Photo Credit: Morgana Schmidt in Chuuk, Micronesia
After having lived in Third world country conditions, I finally understand why we are called spoiled in America. We have 6-shelved sections for body lotion at 11 different grocery/convenience stores. Many other places globally have MAYBE three choices if not just one.
I came to understand this beginning when I returned home from my year teaching in Micronesia.
See, upon going there, I knew what I was going to and welcomed the simplistic-life idea. The remote-island life came relatively easy. I mentally prepared myself to ladle-bathe, eat fish every day, sleep on a 1-inch thick mat mounted on slates of wood, and survive on minimal personal supplies. I hardly spent a moment’s thought on the lifestyle during my entire time there.
Not until I was standing in line at a Starbucks at the San Francisco Airport on my way home did I understand Culture Shock.
The barista asked me all sorts of questions, “What size, dark, medium, or light? Flavor? Milk? 2% or skim? Room for cream?” I stood there staring with my mouth open. After realizing I was immobilized and terrified, I said, “Just a coffee?” She repeated her questions, annoyed.
After deciding on no coffee at all, I looked around me and was absolutely floored with how much “stuff” was everywhere; people pushing in a rush to get in line to get more “stuff”.
Grocery stores, gas stations, and the internet became far too overwhelming for me in the months after returning home. I hid. It took almost a full year for me to reacclimate to America and then I was right back in the thick of it all.
Two years later, I recall swiping through dating apps and thinking, “How spoiled am I?!” I could literally shop for dates on my hand-held device while sitting on my couch. That was the moment I realized why all the either teachers called us Americans spoiled in Micronesia. I can pick from a variety of literally anything at any given point throughout my day. How silly!!
Actually, how blind… how blind do all of these choices make me to what I actually do have? This thought was pivotal for me.
No wonder my dating life was a mess. I was ashamed of my body. I couldn’t make a decision about a career path and hated my job. How am I to be happy with what I have with all these subliminal messages of “needing something more” or “better” everywhere I turn?
This realization changed my life choices and my thought processes.
I try now to apply my Micronesian self into my daily life: Do I need soda? No. Do I need $50 jeans? No. Do I need four kinds of cheese in my fridge at any given time? No. Is there anyone out there better than the person I love right now? No. Do I look good naked? Well, not everyone’s body is for every person so surely many people will not think so; but I love the person in this skin, so I must love the skin itself.
Each conscious decision takes effort and OF COURSE some days I am extremely frustrated that my favorite pants are too tight to leave the house in or that my hair looks like I was electrocuted in my sleep. Some days, I wish my friends understood me better. Some days, I wish I had a different career. Ultimately, being satisfied is a conscious decision that starts with being mindful of your thoughts and influences.
When I began writing this, I thought I had a better answer to being “satisfied” or truly happy but the more I wrote the more I understood this conclusion was correct. Even though there are SO many nicer homes than mine, I love every inch of my home because I worked hard to have and create this space: this is the thought process that breeds happiness.
I was so happy in Micronesia and I wondered why I was so depressed and overwhelmed once I returned. I know now that the choice to be satisfied and happy with the simple things in life is the key and the piece I missed when I initially returned to our land of choices.
May each of you find that key and use it as a tool in your daily lives.
Editor(s): Cole Schenck
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