We Are The Relationships We Harvest

My passion for travel is so deeply rooted in the people I meet along the way. Transcending language or cultural barriers I think people are extremely more alike than we are different. We love our families, we work hard, we find joys in simple pleasures such as a beautiful sunset. My gratitude has expanded immensely since traveling as it gives me a new perspective on the importance of harvesting strong relationships. At any location that I visit I try to spend some time with locals, inquiring about their day or listening to their stories.

I am in awe and inspired by some of the wonderful people I met in Morocco. The perseverance of those engaged in what we in the west would classify as "hard labor" is tremendous. An artisan who spends many hours refining his craft and taking great pride in his work shows me his painting. While I don't understand exactly what his words were looking at the delicate brush strokes I can comprehend his sentiments. Life wasn't easy and I sensed the tremendous pressure he must have felt to meet the basic needs of his family. I purchased a small painting so that I would always remember this moment. The painting to remind me that as long as I have basic needs everything else was a blessing.

One of my other most memorable moments on my journey in Morocco was during a visit to Fez. My running shoes had apparently taken a beating because the sole on one foot suddenly fell off as I was walking in the medina. As I hobbled on one foot I wasn't sure how I would hobble to a shoe store as the medina is a maze. Suddenly I heard a familiar voice. It was the worker from the riad that I was staying at. He took one look at me standing on one foot and offered his arm, steering me to a nearby cafe. He ordered some mint tea for me and told me to sit here and not go anywhere. 30 minutes later he returned with my shoe, resoled and repaired to perfect condition. I ordered him some tea and insisted on paying him which he refused. He shared his story about how he came to work at the riad, usually 12 hours a day and how he was happy to be working in a country where the unemployment rates are high. As we laughed and enjoyed some sweets I learnt that he had a daughter just a bit younger than I. He asked me what my plans were for my future, when I was planning on getting married, and reminded me of safety precautions for my journey. Fathers everywhere are so much the same.

I thought about my own family and how I've not spent as much quality time with them in the past few years as I should. With a heart full of gratitude I vow to be more present in the moments with those I love. After all, we are so much the relationships that we harvest.