Alrighty, I been really reflecting on this night and I hope I can say something of as equal excellence that I learned that night as it the night felt to me.
So long story short my host mom is a really rad woman, is the president of this women's community club, and they were having a banquet to celebrate awarding a community group best costume in the parade and Festival the city has every September. The festival is all about the dance of the dead. Which is essential to remember that this life is special and even leaving it needs to be celebrated as something remarkable. This festival is a big deal like these people aren't messing around. Anyway, she let me tag along and since we aren't in tourist territory there was basically no one who spoke English. I stood awkwardly by one of F's friends and then when it came time to sit I ended up with this man, L, and the Governor for the district and his wife. All of which spoke English, I was delighted, to say the least. They were all so charming and I loved listening to L translate the program and tell me what he does. He said something about Italian culture and how nothing is done on accident, everything is made a certain way for a reason. Whether that be because it makes something taste the best, or because that's how it was done historically or whatever. And I thought that was really special. I never felt that kind of depth from my culture. But really I think that fact is what makes Italian, or even European culture for that matter, feel so magical if you will. These people don't keep their shops open if they don't want too. They pride themselves on making food something that is in the center of fond memories and experiences. I think I have been changed by this trip for the better. I feel like now I carry the mindset that genuinely we have to make this moment count. We really don't have to do anything we don't want to do. I say that not in the lets-never-go-back-to-work-and-stop-doing-things-we-should-because-I-dont-feel-like-it way. I mean if you don't like where you see yourself going STOP GOING THERE. We live in the greatest country on this planet with limitless opportunities. You don't have to be a slave to who you think you should be, or who others are telling you to be. L's wife is a gynecologist who studied in Portland for a while but gets to enjoy her days in Italy now. Last week I had dinner with a French woman who grew up in France, felt she had lost herself, traveled all over the world and now makes wine, even is considered a specialist and just seems so pleased with her life. These people are on to something. We CAN live happy, meaningful, successful lives if we decide to make choices that lead us there. I guess maybe it was just me but I felt so inspired by everything that night. I felt like I saw a new way to achieve my goals. I do believe it is sincerely an insult if we are wasting days of this precious life God has granted us by not accomplishing something. If we aren't creating or developing or learning. If we feel stuck with our lives it's only because we are choosing that. Consciously or not. I hope I can remember this and apply it to my life for as long as I'm here.
I feel like I may be off on a tangent but really all I'm trying to say is life can be so rich and joyful if we value things that make it so.
So long story short my host mom is a really rad woman, is the president of this women's community club, and they were having a banquet to celebrate awarding a community group best costume in the parade and Festival the city has every September. The festival is all about the dance of the dead. Which is essential to remember that this life is special and even leaving it needs to be celebrated as something remarkable. This festival is a big deal like these people aren't messing around. Anyway, she let me tag along and since we aren't in tourist territory there was basically no one who spoke English. I stood awkwardly by one of F's friends and then when it came time to sit I ended up with this man, L, and the Governor for the district and his wife. All of which spoke English, I was delighted, to say the least. They were all so charming and I loved listening to L translate the program and tell me what he does. He said something about Italian culture and how nothing is done on accident, everything is made a certain way for a reason. Whether that be because it makes something taste the best, or because that's how it was done historically or whatever. And I thought that was really special. I never felt that kind of depth from my culture. But really I think that fact is what makes Italian, or even European culture for that matter, feel so magical if you will. These people don't keep their shops open if they don't want too. They pride themselves on making food something that is in the center of fond memories and experiences. I think I have been changed by this trip for the better. I feel like now I carry the mindset that genuinely we have to make this moment count. We really don't have to do anything we don't want to do. I say that not in the lets-never-go-back-to-work-and-stop-doing-things-we-should-because-I-dont-feel-like-it way. I mean if you don't like where you see yourself going STOP GOING THERE. We live in the greatest country on this planet with limitless opportunities. You don't have to be a slave to who you think you should be, or who others are telling you to be. L's wife is a gynecologist who studied in Portland for a while but gets to enjoy her days in Italy now. Last week I had dinner with a French woman who grew up in France, felt she had lost herself, traveled all over the world and now makes wine, even is considered a specialist and just seems so pleased with her life. These people are on to something. We CAN live happy, meaningful, successful lives if we decide to make choices that lead us there. I guess maybe it was just me but I felt so inspired by everything that night. I felt like I saw a new way to achieve my goals. I do believe it is sincerely an insult if we are wasting days of this precious life God has granted us by not accomplishing something. If we aren't creating or developing or learning. If we feel stuck with our lives it's only because we are choosing that. Consciously or not. I hope I can remember this and apply it to my life for as long as I'm here.
I feel like I may be off on a tangent but really all I'm trying to say is life can be so rich and joyful if we value things that make it so.
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