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Heartbreak

17/4/2020

12 Comments

 
Picture

​It took some time but reality has finally hit me. I have watched images of the state of our current world with tears rolling down my cheeks. The breadth and the depth of what is happening is actually quite unfathomable. And what is ingenious about it is that we are each affected in our unique ways, where we are most vulnerable. For some it may be health, for others, it may be something else. 

Having grown up in Paris, I have been shaped by a very urban environment. As a child, my mother would take me to Notre Dame to light a candle, or visit the Picasso Museum for an afternoon outing. We would holiday to other countries, and for my family, exploring Spain meant visiting Barcelona and its cathedral.  My husband laughs that at a very tender age, I knew the ins and outs of most European casinos including the one in Monte Carlo (there were no age limits then) but not once had I gone camping. 
​So it is no surprise then that today, rather than connecting to the wilderness, I tend to be drawn towards people and the man-made world. Hence my love and appreciation of all that is civilisation; architecture, design, art, history, culture,  cuisine, religion, philosophy, language inducing, thought provoking, the entrepreneurial and the political. 

And here I am watching the loss of all that I find beauty in. It is heart-wrenching. I feel for the cities - Paris, New York, and my own - Sydney - that are left deserted and have no-one to hold. I feel for the people who have lost their livelihood and are struggling to feed their loved ones. I feel for families where many are confined in a small space. And those who cannot afford the technology they need to learn, study, distract or entertain. I feel for situations that breed violence upon women and children (those images were so unbearable, I fast-forwarded but the thought alone is haunting). I feel for businesses who are failing, and I am so relieved to hear about what Bill Gates is achieving. I feel for politicians who are struggling to find solutions and I am so grateful that France has announced they have completely cancelled Africa’s debt. I feel for the people of my beloved India, and countries in the third world where there is no health care, infrastructure nor social security - I cannot even imagine what confinement looks like when you have no home to isolate in?

I hear people say “we are all in this together”; and because I am quite literal in my use of words, I would like to disagree. I think many of us cannot begin to understand what many others are living right now. But if we allow ourselves to feel - and perhaps this is the divine plan of isolation, to have the space to feel - each and everyone one of our heartbreaks, then just maybe, between us, we have the whole world and its many causes, covered.

So I will take all that falls under Human Creativity into my heart, and hold it there tenderly. Perhaps with time, some courage will blossom, enough for me to contribute to that cause even in small ways.
What will you take into your heart?
Feel free to share it in the comments below (I would love to know) and send blessings to that each and every day and see what blooms for you.

I leave you with a quote from Rumi:
“Keep breaking your heart until it opens”
12 Comments
Shannon Clough
17/4/2020 04:52:05 am

Thank you Natalia, I could relate to your post and the quote-and it was just what I needed to read at these strange times we are living in. I am very grateful to live here and I am learning to open my heart to the new possibilities that are arising from this new part of our lives. I hope the world heals and we all learn to take care of it and each other a whole lot better- sending you hugs xx

Reply
Natalia Perera link
17/4/2020 09:09:43 pm

Oh thank you dear Shannon for taking the time to reply. Your comment is very touching - especially as it comes from someone who has such an open heart and a caring attitude already. Love and hugs to you too.

Reply
Carolyn Reed
17/4/2020 03:09:10 pm

Natalia you have such away with words . I so resonate with what your saying . For me I am using this strange time to slow down and reflect so I am stronger and wiser when this time passes .

Reply
Natalia Perera link
17/4/2020 09:14:07 pm

Dear Carolyn, I was wondering how you are doing so thank you for sharing. I am so happy to know that you actually can slow down and rest after so long. You have always been wise, so maybe you will be stronger...

Reply
Hera
18/4/2020 03:03:52 am

Very touching Blog, bringing light to areas / situations people out there are struggling with, that most of us are so lucky to not concern ourselves with as much. Whilst confinement serves well for some of us to get back to basics, some people don't have basics to get back to, being "isolated" in an already isolating relationship ... list goes on in our complex society. And yes, there is truth in people who are in their bubble can easily sing "we're all in this together" ... (can't stand that ad...it's so superficially positive)
For those of us whose lives are privileged and safe, it is all to easy to stay closed and be in survival mode...
thanks for also reminding us that all the issues were always prevalent with or without quarantine. this time has given us pause /opportunity for courage to act and be that which serves humanity in some small way....
Namaste

Reply
Natalia Perera link
18/4/2020 09:23:31 pm

Dear Hera, thank you for sharing your thoughtfulness; you have such an ability to understand complexities and see behind superficialities.So grateful to know you!

Reply
Diane
18/4/2020 07:35:14 pm

That Rumi quote cracked me wide open.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. We are yet to meet but I have been practicing yoga with Fabio for a few years now and through my journey I feel like I know you in some ways and look forward to meeting you one day.

I have been thinking about your words for a few days and I feel the heartbreak too, but to me it is a familiar feeling. I have watched closely the injustices and tragedies of the world from a far from a young age - I'm not sure what attracts me to trying to understand the suffering of humanity, but I suspect it has something to do with my upbringing as a child of working class migrants, growing up in a colonised country like Australia. I feel like with this new set of circumstances, the threat isn't just present for the poor or distant, in some other war torn country or demographic - it is upon all of us, and that's why we (and our governments) are forced to pay attention. Suddenly, for the west, because before this, so many have endured war, disease and famine often at our leaders' hands; the tables are turned. A horror not of our making (although our vulnerabilities might be) is thrust upon us and we have to rethink what is important in order to survive and endure. The veil has certainly been lifted in terms of what our systems look like, what we take for granted and how we can come together to address inequality and survival - so in that sense, I see a huge opportunity for positive change. For example, I never thought I'd see free childcare or the adoration for teachers, nurses, and supermarket workers that has materialised in this country and around the world in my lifetime!! And particularly by the same political parties who have historically demeaned the care industries and so called menial labour. Enough politics - I can rant for pages!!

I too am focusing on creativity - writing, crocheting, drawing with the kids and immersing myself in their education when the opportunity presents. And breathing, yoga, looking inside myself. Being honest about the rage and sadness that is all too familiar when I think about the prevalent inequality and injustice, but also acknowledging the beauty, kindness, community, solidarity and empathy that is everywhere also.

Before isolation, I was working casually at the Royal North Shore at the Community Health Service, I'm not sure when I'll return. The week before I left we'd started surveying clients about their recent travel and possible exposure and precautions with social distancing and hand hygiene had also begun. I noticed something else. A new hierarchy or social pecking order seemed to emerge. The nurses and the cleaners had a new air of dignity and respect around them as it should have always been. It felt very vindicating.

So maybe this is the best thing to come from all this. The value we will now place on people who care for others. Who give their whole heart into pursuits that focus on the betterment of individuals and humanity as a whole. Maybe finally we will see that we are all the same in some ways, wanting and needing the same things. Shelter, food, water, health, love, companionship, connection, creativity, a purpose, value for our labour. That our main aim in life isn't the accumulation of wealth but of wisdom. Thanks for the opportunity to think about these things and have the chance to articulate them.

Reply
Natalia Perera link
18/4/2020 09:32:49 pm

Hello Diane, thank you so much for articulating all that - you have captured so many angles on this, each one of them so valuable for us to consider as a collective. I look forward to meeting you.

Reply
Petrina
18/4/2020 09:27:23 pm

Dear Natalia, such beautiful wide-open heartfelt words - you never cease to inspire me, thank you 🙏

Reply
Natalia Perera link
18/4/2020 09:35:24 pm

Dear Petrina, that is so kind of you to say. Thank you to you.

Reply
Louis
21/4/2020 07:38:51 pm

Bonjour Natalia,

Its always such a joy to hear someone speak of the built environment and human creativity with such affection.

Take Care
Louis x

Reply
Natalia Perera link
22/4/2020 02:29:07 am

Salut Louis! Comment vas-tu? Thank you so much for appreciating my affections and also for taking a moment to respond. You take care too.

Reply



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    • Shakti Rising Yoga Retreat Rishikesh 2020
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    • Gallery >
      • Picturesque Alpine Creative Journey (2019)
      • Quintessential France Creative Journey (2019)
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