Beautiful Experiences

As I am sure we all would agree, human beings love beautiful experiences. Whether the experience arises from a walk in the woods, in the serenity and peace of nature, a satisfying sleep complete with wonderful dreams, or a great dinner with family and friends, that completes a different part of ones soul, beautiful experiences are something we are open for.

When I go to the local gym, I take the same route from my house. It pulls me about 3 blocks away from the apartment and then onto a main street. As with all main streets, there are usually people selling gum, candies, and other sweets alongside the road and walking between the cars to sell such things when the cars are stopped. On most of the days I walk along this main street, there is a little girl selling gum along the sidewalk. She sits with her legs in a box, the gum on top, and is propped up against a wall along the sidewalk. She looks to be about 3 years old (although I would guess she is about 5--malnourished). On the way to and from the gym, we exchange smiles and waves and I continue on my way.
However, on this day, about half to the gym, I realized I had forgotten my ID card and decided to turn around. Approaching the little girl, she caught my eye and gave a shy smile. As I walked closer to her, gym clothes on, and water bottle in hand, I decided to stop and sit with her.
As I kneeled to sit with her, I saw how dirty her face was and how it appeared she probably hadn´t had a shower in days. She smiled at me shyly and I noticed she was losing her baby teeth in the top row. I offered her water and smiling at me, she took a sip. As we sat there together and I spoke to her in Spanish, I noticed a woman across the street on an ¨island¨ dividing two streets. She was selling goodies as well and had 2 younger girls with her, who appeared to be about 2 and 4. The little girl told me that the woman was her mother and the 2 little girls her sisters. While the mother sold goodies, her 2 sisters were playing amongst each other.
The little girl was amazingly sweet and very shy. At one point, I took off her hat to show her a caterpillar that had made its way onto it. She smiled shyly as I shook it off. After sitting with her for about 20 minutes (enough time to fall in love) I crossed the street to where her sisters and her mom were. Approaching the mother, I smiled and told her how wonderful her children were. She smiled thanking me, revealing no upper teeth. I asked the age of her children and she said 1, 3, and that she had forgotten the age of the one against the wall. Before leaving, I offered a sip of my water to her and her daughters which they gladly took.
After leaving the little girl and her family, I was touched by how beautiful the experience was that I had just had. Although this family had barely nothing, they still smiled freely and happily. The little girl left quite a mark on me that day.

Today on my way to the gym was the first time I have seen her since that day. She was sitting under the shade of the trees with 4 other small children and 3 women. I didn´t recognize her as I approached the group, but as I got closer and passed, a little hand rose from the group, with a bright smile.

Another beautiful experience occurred today.