Micro-real life-practice
We all have busy lives, and I find myself rushing through my days more than I care to admit. On a recent trip to a gallery to pick up some artwork, a quick get-in-and-out was my plan.
As I entered the gallery, I headed toward my sculptures. There was a woman standing there whom I did not know. She greeted me warmly and asked if I was an artist. I said yes, pointing to one of my sculptures.
She was very friendly and continued talking in a warm manner. I was distracted and wanted to load my sculptures into my car, so I was not giving her my full attention. I noticed I was not present, but I tried half-heartedly to listen while organizing my artwork. Still, I was struck by the kind, authentic, and genuinely pleasant way she had about her.
I felt guilty for giving her so little of my attention. I felt pressure to get on with my business at hand. Eventually, I eased away from her, but the impact of this experience lingered.
While loading my car, I found myself speaking with the gallery organizer without rushing—interesting in hindsight. Somehow, I made time for more conversation with her. Was I biased in how I’d judged the first woman’s importance to me? My preferences and priorities were obvious, played out in real time; she was not as important to me.
With the car loaded, I made one last trip to the gallery to say thank you to those responsible for the show. As I was walking through the lobby, I noticed the woman I had spoken to earlier; she was removing her paintings from the wall.
I made a conscious decision to stop and talk to her. This moment needed my attention, my heart intoned. There was something about her that I needed to honor, although I was not sure why. We engaged in a conversation about various art shows, her artwork, and mine. As she was removing her last painting from the wall, I was struck by the imagery. It was a group of faces—one human face in the middle of several animal and bird heads that formed a circle around the human. I immediately said, “Wow, I love this painting,” and continued, “It makes a very powerful statement to me. I see the interconnectedness of all these beings as equals. I sense the mutual love and respect emanating from them. It makes a beautiful statement about having compassion for all living beings.” She smiled, beaming with pride, and said, “Thank you.”
Seeing that painting changed how I saw her. I respected her sensitivity and the emotional spirit captured in her art, and the gentle nod to love and interconnection. Her painting was a reflection of the openness and gentleness I had sensed in her earlier. There was innocence in her demeanor, an easy joy, and I felt as if we were old friends.
I slowed down. I became fully present, recognizing the importance of this moment. Busyness and judgment gave way to presence, compassion, humility, kindness, and deep listening.
I helped pack her painting and told her how happy I was to meet her—and how her art inspired me.
As we parted, I knew this was one of those small moments when I listened to my inner voice: stop, be present, honor what’s in front of you. It was an opportunity to touch another’s essence, arriving without fanfare—so easily missed had I not listened to my heart.
It was a lesson in humility, appreciation, and understanding the value of living consciously and embracing what is, no matter who or what appears in the moment.
The reward for pausing and honoring a stranger was a felt sense of interconnectedness and beauty—an embodied richness that words cannot capture—while my mood shifted to a more peaceful, unhurried, and kinder tone.
Micro Practice: When–Which–How Guide
When: You feel rushed, transactional, or tempted to dismiss someone. You sense a nudge to pause, but habit says, “Keep moving.” Before leaving a space—doorway, moments.
Which: Start with Humility to open space: “This moment may be my teacher.” Add Appreciation to soften: “Thank you for this meeting.” Invite Understanding to listen without fixing.
How: Offer Compassion if you sense strain in them—or in you. Use Forgiveness to release your hurry or bias. Seal with one small act of kindness; let it be enough.
Every moment offers a new threshold; to cross it requires only one thing: love.
| Six Heart Virtues: Appreciation • Compassion • Forgiveness • Humility • Understanding • Valor Try it today: Name the virtue, take one breath, choose one small act. Practice with us at thesixheartvirtues.com. |