As rotten as my track record has been with writing in my paper journal, I'm tempted to think that I might not fare much better among the bits and bytes of the Internet... but you can't really put a price on the attraction of having the ability to publish things in a world wide Agora of Ideas. My own Jouranl is a bit more personal -- written to a different crowd.
I returned just over 4 months ago from a trip overseas to Nicaragua -- it was a 2 year experience which I would repeat at a moment's notice without having to think twice. I did it knowing, however, that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ... and so it was. It can't be repeated; that's just how things are meant to be sometimes. A parent can only see his first child take his first step once. Not that I'm trying to get philosophical -- just commenting on the poignant nature of certain events in the course of our life -- they really only have one chance to make an impression on us. Fortunately, this experience made a tremendouse impression on me. I won't EVER be the same again :-)
Nicaragua IS still a part of the third world -- you don't find down there what you'll find in the US, and inevitably you find yourself "missing" something that you wish you could have. What did I wish most? My family. Snickers bars, Dr. Pepper, clean streets, and the rest quickly faded into the background. You can be happy, if you choose to, wherever you are -- but part of my happiness will always be tied to having my family within arms-reach. I'm often surprised to find people who don't like to admit that they love their family members... even in private. I consider myself lucky to have gone away and come back, having changed my outlook. I DO love my family, and wouldn't trade them for anything. Some people might believe other-wise... but my personal belief is that Family falls into the category of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
