On Tuesday, my most Zen colleague said he'd heard someone saying this, "It's ok to have strong opinions. But lightly held", at a work meeting.
Later that very evening, I was at a "Opinions and Truth" meditation class at IMSB, and the talk was about - ditto! I told my teacher this quote after the talk and she liked it so much that she wanted to include it in her teachings, and sat to write it down!
And, I guess, nature was conspiring for me to get that message. And it couldn't be clearer nor come at a more appropriate time! How much I needed it! I certainly want people around me to be that way, but, let me start with the easiest one. Me :)
It's all alright-o! :)
Friday, February 10, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
A life changed...
2011 has been long, with many tides of changes in me.
It began with a vacation. 10 days of being with the Hawaiian family that taught me that an important thing in life is to look and take notice. And that happiness is ours to take.
Mindfulness Meditation taught by Shaila Catherine. I meta think now. And I have surprised myself ever since.
Design thinking at the D.school with TeachForAmerica. I learned what I am not. And know and accept better what I am.
A health plan, that includes me becoming stronger, warding off that family diabetes, and hiking when at 70 :)
Friends. One taught me that sometimes, people need to let go. And all things heal. One taught me that sometimes, I need to let go. And let things settle. The rest continue to show me how much beauty there is.
People. Some who taught me to trust and heed to my own emotions, explicable or not, more than I cared to. And then the many who made me realize that random kindnesses abound. One who told me that if I weren't starting each day by being thankful for the abundance I'm surrounded with, then I start each day with a lie. I wake up to the truth ever since.
And a partner, who has been found. Together, Bala and I, we're making a precious young eternity.
And that brings me to the quote, from a book that I've just begun to understand, for which 2011 has been proof enough:
Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity - Paulo Coelho
And the elder says, "I predict your 2012 is going to be super interesting with lots of new things and people :o)". Whatta seer! I'm all set for 2012 :)
(And today, Friday 13, has been one of the happiest days ever! The doc got through a top-notch med-school. Nothing deserves jumping in joy more than this!)
It began with a vacation. 10 days of being with the Hawaiian family that taught me that an important thing in life is to look and take notice. And that happiness is ours to take.
Mindfulness Meditation taught by Shaila Catherine. I meta think now. And I have surprised myself ever since.
Design thinking at the D.school with TeachForAmerica. I learned what I am not. And know and accept better what I am.
A health plan, that includes me becoming stronger, warding off that family diabetes, and hiking when at 70 :)
Friends. One taught me that sometimes, people need to let go. And all things heal. One taught me that sometimes, I need to let go. And let things settle. The rest continue to show me how much beauty there is.
People. Some who taught me to trust and heed to my own emotions, explicable or not, more than I cared to. And then the many who made me realize that random kindnesses abound. One who told me that if I weren't starting each day by being thankful for the abundance I'm surrounded with, then I start each day with a lie. I wake up to the truth ever since.
And a partner, who has been found. Together, Bala and I, we're making a precious young eternity.
And that brings me to the quote, from a book that I've just begun to understand, for which 2011 has been proof enough:
Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity - Paulo Coelho
And the elder says, "I predict your 2012 is going to be super interesting with lots of new things and people :o)". Whatta seer! I'm all set for 2012 :)
(And today, Friday 13, has been one of the happiest days ever! The doc got through a top-notch med-school. Nothing deserves jumping in joy more than this!)
Saturday, September 24, 2011
And this last week...
Flew back on Sunday after a long trip... Home, sweet home. Or is it, room, sweet room, for the unsettled nomad who is me?
One of the dinner menu's at A & P's last week was rasam, vazhakkai fry and beetroot halwa (with cashews n raisins, but no ice-cream :/). After a breakfast of egg dosa and a lunch of capsicum rice that same day. How much I miss my Tucson company!
Met M after more than a year! How much has changed! And A now is the official know-er of all my friends who live in the US, thanks to all the hosting done! :)
De-cluttered my room! It's now more spacious. Being minimal isn't easy, even for a person like me who doesn't like to spend. I also really need to start sending away some of my will-never-read-again books at PaperbackSwap. And reallly need to finish reading all the half read ones.
Watched Idomeneo, supposedly Mozart's favourite opera. It was too long (3.5 hrs, with 2 intermissions) for a week night opera, but the music was so good! Infact, my fav part was watching the violinists. They looked like dancers, and the sounds were so pleasant! And, it was a free ticket from the employer. My favorite remains La bohème, though it made me cry. Which was a surprise BDay gift from S & Y, and in the second row, center seat! Nothing beats that :)
After stressing a ton last week, I realize now, how lucky I am... And a friend puts it this way - there are good problems, and there are bad ones. These are the good type of problems to have! :D
And as you already know, survived a slamming of my fingers in a car door excellently well!
Maybe, I should write more often again. It's been missed (by me! ;).
One of the dinner menu's at A & P's last week was rasam, vazhakkai fry and beetroot halwa (with cashews n raisins, but no ice-cream :/). After a breakfast of egg dosa and a lunch of capsicum rice that same day. How much I miss my Tucson company!
Met M after more than a year! How much has changed! And A now is the official know-er of all my friends who live in the US, thanks to all the hosting done! :)
De-cluttered my room! It's now more spacious. Being minimal isn't easy, even for a person like me who doesn't like to spend. I also really need to start sending away some of my will-never-read-again books at PaperbackSwap. And reallly need to finish reading all the half read ones.
Watched Idomeneo, supposedly Mozart's favourite opera. It was too long (3.5 hrs, with 2 intermissions) for a week night opera, but the music was so good! Infact, my fav part was watching the violinists. They looked like dancers, and the sounds were so pleasant! And, it was a free ticket from the employer. My favorite remains La bohème, though it made me cry. Which was a surprise BDay gift from S & Y, and in the second row, center seat! Nothing beats that :)
After stressing a ton last week, I realize now, how lucky I am... And a friend puts it this way - there are good problems, and there are bad ones. These are the good type of problems to have! :D
And as you already know, survived a slamming of my fingers in a car door excellently well!
Maybe, I should write more often again. It's been missed (by me! ;).
By design
Wednesday, after a fun lunch with the colleagues, I was getting into the back seat of a van to go back to the workplace. My friend who was driving, slammed her door shut.
A shout, and an opening of the door later, my hands were free. The three fingers that had been caught were slightly bruised, and paining a little bit. I was new to getting into vans. And had my hand around the part between the front and rear doors. Stupidity - yes.
Close/open - check; stretch - check; bend - check. Phew. :)
But, Pain also check :(
"Did the door really fully??" "Yes", came the answer. "That is scary" said another.
Two ice packs, and an Ibuprofen. Home. And a call. At urgent care to see if it were a fracture.
"In all the cases I've seen, unless it is black and blue, swollen, and can't be bent, it has never been a fracture, if it is a car door", the doc said. She also said that it was going to get much worse for the next couple of days before it would get better. I would need lots of ice almost continuously, and 3 ibuprofens 3 times a day. Now, that scared me more than anything else! Two more ibuprofens that night.
Next morning, I woke up, and had forgotten all about it. There was absolutely no pain! And no swelling. One bruise was barely visible, and the others, not at all! Our bodies heal so well!
And someone devised the car door that way! The contact areas were mostly rubber, and there is comfortable finger space in there! The initial pain was possibly only because it was shut with force, and the shock.
Whoever you are, designer of the car door of the Honda Odyssey, and all the engineering that went into it, a lot of thanks for my happy hand!
A shout, and an opening of the door later, my hands were free. The three fingers that had been caught were slightly bruised, and paining a little bit. I was new to getting into vans. And had my hand around the part between the front and rear doors. Stupidity - yes.
Close/open - check; stretch - check; bend - check. Phew. :)
But, Pain also check :(
"Did the door really fully??" "Yes", came the answer. "That is scary" said another.
Two ice packs, and an Ibuprofen. Home. And a call. At urgent care to see if it were a fracture.
"In all the cases I've seen, unless it is black and blue, swollen, and can't be bent, it has never been a fracture, if it is a car door", the doc said. She also said that it was going to get much worse for the next couple of days before it would get better. I would need lots of ice almost continuously, and 3 ibuprofens 3 times a day. Now, that scared me more than anything else! Two more ibuprofens that night.
Next morning, I woke up, and had forgotten all about it. There was absolutely no pain! And no swelling. One bruise was barely visible, and the others, not at all! Our bodies heal so well!
And someone devised the car door that way! The contact areas were mostly rubber, and there is comfortable finger space in there! The initial pain was possibly only because it was shut with force, and the shock.
Whoever you are, designer of the car door of the Honda Odyssey, and all the engineering that went into it, a lot of thanks for my happy hand!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Two more
It is hardwork that will take me to where I want to be.
And, it is kindness that will take me to who I want to be.
(The apparent contradiction of these two with the last two, is in appearance alone)
And, it is kindness that will take me to who I want to be.
(The apparent contradiction of these two with the last two, is in appearance alone)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Two things
When I'm fighting myself and hoping to make it work,
While I'm thinking of the good story it will make in the years to come
It is time to question the worthiness of 'it'.
Anything worth anything is made when I am not thinking about a future in which I am the center piece.
While I'm thinking of the good story it will make in the years to come
It is time to question the worthiness of 'it'.
Anything worth anything is made when I am not thinking about a future in which I am the center piece.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Anew!
A beginning tomorrow!
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive"
- Howard Thurman
"I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well."
- J.N. Forkel, Bach's Life (1802)
(Both quotes are from the comments section of this post which my brother sent me. Which we spoke about after he sent me this, which is an extremely interesting read. Thanks anna! Also, if you folks have the time, the lectures here are brilliant! I attended each one of them at the Centennial Hall last year :) )
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive"
- Howard Thurman
"I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well."
- J.N. Forkel, Bach's Life (1802)
(Both quotes are from the comments section of this post which my brother sent me. Which we spoke about after he sent me this, which is an extremely interesting read. Thanks anna! Also, if you folks have the time, the lectures here are brilliant! I attended each one of them at the Centennial Hall last year :) )
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