I have a lot to say today. I have been feeling like I have left a few things out recently and I want to go back and address them now. Some are important and some are not, but I do wish to remember all of them so I am sharing now.
Back in Portugal I observed some very beautiful things. I mean besides the scenery. I learned something that I think everyone knows but never takes the time to think about really. The language barrier alowed me to use my other sensors to experience things and to view my surroundings and understand them. A laugh is the same in any language. This honestly doesn't have to be thought of in a deep way, but simply putting it out there for the thought. It is true. No matter where you are from, what language you spek, your background, whatever it may be, when something is funny, it's funny and everyone laughs. It acts as a connector. I have been lucky enough to experience connectors before (with Kappa Delta- corny but true), but this one is different. It is more profound and abundant, wide reaching if you will. It bonds the world's people. It puts everyone on some sort of even plane. It makes an outsider a part of something bigger. I think that is why it was so moving when I figured it out. I wasn't even part of the joke and I don't know what provoked the laughter, but when I noticed it, it made me happy. It was a contagion caught and meant to be shared with the next person who needed it.
Similarly, love is universal. We have all heard it and we have probably witnessed some form of love that spans the continents and whatever. I don't mean love in a romantic sense. I don't really know what to call the sense I mean it in, so let me share the story and you tell me. We were on the long bus ride to Cabo da Roca and being outside of the general tourist location, there were a lot of locals. On the outskirts of Sintra the towns are quite and rural. The life is simple there and the income probably low. What I witnessed was at a bus stop in the middle of nowhere, a small boy (about 3 years old I suspect) and his grandfather (most likely) were waiting for their better half to return home. As soon as the bus rounded the corner, you could see the light in the child's eyes. As the woman got off the bus, the boy ran to her and embraced her. The tired woman she was 5 minutes before after a long day of work melted away as she lifted the boy into her arms. The love is what makes her days worth their trouble. The moment was so pure and separate from the world around them. It was humbling to share this moment and inspiring to share it. I don't think I ever really take the time to think about the things that people do for me day in and day out. I could really get down to the nitty gritty focusing on the smallest of deeds, but I want to focus on my parents and my mom in particular. I have been so lucky and blessed to have been given the life I have. I know everyone has the right to say this, but I want to really thank my mom for having that pure love for me and my family that she would bust her butt everyday of her life to give us something she didn't have. I am sure my mom would tell you she was lucky too, but I know that to be false. When my mom really told me about her childhood I was 21 years old. I hate that I took it all for granted that long honestly. I guess in my head I thought my parents were brought up like me. In a stable HOME with plenty and never wanting; with a family- a unit. Dad jokingly told stories about how he had it so hard, "Walking to and from school 10 miles in the snow, uphill both ways (which isn't possible p.s. I only just figured that one out)." I just assumed. That they were as blessed as I was. I cannot begin to describe the accomplishments my mother has undertaken. She is an inspiration and a beacon. Honestly, she started with so little and made so much. I have never seen someone suceed like she has. I am always impressed and forever grateful that she so deeply desired a better life for our family than the one she was raised in. I don't mean this to say at all that her family wasn't wonderful, but she took everything she had and she made it better. I can't say enough thanks to the woman who raised me; who taught me right from wrong; who painted my nails and blow dryed my hair; who taught me to cook and clean; made me practice reading, writing and arithmetic; who pushed me; who encouraged me; who punished me; who grew me to be the same woman she is. I would be lucky to be half the woman she is.
In other news, back in Portugal as well, I learned something about Cab drivers, or travel advice in general. Before you go on a trip anywhere (even down the street) you are told to be careful; you are warned against the dangers and recounted the worst case scenario stories. It goes without saying that we all received these type stories in bountiful earfulls before embarking on this adventure. I just want to put in a disclaimer that others don't really share: as a trusting person, I generally see the best in people until they give me a reason not to. In the case of the stories, I don't believe them until I experience them. Someone else's exchange shouldn't mar my opinion and it shouldn't cast premature judgement onto those who don't deserve it. A small example can be found with Cab drivers. People always have something bad to say about them hoodwinking you and taking advantage, etc etc. I am here to say that you should take it all with a grain of salt. I experienced three of the nicest people I met in Portugal in the Cabs. They were kind, inquistive, well-intentioned, helpful, gracious, good-humored souls. I always felt safe with them and never felt cheated. I am glad to have chatted with them and learned a little bit about their culture that you don't read about in museums or books. I just encourage everyone really to understand the dangers of certain things, but moreover, to see the best in people and trust. Everyone these days has trust issues. Get over that bullshit and trust people. You will almost always be impressed and probably better for it. I understand this isnt a perfect world and there are plenty of crazy people out there, but try to image how beautiful life could be if we didn't have the guard rails blocking our experiences.
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