US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

Zero. Nothing. Empty. That is what I am praying for this week. I don’t want an abundance. Not looking for an overflow.

This week, my cup does not need to run over. All I desire is to be empty…so that I can be filled.

Full cups have no room to be filled. After all, they are already full. Full of knowledge, full of experience, full of aspirations.

As I’ve gotten older, it has become very clear to me that only empty vessels can be filled. I’ve learned to appreciate emptiness. I actually yearn for it now.

My aspiration is to begin each day as an empty vessel, so that I will have room to be filled. When I am filled, I will have something to share with others. Empty vessels have nothing to give. That is why it is so important for me to be filled first, so that I can have something to share.

And my goal is to share and share and share until I have nothing left, until I am empty at the end of the day.

Then, the cycle can repeat itself the next day. Empty. Get filled. Eagerly share until I am empty again.

For me, “empty” means humility in knowing that I will never know enough. Empty means that despite degrees, certifications, experience and accolades that I will ALWAYS be a student. There will always be room for improvement.

Getting “filled” means having a deep appreciation for learning ANYTHING from anyone. I have learned important life lessons from both newborn babies and 100 year-olds alike.

Learning what to do is important. Learning what NOT to do is also important.

I often hear people talk (brag) about how many years experience they have. It’s one thing to have 10 years experience. It’s another thing to have 1 year experience 10 times. Learning. Never. Ends.

Takeaway: There is always something to learn and there is always someone to share it with.