A journey with a purpose*

In my freshman anthropology class, we read a book called The Tapestry of Culture. The metaphor used was that the world is like a carpet and cultures compose different threads in the carpet.

Though we may all be of the same fabric, it takes many threads and colors to complete a beautiful carpet. We are woven together by shared experiences. This is the lens that allows me to express my love for humanity and the world.

At the end of the day, you begin to realize that we are all connected. Though we enjoy many priviledges in the developed world, we remain connected by family and friends A poor family in a rural village may not have the same materials possessions but have a shared experience when it comes to family and friends.

Almost all of us experience the death of a loved one or the joy of a mother giving birth to life, the success of a young person completing higher education, the celebration of a first job, or the fear and excitement that await us as a newly married couple, or parents dealing with the problems of raising a child with developmental disorders. In many ways, the cycle of humanity can be found all over the world in different stages.

We know we are not alone, that we must raise our children to be aware, and to have empathy and compassion for those who are experiencing suffering. That recognition is what gives us purpose and meaning in our lives.

With this awareness we believe that we have a moral responsibility to do something. We each possess the ability to reach beyond our selves, to use our skils, give our time, and do something for the betterment of society.

*Fieldnotes by Levani