Learning Life Lessons Through Travel

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I was just reflecting on my life this weekend and thinking how blessed I have been to have traveled to so many wonderful places in the world. I wish I could say that these reflections started so altruistically. It started as I was making my "To Do" list of places I need to go to before I die and started to have a pity party for myself because I haven't been to some of the places I feel I desperately need to go. And as I was ticking off my dream list, it dawned on me that I have been to some really amazing places and have been fortunate to have experienced, learned, observed and shared in so many enriching things. So stop being such a whiner....

The trip that had the most impact on my life forever was my trip to Mali, Africa. My little sis Carrie volunteered for the Peace Corps and spent 2 1/2 years there. Knowing that we would never get this kind of opportunity in our lives again, we jumped at planning this trip. After what felt like a couple hundred shots, lots of preparation, and stuffing large bags full of goods for Carrie's village family and friends, we were off for this unbelievable adventure.

"A traveler without observation is a bird without wings." - Saadi

I could go on and on and on for days about the impact of this trip, but for the purpose of this entry, the most valuable lesson I reflect on daily is that I am so thankful for everything I have and I appreciate it all. I work hard to be mindful of the simple things on a daily basis. From the fact that I live in a tiny little house with heat and don't have to watch my baby suffer and die in front of my eyes to the blessing of a toilet that flushes and toilet paper. Honestly, I try so hard to live simple and not waste anything. I put effort into recycling everything possible, not using plastic excessively, carrying a reusable bag for shopping at all times, not running the water while brushing my teeth, not throwing out food, showering every other day, giving of myself and anything I can to those in need, stopping to appreciate all of my blessings and thanking God for them and the list goes on. I am constantly aware of these types of things now and trying to incorporate them in my lifestyle as much as possible.

We are such a wasteful society and so many people don't even realize how blessed they truly are. I get so frustrated with this rampant attitude of entitlement. Why do people expect to have so much when they do so little? They should fall on their knees and thank God they were born into the families and places they are because it was just a sheer matter of luck. They could have easily been those precious kids I met in Mali.

The people I met in Mali were such poignant examples of how God wants us to be. They gave us so much and have so little. They were so welcoming to us and Carrie's family gave us all our own Mailian names and their last name which is such an honor. They were so concerned about the well-being and comfort of a bunch of complete strangers who could not speak their language. They feed us like kings when they barely eat any sustainance on a daily basis. They entertained us and had a dance in our honor, as if it was some celebration. The children flocked to us and just wanted to be around us. This is just a few of the examples of how completely selfless and Godly these people are. We could all learn so many things from them.

As Anne Frank has said: "No one has ever become poor by giving." We need to heed these words, as I have found giving makes you richer beyond your wildest dreams. It is simply what we are on this earth to do and I fear we are getting far away from that as a whole.