PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: JULY 2012

Peruvian Herder

I'm participating in Kat Sloma's

Photo-Heart Connection this month.

Anyone can participate...

the guidelines are found HERE.

"The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships have had on her; but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes."

~ C. JoyBell C.

Barreling around the mountain corner, our tour bus driver brought the bus to a gentle stop... in the dusty road ahead of us, this Peruvian woman was herding her four-legged brood to pasture. Her furry friends were spread from edge-to-edge in the narrow road, preventing us from sneaking past... Initially, she panicked, knowing our large bus wanted to dominate the space... scurrying from left to right down the road, her purple leggings whipped up the dust, shooshing, guiding, and skillfully moving the creatures to safety.

The strength of her determination was evident in the manner in which she managed her brood. These animals were her livelihood... providing food, fur for weaving, companionship and warmth in the chilly Peruvian morning!

I've always believed I could do most anything I put my mind to... but, compared to this Peruvian woman, I know she's much stronger than I. The life of a Peruvian woman is difficult, yet, her goal is the same as other women around the world... to care for her family, provide food & shelter, and the physical strength to get up the next morning & start the process... ALL OVER AGAIN.