A HOPE

Thirteen children, five husbands, schedules, carpools and responsibilities set a side for ten days; five women boarded a plane in mid America, destination Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

SAY WHAT?  WHY?  HOW? 
Improbable? Yes. 
Impossible?  NO WAY.

Determined to ignite the passion sparked by Melissa Fay Greene’s book, “There is No Me Without You,” these women set their sights beyond their backyards to serve the orphans of Ethiopia.  They paid for their own travel expenses and then raised $12,000 from their social networks in support of the five orphanages they served. 

Real women bringing to life their passion to make a difference in the lives of abandoned children half way around the world.  That’s what I call The Sweet Life!

The Sweet Life = The Pursuit of Passions

Martha Beck, Life Coach extraordinaire, coined a phrase and coaching tool called a WIG (Wildly Improbable Goal).  A WIG is a goal that is not impossible but feels improbable and enables you to turn your dreaming into real life living.   Creating goals around whatever it is that “trips your trigger” or “lights your fire” is one way you create a life that is in sync with your design.  

WIG creation is precisely what these women did when they were moved by the story of orphans in Ethiopia.  They felt passion and ran with it all the way to the other side of the world.  I am certain they encountered opposition.  Imagine coordinating ten days away for five different families.  They raised money at the height of the economic crisis.  No doubt as they prepared for their journey, they juggled sick kids, personal doubts about traveling that far away, perhaps there were family members casting fear and doubt about the dangers of Africa. 

We will face opposition every time we pursue our passions to improbable places.  The key  to remember is, opposition is NOT a sign to turn back.  Rather, it mostly likely indicates you are right on track. 

Here’s how to create your very own WIG.  It’s simple.

Make a list of the things you love to do. For each item, create an improbable but not impossible goal.   This really is magic.  Goal setting naysayers can poke fun at the exercise; but the reality is that it sets the intention to do something, which subconsciously tunes our antennae to notice anything and everything to do with our WIG.  Wait and Watch as the universe conspires on behalf of making your WIG a reality.  Intention set and every minuscule step we take toward the goal moves us toward achieving it.  

These ladies began planning their journey months in advance.  A bunch of tasks, big and small strung together until the day, luggage packed, they kissed their families good bye and strode onto the first of three flights that would catapult them in the center of the little lives that sparked the fire in their hearts and souls. 

These women lived, breathed and tasted The Sweet Life in a thousand different scenarios as they dreamed, schemed and experienced the fruition of their WIG on African soil. 

I leave you with something to savor.  The names of the five orphanages are:
Big A Hope, Little A Hope, Layla House, Hope Orphanage and  Kebchetshay Orphanage. 

    “A Hope” comes from the book of Jeremiah in the Bible which says,
   
    “for I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you A FUTURE and A HOPE.”

“A future and A hope” I believe the promise is for you too…If you DARE take hold of it. 

visit jen and jo's blog to read how more about their ethiopian journey.

startling statistics on sub saharan african orphans