Last week, I was in Malibu, California for a 2-day board meeting/retreat. We all meet in person two times a year—once in Camden, NJ and once in Malibu, CA. The attendees include the board, the executive directors of the various sites, and the current fellows. The Malibu retreat is held at the Serra Retreat run by the Franciscan Monks, which is quite the paradox in Malibu, nestled into the canyon. 

This two-day event is rather spectacular. Sitting just minutes from multi-million dollar celebrity homes that would make your head spin, like Cher’s 85-million dollar beachfront property, we are listening to young adults from Africa and elsewhere who are trying to start programs so girls will stay in school or build farms so food is more accessible. And these young adults make it happen with so little. Their stories are nothing short of incredible.

Today, let’s think about what we want to do—knowing there are people doing it with a lot less. We want to say, if I had Cher’s money, then I could do it! What I realized at this retreat was, it’s not the money we all need, that’s just what we want to believe so that we have an excuse for not making it happen. What we need is the passion and the drive that these young adults showed me last week. Does money help? Of course, but it’s not what’s holding us back. We think we have obstacles, but really we are in our own way. Ask yourself, “What do I want?” Now go get it!

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!
Beth