Well, hey there friends…
Haven’t written here in a while.
Haven’t been able to sort through the mess of thoughts that is this culture-shocked brain…
So here’s a mess of thoughts for yas..
I didn’t realize culture-shock was going to affect me after my travels.. upon returning home and trying to reintegrate..
I got comfortable quickly in India.. I’m not sure why… maybe some past life shit? maybe I just adapt quickly.. Either way, it was mostly an easy transition.. and I am happiest when I’m traveling..
That being said.. My heart and mind have been wrecked. Put through the proverbial wringer… The highs and the lows of this past year have left me dizzy.. Hence the lack of writing.. I’m not even sure how to begin, and I’m not sure there will be an end..
I’ve seen a lot of things in my little life.. in my travels.. in my 3.5 months in India.. in these 31 years… and I think to kind of sum up what I’ve learned, I could say…
Life is beautiful…
and if you don’t decide to see that, you’re going to suffer… more.
People tend to make things ugly.. with their trauma.. with their broken hearts and frustrations.. but some people use those things to make themselves shine.. To reach out and create connection… There’s this unbelievable dance and balance to it all…
We are all connected through the energy that is our existence and we are all also connected through our pain… Our society wants us to connect through pains.. and because we all strive for connection, we do it.. and in this process we help to breathe life into them..
but our hearts and our minds would like us to tap into that life energy..
To help uplift, inspire, and heal.
This is why many connect through religion. Heart connection… but, in the end, we’re still dealing with traumatized humans with all their broken hearts and frustrations.. Following a God does not heal your damaged inner workings but it does help put one on a more positive path..
Human beings are dying for spiritual connection. This is what I have seen..
People hurt each other because they’ve been hurt. This is what I have seen..
People stand up for one another because they have been hurt.. This.. is what I have seen.
Most all of us start out in this existence excited. Eager. In love. Playful… Slowly, as we see what pain and hurt do to this world and to people, our shine may start to dim.. We too become hurt.. pained.. saddened.. Disconnected.. lost.. scared.. maybe even hopeless.. and plugging into our societies unhealthy and broken system tends to be the only way we find connection.. comfort in the discomfort.
All in all.. a change will come.. and I truly believe it will be positive. But it doesn’t mean we don’t have to be dragged through the shit first… but we can come out clean on the other side. Like Andy Dufrense.. Free on the other side.
Though, In all honesty, we may not see the change we’re making.. We may die before it can ever take affect… Don’t let that be disheartening! Though our lives are quick, you still have your part to play. Like a butterfly effect. What you do in these days affects the days of the future.
“Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity.”
And macro to micro, this refers to the entirety of your life
and also to each individual moment.
We get so caught up looking at the big picture that it takes us away from our moments. I know so many of us have heard this a million times, but there’s a difference between understanding something with your brain and understanding with your heart. When you understand this with your heart you take action and you stop focusing on the bigger picture. You make change and bring yourself into your moment. Your life changes. You’ll find your habit of looking at the big picture to be so deeply ingrained you go back to it again, anxiety seeps in… and then somehow, at some point, you learn through remembering once again, and go back to the moment.. for a while..
This teeter totter of calm to anxious and back again.. Just part of the job. It gets easier.
Your moment is the only thing you can effect.
This is why being mentally present in it is so important.
We have the power to effect the mood and mind of other human beings.
This is an extremely important and incredible fact. In our history we have seen both the positive and negative effects this has brought about…
the similar thing being: the power that the feeling of connection can create..
Create connection in your everyday interactions. This is how we alter the future.
This is how we change the world.
It can be as simple as holding the door open for someone. Being friendly to people. Being kind..
Or as big as giving love and being nice to someone who has been a total asshole to you.. Or going to school to study something that will better other peoples lives..
or learning to harness and nurture your sense of expression that aids in altering the hearts and minds of those it touches..
We’ve all got something to bring to the table. Talking about how we feel about things will help us figure it out..
It is easy to become bitter. It is easy to point fingers.. but both of these things do not usually make progress. We need to keep the talk from bringing us and keeping us in a negative mindset. This negative mindset typically stems from looking at the big picture. Which we can not directly alter. We can only alter our moment… and what will you do in your moment if you are bitter, angry, or pointing fingers?
These kind of things tend to make us unkind to one another…
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Find calm and know that those around you need love as much as you do… maybe more.
Find your moment. Hang out there.
Only use the bigger picture to help you figure out how you feel about things.. then bring those ideas back to your moment with calm love. This is how we change the world..
So.. this is some of what I have seen in my 31 years… This is what makes sense to me… It might not make sense to you.. but it’s not gonna stop me from sharing..
I’m riding the anxiety/calm teeter totter and the calm feels more and more powerful.
All in practice.
All in balance.
Give love..
because it’s the only thing that makes sense in such misguided misdirected world.
I love you
Hari Om
❤
A Compassionate Life 