Humbled

I feel elated, humbled, relaxed, in awe. A bit lost for words. What a day!

We opened up the house to the community so that they could come and enjoy food and a temezcal. It was calm at first. Two teens came, I went in the Temezcal, was lying on the grass, and Boom! The action began.

Six children came for a yoga class!

I wasn´t really sure where to begin, and it all felt a bit akward at first, but all ofthe sudden it clicked! I was shocked. The kids LOVED it, and what they loved more than anything was the mediation at the end! I told them to close their eyes for a minute, and when I finally opend my eyes a minute later, they were still super concentrated in sitting like a Budda with their eyes closed. Quieren sentar con sus ojos cerrados por otro minuto, les pregunté. Do you want to sit with you eyes closed for another minute? YES, SIIIII!!!! They answered. It was really a beautiful moment, sitting there with our eyes closed in silence. I don´t think children are often given the opportunity to sit in silence and enjoy the peace of the moment.

After yoga, all six children went into the temezcal with Estela!!! By the time they got out, they were all super relaxed, lying with Estela wrapped in their towels drinking their tea. It was a really special moment.

And initially, they were all so timid to do both yoga and enter into the temezcal. For example, when they arrived, I told them to take off their shoes. Do whhhaaat??? They looked at me quizzically. By the end of the day, however, they were all playing WITHOUT shoes.

They also weren´t too sure about going into the temezcal, but they all went in again later with Estela´s aunt!!! And then showered together outside afterwards. Pure fun. I am not sure how to explain it, but children here seem to enjoy and appreciate more than the majority of children i have encountered in the U.S. For example, after the temezcal, they all ate fruit, and were soooooo excited and appreciative. Where is my fruit??? Naomi demands. Children here are also so grown up. Andrea is nine and is practically the mom of her two younger brothers and sisters. Same with Kimberly. These girls take better care of their siblings than their own mothers. They have suffered a lot, but are very mature at the same time. Andrea was taking out a huge bag of trash this afternoon, one of the girls who came for yoga was cleaning up after all of the children´s messes...picking up towels, etc. So many peole all around...watching...Pepe not knowing a life like this exists in the house next door to his own. The sister of one of the young boys, shy, simply watching all. The old woman, Estela´s aunt, sitting in the temezcal for hours. Tomasia, working her butt off cleaning, helping Estela, making food, etc. Angelica frolicking around. Estela in every corner. Magna talking with the gay man in her see-through bra....kids running in and out. tea here, apples there, toritllas everywhere!

Love. The neighbors next door are in need and Estela gives it to them. Tomasita was shocked that Estela had welcomed so many children in and fed them, etc. Estela simply tells her, well if I don´t, who will? And these children need kindness in their lives, they need someone to take care of them, feed them, love them, play with them, etc. I admire Estela a lot for this.

Also, elders treat children like their peers. They do not tend to talk down to them. They talk to them as adults, and there seems to be a mutual respect surrounding this issue. Children respect their elders, a lot. Such a different life here. People have values, cultures, customs, and practices that very much so lack in the U.S. People have roles, and purpose. Something I have felt a lack of back home.

I could go on forever and ever. So much to see, be aware of, and learn from. And I will only continue to be immersed in more and learn more and more and more...So much to learn from children, as they watch everything and tell us exactly what they see. We need to listen to them.