Mexico

Last week Geoff and I returned from a week in Mexico for a Young Global Leader and World Economic Forum conference.  The conference was held at a beautiful resort in Nuevo Vallarta.  Geoff has been to many of these conferences and has brought home stories of amazing people who are changing the world in their own way.  It was a PLEASURE to accompany him and experience it myself.

A view from our balcony

The Young Global Leader group is really an amazing group of passionate, interesting, diverse and genuine people.  Everyone has a remarkable story.  Many are high profile so our hotel was surrounded by military holding machine guns, and military boats guarded our beach.  This was the same throughout all of the World Economic Forum hotels and routes.
In addition secret service were everywhere.  The cool part was I couldn't tell who was a princess of a country or a high official in another country.  All seemed to be at ease and themselves.
 

This is a new and dear friend, Nina, from Geneva

One day a group of us participated in Dignity Day, a program a few YGLs created a few years ago.  We went to local middle schools, broke into groups and did a workshop on the meaning of dignity, and the importance of treating others with dignity.  It was a very powerful day.

Geoff and his group, which consisted of a few unique individuals (one who was in a wheel chair, and another who was deaf and mute) whom were the targets of a lot of bullying

We spoke briefly to the whole school and got a group of the students together for a photo

A few of us presenters with the school principle (in white)

 At another school a YGL named Michael, from Venezuela, told a story about himself.  Let me introduce Michael before telling his story.  Michael life is a miracle in itself.  The doctors told his mother he would never live because he could never breathe.  Then when he did the doctors said he would never walk.  In some way his body doesn't effectively build muscle, so he has very little muscle.  He cannot move his arms other than swinging them with his few back muscles.  But he can walk, and to teach others that anything is possible he knows how to swim, AND he runs multiple marathons a year around the world.  It takes him 15 HOURS!!!  But he doesn't stop.  This guy went out into the ocean with Geoff and a few others (he had a few people with him all the time) and was getting knocked over by the waves.  A person held each of his arms.  He is a giant in a frail, little body.  Most definitely one of the coolest people I've ever met.  

So Michael told the kids he taught a story of when he was walking down a busy street alone, and fell.  He can't get himself up when he falls so he called for help.  "Can someone help me?"  People saw his mis-shapen body and walked on by.  After 40 minutes (!) he felt two strong hands lift him up to his feet.  Michael smelled something horrible and turned around to see a homeless man.  The homeless man said he didn't have much but in this small way he was happy to be able to help someone.  Michael asked what the man needed.  The homeless man said, "I'm hungry."  Michael responded that he could help with that problem and he took the homeless man to lunch.  After that Michael saw to it that this man got back on his feet, and he no longer lives on the street.

Geoff and Michael on the beach

The Mexicans in the Dignity Day group suggested a local favorite restaurant...all raw food (mostly fish dishes).  I love the workers in the background!

Geoff had told me about this amazing couple who are extremely courageous (and in great danger every day) in their country as they stand up to a dictator.  (I'm being purposely vague.)

Lastly, a picture of Geoff announcing a "Dad's Group" meeting, a group he and another guy spearheaded to help the dads in the group stay focused on what matters most.