1st July 2006 - What a way to start!

This weekend in the calendar of AIESEC in Malta, MaNatCo 06 took place. Within the walls of one of the most lovely farmhouses on the isle of Gozo, accompanied by a swimming pool and a BBQ Grill, evaluations of the 2005-2006 term and feedback and ideas for the 2006-2007 term were generated by both MCs as well as some of our members.

But there has been something that got me thinking all through the weekend. I mean, have you ever thought that some things are just meant to be. Imagine. You meet a complete stranger at a bar whilst having a few glasses of wine. He makes a joke and starts up a conversation. He offers you more wine and more conversation, and before you know it he's inviting you to breakfast at 6.00am in the morning. You don't know him and he doesn't know you, yet he treats you as if you're an old childhood friend. And so you go...

He does not limit himself in offering you bread, milk and cereal. Instead he flames up the BBQ and offers you champagne and the best cranberry juice you ever tasted, against the backdrop of a sunrise at Marsalforn bay from a penthouse. He starts to speak about his life, his job, his family, his roots, his ideals, his thoughts. It's funny but after a while you realize he is not just a simple stranger. He is probably the next motivational speaker at one of your conferences, and definately your motivational speaker now.

In the company of two spanish guys we just meet (just to keep it international since this is AIESEC after all) the MC have had the opportunity to listen and share a once in a lifetime chance. We were all struck by what he was saying. He did not know who we are, what we do, what we're about and where we're going to, yet he has left an impact. I don't know what it was exactly. Maybe he had some deep thoughts that pinched into our flesh immediately. Or maybe he was speaking nonsense, but the wine and champagne made it sound like the best preach you will never hear from a pulpit. That moment in time, no one can explain.

But there have been 2 things that he said which have struck me personally. The first is the Watermelon. Yes. If one wants to eat a watermelon he has to acquire the whole fruit, with skin and all. We generally do not eat the skin, but without the skin we would probably not acquire a watermelon as it would not be that inviting anymore. As an MC, if we want to eat that fruit, if we want to reap success, then one way or another we have to cut and go through the skin, go through obstacles and hard work. It's true, enjoying success without having to sweat to achieve it would be good - but would it be worthed? Would the satisfaction gained be the same if there was no challenge? After all, cutting through the skin, is very little challenge when compared to success and satisfaction one gains when accomplishing the task of arriving to the middle of the fruit! One can't seem to go with the other. Hmm, some 'fruit' for thought...

The second thing that struck me most was a phrase that he said. It is not what you create that is important. It is the ability to keep your creation alive. It made me think how we go through life creating things which are replaced with other creations when times go by. It is natural. It is change. And as time changes, things change. Yet there are some things which would have become part of us, of our identity, of who we are, and to see them fade away, to see them being replaced by other things or others, may hurt.

In AIESEC every year one MC replaces another. And each MC brings new ideas and new creations, some of which last only through the one year of the term. Yet, this reminded me of what I would like to accomplish this year as an MC member. I do not wish to create something to be remembered for, neither something that would be thrown out the moment I walk out the door. What I would like to create is a solid ground, a rock hard foundation that is immovable. Something that is built upon rather than scrapped away. What this something is I still have to discover. Maybe it is values, maybe it is a culture of excellence, maybe it is a professional administration system. What is important is that the creation is rather transformed to something better, rather then abolished. Something that has grown through building and solidifying, and that has its roots deeply instilled.

Travelling back to our residing farmhouse, thoughts ran through my head. It is a new start this year. A new creation. A creation that lasts maybe. A watermelon. It is a dream of what could be, and maybe also will be.




5 Individuals. One team. We Dream Big. Now, We live our Dreams.

DavLyn