About a year ago, one of the best gifts of my life arrived at my door and wrapped in a cardboard box.
But I don't mean the bike itself. The bicycle is only its material presentation. Something that was bought, that can be re-wrapped, sold, or for which another owner could be found in case I no longer need it. What my dad gave me that day was the opportunity to launch into a dream, the freedom to do it my way, and his faith that I could achieve it. So for me, this experience has been a gift since its inception, and it has transformed what a gift can mean to me.
I grew up in a society where money is "earned." Winning, according to the Google dictionary, means "to achieve something after having a confrontation, dispute, or competition with another person, for example: to win a medal." I also grew up in a society where money buys everything and can literally land you on the moon. We got used to acquiring everything through transactions without feeling that it took me some work to accept this great gift, even from my own father. I did not have the fundamentals to understand what it meant because in my culture it is not prioritized. They tell us that what is given is not appreciated the same. That humans do not understand the value of gifts, only those that we earn. A culture that in a way despises what is "free", or rather,so it was not paid with our money.
However, in many places in Mexico, especially in the towns, I have observed other ways of interpreting that beautiful act of giving. I suppose it is linked to the ancient indigenous tradition of giving, so people are more used to expressing themselves through gifts and details that are shared regularly. There are very large gifts and other smaller ones, but I am struck by the background that each one of them always carries. First, a gift is never despised — it is accepted, furthermore, with an ethical motivation to deserve it and a commitment to return it, and even when possible, to surpass it. In these directions, gifts are not "free". That is, because they do not have a monetary value does not mean that they are empty or light. On the contrary, they carry a lot of weight and are loaded with an alien will,usually accompanied by positive thoughts and wishes. At least that's how I felt about the people who crossed my path and with whom I had the beautiful experience of sharing a gift.
Throughout the journey, we have given and received many, many physical gifts, including fruits, herbs, crafts, photos, clothing items, and bike gear.
However, the true gifts are not the objects themselves, but the intentions with which they arrive. My jarana, for example, was a gift that reflects a lot of passion and enjoyment for music — a gesture so beautiful and unexpected that it inspires me to be worthy of it every day and focuses on playing it better. The gift that can take me to the moon.
At the end of each stay, Mariana likes to give away one of her own photographs that she took, edited, printed and wrapped for our hosts, which has definitely become my favorite part of our farewell ritual.
We just got back from a harmonious couple of days in the town of Cuautempan, where gifts abounded since we landed in the municipal square. They welcomed us with an aromatic copal incense that first greeted our senses, the sweet melody and typical dance of Xochipitzahuatl, and some necklaces and bouquets of flowers that dressed us for the occasion. It still moves me to remember the looks of full sincerity with which they invited us to know and enjoy their riches, both cultural and natural. Authentic looks that recognized the value of what they offered us, and happy to find mutual recognition and gratitude.
Throughout the trip, we have also had the opportunity to experiment with another very ancient economic system: the famous Neolithic "barter". As with the gift, I feel that when you take money out of the way, the value we place on things becomes more visible and personal, and the "work" of the other is appreciated in a different way. I find it amazing when we share songs, photos, and videos with those who have also shared their art, knowledge, or service with us — be it a dancer, cook, or tour guide. What can excite me the most when playing music in the street is that another musician who plays in the street comes along and we form a spontaneous cultural exchange — which we frequently do in markets and small towns.
In addition, bartering constantly stimulates creativity, because for each deal the context and interests are different. It motivates us to explore new skills and to look for different learning or experiences that we want to exchange. It puts us face to face with creators and producers instead of hiding behind bills and intermediaries. But above all, it lets us see another perspective of life and what we really value our own.
Many people have asked us about how we survive and about the luxuries that we have lacked when choosing this lifestyle ... but that depends on what each one considers survival and what a luxury is. For me, I am just discovering it ...
I invite you to reflect, or for those who are encouraged, to comment and share, what was the last thing you bartered, exchanged, gave or received as a gift? What did it make you feel?