#MaxicanFood

After taking a break to assess a terrifically challenging 2018, I can confidently say that I have learned more in these past 365 days than I have in any other year of my life. Ironically, my first year without school since 2000 turned into the year that brought me more knowledge and understanding than any year I spent studying in formal classrooms. This is largely due to my newfound desire to read and listen to books, something I thought I would never say if you had asked me three years ago.

I would like to share with you the three most important lessons I have learned this past year, a year of incredible growth and much-needed maturity (although my friends say I still need a bit more of that). Last but not least:

MaxicanFood and Reciprocity

Another much-needed lesson I was taught in 2018 is that reciprocity is necessary and should be sought after in all aspects of life. This is how we prosper and achieve greatness as a whole, when helping others is directly correlated with our own well-being. This became apparent and applicable to my life when I first started #MaxicanFood, the Instagram initiative that probably cost me 49 followers within the last three months, but who's counting. Nonetheless, finding someone to give food to every week has helped me learn this valuable lesson of life’s reciprocity, because quite frankly most people don’t like to be given food. Most people don’t enjoy being looked down upon by their fellow neighbors, who sometimes feel sorry enough for these unfortunate people that they’re willing to “donate to the cause.” I truly believe nobody enjoys being a cause to be donated to, and therein lies the difficulty here. The most difficult aspect of #MaxicanFood hasn’t been sacrificing $10 a week, but rather it’s been the process of breaking through to people who need help and don’t want to accept it. Their pride is being stripped away, and honestly I’m not sure that’s worth a Subway sandwich. And that’s what I have challenged myself with over these past few months. How can I utilize this idea of reciprocity in a way that makes helping others simple and joyful?

The answer for me has been found in ensuring my counterpart has the opportunity to help me with something, to give both of us the chance to enjoy helping someone else and not feel like we’re getting the short end of the stick. Whether it be helping me with directions or even just being someone whose company I can enjoy, I aim to make sure that those receiving my support also know that they are positively impacting me as well.

That is what I have found and that is what I have enjoyed most about this seemingly annoying project. Finding those activities and ideas that support this mindset is crucial to securing happiness and contentment for ourselves and for our neighbors.

This is how society remains sustainable, when everything we do benefits those around us while simultaneously supporting ourselves.