Culture Diversity.

These last few days I have been an emotional wreck over things like discrimination and even us taking what we have for granted. I have been hearing so much lately as well that has to do with these things. This morning was probably the worst of it all, but this is what I discovered through it:

1.) With going to Fiji in 3 weeks, we have been talking a lot about manerisms and social differences. One of the things that stood out to me most was the fact that the term "fat" in Fiji is a complement. When someone calls you fat, they are saying you look healthy and that you are successful enough to feed yourself. When we Americans think of fat, we think of unattractive or unhealthy or what not... Do you see where I am going with this? Some girls are so skinny that when they get one little buldge in their stomach, they think they are fat, and it's the end of the world. Now don't get me wrong, I struggle with this too. But all in all, it's just sad. Why? Because there are some people in this world who would die to have a buldge in their stomach..called FOOD. We have food. We have the easiest access to food imaginable. And yet if we eat too much of it, we get sad. I looked at myself in the mirror this morning and thought, "Ugh.." and then I started to break down. Not because of my reflection, because I realized.. "How could I be so selfish?" I am blessed.

2.) While getting ready for work this morning, I was looking at my shoes for a pair to wear because the ones I always wear to work I had to throw away due to rain. I thought to myself, "I have no shoes to wear!" Once again, I broke down. I don't cry a lot.. ever. So this was an eye opener for me. Some people don't even have one pair of shoes. Who taught us to be so selfish? Why is it so "natural" for us to feel we need so many things?

3.) We are so blessed to have what we do. We have more than some people could ever imagine having. Sometimes, I think that we have way too much. One thing we don't have, though, is culture. Our busy, busy schedules, daycares, iphones, televisions, radios, computers, etc., block us from having a culture. When Americans look at other countries like Fiji or Ecuador, they think that they need help and that we need to cure them of something.. But what most don't notice is that there is nothing to be cured. They are happy. Even the girls who were rescued from sex trade are happy and have so much love to share. And us having "everything".. are happy? No.. not in the same way. Other cultures are content. We think that we have to have more to be happy.. why?

I guess what I realized, in a nutshell, is that we have so much and it truely is sad how much we take for granted. Next time you think about something that you wish you had and get upset that you don't have it, think about what you DO have. I am going to try and do the same. Look at yourself as a child of God. We are all so beautiful and we are way too hard on ourselves.. Think about how God sees you. He sees you as the most beautiful being. Every one of us.. Why is that? Because it is true.

We are blessed.