In the past 5 months I have traveled for work&play through Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, now Kenya, and in the next week, Tanzania. The most consistent lesson that keeps astounding me, WAY more than any sightseeing, comes from my conversations with all these different types of people. Humans, regardless of race, are so smart and have the capability to do most anything: they just need the resources, the opportunity, and a culture of DRIVE to scoot them along.
I sat today for hours alongside Kenyans, some (not all) of whom work in the slums of Nairobi & have dedicated their lives to improving literacy for young girls/single moms/children in dangerous, brothel/crime/etc. ridden areas, and their energy was profoundly humbling. These people were all educated, spoke PERFECT English and used SAT-worthy vocabulary words that admittedly I don't even use, and most importantly have this crazy thirst to seek better resources/opportunities for their lives.
"It's hard for us with everything to understand what it's like to have nothing."
If we could all live with an ounce of this urgency/need to be better. Doesn't mean we have to go & save the world, just dude - be better. Be useful. Take your education seriously. Do something with the brain/opportunities/life you've been given. I am sad for those who I've seen throw their opportunities - especially in the Western World, where they are so, so fruitful - away.
It's also not fair. If anything, do it for the other people who don't have what we have.
No comments:
Post a Comment