By: Saylor Pitts
So far I have not seen a single baby cry. I’ve seen them fall and tumble down hills, but still, no crying. Strength and resilience are key to survival here. These run through everyone’s veins. Life versus death is not something that scares people.
At home, I don’t think we are as tough as we seem. I came to India knowing someone very close to me was going to leave this Earth, and I had to say goodbye. Not a see you later, but a goodbye. I’m the biggest baby I’ve seen so far in India. In the beginning, I turned this beautiful place into my crying spot, until I saw the beauty of these people’s beliefs about life after death.
Here in Agora, death isn’t a goodbye. It is a see you later.
My grandmother was the most hardworking, loving, beautiful lady I’ve had in my life. She turned me into the person I always hoped I’d be, and she reminds me of the women in Agora. They grow their gardens with so much love and happiness just like she did. Each weed pulled and each flower grown has a meaning behind it.
Being around the women of Agora the last few days has brought me a piece of my grandma. Whenever I see a beautiful yellow mustard seed flower, I see her. And being in the Himalayas, up so high, I feel closer to her than I ever have before.
After spending time with Ma, who was my host, I saw what real strength is. After a while of convincing, she let me help her carry cow manure up the mountain. With the weight on my back and the thin ropes digging into my shoulders, I felt this woman’s strength and resilience feeding into my own veins. Moving forward, I know I will come home and have both my grandma and Agora on my shoulders like little angels.
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