Building a new village: Connection, Community & Global Nepali Identity

Building a NEW kind of village

With time, my “village” became smaller but more intentional. I surrounded myself with people who wanted to talk about ideas, growth, parenting, purpose and not just community gossip. It’s hard at first. You still crave the familiar laughter, the shared language, the “gossip therapy.” But over time, that noise becomes draining.

"Connection without consciousness is just proximity."

Now, I define my circle by energy, not ethnicity. My community is made up of people who help me grow, reflect, and stay grounded. They don’t all share my heritage but they share my values and my positive energy frequency.

Redefining “Being Nepali”
Here’s what I’ve learned: being Nepali isn’t a job description.

It’s not defined by the food you cook, how vivaciously the festivals are celebrated, or how many Nepali words your kids can pronounce.

Naturally, my daughter will grow up Australian, with Nepali roots and that’s okay. But most importantly, she’s my branch, not my root. Expecting her to replicate my childhood or identity would be unfair.

Instead, I want her to be kind, curious, and brave - to know where she comes from, but also to write her own story. My job isn’t to teach her my roots; it’s to model mindful growth. As Dr. Gabor Maté says, “When we cling too tightly to identity, we limit our growth.”

So I choose to parent from values, not nostalgia; and certainly not default mode.

Until next time, happy connecting!

Sarika
Founder, @kirmiraystudios