My Slice of Heaven

Christmas Eve was easily one of my happiest days this year.  I met all, or most of my Gillette friends and colleagues at a get-together, organised by one of the most devoted, enthusiastic, sweet Soul I have known - Kuldeep Sharma, known as KC. Over the last two years, I have reconnected with some Gillette folks, so landing up for this 'do' was so natural. I have finally stepped out into the social arena after all these years of being a recluse.

A week later and I am still feeling nostalgic and happy just thinking of everyone I met.  It was incredible and I was so happy and at home.  I call my Gillette days my "Slice of Heaven". People outside of Gillette cannot understand this connection, but it definitely is a divine one. It is the best way I can put it.

We all have a "Slice of Heaven" experience at some point in time in our lives. I have had a few, but at this moment in time, Gillette stands out that is worth mentioning for obvious reasons. I became a better person just being there. 

Gillette became my home very quickly when I joined this company in the 1980s and all of my colleagues and friends became my family. The atmosphere in this wonderful company was incredible. "Monday Blues" stopped even being words that meant anything. Everyday was a happy day. Not that everyone was happy everyday - believe me, there were many grumpy ones around!! (wink! wink!) but the hearts of everyone on any given day was always open and giving. I had many tantrum, anger issues, fights with a lot of folks, but no one seemed to even hold it against me. I wondered why. I concluded they are just Good People. I was more outspoken than the others (Secretaries), so invariably, I put my foot right in my mouth always. To add to it, I was in the middle of an extremely personal bad phase in my life, and I felt aggressive, abandoned, vulnerable, but soon it was the Gillette Folks who helped me through this phase (including the Big Bosses!). Everyone treated me right. This was a new experience. 

So, where did all these people come from? I have never encountered, before, nor post Gillette, any company who matched that environment.  It was like, this moment in space where everything in the universe was suspended, and only we existed to serve a purpose: to just love everyone exactly as they are no matter their background, caste, creed or story. Everyone was not going to be around forever, but the memories would be engraved in our hearts. I left after about five years, and it felt like I was leaving Home - the only place I have known to be home in this lifetime. Being there felt like such a privilege and such good fortune.  Looking back now, it feels like a string of many holy instants and moments that had us suspended in Heaven because we were all touched by the ethereal quality of our experiences whether we realised it or not. 

Looking back on my own spiritual journey, and my worldly one, it is easy to see that the world is a beautiful place, when surrounded by beautiful people, who are worth remembering and keeping in one's heart forever. 

I am reminded of a beautiful quote by Jesus which really inspires me to work towards being just this kind of Friend:

"I am your friend because a friend in ancient times was not a word that should be taken lightly. A friend was one who was committed to seeing past any illusions, any doubts, and fears. Not to not see them, but to see through them and beyond them to the great ray of light that shines forth from the Mind of Christ that dwells within you as your only reality. Therefore, when I say I come as your brother and as your friend, rest assured I come to celebrate the reality of your beauty, your joy, your truth, your radiance, your wisdom." ~ Jeshua (aka Jesus) 

In essence, isn't that what really happens in the Real Universe - the Spiritual Realm? Its not about big sounding spiritual terms and heady experiences. It is all about the Heart. And we sure do have warm hearts. Wishing all of US Special Souls a very Blessed 2018. 

With Love, Lavina .