When a door closes, a window opens . . .
In September of last year I headed from Florida to Macedonia for a project and to visit friends. I haven’t been back to the States since! After six weeks in Macedonia I flew to Tbilisi, Georgia for a three-month assignment as a United States Peace Corps Response Volunteer. It was my second Peace Corps assignment; I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bitola, Macedonia from 2006-2009.
I’m now faced with the sad process of saying goodbye to more folks I have grown to know and love. In two weeks, I will be leaving my warm and wonderful host family; it will not be easy. They opened their home to a total stranger and quickly shared their hearts, as well. I also was lucky enough to meet and make new American friends through Peace Corps and other organizations here, and to work with many talented and amazing Georgians at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Peace Corps.
Before heading from one place to another, finishing a project and starting another, or heading into a new phase of life, I like to take time to savor where I have been and what I have done. I think it is important to honor the doors and windows of our past as we prepare to discover and open those in our future.
Next week I will share some of the magical moments that have unfolded for me in Georgia, but for now, I hope you enjoy revisiting with me those I experienced when I began my journey last fall in Macedonia and the thoughts that are with me wherever I go. (These photos were originally posted in October, 2010.)
- Hmm, closed and locked seems impenetrable! Ohrid, Macedonia
- Don’t let appearances or the number of closed doors deter you. Bitola, Macedonia
- What about a gate half open? Go with your guts; it’s always up to you. Ohrid, Macedonia
- Mixed messages; “Should I knock or should I go?” Choice is yours. Bitola, Macedonia
- A lost cause, time to let it go? Or, something that has stood the test of time? Ohrid, Macedonia
- Not all your options will be neatly laid out in front of you. Leptokaria, Greece
- Sometimes, you may need to pause and reflect before the answers come. Bitola, Macedonia
- Some choices may be hidden or seem confusing. Bitola, Macedonia
- Some options will sit squarely in front of you. Ohrid, Macedonia
- Others may seem whimsical or unusual. Bitola, Macedonia
- Sometimes your options will be appear at the same time. Bitola, Macedonia
- Then previously closed doors, may open. Bitola, Macedonia
- Or, new even fancier opportunities may materialize. Ohrid, Macedonia
- Simple and yet stunning openings exist all around you. Ohrid, Macedonia
- Moments you might miss without quiet reflection. Bitola, Macedonia
- Recessed and waiting. Bitola, Macedonia
- You truly never know what may open before you. Bitola, Macedonia
- Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes. Bitola, Macedonia
- With an open mind, you will surely see . . . Bitola, Macedonia
- . . . the possibilities, are endless. Ohrid, Macedonia
Hope your week is off to a great start, and windows are opening for you!
PS Thanks for the “Likes” on Wishful Thinking Works on Facebook.
Wishful Thinking Works 
[…] this year, I decided to give it a go. Response Corps and I are good friends. Last year, after visiting Macedonia for 6 weeks, I flew to the Republic of Georgia to serve as a Response Corps Volunteer at the Ministry of […]
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Very nice shots, you must have had a lot of fun, and met many people, you always liked doors….
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Thanks, Ben! High praise from you, your photos are so fantastic. Glad you liked them. And, you are right – was fun and I have been able to meet so many wonderful people.
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