Entering 2022 with unexpected lessons from the incredible and inspiring Colombians
I had no intention of writing a ‘new year’, ‘feel good’ post nor did I feel obliged to share an end-of-year reflection. Instead, I felt inspired to write about my immersion in Colombia and the people who are the soul of this incredible country. For once, my timing was right!
Spending a few days exploring the culture, I wanted to know more - how young people think, what are their aspirations, its economy growing despite the political tension, the past, the transformation. There seemed to be more to the people here - beyond the energy and joy they exuded.
And there is definitely a lot more than what meets the eye. In Medellin, I took in the history, the fear, pain, and suffering behind their smiles, and being called the second happiest country in the world. There were layers waiting to be peeled, stories waiting to be shared and heard, and sometimes even forgotten for recounting meant reliving the horror.
I do not wish to romanticize either their joy despite everything or their suffering but to share a lesson I got from both these aspects of Colombians. For suffering is definitely not fun and can test us to the limits, it only gets easier to talk about or reduce its intensity as the distinct memories fade over time or have exhausted us enough. And yet we have a choice. When situations and forces wear us down and push us close to our breaking point, we have a choice - to succumb or to rise.
The Colombians sure choose to rise. To embrace and hold on to the hope they had, for a better time, a better life, a better government. Though it is a choice that takes courage, it is ironically also a compulsion. For their love and value for life, big hearts, and believing in themselves to turn things around exceeds the suffering they have been through. So choosing to rebound, heal and rise is the only option for them.
Being here I can say, they sure may be tagged one of the happiest countries but if there is one quality that they would top in, (which is perhaps the reason for them claiming to be happy) it is la resilencia - their resilience. This has been significant for me especially because it is resilience, sometimes forced other times chosen, that has helped me tide over the last few years and upgrade to a better version. If I have learned one thing through the experiences, it is not giving up before my time is up - the importance of not gifting myself a premature defeat or denying myself a real chance at victory.
The last two years have tested our strength in many ways and we sure will need the resilience and fervour of Colombians to pull each other up; to recover, rebuild and rise.
So are you ready?
Salud!
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