Celebration, Reflection, Thanksgiving

I’ve been fascinated with the new Travel Channel television series Meet the Natives USA. I find it very interesting to watch the reactions and hear the thoughts of individuals from a totally different society and way of life who suddenly find themselves in the middle of a capitalistic, individualistic, materialistic, you name it, lifestyle. It has been just fascinating watching five men from the Island of Tana, “traditional hunters and farmers, used to wearing grass skirts and penis sheaths, have no electricity or TV, and a very limited idea of the world beyond their tiny island,” getting a taste of the American life.

On the other end of the spectrum are the American hosts who are convinced that their lifestyle is the best in the world and are so proud to share it with the natives.

Maybe I enjoy watching the series because I too come from a world very different than where I find myself today and after living here for over 17 years, I continue to have questions about this society’s ‘must haves’ and ‘must dos’. Especially during this time of year when marketing is at its peak and everywhere you turn is a message to buy, buy, buy. It becomes a major challenge to keep the focus on the things that are truly important—faith, people and time. As a parent, the battle is twice (or maybe I should say thrice—for every one of my three children) as hard to deliver the message: it’s not about things, it’s about faith, people and time.

At a recent networking event, one woman expressed a similar sentiment when she said, “…when we come here (U.S.) we get caught up in this American life. Sometimes we don’t even acknowledge each other when we meet because we feel that we don’t know the other person well enough. This is not a value we learned before we came to this country.”

Remember that this time of year is one for celebration, reflection and thanksgiving. I challenge you to take a hard look at your values. Which ones should you hang on to and which ones need to be let go, so that you can fully appreciate the things that are most valuable in life: faith, people and time.

Everything else is just stuff.

Holiday Blessings and Best Wishes for the New Year!