Creativity | Savvy Raj

January 29, 2024
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

Simple tips to help you give a great speech

While you can use any of the latest AI Apps to enhance your presentation. And you may find it easier when you do the basic preparation of the speech.
A few things that are truly important is keeping yourself hydrated before a speech. Having to deliver a long presentation and speech can be quite challenging with a dry mouth.
Secondly doing a technical check if you also have a presentation to support, prior to your speech is equally necessary. As whatever be your presentation if it does not synch with your speech, it can be rather challenging.
Third make sure to take a deep breath before you start as it helps balance your mind & body easing the nervous system, and enhancing present moment awareness. This is truly helpful where you can easily improvise in case you forget a few lines which can happen to anyone Inspite of preparations.
Most of all having a good night sleep before an important speech keeps you looking fresh and in the now.

If you love what you do

And are lucky to do what you love

Speaking from your strengths is actually easy

For it flows from within

About that which you are passionate about.

Prepare well

But remember to flow…

©Savvy Raj

January 27, 2024
by Savvy Raj 6 Comments

Strengthen your feet

Sitting for long hours at work can be rather stressful for those who have sedentary work. In such cases taking good care of your feet health is very important for your heart and overall health.

What can you do besides wearing comfortable shoes, soaking your feet in warm salt water after work,
massaging your feet from time to time.

However when at work you can
incorporate a simple practice of taking a short walk every one hour to break monotony and reduce the impact of long hours of sitting in a chair.

As a Ballroom dance teacher I used some simple props for my students to help strengthen their feet.

Elevating your feet when ever possible, can reduce pressure on the blood vessels, lowering fatigue and release stress.

One is simply rolling a tennis ball under your feet for a few times in a day to release the strain and
tension.

Another easy way is to
have a small terry towel under
your feet and to try to lift it by
scrunching your toes.lt helps
tone, stretch & ease your feet
muscles.

They are both easy to carry and can help you do a feet workout as you work.

Do try and let me know if it helps.

©Savvy Raj

January 25, 2024
by Savvy Raj 14 Comments

Empathy Matters

12 signs that show up an Empathic person.

1. Acknowledging another as they are
2. Being mindful of boundaries
2. Caring to confirm
3. Listening with Attention
4. Having patience
5. Sharing in authenticity
6. Allowing space for curiosity & growth
7. Behaving respectively
8. Being present & available
9. Respecting personal space
10.Valuing emotions in resonance
11.Holding space for perspectives
12. Showing care and offering comfort to another.

You may find a few empathic faces coming up in front of you after reading this… People who have been showing some or almost all of these signs.

Hold on to them. Learn from them Respect their ways… They have understood much about life and living and valuing the strength of the interconnects.

©Savvy Raj

January 24, 2024
by Savvy Raj 1 Comment

When Simplicity Speaks

This week for me seems to be a traveling one, for work and pleasure and I am right now in a country where it is both common and fashionable to wear a lot of black. Can you guess which one?

And while you are at it, sharing this particular poem about black and white photography and I think I am co- relating to it literally here. Read on…

On black and white photography.

What is it about the black and the white

That evokes much emotion

In all its simplicity and elegance?

Monochrome has a surreal magic

That captures your attention

Strangely beguiling almost misleading

For it blurs the truths that appear

In the vividity of colour.

Yet it provides a stark definition

Devoid of any colour, yet not lifeless

It emotes through simplicity

Through the play of light and dark

Creating sensibilities and sustaining drama.

Both evocative and enigmatic in its elements

Inspite of the hidden hues.

Retaining charecter.

Reminiscent of old world charm

Of a translucent transparency.

A simplification of the complexity.

A composure of composition.

A completeness of capture.

©Savvy Raj

January 23, 2024
by Savvy Raj 1 Comment

On breath

Our breath…

An ignition to life and living
this world
No matter what form or species
And its the breath that is left
Behind that signifies the exit.

How important is this breath.
That we all take for granted
Gratitude and thankfulness
To this driving force of life
To nature for the air we breathe.

How important is this breath
For in the way of the breath
Lies the way of our health.
For in the depth of breathing
We can integrate our body, mind & spirit
We can sense the synergy of being
We can awaken our true potential.
We can become aware of the infinite potential.
For the truths of life, is in the inhale and exhale.

Savvy

January 20, 2024
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

Flow in harmony

Let it flow…

In between the dance of forces

Is self adjusted neutrality

A flow in harmony.

In allowing to let go completely

Soon tension eases in the flow

In perseverance & patience.

In response than reaction

Creating positive transmutation.

In thoughts words and deeds

Till harmony becomes you.

©Savvy Raj

January 19, 2024
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

Speaking Pictures

Some pictures can speak a thousand words …

this one definitely fits that frame.

My friend Laura Bailey shared a very intriguing photo of trumpet player Joe and his wife May taken by Henri Cartier- Brenson

Henri Cartier-Bresson photographed throughout his life well-known personalities from the world of arts and science but, also many strangers.

I was captivated by it for a while as it arrested me in the moment. I went on to experience many fleeting thoughts most significant to that era of the Jazz and Blues music.

There were a number of comments below … One that got me interested immediately was

From Pam Diller ” What a picture! Pride, strength, defiance…this shows their souls, not just their faces. The way his hand rests so lightly on her shoulder–is it love or possession?”

Another was by, Shahrizan Amir Hamzah .

” With Bresson manning the lens and such gorgeous, confident subjects, you just can’t go wrong. This is a marvellous picture.”

Personally speaking …

I saw authenticity in that frame so well composed, the reality bites of the anguish of life lived in the throes of a certain creative fervour. I do not know much about Joe and his wife …other than what is perhaps evident in here to me. A photo that captures the spirit & soul of the subject.

In the face of May …

Her eyes..distant and dreamy

It speaks of pain and anguish

Of hard-hitting times

Her demeanour projects pride

Of a spirit braving against all odds.

Of inner demons as well as the outer.

Yet her face is a picture of composure in the chaos.

Of pride amidst the prejudice.

Joe speaks a different truth

There is focus and there is dare

There is a surging stillness.

That comes when rivers are a flow within

moving in the turbulence of a vortex called life.

Captured in all is the essence of brilliance

of a keen eye for that perfect moment

Stilled and canned for posterity

that speaks poignantly in the silence.

Portraying duels raging in the hearts.

Of trials and tribulations

Of hopes and aspirations

Of desires through unspoken dialogues.

No touch ups no tricks

Just a decisive moment captured with uncanny precision.

©Savvy Raj

PS: I created the Black & White artwork’ Speaking Pictures’for this posts featured image ‘Speaking Pictures’ back in 2017 without any AI help. I simply wanted an older movies screen effect reflecting the era of the photo.

Looking at it now, I am still happy with the results. What do you think?

https://about.me/savvyraj

January 17, 2024
by Savvy Raj 6 Comments

Art & Acceptance

Picasso

Watch this video of modern art as it happens!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/gggdif1S11HPfDy3/?mibextid=TrneLp

Pablo Picasso was born in Spain. And lived in France for most of his adult life. He is a prolific artist with varied interests, his early naturalistic painting gave way to his famous modern art in his adult years. He is known for his ‘Artistic Versatility’ and also for painting from imagination. He is renowned for his unconventional & radical life & art and is influential for his development of Cubist style.

A few musings…

On Art & Acceptance

If Picasso was born in the east
Perhaps he would have had it tougher to touch the height of success.
For he was best born in the west
And live in the heart of liberalism
Where his technique was acknowledged and given wings.
He passionately painted his spirits strokes in freedom.

The eastern world has always been more traditional
Conservative & restrained
in art and life
Somewhere it took a long time
Catching up with the possibilities of creativity
Where chaos becomes art.

In chaos there is disorder
But in disorder is the arising of new creative possibilities
Envisioning in the unconventional a restructuring in the flow
Every stroke of the brush or ink on paper
Is indicative of thoughts and emotions in the brain behind the brush.
Of the development of hand eye brain integration
That creates art out of simply anything and everything.
And then, there is the viewer critic and the art dealer who see hope & possibilities in both the artist & his art.

Art is born in the mind of the artist

Art channels itself in the flow

Art is honed in the perspectives of critique

But art is realised and enjoyed in the acceptance of a patron

For then the art finds itself.

And the artist evolves.

©Savvy Raj

January 15, 2024
by Savvy Raj 14 Comments

Shine your light

Shine your light
The light of you
That comes through you
Your truth in your voice
Your speech in your words
Your work, your authenticity
Your moves, your way
Step into your light
Step into your place
Fill it with all of you
For none can fill this space
There is no other quite like you
For you are unique
In your own way
Shine on.

January 12, 2024
by Savvy Raj 16 Comments

To my circle of connections

Dear Readers & writers

We are an ever growing circle
Emerging through our words
In the sharing we have grown
We have eased into each other’s hearts
We may not see one another ever
But we have connected in mutual respect
Of each others creativity.
Though the power of words
Comforted and understood
Accepted and appreciated
One another in our own little ways.
For we all know the power of words
That, one heartfelt word can change a day!

Thank you all for being here and hoping for a joyful journey ahead together for us all.

©Savvy Raj

January 12, 2024
by Savvy Raj 1 Comment

Nurture Trees

When you plant & nurture trees

You nurture the world

For trees nurture life.

In thankfulness for nature

That survives all odds

The living trees

Are our pillars of support

Towards sustainability

Releasing oxygen for the planet

Every one of us owes everyone of them so much.

Thankfulness & Gratitude 🙏

To the kindred spirit of the soulful trees.

.🌳 🌲 🌴 🌳

January 11, 2024
by Savvy Raj 9 Comments

A beautiful moment

A throwback in time…

A memory rushed in through the photograph I chanced upon.

A decade or more back, I remember how I passionately volunteered to train seniors to dance at the local church in Mumbai. This photograph is a reminder of them praying together on my birthday.

And we celebrated with a cake…

I knew not them beyond the Dance class.

They knew not me beyond the dance

But this motley crew of seniors

Made me feel very special

On my birthday and on every Monday too.

The day of their dance class.

Meet we would at 6 pm sharp

Without fail come what may…

These warm and courteous seniors were always on time….

These simple unassuming souls

Somehow etched their place in my heart.

Will cherish the memories forever

I thank them for trusting me & having me around.

And more importantly for the kind prayers & blessings.

Grateful ❤️

©Savvy Raj

January 10, 2024
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

Blended

Blending in the intersections of Art & Science…

There is inspiration
Evoking enchantment
Of magic & mystique
In Spirituality & Fractality
Mermerizing movements
Exploring possibilities
Both inclusive & expansive Experiencing virtual world
Illusions become realistic
Innovations becomes reality…

©Savvy Raj

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/savvyraj_when-art-science-technology-get-blended-activity-7149696592348884992-lUU0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android