Lessons from the Tribal Women

I grew up in rural India

and learned precious life philosophy,

from the tribal women.

They woke up at dawn

to the call of the rooster,

refreshed in community ponds,

ate leftover rice gruel,

before setting out to work,

in houses of well-to-do,

or in the paddy fields.

They bathed in the afternoon,

got water from public faucet,

cooked rice on woodfire,

ate simple meals with vegetables,

spent time in social banter,

and slept under the stars.

They walked gently on earth

and treated their bodies well,

no chemical cosmetics,

no food preservatives.

They were poor, often illiterate,

but they had families,

and lived to old age,

showing you can live,

fulfilling, loved, long life,

without privileges

and with lots of challenges,

by honing resilience.