Guam Day 100 - What have we learned in 100 days....

6/2/2022 - Taking pictures of yourself after a prescribed amount of time really starts to grow farther between as we all leave high school.  College Graduation might be one, Weddings, and other major family events also arise, but the timing of these things are inconsistent relative to time. For me this journey and this blog have created a unique way to look back at a 100 day time.  While neither of us look all that different, I can forsure say we have grown in so many ways. Here are my top 5 things I have learned while being on Guam.... 

1. Having a life partner makes so many things more fun

I would probably never made it to Guam without Joan, and this is just a single aspect of all the joy she brings. So happy to be married, and to have a partner by my side through whatever life brings. Thank you Joan!!

2. Change is inevitable, Growth is optional

Dave, I have you to thank for this quote from our last chat, John C. Maxwell too. The other piece of this that is sticking out to me is growth happens in ways you don't always get to predict. Im finding, just living in a different place, and understanding what it means to live on an island, presents a massive amount of change. The growth has been in learning to adapt and flex to what this place is, as well as sometimes what it isn't. 

3. The world is a big place, yet also very small

Diving into the ocean has taught me so much, I mean, omg, there is just so much water on our planet. And the amount of life that exists under the water, untouched by humans, is quite amazing. The smallness shows through where our human impact touches the water. Guam has an interesting problem being so far from anything else, which means anything that comes on the island generally stays on the island. I have become a lot more conscience of resources, and what gets thrown away, a very hard problem with the lack of us having recycle readily available.

4. You need less than you think you do

Tiny house is all I need to say. Kidding aside, Joan and I have talked a lot about this, we have been very happy with the limited amount of stuff we have. Yes there are inconveniences, one car means you share schedules constantly, and the work space is the same place you prep and eat dinner. With this also comes valuing the things you have way more, for us its bike rides on the weekends, opportunities to dive on this cool island, and the amazing sunsets while sitting on the paddle board. 

5. Be comfortable, not being comfortable

This one I keep relearning, and to my Ford mentors who told me this - Thank you, you know who you are.  Taking sabbatical, Getting married, moving halfway around the world, living in a tiny house for the first time with your new spouse, breathing underwater with scuba gear, and figuring out how to volunteer in a new place, all come to mind. Each one has put be outside of my comfort zone in one way or another, and I am so thankful for it.  I have so much more vibrance in my life because of the push, the short uncomfort, and then the growth that comes with it.