I’ve always been fascinated by the tradition of gap year. It’s not celebrated, for the most part, in the United States. However, the organization I work for is trying to change that. For the past eight months, I’ve been working with 18-22 years old American young adults who are taking that gap year (some after college graduation). During this time, they work through project goals that include finding out who they are, their purpose in life, how to live in community, and a plan for their future.

I wish I had done this. I think it would have prevented a lot of negative choices I made. So here I am., taking my gap year, at thirty years of age. It’s been incredible so far. Yet when recently asked the question, “Who are you?” I couldn’t come up with an answer. I know what I love. I know what I hate. I know what I’ve been through. I have plans for the future. But I haven’t answered that question. Who am I? What do I want to be when I grow up?

In a truly serendipitous moment, my husband sent me a link to an article about building an online business. In it, they profiled several businesses and the amazing ideas they had. One of them caught my eye. After a week of noodling, I signed up for a the summer 2010 Unravelling e-course.

From Susannah’s website:

The Unravelling process is a new way to view your world, taking time to appreciate the beauty around you. And we do this in the simplest way, we stop and look. Beginning with your feet, you’re going to go on aphoto safari into your own life to reconnect with who you are, where you’ve been and where you want to go next…Each week you’ll be given a photo assignment that focuses on an aspect of you and your life. As you complete each project you’ll unravel another layer, exploring your memories, reflection, alter ego and favourite places along the way…The writing exercises will support your photo projects and encourage greater self-awareness. Some of the assignments and exercises you’ll find quite easy, others you may find more challenging – the aim is to help you really see yourself and begin to tell your story so that by the end of the course you’ll have a new appreciation for your unique and precious life. You’ll also have a set of images that provide a fascinating insight into who you truly are.

I’ll be posting the photography and writing on my personal blog, Honeysuckle Life. At the end of it, I’m hoping that I’ll have a firmer grasp on what I want for the next few years of my life.