"The death toll from Hurricane Otto in Costa Rica has increased from four to nine, President Luis Guillermo Solís announced Friday. Five people died in the Alajuela canton of Upala and four in Bagaces, Guanacaste. Solís declared three days of mourning starting Monday.” —The Tico Times News

While most people were planning on going shopping for Black Friday, people in the northwestern part of my country had just lost everything and some of them were mourning their loved ones.

I am still amazed at the incongruity we live on in this world. Incongruity happens when we know what is going on in this world and we know that something must be done in order to change it, but we do the complete opposite instead. I am not saying by this that it’s wrong to go shopping on Black Friday; what I am saying is that if you know your brother is hurting, do something—don’t just post about it. Don’t promote on donating money to those in need if you didn’t donate first. Let your actions speak for you.

Hurricane Otto was the first hurricane in Costa Rica’s history to go through it. It caused a lot of damage, floods, deaths, tears, and separation. Tragedy brings darkness and uncertainty, but it causes unity—brings people together. When you can’t see what lies ahead of you, you need support—someone close so you can walk together and figure things out.

The President declared the country to be “in a state of mourning” and called on the people of Costa Rica to “unite, like a national family.”

I personally know of people who instead of going shopping they donated money, clothes, and other stuff that was needed to those families that had lost everything. That is what life is all about—bringing people together in unity and not wasting it on luxuries that you yourself will forget and lose interest in.

Going shopping is fun! I enjoy going shopping, but beware of your motives and intentions you have. If you can invest your time/money or whatever you have that can make a difference in someone’s life, do it before getting things for yourself.

Put others first, give whatever you have to those in need, and you will discover the true joy in life—it is not found on money or luxuries. Give it a try and I assure you you will never stop doing it!