"How can I live without the deep sense of fulfillment that comes from realizing my life's mission?"
New York City-the year was 2002. I was crossing the underground tunnel at 42nd Street heading toward the subway station of the number seven train when I heard the sound of a harmonica. I smiled to myself thinking that there is nothing more charming in New York City than hearing and seeing these underground performers. It is like the entire city is pulsing with life throughout its seen and unseen structures. As I got closer, I saw a teenager - 16 or 17 - years-old - very cleanly dressed. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and an impeccable white t-shirt. I automatically looked in my purse for some money, when I stopped and raised my eyes looking at the teenager in front of me. He was tall, slim, and...without a hand. I looked at his face carefully and what I saw amazed me. The teenager in front of my eyes who did not have one of his hands had the expression of the happiest person on the planet. There he was -- a teenager without a hand but with an aura of happiness and peace while playing his harmonica. When I left him a dollar, he thanked me with the goodness of his smile as he continued to play his harmonica.
I kept walking with tears in my eyes and clearly understood - probably for the first time in my life - that the pain I felt when looking at this very young, handicapped, but happy teenager, was signaling me something about myself. I came to understand that there is something deep within me that reflects the very reason and purpose for which I was created.
But what can I do? I thought long and hard, and decided that I am ready now to alleviate pain and remove the burden of suffering from those children who never had a mother and a father and who have never known the joy of growing up in a family.
You need to know what I am. I can tell you that I am an economist with a Bachelor's degree in international economics and a broad experience in international trade, commercial banking, accounting, marketing, management, insurance, and non-profit. And you need to know this because you want to be sure about the creditworthiness of the person you are entrusting your donations with.
But you also need to know who I am. And the answer to this question is that I am a person who does not want to waste her life, but rather use her emotions as powerful motivators for the good of our children instead of propelling nations to war or men to murder. And if I have to convince God to go out of His way to help me create an extraordinary system for my orphans, I am ready to do it!
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