A woman sits at the side of a laneway hoping to sell her few cigars. She is on display; a show for the tourists. She is so much stronger than we give her credit for at first glance. She isn't a spectacle. A sideshow. She is a human being. Someone who may have little children at home, or a lover waiting in the wings. She sleeps, breathes, eats the same as we all do. She is strength personified. {If put in her position would you survive? Would you have the gall or the wherewithall to make it through each day?}
I thought about this woman and her lines of order and chaos. I worried about her tremendously. How does she navigate through those lines? Is she making it? {My heart says yes.}
We all have inner strength we can tap into. Yes, all of us. {Because for some of us, our problems are miniscule.}
Do you walk your own journey, or that road which belongs to her over there?
We each stand on our own two feet. I've always been a subscriber to this thought. I know I must walk my own path, and that is really ok because don't we all? At the end of each day I can only do my best. Just like YOU. Do you walk your own path? {I hope so.}
I do.
xo
Part odd walking our own path is to see and acknowledge the paths that cross our own. It can be tricky navigating sometimes. Xo
Posted by: Kath | February 20, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Hello Gill,
Lovely to see you today.
What a beautiful photograph of this lady who sells cigars. Did you snap the photo in Cuba? You are right we all have our path. And this lady has hers too. Often, I ponder the idea you present about how we are all trying to make it, facing different challenges. Perhaps the cigar woman is happier than the richest man on earth, maybe not. One thing is for sure, it is really good to count our blessings don't you think?
I am grateful to know you. To feel your empathy and openness to become all you can be!!
xox
Constance
Posted by: Rochambeau | February 20, 2011 at 05:29 PM
Isn't it amazing how travel opens our eyes to the sameness of each human being. A favorite quote by Mark Twain: Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness. You definitely were open to see the soul of this woman.
Posted by: Marilyn | February 21, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Lyrically written truth. It tugs at my heart and my soul. You are beauty and so is she xo
Posted by: Tanya | February 21, 2011 at 01:52 PM
We can never know what it is to experience walking in another's shoes, can we? That is one of the beautiful mysteries of life.
Posted by: Swirly | February 22, 2011 at 10:34 AM