Jennifer Lauren

I LOVE coffee, and I NEED it. I joke that a perfect night’s sleep is six hours and a Starbucks to make up for the two-hour deficiency. But this is the point of my story – Whether they are physical substances or excuses we give ourselves, supplements creep into our lives and evolve into crutches. Sometimes, they trick us into believing that we are less than who we are without them. But in our limitations, with the crutches stripped away, we can learn to thrive.

For two weeks, I lived in Rwanda and volunteered with MindLeaps, a non-profit that re-integrates street children into school through dance, IT, and English training. I was developing an entrepreneurship curriculum, so I needed brain power to build my slides and energy to join the kids’ dance classes.

But the sources of mental acuity and strength, which I relied on at home, were nowhere to be found. I had no coffee to compensate for my lack of sleep. And, I ate Cliff bars until evening, when I could get a plate of French fries and a fish skewer for the day’s nutrients. I had shaped my life around stimulants and a well-balanced meal, but here in Rwanda, I couldn’t get what I thought I needed to be at my best.

One night, I went to an Indian restaurant, a classy establishment that caters to foreigners. As I reviewed the menu, I debated whether I should order one entrée of chicken tikka masala or two entrées so that I could add some greens to my meal. Though I could never finish both dishes, I reasoned that food was cheap, and I hadn’t eaten healthily in the last week – some saag paneer would be excellent brain food.

Then, I thought about the students at the non-profit. Every day, they received a sixteen ounce cup of porridge to sustain them through their dance and academic lessons. Lunch was the one time where most of the students would be fed. Yet, the students displayed boundless strength and energy as they talked, played, and practiced acrobatic movements.

My upbringing in the states conditioned me to believe that I needed supplements to boost my potential and options to live a more complete life. I overestimated my frailty and underestimated my robustness to thrive within limitations. But the kids in Rwanda showed me how to do more with less.

So, consider the crutches that prop up your life. Discern needs from want to break from material excess. But most of all, find the courage to cast off the mental traps, and you’ll become more of who you were always destined to be.

That night, I chose one dish.

MindLeaps creates educational paths for the most vulnerable children in the world through a creative arts program that is built on data-driven metrics. Visit mindleaps.org to learn more and/or get involved.