Youth Light Up By Themselves

Nov 8, 2016 | permalink

Ani has been hosting Awakin Circles in London for several years now.  Her deepest calling has been working with youth. 

"How should I start?", she once asked Trishna and I. 

"Just host a circle and start supporting whatever emerges," we said.

So she did.  

About 20 young folks came together this morning for a circle of sharing.  Ani and her husband, Hemant, had created a beautiful ambiance with a kindness table, put up quotes on their walls, flowers in small places. 

Labor of love, and no strings attached.  After a reading, on three types of giving, everyone shared reflections. 

If there is a strong context, the youth just naturally light up.  You just have to let it all be.  Devika opened with sincere stories of giving and receiving -- offering her coat to homeless man once, and receiving an unexpected box of small gifts from her cousin.  One girl spoke about how a group of strangers started conversations on the tube.  Another spoke about including a college student who was left behind by the "in" group.  Couple of them candidly shared how they're cynics.  Another wondered why it's easier to be kind to strangers instead of those closest to you.  

One young woman jokingly said, "You know, my Dad sort of asked me come to this, but I'm really glad I came."  A pre-med student spoke about how just amazing it was that a patient said hello. One opera singer (as we later learned :)) spoke about how she was grateful for the circle because it let her just breathe without an agenda.  "And that somehow just makes me connect to my core of compassion," she added.

Many stories, hugs and soulful songs later, by the end, we all felt connected.  Ani and Hemant open-heartedly fed everyone.  Just like that, a field of ripples emerged.