15 Jun Get this… the little things matter
Sometimes we don’t know how we affect the world.
We can feel like we’re in a vacuum.
I’m admitting a bias here
but when I have to deal with bureaucracies of any kind I come face to face with my bias of being ineffectual, irrelevant. I expect nothing to happen easily or with any humanity.
This was my expectation when I had to deal with a foreign government about some forms I had sent in. Truth is, I sent the forms in a couple of months ago. Then followed up two or three times. Each time getting somewhat conflicting and confusing messages.
Certainly, I had to work with my own irritation and annoyances.
I used it to cultivate goodness, kindness, and compassion for all of us. Especially when, on the second follow up someone told me, well, we can’t do x without y and y has to happen first. Ugh…
Then someone told me to contact (let’s call him Maurice) so I did. Well, wouldn’t you know I needed “w.” <big sigh> Okay, I’ll get you “w.” And it needed to be there by x date and of course I got the letter a day before
I had a choice point. Irritation and mind-numbing frustration or to cultivate the perspective of everyone is doing the best they can.
I chose the latter. Deciding to trust in seeing the best in people.
So today I dutifully called Maurice to check and make sure he got the “w” and that all was proceeding smoothly. We first had a few bureaucratic back and forth (apparently all was happening easily (whew)).
Then he told me that he did a search on me and saw what I do and the services I provide, he went on amazon and ordered my book.
WHAT?
Truly?
I found tears filling my eyes and my throat constricting to hold back the gush. Maurice? Yes, he tells me, the book is helping him and his boy.
Who would have ever thought…….?
These kinds of things in life get my head spinning…
Makes me grateful for the delay, the many phone calls, and the complications of getting this whole thing processed.
Who would have thought a simple bureaucratic issue would let me see the infinite good we each do by following our path and cultivating the best in ourselves?
What about you? How does life help you see the best in yourself? or in others? Post a comment about your experience. Let’s start a hashtag: #LittleThingsMatter
Deirdre
If you haven’t checked out my book, Attachment Based Yoga & Meditation for Trauma Recovery, here’s what Lynn wrote to me this past Wednesday:
“I am halfway through your Attachment Based Yoga & Meditation for Trauma Recovery book and DAMN! This book is amazing. I read and re-read entire chapters and each time come away with new and profoundly touching information.
Thank you so much for this work. You are amazing. This book is amazing.”
You can get the book on Amazon.