Thanksgiving in the Amazon

This jornada has been...well, let's say "eventful." After three months in the jungle, the honeymoon phase is long gone, and when the same group of people spends a significant amount of time together (especially in isolation), small issues are bound to arise. I don't mean to cause a panic for anyone. Things are fine. But, little by little, when these issues start to pile up, eventually they have to be dealt with. 

All of these little things have left me feeling a little stressed, a little cynical, a little negative, and overall just in a bad mood. However, as I am trying to teach my students (and always trying to remind myself), life isn't always easy, but if we can learn from challenging experiences in our lives then they can still be worthwhile. Easier said than done. 

So as we approach Thanksgiving I thought, "What better time than now to give myself a little shot of positivity...and maybe a little shot of something else this weekend in Tena if that doesn't work..." I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of the "sit around the table and say what you're thankful for one day a year" tradition. To me it seems like an excuse to be unappreciative every other day of the year. But sometimes it's a useful tool to remind yourself that you're actually pretty fortunate, so here it goes...

I am thankful for leftover coffee at the lodge. I know it's trivial, but this is one of those stream-of-consciousness lists, so let's go with it. Some days (like today) all I need for a little pick me up is a good cup of coffee. 

I am thankful for Johnson's brand Baby Mosquito Repellent. It's the only thing so far that I've found in the jungle that keeps me from being eaten alive by bugs. 

I am thankful for Internet in the jungle. Sure I complain a lot about how slowly it works but let's be honest. ANY Internet connection in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest is a pretty amazing thing. 

I am thankful for hammocks. More specifically, Chris's hammock which I occupy about ninety percent of the time. Maybe someday he will get to it before me and be able to enjoy it too. 

I am thankful for rain. Not exactly one of those things that you lack in the jungle but on the few days when it doesn't rain and the temperature rises to a point that seems almost unbearable, I remember how important it is.

I am thankful that I have never had to worry about when or where I would get my next meal. I just finished a book called "Endless Appetites" about global food politics and food security and it reminded me just how fortunate I have been in my life. Not everyone has it that easy. 

I am thankful for the opportunities that I have had in my life. Whether it's working, playing, traveling, or studying, I recognize that I have had a lot of opportunities already that some people don't get in their whole lifetime. 

I am thankful for the opportunities I will have in the future. I can't tell you what I will be doing one year from now, and sometimes that terrifies me. When I think about it, it seems like a daunting and insurmountable task to sort out what I'm going to do with my life. However, the fact that I have so many options makes it a very fortunate problem to have. 

Finally, I am thankful for my family who has helped provide me with all of these opportunities. I like to think I am pretty independent, but the truth is everyone needs a support system. My family supports all of my crazy ideas and travels, all of my crazy habits and routines, and all of my crazy plans and choices without batting an eye. At the same time, I am thankful that they have raised me to also accept the consequences of all of these things and learn from them, good or bad. Support doesn't mean bailing me out whenever something doesn't work but rather helping me learn from it, deal with it, and move on. In this sense I am pretty independent but only because they have raised me with the tools to be that way. 

I am not saying that I always deal with every situation in just the right way. I still have a LOT to learn. But what I have learned is that when everything seems to be going wrong, take some time to think of the things that you are thankful for. You don't have to wait until there is a perfectly roasted turkey on a silver platter in front of you. Chances are you are luckier than you think. 

Happy Thanksgiving!