The delicious 28 days I spent recently in New York are with me in my cells – the peace and vibrancy and gorgeous ‘get up and just do what you want’-ness of those days zing and sparkle inside me. (all you Mums out there with little munchkins, you will know what it means to have a short respite from the ‘sort out all the other family members’ stuff of day to day).
Yep! That city sure does get under your skin!
Top on my list of amazing things that happened to me in the Big Apple, was the chance to meet a spiritual leader on
one of those too-good-to-be-true spring days with crystal clear blue skies above and freshly-bloomed tulips carpeting the park gardens.
Somehow I heard Deepak Chopra was holding a meditation in Union Square Garden in just 40 minutes time. So off I went, striding madly from my home base to the subway and make sure I get there ahead of time!
I was so excited and awed to be able to see this man who makes so much sense – many of his books and lectures I have devoured across the years. A delightful human being with a lilting Indian accent… a man who holds a deep respect and celebration of the entire human experience, who despite his medical training does not turn the health spotlight solely to the physical. I am always awed by his intertwining fusion of Eastern and Western spirituality and well-being.
In the Garden, there is just a few people around, I am expecting many more! Turns out this is a new ‘thing’ Deepak and his camera crew are trialing - to hold meditations in public places, to raise awareness of our collective consciousness and to film the public asking Deepak himself one question.
I am stunned and moved beyond measure – funny to say I am more than a little star struck. A brief wait in the springtime sun and I will be asking the Big Kahuna himself one question. One? I can think of perhaps 100 whirring around in my head, most quickly discarded as too trivial or just plain silly. Why oh why does my mind freeze up, I want so badly to come up with a sensible, spiritual, savvy question.
I deep breathe and ground myself and take a moment to listen. To my deep innate wisdom – the sure and calm space inside my chest. And as always I have my own answer …
It is so important to me to provide a holistic way of being healthy and feeling delicious to my two little poppies. Partly because I am only just beginning to navigate my own spirituality without the gauze of conservative religion overlaying it, and perhaps because our girls are just 6 and 7, teaching them spiritual health has so far been a bit low on the list of priorities….
So I ask …..
What are the most important spiritual lessons to gift our children?
And this is what he said – word for word -
” Playfulness
Acknowledgement
Respect
For parents .. don’t enforce your opinion …. ask questions … When you respect someone and you allow them to speak their mind, they mature beautifully.
That is all they need to know.”
I walked away smiling (and relieved). I walked away feeling I can be a Mum just like that. I can allow our girls to speak their own mind, I can offer them my respect.
As always, the best advice is often the most simple.
Here’s to your delicious life!
What would you ask Deepak Chopra? What deep and burning question do you hold? What would you like guidance on? I wouldlove to hear … leave a comment in the comments section below.
