I believe it was Rumi who once said – and I do hope you’ll please forgive my sloppy paraphrasing, “When someone is counting out gold for you, don’t gaze blindly into their hands. Instead, look deeply into the heart of the giver.”

I try to live my life in much the same way.

That is to say, with every sentient being – whether stranger or friend – to greet them with a wholehearted presence, to share the fullness of gratitude in whatever form I’m able.

This is the basis of our shared humanity.

To recognize that suffering is never just ‘ours’ alone. To know that, at any given point, there are a million myriad of ways in which our hearts may intersect.

And, to allow this to serve as the basis of our gratitude.

Albert Einstein once observed that we are all part of this greater whole called “Universe” – and yet, we continue to experience ourselves as “separate”.

This is, perhaps, our greatest failing, our most crippling delusion. That we might hold true to this notion of ‘disconnected’, where logic and reason might demonstrate otherwise.

“This delusion is a kind of prison,” he writes. “Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

This is the foundation of my practice, and the source of my compassion. To guide, through each action, this energy of kindness – that no being may ever pass, unregarded.

To expand humanity through the delicacies of this human form.

Namaste, my dearest darlings ~ and, if I’ve not yet shared it quite often enough – on this day, know that I adore you. <3