Two Years Later

Two years ago almost to the day, I sat in my apartment in Minneapolis and watched all of my belongings be wrapped and packed and shipped off to India. As I sit here today on the other side of the world, I again watch my things disappear into boxes. I wonder, aside from the things packed being packed away and shipped across the sea, what am I really taking back with me? Two years later, what will remain with me from my experience in this remarkable, fascinating place?

Life is a constant state of transition.

My first post, written the summer before I departed for my two year journey to India, contemplated transition. During these two years, the concepts of transition, change, and impermanence have been recurring themes. The idea that everything in the universe is constantly shifting and moving is helping liberate me from attachment, helping me to let go. And life is so much easier when we can do that.

Pause. Relax. Breathe.

Double Decker Root Bridge -Cherrapunji, India

I think this is what my time in India was meant to be for me. A pause. A time to contemplate. A time for me to reflect on who I am and how I want to be in this world. This requires time, space, quiet. Ironically, in spite of the chaos, the noise, the busyness of this country, I found that pause here.

Beauty exists in unexpected places.

Life happens, but our perspective, what we choose to notice, will shape how we experience it. We can see the dirt, the poverty, the annoyances. Sometimes it is important to attend to these. But if this is all we see, we miss so much. Look for the good. Look for the beautiful. It’s everywhere.

I am ready to go.

There is a lot I’ll miss about India. I’ll miss the cows. I’ll miss the colors. I’ll miss the Banyan trees and the Himalayas. I’ll miss garlic naan from Rajinder and veg momos from Le Himalaya and street masala chai. I’ll miss the crazy tuks and friendly greetings of “Namaste!” I’ll miss the students and the professional development and the morning workout crew.

What I’ll miss the most and what I am most grateful for are the amazing people whose paths I have been fortunate enough to cross during my time here. You, more than anything else, have made India my home for these past two years. I love you all and am so grateful to have been transformed by each and every one of you. I am not leaving as the same person who arrived. And I’m so grateful for that.