When we were in India, we stayed at a coffee resort with a wonderful family with kids the same age as ours
I was struck by the similarities between us
Obvious things such as kids the same age but also complex things such as lamenting the same problems that plague both countries
Ironically, we wanted each other's lives. She lived on a farm in the country & we lived in the US in suburbia
Neither of us were unhappy but both were searching for something more, something that seemed just beyond our grasp She said to me "I have to have some suffering"
I was struck by the Eastern-ness of this thought
The Buddha spoke of suffering
Suffering is everywhere but we have acceptance
Acceptance of our place, of our circumstance
The Westerner in me fights against this I strive for no suffering, particularly for my children, but in truth there will always be suffering
If you are lucky though, you get to choose yours
I choose to suffer from fear of being inadequate to educate my children
I believe that this fear is what makes me a better teacher because it drives me to do more
But does it make me better or hold me back
What if I chose acceptance instead?
~Claire Honeycutt aka Hippy Mom
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