As the doldrums of a long winter drag on for some areas of the country, many of us are struggling with our New Year’s resolutions for 2019. Whether those lofty goals are physical or mental, there’s nothing like the passage of time to remind us of our shortcomings and lack of progress to sink our idealistic efforts. Tackling life’s challenges in our fast-paced, digital, highly partisan, and often turbulent times poses many obstacles. Hopefully, most of us have not yet abandoned our good intentions to improve our human existence. To help us stay on course with our lofty intentions, we often look forward to a break in the action; that week off to catch our breath and reflect on what’s really important in life.That break came for me in January with a trip to Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It wasn’t a luxurious vacation on the beach, but it was a real opportunity to refocus my life’s perspective. This adventure to a country racked by political corruption for decades and devastated by repeated natural disasters offers an opportunity for visitors to realize how lucky we are as Americans and witness the resilience of the Haitian people who are far less fortunate than ourselves in many ways.Our annual mission trips to Haiti are made possible by the incredible work of Barb and Rick Wilkerson of Spencer, Iowa. Barb, a nurse, and Rick, an orthopaedic surgeon, have built an orphanage, school, and medical/dental clinic in Jacmel, Haiti, in response to the devastation they witnessed after the earthquake in 2010. Rick is a veteran of medical missions, having provided care in Erbil and Dohuk in Iraq, as well as Libya, Bhutan, Vietnam, and Uganda before arriving in Haiti at the request of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. While volunteering at a hospital in Port-au-Prince, Rick witnessed the horrible conditions of an orphanage housing 60 young children. Their foundation, Love Takes Root (https://lovetakesroot.org/), raised private funds to move the orphanage to the countryside in Jacmel and provide a supportive, loving environment for the orphans. Delivering basic necessities in a third world country where adequate food, water, and electricity are often not available is a formidable task. However, the recent progress of the foundation in replacing the original squalid cinder block shelter with a hurricane-proof home in the countryside (La Concorde) is heartwarming. Previously, there was no space for educational or recreational activities as the elderly guardians struggled to provide the malnourished children with one meal a day in their Port-au-Prince orphanage. The transition for the orphans has been nothing short of miraculous. The recent addition of a solar-powered computer classroom to the new facility allows these children to join the rest of the world on the internet, opening up countless educational opportunities. The children now have a nurturing, healthy environment; are being educated; and are developing job skills that will bode well for their future and that of Haiti.Witnessing the transition of the orphanage and the children has caused me to reflect on my own life in the United States. Sure, we face many problems at home. Yes, our national politics in Washington are in turmoil, but we remain the freest country in the world. Living standards for most are quite good, while there are many safety nets for the poor, underprivileged, and disabled. Our educational and career options are many, with an economy that is quite robust. Our medical care structure is imperfect and in flux, but nobody gets turned away from emergency rooms regardless of their ability to pay. While there is much disparity in what capitalist America offers, the avenues for advancement still remain open. The American dream is still alive. We, as Americans, have so much to be thankful for. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes an eye-opening experience like a trip to Haiti to recognize the benefits of life in the United States that we all enjoy. Sad but true, many things we take for granted every day are not available for most of the world.Despite the misfortune and oppression that the Haitian people face daily, their appreciation for the simple things in life is quite obvious. Even more impressive to me is the joy and happiness that you see in Haiti despite the daily hardships. The smiles on the faces of children when offered a piece of candy. The warm embraces and “thank-yous” of adults when providing basic medical care. It is a much simpler life when your basic needs for survival are not guaranteed. The response from those who we were there to help was heartwarming and enough to overcome the difficult reality we confronted during our journey. I wish it didn’t take a trip to Haiti for me to realize how much I take for granted daily. I since have added an additional New Year’s resolution to my list: Be thankful every day!