It was wonderful to read your stories and ideas based on last week’s photo prompt. Some of you followed a thread in line with my story, and some of you spun into a different path. Here is my story…
I want to try something new, flowing from the photo prompt. I wanted to tell the story visually, so I’ve made a video.
[Note: To watch the video in high quality (significantly better), please go to this YouTube link and click "Watch in High Quality" on the bottom right of the video.]
With endless talk of the economic crisis swirling about our heads, I can’t help but point out that everything is relative. Push ahead with what you have. If these lovely girls can smile genuinely despite where they live and work, can you?
Add your comments below, or click the title of this post if no comment form is visible!
If you enjoy this blog, I invite you to subscribe by e-mail or by RSS reader (links are near the top of the sidebar).
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
A very beautiful video and a very good point. One of my sponsored children lives in Zimbabwe, and compared to what his country is suffering, we are in paradise.
Joely Black´s last blog post..How Twitter helped me work out that the universe is hitting me over the head with a bunch of metaphorical cats
That certainly gives me no reason to complain. Despite being jobless, my quality of life is greater than those sifting trash… yet some seem happier than me. And that gives me a reason to try harder!
Ryan´s last blog post..Would you please poor gas on my flames?
Perspective is everything. Thanks for your unique perspective. We can get so bogged down in our own woes, economically and otherwise, that we often lose the ability to perceive how others in our world live. Your niche with a US audience can be to relate what you are seeing to what we may be facing. I especially liked the visual depiction and the music; they soften it into a an insightful way for us to consider our attitudes rather than a blast at us for our faults.
TJ Hirst´s last blog post..Redefining Perseverance
As I think of children in those situations I rarely think of happy children, yet clearly, they have something to smile about. Makes me go hmmm about happiness. Great offering Joe, thank you!
I can’t view the video from work (I’m on my break, eh), but will watch it from home. However, from the comments, I take it that these children are content and having fun. I have always had a problem with the concept of ‘mission’ work. To improve health and safety conditions, yes. We have an obligation to that to every single person on this planet. However, to decide what makes someone happy or not (be it a religious belief, cultural practice, etc) is extremely arrogant and egotistical. True happiness (not the trappings of happiness) is intrinsic, and cannot be given or forced upon anyone. I have no more right to go across the world and tell someone what will make him happy, than I have going next door and telling my neighbour what will make him happy.
/end of Panther rant
Wow, you really do put things into perspective. I’ve been having a particularly difficult week and I found myself complaining to myself and others about how hard I have it. Sometimes it does take a little reminder to realize that no matter how hard I think my life is, there are always people much worse off who complain a lot less — and who actually enjoy life!
On a side note, what is that music in the background? Sounded a little Hebrew/French-esque.
Very beautiful, Zoe. I liked this very much.
jenx67´s last blog post..~my factory memoir~
@ Joely – I do think it’s useful simply to remind ourselves from time to time of what we *do* have, rather than constantly focusing on absence…
@ Ryan – I was struck by how warm these kids were. I’m not trying to say they were happy to live in the dump, but rather that they were capable of being positive *despite* their environment. They were really lovely, practicing their English and playing around.
@ TJ – I’m really happy you saw it this way. I did not at all want to make this a guilt-inducing video — I was aiming for just what you described, a new insight that allows us to view our lives in a different frame.
@ Trina – It really does make you take a step back. The kids have more than their share of hardships, but their reactions and attitudes are admirable.
@ Urban Panther – I’m not sure if that rant is directed at me. I’ll clarify, either way. We were at the dump to bring food to 400 kids — absolutely no religious or other affiliation. I made no claim that these kids were happy, but rather that were able to have a positive attitude, despite their living conditions. I found this utterly admirable.
This video was not at all meant as a “You should be happier than you are!” finger-pointing to viewers. It was intended to offer a perspective that many people have not seen. As a way to remember that our *reactions* and *attitudes* (which we can control) toward external circumstances can sometimes affect us just as much, or more, than those circumstances we cannot always control.
I hope you’ll see that when you watch the video
.
@ Caren – Lovely to see you here
. The music is from Idan Raichel’s last album (I think) — so yes, Hebrew!
@ Jenx67 – Thank you so much. I actually found making the video really interesting, and I’d like to do more little projects like this.
@Zoe – most definitely NOT directed at you
And no I didn’t take it to mean that anybody should be happier than they are in comparison to someone else’s life conditions. It was, actually, along the line of what you said in your comment back to me. My rant, therefore, was perhaps not directly related to your video, but caused me to go off on a tangent. (I do that sometimes *grin*) In that there are people, who think that other people can’t be positive given their life circumstances and then go off to ‘save’ these people thinking they couldn’t possibly be positive, content, happy, whatever, because their life circumstances don’t match those of the saver.
(Wow! That last sentence was confusing!)
Hard to put into words, because it is based on my reactions to people I have encountered in my life.
Urban Panther´s last blog post..Ruined dinner
Sometimes I come back to see what others have added, and this time I see that I let a most grievous typo occur. Sorry Zoe, there was no ‘Joe’ I was trying to acknowledge.
Further, I am glad I read more on Urban Panthers thoughts. It is a difficult concept to get out in one clear sentence to be sure. I often ponder the well intentioned thoughts of how the ‘have nots’ couldnt possibly be happy living a certain way…I believe it is misguided at best.
@ Urban Panther – It sounds like we’re very much on the same page. I’m also glad that we had this little discussion, because it gave me a chance to clarify my intent for everyone reading
. I do know what you are talking about, and it really is another form of imperialism.
@ Trina – No need to apologize for the typo — happens to the best of us
. I think it’s great that Urban Panther brought those issues to the discussion as well — they are real, and relevant.
From this discussion, I get the feeling that people are looking at the presented content through their own reality. We Americans tend to compare every other culture and lifestyle to our own, which is totally unrealistic.
I feel that before we can judge these young children as being “uncared for” and “unloved” we must realize that this life is all they have ever known. If there is nothing to compare it to, then your life can be good or bad. Ask any of them about living in a home w/ 3 bathrooms and a tennis court, and they will give you a blank stare, not knowing what it is you speak of, because their lives have never been lived that way.
If we take our comfortable little selves and place it in that dump, there is no idea in my military mind that we would be unhappy and would spend the rest of our lives bemoaning our fate. Since these youngsters have never known an affluent lifestyle, they can hardly miss it. I am sure that they don’t sit in front of a 42″ plasma TV and watch “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” They would undoubtedly find great humor in that if they did.
Granted, conditions here are deplorable. I cannot help but think that seeing these happy faces means that they are comfortable with their station in life. Not everyone needs “saving.”
Peace,
Alden~
This is a great reminder. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this video, Zoë,
what strikes me most: how clean are these children! No dirt on their faces nor even on their clothes. Someone is working very hard there and putting a great effort into dignity, probably without a washing machine, probably with an excruciating long work day. That really touches me on a deep emotional level.
There is love and dignity to be found at the garbage dump, and there are shabby, neglected, overweight children to be found in first class homes in front of 42″ plasma TVs. What does that tell about values?
Detlef Cordes´s last blog post..Caring, Sharing, Weird Dialogue
HI Zoe,
Thanks for the reminder of how lucky I am. To have every opportunity in life, to have a job I like, money, a nice house, a wonderful family, and so much more. To have the freedom to express myself, have clean water, eat good food and drive a car. I am too foten guilty af thinking about what I want next to realise that I already have everything I need, and so much more.
curiousjessica´s last blog post..How to prepare for a marathon writing weekend
apologies for the crappy spelling
darn keyboard!
curiousjessica´s last blog post..How to prepare for a marathon writing weekend
@ Alden – I think the comments here have indicated that people are open to these different perspectives — but it certainly is a stark change from what most of us would assume…
The children and families working there know they would probably be safer and more secure working in a factory, even — they just don’t have those opportunities now. They need food and medical care, which is being offered but not on a daily basis.
But you’re very right to point out that our reactions are strongly based on what we’ve known, what we are used to. But I also think we are capable of consciously changing those reactions.
@ Bamboo – Being able to share new perspectives is what makes me love blogging
@ Detlef – That is exactly what struck me too! To see that they took control where they could — that dignity. Thank you for sharing your impressions.
@ curiousjessica – I think the key is to be aware of how much we have, while embracing our opportunities. If we are aware and therefore making the most of them, we are not wasting what we have been granted… and we can work to spread opportunity.
{ 1 trackback }