I'm not sure that I ever have
experienced real jealousy in my whole life.
Based upon the correct definition of the concept, jealousy requires a
degree of bitterness and covetousness to the point that the jealous person
would be content to take away from someone else whatever he desires to
take. Apparently, I wasn't born nasty
enough to harbor such feelings.
Envy is a different matter, a
feeling that is not healthful, yet, at the same time, is not so potentially
harmful as jealousy. One can envy the
positive attributes that someone is born with or acquires, but without wishing
to deprive the fortunate person from his attributes.
I, like most people, have
fallen prey to envy. This is especially
true when I encounter someone who is quite healthy, young, attractive,
athletic, and who has accomplished feats not granted to me. I certainly have envied the superlative
concert pianists their hands and skills, lamenting that I was given “feet for
hands.” Yet, I would rather address a much
lighter topic, one that is rather more unusual; and that is being able to
travel the world and learn from it.
I benefited greatly from my
two trips to Europe, one when I was a child, and one when I was a young
adult. Unfortunately, I have not been back,
yet those two experiences broadened my mind and provided me with the insight to
view people and events more realistically than many people do who stay mired in
their limited experiences. Mark Twain is
famous for saying (and I agree with him), “Travel is fatal to prejudice,
bigotry, and narrow-mindedness; and many of our people need it sorely on these
accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable
views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner
of the earth all one's lifetime.”
So, how advantageous it would
be for a person to not only have the opportunity to travel extensively
throughout the world, but, also, to begin doing so very young. Well, I know of two such little boys, Nathan
and Seamus.
 |
| Nathan |
 |
| Seamus |
Some time ago watching Public
Television, I stumbled upon an informative and charming program called “Travel
with Kids.” It features a young couple,
Jeremy and Carrie, who have traveled the world together for twenty years, not
staying in fancy hotels, but, instead, sometimes backpacking and exploring
areas off the beaten path and away from most touristy locales. Having their first baby, Nathan, did not
prevent their continuing their travels, nor did the birth of their second son
Seamus. Instead, they have turned their
love of travel into a profitable travel program and an opportunity to provide
their little boys with wondrous sights of diverse peoples and cultures.
Those bright little kids have,
for eight years, been adsorbing experiences and knowledge like sponges. Their parents take them to fascinating
museums, many of them interactive, where they can explore for themselves local
flora and fauna. They interact with
local guides and townspeople, learning about history, arts and crafts, language,
and traditions. They taste regional
cuisine, learn to try and enjoy dishes new and different to them. Continually excited by their adventures, they
often reveal a surprising degree of acquired knowledge by speaking to the
camera, explaining quite well what they have learned.
And, the extent of their
travels and experiences is amazing.
Apparently, they have traveled through South Korea, Venice, the
Caribbean, Victoria Falls, Naples, Thailand, South Africa, Latin America, South
Pacific, Ireland, France, Vietnam, England, Scotland, Bahamas, Belize, Greece,
Kenya, China, Jamaica, Egypt, Yucatan, Spain, Mexico, Fiji, French Polynesia,
Curacao, Tahiti, and Bora Bora. I might
have missed some.
I never have quite figured out
how this family crams so much travel into annual schedules that must, somehow,
include schooling for the two boys. Yet,
I must say that what they have learned in their travels is an astonishing
supplement to their formal schooling.
Yes, I also must say that I rather envy their wonderful opportunities
provided by their parents.
You recall the Mark Twain's
quotation I mentioned before. These two
kids must be the most broadminded kids in the world. And, what a dramatic contrast to the
school-teacher I met who said something like, “I'm not interested in
traveling. Everything in America is
bigger and better than anywhere else.” I
just can imagine how this woman thinks about anything outside her own tiny
experience. I also can imagine how she
votes, which is typical of the terrible social and political problems plaguing
our poor nation.
So, Nathan and Seamus, I hope
your rare and wonderful opportunity to travel so extensively contributes to
your becoming wise and empathetic adults.
May your insight and wisdom help you both to make positive contributions
to our world.
© 16 Dec 2015
About
the Author
I have had a life-long fascination with
people and their life stories. I also
realize that, although my own life has not brought me particular fame or
fortune, I too have had some noteworthy experiences and, at times, unusual
ones. Since I joined this Story Time
group, I have derived pleasure and satisfaction participating in the group. I do put some thought and effort into my
stories, and I hope that you find them interesting.
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