Hi & Bye! #operationshanti #joannemdm #shirlymdm #2016

Among many hi(s) and bye(s), i guess nothing can be as uplifting on arrival & emotional on departure with the kids of Operation Shanti.

Today marked the last visit of Operation Shanti of my two buddies-- Jo & Shirly. 

While i still have 2 more months to burn with them, witnessing their farewell wasn't easy for me too. Every season, we sink deeper, and it is getting more tricky to pull out. We are more involved with their engagements & activities.
 
Over the years, we watched them changes as much as they observed our changes.

We know they are growing up and doing well when the older kids finally pronounced our names pitch-perfect!

Jo- Han ---> Joanne 
Jelly ---> Shirly
ABC mdm ---> Adeline 

Personally, i could never imagine completely what they are going through inside.
Probably with the older kids, when sometimes they would express their thoughts during proper conversations.

Of course, vice versa, they would throw us with many innocent questions about our life back home. And could never imagine the bigger world beyond their reach ( at the moment).

With the awesome tuition teachers

 This evening, sitting at a corner watching them rushing up & down preparing for their tuition classes, Shirly & I thought, " I wonder how will they be like in 10 years time....."

" Happy journey to Singapore Joanne mdm & Shirly mdm"
Today they had the longest goodbye to Jo & Shirly.

" No drama, no crying."
* That didn't happen as planned.

" Happy journey to Gokulam Adeline mdm, see you next year ( 2017)"
* They are really cheeky & tricky!

See you 2017 kiddos, let's finish up the painting together!


 

Do you oil bath?

Oil bath.
An activity that highly recommended as part of the routine with the Ashtanga practice.
I put it as an activity, because, it takes time & effort to go through the whole process.

Yesterday in the conference, Sharath did mentioned about oil bath again.
Good for muscles soreness.
" Just apply, don't massage" he emphasized.

I've been oil-bathing myself couple of times with coconut oil.
And i love it. Its relaxes my muscles.
Who don't enjoy warm oil on skin, on a tired body? ( though i know friends who don't enjoy putting oil on skin)

So, I've also heard enough tales about using castor oil.
Thicker than most other oil, therefore more effort needed in the application step.

No soap is good enough to completely clean off the oil. Rather a dual mix of herbal powder is recommended for cleaning.

And the final thing i heard about the effect: You will feel tired, so get some rest after castor oil bath.
 

So, today is a good day. No practice.
I decided to give castor oil bath a try, since i already have what is needed in the house.

Warm up the oil. Prepared the herbal mix for cleaning later.
The thick oil does not spread on the skin easily, it takes just a little more time.
I excluded my hair, I'm not ready for it yet.

Wait for 15 mins.
( I practically remain standing and walking around in the room. )

Ah! Time to wash!

Warm water shower using the herbal mix.
Clean & scrub the bathroom floor as the herbal mix was splattered everywhere.
( and got stuck on the tiles)

How do i feel?
My skin feels good though, soft and smooth.

Do i feel tired?
Yes, a little.
But am not sure was it the direct
effect from the castor oil bath, or from too much washing after the oil bath... or maybe, its my nap time!

For a regular oil bath, i will still prefer using coconut oil.
For a once-in-a-blue-moon oil bath, i will go for castor oil!

[ > ] [ II ] [ > ]

  Happy to be back in Mysore, as always:)

Weather is getting more cooling; taking my time to daze off & people watch;

And Uber ride is everywhere!

 

[ > ] [ II ]  [ > ]

I didn’t feel as relax as my previous trips; rather I feel more grounded than before. 

My mind is still hyperactive, body filled up with accumulated tension and my patience wasn’t too ready to be patient.

But I have to say; I am enjoying quality sleep, without having to battle with the alarm clock at least!

 My current read: [Un- Train Your Brain] by Mike Weeks. 

Last night, flipping through pages, he highlighted a question

[What’s so good about being right all the time?]

I stopped at this page and ponder for a while… maybe not a while, overnight.

Putting this idea into context, haven’t we been around with people,

Constantly trying to be right about everything?

It is a social standard.

It is a security driven statement.

It is narcissistic.

It is a full- stop.

It is a denial.

It is rigidity.

Of course, I do catch myself in situations and debates of trying to be right, just for the sake of saving my ego. And thinking back, it was just so silly!

So then, what’s NOT so good about being right all the time?

Well…. Self- limitation kicks in.

We become less willing to understand or check out other options. We stop to discover alternatives & new ideas.

And this, by shutting the door of being right, it is already a losing game.

Sometimes, it is good to [pause] for a while, just to understand how our      

“ Responsive mechanic” works inside us.

And maybe, we get to discover better ideas than just being right?

What if... no one came?

What if no one came?

What if just one student turned up?

" What would you do?"

Would you cancel the class and send that one student who appeared at the door away?

Would you continue the the class as usual?

Are you going to feel upset & pathetic about the situation for the empty space?

Or decide to be happy and focus on that one who make that effort to appear?

Maybe you will get frustrated about those who didn't put the practice as top priority?

Maybe you can understand and respect everyone's priority in life at a moment is personal? 

" Investing energy on those who show up. Those who didn't, don't matter. "

  

I do learn my own ways of doing things through many many ups & downs. 

Gaining that immunity to teach the way i intended to regardless of situation.

"Everything in Equanimity ", I always keep this in mind, in attitude.  

Full house or empty room, the door is still open, I will still be at the same place, doing my thing.

 

 

The alarm clock inside went off--- i decided to ( stop snoozing) wake up.

I've been known as " the old soul" for the longest time that i know; among friends and peers.
And i often have to remind myself that I'm not that old!
I'm just being more reflective:)

I am convinced that everyone has an alarm clock inside us.
Mine went off just a little earlier and louder.

When it rings--- we either snooze it, or we wake up and move. I knew exactly who I was before my alarm went off.
I knew that  girl, who hated homework and tuition;
who loved to day dream and watch time passes everyday;
who was frustrated trying to understand numbers and formulas;
who look forward to school only to be with friends;
who enjoyed so much but work so little... ...

Until the alarm rang, one day. So loudly that i got a shocked and woke up since.
Somehow, I didn't want to play my time away, anymore.
Somehow, I wanted to explore the potential I see in myself.
Somehow, I really had enough of how bad others ( myself)  had made me felt.
Somehow, i told myself that I can be better.

People around you are going to doubt you. They are going to test you. All the time, anytime.
Friends, peers and even family.

To me, those doubts are distractions and chatters.
If we give too much attention to them, our intention and focus will be diluted in no time.

We cannot control what they want to say about us.
I cannot control how i feel about them. 
They cannot control how we feel about ourselves. 

I heard my alarm. They didn't.
Till they heard theirs. We will meet again.

 I was the girl who chose to ignore the alarm, and snooze on.
I can totally understand why i did that, and why i continue to snooze.

I am the same person, who got a shocked and decided to response to the alarm by waking up.
I can totally understand why i did this, and why i continue to be awake. 

The alarm clock inside went off--- i decided to ( stop snoozing) wake up.

I've been known as " the old soul" for the longest time that i know; among friends and peers.
And i often have to remind myself that I'm not that old!
I'm just being more reflective:)

I am convinced that everyone has an alarm clock inside us.

When it rings--- we either snooze it, or we wake up and move. I knew exactly who I was before my alarm went off.
I knew that  girl, who hated homework and tuition;
who loved to day dream and watch time passes everyday;
who was frustrated trying to understand numbers and formulas;
who look forward to school only to be with friends;
who enjoyed so much but work so little... ...

Until the alarm rang, one day. So loudly that i got a shocked and woke up since.
Somehow, I didn't want to play my time away, anymore.
Somehow, I wanted to explore the potential I see in myself.
Somehow, I really had enough of how bad others ( myself)  had made me felt.
Somehow, i told myself that I can be better.

People around you are going to doubt you. They are going to test you. All the time, anytime.
Friends, peers and even family.

To me, those doubts are distractions and chatters.
If we give too much attention to them, our intention and focus will be diluted in no time.

We cannot control what they want to say about us.
I cannot control how i feel about them. 
They cannot control how we feel about ourselves. 

I heard my alarm. They didn't.
Till they heard theirs. We will meet again.

 I was the girl who chose to ignore the alarm, and snooze on.
I can totally understand why i did that, and why i continue to snooze.

I am the same person, who got a shocked and decided to response to the alarm by waking up.
I can totally understand why i did this, and why i continue to be awake. 

Are you that demanding freak too?

It has indeed been a long while since my last blog post. 
Been busy, most importantly enriching too. 

Every yoga class is like a mind battlefield to me--- of course not forgetting the ample opportunities for me to understand about one another.

Investing more time learning under the belt of my teacher, he who loves to flip ideas, perceptions & traditions. Loads of information in need of digestion. 

" Patience". That's what he always say. 

It is way easy to demand. 

But how about letting go?
Loosening the grip?
Closing one eye and give it a pass?

 In today's society, we are spoiled brats & the pampered royals.
We, who are unconsciously wired to think that the world has to compromise to our worlds.

If we want to demand, there are thousands of dissatisfaction we can pick on.
We will always be looking for faults, imperfection, the chipped corner, the hairline crack... anything.

Go to the market, pick up the first orange. What do you look at?
Go to the florist, you pick up a rose. What do you look for?
Go meet a friend, on the first conversation. What do you talk about?

For the past years, i caught myself red-handed too quick to demand and drop complaints.
But when it comes to giving compliments,  i would take forever. 

Honestly, when i realized my own behavior, i didn't like it.
I didn't like how i jumped into conclusion without taking any effort to understand.

I stopped.
I stop myself rushing into my tenancy. And i decided to reverse.

I decided to make an effort to take note of the service people who had done well;
Remember their names and write in compliment notes via social media.

I decided to be that customer who will go to them, look at them and tell them " thank you".
I want to be that patron who will try to first understand when things didn't go too well, and then feedback.

A smile always work better than a frown.
A compliment always work better than a complaint. 
An act of love always win an act of ego. 

Why not do it different, do it better?

Are you that demanding freak too?

It has indeed been a long while since my last blog post. 
Been busy, most importantly enriching too. 

Every yoga class is like a mind battlefield to me--- of course not forgetting the ample opportunities for me to understand about one another.

Investing more time learning under the belt of my teacher, he whole loves to flip ideas, perceptions & tradition. Loads of information in need of digestion. 

" Patience". That's what he always say. 

It is way easy to demand. 

But how about letting go?
Loosening the grip?
Closing one eye and give it a pass?

 In today's society, we are spoiled brats & the pampered royals.
We, who are unconsciously wired to think that the world has to compromise to our worlds.

If we want to demand, there are thousands of dissatisfaction we can pick on.
We will always be looking for faults, imperfection, the chipped corner, the hairline crack... anything.

Go to the market, pick up the first orange. What do you look at?
Go to the florist, you pick up a rose. What do you look for?
Go meet a friend, on the first conversation. What do you talk about?

For the past years, i caught myself red-handed too quick to demand and drop complaints.
But when it comes to giving compliments,  i would take forever. 

Honestly, when i realized my own behavior, i didn't like it.
I didn't like how i jumped into conclusion without taking any effort to understand.

I stopped.
I stop myself rushing into my tenancy. And i decided to reverse.

I decided to make an effort to take note of the service people who had done well;
Remember their names and write in compliment notes via social media.

I decided to be that customer who will go to them, look at them and tell them " thank you".
I want to be that patron who will try to first understand when things didn't go too well, and then feedback.

A smile always work better than a frown.
A compliment always work better than a complaint. 
An act of love always win an act of ego. 

Why not do it different, do it better?

10 years ago, i didn't know.

Looking back at myself a decade ago, 

i then realized how much i don't understand about me, 

about life.

10 years ago i didn't know,

i didn't know a lot.

I didn't know

Ideals are like fairy tales,

The more we fantasize, the further we are.

Youth makes me felt like I'm invincible,

Yet as time flow by without batting an eye,

I'm nothing but a speck of dust on this earth.

First love felt so sweet & fluffy like cotton candy,

Heartbreaks literally made me gasped to stay alive,

The pain was so real that I was not ready to take it.

Saying Yes to everything made everyone happy, but me.

Articulated my first No was the best thing i did for myself. 

Not feeling guilty ever. 

Some friendships could actually be broken off regardless of years,

Some friendships could dive so deep so quickly regardless of years. 

Whatever decision i make, 

Anyone would always have something to comment.

Damn if i do, damn if i not

I will just do it anyway. 

I cannot change the world i hope for,

But i can change the way i perceived,

I be the change. 

This girl once lazy & fat,

who were lucky enough to received both doubts & supports,

who surprises herself for the amount of effort

she never knew she could give.

Number is not just a number, 

Getting old is kind of scary.

But getting old without growing

is scarier. 

10 years later from today,

I would realized,

there are so much more i didn't understand

about me, about life.

Knowing Your Worth !

Came across this interesting story recently...

A professor started his lecture take a $20 note from his back pocket and he asked, 
" How many of you would like this note?"

Hands started going up. 

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the $20 note up. He then asked. "Who still wants it?" 
Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the
ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"
Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. 

No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. 
It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. 

We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. 

We either get devalued by our own insecurities & self-doubts or by the opinions of others.

 

But none of these are necessary.
None of these is going to propel us to move forward.

During our usual meeting after class, my teacher pointed " If you truly know what you are doing, that you are good, you don't have to be in the mercy of others.'

I remember the days when teaching yoga in corporate sectors was challenging for me. I was heavily judged:

- Too young ( i started at 23) CHECKED
- Too little experience CHECKED
- Too expensive CHECKED
- Unacceptable outfit ( slippers) CHECKED
- Bosses & Top management too important CHECKED

Noted.

There was one interesting incident that taught me well.

A yoga-related lunch-time workshop for a company.

The lady who liaised with passed down all judgements * from the above list * at one shot over a brief meeting.

" They are all our top management and bosses. Very important people. Please don't screw up."
" Please wear something that cover the feet, its not very appropriate to have slippers in this building." 

She noted.
 I smiled.

" Will you be joining the class too?" I asked.
" Oh~ no, no."

The following day, i appeared in the class in my usual slippers.
Smiling my way through some rolled-eyes.

The class started with all well dressed-up ladies & gentlemen.

And ended with shoes & socks off, ties off, unbuttoned collars, rolled up sleeves, watches off,  loosen belts, relaxed shoulders and lots of laughter.

The bosses were happy, i was happy & the lady was happy.

So i thought, how was the worrisome before even necessary?

Thankful to that particular day, ( that i would never forget) that i received a great lesson for myself..

People can pass judgements easily on us, that doesn't matter much at all.
More importantly is, what kind judgement are we passing upon ourselves?






 
 

If you can't get what you love. You learn to love the things you've got :)

Well if you can't get what you love
You learn to love the things you've got
 

If you can't be what you want
You learn to be the things you're not
 

If you can't get what you need
You learn to need the things that stop you dreaming
 

All the things that stop you dreaming

~ Mike Rosenberg

On a bus ride to class this morning, i am among many others commuters heading to start our day. 

Everyone seems to be tired & sleepy. Everybody got up the bus, and found a seat and settle in quietly.
I plugged on the ear piece and got into my playlist on Spotify.

ah~ that was all i need in any morning before class.  

This music came along. I thought a little.

Many things we wish it happen, but it didn't.

Many things we hope it don't happen, but it did.

So, what do we do?

I always believe the idea of being appreciative of what we have & what we don't. 

We can never almost possess anything, not even ourselves.

Always at one point, if we didn't learn how to set things free; what need to go will just dissolves in front of us. Or we will have to learn it through pain. 

Love what you do and do what you love.  

In life, there are many things we may not totally love doing.
 

In the bus i was on this morning, i counted my blessing for looking forward to class and the students. I'm even a little excited every time thinking about the things i planned to work with them on the mat.

To many others may be just another day getting to work, going through the routine, having to feed families and raise kids.

For this, i totally respect them for what they are getting up early for---  for putting their comfort aside and provide for their loved ones.

Realistically, there are way too many things in life we have no control over. 

But we can always choose how we feel, our attitude and how we choose to manage.

Yeah, that much we can do. That can already make a huge difference to our own little world!

We can be happy seeing the sun rise or upset when the sun sets. 

Don't forget, in the dark sky, there are still the moon and twinkling stars!

Want to check out this song that i listen this morning? 

Check it out here: Things Stop You Dreaming~ Passenger

Enjoy!