[ Bogota ] Mas No Es Mejor
"Let it pass; April is over, April is over. There are all kinds of love in the world, but never the same love twice."
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On one of my tours in Colombia, our tour guide explained the country's significant connection to Mother Nature. With a geographical location reliant on tropical behavior and closeness to the equator, it is part of Colombia's culture to respect its relationship with the Earth in order to cultivate the spirited heart this country holds. They call it the
power of balance
--a deep sense of give and take among the powers of Mother Nature. It dates back to the days of discovery when the Spanish first landed on Colombian territory and capitalized on gold, soon becoming the ritualized symbol of status and luxury. There are tons of stories detailing this era, but more importantly the huge role Mother Nature played in transcending culture. Fast forward to present day, and the same role is still evident.
I read a statement graffitied on one of the art murals that said
Mas no es mejor
, or "More is not better". And thinking back to the idea of balance, I realized it all tied together. What is more is not what is necessary. Quantity doesn't mean better. It is all about finding the perfect balance amongst everything.
Balance
. That word really grabs my attention. I spend each day struggling with personal demons and challenges, questioning my efforts and worrying about my future. I'm teetering heavily on the side of perfection and happiness solely dependent on overall success or the bigger picture. I feel outweighed and unfavorably winded by my own strive for wanting more. The opposite end sitting high above with not enough to even out my side of burden. But the little victories I fail to pride myself on are like the ton of feathers to my ton of brick. They may not carry the mass I hope to destine but they hold weight nonetheless and enough to provide a sense of symmetry. This is balance. It isn't about quantifying our achievements but how we perceive them to weigh out each other. Not everything has to be black and white or one extreme to another, but rather what are the neutralizers and how can we leverage our happiness to come from the little successes, too.
Lesson #2: Allow the power of balance guide you to see that more is only better if it means acknowledging these little victories as harmony to your happiness.
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