I am amazed
at how long
and how often
our neighbors across the street
can just sit and talk
and sit and watch
the world in front go by—‘can’
as if it requires some concerted effort, intention, purpose and focus
versus happening and unrolling
from the pure natural
unscheduled pleasure of it like it does
like
like
More often than not,
when looking out my kitchen window
for myself to see the world go by
there they are
in laughter
on their front porch
in conversation
for extended periods of time
no matter the time of day
I can’t help
but think to myself—
Don’t they get bored?
Don’t they have something else to do?
Don’t they want something else to do?
In my previous
task-oriented life
I was conditioned to view
such extended periods
of hanging out
as situational to football games, funerals,
birthdays…
where the being together was brought on by
an event,
an external ‘motivator’
NOT just beacause
NOT just for the joy
and pleasure and take-it-easy pace of life
centered around the family—
versus life centered around
distraction and
diversions, agendas,
errands, often times complications
as it often was for us
in the U.S.
as it often was for us
in the U.S.
No,
life here
operates at a much different pace for sure
one that much more
honors the integrity and divinity
of the genetic design
of the human being…
that of being a social, loving creature
who is content
to gather in their circle,
with their tribe
generations of extended and interconnected
family
enjoying
the simple pleasure of each other’s company
and conversation
To sit,
happily as can be
in their cracked plastic chair,
laughing their arses off
under the full moon and open jungle sky
granting time and space
to the art and simplicity of relationship
and conversation
It is from there, that the magic, beauty and color of this culture unfolds…
I love your blog…….I know know and feel your words….so glad you guys are here.
Enjoy reading your observations. My feeling is this is beautifull and it is common throughout Mexico and surely the rest of Latinamerica. I have seen it all the way, here and there, from Mexico to Argentina. I call this “contemplative” nature as opposed, but not in fight with a “active” nature. The later is common not only in the USA, it goes all the way to Canada and Europe. Anyway, I love to live in this more leisurely contemplative environment which seems a lot more in tune with my own way of being. Thanks for sharing.
Found your blog throu Friends Riviera Nayarit FB
Jesus Cabral
I think this is one of my favorite things about Latin America…at least Mexico.
When we were exploring and I’d be on my late night walks with Seamus in La Paz or the two times in Mazatlan with him just how alive the porches were with people…. multi-generational families and friends just being alive.
I am really enjoying your writing……