There once stood a tree. It had stood for longer than the oldest person had lived in that area, and almost longer than America had been a country. It reached higher than our necks allow us to see – a skyscraper of the Amazon, some may say. It’s home to our friends with wings, plants and crawling critters, playing children and the air we breathe. Yet for outsiders it’s simply a tree. It may just be one tree, but for 25 communities living along a river in the Ecuadorian Amazon, there are only three other living trees like this in existence.

In spite of this, in the eyes of some outsiders, this tree is replaceable by the plentiful other trees around it. Foreigners might ask – within a territory covered in greens of all shades and barks of all textures – “what’s the value of just one more tree?” Well, through a local viewpoint, no other oxygen-omitting being would begin to suffice.

An endangered species, they protested. Spiritual symbolism, they claimed. Historical significance, they explained. In a place in which nature and culture are commonly intertwined it felt as if the possible destruction of nature was equally a possible destruction of their society. The intruders, as a few Amazonian’s framed it, began to propose a scheme of deforestation. They cleverly assembled a proposition stuffed with linear logic of growth and capitalistic gain – gain for themselves of course, not the locals. $20 for a 200-year-old tree that could still grow for a further one hundred years.

Perhaps they fell asleep during that part of their environmental science class that explained that, for a tree of that size, at least 200 years more years should pass. They do say time is money, but the locals struggled to accept that $20 equates to 200 years of time. I think they were even further puzzled when the constructors attempted to rationalise the offer by saying it would only take four hours of their time. Four hours pass and the construction site would be a hidden site.

Or on the other hand, four hours pass and the construction site would be a graveyard site to the natural, spiritual, social and cultural elements that stemmed from that tree. Fortunately, a few activists were not willing to put up a tombstone. It takes one thought, one person, one group, one action to change the course of what some believe may be fate. In this case it was one proposal. An outside group stepped into the negotiations and raised the offer by $80.

Rather than $20 to cut the tree down, how about $100 to leave the tree untouched? The team of constructors were not swayed by the three-digit offer. At this point, while some lost hope, others transformed their lost hope into confidence – for saving the tree. Workers from a local social enterprise joined the movement and they made a commitment to each other to protect this historical, spiritual, playful being of a tree.

As I mentioned before, to change the course of the future begins with us.

As I mentioned before, to change the course of the future begins with us. From an idea to initiative to execution of our vision, we are able to achieve our mission. Even when the first attempt fails that does not mean that the second or third shot should also disappoint. The local’s story follows this pathway. Although the foreigners thought they were rather clever, the locals accessed some indigenous genius. They expressed that the tree the outsiders were hoping to kill resided within indigenous territory. These foreigners did not just stumble upon land with the right to claim or destroy any element of it.

There was no equivalent phenomenon to Columbus discovering America “by accident.” For this reason, the foreigners consequently had to play by indigenous rules. It only took some creative, innovative thinking to completely switch the situation around. Now, those wearing the power shoes were the locals, with land, rather than the foreigners with money. If you want any more nights with your families, the locals warned, you’d better hustle out of our terrain.

Of course this was an intimidation tactic rather than one they would straightforwardly follow. Nonetheless, they provide the proof that with dedication to a particular belief, no obstacle stands in the way as a barrier. Although less politically significant or economically established, their drive to lead and achieve was more powerful than imagined. After clearly outlining the importance of the tree and exposing the ignorance of the outsiders, a deal was closed.

With a voice willing to speak up for what they believed in, they not only saved the tree, but also initiated a continual benefit from the tree; each month $100 is dispersed throughout the community which helps to support the families of the village. In what seemed an unfortunate event, fortune was actually found.

Much of our life and what we aspire to achieve is dependent on how we choose to go about living; whether we accept circumstances or take circumstances into our own context.

Much of our life, and what we aspire to achieve, is dependent on how we choose to go about living; whether we accept circumstances or take circumstances into our own context. As these Amazonian’s taught me, there is power in “one.” In the same way a match has the ability to light a candlelight, a bonfire, a devastating house fire or forest fire, our beliefs and goals can also leave an impact of any size. After all, an obstacle is only an obstacle if we perceive it to be.

So, when presented with what seems bad, reconsider how this “unfortunate” event may actually result in fortune.

As the day entered the twilight zone and a sticky breeze accompanied a transforming mountainous view, my cloudless, introspective mind indulged in the beauty of a roasted marshmallow sky. At an elevation of about 4,500 feet, almost halfway to the “top of the world,” I was captivated by a microscopic world before me. One encompassing teeny tiny crawlers. A bug’s world. What initially fostered this fascination, and a further unexpected learning experience, were my fellow classmates studying at Kopan Buddhist Monastery in the middle of Kathmandu, Nepal.

For the first time in my life I witnessed people (yes, plural) consciously saving bugs and insects. To many, a fly swatter equated to a pistol, the forceful flush of a toilet was understood to be as catastrophic as a natural disaster and insect repellent was parallel to poisonous gas. To a Buddhist, the belief that we shall not kill includes any living organism. While I was at a Buddhist monastery this vow was obeyed completely.

I saw how people were cautious about where they sat, a wrong seat may lead to the funeral of an innocent bug. People became tour guides for insects by escorting them back to their natural habitat. Additionally, they took on the role of lifeguards to save drowning bugs in a body of water (i.e., a pond, the toilet bowl, the sink, a puddle).

My compassion for insects, which matured during our retreat, was refreshing and motivating. It made me reconsider my baseless apprehension of insects. Two years ago, when I spent time in the Amazon, I would have been considered a serial bug killer. I devalued the importance and beauty of a bug’s world, stomping on the little creatures without purpose other than my own selfish fear. Living among a world with no escape of flying creatures, squirming snails, lanky spiders or buzzing bees, it made me confront fear in the face. I literally looked at my fear and ate it, to make it disappear: I consumed a maggot. Overcoming this fear certainly was not an easy one. Yet, it was advantageous in the long run.

By releasing my mind from deceptive thoughts about the nature of tiny organisms, I was able to realize and appreciate the world in a completely new way. Being in Nepal facilitated my entry to the next level. It was a transformation from disgust to neutrality, to a state of fascination and excitement. Being surrounded by people who cherished the beauty of what I used to claim as terrifying, initiated an expanded acceptance of the bug’s world.

That night when I looked out into the fading sky of fluff, a peculiar event changed my outlook. I found a number of ants frantically crawling along a concrete wall. As my fascination increased, I began to realize that these little creature’s behavior was much more complex than originally perceived. Rather, their actions personified their systematic, logical, empathetic, collaborative, determined, and strong qualities. At the center of this occurrence, was the astonishing effort of a team – about 25 ants carrying a dead bee. I was most dumbfounded by the mere fact that even if all these ant transporters were combined into one bug, this new creature would still be smaller than the size of the bee itself. These tiny, itsy-bitsy insects were carrying something that would be classified as overly obese in the ant world. Humans would be unthinkable giants to them. I stared. I watched. I contemplated.

How is it possible that these miniscule bugs could effortlessly escort something that is massive in comparison? As these ants marched across the wall for a meter or so, I first thought about the power of fear and secondly considered the strength of collaborative efforts. The bee may have been seen as overwhelmingly large in relation to the ants, yet from a desire to join together, these ants made the unthinkable possible. No matter how big or small our goal or obstacle, we are able to accomplish what we put our mind to. There is always a way.

It may require an extra person and their relative skill set, or maybe just a conversation that stimulates a ping pong game of creative thought. Personally, I used to hide when people offered a helping hand to my non-profit endeavors. I wanted to claim full responsibility and retain control. If only I knew back then that when we join forces, we become more powerful than before. Perhaps my “team” could have tackled major funding barriers, or reached a 12-month goal in 6 months. I refocused my attention on the ants. Surrounding the staggering group with the bee were about 75-100 additional ants, scrambling and strutting up, down and around the main attraction. The ants had their own path, not linear or circular, but a pattern none the less. At this point, I started to consider how our personal and professional processes go beyond the people who are directly involved. There is much “behind the scenes” that facilitate the efficiency of our activities.

Maybe the “surrounding ants” in our life are our mentors, role models, conversations or interactions. Together there are many elements, which compose our progress and ultimate success. One ant would not be capable of moving a bee single-handedly. Two ants? No, not even close. Collaboration was their only means of success. The ants marched one by one, the leaves swayed as the breeze washed over the trees and I pondered how I was even able to come to these conclusions.

There were two themes that continued to filter through my mind: letting go of our fears and embracing collaboration. The fear I once held was a blockade, but once I released that distress, it turned into a vehicle for inspiration, beauty and internalization. Fear once clouded my mind and distorted my ability to see beyond. That old-time fear guided me to recognizing and appreciating much more than I ever did before. I was able to find meaning, purpose and insight from a realm that previously terrified me.

When we let go of our fears, I have found that we are better able to take a chance, explore our curiosity and fulfill a step in the path to success. For me, my liberation enabled new practices, new knowledge, and a new appreciation. My experience helped me to realize the significance in working together, rather than pure competition which hinders other players, and also oneself.

I began to understand how our interactions with our social and physical environment all contribute as a stepping-stone to achievement. We live in a multifaceted world that consists of multiple networks, systems and relations. When we connect the pieces together, the process of understanding and achievement is simplified.

In the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina – a place often viewed as inferior – I learned one of those lessons that no book can teach, other than the author of their own experiences. It’s something we generally take for granted but what I learnt in Argentina changed the way I thought about influence and ability. It’s one of those things often forgotten or rarely acknowledged, such as breathing, for instance, or the fact that today we can see, feel and be.

The same way that we are able to change the pattern of our breathing when we concentrate, so too can we change our capabilities. Prior to my arrival in Argentina, I had a very romantic picture of what the country would look like. It was a perfectly painted photo: the meat and wine, the mountains and colorful buildings. To my surprise, street artists dominated and the beautifully cooked steak with a glass of Malbec wine was not guaranteed everywhere.

Furthermore, I had a rather stereotypical image of what the poorer areas would look like: dirty, the stench of excretion, unorganized, crowded and polluted. Now this is a physical description but many of these depictions cross over to the psychological realm of what we may constitute as “poor mentality.” Areas like these, often called slums, are thought to be the lowest of the low, filled with trash, poor infrastructure, diseases, lack of education and resources.

Although there is some truth to this, my perfectly painted portrait slowly turned into one big blob of mixed colors. It was through the deterioration of my preconceived notions that I began to understand why these categorizations are exceptionally misleading. The labels associated with poverty and the poor tend to ignore the fact that these people aren’t living in a documentary movie that describes their life. What Hollywood portrays is just one reality, and perhaps not even an accurate one.

The community members in these areas are living a real life. That means they form relationships, a sense of identity, roles and responsibility, and there are times of celebrations and times of struggle. There is so much more behind the scenes that exemplify their authenticity and “realness.”

I certainly was guilty of being a foreigner to the truth about slums. Yet, I felt the need to make known that the youth and adults in these areas are inspirational and incredible. Some may not recognize them as the smartest against Western standards, but they are smart enough to build a house from surrounding resources and to survive with minimal assets. That, to me, is brilliance.

We cannot compare our context to their context and claim that their way of life is illogical. Despite some of the things they do or say not fitting into our systematic understanding, this should not mean it is wrong or less satisfactory. People tend to doubt the slums, but I see these communities as an inspiration and a powerhouse.

When we view others and the world in an egalitarian approach, we release our mind form bias and preconception. This allows us to recognize our breathing patterns… or at least the less obvious and unconscious matters in the world. It’s about finding the good out of something bad. There is beauty in ugliness. Now please don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating that you drop your current life and move to a slum to find some inspiration. Nonetheless, I find it important that we recognize the kids and parents in such areas as real people. I simply cannot find one justification to claim superiority and deny them less of a right to their humanity.

It’s time for us to escape the bubble we are trapped in; let us accept others above and below us; learn to love and to appreciate. It’s time we make a change. It’s a challenge to put ourselves in their shoes and imagine their experiences. But what I encourage you to imagine are people who overcome numerous daily challenges by living in the present – one day at a time. If children who are barely fed are able to voluntarily lend a helping hand to build a park, what can you do?

If kids who speak broken Spanish but still try to learn English with a foreigner, what can you do? If kids in the villas are able to say no to Paco (a cocaine paste drug in Argentina, ) and carry on strongly, what can you do? If children who worry about where to sleep, what to eat, or how to stay healthy yet still come out to play, smile, and laugh for a while, what can you do?

For them it’s one choice at a time – sometimes a change in attitude, sometimes the motivation to find a better situation. Each step or decision leads to the next step. A baby learns to walk step by step and over time it can walk. Walking turns into jogging and jogging turns into running. Take it day-by-day, step by step.

Inspiration can come from anywhere: from the packaging of your most recent purchase to the shape of the clouds, to the original song of a street busker. It all depends on yourself. We are in charge of our destiny, our accomplishments and our happiness. No matter where we are in the world or who we talk to, everyone has his or her “story.”

Leaders do not let their challenges remain standing still. The kids I spent time with for a couple of weeks in Buenos Aires taught me what leadership means. Leadership is having the tenacity to achieve even when the world is constantly throwing rocks your way. In the worst of situations, there’s an ability to grow, improve and make a difference.

The rain clouds don’t stop the sun from shining after all.

It often seems that each year goes by faster than the one before. Frequently I find myself reflecting and contemplating on where the time has gone. I know that there are 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year. Yet sometimes I struggle to believe it. How have the leaves started to change color and the symphony of crickets, bees, grasshoppers and cicadas so suddenly faded? As I conceptualize time, I focus more on the way I wish to spend my days.

I imagine days where I wish I could press the “replay” button and relive them time after time. I imagine feelings that I could press “pause” and preserve. I image times that will always be “recorded” in my mind. Perhaps every second of the day is not like my description above. As I identify themes in my daily life that make certain times worth replaying and recording, I have found that passion is a common denominator.

Passion drives and motivates us; it holds a part of our happiness. We will persevere, perhaps tackle our fears, do the unexpected and live in a state of contentment and gratification. Passion is our fuel. Days occupied with passion are days worth reliving, feelings worth pausing and memories worth recording. Passion may even provide the answer to that mysterious question, “how and why do we feel that there are less than 24 hours in a day?”

Passion is my answer to how my two-month internship in India ended up feeling like two weeks. Which is a bit odd, considering I tell people that I constantly had a headache. Yes, working in India made a couple of hairs turn gray. As frustrating as it was some days, I would not change one of them. Challenging situations forced me into undiscovered environments of which I had no knowledge. Those where the experiences I ended up thanking for personal growth.

Without it there is no opportunity for maturation; without passion my aged hair would be meaningless. In fact, with a lack of passion the two months would have felt like two years. With an absence of passion, so much of the summer would have been considered a waste. Living in a world where 24 hours feels like 12, there’s no wiggle room to waste time. Whether it’s purpose we find, the success that follows us, or the potential we realize, a passionate life is one of living rather than existing.

After spending this past summer working on a tourism project called “Explore India and Hinduism” and doing non-profit and village development consulting I now intend to lead, learn and live through passion. I think part of the process for maximizing our individual humanity is developing our purpose. When we live from a place of deep authenticity, our passion is at the forefront. In other words, in order to live a life of many days that are worthy of replaying, passion is essential.

If you’d like a loop-hole for “pausing” time, I’d recommend living with passion everyday. You will continuously preserve that feeling. When our lives are passionate, other people will then be eager to “record” our own success and happiness. Passion is the building blocks of greatness, achievement and reason.