I never thought such a sad post would be born. But I feel I must write about this too, because this is also part of our story.
I also didn’t think that pure, simple good intention could bother someone so much that they would come forward with serious slander.
But I don’t want to speak in riddles, let’s get to the concrete facts.
A day ago, our attention was drawn to an article appearing online. In it, an elderly man complains about his grievances, claiming that the road leading to his property has been closed, that armed men guard the gate, that neither he, nor his workers, nor the veterinarian can pass, that he and his daughters already feel in danger, and that one of his award-winning cattle has already been killed. It’s sad and at the same time outrageous that foreigners do this to honest Yucatecans. They come here, forcibly rearrange relationships, thereby endangering the material and existential livelihood of many people.
The story is truly outrageous. At least it would be, if it were true! But I know firsthand how untrue it is. And I know this because the alleged foreigners – as it turned out – would be us!
So here are the facts, the other side of the coin, if you will.
It’s true that we weren’t born here, in Yucatán, not even in Mexico, in fact, not even on the continent. But we already live here, for years. And because we live here, we notice the people living here around us. Because we do notice them! …and we don’t pass by them without a word. I’ve met few people in my life who had as big a heart as my husband. He always helped those in need, whether he had the resources or not. As happened now too. We passed through the small village several times, and my husband started saying that next time we should bring some candy with us and give it to the children we see. This internal decision grew: we prepared enough small candy packages so there would definitely be enough for every child. We also knew that we didn’t want to give only once, and that we would support this small community in every possible way, as much as we could.
Even if we ourselves are not rich. But if we see that someone has even less, then we gladly share with them, if we have something to share. Furthermore, I believe that you can help in many ways – and this is what I try to do. I talk about the small community, whose members I don’t know very well yet, but it quickly became clear that they are wonderful, pure-hearted people. Thanks to this, others have also joined us, and together we provide support to those living here.
Maybe we ourselves can’t give much, if measured in material terms. But we can give attention, we can think together about how the people living here can create even better conditions for themselves, and mutually we can be richer with genuine, true human relationships. And this – if you like, anyone can call it interest. I call it love. Humanity. Caring. I understand if the elderly man mentioned in the article and his daughters no longer even know what these words mean. I’ve seen many examples of how someone’s life is so bitter that they try to find joy in making others’ lives bitter too. But about this I must say two things:
- We must seek our own happiness within ourselves, and that method has never worked, that bringing others down would give real joy.
- These attempts only strengthen me in that the world needs even more good people.
I don’t deny that it hurts me very much that my family (my husband and son) is guided by nothing but pure good intention, love toward our fellow human beings, and I have to face that we have been put in the crosshairs of very vile slanders and lies. One might wonder at such times, is it worth continuing? Is it worth doing good to others if some people reward this with false accusations? You know what? The answer is: yes.
In fact, after this it’s necessary! We cannot give up, because I believe that it’s the many small good deeds that count, that can make the world a better place.
