My wife just got back from her annual mission to a Latin American country. Her observations about the people and especially the children in the remote, small village that she worked in were very similar to yours. Indeed, we have so much to learn.

I really liked this post a lot. It got me thinking about a “side” of self-esteem maybe people are not much aware of. I help an aborigin school sending them things they need, regularly, although most f them don’t even know my name. These kids, from the Wichi tribe in Northern Argentina, only speak Wichi language and attend a very poor school that lacks many things. Nonetheless, these kids don’t have self-esteem issues in terms of questioning themselves what is self-esteem or whether they have a low or fair self-esteem. All they know is that they are human beings just like everyone else, and as such, they are worthy of a decent life. They know their worth. They are in dire need of material help, daily… yet, they have learned to advocate for their own needs and -in an outstanding polite way- they ask for what they need: two decent meals a day, the same kind of education other children get in public schools all over my country, and having their basic needs met (not just educational, but also, food, clothes, shelter, medical needs, etc.) I wish people could just see these kids and how they know – for sure- how much they are worth as human beings and how much they deserve to receive or have the same things we are all entitled to.

Sometimes, I talk to people who complain endlessly about the things they can’t do (get a better job, a better romantic partner, a better car or house, etc.) and how they can’t achieve things in life because “somebody else” puts them down… I know this happens, and I know it’s true, but it could do these people so good to learn a bit from those who have absolutely nothing, and still are able to understand how much they are worth. Perhaps, because they don’t really much about comforming to society’s expectations, I don’t know, but sure those kids know they are worthy of the best life can give them. There’s so much we have to learn in this world.