Where is Zihuatanejo?

So much of perception is context-based.

When people learn that I own a home in Mexico, usually the first question is not, “Is it safe?”, it is “Where?”.

I respond with the comforting question, “Did you see the movie Shawshank Redemption?”. Almost everyone says yes. Then I mention the final scene and the discussion becomes based on a positive experience and is about how fortunate I am.

If the person hasn’t seen Shawshank Redemption they are missing the positive context. Then the discussion becomes fear-based.