"This work is just a drop in the ocean," Jayesh Patel observes."But a teardrop of compassion changes everything." So says the founder of an organization catering expressly to the ~180,000 residents of a slum community in Ahmedabad, India. In a remarkable walking interview with a man who had never before agreed to appear on-camera, Patel shares a simple philosophy: give everything to whatever comes up in a moment. "No ambition--mission!" he advises with a smile. "Don't stretch, never stretch. Wherever you are is the best time for you, whoever you're around are the best people for you. That's living in the present."
|
 |
 |
Learn more about Manav Sadhna, which has provided the slums outside of Ahmedabad's Gandhi Ashram with health, education and employment services since 1990. |
 |
Read a story about Jayesh Patel in action -- Vegetable Seller at the Gandhi Ashram. |
 |
Consider the idea of "not stretching"--of working with exactly what you have around you now, and making a subtle difference starting today. |