Today’s blog comes to you as a compilation of a few different things I have read recently as well as my continued processing of living in Nicaragua rather than the USA. I so enjoyed my time there last week with family, and it will always be home to me, but my pondering brain picked up a few things that I have been ruminating.
Last week as I tried to stay current in news, I read an article called, “The World’s Most Miserable Countries”. Many of these countries were no surprise to me, but when I saw a reference to Nicaragua, I had to see what they were saying. The following is from the USA Today article:
According to Jon Clifton, managing director of the World Gallup Poll, a person’s financial situation is one of five factors affecting well-being and far from a conclusive happiness indicator. Nine of the most content countries had estimated GDPs of less than $15,000 per capita last year. In Lithuania — the third most miserable country — GDP per capita was $22,566. On the other hand, Nicaragua — the third most content country — had a GDP per capita of just $4,548.
This contentment is something that stands out about the Nicaraguans. They do not have much, and sometimes their easy-going attitude drives me crazy, but I have been blessed even this week by the contentment and joy of these people.
Secondly, Louis CK is a comedian that I was introduced to on Facebook. I give some disclaimer, but when I watched his clip with Conan O’Brien called “Everything is Amazing and No One is Happy” ( http://blog.petflow.com/if-you-grew-up-before-the-year-2000-you-will-laugh-hysterically-at-this/#ebekQp57pDLv2hVj.01 ), and I had to agree with this. It is funny and also poignant. Many of the slow things he talked about are still the way it is here, but things are changing.
So, my contentness has been challenged this month. Between my trip to the US, living extremely frugally, heat, continuing to seek direction for me, and cultural and language challenges, I wished a few things were different.
The part of me that seeks God, though, wants to respond differently. There are so many amazing things- avocados and mangos falling of the tree, the power of the rainstorms, Bible studies to encourage believers, great conversations with Stephen, and hopes for the future; sometimes I see the good things, but sometimes I only see the problems. My practices recently have been to start with thankfulness and then go from there, and then try to trust God to take care of the rest!
Love, Natalie
My Experiences In Nicaragua