BREATHE & STAY-PUT

Namaste
Trust you all are at your healthy, happy and appreciative best.

As some of you know I am a recent corona survivor with near-death experience. Almighty God’s Grace, my medical team’s expert care, and prayers of my family & friends sailed me through my dark night of soul.

In the midst, I got some precious life lessons from the most unexpected teacher one could have – the disease itself – the dreaded corona that kept me in ICU for several weeks, and in long-Covid for nearly two months thereafter.

BREATH — I realised how we so routinely take for granted so many simple & not-so-obvious things in life, most of all something singularly fundamental to life – BREATH.

Dangling between life & death for several days, when I was gasping for every single breath despite being on non-invasive maximum oxygen dependence & my traumatised body was caving in … all that my heart wanted was to touch, hug, kiss & bless my younger son who was stuck in the US; hold my husband’s hand; seek & offer forgiveness for all the wrongs committed & suffered; and say goodbye with peace, love, gratitude & grace.

With some mystical design, in the midst of such trauma, a moment with my elder (transcended) son resurfaced & reminded me of his wise words when he was all of 17 years old – “one is not dead as along as one is alive”.

Long story cut short, I realised my job in that critical phase was to STAY-PUT and continue to BREATHE nonetheless, however impossible it felt.

I felt the supple power of FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, GRATITUDE & STAYING-PUT when engulfed in my trauma. I am now so much more conscious & mindful of the experience & process of BREATHING, and have taken to tree plantation with gratitude & gusto.

I am sure many of you must have also felt or witnessed something similarly meaningful in the midst of adversity, trauma or loss. Please share your stories & growth lessons.

And stay tuned for further updates on release of my forthcoming book –
“Grief … Growth … Grace – A Sacred Pilgrimage”

Stay safe & happy. Take care of yourself & reach out to those in grief & trauma.

With love & light
Neena Verma