Of Sturdy Bridges and a Grateful Heart by Uttampreet Kaur

My husband built a bridge – he’s really good at that kind of thing… It’s a beautiful bridge, sturdy and strong, and just wide enough for me to perch on and bask in the midday sun on the days when I’m lucky enough to have a little bit of time for afternoon reflection… And this Monday – far from Blue – was bright and sunny, with a lovely cool breeze.
My morning walk had taken me past this lovely bridge, along the side of the cheerfully babbling beck, along a muddy path, over slippy-shiny stones, to my favourite place… Our wood, cool and green and lush, with white buds of wild garlic, yellow buttercups and purple – yes purple (!) bluebells all starting to emerge from their winter slumber.
I returned this day to my favourite Sadhana – one which I will never teach (but if you’re curious do yourself a favour and join Siri Arti for Starchild teacher training!) followed by Kirtan Kriya, because it just feels right, all sitting on a not quite as perfect or comfortable or straight bridge, but secluded and private… and when I emerged from the depths of the song still vibrating in my heart found I was being watched! And who was this snooper intruding on my sacred space? Only the most beautiful, gentle deer… Not snooping at all, but curious, watchful, and for a moment, however brief… Part of me, and I of her…
Within this sense of one-ness came awareness… One that spills from my heart and lips so frequently now that I know those closest to me are getting a little bit bored of hearing it! But an awareness of gratefulness, of receiving the blessings of the Universe willingly with an open heart and it becomes so strong that I really can’t contain it, and I suppose a big part of this for me, comes from Ikigai… Where what I love, meets what I’m good at, and that meets what the world needs, and that can become my profession… My reason for being right here, right now.
It’s taken 34 years, some painful experiences… So much fear… So much loss… So much running… So much searching…
Yet, when I listen to the whispers of my heart, and with the support of the aforementioned beloved husband and builder of bridges over streams (and chasms of heartache), and I choose the path less travelled… Often through darkness, sometimes tricky to navigate, sometimes a right pain the… Well, you know… When I surrender to the Universal call to oneness, and to being a lighthouse… Well, life becomes a song… Pain doesn’t disappear, sometimes worry shows her weary head and occasionally fear takes hold of my heart and I need to be very firm with myself to not allow it to squeeze so tight I forget to breathe.
But I believe I’ve found my reason for being, not only as an experience maker as wife, mother, woman… but a trailblazer, a dream maker, a hope grower… a teacher… a lighthouse. And a teacher of children. It’s such a privilege for me to work with so many bright, radiant young people… Share some tools for life (communication, calmness, connectedness, growth-mind set) to name but a few… and learn from THEM… Learning to remember to listen, to be truthful, to be kind, to keep an open heart and mind… Remember to have FUN! Remember to Laugh! Remember to try! Remember to trust…  And remember to be as kind to the child within me, as I am to the children around me. Sat Nam x