I learned a valuable lesson this week from the Leavitt Institute's Ukrainian "handler, confidant and guardian," Olga Kupriyevych. (Olga is pictured here with Ukrainian First Lady, Katerina Yushchenko). On Tuesday night we were walking past the myriad humble food vendors lining the sidewalks near the Byeresteyska Metro station, when Olga spied some very nice looking potatoes. "Oh," she said. "I need some potatoes." She then reached in her blue briefcase and pulled out a large, sturdy plastic sack. She purchased the potatoes and stowed them in the bag, and we were on our way.
She later explained that growing up in a small village north of Kyiv, her grandfather taught her that she should always carry an extra bag. He called this an "авоска," which means, "just in case." Thus, "just in case" you saw something along your way that you needed, you could immediately buy it and place it in your "avoska" without having to return home for something to carry it in.
There is great wisdom in carrying an "avoska" in our journeys. We ought never to be so smug to think that we know it all, or we have all that we can ever need. There will be rich stores of experience, knowledge, friendship and Wisdom along our paths. When we meet someone new, or attain some new insight--think thoughts we have never had before--we should pull out our "avoskas," and go on our way rejoicing. Thanks, Olga, for sharing your rich experience and perspective with me these past two weeks. I will carry them in my "avoska" forevermore.
