Stepping into my wonderland

Part 1: October 2015 

6 years ago. It was October 2015. 

It was my first month in Poland. In a new land, away from my environment, my community and my family, with whom I’d lived in comfort for 8 years until this moment. 

Like any other ordinary day. I had been shopping and having a great time with a new friend I had made in my first week at the University. It was 7:00 PM. We said our goodbyes, it got dark and I looked around to find my bus stop. I was in Centrum. Right in the heart of it. Near the palace of culture and Science. I needed to get on bus number 171. I’ve never used a navigation system on my phone. I don’t speak Polish. How will I get home to Rozbrat where I lived at the time? 

How can I ask any stranger where to find my bus stop and expose my vulnerability to them? They could use this against me. I felt absolutely unsafe. I didn’t know how to figure out the right direction in the subway. I was going in circles around it. Confused. The time was passing and my anxiousness just grew. 

Then I heard singing and music. It was lively and beautiful. I heard a group sing Hallelujah. I walked closer toward the sound. I saw a group of people singing and others handing out soup to the homeless. Christianity. The one and only thing I could connect with at the time. 

The group was not Catholic. Some form of modern Penticostal Protestants. Raising my hands and joining in worship were familiar to me. As I listened to the woman singing hallelujah I raised my arm and surrendered. I wasn’t home but I felt safe. I let my tears flow and release how unsafe I felt before I heard the singing. 

Crying and singing with raised arms. It was probably 5-7 minutes into that. It didn’t matter if it was dark or late. I felt safe. I found the courage to ask an elderly man from this group - Can you please help me find my bus stop? I am new here. I don’t know how to get home. 

The Universe/God - as you might feel comfortable putting it rescued me with the sound of music that evening. The group were Poles and some had lived in Ireland. So they spoke some English. The man introduced me to the singing woman. I shared with them my passion for worship. We talked a bit. Laughed. I didn’t take the soup because I wasn't hungry and I didn’t need it at the time. The man offered to take me to my bus stop. 171 came by. I got in and reached safely to the building where I lived at the time. 

Part 2: October 2021 

Fast forward 6 years has been generous with numerous experiences that allowed me to strip away from the layers of false protectiveness. From the conditioning with fear and limitedness. Religion and tradition being peeled away. Sometimes harshly, I see a new period has dawned upon me. 

Learning and growing in my new self I decided to embark on a day trip by myself. Anyone who knows me closely knows I absolutely love getting on a train journey. Taking a coffee and experiencing the thrill of seeing the fields and trees pass by as I enter a new city. Something like this in a country like India, a woman traveling by herself, is not the safest thing or recommended. 

I chose the city, Lublin. The landscapes in the countryside take my breath away. 

I saw the images in calendars, postcards and on computer wallpapers for so long. 

And now I get to see it, pass through it and live amongst it. Glorious Europe in its golden autumn. Just as the stories I’ve heard from many Poles. 

And what is life if not for the experiences of its highs and its lows? 

A quick day getaway to take my mind wandering in nature. Away from the cares of every day. See the sun. Shining bright on the open fields. Shining on me. The blue skies, away from the grey. I wouldn’t have learned what it is to experience life in its fullness if I hadn’t taken the step further little by little. One risk at a time. 

Feel my feet on the ground and see for myself. This world we live in is not as dangerous as it was presented to me by my environment. The red leaves on the ground. Beside the ripples of a pond. Every moment became an explosion of wonder. 

It isn’t summer, yet I feel the warmth of nature all around me. 

This experience is exactly what my soul has yearned for. To relax and be still in the newness.

To feel safe and calm. The trip was beautiful in all its ways. I got off the train, walked about, bought a fresh item from the bakery, the sun was shining. Looked up the navigator for the bus to get to my first sighting - the castle museum. Took the bus there, got myself a full ticket for all the museums there. Starting with the various exhibitions spending hours learning about the history of bygone centuries and evolution, I ended it with a visit to the top of the famous Donjon tower. From there - the entire city of beautiful Lublin can be viewed in 360 degrees. 

Then after, I asked the security how I could get to the old town from there. Everyone was so warm and kind and welcoming to me. He took me to the window and said - Do you see that bridge? That’ll take you to the old town. Thank You very much Mister  I said and off I went with a happy smile and a warm heart to the next part of my adventure. 

The old town is where I came across a souvenir shop. I am big on souvenirs but not the kind that gets piled like junk. I like items that are valuable and meaningful. I came upon a ring that spoke to me right away the moment I saw it. The duality of the good and bad within us. I shall share about this ring in a different post. Once I had the ring - I felt fulfilled in the souvenir area and thought - now let’s get some food. The lunch was plentiful. The ambience so cozy. I was rested and ready to get to the next phase. I explored the old town some more and It was still 16:30. I had my train at 19:54. I thought - what else can I do in this city? The touristic recommendation pages on the internet showed I could go to the botanical garden or the open-air village. I did. However, it was closed by the time I reached there. Note for the next time - check the closing timing before getting there. 

I took a step back and decided I could just go for a nice long walk and experience the vibe of the city. So I walked along the entire Ulica Botaniczna. It was quaint and residential. It had a peaceful air about it. Gradually I returned to the train station, got on my train and returned home safe before midnight. 

Learning to know myself emotionally and understanding my self and recreating my sense of the world around me allows me to explore this world with a new freshness. With a new calm. With a thrill of feeling at home even when I’m far away. Every day is a new experience of people, places and moments. An experience into the manifestation of my abundance.