Comments on: My Mexican Neighborhood Teaches Me About Making Judgments

By: Earl

Earl — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 05:21:13 +0000

Hey Priyank – I’d be lying if I said I was open-minded all of the time. It’s nearly impossible I’d say, although, traveling does help open up our minds significantly so that we don’t fall into such a trap as often. And being aware of it means that you want to change it as well, which is obviously the biggest step you can take in the right direction!

By: Priyank

Priyank — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:56:59 +0000

Hi Earl, For some reason I had time and I decided to read all your Mexico posts and I’m glad to have come across this one, lol. It took me a long time to realise that I was being very judgmental about the things I saw; reaching hasty conclusions and making declarative statements. Honestly I am still closed minded to some extent but atleast I am aware of it and not ignorant.

By: Earl

Earl — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:22:56 +0000

Hey Moon! It’s great to read your comments!

I certainly wouldn’t believe anyone who said they never formed opinions right away. That seems to be unavoidable. However, we can work at maintaining an open mind and being willing to alter those opinions as we learn more about a particular place. I think that is the important difference.

I’ve actually been traveling for about 10 years now through a combination of backpacking, residing in several different countries long-term, volunteering and working on board several cruise ships. One might say that I’ve become a bit addicted!

By: Moon Hussain

Moon Hussain — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:53:05 +0000

Hi again Earl!

Sounds like you’ve setup in such a… peaceful location. I do wish I knew people who didn’t form opinions and prejudice right away, but then again, I’m guilty of the same.

I really like your stories and hope to read some more. How long have you been traveling for?
.-= Moon Hussain´s last blog ..Why Automating Your Proccess Is The Only Way To Stay Sane =-.

By: Earl

Earl — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:22:40 +0000

Hey Hulbert – You couldn’t have summed up my thoughts any better. First-hand experiences are vital to truly understand a place and once you start to realize that most situations aren’t as they at first appear, we can appreciate all of those small aspects of being alive that lead to a greater happiness than any amount of money could provide. Thank you so much for your comment!

By: Hulbert

Hulbert — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:14:24 +0000

I love the introduction of this story. You would think that a random guy who pulls in front of you might cause you some trouble, but then he ends up helping you out. The world works in strange ways and before we start completely stereotyping a country, it's best to often have first hand experience first to know whether or not it's the truth. You're story here shows that one doesn't have to live in the Beverly Hills mansion to be be happy; just sitting on a balcony, watching the sea, and listening to people sing is enough to make a man feel fulfilled and appreciate life. .-= Hulbert´s last blog ..Do Your Blogging Struggles Still Bother You? =-.

By: Earl

Earl — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:35:16 +0000

Hey Shannon! It’s shocking sometimes how we can let one tiny negative moment turn into such a strong opinion about a place in general. I guess it happens all the time while traveling as we often find ourselves out of our comfort zone, leaving us more vulnerable to fear. But time and time again I’ve been proven wrong (and I’d be willing to guess that you have been as well) when what I initially fear turns into a rewarding experience.

I’m looking forward to hearing about your upcoming Mexico adventures!

By: Shannon OD

Shannon OD — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:09:04 +0000

It is just so easy to let your current attitude reflect on a whole city or people – I’ve had hassles at the airport, and then let that color my judgment for the whole rest of the day against a new city instead of stepping back and recognizing that there are other truths right there.

I certainly also have those same initial judgments – and they are almost always when something triggers my fears – fear of a rundown/working class neighborhood…or the car that suddenly stops nearby, or just generally the unknown and I slip back into my more Western thought patterns and immediately judge something for how it is different from what I expected
.-= Shannon OD´s last blog ..A Little Lesson…The Best Advice My Dad Ever Gave Me =-.

By: Earl

Earl — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:57:34 +0000

Thanks Nate – it is a great part of town over here!

I like that you brought up interconnected-ness. The idea that such quick judgments can end up making me feel as if I am better than someone else or that one group of people is better than another is disturbing to me. I would much rather take the time to examine those feelings in order to keep that concept of interconnected-ness fresh in my mind at all times and avoid such dangerous classifications.

By: Earl

Earl — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:52:48 +0000

Hi Liz – Exactly! We need to accept that our long-held beliefs sometimes hold us back if we are not open to new ideas. If we think we know everything there is to know about something, someone or someplace, then we lose the opportunity to learn from our experiences.