Last week, I wrote about my extreme discomfort, and the things that I was learning from being uncomfortable. Upon reflection, I have realized that in addition to my extreme discomfort, I am also feeling extremely grateful, and every day, I am learning to be even more grateful.
This week, we took the kids to Santa Cruz to celebrate their birthdays with a movie. While we were driving around the city one of the kids, Isias, kept eagerly telling me “Tía, Mira!!! Mira Tía!!” (Look it! Look it!) I would look out the window and ask him “what am I looking at?” And he would say “the buildings! They are so tall!” Or “there are so many cars!” Or “That sign has so many colors!”
I had driven past these same sights hours before, thinking nothing of it. But, Isias was so amazed at the world around him. He found beauty in the most mundane things. He found gratitude and love in his everyday life.
The more I thought about this, the more I realized, this is really what the kids are doing everyday. The boys in San Francisco took their simple dirt filled front yard, and turned it into a garden complete with hand painted stones and a well. The girls in Mariana planted flowers along the path to their house. Every child took such care and time making special decorations for one another for Día de Amistad. Because they choose to see beauty in the world around them. And when they can’t see beauty, they create it.
So I have decided to start to make a point to see the beauty in the world around me. Here’s a list of what I have so far
I am grateful for my people who are giving me the emotional support to go through this journey.
I am grateful for my parents, and that I have parents, and that I have a strong and loving relationship with my parents.
I am grateful that I get my own bedroom and that there’s not that many spiders in it.
I am grateful that I have a bathroom with a door that closes.
I am grateful that I have running shoes instead of flip flops.
I am grateful for bug spray.
I am grateful that I grew up in a country with strong education and that I got to go to school everyday.
I am grateful that I can read.
I am grateful that the home has wifi.
I am grateful that I can choose not to eat the food that I don’t want to eat.
I am grateful that I can afford to leave the home for my time off.
I am grateful that I can ask for a hug from Miguel, and always get one.
I am grateful that there is a gym here.
I am grateful for the tools to make my garden.
I am grateful that I can speak a foreign language.
I am grateful for people with patience who help me when I mess up words in that foreign language.
I am grateful for the internet.
I am grateful that I’m not the only person here who speaks English.
I am grateful that I have to speak Spanish most of the time.
I am grateful for the flexibility that my volunteer position offers me.
I am grateful that the people here are receptive to having me here.
I am grateful for my confidence.
I am grateful for my strength.
I am grateful that I was raised with an open mind.
I am grateful that I was taught to love endlessly, recklessly, and unconditionally.
I am grateful for my relationship with God that reminds me to love endlessly, recklessly, and unconditionally.
I am grateful that when I don’t feel love, I can always go to San Martin and they will give me love.
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