From SGI USA, I'm Cassidy Bradford, and this is Budability.

The weekly series where I talk with Buddhists from all walks of life about the power we each have to change our lives and the world around us.

One afternoon during the summer between 5th and 6th grade, I was running around playing with friends.

Some were girls from my neighborhood and others were kids from school.

I was a bit of a rambunctious kid. I was goofy and loved to be in the spotlight.

I'm sure you know kids like that. I don't remember what we were playing at all that day,

but what I do remember is one girl shouting,

Cassie, can you just stop talking?

You're so loud.

It was an emotional gut punch.

I had just started at a new school that year

and was adjusting to the social scene,

learning who's who and where I fit in in it all.

Well, in that moment, I learned that I did not belong in this group.

There are so many moments throughout our life that we might have felt like we don't belong.

Maybe we think we're not particularly good at anything or even that we're

worthless. While we might get these messages from some parts of the world, Buddhism teaches

the exact opposite. It's a philosophy of a profound respect for life. All people have the

potential for buddhahood or enlightenment which is infinitely respectworthy.

Buddhist teachings say that life is the greatest treasure and thus all people are worthy of respect.

It can be very challenging, however, to make that intellectual idea something we really believe in our hearts.

Today's guest, Kimberly Cadillo of New Jersey, embarked on a journey of

...