A Bubble of Kindness

I write you today wistful for the warmth, openness and kindness of our Mela and The Path retreats. As you know, life isn't always like this.

People are rushed, stressed, and not always acting as their highest self.

But what if you hacked your daily life?

And created a bubble of kindness?

My nutritionist once told me I was meant to be surrounded by kind, supportive people in all areas of my life, including even my landlord. At the time I looked at her quizzically.

My landlord definitely did not like me (I think I was the top AirBnB host in NYC then!). I thought relationships with landlords had to be antagonistic. I couldn't imagine it any other way. But I was deeply on my path and decided to try following her advice. To aspire to live this way. And to begin making some changes.

I moved away from difficult people in my life.

Then I literally had to move when my landlord didn't renew my lease (go figure :)).

I chose to move into a building with a landlord I immediately clicked with, and shortly after I moved in, we dreamed about opening a B&B together in Italy one day.

And I did something else. I cultivated friendships around my new neighborhood. I spent time getting to know the people who worked at the nearby bodega, at my favorite coffee shops, and at the nearby Hu Kitchen where I ate, um, about two meals a day.

Two years after my nutritionist had given me this advice, I was walking down my block when my landlord spotted me and shouted, with a big smile as always, "Here comes DKNY!" I stopped for a moment and looked up. I realized that I loved him (platonically :)). And I now loved all of the people around me. I loved my curated friend group. I loved the people I had gotten to know working at the stores and shops nearby. And that I was there. In a bubble of kindness, feeling support from everyone around me.

We can't isolate ourselves from the trouble in the world. But we can create supportive communities around us. We can move away from toxic people and groups, with no anger towards them.

And we can choose to face the world better, with more equanimity and warmth, when we are held in kindness ourselves.

So I encourage you to find a bubble of kindness around you. Even if it's one kind soul working at a drug store or juice shop near you. Greet them warmly. Be grateful for the kindness we have in our lives, in our communities, and in our neighborhoods. And nurture these relationships. We can thrive — in our own bubbles of kindness. Even when we're not on retreat.