This post includes two reflections inspired by a fine woman I met named Christine. Having Christine along as part of our Costa Rican journey was a pleasure and maybe a good friend, even from a distance since she's from Florida/Georgia.
We have met so many beautiful souls in our travels. It's truly one of the highlights of the lifestyle we are currently living. Christine's own "thinking out loud" inspired this reflection and learning. Relationships are great this way, no matter how short or long they are. They bless my life beyond compare.
First, when we were on San Lucas, after hearing the story of the nurse which permanently imbedded the creepy feeling in us, Christine mused out loud why people are drawn to places like San Lucas. We didn't discuss for long, but the general idea was that all people have a little evil in them, a shadow side of sorts and some morbid curiosity. Christine concluded this might explain why people participate in violent media through watching or playing.
As I thought further about it over the next few days and weeks after the tour, I have a few other thoughts. I believe what Christine said, about the shadow side and the intake of violent content, which is also desensitizing. And maybe it explains why my highly sensitive daughter enjoys horror films and heavy metal music. There are people drawn to haunted places, intrigued by ghost hunting, and alternate dimensions such as spirit worlds. There is an entire social media following for these topics.
I wanted to answer for myself why I would visit a place like San Lucas. For me, its history. I love old structures. I love taking my mind back in time to imagine who walked there before me. I don't necessarily believe in ghosts, and I am not seeking a spiritual experience but there is an essence of the people who were there. This is what fascinates me. I, unlike my daughter, don't appreciate creepy shows and loud music. Those things rattle my senses. Not being prepared for San Lucas had that effect. I prefer things to be tranquil.
But I think it's good for society to preserve places like San Lucas, slave plantations, and Auschwitz. We can't ignore and cover up the pain and suffering of humankind. As unpleasant as it is to be confronted with the realities of life in these places, to recognize and remember that REAL human people with emotions and their own set of experiences in life lived through some horrendous events, many times at the hands, choices, and acts of OTHER people.
We all came into the world the same way, but we don't all have the same footing in life. Who is to judge who is more fortunate? Is a child born to rich parents more fortunate than a child born in poverty? Is a child born with a disability less fortunate than a child with high intelligence? There are a billion examples I could write here. The thing is, every single child of the universe or God or whatever you believe, has some kind of fortune, it just comes down to how its defined.
For my part, I want to use these sorts of places, reminders, and experiences as an opportunity to further develop my compassion, empathy, humility, and gratitude. Why do I have an opportunity for the life I have? Why do I have the gifts, in all aspects, mentally, spiritually, physically, that I have? I truly don't know.
I know this: I need to not take a single moment for granted because I only have THIS moment. Each one is a snapshot. The past is gone, and the future isn't created yet. THIS moment is the one that counts. This moment includes the people in it with me. The people are here with me for a reason. I often don't do a great job loving them, but I hope to keep practicing. Sometimes I'm even afraid to love them but I don't want to be. I want to embrace and appreciate the opportunity to do so.
Secondly, later on the beach, Christine and I had a chance to get to know each other a little more. Besides some personal challenges she shared (the lady is a She-Rah!), she asked me which of us, Clark or me, is the adventurous one and thought perhaps Clark. I think we are both adventurous in different but complimentary ways.
Clark leans into spontaneity and having the freedom of no plan. He just wants to go right now. My adventurousness is more about the pursuit of knowledge and intense curiosity of the unknown. I do prefer the security of knowing at least a little about what I'm getting into. In this way, we push and pull each other.
While thinking on this, I recalled a time as a college kid my dad asked me if I felt like a vagabond. I don't remember what I said. I don't think the moving around really bothered me though. I'm not sure I need to be anchored to a place, at least not yet, not at this time in my life. My anchors are my faith and my "people" (relationships). I expect this to be different as a I age, and my kids further develop their own paths. But maybe this is, in part, what attracted me to service-oriented jobs like waitressing, teaching, and nursing.
People are never boring with respect to me. They are a little like puzzles to figure out or a good English garden maze. There's always another corner to find or re-discover. When you combine people together, the dynamic among the people becomes the puzzle. I love teaching a classroom for this reason. Right when I get one class (mostly) figured out, it's time for a new one.
People aren't always completely solved because they frequently change, which is a fact of life. If a person doesn't want change, too bad. There will be change. From my perspective, traveling, exploring, figures into this equation. Throwing in a language barrier has added another level but I have seen its possible to still appreciate a relationship with someone through a language barrier. The resilience of the human experience is astounding. My goal is to continuously strive to appreciate how all the working parts miraculously come together.
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