Take a Seat

“Do people really have nothing to do and can just come here and sit?” asked my aunt while visiting me in Guadalajara, Mexico. We were downtown and visiting some of the historical buildings while taking in the surroundings. Her question struck me as odd.

My aunt was amazed that people have time to sit on the benches watching the kids swimming in the public fountain while eating their paletas or papas con limon y chile. Grandparents were led by the hand of their nietos while strolling up and down the plaza. Spray Paint artists were surrounded by onlookers who appeared to have all the time in world to sit and watch the painting come to life.

Is it that after 7 years of living in Mexico I have changed so much? I remember the rat race of life back in the States and hardly having a minute to myself each day. What is it about life in Latin America that allows us to slow down and sit every now and then?

I admit, by nature, I’m not someone to sit still. I’m guilty of filling my time with anything and everything and the word “No” is not a frequent word in my vocabulary. Yet, I realized when my Aunt posed the question that I too have changed.

Thanks to the people around me and the culture here, I’ve learned that sometimes life is not about a schedule and it’s about the relationships in our lives. Sometimes it’s more important to sit and listen than it is to get up and accomplish something.

There are times that “culturally” things drive me crazy here, yet in the midst of the chaos, I’m thankful for this culture. I’m grateful for having learned to appreciate the relationships with those in my life. Whether it be sitting down for a coffee, making that phone call or writing that e-mail, it’s important to keep the relationships alive. And, yes, it’s important to sometimes have nothing more to do than sit and enjoy our surroundings.

Downtown Guadalajara by: Dominique Dynes