Cambodia – Choosing Courage Over Excuses
The Story
Cambodia was my first stop on this journey, and it gave me more than I ever expected. I saw beauty and heartbreak, history and hope. I stood at sacred sites and tragic memorials, worshiped in a small international congregation, and shared bucket-list moments with people I love.
But of all the experiences, one stood out as a turning point: Kulen Waterfall. After my hip replacement, I had gotten into the habit of avoiding certain activities, hiding behind excuses about what I couldn’t or shouldn’t do. Add in my ongoing struggle with body image, and the thought of being the noticeably larger American in a swimsuit among so many petite Cambodians nearly kept me from the experience.
Yet something in me shifted that day. Almost unconsciously, I made a quiet, powerful decision: I would say yes. I would swim. I would be photographed. I would live fully in the moment.
Other Lessons Along the Way
The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
Visiting the Killing Fields was sobering and heartbreaking. I cannot comprehend the soulless evil that could even consider atrocities of this magnitude, let alone carry them out. More than three million lives were cut short, while Pol Pot lived to old age, surrounded by his grandchildren.
And yet, what astounded me most was the resilience of the Cambodian people. Though their wounds and scars run deep, they choose to live with joy and hope. Their strength reminds me that in my own small way, I can bring more light and love into the world.
Sunday Worship Reflections
Attending church in Phnom Penh with Allison and Colton opened my heart. I’ve often noticed that in developing nations, faith feels tangible, lived, and vital in a way that sometimes feels muted in more affluent places. But as I reflected, I realized my perceptions may say as much about me as about others.
That morning left me with two impressions: first, gratitude can arrive unexpectedly, even in ordinary moments; and second, faith is not about comparison—it’s about authenticity, however and wherever we live it.
Angkor Wat
Visiting Angkor Wat had been on my list for a very long time. To finally stand there—especially with Allison and Colton—was surreal. The sunrise, often called “the most famous in the world,” was breathtaking. In the faint light of dawn, as the temple revealed itself little by little, I felt overcome with emotion. It was more than seeing a world wonder—it was a reminder of human devotion, creativity, and the way faith can shape entire civilizations.
The Lesson
Of all these moments, the waterfall was the pinnacle. It taught me that courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it’s simply choosing not to let fear, excuses, or insecurity rob you of joy. Sometimes it’s deciding: I won’t miss this moment.
Beyond Travel
Cambodia as a whole showed me the contrast of life: beauty and tragedy, loss and resilience, sacred faith and simple gratitude. Each experience carried its own lesson, but together they reminded me that life is both fragile and resilient—and that courage and gratitude are always choices available to us.
One Year Later
Looking back now, more than a year later, I see Cambodia as the place where this trip truly began to change me. The courage I found at Kulen Waterfall, the perspective I gained at the Killing Fields, the gratitude I felt at church, and the awe of Angkor Wat—all of it still shapes me today. Cambodia cracked me open to live more fully, with both eyes open to pain and beauty, and a heart open to joy.
A Question for You
Where in your life are you letting insecurities, fear, or even numbness keep you from joy, gratitude, or awe? What would it look like to say yes instead?
Next Stop
From waterfalls to beaches—next up, Thailand.
