2009 marked the best year of my life … I was living in a beach apartment on the coast of Southern California, had an amazing group of friends in Los Angeles & beyond, and had great relationships with my loving and supportive family. My job as a physical therapist at Rancho Los Amigos was one I looked forward to going to everyday, to see the smiling faces of my coworkers and serve as a channel of healing for my patients of the LA county indigent population. As co-director of a large graduate level course at USC, I thrived off of the challenges and rewards involved in this work and fostered close relationships with my colleagues and students. So when the opportunity arose to travel to Bhutan as a physical therapist instructor through Health Volunteers Overseas, as intrigued as I was, I was also hesitant to physically leave behind these roles in life I was so happy with and grateful for.
Having conversations with individuals I considered to be mentors of my personal and professional growth, and spending time in meditation and reflection brought me to the place where I knew that my life was meant to be led within this tiny kingdom in the Eastern Himalaya. Why, I can’t fully describe in exact words, but for many years I’ve known that my soul is connected to the energy of Bhutan. The thought of aiding in the integration of eastern and western medicine in this developing country and living in a predominantly Buddhist kingdom gave me the faith I needed to resign at my job, move out of Los Angeles, and commit to fulfilling this voluntary role in Bhutan. I knew the relationships I had with special people in my life might change but would continue to grow. On the night of my 32nd birthday, considering the alignment of the stars on this day may serve to be auspicious, I boarded the first of 3 flights from San Francisco, California to Paro International Airport.
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