Spirituality

When I first got ill with Long Covid, which left me clueless as no doctor could tell me what was wrong with me, I started to figure things out on my own.

From Kelly Turner, I learned everything from physical therapy to going to the gym, changing my diet several times, and sleeping 20 hours a day, to embracing all the factors of Radical Remission.

One of the profound changes was embracing community after I had lost connection with almost everyone. Simply because I was no longer the person I was before, with the same communication skills, communication had become a daunting and exhausting activity. The changes Covid had caused left me devastated and lonely, which wasn’t the best option for living healthily.

Early in 2020, I joined a community called Genius, founded by Jay Shetty, a former monk. This community is about growth and self-development, and it has much support from others. As my life had transformed from in-person relationships to digital ones, this was the perfect space to meet others while pacing myself.

That same summer, I made my first bus trip to London to meet the people I met online. While making sure I had enough possibilities to rest, I was scared of all the things that could go wrong because of the severity of my symptoms. Yet, I was sure I couldn’t live my life between the four walls of my apartment in loneliness anymore.

Fast-forward to this moment, four years later. Participating in online events and lessons made a difference in my healing process, as I could open up in a way that worked in my situation. It helped me to make many new friends who mean everything to me. Meanwhile, I changed communities from Genius to ISKCON. When I post or write about the monks I met, people sometimes think I have gone crazy and ask me, “Have you become a Hare Krishna?” or “Have you joined a sect?”

I would have said the same up to five years ago. Now, I am grateful for all the friendships I have made in this community and the people I have gotten to know. Every visit to the Bhaktivedanta Manor or the temple in Soho gives me magical moments to connect with others. I am beyond grateful to visit these places where I feel love radiates. And I am still the same soul with a bodily and worldly experience who has gotten so much further on her journey called life.

Last Sunday, my friend Sarah dropped me off at the Bhaktivedanta Manor for a morning class with S.B. Keshava Swami. There, I unexpectedly met five friends from my Bhakti circle, a group I have been in for over two years. In this group, we learn how to live the best life possible based on the knowledge of the Vedic scriptures, among them the Bhagavad Gita as it is. Together, we walk the path of spiritual development with a philosophic attitude. Without them and the friends I made while dealing with Long Covid, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Forever grateful. 🙏🏼

In my next blog post, I will share my magical encounters and moments of that particular Sunday.