When I was in 8th grade, I was a part of the mission trip to Charleston with other middle schoolers at FHC. My team's specific job was to have fun with the kids at a day care in the community of Charleston. Many of these kids were underprivileged and exposed to not the best influences for children their age. When I arrived there, I didn't realize how sweet and how much fun these kids were. They were extremely happy to see us and always had the biggest smiles. To see that they had so little and be so overjoyed was immensely humbling. It makes you look back at what you have, and realize everything is based on perspective.
To them in their community, they were all in the same boat. Nobody had a profusion of money to compare to. They were all economically equal, which made them happy where they were, knowing things could be much worse. Sadly in the great community of South Charlotte, there is so much wealth that you can compare to and not much poverty. When someone gets new technology, for example, you can always compare yourself to them and what they have. Better, new, and improved. For someone who lives in a well economically sustained household, I am still tempted to compare myself to look at what others have.
Having the opportunity to experience Charleston and seeing the people who live in that beautiful city definitely made me look back and realize and feel what true thankfulness and gratitude are. Even though Charleston was not far away from where I live and not in a 3rd world country, there is always something you can take away from the community near you. For me, that was the true feeling of thankfulness.
To them in their community, they were all in the same boat. Nobody had a profusion of money to compare to. They were all economically equal, which made them happy where they were, knowing things could be much worse. Sadly in the great community of South Charlotte, there is so much wealth that you can compare to and not much poverty. When someone gets new technology, for example, you can always compare yourself to them and what they have. Better, new, and improved. For someone who lives in a well economically sustained household, I am still tempted to compare myself to look at what others have.
Having the opportunity to experience Charleston and seeing the people who live in that beautiful city definitely made me look back and realize and feel what true thankfulness and gratitude are. Even though Charleston was not far away from where I live and not in a 3rd world country, there is always something you can take away from the community near you. For me, that was the true feeling of thankfulness.