2011 Global Seva Challenge: Meet Vladimir

2011 Global Seva Challenge participant Abby Weiss

Meet Vladamir: a successful Haitian news anchor, whose life and physical appearance changed in the course of a few seconds 10 years ago. Vladamir, not a trained fireman or a medical professional, ran into a burning house to save the three children who were trapped inside. Without hesitation, he put the lives of others in front of his and was left with third degree burns covering 40% of his body.

We have been in Haiti for more than a week now and we’ve visited several orphanages. When we ask the person who heads up the organization why they do what they do, the answer has never been “I’ve always dreamt of running an orphanage.” Instead, it’s “I’m doing what needs to be done.” When I hear this, I think about Vladamir. I think of this one thing he said that really stuck with me: “If I wouldn’t have run into that burning house, I wouldn’t have saved three lives.”

I feel as though I am pretty tuned in to my intuition and gut instinct. However, there have been moments in my life that have been ruined because I let logic, self doubt, and fear get in my way. Questions like, “Will I look stupid?”; “Am I good enough?”; “Am I smart enough?” always arise and play over and over in my head.

But there was a moment yesterday when my self doubt, inner critic, and self consciousness didn’t get in the way. I stepped up and “pulled a Vladamir.” I did what needed to be done, and had I stopped long enough for logic or fear to get in the way, I would have been paralyzed by the unknown. Instead, I was guided by my heart, instinct, and inner knowing.

I don’t believe in coincidences. I met Vladamir for a reason. His story is a reminder to turn off the noise in my head and turn up the volume in my heart. My intention is to think less and “be” more.

Find out more info on Off the Mat, Into the World’s 2012 Global Seva Challenge to battle sex trafficking in India by clicking here.

by Abby Weiss

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This is Abby’s second Global Seva Challenge trip with Off the Mat, Into the World. Her family owns Breathe Yoga in Pittsford, New York, and their studio has fundraised for Global Seva every year for the last four years. This year, they raised more than $20,000 for Haiti.