Working Meditation

Observations on Human Connection & Contribution

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#17: Community under our noses, part 1

Human beings are fundamentally relational. This is probably why the moral landmines we are repeatedly warned against across faiths―envy, greed, anger―are relational. Relationships are ever present and, when life gets busy, the first to be ignored connective tissue of our lives.

The good news is that we are wired for connection and instinctively know how to bond with another. All we need is a warm heart and an easeful mind. Over-gamification isn’t necessary! Yes, I am aware that warmth and ease seem like scant features in our hyperextended modern life. But I also know that they are embedded in us and come out to play when we feel safe.

So try this experiment: when you next crave a sense of community, start from right under your nose…literally. Build up that fire in your heart, look up and then share that warmth with someone you naturally feel easeful around.

“As once the winged energy of delight
carried you over childhood’s dark abysses,
now beyond your own life build the great
arch of unimagined bridges.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

#8: Gratitude for wonky blessings

I saw a friend’s life change in significant ways in the course of two years. She found a wonderful partner, and a dream home with a spectacular view that many might envy. Excited for her, I reflected gleefully on this abundance of delights and uncovered a “but”. She had given up a much cherished neighborhood, hard earned roots, and a community she loved enough to commute over long distances; so she could rest her head in the place she adored.  This “but” is embedded in our lives. We often get what we hope for, in big and small ways, but the wish doesn’t come to life in exact specs. I made a silent vow to notice and absorb my imperfect blessings as they come my way. I didn’t have to wait long at all.

Two days after seeing my friend, I sat down to take care of hospitalization bills that were weighing me down. When these bills started pouring in initially, they were jarring to say the least. Thousands of dollars that were crushing my already tender body. I had a new and untested health insurance and said aloud to my husband “wouldn’t it be great if insurance just made these bills vanish!”.  It took months of back and forth with the insurance company, the hospital and several administrators to figure out the details. So finally, the day came for me to pay my bills and reconcile everything. Buried under the burden of itemization across many different portals, I found my mind spinning and spirit sagging – “If I don’t get through this minutiae quickly, how can I move forward with the life and work I want to create?”. As the palpitations and stress arose, I called upon my newfound yogic breathing techniques and acknowledged the wave of emotion as it crashed against my chest. Then I fanned the tiny flame of resilience, restarted the review and in a few minutes chanced upon this – 

Claim Claim Number Type Medical Provider MEDICAL Status paid SUPARNA CHHIBBER Billed Amount $15,182.64 You May so. oo

Sure, this was just one line item of the many but in one fell swoop, my wish had come true and rather than pausing in thankfulness, my heart was palpitating in the angst of lost productivity.

“May I have the wisdom to know when good things are happening, as they are happening” – says Suparna to Tim, often