HUMILITY MONTH: DAY 2: Yeah, that’s my experience. Humbling to the point where you have major regrets about some of the stupid things you said, some of the things you thought were right. You keep going to these countries, and it’s like, you forgot the lesson from the last time. Because the first person you encounter kind of bitch-slaps you upside the head in the most wonderful, innocent way and you realize, God, I’m still an asshole. And this guy, by doing nothing except being broke and so incredibly polite—it takes you aback, you realize, I’m still not there yet. I still have like eight miles to go before I can even get into the parking lot of humility. I have to keep going back. It’s like going back to a chiropractor to get a readjustment. That’s me in Africa, that’s me in Southeast Asia. You come back humbled and you bring that into your life. It’s made me much more tolerant of other peoples—and I’m not saying I used to be a misogynist, or I used to be a racist, that was never my problem. But I can be extremely headstrong, impatient, rude. Like, “Hurry up, man. What’s your problem? Get out of my way.” That sentiment comes easy to me. Going to these countries, you realize none of that is necessary, none of it’s cool, it’s nothing Abraham Lincoln would do, and so why are you doing it? Those are the lessons I’ve learned.” ― Henry Rollins A long quote today. I loved reading this. It put me into a place I get to be in quite often. That is recognizing how truly humility eludes me. I get to see this from time to time on a large scale and am always blown away by my life and how much more I can do and be to be of service. Each moment I spend in service, whether it is to people, the planet, animals or whatever inspires me to be of further service and do more. It is a self-propelling thing that pushes me farther with each moment I get to serve. Travelling certainly shows me how others live. I am always blown away by how happy people are in 3rd world countries, living in abject poverty and without the things I believe are vital necessities to my life. They are so damned happy! I don’t see that here. I look around, and people are so stressed out with life and so terribly unhappy. And so terribly entitled and ungrateful and demanding. It is such a powerful lesson and gift to see another aspect of it all. I remember a friend who travelled to Nepal and gave me the opportunity to give to others some things that meant little or nothing to me at that time. And how it all came about. It changed my life. I am still not able to breathe when I remember that story and how it worked out for him and for me. Beautiful! And so many other times in my life when I get the chance to be present to beauty and grace and wonder and awe that there are such lovely people in the world and my focus is so seldom on that. I want to be a better human and to do more and be more in love with this side of life. Shifting that focus, again and again to what it can be and so seldom is. I am so beautifully blessed!