A trip to Europe taught us one, important lesson about people

The vast majority of people in the world are good. That’s the overwhelming takeaway I have after a whirlwind trip to Europe.

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It was Don and my big brother’s first time across the pond, so I tried to pack in as much good stuff as I could.

That meant a steady stream of planes, trains, taxis, and walking — lots of getting lost, and stumbling upon unexpected sights, sounds, and tastes.

Invariably, almost everyone we met was decent, kind, and friendly. If we were lost, people helped us find our way. If we didn’t speak the language, we managed to figure things out with gestures, pantomime, and laughs. If we were curious, people would open up and tell us their stories.

People want you to have a good time. They want you try that food they are famous for. When it’s rhubarb season, they will make you the most delicious rhubarb jelly for your toast.

People want to know where you are from and are grateful that you came to visit.

They want to show you the places that are important to them. They will not just tell you the stories of war, they will take you to the beaches where thousands of soldiers died and let you stand in the exact spot. They will let you feel the spray of the ocean and imagine the scene.

Most people in the world are more alike than they are different. They want their children to be happy and safe and have a better life than they did. People want to be peaceful and content. They want a good cup of coffee in the morning and a nice walk by the water after work.

Sometimes when we allow our world to get small and close in on itself, we run across the small minority: The people that are angry and bitter and want to bring you down to their level. I know those people exist, they try to get me to engage with them every day. They want their issue to become my issue. They want to be right and make everyone else wrong.

I’ve found that they are not very happy people.

But when I choose to remember that the world is big and that there’s so many interesting places to see, I remember to not give my energy to small-minded people.

Obviously, there are important issues that need to be solved. There are politics and injustice that should be held to account. But in my opinion, that should occupy only a fraction of your time and energy.

We become the thing we devote most of our time to. If we wallow in anger and pettiness every day, we become angry and petty.

If we choose to get out into the world and be open to all it has to offer, we become more open and accepting. And we also get to eat amazing pastries in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Don wrote: I went looking for courage and found it 4,941 miles away

I’ll say it again: The vast majority of people in the world are good.

“What Are We Talking About Here” can be heard every weekday at 4:50 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. on the Ron & Don Show on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM.