“Chitradurga feels like the opposite of stressful,” Rachael said as we walked to our hotel in the small city of Chitradurga alongside gorgeous rocky hills. Three Wheels United has thrived in this town, offering loans to hundreds of drivers for better autos. Life in Chitradurga had a special feeling that I was trying to name. My little pamphlet written by the founders of a spiritual commune called Auroville from our previous weekend trip shed some insight, saying that children can know inner truth by “what puts them at ease, and that which is uneasy.” That got me thinking, what puts me at ease? What puts me into the flow of contentment from which joy springs? Nature is a great place to start, with lush trees and rumbling waters and proud rocks. On the final morning of our stay in Chitradurga, I ran in the backcountry paths behind our hotel. Beyond some dirt biking roads, I found a sort of bird park—a set of trails and lookout points. Though I didn’t see any birds, the views of the valley captivated me and pushed me further into the hills. I paused to take a panorama before returning. Where else do I find ease? Being in community or with friends often brings ease. Little metal cups of sweet coffee are served every at every Indian house or office. As each person in the room sips from their tiny cup, a sense of unity emerges between me, Rachael, our translator, the driver, their family, and in a way, all of India. Every cup of coffee is identical: sweet, brewed with love, made from the same instant coffee mix. Aren’t we all. A few sips and the drink is gone, but now we’re at ease. Is ease all easy? Certainly not. Plenty of difficult activities can produce this ease—creative projects, tiring travel, or a tough hike are a few examples. After finishing a piece of writing, a sense of accomplishment motivates me to take on new projects. After a long day exploring a new city, reminiscing and relaxing brings smiles. After a tough workout, I breathe more deeply. These experiences can bring ease, but only if they are approached with an honest effort and energetic spirit. There’s also an ease that can be chosen amidst waiting or an unmet desire… with a longing for a changed relationship, a nostalgic look back through photos, a lostness in the vastness of unanswered questions. I often want what I want now, but this impatience lifts me out of ease. Whether my desires are met, ease is available if I shed the invisible chains of my to-do list or to-be list and fully submerge myself into the moment. Don’t confuse ease with slowness. I could probably benefit from slowing down sometimes, but what I’m looking for isn’t less activity, but intentional activity in its proper place at its proper pace. To write and walk and eat and talk with rhythm. The ease I’m talking about finds a home in the moment. A home that may be broken down and leaking, weighed down by loss or pain, but still profoundly peaceful and always enough. Ease asks you to leave your shoes on the doormat and welcomes you inside, says my home is yours. So find ease, let it in, seek it out, smile and breathe when it comes. Whether this moment is painful, incomplete, joyful, peaceful, or bland, be at ease with yourself and your world for a moment today.
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