Tracing facial lines with my eyes.

For those we know me well enough, I’m a girl that is growing a tree with questions. 

Most questions appear randomly in the morning right after I woke up.

Recently, I was wondering why all babies are born cute and beautiful, but only less than a handful of elderly expired beautifully?  At which point in our life that we stop growing our cute-ness and that we start to become less beautiful?

At which level in our growth we let go the grip of being angelic child- like & swing to the side of a monstrous adult?

I like to look at faces, especially facial lines. I like to trace the facial lines with my eyes; again and again. (If only I could touch it, I will…haha!) What has that particular person been or is going through in life, I wonder.

It does not take one or two times of an expression to form that deeply marked line. It has to be an intense repeated expressions for those line to develop clearly enough for my eyes to trace.

Our facial lines deeply engrave on our skin, is similar to the impressions by the things we do, or the so-called samskara in yoga terms.

 We are brought to this world which just a few basic facial lines. Lines that show when we laugh and cry, how simple!

But as we grow, how many people manage to keep a clean face (not referring to those who inject botox!); how many has vandalized their face full of lines…. of expressions or worrisome; of stress or anxieties.

I like to appreciate the facial lines of people, because it reveals their untold stories.

One day, look at yourself expression-less in the mirror;

Observe your revealing facial line, traced them with your eyes.

Imagine, the person you’re looking at is a stranger….

What story do you see from that person in the mirror?

Keep moving, we just get better & wiser!

In most time, or i should say in all times... we have to learn our lessons before we know how to help others when they turn to us.

Nobody like difficult times, i never appreciate the bad times i was given to; i never want to receive it gracefully with my both hands. As we accumulate our footprints we are leaving behind on this earth, somehow we need to learn how to appreciate whatever that is thrown to us. 

I can't remember if i've ever mentioned it in previous post; but because each of our action does have the ripple effects, till today.

 Two years ago, i was sinking into a dark hole. From the outside, nobody's know... my classes were going on well, i was busy & i do get to do my traveling. From the eyes of strangers, i was the happiest person they met. But, somehow i felt a hole was barring inside me... and i was sinking into it.

In summary: Stagnant. I felt been walking on a plateau as long as i've just realized it. Wasn't comfortable with it at all.

I went to knocked on my teacher's door, had a long chat. He actually did asked many questions, and each question he raised, many other questions came pouring out of me. His words were too blunt for my ears at that time, and i couldn't understand him at all. 

It took my over a year, till recent months then i slowly understood what i should understand.
The interesting part is, when i've slowly figure out my puzzle... peers approached me to share their problems. And its the not same but similar issue i was facing--- i saw who i was in them. 

We all do caught into difficult times at some points in life, some more frequent than the rest, but that's OK. What's the worst going to happen than not able to breath, and wake up the next moment for a chance to set everything right? 

Whatever situation we had travelled to, its a good collection of lessons for our next step. And one day if someone comes to you for direction, you can share your "travel" experience. 

We just get better & wiser, not too bad after all!

Life may not be going well for you now, but as long as you are here,
as long as you press forward, anything is possible.
Hold on to hope.

~ Nick Vujicic

In a leap of faith, i missed a step.

So happy, striking off an item off my bucket list, I've just upgraded my diving skill to an Advanced. 

Ever since i've got my Basic 2 years back, i've honestly just dive once a year. 

Probably my body is not used to the compressed air taken over the weekends, after long hour of sleep, thee's still a little drowsiness left today.

To narrow down to one particular experience i had during the trip; which i had a lot of flash back in that split second...

It was the 3rd dive during my first day over at Tioman, a night dive ( a requirement in the course). 

The first two dives during the day time had more or less sucked off my energy--- struggling to keep my balance while the tank was carrying me, which it should be the other way. The nitrogen was not giving me any extra strength when i needed it most.

After my night dive, which i was totally exhausted physically; quickly walked up the shore.... i've to take a couple of steps up before reaching the foyer. 

So, i put my right foot down on the first step, taking a deep breath to gather all the balance of energy and plan to give myself a push up to bring my left foot up. 

In that split second, my first thought of " what if i fell down" was quickly broken into pieces...

when i remembered my yoga teacher once asked me " how do you know, have you fell down yet?" Nope, not yet, so i should give it a shot. Maybe for once i can climbed those steps which help..

So, the time when i barely lifted my left foot off the sand, my beloved air tank decided to pull me down.. so i landed on that soft sand. Later did i realized that my diving instructor was behind and quickly unloaded my gears. hope it didn't scare him too much that i turned-turtle!

Was i scared or was there pain? No, i guessed i as too drained entertained any fear :)

Some of my favorite moments:)

What are some of your favorite little moments?

I've quite a handful of them... that never fails to remind me the beauty of being alive at present.

I like the feeling of wearing my butt hugging sweat pants to work, also light fleeting dress on my off days.
I enjoying the freedom of my toes on flip- flops & too a well- cut sandals walking down Orchard Road.

I love to catch the moment of short surprises that my yoga practices gave me; as much as the muscles trembling during difficult times.

I always yearn to snuggle back to my cosy bed after nice shower, after my morning practice.

I savor stealing a moments of stare- blanks in between classes, sitting in Starbucks, sipping hot chocolate.

i do caught myself scribbling in a piece of paper, that didn't actually make much sense, but i love it.
I love looking at photos of turtles, which i don't know why. They make me feel relax, somehow.

I like sitting in a car for a long ride, just looking out for the passing scenery. I too love taking naps in a cab while traveling for the next appointment.

I love connecting with happy & opening minded folks. Top- it up with inspiring & uplifting conversations.

So, this are a few of my favorite moments. How about you?

Fear is a lie. Be courageous for pain.

It is not my first time seeing my students being so afraid of getting back in touch with their old injuries. It is also that many times i was told that the doctors advices to keep the injured areas alone.

A short vacation to leave healing process of the body is good; but not for life.

Every time when i see how those advices can become a verdict for the student to paralysis part of their body function--- i am quite upset. But i'm definitely glad that they appear on the mat for alternatives. 

Today, in a private session, this student was almost brink to tears when she mentioned how useless she felt for not being able to utilize her body fully.

" Whichever that gives you pain when you use it, stop using it"--- i was like " What??!!" 

These words has not give her a better life since. 

Sometimes, i am very disturbed by how loosely health- care personnels can vendors their advices to patients. Avoiding pain is a head-start for fear to grow. Avoiding pain, is an easy way out that never solves any problem.

Pain, is not a negative. It is there for a reason, for whatever reason we may understand... we should not avoid it. Because pain has it ways to make fear take over us.

Fear, is a lie that never ever exist. Its all in the mind. 

Don't, be afraid of pain. If you understand pain, you'll understand how to heal it.

If you neglect it, pain will slowly erode your entire life. 

In yoga study, we are always encourage to lean towards the discomforts; to face it and do something about it. Face your own fear and dissolves them with courage. 

We are all brought into this world by our parents as perfectly as we should be. We all have the duty to take charge of our own health operations from the hands of our parents. If we don't, some others people is going to plant their fear in us, and paralysis our life. They have no right to do that.

I always believe that, so long as you can breathe, you have ample opportunities to path out a better life to be an unreasonably happy person!