A came across this inspiring story of this person who after their vist to Morocco managed to see things in a different light , and i loved it so much that i wanted to share it with you .
For as long as I can remember I have struggled with my anxiety. After I left university I was really unsure about what I wanted from life and my anxiety became worse.
I made friends with a Moroccan woman at work. She went back to Morocco and one day invited me to visit her and her family. I really wanted to, but I would have to travel there alone and I knew we would be in a very rural and remote area. How would I cope with my anxiety?
Then one day I woke up and it dawned on me that I had a life to live. I could choose to let anxiety control me or I could go to Morocco and experience something really different.
I was 23 years old and had never been out of the UK alone. I set off on my journey to Morocco, getting a plane to Spain, a three-hour bus ride to Algeciras, and a ferry to Ceuta where my friend was waiting for me to take me through the Moroccan border. The journey to Morocco changed something inside me. I felt liberated by the experience - and I'd managed to cope with my anxiety. The sense of achievement was overwhelming and still to this day when I get scared of going somewhere alone, I remember my journey to an unknown land and how good it felt when I arrived in Morocco - it reminds me that I can go anywhere.
When I arrived in Morocco I was so grateful for the generous welcome I received. My friends' family had arranged a welcome party for me and there was singing and dancing. They were so loving towards me - accepting me for who I was and I quickly felt at ease. This feeling has stayed with me over the years. I knew that I needed to stop worrying about what other people thought about me, that I had to accept myself for who I am. This moment of love felt in a far away village reminded me that I am 'good enough' which in turn helped to reduce my anxiety.
The next day, in the morning light, I saw the area where we were. I was shocked by how rural it was - and the realisation that these people had very few resources.
In the forthcoming days, I went beyond the village and travelled around Morocco. We went to Marrakesh and explored the Atlas mountains. We watched a magical story of Aladdin acted out by belly dancers and men on horses. There were acrobats, story tellers, drummers, snake charmers and dancers. We had the most amazing food, too - lots of fresh fruit and vegetables which melted in my mouth. We visited Moroccan souks, and when we got lost we just laughed. As the days went on, I realised how much life is for living. I knew if I could overcome my anxiety that I could spend a lifetime experiencing many more magical adventures.
At the end of my stay something inside me had changed. I realised I hadn't felt anxious or had a panic attack for nearly two weeks and I felt like I was free. There was something about being in Morocco that allowed me to express myself on a spiritual level and this was accepted by everyone around me. You weren't considered 'mad' or 'strange', in fact it was encouraged.
The people celebrated life and each other on a daily basis, always hugging and kissing - not just family, but me, too! They ate family meals around the table every day and were always singing and dancing. The sense of love and acceptance has had a profound affect on both the way I see life and the way I see myself. This has stayed with me and made me a stronger and more confident person.
Spending time in this culture helped me to realise what is important in life, what really matters, and with that my anxiety vanished. When I returned home I was much more proactive in challenging the things that made me anxious. I was determined to live my life to the full and experience as much as I could - and so far I have. I was able to get over my anxiety and now I help others with the same issues. Working with people, helping them overcome their anxiety, is how I can share the love that was given to me in Morocco.
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/journey-morocco-inspired-end-anxiety-160300032.html
