Maria Teresa Lemus de Vanek
Licensed Psychologist and Logotherapist
I love my country, consider myself a true Franklian and was therefore honored to have been asked to share something about Mexico and how Dr. Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy is of influence. Mexico is a large and great country, covering an area of around two million square kilometers with approximately ten thousand kilometers of beautiful shores. Acapulco and Cancun are famous tourist spots but there are a lot of lesser known halcyon spots.
Considered the 4th mega diverse country, its biodiversity includes a large variety of flora and fauna with over twelve thousand of them only grown in Mexico. It is a multi-cultural country with thirty-seven thousand archaeological sites and sixty-five native languages with Spanish being the official language. Our country is also the most populated Spanish speaking country with over 100 million inhabitants.
When you visit Mexico, you are visiting one of the 10 most visited countries in the world. Our people are cheerful and friendly and tourists come from all over looking for color, sun, music, fiesta and joy! Simply walking through our local markets is a feast of color and folklore featuring a variety of fruits and vegetables, hundreds of spicy peppers and locals in embroidered, colorful costumes…Mexican cuisine was recognized last year by the UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. We have a great variety of delicious dishes.
Mexico is not an easy country to rule. Our population consists of approximately 20% young people under the age of 21, all looking for the equally important opportunities of education and jobs. There are high level schools and universities yet we have over five million people who cannot read or write. We have great socio-cultural contrasts: the richest men on earth and poverty as seen in the poorest of countries.
These days, there is a looming, serious crisis: drug trafficking; violence and corruption are but a few of its symptoms…Mexico has transitioned from being a drug transit country to a drug consuming country causing insecurity and hopelessness to linger in the air. Many groups are putting forth their best efforts to deal with this challenge but it is not easy. Our most important unit – family- is the place where our people are struggling to foster unity and health.
Dr. Frankl’s Logotherapy –healing through meaning-has a lot to offer our Society! Since his first visit in 1978 at Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico has welcomed his concepts and teachings with enthusiasm and hope. Dr. Frankl invited our Youth to build a meaningful way of life and all countries to cement a social commitment in favor of justice and peace.
We were all encouraged to ponder meaning over fear and violence, consciousness over drugs and self – destruction, responsibility over abuse and laxness and above all to favor a vital attitude to work in favor of life and growth for all. Viktor & I, An Alexander Vesely Film is already refreshing our will for meaning in all countries. The world is in need of it!
Maria Teresa Lemus de Vanek
Licensed Psychologist and Logotherapist
Founder of www.logoforo.com
The Spanish speaking site of Logotherapy
Posted on
Thu, March 17, 2011
by Maria Teresa Lemus de Vanek
filed under