Bend towards justice

Please don't underestimate the impact of where you put your money - even small amounts. 

When traveling internationally, especially in developing countries, we avoid large chain stores and buy from the locals. Why? Our money supports the local economy. Large chain stores tend to funnel money out of the local economy, undercut small businesses, and often have unsustainable practices that harm communities and the environment.

Consumer choices, holding brands and organisations accountable, and deciding where to spend your money makes a difference. Does that online store you buy from get their goods from sweatshops in Vietnam and China as an example?

Our daughter, Page Lotze delivered her TEDxRandburg talk about "Hope As Praxis” last week. It was not about hope just as a passive feeling, but something we actively participate in creating. She says, "Hope As Praxis is a decision we make to 'bend towards justice' through daily action." 

“Bending towards justice” is something Page doesn't just talk about, she lives it and keeps her family and friends accountable to this approach too.

Robust debate is a regular occurrence in our household and catching bias is a tough but helpful way of reducing the harm we do in the world.  This has served us well when living in cultures that are very different from our own. Being aware of our assumptions, expectations of how things ‘should’ be done, and our biases allows us to park these thoughts and be fully present to the way things are in the moment. 

Catching ourselves at preconceived ideas and prejudice has been one of the biggest sources of learning during our travels and observing different approaches and thinking has opened our eyes to new ways.

#Thegiftoftravel #unconsciousbias #digitalnomads #nomads #hope #bendtowardsjustice #CultivatingConnection