I shared the blog post about “My word of the year” with the artist friend who led the class, and she once again demonstrated for me how much more “seeing” an artist does compared to aurally-oriented people like me.
Sarah read the blog post, saw the photo of my randomly placed and freshly painted letters, and this is what she commented:
“It was wonderful to witness your process in creating your board, Bhagavati. Looking at the last photo, I see that RECLAIM spells MIRACLE too!”
Of course, I had looked at that photo a dozen times and not once did the word “miracle” jump out at me!
Bottom line is that I obviously have a 2-for-1, double-whammy of a word thing going on for 2024. I’m not sure whether it’s that I reclaim my miracle, or the miracle is that I reclaim myself. Either way, it’s most definitely an additional blessing.
Today I received an email with the subject: Your Student Loans Have Been Forgiven.
I couldn’t believe my eyes, but it went on to say: Congratulations! The Biden-Harris Administration has forgiven some or all of your federal student loan(s) with MOHELA in full. This debt relief was processed as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s one-time account adjustment because your student loan(s) have been in repayment of at least 20 or 25 years.
Well, I immediately logged into my student loan account and saw a bunch of $0.00’s.
At which point I burst into tears.
You see, I borrowed $5,000 back in the mid-80’s when I was going to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. I was determined to make it as a freelance musician and I did not have much understanding or practical skills when it came to money.
An unfortunate combination.
I chose the repayment option where you start out with small payments but agree to greatly increased amounts after a certain length of time. But when that time came I wasn’t earning appreciably more — or handling my earnings any better.
So, I missed payments, got derailed by rocky life experiences (like the end of my marriage, the death of my mother, etc.), slipped into denial, and eventually landed in default.
To make a long story short, I eventually had to refinance the loan. I’m still not entirely sure how it worked, but I think that all the interest I had accumulated became part of the principle owed. At any rate, the amount I was now paying off was many, many times more than that original $5,000.
By the time I moved back from Europe in 2006, I was painfully aware of what a mess I had created through my combination of ignorance and denial. I had learned my lesson the hard way.
In fact, although I was staying meticulously current with whatever payments I could afford, and immediately communicated if there were any change in my situation, I was depressingly aware that I would most likely take this debt to my grave.
I can hardly find the words to convey what a weight off my heart and psyche it is to understand that — after almost forty years — I can let this go.
Today was Rajarsi Day at Ananda Village…and what a day it was! (Thanks for the wonderful photo, Barbara Bingham!)
Every year we honor Rajarsi Janakananda (aka James Lynn)–self-made millionaire and foremost disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda–with a community-wide workday. This year was extra special because devotees from all over the Ananda world joined in helping to finish the new Temple of Light.
I served in the kitchen and was struck anew by how much joy is generated when we consciously dedicate everything we do to God! Plus soooo much gets accomplished when there’s lots of joy and energy levels are high.
In fact, all those willing hands make miracles happen, just like Swamiji’s song says:
Many hands make a miracle: Let’s all join hands together! Life on earth is so wonderful When people laugh and dance and struggle as friends: Then all their dreams achieve their ends.
Many hands make a miracle: People climbing together! Soon we reach to the pinnacle Of every mountain peak we hazard as one. We’ll lift our hands to welcome the sun! We lift our hands to welcome the sun!
