This past week, we had our annual All-Staff training in Fairhope, Alabama. It was a truly fantastic week where this wonderful community of Outward Bound at-risk instructors and staff came together debrief, learn, and celebrate the year. It's interesting to look back on a year where so much has happened and so much has changed. At this time last year, we were unsure if we would even be able to continue doing the work that we love so much, and this past week it was evidenced just how much we had risen from the "ashes of the Okefenokee" as that was our battle cry last December.
And so it was with a full heart and a feeling of relief that we made it through another year and all made it back to Camp Beckwith this year. For me, standing in an evening chow circle with all these people is a small moment of my year that my heart just fills up with this overwhelming love for my community. I think about how much these people sacrifice, how they put their lives on hold to help complete strangers month after month and I feel truly blessed and grateful to be in their presence.
Heartwarming, yes. Also a little heartbreaking. There have been a few truly rough moments this year of having to say goodbye to people I love and who have made such a difference in my career here. There is something about your co-instructors in this job that just makes room in your heart that can't be occupied by anyone else. These are the people who stand next to you in the pouring rain and crazy bugs, who have your back when your students are yelling hateful things at you. These are the people who see you at your absolute best and your absolute worst but will unconditionally love you through it all. I feel very, very fortunate to be a part of all of this.
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| Photo by Katie Cartier |
