Happiness in community
To be happy or not to be, that is the question. Shakespeare’s words just missed that one critical word that I believe everyone has a choice to be. Being here in Guatemala and trying to understand how people are happy is good a way to self reflect on our own happiness.
In Zacapa, the second city in our itinerary, we visited the neighborhoods built by the non-profit Habitat for Humanity. This was the experience that I most anticipated for in the entire trip. The best way to understand and hear about personal accounts would be to interact with the locals by engaging through a one-on-one dialogue. On two days we split into groups and surveyed the neighborhoods, by asking them questions on their current state of happiness on being a part of the community. Majority of the households were receptive and willingly opened their doors for us, however there were a few who showed signs as if we were invading their personal space and asking them embarrassing questions. Despite that, I was deeply touched by the community’s hospitality on preparing lunch for us on both days, and to truly confess, it was “The Food.” I could feel the Guatemalan love as I took each single bite of that beautiful preparation, and yes it was spicy, like I wanted it.
We left from Zacapa after spending two days with the neighborhoods to check out some Mayan ruins. The Mayan lived in Guatemala many centuries ago, they used to build fortresses on mountaintops along with residential neighborhoods. We went to Mixco Viejo, to explore the ruins that were spread across hundreds of miles over and around the mountains. The original model of these communities was so strong and closely knit that people stayed far enough to have their own personal space, but also be one with the people and nature.
Happiness I believe was not something that the Mayan’s of Guatemala wanted to achieve, but they were in fact happy at each and every moment. It’s because they chose to build and live in the mountains, it was a choice they made that despite the difficulties they wanted to be happy. Happiness is thus a choice we make and not what we will achieve; we need to realize that happiness is right here, right now.
