Reflections…..In a Ger

I’m sitting inside a Mongolian family’s ger, several hours outside Ulaanbaatar. I have limited battery. Limited signal. Limited time. No computer.

This beautiful family hosted us today. We milked horses, rode horses, herded horses (with horses), bought a sheep, butchered a sheep, shot arrows, enjoyed homemade snacks, laughed, and eventually enjoyed a genuine Mongolian sheep barbecue.

Context matters. When we shape our worldview, perspectives, desires, and expectations on just the small bubble we live in, our context is limited.

It’s one of the most beautiful reasons why I believe travel is important. It builds context. It shifts context. It broadens context.

Some people ask why my family’s standard of living is as low as it is. Context, that’s why. We know what we need. We know what matters. More importantly, we know what’s not. We know that living a meaningful life trumps a life of more. A life of margin beats a life of status. A life of generosity crushes a life of want.

So as I sit here, enjoying the most amazing day with these beautiful people who live an ultra simple life, I’m reminded why context matters so much. It’s not about what we have or how high our standard of living is. It’s about meaning. Always meaning.

I’m glad I wrote this, and I’m grateful for the friends I shared the experience with.

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