How did the author of this essay, who wore designer jeans and was unable to begin the day without a double latte, go from Hollywood and Beverly Hills to the life of a nun on the banks of the River Ganga, in devoted, selfless service? How did she go from being unable to work for more than two hours at a time without a break, from spending more time complaining about her work than actually doing it, to working 15 hours a day, seven days a week for not a cent, but with a constant glow of joy?

People ask her all the time “How on earth did you adapt? Don’t you ever miss the Western way of life, all that comfort?” Here is her answer:

“Imagine that you have size eight feet. However, your entire life people have told you that, in fact, you have size five feet. They were not being malicious or consciously deceptive. Rather, they really believed that your feet were size five. Thus, for your whole life you have worn size five shoes on your size eight feet. Sure, they were uncomfortable and tight, and you developed chronic blisters and corns, but you just thought this was what shoes were supposed to feel like; whenever you mentioned it to anyone, they assured you that, yes, shoes always feel tight and always give blisters. That is just how shoes are. So, you stopped questioning. Then, one day, someone slips your foot into a size eight shoe. …”Ahhh,” you say. “So this is what shoes feel like.”

But then people ask, “But, how did you adapt to wearing this size eight shoe? Don’t you ever miss the way your size five show felt?” Of course not.

Coming home to India has felt like slipping a size eight foot into a size eight shoe: Just right.

Why am I sharing this with you? Why would people who don’t even know me possibly be interested in the joy I have found in this life? Because it is not what we are taught. We are taught that the joy in life comes from having money, a good education, the latest material possessions, relaxing vacations, and a white picket fence around our home. And, if we have all those things and are not happy, our culture simply says, ‘Acquire more. Make more money, get another degree, buy this or that, take another sun-soaked trip to Mexico, build a higher white picket fence.’ No one ever says, ‘You have the wrong things!’ No one ever tells us that money, education, possessions, and vacations are wonderful, that they bring comfort, but that they are not the key to happiness. No one tells us that to be in service is one of the greatest joys in the world.”