Kao Kalia, thank you for telling our Hmong stories to the world. You are an amazing person. It's common for us to babysit our siblings at a young age. When I was 11 years old I was babysitting my 6 other siblings ranging from 1 year old to 9 years old. I remember thinking to myself that if cops show up I would lie to them that I was 12 years old so my parents wouldn't get in trouble. Somehow I thought lying about being 12 would be a safe number lol. Thankfully, nothing ever happened.
"When there is nothing in the hands you can still offer what is in the heart through your words". Your grandma was a beautiful, kind and wise soul. And your parents were hardworking and loving. You are blessed. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Thanks for sharing! Many of my families and friends can definitely relate. I couldn't help but tear up as the stories shared was so similar, yet different to mine. The empathy of struggle that turns pain into purpose ❤
Hi Kao, Thank you so much for sharing your amazing stories (I weep from the beginning to the end). You are blessed to be given one of the greatest gifts of story telling by your wise grandma. Know that each time you stand before the audience, your grandma is there with you being proud of the woman you have become. Happy Holidays! Wishing you and yours lifelong happiness.
thank you for reminding me everything about my culture ours again reminding me about who I am and what my family did to bring us here to live in America (edit: you made me cry so hard that I dont think I can see any more lol 😂)
One of my students told me that when he discussed his anxieties with someone close to him, like his wife or a close friend, then he found that the moment he started opening up to them, the anxiety decreased-even before he received any advice or support. Togetherness definitely decreases anxiety. There is a saying in the wisdom of Kabbalah that “a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved,” i.e. when we share a sensation, we divide it up, and in turn it becomes more manageable. Since it is quite easy to see how sharing our experiences lessens our negative feelings, the question is why do we not use this ability more? Why is it so hard for us to share our fears and anxieties with others? We are indeed afraid of opening our hearts, letting everyone see that we have certain fears and anxieties. That is, in addition to whatever fears and anxieties we hold within, we usually have additional anxieties about sharing them with others, that it might cause others to perceive us as weak. Since society in general values stronger, smarter, wealthier and fitter individuals, opening up our anxieties to such a society makes us vulnerable to exploitation. We thus need to seek a social environment that would not exploit us for opening up, but would rather give us a sense of faith and confidence that it can help us cope with any negative feelings. A social setting that can guarantee faith and confidence in its members is one that actively draws itself to the upper good and benevolent force-the force of love, bestowal and connection. It is this very same force that awakens negative feelings in us, whether they be fears, anxieties or several other painful sensations, in order for us to draw closer to that force, and we do so by drawing closer to each other. If we wish to connect with the upper force and let its perfect quality of love, bestowal and connection fill our lives with a sensation of faith and confidence, then we need to emulate such a quality toward other people-giving them a sense of faith and confidence, and for them to do the same toward us. By wanting to positively connect with others, we then start awakening the positive force dwelling in nature into the connections we create, and we then feel a new sense of faith and confidence wash away any anxieties that we might be holding within.
You are da bomb!! Such an amazing and inspirational woman!! Keep up the good work and keep doing what u love, it’s beautiful and inspiring so many young hmong kids in America!
5 лет назад
Amazing!!!! Thanks for sharing! I began sharing my story and I can feel what you mean! It is powerful!!!
I finally found out how my ears were cut do to freaking vampire bats. They come at night through the opening of our bamboo house and slice my ears with their razor sharp teeth and drink the blood.
