after graduation for my first job with KPMG in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Looking back, I realize that I spent way too much time living in the future. After my mom left for the States, I couldn’t wait to leave Jamaica so I could be with her. Then I couldn’t wait to leave Texas. Then I couldn’t wait to leave DC. I wonder how many opportunities I missed to make a difference right where i was because I was too focused on getting to the next place. Over the years I have come to the realization that we are exactly where we need to be for that season. Sometimes we know that the place is temporary, like when we are in college. Sometimes we think we will be somewhere for the rest of our lives. Regardless, we can choose to embrace the space we’re in and be a difference maker right where we are, or we can squander the opportunity and go through the motions until we can get out of there. Even if it is a difficult place, there is so much value in living in the present. Life is a journey and there are opportunities to learn and grow and be a difference maker in the lives of others right where we are right now.