I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to some incredible places, but a recent trip to Bhutan in February truly stands out. I went as part of a school service trip, volunteering with Read Bhutan in a rural area of the country. While there, we also hiked to the picturesque Tiger’s Nest Monastery. The country is stunningly beautiful and offered a glimpse into a unique culture. It was a blend of isolation and sophistication. Many government officials are educated at prestigious universities around the world, and even in the small village where we were, the students spoke an impressive level of English.
Bhutanese culture is quite traditional and most outsiders would probably see it as old-fashioned. In fact, I think the Bhutanese people would agree with that. Yet, at the same time, their government is remarkably forward-thinking when it comes to the environment and sustainability. For years, their focus has been on Gross National Happiness (GNH) rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP), prioritizing well-being over financial and material wealth. Their society, led by the Royal family, has chosen different metrics for success.
Of course, it’s not perfect. They’re currently dealing with a problem of young people moving away for university and not returning. The government has plans to address this, but it’ll be fascinating to see how they manage to balance becoming more modern while retaining their traditional values. This was truly a unique culture. I can’t help but wonder how different it might be if I were to visit again in twenty years. Specifically, will Gross National Happiness still be the priority over GDP?
Shifting Lenses 
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