Fill your life with experiences…

Point to Ponder: “Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.” 

 Story Line: For this wonderful week of holidays and festivals, I like to share some memorable experiences during our travel to Costa Rica, Canadá, Peru and Ecuador this year. Some were nostalgic, some unique and from each one offered new learnings. 

Human Feelings Are Universal. 
Upper Left: Daughter trying to convince Father to stop protesting against the President in the town center Lima, with armed guards only a few feet away. ( update: three months later that  President was removed by Peru’s senate for corruption)  Lower Left: Cooking healthy vegetarian meal in Costa Rica. Center: A five years old negotiating with fruit vendors to get more fruits for his family. The lady was very kind and gave him more for his money. Right: Grandma taking care of granddaughter ( piggyback) while weaving beautiful clothes. A  little later her daughter arrives to pick up the little one.  ( Reminded me of our mother in law taking care of our daughter whenever we went out)

 

Learning from Nature

UL: Rare Golden Howler Monkey in Costa Rica. Sad to learn that New research suggests that it may be due to pesticide use. LL: Hawkish Manners: A Hawk waiting for the other to finish meal before taking his/her turn. Center: ET Already Home. Where do you think the idea of ET character originated? Galápagos, Ecuador. Right Column: Amazing experience of watching Scarlet Macaws waiting for Blue Green Parakeets to go for mineral rich meal first. They want to ensure there are no predators there. ( like in wartimes, sending Monkeys to blow up grenades before army marches in) Only after they are sure it’s safe, they came down and drive away Parakeets to enjoy the rest of the meal. 

Goose Bumps Moments

UL Pointing at the spot in left field: Memories of World Series Game 6, Toronto Blue Jays vs Philadelphia Eagles. Bottom of ninth Phillies leading 6-5 and Joe Carter of Blue Jay comes to bat against Phillies pitcher Mitch Williams ( Wild Thing). on a two strike pitch, Joe Carter hit an inside pitch just over the left field fence for a three-run walk-off home run, giving the Blue Jays a come-from-behind 8–6 victory, and the World Series crown.  Watching that spot gave me goose bumps as I still remember exact spot in the parking lot I was listening to the game in Palo Alto, California.

UR: on each side of equator line in different hemispheres (North and South). Ecuador 

 LL: Human Created Wonder: Nazca Lines, Peru. Numerous geoglyphs ranging from 400 meters to 1100 meters long created 2000 years ago. Can see the entire figures only from the planes. ( Must Visit). 16023 height on the way to Colca Canyon, Peru. Prepare well before venturing into high altitude adventures.  LR: Chinese were there 100 plus years ago: No matter where we went, small town, big town; Costa Rica, Canadá, Peru and Ecuador, Chinese immigrants significant contributions were visible. This photo is from Quensel, a small town in British Columbia, Canada. 

 

Reflection: A long time ago, I was asked a question: “How will you measure your life?” 

My simplistic answer was “By sum total of experiences”.  

People have their own views about this journey called Life and there will be many different answers. 

For me: In this journey called Life, every day we are faced with different situations and each one results in some learning experience. Sometimes we have done good and other times not so good ( as measured by our standards). In some situations we made positive contributions and in some not so. 

 

But in the end, in each experience there is some learning and an opportunity for growing to be better than what we were yesterday. 

Comments

[Oregon Friend]

Thank you for another wonderful piece. All experiences make up who we are, both the good and the not so good. They teach us lessons from which we all learn (if we are self aware).

[Carol]

No waste! Enjoy all precious experiences life has to offer, exuding kindness along the way. Thanks for the inspiration! Merry Xmas with all that it stands for!

[SP ( met at Fairchild in 1983)]

Thanks for sharing your travel experiences with us. I really enjoy each and every episode that you send and I do not say Thank you for doing so as frequently! A BIG THANKS to you my friend for taking time to write experiences and share
Your wisdoms with us! That will be your legacy!

Happy Holidays and enjoy the season with your grand kids and loved one. Merry Christmas and Wishing you Happy and Healthy 2023!

[Anand]

Dear Friends
Thanks for your encouraging feedback. Yes Life is a constant learning adventure and for that old saying by Aldous Huxley “Experience is not what happens to a person. It is what a person does with what happens to him/her”. 🌅🙏🏼
PS Your feedback is fuel that keeps me going with my passion to share my life experiences. Thank You.

[FE-Japan]

True. May we leave this world better than we found it.😊 Merry Christmas, Anand and family! 🎄

[MC-Singapore]

Thank you Anand, can't agree with you more about experiences versus stuff! Thanks for sharing your "goosebump" moments!

[Mary]

Such wonderful memories you shared. Thank you, I wish you and your family all the blessings and health this season offers and a blessed new year!! Merry Christmas!