Prisoner of Shangri-la

I must have been a farmer in a past life. Or maybe its just the Chinese in me but give me a couple mountains, a little stream, and a vegetable patch and somehow the world is just fine. But it wasn’t just the natural environment. First a little back story.

Ricky’s adopted parents own a house in a small village (population <1000) about 70km north of Beijing. So, to celebrate the holiday (dubbed “wu yi” or “five one” or May 1st ) we headed out there to relax and enjoy the scenery. At times I felt like “this is how it should be,” 10 people (friends and extended family) all living together under one roof, cooking together, eating together (which was most of the day) and generally enjoying an easy, quiet life.

me and someone’s mom

painting in a field.

And finally a day trip the great wall!

At what point do we become so driven by our goals (no matter how noble they may be), that we forget our basic humanity; that we cease to see that humanity as anything worth cherishing. Instead of always laughing at  something, can we laugh just because there is something delightful about life? Instead of always picturing a brighter future, can we just be stand still without feeling the world is passing us by? Instead of merely focusing on the result, can we understand that how we get there means everything?

I suppose I’ve been examining my values in the face of the many seductions of Beijing life - the nightlife, the interesting people and places, the exchange rate. And while I may not be able to say this in the future, I can say it now: only the outer conditions have changed.