The first time I hung out in Graena Kannan Café, I hadn’t much expectations. I saw some familiar faces from our morning meetings drinking coffee, some other CELL students playing games. I’m usually nervous to meet new people, but everybody here is so friendly that this fear faded within the first day of my trip. An intern and previous CELL student I had met a few days earlier invited me to her table to play a game with her and some other interns I hadn’t met before. While playing the game but mostly focusing on an engaging conversation with another intern, I realized new viable paths for my future, and took inspiration from this person who really seems to be living out her dreams and is open about wanting to change the world.
With over 7 billion people on this planet, its easy to feel small and unimportant. I often brood over how I could ever make a significant difference. I want to have a great impact on the world; fame doesn’t matter, I just really want to see a good change in the world. I want to impact individual ideologies and society in general, to cause or be a strong force in brightening the world from it’s commonplace pessimism and show people how to live a valuable, sustainable life. At this point in my life it is hard to see how I could ever achieve this. But meeting this person gave me hope that I’m not alone, and if anyone else can do it, so can I.
The first thing other than my name that she asked was, “Do you want to change the world?” And although I sometimes struggle to keep conversations going, this time it was so easy. She’s traveling to 10 different eco-villages (I think Solheimar is her 6th) around the world and eventually plans to live at the one she likes most. She shifts conversations towards more meaningful topics, and genuinely wants to learn from what other people have to say. She isn’t afraid to share ideas that many people would consider weird or crazy. She makes the most of every situation and always is striving to make the most out of every situation.
An admirable person indeed. Although we don’t talk often, she serves as a positive force in overcoming some lingering personal fears and reinforces what I believe: be who you are and do what you want. Be truthful and sincere, even if it you think you’ll be met with opposition. Be strong, do good and don’t be afraid of judgement. These are some of my most important values which I sometimes struggle to live through in daily life. Still I hope that every day I strengthen and grow. Thanks to the great people (not just her) in my community at Solheimar, it is not only possible, but encouraged.
On a separate note, landing a valuable career with a philosophy degree is far from easy. But now I see that I have more options than to work the way society wants me to as soon as I graduate. I’d love to travel to other eco-villages, and work there in exchange for a place to eat, live, learn and love. To live life in the moment, and take my next steps based on my cumulated and most recent experiences, adapting to the flow of life. I can travel and seek new experiences while living a low-cost, highly sustainable lifestyle that was never made visible to me until she taught me that it’s possible. With my dreams and aspirations, the road society has paved for me just isn’t enough. Now, I see that if you look in the right places, and if you share yourself with others, life’s path opens up.