My daughter and I ventured out early one rainy morning while we were in India last month to visit one of my favorite places – the open market in Hosur (where my parents now live, outside Bangalore, in Tamilnadu, south India). Vendors set out their beautiful lineup of vegetables, fruits, flowers… and wait patiently as customers mill about, choosing their pieces and performing the requisite bargaining ritual to get a better price. I stood mesmerized by the colors, the feelings, the voices of the vendors talking to each other, the bustle of them getting settled in their stalls, trying to get protection from the rain that day. My camera pointed everywhere, each scene a portrait. Adriana had her camera, too, and actually caused 
quite the delighted stir as she carefully set herself up for each shot. As I surveyed the karmic, orderly chaos, I found myself stopping at a row of ladies neatly seated with mounds of flowers to sell. Some of them were expertly stringing them together for garlands and hairpieces – Indian women wear flowers absolutely everywhere, every day, and flowers are gifts to gods, so their purchase is common. The fragrance of those jasmine and tuberoses is something I conjure all winter back at home in Maryland… it is the essence of India to me. And then something else struck me – each of these vendors, and many others we see on the roads especially in the early mornings, are dependent on their day’s sales success in ways we can’t even imagine. Many of them will feed their families… or not… depending on how much they sell. They show up every day and with visible pride in their work, they offer it to customers like us with patience and grace. How much do they earn? Will it be enough for their basic needs today… tomorrow? I admire them so much. They inspire me to keep going, one day at a time and build a life.
Do you know people who inspire you with those qualities? Tell me about them.
quite the delighted stir as she carefully set herself up for each shot. As I surveyed the karmic, orderly chaos, I found myself stopping at a row of ladies neatly seated with mounds of flowers to sell. Some of them were expertly stringing them together for garlands and hairpieces – Indian women wear flowers absolutely everywhere, every day, and flowers are gifts to gods, so their purchase is common. The fragrance of those jasmine and tuberoses is something I conjure all winter back at home in Maryland… it is the essence of India to me. And then something else struck me – each of these vendors, and many others we see on the roads especially in the early mornings, are dependent on their day’s sales success in ways we can’t even imagine. Many of them will feed their families… or not… depending on how much they sell. They show up every day and with visible pride in their work, they offer it to customers like us with patience and grace. How much do they earn? Will it be enough for their basic needs today… tomorrow? I admire them so much. They inspire me to keep going, one day at a time and build a life.Do you know people who inspire you with those qualities? Tell me about them.
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