Join us for The Seeds Storyteller Series: Difference-Making During the Corona Crisis. Joining us from NEPAL, Prakriti and Gokul Subedi (a dynamic wife-husband duo!) are social entrepreneurs and activists who will be talking about their passion to do what they can to fuel freedom and hope with those most vulnerable in their community. Get ready to discover your next steps (or leaps!) of inspired ACTion to make a tangible difference amidst these challenging days of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In case you missed the live premiere, check out the replay right here or head to your favorite social media platform: Facebook | YouTube | IGTV – While you’re there, subscribe to join the fun with us at Seeds of Exchange. Keep the convo goin’ in the comments below.

WHY this matters to me:

I want you to meet my “bahini” (“little sister”, in Nepali)! Really, make sure you join us … you will see just how amazing this sister is! Amidst her work as an activist and social entrepreneur, she’s living her passion and calling amidst the everyday needs of being a dedicated momma, wife, and friend – as are many ‘round the world.

“Every person has the power to change the world. We just need to take a step. Believe me, you don’t need to see the whole staircase – just take your first step. Your path will start forming on its own.” -Prakriti

No matter what country you reside in or what you do for work, Prakriti and Gokul have some deep, real, and EVERYday wisdom that I believe will meet you and speak to your life, right here and now. We’ll explore how their lives are fueled by this quote:

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Prakriti is founder of Shakti Milan Nepal. “Shakti milan” is Nepali for “power of women coming together”. Prakriti passionately believes that economic opportunity paves the way for freedom from violence, exploitation, and poverty. Gokul is founder of Access Nepal. This organization is doing vital work around children’s rights, education, domestic labor, and more. Check ‘em out in the links below.

WHAT you can look forward to in this conversation:

– ARMCHAIR TRAVEL & virtual visit to Nepal – hear what is happening in Prakriti & Gokul’s community and country amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. Get ready to learn some Nepali words!

I would say, this is an unprecedented crisis … the most I have seen in my lifetime so far. We faced the global financial crisis, the earthquake in 2015, and then the Indian blockade right after the earthquake. However, economy was still running. But this is just too uncertain to predict what will happen next. -Prakriti

– PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LOCKDOWN AS A GIFT – a “disguised opportunity” to connect with yourself and those around you.

Honestly, for last 2 years I was so much in rush because of my new business! Everyday, working a minimum 10 hours a day, not even taking Sunday break, no holiday, no vacation, just work! Lockdown has been a disguised form of an opportunity to me on a personal level. It has offered me an opportunity to reconnect to my inner self as well as to my family, and especially my parents. Life was too busy to reflect on anything! I have realized how far I had already been in social distancing with my family, friends and relatives. I have realized how important it is to balance ourselves in personal and professional pursuits. -Prakriti

– TANGIBLE nudges for inspired ACTION to be of service inspired by Gokul and Prakriti’s stories.

Every one of us has some power to change the world. It is possible, together! -Prakriti

– A GUIDED MOMENT to be still and take a “PoP” (Place of Pause) together with a specific idea or two for you to take into your everyday life and practice on your own or with your family so you can experience peace and strength within these stormy days.

Be grateful. When you are grateful for whatever you have, you will find that life gets easier. -Gokul

NUDGES for inspired ACTion:

1 – COLLABORATE! Prakriti welcomes volunteers in Nepal and those ‘round the world who can help her team design, market, sell and buy their products. (Contact Sarah DT or Prakriti for info.)

2 – MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR DOLLARS. In order to sustain small women-led enterprises from the economic shock of this pandemic, Prakriti and her community have created a beautyFULL gift package that includes a collection of products from various brands ranging from $99-$149, including shipping. Email Prakriti today to pre-order your package!

2 – CONNECT WITH, follow, and friend our team: www.shakti-milan.com | Facebook & Insta | www.accessnepal.org | Facebook | www.seedsofexchange.org | Facebook & Insta | 7 ways to join the fun so you can be inspired & ignited to make a difference locally & globally, together: 

3 – COMMIT TO YOUR OWN PLACES OF PAUSE. Choose 1 thing to weave into your life from our storytellers’ practices or your own that will create plentyFULL peace within you. (Ideas they shared: gratitude, yoga, meditation/prayer.)

Live each day inspired, positive and hopeful. Start by holding everything with love and care. The rose – or gift – that this crisis has brought to my life is the fulfillment of my long-standing dream for regular meditation. I am practicing meditation, reading books that interest me, and enjoying the moment of nothingness and silence! -Prakriti

4 – WATCH: “Shakti Milan Nepal”, about Prakriti’s work:

MORE words of wisdom from Prakriti:

Spirituality for me is my acceptance of me as nothing. My spirituality tells me that “the only thing is know is I know nothing”. Thus, I am open to learning. My spiritual practice takes me deep down into my soul. It reminds me of my very purpose which is to be happy and to spread happiness. It helps me be aware of my inner self and my actions and find my focus. It calms me down and throws down my ego. Then, there remains only acceptance, acceptance of unexpected as well!

My gratitude and compassion holds me tight with my people around me!

Don’t get panicked by the Corona News. Don’t get over-engaged in media and social media. This chaos is just temporary! It will end soon!

Listen to your heart and follow your passions and hobbies. This is a golden time for you to give yourself enough time to explore your inner self.

Practice gratitude … show appreciation to the universe and to people. I would encourage you to practice gratitude every morning … close your eyes and be thankful for getting one more beautiful day to live.

My impression of Covid 19:
If I exclude the challenge of sustaining my business from this Covid shock,
if I forget about the people who have been defeated by this virus,
if I ignore the faces who are running in the street with fire in their empty stomach,
if I turn my head away from barking hungry dogs in the street,
if I ignore the breastfeeding mother holding her infant rushing to her destination barefoot,
if I overlook those millions of faces who are losing jobs and their hope too,
if I neglect entrepreneurs’ sleepless night and their worries about financial burdens,
if I disregard the migrant workers working in Middle East and our neighboring country,
if I discount the sweat and tears on the farmer’s plate,
if I delete the health worker’s excruciating mental pain and fear,
if I miss empathizing with children,
if I disrespect the shattered dreams of millions of youth,
if I ignore my rolling tears while meditating…

If we count on the blessings we have in our life,
I don’t see any challenge and reason to be unhappy.
If I see how difficult the life is for the underprivileged community,
there is no single reason to complain about life!

It feels like earth has gotten its long-standing vacation to heal from its wounds. Birds are still chirping, nature is still green, sky is still blue, rainwater is still cooling, the night is still dark, the morning is still bright. I am still surviving, so many of us are still smiling.

I still do believe, that every problem has a solution. The law of nature won’t allow unsettlement! Things have to settle! Humanity is the greatest gift of our civilization.

Rest is fine!
There is only peace!

ABOUT the Seeds Storyteller Series:

Difference-Making During the Corona Crisis | Stories of community, compassion, and creativity in the midst of everyday life, today. We share these stories about everyday difference-makers with you in the midst of the Corona pandemic so you can be informed, inspired, and ignited to care for yourself and others in the midst of these disrupted and challenging days. Get ready to find a bit more of your story as you listen to the stories of ARTivists (artist-activists), students, parents, elders, entrepreneurs, and activists!