The past few months I have spent much time adapting to my new role as Volunteer Leader at Peace Corps Ukraine. Like most growth, it was painful. It took a lot of perseverance to remain on the path I chose for myself. However, this new journey also needs new goals. Each morning (when I am not on the road) I like to do morning meditation and stretches.

I meditate looking out the window of my apartment, gazing on my city’s central park (I promise I am looking at this in the photo above). On two panels of my window I wrote my goals, along with phrases and life mottos, which I reiterate each day. At the top of the window I read a few ukrainian phrases “step by step” in the middle, “never give up” to the left, and “social media is a platform not a way of life” to the right. Under these phrases is the title “Ambassador Roman” in big letters. That is the vision for my life, this is 25-30 years down the road. I have no idea how I will get there, but I believe that I must take it one step at a time. Which is why, under this, are 4 spheres I must concentrate on this year.

The first of the four areas which I am currently concentrating on is the Volunteer Lead position. Under this realm there are five sub-activities: In-service training, Site identification, Project design and management training, the Transformation of PC-UA’s pre-service training, and the SPA committee. The second sphere is our new project Core of Peace, which has 3 simple goals: 16 participant, 16 trainings, and 5 success stories. Next, is my work with the Kyiv based, Institute of Peace and Common Ground which is comprised of: Quantitative strategic planning matrix, Organizational capacity assessment, Implementation, and Monitoring and evaluation. The last sphere is language, which stands alone because it is the most important.

I do not feel the need to get into the weeds on these, because those details are subject to change. That’s why, under these spheres I wrote, true confidence is the willingness to grow, which reminds me each morning to take life as it comes to me. Even though life will not work out exactly how I imagine, I must be prepared to react to the unknown. I have told myself that I must say NO to anything not written on my window. However, there are many ways to get to my final vision and some activities over the next year may be outside the previously described. Adaptability is power when you are not afraid of the circumstances of growth. I hope that all my family and friends will accomplish their dreams, I also hope that they will support me in this journey. Cheers 😉

*These are the thoughts of Richard J. Roman and are not those of the Peace Corps or its affiliates.