Somber Excitement

I take no credit in this picture, but I wanted to share it in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Japan.  I will, however, have many pictures similar to this when I return in August.

Floating Lantern Ceremony for Peace Day Celebration in Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan.  In remembrance of the Atomic Bomb dropped on August 6th, 1945 at 0815am.

In preparing my research and presentation, along with the logistics of this trip, I have failed to prepare emotionally.  For whatever reason, I researched Hiroshima University today and was quickly reminded of the reason and purpose of this trip.  Sure, it's a conference on disaster nursing and I'm going to be a Presenter and Group Leader.  But my heart was abruptly reminded of the reason for such a need in Japan after reviewing the Peace Memorial Park Website.  For those of you excited for me as I embark on yet another amazing opportunity and adventure; I am grateful.  In your excitement, as well as mine, let us remember why it is that a Global Citizenship Seminar on Peace is needed in this world.  Let us remember the agony and pain that our friends, not just in Japan, but all over the world face every second of their life.  From starvation to genocide, from war to slavery, from natural disasters to mass murders, from dehydration to sex trafficking, our friends in Japan are not alone.  They are, correction, they should be remembered alongside our brothers and sisters in Egypt, the Rohingya in Myanmar, the women sold for sex trafficking in Mexico, our young brothers recruited to fight in South Sudan, and the faithful in the Gaza Strip.  Can we not open our naive eyes to the hatred and the injustice in this world to see that we are not truly free?  While we enjoy friends and family, please remember that there are others-even in our own communities-that cannot.

My heart has really mixed feelings now, as I continue to prepare for my trip to Japan.  I'm excited, but I don't want my excitement to be mistaken for an indifference towards the pain and hurt that still is alive in Japan.  At the same time, I don't want to be somber and be mistaken for apathy toward living peace.  I also feel a little embarrassed.  I was warned about this feeling during my interview.  I was also warned that the community in Hiroshima is incredibly welcoming and a community of forgiveness.  Why embarrassed, you ask?  Well, as the only United States Representative for the Nursing Conference, I feel as though I have huge shoes to fill or huge judgements and generalizations to break.  I feel as though I will have an influence on how others will view Nursing in the United States, and really, how they will view the United States in General.  No pressure or anything.  I will have everything I need, emotionally and physically; even things I don't know I need until I need them.  I need to remember to find the peace inside of me; a peace that promises second chances. 

There is an incredible amount of unnecessary suffering in this world.  I don't claim, by any means, to know how to fix it all, or even a little bit of it.  But I know that together, we can make small changes for people.  And, as I've said before, I can't change the world, but we all have the ability to change one person's world.  Do your piece, to make peace.