Essence over Appearance

The Andean culture with Essence over Appearance I understand on one point but on a totally personal arena, I have no clue.  I get that the general consensus is that decisions will be made for the people that are for the general good of ALL the people over the decisions made that would help an individual or small group of individuals more.  That is so totally understandable, especially if I apply it to my life with my family or at my job, an elementary school.  As a parent you don't want to make decisions based on what would favor one child over another or vice versa, you strive for the decision that would benefit everyone in some sort of way, that applies to an elementary school as well.  The part that troubles me and has me thinking is 'it is the process over the end result.'  For me, I can't appy that it my life.  I have been thinking about it for a few days and every scenario has me making the decisions that I make are always based on the end result.  For example, I have been to trying to perfect my great-grandmother's signature carrot cake for many more than years than I care to admit, yet still I haven't perfected it. It's not about the process for me, because I wish I were through with this particular process, it's about getting this cake to taste exactly like my grams.  Also, with my kids, I try to send them out the door looking their best, believe me it's not about getting them into the tub, washing behind their ears, combing their long curling hair it's about the end result of taking pride in how they appear out in public.  With one final thought, I love growing tomatoes....nothing better than a home grown tomato in the heat of a summer day, yet each year I struggle with the garden bed's, weeds, pests, new varieties of tomato plants etc, trying to grow the perfect tomato (hopefully more than one).....yet as much as I enjoy getting ready for the tomatoes, its actual end result that I am looking for.  So,  I understand the concept of going through process but I don't think I know how to do it without looking for the end result.

Masks

There are many different kind of masks.  The masks of the past served a purpose. They were made to transform or transport a person or people into a different realm.  Usually, used in ceremonies, masks were there for the leaders of the peoples to use to have the people believe certain things in which the ruler wanted them to believe.  Deities and Gods masks could be used to control the power of the people. Meaning if the ruler wanted them to believe a certain thing, then they could use the mask or the power within the mask to control what the God 'had to say' about different events or circumstances.  Additionally, in the past, masks were used to cover up ones identity. For example, in the courts of the past French Kings, masks were worn so that secret affairs could be conducted, not to mention this made murder far easier. 

In our society today, except for Halloween, I don't believe that actual masks are worn in day to day life. Having said that, I feel that more masks are worn today than at any other time. People in our world today constantly strive to keep an 'invisible' mask on.  A 'poker face' is considered status quo and god forbid anyone show any emotion at all.  This the type of mask that I am referring to.  I feel that it is absolutely bad form to show any type of emotion in society today.  But why is that?  I don't like it!  When I am happy I want people to know.  If I am sad, why do I have to cover it up and pretend that I am okay? If I am angry at someone, why do I have to suppress the way I feel?  I don't want to wear today's mask......

The Maya People

What do think about the Maya people.....well....sounds to me like the Maya are getting (and have been getting it much longer) the same short end of the stick that the indigenous people of North America have received. Foreigners come in and strip the native people, whom I might add have been doing just fine on their own, of their land, their customs and in alot of cases their liveihood and lives. and it's not that this has only occurred one time, but it is a vicious cycle that continues to this day.  The Maya people today are dealing with some of the same issues that thier ancestors did also.  Treated as the lower class and are discriminated against continually.  I find it sad that such a strong race of people have been made to suffer the atrocites that they have.

What else do I think.....Rigoberta Menchu stated that there needs to balance in life.  Espeically balance in regards to material possessions.  She also stated that the Maya live their lives today in the Maya way.  They have been taught, from generation to generation, to take only what they need, use only what you need and to not long for things that are immaterial.  Apparently they are choosing to live the way the do....using the wisdom of their ancestors, they are able to enjoy the little things that life has to offer because they are not scambling around in the rat race that most individuals call 'life'.  They are called 'lazy' but I do not believe that is the term I would use.  I would say that they are 'smart' to not be caught up in the day to day life of 'keeping up with the Jones'.  I think I would enjoy kicking back with some friends sitting around a table while sharing good food and meaningful conversation or maybe I could be lounging around with some family while tilting one back and listening to my children laugh as they play. The Maya take what they need and enjoy life as the should, as they have been doing for hundreds of years, its really too bad that they have to dodge bullets, criminals, criticism and racism just to survive.

The three things that I think of when I think of Mexico are:  digging latrines, tropical storms (one was actually a hurricane on the way), and relaxing under a palapa while lounging on the warm sand with a fruity alcoholic beverage close by.

I have been very fortunate to have visited Mexico more than half a dozen times. We generally try to chose a different site to visit each time, but I still have many more sites that I intend to see.  I associate digging latrines to Mexico because I was lucky enough to be included in a trip with my senior class where we camped on a beach in Baja for a week.  This place was very remote and not only did we dig latrines, but we fished for our dinner and studied the oceans and stars each and every day.  I loved that trip.

The first tropical storm I remember brings to mind the time some girl friends and I travelled to Puerto Vallarta (were searching for a certain type of beverage) and had to wade through knee high water that was completely covering the cobble stone streets. The second tropical storm was actually a hurricane that set to shore the day after we had to leave.  We were staying right outside of Playa del Carmen and had chosen that day to visit the ancient Mayan site of Tulum.  Standing on a crest overlooking the ocean with the ancient city behind us and staring into these omniscient black clouds while hearing the roar of the gigantic waves is an experience I and my family will never forget.

And finally, the reason Mexico reminds me of  relaxing under a palapa while lounging on the warm sand with my fruity beverage close by is because that is what I want to do when I am in Mexico when I am not exploring ancient sites, zip lining, horseback riding, body surfing, snorkelling or building sand castles.

I love Mexico and cannot wait to visit again.