Time for Change

What can I say?  CHANGE has been a normal concept in my life since 2006, but like any classic story, there must be a moment of conflict that engages a life, so that change and growth can be made.  My story continues, as I have moved to Lethbridge to try and figure out exactly what i want to do with my life.  From managing a classroom to engaging in community development.

My roller coaster ride has left me with a Jeep full of worldly possessions, but a head full of amazing memories.  As I navigated through life: Student - International Intern - Master's Student - Professional - Fiance - Immigrant - Failed Relationship (Conflict) - Professional - Story continues to be written.

Is it true that I actually might have chosen a career over love?  Well I traveled to Belgium, lived in Belgium and adjusted me life to the point that I came out with a Jeep full of worldly possessions.  Not many people in life can say that they have ever had a do-over.

A do-over is an opportunity to explore the second path of the two diverged in a woods.  In the words of Robert Frost - he took the one less traveled by and it made all the difference.  That being said, I also took the one less traveled by, but by some crazy whole in the Universe, I have been sent back to the same decisions and paths.

Allow me to explain, in 2009, I started at ACL as the Diversity Support Coordinator, the only difference is I was dating a Flemmish girl from Belgium.  I constantly turned down opportunities to advance my career for the prospect of spending my life with this girl.  In 2012, I started instructing courses at the FNUC and then moved to Belgium.  After an unsuccessful attempt at immigrating to another country and a caught off guard dumping, I hopped on a plane to Regina to continue instructing university courses and try to get settled back at home.

The only difference between this tele-portal is Regina (my home) became a different place that was unsettling and hard to adjust to.  Mostly because I was single and alone now dealing with heart ache, curiosity and wonderment for that moment she would meet another guy.

Fast forward to a week ago, while I still held on to the hope that I would one day reunite with the love of my life, I receive an email telling me that I must move on because she has found another person to replace me and offer her the things that I could not.  This brings me back to Lethbridge to work back in Human Rights at ACL with opportunity to grow - a complete tele-portal do-over.  Same people, same city, same opportunities, but the only difference is I am older, wiser and broken hearted.

However, inspiration comes in many forms and I read a quote recently by Viktor Frankl (a man that endured so much pain, toruture and heart-ache), a survivor of the Nazi concentration camp of Aushwitz.  I remember him, he wrote a book on logo-therapy, which I wrote a paper on in University and this simply explains that people must find the will to live in the most dire situations if they want to survive.

He also goes on to quote and I paraphrase "if you cannot change a situation, then you must change yourself to fit into that situation" - he is referring to death.  In my case, it is a simple reminder that one needs to adapt to any situation if they are going to move on and be better.  I admire this quote because I have the ability to change myself, I have the ability to adapt to my new life and I have the ability to work hard and be better, not just for myself, but for the benefit of the people that have walked into my life.

This is the only part of ending a 7 year relationship and an engagement that is beneficial, is the opportunity to learn and grow and know that even though times get difficult, one must find opportunity within their own pain to better the lives of others.

"One day at a time"

Roy