TGIM: From Vietnam

Welcome back to Thank God It’s Monday!
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​tl;dr We cannot consider possibilities that we are not aware of. Our great-grandparents wouldn’t be able to fathom the amount of power held in our cellphones. Our parents have a hard time fathoming careers outside of the safe 9-5. And we are yet to understand the exponential changes that will occur in technology in our lifetimes.
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There’s a lot of turmoil and terror going on in the U.S. right now. It has been such a treat to be away from the pervasive, negative news that fills the air. But as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder.
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Our tour guide in Vietnam took us to Ho Chi Minh City to see a local market, visit the war museum, eat delicious Pho, and drink refreshing Vietnamese coffee. During the day, he told us about what it’s like living in a communist country, and it was hard to truly empathize with that way of life. Just as one small example, their government controls their internet and heavily filters what is available to view. They provide affordable internet access for everyone, but then limit what can be accessed.
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We inquired about the average income there and the cost of living. Our tour guide worked rotating shifts full-time at the airport and gave tours on the side. He loves to travel and has an interesting list of states he’d like to visit eventually. But the craziest fact he told us is that a 10-day trip to the U.S. would cost him almost two and a half MONTHS of income. Wow.

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around a trip that would cost two and a half months of income. What kind of trip do you imagine is worth that much?
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But for him, and probably most Vietnamese, this is reality.
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This is not a sentiment to make us feel guilty about the hand we’ve been dealt in this life. But it helps put into perspective the incredible luck many of us have encountered living in the time and place we do.
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Does our government filter what we see? Yes. Is everyone in the United States taken care of equally? No.
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But many of us are so incredibly fortunate to have the lives we do.
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I feel wildly lucky to be on this trip, writing this newsletter somewhere in the South China Sea, knowing I have a good-paying job at home with control over most of my time, and a vacation that does not cost me two and a half months of income.
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Does that mean we shouldn’t continue fighting for better standards and treatment for all people back at home? No, of course not. But hopefully it helps you as much as it did me to be reminded of this perspective.
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If you found some value in this, please share it with a friend you think would enjoy it! And let me know if you’d like to be added to get TGIM.
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This week, my podcast recommendation is from Lewis Howes’ The School of Greatness, “The Danger Line: Why 84% Never Reach Their Potential with Dr. Michael Gervais.”
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With that, happy lunar new year! It is officially the year of the horse, which is associated with energy, independence, and rapid, dynamic change.
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Until next time,
Shannon