From my recent visit to Cuba, I keep returning to this photograph taken one morning along the Malecón, (seawall) in Havana, Cuba. I ponder on what this man was thinking while sitting, looking back over the city of Havana, as he started his day. I contemplate who is happier in life. I consider the comforts we Americans take for granted with the daily constraints the Cuban people deal with. It’s what they know, it’s what we know. But in the end, they seem to be a very happy people.
An observation made by our group, the people are always out and about smiling and laughing. They are immersed in their neighborhoods and enriched with their families close by. Our culture seems to be taking a different path. We think that we’re connected through our technology. We have immediate access to answers, the news, to people far and near. I argue just the opposite. I think our technology is contributing to an isolated society. As we go about our daily lives, even when we’re “in the moment,” often we’re distracted by technology with beeps, alerts, rings, images, and videos. All distractions from enjoying the moment.
For a solid week, I was disconnected from the outside world. For a solid week, I rarely heard a phone ding, beep, pop, or ring. For a solid week, I never once accessed email, or anything tied to the internet. Aside from reviewing pictures on my iPad and re-living one amazing day after another, it truly was a vacation, a vacation from my world, a vacation from technology.
As happy as I was to return home, I will not forget this experience. I hope I will continue to relive these thoughts on a regular basis and define a new baseline for myself. As I continue my own journey, a path that is considerate of others, thankful for the time spent with family, friends, and strangers, thankful for those little moments in life – more important than anything you can buy. Make connections with our fellow humans, thankful for the simple things in life, and for the comforts of our modern society.
If there is one word I came away with, its “connection.” The people of Cuba are connected to life in a way we all could appreciate and learn from.
On my journeys, I’ve always considered it a “good” trip if I bring back one or two images (photographs). This time, the image is in my mind and not from my camera. Although this image (posted) provokes these thoughts, it’s the memory of the people of Cuba that I return with. Profoundly enriched, enlightened, and thankful.
GO – if you have the means, the time, you must go to Cuba and experience this for yourself before things change. Change is everywhere and it will never be as it is today.
A great article in the NY Times on why you should go to Cuba worth reading. http://metro.co.uk/2018/03/19/why-cubas-colourful-capital-havana-should-be-your-next-city-break-7331299/
I highly recommend the company below and Eli and Jordan for they will bring you to the people, the culture, the Cuba I’m writing about here.
YOUR CUBA TRAVEL, LLC
4325 Vermillion Sky Drive
Wesley Chapel, Fl 33544
(305) 912-CUBA
