449 - How can we end fear and close mindedness?

Everyone should leave their country for at least one year.

WHA'??

This may seem difficult to implement but what a different world we would live in if we did this.

Obviously, I'm not talking about people who leave their country for military duty. That is an entirely different conversation.

Spend time in another country, or several, surrounded by locals, not your own people.

When you step outside of your surroundings and get to know other people your eyes open.

You could say, the scales of close mindedness eventually fall away.

Imagine a new world of perspectives that can emerge as you get to know new cultures and beliefs.

You see new landscapes, foods, traditions, even weather patterns, and so much more.

When I returned to the US, in 2006, after living abroad for 25 years, I came home to a vastly different country than I had left.

It was like traveling to a foreign country.

I know I had changed, but more noticeably, Americans had changed.

9/11 had happened.

I was living in Michigan for the first time and at first, I thought Michiganders lived in fear.

Then, as I traveled around the country to visit family, I started noticing that people everywhere had become fearful.

I didn't remember Americans being so skeptical and fearful in general. Not everyone, of course, but enough that you could

New Perspectives...

Then I wondered, why do we let tragic events to change us the way we do?

Some people become more resilient, others cower with fear?

When we travel we learn about different languages, ways of life and new ways of viewing the world.

We hear about other people's views on our own country's politics and culture.

We are not required to agree with them or attempt to change their minds.

Take a deep breath and accept that we are all different.

As we travel and get to know new people and cultures our minds open and fear is released.

Have you traveled to another country for any length of time?