Money buys food, not happiness

Before I became an Roadie with Invisible Children I had a job. Let me rephrase that-I had a "great" job. I was paid well to not do much work. I always felt like the amount of money I made to spend on myself or "excess" money I made, directly translated to my level of happiness. Now to be clear I was happy and I intentionally took time to realize just how blessed I was. However I was dreading the day that I would move on from that job and subsequently say goodbye to all that "spending money".

Well that day has come for me to quit my job and is now lies in the recent past. What hasn't been left in the past though is my happiness. It has stayed with me and has even multiplied. This has caught me completely off guard. As I said before, I thought that whatever excess money I have=happiness. I have been quickly and pleasantly by educated by life.

Just to run the numbers...after taxes I made roughly $18,000 last year ($346 a week). Savings=$0. I spent it all. For the two weeks I've been in California I've spent $65 total ($32.50 a week, all on groceries). I'm very proud of the latter. As you can see this is a HUGE change for me. If I did my math right that is more than a 90% cutback in spending.

Walking back from Vons tonight I realized just how happy I am. I'm working more and getting paid nothing but I'm somehow so unbelievable happy. I get to love my "Ugandan/Congolese brother" as I would love myself and for that I am extremely fulfilled. With this fulfillment also comes happiness that I never expected would be so enduring, hard working and constantly growing.

If I can try to share what I've learned is that money really doesn't buy happiness and to be honest I don't ever want to have an excess of money that will make me forget where true happiness is found.

Location:House with 62 people

Samwise Gamgee

Sam: If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.
Frodo: Come on, Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say: "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."

Right now I'm in Sam's position-today is equal to the longest time I've ever spent away from home. When I realized this my first thought was that it wasn't a big deal. I mean I'm 19, cmon, it's time I get out on my own. However today wasn't a typical day and I took a little time to really reflect what I'm doing with my life.

Yesterday I walked by a person asking for a donation to a cause of some kind-I didn't stop to look. I just did what I always do-I take a glance and then look away and avoid eye contact praying that the person doesn't speak up and say "would you like to donate to (blank)?" I walked on but realized I didn't feel the familiar guilt of feeling selfish. I'm ashamed to say my life has been very self centered. My goals in life have been for the most part always very extroverted-focused primarily on money and possessions. For example I've prided myself on how much money I make and what I have-"I have an iPhone" and "I have a Mac" and "I just bought a bunch of new clothes." Becoming a Roadie with Invisible Children has changed all that. My goals are now introverted-helping others, thinking of other before myself. Everything from just living with 62 people to ending the longest running war has made me change my goals.

"People with introverted goals are happier than those with extroverted goals" was what was said tonight in a training. And you know what-it's true. I'm so much happier-I can look at the person asking for my donation and instead of saying to myself "I wanna spend that money on me" I say to myself "I don't have any money to spend because I'm giving away 4 months of my life to ending this war." I get so much happiness about only being able to spend $60 a week on food when before I was only somewhat happy spending $150 on new clothes on impulse.

This brings me back to good old Samwise Gamgee and the Shire. This is the longest I've been away from home and I'm so happy for this experience. I've only been away for 8 days but I've learned in those few days what I could not in my previous years of spending money to be happy.

I do miss home already but I'm happy to sacrifice another 4 months in eager anticipation of what lessons I will learn.

Location:San Diego, CA

A week is already gone!

I've already been a week in San Diego working for Invisible Children and it's gone by very super fast! To say I've been busy is an understatement. We've been busy learning among other things-Uganda an it's history and the financials of the organization. But more important to me I've been learning a lot about myself. I've been learning about who I am as a part of a team. It's a big transition to go from working by myself to working-and living (we're all in one house)-with 62 people. I haven't had a quiet moment and it's unexpectedly very pleasant! Im in a huge diverse group of people and every one of them is awesome. Its so cool to be constantly surrounded by people who, though totally different and from different parts of the country, are completely united to end the longest running war in Africa. These people are really cool but I find myself in constant comparison to who I am or should I try to be like someone else. What I'm realizing is that I am who I am, and as elementary as it sounds, God made me unique and I bring something unique to the table. I'm finding that as cool as the other people are-I don't want to be them and I don't need to be. I don't have to be self conscious about who I am I can just be me.
What does a day in the life of a Roadie look like? Wake up at 7 in a room with 6 bunk beds and eat breakfast/brush teeth before leaving at 7:45.



After the 30 minute drive we pull up 5 levels to the top of the parking garage and walk into the office.



We start the morning off with Q&A. It's a practice question we would probably get on tour and we have to answer it in front of everyone at the office. I have yet to get a question but I'm sure that will change on Monday. After that it's either class or booking. We've had history class, public speaking, looks at different non profits (TOMS shoes has been discussed quite a bit). Lunch hour rolls around real quick and good Mexican food is only a few blocks away at "Taco Rey". After lunch it's back to the same until 7pm then another 30 minute drive home.



Dinner is a simple meal of ramen or eggs and toast.



Then it's either studying, a game, or a movie. Then a shower. There are 63 people in this house. Half guys. One bathroom. It's interesting to say the least. Then it's off to bed to do the same thing the next day!

Location:San Diego, CA