Life’s like that..

Unpredictable. Or maybe not. A prayer answered; followed by a sudden episode of sickness. Not getting appointments; not knowing for sure what’s going on; getting anxious as hell; finally visiting the doctors – one after another; lots of antibiotics with minimal food; feeling lousy; crying; hopelessness at times; some of the issues getting better (finally); other still not figured out. It’s the not-knowing that bugs me the most. I need to know. Once the cause of pain is identified, one can work on the recovery. What have I learned. That every morsel that we eat is a blessing. You realize it when you don’t feel like eating or can’t eat normal food. That you have to take the recovery slowly. Give the body enough time to heal. Don’t rush things. Remind yourself about it. It helps you gain perspective on what is and isn’t important in life. Some fights look absolutely ridiculous once you gain perspective on what is actually important. Your health & well-being (physical & mental), your loved ones, your support network, the small blessings that we take for granted without even realizing. As my very dear friend, SS, said: This too shall pass. Yes, this too shall pass. This too shall pass. (amen)

For anyone who is going through a tough period or whose loved ones are in a bad place, may you be blessed with the strength to come out of your situation as stronger persons. May the Lord bless you with tranquility, health, joy, and peace of mind & soul – always & forever (amen).

Currently Reading: Walking with Plato by Gary Hayden

By now, I have realized that passing by a Liberty Books outlet without entering it or, even worse, without buying a book – any book – from there is a guilt-inducing experience for me. I purchased Walking with Plato by Gary Hayden without any planning; another incident of the book finding me. After finishing Shaping the World: Women Writers on Themselves (Ed. Manju Karpur), I decided to start something as a ‘light reading’. Gary’s book was the one I could pick up easily. Have read 53 pages so far and am already loving Gary’s introspective writing. As someone who loves to and, as a dweller of a megalopolis which has become a concrete jungle, longs for walks in the woods, I envy people who have this opportunity. At the same time, these people inspire me. Gary’s walk from one end of the Great Britain to the other with his simple yet insightful reflections make me feel as if I am his walking companion with a special, secret access to his thoughts. His British humor makes his reflections based in philosophy quite easy to understand and appreciate. Looking forward to continuing with him on his long yet interesting journey through the British Isles.

“.. to the tender-footed Pilgrim, a detour along soft meadows is no small temptation.”
– Gary Hayden

Big Questions: Simon Sinek on The Infinite Game

In this episode of Big Questions, Simon talks about the theme of his upcoming book, The Infinite Game, with Cal Fussman.

https://startwithwhy.com/discover/simon-sinek-the-infinite-game/

THE HEALING MANDALAS PROJECT

I had my first stress-induced panic attack in 2014. Since then I’ve had 2 more attacks, the recent one just a few months ago. Back in 2014, when I was trying to understand what was happening to me and how to deal with it, my friend recommended art therapy. Being someone who cannot draw a straight line to save my own life, I was a bit hesitant. As an alternative, my friend recommended that I start coloring mandalas, and so I did. Later on, I started a blog as a repository of my mandalas and the thoughts that I had while coloring them. Over the years, coloring mandalas has helped me heal and cope with stress & anxiety. I love their beautiful patterns and the shapes they take depending on the colors I choose and the media I use (e.g., pencil colors, markers, water colors, glitter pens). My friends from around the world have given me mandala books as gifts containing beautiful patterns from different cultures. I have given the mandalas that I colored as gifts to my friends & strangers and am amazed by their impact on the receivers. That is why I decided to initiate ‘The Healing Mandalas Project’.

Through this project I’m sharing the mandalas that I have colored, with others who may be dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses. My hope is that these mandalas will bring peace & harmony to the receivers as well. I also see them as a means to initiate conversations about mental health & positive ways of dealing with everyday stresses thereby removing the stigmas associated with mental health issues.

You can donate to get a mandala as a ‘gift of healing’ for yourself & your loved ones. All donations raised through this project will go to organizations helping people who are dealing with mental health issues.

My friend became the first donor for this project by donating to send 3 mandalas to her colleagues. All 3 mandalas have been delivered! 🙂 Another friend shared about this project with her friend who decided to donate and get a mandala for her friend who lives alone and would love to know someone cares for them!

I hope the mandalas bring peace, comfort and a sense of well-being to the recipients (Amen). You can read more about my project at: https://themandalasproject.wordpress.com/healing-mandalas/

Solitude vs. Loneliness

“Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path. Solitude is better for us, as it means being alone without feeling lonely.”

(The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak)

Loving Caliber – We’re in this together now

This has been my shining light in the time of darkness…

Autumn, Adventure and Artful Living in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. — The Shooting Star

Stravaig (verb; Scottish): to wander about aimlessly. There is a nip in the air, and a familiar scent I can inhale deeply but can’t identify. Cosy in many layers of clothes, my notebook clutched in one hand, my hair ruffled by the light breeze, I tip-toe into the garden, on the bed of fallen autumn…

via Autumn, Adventure and Artful Living in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. — The Shooting Star