"One who prevents you from meeting your destruction is your friend, mitra. Maitri is the spirit that compels your friend to be there for you; friendliness."
- Pandit Rajmani Tigunait,
Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 1.33
Friendliness doesn’t require a big extroverted personality.
Sometimes it begins with simple approachability - with how safely we are able to meet what and who is around us.
“Trauma-informed spaces” may sound sophisticated, but they often begin exactly here:
not fixing or advising, simply offering presence and goodwill.
This origami model delights me because it mirrors that idea. From one square of paper emerge three figures: a heart, and two friendly cats side by side.
Three forms, one uncut square - a moment of single sheet origami magic.
Relationship.
Reciprocity.
Connection held at the centre.
Nothing added. Nothing cut away.
Just one sheet, transformed.
A reminder that friendliness unfolds not so much between us as through us.
This practice brings me a great deal of joy. Thank you, friend, for being here to share it with me.
Today I’m practicing friendliness by reaching out with something whimsical.
If you feel inclined, I’d love to hear - what’s bringing you joy today?
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