January 28, 2015 – St. Paul, Minnesota

“It’s nice to see a parent that takes the time to play with their child.”

I smile and say, “Thank you,” to the kind stranger paying me such a compliment as I’m watching Syr play at a nearby park. I should be so lucky. I’m grateful for our time together, as well as the chance to give Mari some distraction-free time. Helping a single mother will most likely be one of my more rewarding experiences on this journey, and despite Syr’s circumstance, I can’t help but feel envious of the young girl.

Syr is only three years old, and she’s already been exposed to way more than I was at that age. Her mother teaches her Spanish. Her screen time is limited, which forces activity and inventiveness. She asks for vegetables when she’s hungry. Syr will be a superhuman.

My parents also divorced when I was three, but I didn’t have the exposure that she does…the interactions with people from all over the world that may shape the person that she becomes. Racial, cultural, and religious intolerances could be foreign concepts to her. In an age that barrages children with digital entertainment and information, Syr could be learning about other traditions, beliefs, and practices first-hand.

I envision her life without these influences and experiences; I imagine my life with many more of them. How much can our lives change when we open ourselves up to this type of lifestyle? How many other lives can we change?

I have a lot of catching up to do.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu