start-up

While walking on the small road that leads from the sea to the main road, I had to chuckle inside me when I saw a man coming opposite me with five big, green, plastic washing tubs turned upside down on his head. It was an interesting version of the children's story I had loved of the peddler who sold hats, which sat one on top of the over on his head, as he walked from village to village (and when he stopped to rest under a tree, and placed the pile of hats on the ground, the monkeys came and had a good trick on him….). As he approached he banged another two that were in his hands, against each other in order to advertise his wares. He smiled at me from beneath the tubs when he saw me impressed with his each other and as he passed I saw he had another two stung across his back. Nine tubs for sale….how ingenious, how simple.

I continued on my way, reflecting on the originality, wondering whether anyone would buy today. After participating in a small ceremony I again returned on the same path, and met the young entrepreneur in the middle of a business transaction and decided to take out my camera and catch him in action. Again his big smile, pride, and kindness showed thru. I was happy to know that he had made a sale!

When I reached my resort, I found 2 of his wares on the grass by the kitchen….another sale! I asked the girls how much it costs….in the shops they are $4 each, but the tough chef was able to buy 2 from him for $5. So in the hour that had gone by, he had sold 3 tubs, making a profit of about $1.5 ….not bad!

While I was meditating this morning, his smiling face appeared, and I was suddenly observing my serious effort of meditating and praying for joy, laughter, happiness, simplicity….and this young man wakes up in the morning, gets dressed, prays, and puts his pile of tubs on top of his head, ties 2 more on his back and walks up and down the streets, happily selling his wares, having taken responsibility for earning some money for today. Enlightenment!