the middle, part 1

Weeks 3 & 4: Those who have nothing appreciate everything.

In the month that I have been here, I have met some of the happiest people. Anywhere I go, I am welcomed warmly and greeted with a smile. It’s strange to think about all the materialistic things we have at home and yet, how unhappy we can be, always wanting more. The girls at Aarti live in 3 dorm-like houses with 2 rooms in each. About 15–20 girls sleep on the floor in each room. They each have a trunk filled with their few belongings — clothes that have been donated or passed down, a few photographs, combs, and anything else that they wish to keep safeguarded from others. One would think that having so little would make them all yearn for so much; however, the girls are the most generous and loving human beings I have ever met. Since I have arrived, they call me “Akka,” meaning older sister in Telugu. When we are on the bus, they always offer to give up their seat so that I do not have to stand. Once, I complimented a girl on the earrings she was wearing and her first response was to take them off her own ears and place them on mine. During snack time, the other volunteers and I are constantly swarmed by children, offering us some of their food before they eat it themselves.

Being at Aarti, surrounded by love and appreciation for life, makes me reconsider the priorities I have at home. I allow myself to be concerned with trivial things such as grades, clothing, and social media when all of these things simply act as distractions from being truly happy. I know I’m not going to go home and disconnect from it all, but I do know that I need to reprioritize and acknowledge my privilege in being burdened by the things that I am. The girls at Aarti were abandoned. Many of them come from violent backgrounds and escaped from unloving families who viewed them as a burden and a poor investment. To them, being able to receive an education is a privilege, knowing that they have a chance to overcome their prior struggles is a blessing, and having over 100 sisters who love them is more than enough.