COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS
I’ve always loved the idea of counting my blessings—it sounds so wholesome, doesn’t it? It’s better than counting all things that have gone wrong in my day so far, a habit I must admit I used to fall into easily.
Such as spilling my turmeric latte all over my desk five minutes before a big gallery opening. Small? In hindsight, sure. But in that moment, it felt like the universe was against me. When I take a step back, though, I realise how much there is to be thankful for. Friends, family, work colleagues, that person you always pass on the street walking their dog, our lives are made up of the people around us.
One of the biggest blessings in my life has been my sangat—a word that describes a strong community of practice, which means company or fellowship. It’s a group of people with shared values who you can turn to. The people I can rely upon in a pinch. Like at times when I’ve felt lonely, despite being surrounded by others. It feels good to connect to people through discussing the big ideas of life, like the difference between feeling lonely and the importance of sometimes being alone. Or even when I was slacking off with exercise and wanted to start boxing more, I needed some tough love to get motivated and stick to it.
Beating up a punching bag might not sound like the key to a chilled life, but there’s something surprisingly therapeutic about throwing a good punch at a bag, of course, not a person! It’s the kind of stress relief that sneaks up on you, leaving you feeling a little lighter and a lot stronger. Every day brings its challenges and temptations. But having others means I’m not doing it alone. It’s like having a group of gardeners helping you weed out the things that don’t serve you, so you can nurture what truly matters.
So, when I count my blessings, I look to these special people in my life. It’s not about perfection; it’s about the shared commitment to grow together. And for that, I’m endlessly grateful.