Day 59

My mind was distressed today as I thought of the slums. I just cannot imagine living that way. A friend offered me good advice. He told me to think of what is in front of me now because worrying about those that are thousands of miles away won’t change anything. Therefore, focus on what is in the ‘here and now.’ He said the people in the slums are not suffering in the way that I might imagine because they are used to living that way. I agree with what he is saying. We are all a product of our surroundings. Anything individuals have grown up with as the norm is exactly that; it’s normal to that person.

For me to imagine living in the slums is a different perspective than the how the people that have always lived in the slums perceive it. On the other hand, no matter how much a person is used to living in the slums, it cannot possibly be okay in my mind. Though they may not know the difference, I do know the difference. I know that there is a way to live without starvation. I know there is a way to avoid sleeping under the heat of a metal roof in 100 degree weather. I know of places to live that are not filled with garbage, dirt and mud. I have nieces and nephews that I love with all my heart and I can’t possibly imagine them having to live that way. As my sister said, “It brings me to tears just imagining what these little people go through; because I cannot even begin to imagine to have my precious babies live this way”

Needless to say, just the thought of a life with such struggles is hard to think of… I will be processing this for a long time.