anadiomene

Strange thing is this life and love, and death that is also a part of it which is inescapable – but something we try not to think about. Then are the little beings that come into our life to leave such a lasting impact.  I didn’t set out wanting another cat, but she saw I must’ve needed something and latched onto me and my heart, and she spent some time winning me over, but that she did.  7 whole years, that seemed to have flown by – and every single day, offering nothing but unconditional love, which is not an easy feat. Anyway, may she rest in peace – some where the mice are slow, the water is milk and the gardens are endless and filled with sunny blue skies and butterflies – and know that she’s was loved and appreciated forever and day. Blessed be, my little Vizi…..

The other day, I was heading home as always via the train station surrounded by miserable, badly dressed people – feeling judgmental in an unexplainable way and wondering why….  As I left the station I saw an old lady in a white turban with a chiffon pink skirt and wooly jumper and slippers – I was about to think that this was the worst outfit I had seen yet, and then I saw her face.  She was smiling and looked like the happiest person on the planet and in an infectious way – she really glowed and I wondered if I’d ever seen anyone that content or happy.  It was like looking into the face of Buddha, or what I would imagine that to be like and I realized who really cares what anyone wears or thinks – so long as it makes you happy.  Seemed a lesson she had already learnt a long time ago…. 

Moral of the story ‘go forth be happy’.

Biggest surprise being back is the amount of complaining going on around me, in LATAM everyone lives in the moment, laughs at the crisis as there is always a crisis – and they enjoy what they do have in the moment. Here I think it’s a Calvinistic society – so the may feel bad about having so much and being so lucky, so by complaining about it they feel like they are part of what is happening in the world, and suffering too. However, I think we have the right be happy, be comfortable and have a good life no matter how or where you are – it’s an attitude and complaining / negativity means you are focusing on the points of complaint or things to complain about and negativity begets negativity…. Hence, I am trying day by day – be positive, feel lucky (as I know I am blessed with everything I have in my life), and to enjoy it all – as you never know what tomorrow will bring – so lets not waste any time in the now, complaining or worrying about it…. Live, Enjoy, Prosper – everyone and everything deserves it.

Each of us is responsible for the choices we make - and at the end of the day we have to live with that choice  for as long as needed - so I remind myself to be accountable…. I am responsible for nothing less than mylife and the choices in it.

If you think about it in context, life is pretty amazing – we have sunsets, oceans, jungles, animals, cities, countries, clouds, stars, galaxies and other people. 
We need to stop and appreciate everything we have in our life, it’s all in a state of constant flux – you don’t know how long it’s going to last – what’s going to change – or when or who or what is going to move in or out of your life. As Eckhart Tolle says “there is only the now”, but its up to each one of us to stop, see and appreciate it.   
Right now am feeling super appreciative of my Argentine experience, the amazing people I’ve had the honor to meet, the places I’ve had the opportunity to see, the fact I could take some time off to appreciate; sunshine, the city, yoga, books, meditation, my hood Puerto madero, good food and of course the yerba mate! What’s not to appreciate….

Everything and Nothing, J.L. Borges Am reading Jorge Borges (famous argentine writer) ‘the Aleph’, and while in Colonia was surprised by the depth, context and profoundness of his writing.  He talks metaphorically of so many spiritual things we currently speak of – but of course in his day was way ahead of his time. Funny, as I had read some of his work before and only now – after mediating – and listening to Tolle, actually get it. In one short story ‘Everything and Nothing’ there is a paragraph; “And god said; I, too, and not I, I dreamed the world as you, Shakespeare, dreamed your own work, and among the forms of my dream are you, who like me are many, yet no one.” 

I guess the roles we play, masks we wear
Might also be a way of –
Experiencing another way of being.
But perhaps first we need to become –
Aware of who we really are.
So we don’t lose ourselves
In all the things we’re not. 

Yesterday in rose garden watched the rose change before my eyes, going with the flow – tilting for more sun, bending with the breeze, changing when and as needed and although it looks static it is nothing but transient.  As is all life, hence we need to be here now, in this moment as it really is forever.  

Better known as the “Thong” where I come down under - which I won’t use as that mean fairly different things in other parts of the world. Anyway, the last four days I have had the constant reminder that while boots are made for walking (whether or not all over you (sorry quoting the song)), the flip flop is not; so while travelling do not I repeat DO NOT attempt to walk over 5kms or all day in them. I’ve had blisters for days (still have), and couldn’t wear any open shoes despite the heat… well actually I did which caused the blisters to get even worse. At least I know for next time, kinda surprised I didn’t know already….

While I was mediating in the rose garden, there all around me was nature, doing what it does best which is getting on with life.  I was fascinated by the ants carrying the biggest bits of leaves over the long grass, falling off the blades, blown away with the wind, put off track by rocks and obstacles yet they were not put off course one bit. And I realized life is about flow, you got to roll with the punches, not expect an answer for everything, accept it all as it as. Why:  as the flow of life has its own reason, time and a place and we just need to accept it.
Can you imagine if an ant cursed every fall, contemplated and over analyzed every gust of window, or took the obstacle in its was as a personal affront.  Poor little ant would never get anywhere and give away all his strength and time on things that he has no control over and in the larger scope of things just don’t really matter.  ‘It is what it is’, stay on course and have a clear objective.  So today be an ant.

Decided on this category as despite the fact we all need to experience our own lessons in life, it might help recognize what a particular lesson is if someone else has been through something similar. Will also be interviewing people at the retirement home about the subject and note it down, as I am sure there are a lot of wise life lessons there worth sharing with the world.