The art of storytelling is endlessly instructive and has the power to launch the mind back through time during which we render order to the events of our lives, pronounce our decisions right or wrong, and ultimately explain ourselves to ourselves. The beauty of storytelling lies in its teachings and its rare ability to instigate radical change and advocate positive action.
On Tuesday, we traveled to the townships where I was forced to confront a change in my lifestyle, not just because of where I was, but also because of whom I was with and what I was doing. Most importantly, I owe my new found understanding of what it means to make something beautiful of your life to Miss Cheryl, my housemother for the evening, who is a woman that I will forever associate with the purest form of wonderful.
As I listened to her stories, I was captivated by her heart-wrenching words and deeply moved by her enduring edifice of character. In my own definition of what it means to be a woman, Miss Cheryl was exactly that, for she embodies everything that I hope to someday become. She is the glue that holds together her family and her neighborhood. Not a day goes by that she does not bring joy into the lives of others and I feel truly blessed and forever grateful to say that she has done so to mine. I learned several invaluable lessons during my time there, but my nugget to take a way from this experience is this:
An appreciation of our limited tenure on this earth is essential to understanding the self and the world we inhabit. By finding value in the wisdom bestowed upon us by others, whether it is in the form of a story or a simple conversation, we are given the most precious of gifts. Life, after all, is about giving, not receiving, and it is vital that we see ourselves on the same level as everyone else, for we all worthy of such love, trust, and respect.
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