When Steph and I went to the Everest region of Nepal in 2011, we had anticipated to trek to Everest Basecamp in order to raise donations for WWF Tiger Conservation. Instead however, we found ourselves at 4000m being lead to the Golden Jubilee of Sir Edmund Hillary's first school in the region where children from schools all over Nepal performed cultural dances and songs, along with traditional Sherpa and Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies. We met incredibly inspiring people who had been dedicating their lives to creating change in poor areas of Nepal. It was incredibly heart warming and humbling.
After returning from the 3-week trip I found it very difficult to go back to my life in Sydney. Something had been stirred in me. Perhaps I missed the quiet of the mountains. Before I had chance to realise what was happening, my boyfriend and I had broken up, I'd moved out and was asking myself some big questions about what it was I truly wanted. I was positive. Full of enthusiasm and trying new things; recipes, experiences, cycling my bike around Sydney and getting on with my job. But I realised that the taste for travel had left its mark and my spirit wanted some more adventures. It took one late night conversation with my good friend and notorious optimist Fern to convince myself to leave my job, surrender my stuff, pack some bags and book flights to all the places I had wanted to visit for so long. It was pretty courageous and I get moments of "WTF Jess", however, I have the wonderful experiences that are a great reminder of how happy one can be with perceivably so little and adventure certainly ensures life is lived as fully as possible. From my perspective I do feel that society has created an illusion that 'money' can equate to happiness, abundance or even love. Not in my world. Gratitude, acceptance and giving have become a much more powerful currency of kindness and incredibly magical.
"But there's no doubt, either, that my most worthwhile things have been the building of schools and medical clinics. That has given me more satisfaction than a footprint on a mountain."
- Sir Edmund Hillary
The Dream Flag project really inspired me to consider what good we can all do, even through the smallest of actions. Children from all around the world are asked what their dreams are and they illustrate these on to beautifully crafted flags and blown in the wind, as do the prayer flags on the mountains of Nepal. What do children want? Peace and love in the world. Steph and I were really fortunate to meet the founder Jeffery and learn of how the project has enriched and connected the lives of children from around the world with their dreams. I hope they all come true. This little video is a wee tribute to the project and my wonderful co-pilot Steph Reynard.
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest good intention.” ~Oscar Wilde
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