An Observation: Searching for Shambhala

I’ve never been a philospher, have never wanted to be, nor will ever be.  “Philospher” is a fancy term for “opinionated”; I’m sure there will be feedback on that; however, I’m a realist.  You must be a realist in order to be in the scientific community; you deal with logic and order (order is different from organization, for those of you who know me personally).  In dealing with logic and in the search for whatever, you’re instilled to change only one variable at a time.  When adapting a recipe, if you change multiple ingredients simultaneously, you don’t know which one gives it the umphh that you’re attempting to achieve. 

In recent months, we’ve seen a deluge of new arrivals in Cuenca; many of whom are apparently unhappy.  They really don’t like anything here, i.e., the booms, the people, the traffic, the prices, the visa procedure, changes in procedures,  and the list goes on and on.  Chances are excellent that these same people were similarly miserable in their previous life, as well.

If you've been a victim in your previous life, you'll be a victim here.  Perhaps you view yourself as having been overlooked for promotions, bullied, just missed that perfect job, never made enough money.  Well, if that's you, here, you will be taken advantage of, overlooked, and over-charged.  After all, you're a victim.  That's how you perceive yourself and that's how you will always be, regardless of where you live. 

If you’re truly unhappy where you’re currently living, why do you think you’ll find Shambhala in Ecuador.  Think about it, you’re changing more than one variable; you’re changing your residency, living situation (possibly from a house to an apartment), language, culture, more than likely going carless.  Are you ready for that?  People leave their homes in the US and move into places that they would have considered a ghetto in their old home town.  I simply don’t understand.  Life is too short to be unhappy.

People move here everyday looking for Shambhala and find that they’re more miserable than they were in the States.  The old adage, “misery loves company”, is quite true here, the MLC group congregates and you don’t want to be in the vicinity.  Where this group gathers, the positive energy and environment is completely changed to one of such negativity that places that you once loved to frequent have changed in priority. 

If you’re not happy, continue your search, but search from within.  The change that is required may not necessarily be a physical, but a mental state.  South America is not for everyone.  There are different languages and cultures, none of which are English and North America.  If that is where your happiness is, then you should stay there.  People return every day.  Because you decide that this is not for you, does not imply that you have failed, only that you’re being honest with yourself.  Be happy that you’ve discovered this about yourself and feel that you don’t have to live a façade.  Some of those that leave, somewhat “slip out of town”.  Why is that necessary?  Be honest with yourself and others.  Life is too short to be unhappy. 

For some of us, this is where we're suppose to be.  This is home.  We know what we are, who we are, and accept those things and in this, we find happiness.

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy