I have been writing and re-writing about my journey in Nepal since I returned home three weeks ago.. For now, I just wanted to put forward the most important and stunning part of the entire trip- the people. When I’m asked about the trip I immediately talk about the people and I frequently cry. I have never been so enlivened by people across all fronts. EVERY interaction we had felt meaningful; every greeting felt deliberate and kind. The consistent experience of optimism and generosity that I had in Nepal has refreshed my perspective on humanity and the world. It drove a powerful urge in me to continue to work on being gentler, kinder, and more patient and generous even when the world around me feels the opposite. I work in pediatric healthcare, and it is a daily experience that stressed out parents treat myself and my team very poorly… We try to give as much grace as we can because we know that the situations that parents are in with a sick child causes all sorts of emotions. Additionally, dealing with sick children can be both rewarding and very saddening. Even if we don’t show it on the outside, healthcare causes massive drains of energy and spirit by the end of each day and it often causes long term challenges to mental health. So when I went to Nepal and I was still carrying much of this weight I didn’t realize how much I needed to see hope and kindness in new forms.
What I found in Nepal was a refilling of spirit that I didn’t know could be so effortless. There was no magical meditative session that immediately lead to feeling differently. It was the daily interactions with people who genuinely acknowledged your humanity, the purposefulness in everything that was done, and the gratitude they regularly expressed for things I used to take for granted. My daily exchanges included direct acknowledgements to/from those around us: “Thank you for your kindness” , “That was generous of you to say”, “I see and nod to your passion”, “Your face is gentle and kind”, “Thank you for giving of your time and energy”, “Namaste daughter, namaste”. These are the ways I was spoken to and learned to speak to others. These are the sentiments that went through my ears into my heart and cleansed it. I have taken these things, these people, their stories and their humanity back with me. They are a part of how I see the world now, and a part of who I want to continue to work on becoming. So when people ask me about Nepal I first tell them about the people and the ways they helped cleanse my spirit.
