Until my last breath. . .

There is so much more to this world than I ever imagined.

I have a small amount of savings in my bank account, not a single asset to my name, and am buried in student loan debt, but I travel the world and I find that I am a billionaire, in so many ways. 

There are so many problems, so much ignorance. It overwhelms me. Right now as you sit, as you eat, as you sleep, innocent people are being murdered, hard working people are starving, good people are being silenced and controlled by their governments. 

But along with it all, there is so much beauty. So much compassion. So much love. Right now, from wherever you are, people from different pasts and religions are becoming friends. 

Americans, South Africans, Thais, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Canadiens, Finnish people and Germans sit together at a table and find there is so much we don't know about each other. 

We all share stories of horrible things that have happened in our countries. I talk about 9/11, Columbine, the Aurora movie theatre shooting, and the Boston Marathon bombing. I learn about bombings and conflicts I never knew occurred. We explain how we all sat by in shock as these things happened. None of us have a very clear understanding of why these things happened. It makes me realize that when two counties are fighting, the people that live there sit innocently by wondering why and often ignorantly hating an entire group of people. 

I try to explain other things as well. What do we do for Thanksgiving? Uhh, we eat. What do we do on Black Friday? Umm well, we line up at 3a.m. and go shopping. Yes it's very silly, I'm glad you asked.

I had the pleasure of teaching students who at 12 years old are nearly fluent in three languages. I asked them what they would do with one hundred thousand baht. I have been asked so many times in my life what I would do with a large sum of money. I've answered it many ways throughout my life. When I was a kid I wanted a golden hot tub and a pet monkey, as a teenager I wanted a cool purple jeep and a movie theatre in my home, as an adult I would get out of debt and then keep traveling.

I really enjoyed talking with these kids, they had some different answers. They told me they would use it to make the world better, to spread kindness, to learn more about other cultures, they would give it to their parents because they have worked hard all their lives, others said simply they would save it. 

It finally hit me how real it is, that it is them who will own the world one day. And it is us who own it now. 

This is your life. This is your world. Forgive, move forward, be kind, and take time for others. Dance when you hear music, hum to yourself when you feel like it. Try new recipes, invite strangers over for dinner. You'll meet some horrible people, love them anyway. If people screw you over ten times, trust an eleventh time anyway. 

Go see the world. Enjoy it. Make it better. And raise your children to do the same. 

Until my last breath, I will never stop learning and trying with everything I am to bring light and joy to this world.