I turned 45 yesterday!
And thought that I would share some of the things that I've learned or furthered my understanding of over the course of the last year:
1. Listen to and follow your instincts. They’re usually right, something like 99% of the time. If you’re not sure, the universe usually whispers hints to you, in the form of celestial happenings, dreams, talismans and serendipity. You would do well to listen.
2. Two things can be true. There are very few absolutes in this world. Context matters. Life is largely lived in the gray. Both/and.
3. The experience of going ‘home’ after many years is a fascinating one. You realize that while so much has changed, so much remains the same. And there’s nothing like homegoing to illuminate that in regard to yourself too.
4. (Most) people have an amazing capacity for change and growth. We owe it to each other to extend grace and bear witness. Seasons change, and our relationships can too.
5. We can do hard things. Sometimes the hard things are longstanding goals or big bucket list items. Other days, it’s just about putting one foot in front of the other, even when it feels impossible to do so. We can do hard things.
6. Sometimes though, we have to walk away. There’s something to be said for fighting the good fight. But there’s also something to be said for letting go, when the time comes, and for recognizing when that is.
7. The creative wellspring is vast, and connecting with and nurturing it is an act of generosity, towards ourselves and potentially with others if we choose to share. For me personally, it manifests as poetry and other writing, which started flowing out of me this year and which resulted in this newsletter. I’ve been trying to respect and make space for that flow. Sharing it at the Calabash Literary Festival in Treasure Beach, Jamaica (aka my second home) was the highlight of my year. Thank you for reading and being a part of this journey!
8. Grief and love are sisters, as Francis Weller wrote. The passing of my little brother Pradheep this year was the most difficult and heartbreaking thing I’ve ever experienced. I think about and miss him every single day. The experience of loss will forever be a part of me. This is the price we pay for love.
9. Err on the side of generosity, always. Don’t keep score. What you put into the universe will almost always come back to you.
10. The experience of bringing up another (junior) human is one of the most humbling things we can do. Living with a part of your heart outside of your body in perpetuity - and (largely) relinquishing control of that part - is one of the hardest things. It's also one of the most extraordinary.
11. Words are a superpower that we have as humans. If we’re blessed with the privilege of being able to read, write and otherwise communicate, we must. Especially when it comes to speaking truth to power.
12. The simple things are often the sweetest things. Holding hands. A perfectly brewed cup of coffee. The melodies of birdsong. Give thanks everyday.
13. Mother Nature is the simplest and sweetest of all the things. Witnessing the kaleidoscope in the sky that can be created by a sunrise, spotting the first blooms of spring, gazing at a blanket of stars, the warmth of a gentle monsoon rain - these are the greatest gifts. We need to be better stewards of these gifts and of our planet.
Life isn’t always linear. We each have our own timeline. To everything there is a season.
15. The world is a magnificent place. I’ve been blessed to traverse and experience some of its many vistas and treasures over the course of this year and throughout my life’s journey. The most important lesson I’ve learned is that we’re more alike than we are different. And that the work of creating the conditions for each of us to be able to experience the bounty of the world is, in fact, the real work. In the words of my favorite poem “Like You (Como Tú)” by Roque Dalton:
“I believe that the world is beautiful and that bread, like poetry, is for everyone.”
I appreciate you sharing these valuable life lessons. It's undeniably profound that life doesn't always conform to our desires but instead follows its own path. Yet, we can persistently endeavor to embrace it wholeheartedly and uncover the beauty in unforeseen instances, even if it takes time to unfold. This post is truly uplifting and inspiring. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you for sharing the lessons learned! Really loved each and every one of them. And happy birthday:)