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03/14/2018 08:30 AMIn 1970, 18-year-old Bethany Knight won a three-month trip to India as a Kalamazoo, Michigan community ambassador. Now, 48 years later, Bethany is still in love with India.
Bethany is the co-founder of One Child at a Time, an organization that aims to improve the lives and educations of children in India.
“I saw how education made all the difference,” says Bethany on her decision to get involved in the organization. “It’s something I’m very proud of.”
Bethany has returned to India numerous times since that initial trip, and says she did consider retiring there. However, she chose Clinton instead.
“I always liked the area, and I love the ocean,” Bethany says, quickly adding, “Plus, I’m close by my grandsons,”
Bethany doesn’t only give to India, India has given to her. It was during one of her trips to the country she was introduced to yoga.
“Yoga frames the way I live my life...In America, we think of the postures, and that’s all it is. But really, it’s a spiritual connection,” Bethany says, noting an additional benefit: “If I take care of myself, others won’t have to.”
In addition to studying yoga, Bethany also teaches.
“I love teaching others,” Bethany says, particularly teaching others to respect their body and to overcome any poor body image issues they may have.
Spirituality is a large component of Bethany’s life. Bethany grew up with a father who was a minister, and she says the teachings of Jesus Christ are very important to her. She regularly goes to the Church of St. Paul and St. James in New Haven, donating clothes she’s collected so they can be distributed by the church to those in need.
“I tell people, ‘Maybe you don’t go to church, but your clothes will,’” Bethany says.
Bethany has made several friends on her trips to India, and looks forward to sharing her country with them, as well.
“My best friend is coming to visit me soon and I’m going to show her Clinton,” Bethany says.
The itinerary will include Beach Donuts, the beach, the Town Hall, and “of course, Scottish Dave’s.”
Bethany moved to Clinton from Vermont almost four years ago, and quickly found herself involved in the town.
Bethany has always been interested in politics, an interest she credits to her parents.
“My parents took me to the March on Washington in 1963 where Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his speech,” Bethany says.
“Clinton is my retirement community and I want to help it,” Bethany says, framing her civic engagement as “my responsibility as an American.”
Though she’s relatively new to town, she has found several ways to help, including a focus on senior housing, which she feels is lacking.
“When I moved here I couldn’t believe it,” Bethany says.
Bethany currently serves on the Tree Committee, the Fair Rent Commission, the Planning & Zoning Commission, the Democratic Town Committee, and the Clinton Historical Society.
Prior to moving to Clinton, Bethany lived in Vermont and Michigan, working in a wide range of careers.
“Sometimes people think I’m making it up when I tell them what I used to do,” Bethany says.
Bethany studied journalism at the University of Michigan and worked as a writer and editor in Michigan and Vermont. She has also been a speech writer, a lobbyist, a park ranger, a Methodist minister, and a nursing home administer, just to name a few of her other jobs.
Bethany credits the writing, thinking, and communicating skills she learned as a journalist for her ability to succeed in such varied fields. Bethany is still able to flex her journalism skills by editing the Clinton Historical Society Newsletter.
In her free time, Bethany says she enjoys traveling, and recently was able to go hiking in England. She says she’s an avid reader and movie fan as well.
Of course, Bethany also does yoga “three to four times a week.” She also enjoys spending time with her son Elliot Kaiman, his wife Ali, and her grandsons Malcolm and Otto.
“I’m not rich materially, but in every other way I’m the richest person you’ve ever met,” Bethany says.