Spirituality in the City
When the power of a relationship transformed my life for the better…
Our Spirituality in the City series celebrates the moments of connection and transformation that can happen in the most unexpected places. This time, we explore how relationships, brief encounters, lasting partnerships, and reconnections, can shift the direction of our lives in profound ways.
Eileen Bray
It was 2006 and I had just moved from New York to Nashville, Tennessee. I started going to the metaphysical centre, the Nashville Center for Spiritual Living. I knew nobody in Nashville. The music was killer!
I met a young mother. She was also a very confident vocal coach. She and I became friends, and I told her I loved to sing but had held myself back for years. I remember her telling me to affirm, “I am a singer!” I was crippled with impostor syndrome. I admired her confidence so much.
She told me to join the chorus at the Center, and I joined the alto section. I’m forever grateful to Julie, who probably hasn’t a clue the impact that brave step had on my life, leading me years later to do what I do now with my Celtic Kirtan. She was the angel who came in for a very short time, making a huge difference in my life with that gentle, confident nudge.
Ronan McEvoy
The need to connect is universal. So when your main relationship fails, the grief you can experience is incredibly painful — on a par with the death of someone you love. Not just emotionally, but physically too.
It’s critical not to try to bypass the grieving process by falling into a new relationship or numbing out with distractions. You need to take it full on.
I found that pain to be hugely motivating – and a real opportunity to learn. About myself, and how I can bring a better version of myself to my next relationship. About what I learned about my boundaries, and what I won’t accept. About Attachment Theory, mental health, and more.
Grieving isn’t linear, so you have to remind yourself to be compassionate towards yourself. This is a hard process. There is very little in life that can motivate you more than a breakup, so make the most of it.
Keith Howell
I’ve had so many profound interactions with people over the last ten years or so through recovery, but one that really sticks out to me is when I reconnected with my wife.
For so many years, I had felt lost in my own selfish thoughts that I almost forgot I had a wife. The power of getting that relationship back not only transformed that situation, but went on to transform my life.
Jennifer Mullaney
At an Ayurvedic retreat in Sri Lanka, my exclamation – “There’s a fish swimming in the pool!” – sparked laughter and an unexpected meeting with two German female tourists that felt fated.
Back at home in Barcelona, I followed their recommendation to try their British friend’s yoga class, which opened a doorway to a holistic community of women’s circles, retreats, and shared wisdom.
These relationships arrived as my own personal relationship was unravelling and I was wrestling with the decision to return to Ireland. Through this cocoon of support, I found grounding, healing, and a deepened bond with myself. Their encouragement helped me claim my path, begin holistic training, and gather the courage to open my own holistic practice back home in Ireland.
What began as a surreal, hilarious moment in Sri Lanka became a lifeline and a turning point – proof that the right people enter at the right time, and that one human connection can transform the course of a life.
The Power of Connection
Each story reminds us that spirituality doesn’t only happen on a mountaintop or in a meditation hall, it unfolds in the everyday moments, relationships, and encounters that shape who we become.
Connection heals. Relationships transform. And sometimes, one person’s presence can open an entirely new path.
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