"What If Everyone You Met Was Your Teacher?"

When we were helping facilitate Ayurvedic retreats at Harmony Hill, our retreat leader, Patty W., shared a philosophy I love—and try to live by:

“We are all both teacher and student. In any conversation, we are both.”

I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea. Each of us is a teacher—and if we’re wise and quiet enough, also a student.

This morning, I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely human who just graduated in community development and urban planning. Our conversation wandered into this philosophy of us all being both student and teacher.

Sometimes, the most quiet, the most humble, the very young or very old, the sick, the outsider, the new voice—those who are wildly different from us—hold the deepest wisdom.

If we are confident enough to listen, present enough to notice, and wise enough to share ... magical things happen.

More often than I’d like to admit (okay… everyday), I get caught up in my own agenda—my expectations! But they aren't as helpful as being curious. Of being present. Of listening quietly. Letting wisdom flow through rather than charging forward like a crazed butterfly.

Cows, on the other hand, are curious. Maybe I should be more cow-like.

Be both student...and teacher. Be curious. Leave your expectations at the door… or in the barn.

—Denise