Preferences

I have been back in the United States for one month.    Only one month ago I was able to be impressed fairly easily by things.   If a restaurant had a toilet I thought that was pretty cool.  If there was toilet paper I was a bit disoriented.   If there was a full sink I would plan to go there to wash my hands.   I even had a system of understanding the grades of latrines.   When I flew on Air Madagascar I was impressed by the pre-packaged nuts onboard.  In short, I was satisfied easily and my preferences were at very easy to please levels.  

 

It wasn't always that way.   My first months out of the United States were spent largely feeling nagged by preferences.  I wished things were nicer, easier, cleaner and so on.  I missed what I had come to prefer.   And I had to realize that my preferences were just that--before I left the United States I thought many of my preferences were needs.

 

Fast forward to my re-entry into the United States.

 

At first I felt overwhelmed by it all.  All of the roads, powerlines, cars, buildings, concrete--and everything is nice.  Even McDonalds.   Every bathroom is perfect and if it isn't you can be outraged.

 

But slowly I feel myself developing preferences.   I want this type of shampoo.  I just like it better.   I want this type of shirt.  I just like it better.   I want this seat on the near empty train.  I just like it better.   I want this meal.  I just like it better.

 

And then sometimes when I cant have what I just like better I feel put out.  Because somewhere in my mind I am already forgetting the difference between a preference and a need.   It is something to keep track of I think.  

 

Aside from shelter and food, the only other thing I actually need is love.   Luckily I have had all three in Niger, Madagascar and the United States.  

 

As for my preferences, I can accept them so long as they are kept in perspective, so long as I don't begin to believe that they are anything more than that.