Power of Kindness Dear Colleagues and Friends, As the current year comes to the end, I like to ask myself what insight it brought. In this context, I'm sharing a story about an encounter in India where I vacationed for two weeks in March. Among others, we visited the town of Pushkar – an important pilgrimage site in Rajasthan, one of the rare places with a temple to Brahma, the Hindu creator god. It’s a small town (25k people) centred around a small lake. I woke up right before the sunrise, and decided to go for a walk around the lake, enjoying the quietness of the day that was starting. The landscape was beautiful and peaceful. I noticed an elderly man sitting at the wall near the lake to whom our guide would refer as a “holy man”: an ageless pilgrim carrying on him all his earthly possessions. I approached him to make a small donation, then I bowed and walked towards the lake. Hearing him call after me, I turned back. He didn’t speak English but was clearly inviting me to come closer. When I did, he raised his hands and started praying over my head. I was reminded of my beloved Grandmother’s adage that “no one has so little to have nothing to share”. I was so moved that when our eyes met, I couldn’t bear his fiery gaze, bowed again, and walked away. And once more he called after me. I turned back. This time he made a clear gesture asking me to stand by and wait as he was looking through his small travel bag. And there it was – in a flimsy plastic wrap, carefully packed, a piece of a coconut shell that he took out with reverence and handed to me. I immediately comprehended how special this gift was – I saw pilgrims in Varanasi crawling towards a temple holding a coconut in their stretched hand. This was a holy fruit from some holy place of great significance to him – and he was giving it to me. I left, bewildered. I now keep this piece in a special box in my purse. The gratitude it brings has been a source of strength and of motivation to stay open to the other. I hope the story has this effect on you too. Happy Holidays! Halina
Thank you for sharing this amazing story. I hope you are well and wish you much happiness over the holidays and in the coming year.
Happy Holidays Halina. Really love and appreciate stories you share and they touch heart. Gratitude to be connected with you
Halina von dem Hagen you received a gift from the heart. I also just returned from India and your story experience reflects the depth of kindness that our world needs to embrace more. Happy holidays as well. Thank you 😊
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story.
Halina, God bless you. Your heart is in the right place!!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
This is a beautiful story.
Happy Holidays Halina. This is such a heartfelt and inspiring story. :)
Thank you for sharing, Halina! Truly touching. Wishing you and your family a joyful holiday season ahead.
Proud member of a Winning Team
1wSuch a powerful and touching story Halina — thank you for sharing. It really brings home the spirit of the season.