There are many things that are difficult to appreciate when inside your comfort zone. For me, it is vital to not remain content. I strive to discover something new every day.
When at home, I try to take time to quietly reflect for awhile, maybe just 15 minutes a day. I am usually thinking, “I wish I had the chance to find different perspectives, meet different people, experience different places, and listen to different points of view regarding my everyday concerns.”
Now the opportunity is here: I am part of the PepsiCorps Pilot trip. I am in Ghana for a month with seven mates. We all met for the first time here, only 2 weeks go. (It is incredible; I feel like I’ve known all of them for a long time). We have diverse backgrounds, span a significant age range, come from different cultures, and represent an array of nationalities.
We share almost everything: feelings, time, efforts, emotions, projects, office, car, hotel, meals… but the Ghanaians are also showing us their way of living, facing life, and the most important one to me, their permanent good mood.
Back to the beginning. In Africa I have realized that “happiness is a choice.” We have all we need. In fact, more than we need to be fulfilled and yet very often we cannot find the pleasure in our lives. We feel a constant need to search for something else. This is our choice, “to be permanently unsatisfied.”
The Ghanaian people have chosen to be always happy, and I strive to shift, at least a little bit, from my typical outlook towards theirs.
I am fully aware it won’t be easy but it’s an excellent perspective to seek!!!
