To remind myself to SMILE

Palos Verdes Estates…known for its gorgeous cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean, nationally ranked school district, and million dollar mansions. My parents moved to this luxurious city when I was five years old. They wanted the best for my brother and me and did everything in their power to give us just that. They put us through sports, music lessons, SAT prep classes, acting classes; the list goes on and on. Suffice it to say, my brother and I led a very sheltered life. Because this was the only world I knew, I half expected everyone else to live a similar lifestyle. My parents worked hard to get where they were, never having anything handed to them, and I thought hard work always led to big rewards. It wasn’t until I took a trip to Nicaragua this past December that I truly realized how unbelievably difficult some have it and yet they still wake up every day with the biggest of smiles on their faces.

Nicaragua…known for its poverty-stricken land, poor educational system, and the highest percentage of undernourishment in Central America. The city walls were covered in graffiti, the streets littered with trash. The reality of it all hit me fast. I was definitely not in PV anymore. After the first initial shock of being in a third-world country for the first time, I acclimated to my new surroundings. I woke up at 6am everyday to go to clinics where locals would walk miles on end in hopes of obtaining medication for gastritis or parasites, many both. They were so appreciative of us taking the time to just listen to their problems. When we made house visits, it became even clearer the brutality of it all. Dirt floors, contaminated water, and limited food defined their daily lives. Despite the adversities that consumed their days, these locals still embraced a carefree approach to life that was incredibly contagious; one could almost feel their gratification for another day of life.

So why do they do what they do? Because it doesn’t cost a thing to smile. Why do I do what I do? Because everyone needs a little reminder to smile.

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