Care to C_A_R_E… Compassion, Authenticity, Respect, Empathy…

Nidhi Dhawan

Start a New Contagion!

I am writing to a friend. Many times over. This mail goes to nearly a hundred people that I could offhand remember made a difference to my life and hopefully- I have made a difference to theirs. This may just land in your inbox- and stay there, unread, unopened. For some- the note woould perhaps be better on Whatsapp or Facebook!

Some of you might even consider it a waste of your time… In these difficult and uncertain times, this is hardly what you would want to focus your mind on.

But- I had to do this. To say thank you to all of you. And to acknowledge- for better or for worse- we are all in this together.

That if we have a roof over our head and food on our table- we are fortunate. And by the privilege so granted or earned- accountable for our contribution to the collective consciousness of Humanity that will carry us through these rough seas, too.

This is the time to lift each other with whatever muscle we can muster- mental, physical, spiritual, professional. Health is no longer a binary- or perhaps more so than ever before.

Even though the boundaries between well and unwell, sick or not, are blurry and uncertain, we each can own a call to action to spread a new Pandemic. One of Compassion- including to ourselves. To our friends. To our colleagues at work. To our families. And be authentic. Be who we claim to be. Act as we know best. Create a World of humans that care for each life that touches theirs.

And if one or two lives be better for having been touched by mine- and further- known or unknown to me, the ribbon of compassion gets tied to two more for each life so touched… the new pandemic will be much bigger and much stronger. We may need to recognise that people who need help to navigate these choppy waters may not even realise that need. That Challenges to re-entry may be far-reaching and unforeseen. That each individual lives a life, sings a song, dances a rhythm that is unique in the Universe. And each deserves the respect for the same.

Meaning of life is often not found in searching for it- but simply by present to it. In Hindi- sthir…स्थिर and stability is what comes closest to it, but not even by a mile. Meaning of life is often found when everything else is stripped away, may be not in the conversation or the dinner or the work- may be in all of those. But- it is revealed in a moment. The moment that we take to stop and start again.

Photo by Nong Vang on Unsplash

This time has given us that PAUSE. The pause to reflect on our lives- and the impact our words and actions have on others. The pause to recognize that we are more than what we do.

Pause to understand that we CAN BE more than our identity. And it is ok to do something simply because… because… It is ok to sing. Dance. Paint. Exercise. Run. Help. Work. Anything. Or nothing!

If someone wants to hit reply and share their thoughts, emotions, and compassion- please do.

For the rest- bless you for everything you are and do to make this world a better place. Thank you for being who you are.

Namaste,