A while back I Visited a beautiful yet sad country. I met people and then I returned a few months later to see them again and meet their families. I made connections with the people there and I can never let it go. We talk, I mostly listen. I hear their live, it’s their reality and I want to learn about it.
The perspective I gain every single day from these people has shifted my appreciation and outlook and desire to help the people of our earth in so many ways.
When I visited the second time I stayed in a local hotel, It was minutes from the home of the family and every day I would visit and eat their amazing food with them. We used the sister who spoke English and Spanish plus a translator to communicate. Thats still our method, I get messages and I eagerly translate it on https://www.deepl.com to hear what the news is now.
I know it isn’t good.
Here is a taste of some of the things I get humbled by all the time. A message from the mom of the group.
“Dear I know you are interested in coming back here and we are glad only that things are very tense around here. Lots of power outages. Up to 10 hours a day. But well we will always try not to let that affect our meeting whenever you decide.” -her
“I’ve heard some of the things that are going on. It bothers me that everyone has to deal with that on a daily basis. I want to come but my hands are tied and I’m kind of stuck. I’m hoping maybe in the fall I can come visit. I told __ all the time, I don’t require much, I can handle a lot too. I would really like to do as much as I can! I feel like our world is on the verge of a revolution, hopefully in a good way for all of us.” -me
“Well, our situation is really worrying, most of our young people are emigrating. Families separated or in very difficult conditions. We thank God what affects us the most are the blackouts because we all work and there is no lack of food. But it is unbearable to rest with so much heat and not being able to cool off even to sleep because there is no current. But we trust that this must change and even if it is far from me our children will find happiness and a better way of life. We never talked about this before but the situation has become unbearable. It will always be a pleasure to serve you. And to offer you the best we have with much affection. You will always be welcome in our humble home. Greetings to your mom.” – her
No matter where you are in your life and in the world. There is always room for empathy.
I share this with you so you can have your eyes opened a little wider just like mine. We are all level, we are all human. Some are privileged, some are not. This is life and we get to choose how we understand. I urge you to learn more, educate yourself and bring awareness to issues you feels strongly about. It takes talking about them.
As Fred Rogers said, “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.
Let’s start now.
Shelby
S. Olyschlager 
Leave a Reply