During our April 18 celebration of the International Day of No Self-Hate, it occurred to me how much each generation stands on the shoulders of the last.
I remember the thrill of first encountering the possibility of living a life beyond the doubts and fears that seemed so powerful in my head! I was excited. At the time I had no idea how daunting a journey it would be to do the work of liberating attention from the voices. Over the years the gratitude I feel for those who have come before me on the path, proving that it can be done, has deepened immensely.
When Theresa wrote to me about the workshop for the girls in the Living Compassion Girls Program in Kantolomba, I felt the same gratitude.
Two young women, daughters of our accountant in Zambia, came to talk with the girls. They are in their early 20s. Kambole is graduating from law school and Jesse is studying accounting. Martha, their mother, grew up just like the girls in Kantolomba—very poor, with few resources for the basic necessities, let alone for books and other education materials. But Martha was determined to educate her children. And she did. Kambole and Jesse did not have it easy either, often hungry at school and lacking enough money for books.
Theresa said that when Kambole and Jesse spoke with the Girls Program on Saturday, the girls were riveted by what they had to say. The girls were elated to meet two young women who seemed just like them and yet were living a completely different life! These young women are now in a position to not only give their own future families a very good life, they will also have plenty to share back with their mother, their younger siblings and their community.
Theresa told us that Jesse and Kambole had a wonderful time and assured the girls they would be back! It seems there is as much joy in shining the light back for others as there is excitement in catching glimpses of it up ahead!
Gassho
Jen