I wasn’t sure what to expect of Colombia. The country had always fascinated me and I had known others who had visited, studied abroad, or lived there at one point, but I also knew of what most people thought of Colombia. When I finally got there, I understood and admired the culture even more than I thought I would.

The two most important things I learned in Colombia are 1) something the Colombians like to call “selective memory” and 2) a vibrant, care-free attitude towards living. I learned the Colombians’ notion of “selective memory” in Medellin, which is infamously known for a history full of crime and tragedy. What struck me most there was the locals’ attitude to not dwell on the past and to remember the good, too. Because of this “selective memory,” despite everything that has happened in the past, Colombians are able to be happy, be proud of their culture and want to share it with the world. They are still grappling with issues deeply rooted in their culture and past but want to involve the outside world in moving on from that. They are excited when tourists visit and want to learn about their country, and more importantly, they love to give tourists a warm welcome. Colombians have great energy — they love to dance, share a good meal and conversation with a friend — which made Cartagena the perfect introduction to Colombia. They also love adventure — snorkeling, scuba diving, zip lining, hiking, motor biking up the side of a mountain through narrow roads. There is seriously an activity for everyone in Colombia, and Santa Marta is a great place to really immerse yourself in the local landscape.

So for me, Colombia really epitomizes the notion of not judging a book by its cover. To dig deeper and not settle with just scratching the surface. To always push forward with energy. Life isn’t always fun and giggles, and it’s how we choose to carry on that defines us. These defining characteristics of the Colombian lifestyle and identity really resonated with me and are qualities I hope to emulate moving forward.

Knowing one’s worth despite what others think is really telling of someone’s personality, as well as the ability to forge ahead with positive energy, happiness, and an openness to possibilities. Having graduated from college but on a gap year, I find myself in a strange life position where such a mindset doesn’t come easily to me. All the uncertainty the future holds is scary. I don’t know what my career will be yet, where I will live for the foreseeable future, who my adult friends will be. I don’t know if I will find success.

What I do know is I need to not let those feelings cripple me. Feelings of not measuring up, of being inadequate or mediocre, not special enough. Sometimes I don’t want to try, to put myself out there. I get scared to fail or be rejected. My goals feel out of reach and failures seem to matter more than the small victories.

But Colombia reminded me of what really matters, and coming back from my trip I felt more at peace with myself. When you choose to have that “selective memory” in the best way possible, you can fuel yourself forwards. You put yourself in the best position to ignore the ones who get you down, to let failure motivate you, to focus on the good things. We are so much more than what others think. Knowing what we’re worth and not letting people, failure, tragedy, crappy circumstances get us down, we can look towards the future a positive energy. It’s not easy and it doesn’t happen overnight. But putting one foot in front of the other, that’s how we start.

Maria December 3, 2019 · 0 Likes

Thank you so much for such beautiful thoughts about my country, and my people, as you described we live with passion and try to make the best of what we have. People like you are always very welcome. Colombia te espera con los brazos abiertos.❤🇨🇴 Luz sanchez

December 3, 2019

· 0 Likes

Preciosa descripción de vida y tremendo entendimiento de la mentalidad de los colombianos y sus luchas por décadas gracias

Carolina

December 2, 2019

· 0 Likes

Wow! beautiful way to see the life. Everything will always be fine, no matter what is happening.