I learnt gradually over my first two weeks that, built into the routine at Karuna-Shechen, were valued moments dedicated to connection and presence. Small pauses that remind you to breathe, and bring your best being forwards.

After writing my to-do list, firing off emails and perhaps finishing the first meeting of the morning, the first of these moments was coffee. It begins with choosing a mug, each imprinted with a value of Karuna-Shechen – to embrace the unknown, invite joy, be benevolent, and to actively listen (to name just a few).  A small, conscious choice of ceramic to carry an intention forward into the day.  There is a meditative simplicity in the process of turning on the machine, switching the settings to choose the length and strength – café allongé, s’il vous plait - listening to the beans grind and the mechanic clicks as hot coffee pours into the mug below. The steam rising from the branded mug clutched in your hand, the rich smell encompassing your senses, creating a presence that invites the question ‘how will I step forwards into the day?’

The lunch break. In France, this is a sacred and leisurely affair. Bistros and cafes bustle between lunch hours, the small tables and chairs clustered on the paving stones filling with Parisians in summer dresses, blouses and shirts – often smoking, sunglasses perched to dampen the midday brightness. In our office, we stayed in and cooked. The routine began with a debate, who would cook and, importantly, what they would cook. Then someone would head out to the shops, whilst we returned to work, before the chef of the day would begin preparing the meal. A call would then come, 20-40 minutes later, ‘C’est pret!’ And steadily we would rise to set out cutlery and plates in the blue room, arranging glasses of water and setting the dish onto the table. The next hour would dissolve in contented eating, conversation, and laughter – perhaps a debate or two. Then, after a luxurious time reconnecting and being present together, we would gather the plates and those who had not cooked would set about loading the dishwasher, wiping down the table, and washing up.

Following lunch and my walk round the block, it was time for another coffee. The walk had become a necessity for me, to move my hip as my current injury had a tendency to stiffen up after long hours of sitting. The coffee was a reset. A conscious shift into the afternoon. I switch the machine to a double espresso and watch it pour into a small ceramic cup before carefully journeying back into the main room – trying not to spill a drop as I’d optimistically filled it to the brim. Do I still choose the same cup every day? Yes. Do I still do this carefully curated shuffle to prevent spilling a drop? Yes. Will I choose a bigger mug? No, don’t be silly.

At four every afternoon, 10 minutes of meditation was blocked into the calendar. As a Buddhist foundation, this ritual reminded us of our intention – to be present in ourselves, not letting the fickleness of the mind sway us away from our intention. It was a moment to breathe, whether sitting resting against the wall or lying down with your head against a pillow. A reset and a reminder to be in your body, to bring your best presence to the last hours of the workday – but strategically scheduled a few hours after lunch to avoid simply going to sleep. 

It is these little moments, stacked through the day, that bring an intense joy and connectivity to my being in this office.