Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!


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Dancing matters…

Dance when you can …know you always can.

If you can’t get up and dance …

Dance in your thoughts

For dancing matters!

Savvy

Here is a beautiful dance music that makes you wanna get up and dance …

Shall we Dance?


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Science of Wellbeing in the Art of Dance

Movements are energy in action.And movements in a dance can heal and transform lives for the better.

How?

The physicality of a series of rhythmic or structured movement like in a dance creates a chemistry of changes to integrate the body mind and soul in a flow gradually towards health and vitality.

 

A few pointers to those who wish to dance to bring wellbeing into their lives .

When you dance …

Dance sensing the joy of movement. Feel the energy in the action

Dance your best but don’t showboat.

Dance with all of you,

When you dance

Leave all of your stress & worries away

Dance often whatever the dance!

Savvy


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The Unburdening

I came across this story and it touched my heart … do take some time to read.

“I hired a plumber to help me repair an old farmhouse.
He already had a rough and tiresome day.
* a flat tire
* his electric drill fault
* his old car broke down.
* his tiffin was spoilt
* he lost his wallet
* his bank was calling for loan repayments

In all the tension and stress he finished my repairs.

Since his car broke down, I drove him home.
While I drove him home, he sat silently, but I could mark his agony and restlessness.

On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family.
As we walked toward the front door, he paused at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands and closed his eyes.

When the door opened, he was smiling and happy.
In seconds he underwent an amazing transformation.

He hugged his two small children, gave his wife a kiss, laughed, and never even slightly made them feel the troubles that he had encountered that day.

I was astonished and curious. Seeing my inquisitive eyes he said, “Oh, that’s my Trouble Tree. My best friend. My trouble carrier for the night”.
He replied. “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing’s for sure. Those troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again.”
He smiled and shared a secret. He said, “when I come out in the morning to pick ’em up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging there the night before!!”

Life may be a burden of worries, but there is a way to keep our loved ones untouched from these worries.

Time will heal every wound.

Whoever is tensed today,
look for a tree 🌳

Great advice indeed!

Feel like sharing a few reflections on a tree..

The tree symbolises the supportive grounding in the rootedness.

A tree is a friend for life.

Always there by you growing with you through the trials and tribulations.

A tree has few needs but gives so much.

It’s shade protects and it’s bearings nourishes.

There is much depth to this wisdom of being in touch with nature especially a tree … but more of it in my next article.

Have you ever taken the time to embrace a tree for a while . If you haven’t I suggest some time off with just you and a tree. You will certainly feel more collected in your thoughts connected in your heart with yourself in time.

So care to spend some time nurturing a tree if you can . Your life will be better for sure!

A few reflections of life and living…

Life is truly unpredictable!

Vagaries at work is part and parcel of life. Stressful living and tensions seem at an all time high. Sometimes we all need a shoulder of support.

It takes consistent effort by one and all to build a thriving atmosphere in the family.

On power equations:

A gentle reminder to those who bring home the moolah! Simply ensure you do not take the loved ones at home for granted and use them as punching bags to vent out your own frustration from work .

There are many so called powerful people who seem successful in professional and social circuit who get on by downloading their insecurities and problems to their families. Nothing wrong in it. In fact the family is your strength and support and they will truly care and pray genuinely but as long as there is no violence attached.

Often domestic violence can be traced to a failure in a profession as much as a faulty upbringing or most often triggered by influence of alcohol. And as for alcohol well it cuts through barriers the rich and poor divides.In fact the addicted know no class under its influence. Then there is remorse and regrets but the memories of deeds done cannot be forgotten. At best perhaps, they may be only be forgiven.

An angle not much talked about is of the emotional and mental wounds… for such torture is inflicted especially on the financially dependent . As in knowing that the family cannot escape because of societal pressures there is more power to the aggressor in question.

What is relevant is knowing how to steer clear of passing the baton of worries to one and all and creating chaos confusion and at times utter despair. Besides developing patience to bear the inevitable truly one needs to learn the strength of equanimity in all situations.

Time heals all.

The truth is we will get on by in time. The pain and problems of today become small matters tommorow. And new experiences will occupy our thoughts and vie for attention. Such is the circle of life.

Savvy


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Staying at the centre of the circle…

You are a tiny speck in the multitude of multiverses around. Your life circle is what you are bound to create in your lifetime.

As life happens you will be drawn from your roots in various ways. New people and experiences will in time add new thoughts and dimensions of behaviour and you may perhaps feel a little or a lot away from your centre. In fact you may find yourself lost in your way . Rest assured that it can happen to one and all.

The patterns you draw are unique to you. You are your own choicemaker.
And as for the challenges in the paths that open…they are your life’s way of testing your faith in your path and providence. As you move forth to spread your wings to take the flight and experience time, be sure to keep a track of your center of being. Let it be your internal guide to bring yourself into balance.

The so called paths are open to all explore. The truth is out there and within you at the same time in the same moment. All is found is striking the balance.

The circle of life bears the wisdom of balance. The centre is the core and as you strive to balance the self towards your centre, your circle is strengthened by the interconnects of one’s own circle of being. And yet as you strive to reach out to others circle’s of being in the grids of connection, the circle of connections gets stronger in between while new dimensions are interpolated.

A few reflections…

Your life is not your own. Thinking so is an illusion.
You are meant to be all that you can be.
You have a purpose that is larger than your self .
You are meant to live and reach out and expand the self
You are meant to to merge and emerge in the new circles of connection.
The choice of being in true to yourself is yours to make
The patterns you create help expand the universe .
The connections you make in your lifetime leave a pattern in the grid for another to sense and evolve in time .
No two patterns are alike as the patterns are unique to your being.
Your purpose then is to live your life to the best of yourself.

Reach out to make connections and experience the realms while staying true to your centre.
As you learn your way back home, more will to find their way back home in time and space continumn.

Savvy

To be Continued.


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Your life matters in every moment.


Life is a precious gift!

A recent spate of connects and requests from my old students to hold a workshop for them got me thinking of what is it that makes sense of what truly matters. Almost most of them were and are middle-aged and above and seem to be in the same boat.
All of them feeling loneliness creeping through somewhere into their lives in spite of having family and friends and an active social life and network.
Many of them are seeking a purpose in their life … unknowingly searching for a sense of meaning. It has become common for people around 40s to begin a second innings of soulful searching of that spirit that someway has deviated and lost its way.

In the throes of bustling family life and living, new meaning seems hard to find but around middle age, children take care of themselves the spouses find more time to pursue that which they have never done before or found time to do. In such times there is scope to do so much more than before. The question then is how to fine balance life well and achieve all that you set out to.

Here are a few tips on living well and achieving a work-life balance:

If you find yourself feeling stuck and stagnant in your present condition maybe in your relationships be sure to take some time to find solutions creatively.

  • Watch out for signs of loneliness or hopelessness if so make sure to replace negative thoughts with positive reflections and thoughts
  • Use this time to find new outlets of creativity within you like maybe find your new interest in hobbies art culture in your environment
  • Try to spend time making new friends increasing your social circle
  • Try to take time out to read solve puzzles for they help in bettering your neural pathways. Every new thing you learn as you grow, your brain re-activates and channels certain parts of your dormant brain cells.
  • Avoid procrastinating and face your fears and problems headlong one by one the trick is to not try to do too much at one time but to be open to challenges and yet find time to do concentrate on the thing you are involved at that moment.
  • Make sure that you have small goals that you have in mind and work towards fulfilling it.
  • Respect the life you have and appreciate the moments for what it is.
  • Work on yourself by being grateful, nurture relationships and friendships and spend some time caring and sharing this lays the foundation for a more fulfilling life.
  • If you’re looking for things to do that can make a difference to your personal self as well as feeling productive consider volunteering. A number of organisations require genuine help from people who are having the time to share and mentor.
  • Use your knowledge to make this world a better place teaching youngsters basic life skills or even taking lessons for them can change your life in dramatic ways
  • Try to find places where you can volunteer your time and resources constructively. The take-back you will have is the undeniable joy.
  • Spend time nurturing and caring for yourself and also do not hesitate to take advice from those who have done it so before and change your life, swim the tide through to positive ways.
  • All is a matter of choices we make and the positive intentions that we choose to carry.

©Savvy Raj


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Our world needs us!

Positive change begins with us.
Every living being is making a difference to the environment in every moment. The question is how and in what way can it become sustainable.

Like the Great Barrier Reef, once the coral reefs are affected there the entire ecosystem stops thriving, and less fresh water will flow through the lakes…


Closer home the topography of the Great Himalayas are changing as well.
With melting ice-caps, the collapse of vegetation and wildlife, and violent surges of hurricanes droughts and frequent wildfires are all concerns for our world.

And there is really not much difference in the apathy that is happening in the name of sustaining the future… only much similarity in the situation of corruption and deceit through politics of governing people whatever the part of the world we are living in.

What we can do for our Sustainability:

Besides the regular ‘Reuse, Recycle and Reduce’ advice that comes to mind immediately I am sharing a post I chanced upon recently https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/stopglobalwarming.php

I realise I am perhaps contributing in my little way by ‘Spreading Awareness'(Tip 35 on the list ) on the need for Environmental Sustainability … but I found a lot of the tips here pretty much adaptable and relevant to us as an individual …

For the true change starts from each of us.

Savvy

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Explore the Ocean of Peace

On Life & Living

Visual verses

By

Savvy Raj


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Enjoy the dance!

Learning to dance is a discovery

Every step of the way!

As you explore the pathways

Care to enjoy the journey!

Savvy


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On Oneness


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On Wisdom of Moderation

Sharing an inspiring story on knowledge versus wisdom.

In two independent houses,separated by a compound two people were living, in one a retired person and in the other a techie.
They had planted identical saplings on either sides of the compound.

The techie used to give lot of water and manure to the plants.The retired,just small quantity of water and little manure.

The techies plant grew into lush green,leafy robust plant.

The retired person’s plant was a near normal but much luxuriant than his neighbor’s.

One night there was a heavy rain with gusty wind.
Next morning both came out to see the fate of the plants.

To techie’s surprise his plant had got uprooted where as his neighbor’s was unharmed.

Techie asks the retired as why his plant was uprooted despite such a good care where as the neighbor had hardly cared.

The retired person’s answer should be a lesson for all of us.

Look young man, you had supplied every thing a plant would need,in abundance and the plant did not have to go in search of it.Your roots did not have go down. I was supplying just enough to keep it alive. For the rest roots had to go down into the ground to fulfil it’s needs.

Since your roots were superficial the rain and wind could easily fell it.

Since my roots were pretty deeply grounded they could withstand the onslaught of the nature.

The same applies to your children too.
#HappyParenting!!😊


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A Share of Peace

Living in this now is a sustaining yet exacting task and as every moment presents itself uniquely there is no game plan other than living in it, being at peace,sensing peace and spreading peace in every now as life plays on …

So own up to your share of peace.
Savvy


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On Giving:Part 3

 

Giving is the movement where the heart speaks without hesitation and in the flow through deeds and words.There is a moment of decision before the giving and it is in that moment that the life can be propelled to evolve along with the patterns of thought.

There is a lot of lovely words  focussed on Giving  and most are essentially on the’ Give before the Take.’

However, I also have something to share here …

Every giving may have its own reasons…

Some may be in an instinctive reaction like warming up of the heart due to mutual understanding either being in the wavelength of a resonance at that moment.

Or it may be because it is in goodwill as you genuinely care to show your appreciation.

Another would be because of your own good nature where you cannot leave without a positive act of appreciation in response…. there may be so many million and more reasons for giving which is wonderful for the world at large.

Now the reasons for not giving may be personal and unique as well.

Like for instance when you feel you are being used for a purpose that is self-serving.

Often there is a certain energy, in the very act of giving and that is what leaves an imprint on us and decides our future course of action.

Like at times a particular person’s energy may overwhelm and exhaust you or may be too much to handle that giving more thought or attention to it would feel counterproductive.

Like when you feel stressed and overburdened in the complexities of life and living that you simply may have overlooked the fact that the giving action is truly way beyond the gift itself.

Like when you fail to understand the reasons for giving or think the giver has ulterior motives for that matter…you may just appreciate it out of politeness but steer clear of receiving further as its truly not in your best interest to receive such a gift.

But whatever it is, Giving nurtures and nourishes the soul of both the giver and the receiver when the intention is positive.

Go Give More of Yourself

Cos You come from Abundance

Receive with  thankfulness

For that fills your own being with Grace.

Savvy

 

 


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MAKING EMPOWERMENT MATTER!

Empowerment: A Call to Action

A lot of perspectives have been shared as far as women’s empowerment measures are concerned in India. Putting the plans on paper to process for transformation is the true need of the hour.

The focal point for change and transformations in bettering women’s life is about understanding women as equal humans not simply as a pretty better half and sympathizing with them as burdened beings.

A matter of Value

The dignity of the being is when women
are seen as individuals who are capable decision makers be it at home or boardroom and respected for their opinions and valued as they are.

A matter of equality

From birth as a baby who is raised equally with pride and without prejudice to acknowledging a need for changes in schools and colleges education, to be gender neutral and not gender biased.

Non-discrimination

At work, the corporate culture needs a structural mind shift to understanding unique challenges faced by female employees in terms of reducing harassment and denouncing gender bias in benefits perks and salaries. Discrimination is truly a discomfort that destroys productivity ‘

A matter of right!

To teach that a marriage of two people is to co-inhabit and collaborate as equals without the women being considered as weaker her inferior to the man.

As senior citizens, both genders must require social security assistance equally as with age the body wears down and gender becomes insignificant again.

A matter of Sustained empowerment

Besides simply providing authority or power to empower is to make the person stronger and more confident, especially in self-management.There is a need to see self-management as a skill that needs continuous and supportive nurturing for development. More the human approach the easier and more sustaining are the solutions.

Challenges at hand

In a country like India where women are still considered second-class citizens where corruption makes change difficult. where domestic abuse be it physical social or mental is rampant, women are still subjugated regardless of the society or state that come from in different degrees.There is a need for an educational system that guides and gathers up the spirit of women and coaches them to trust their abilities as many are in a state of doubt and fear and inhibited from personal self-expression.

The masses are still a persecuted lot in terms of social stigma from being a woman who is divorced and being single to widows and a working or non-working women. From feeling unsafe in travelling alone to securing a home to stay to having a lunch or dinner alone in restaurant to wanting to watch a movie without anyone for company to driving a car alone in a journey…. all women will relate to an increase in stress levels during these normal chores and activities even in the day .Moreover, it is the right to feel safe without discrimination of gender while travelling at night or day in a bus or car or any public transport. Many will have a story of subjugation and social insecurity that they may want to tell but do not speak up due to a lack of voice and fear of being hounded by attracting unnecessary attention to themselves.

Education matters!

The true solutions are a gradual change through continued public education reforms for all ages and gender that may help in bringing forth new mindsets and reinforce an altruistic behaviour.

Setting up women-centric organisations with greater authority can work to bridge the disconnects in communication as they could be the pioneers for any planned intervention.And movements to empower one another as women in consensus and collaborative endeavour helps bridge the dividing gaps.

From I to the We

Empowering the spirit within one another is the key and it becomes easier in the of the realisation of how interdependent our world truly is in the interconnects and how this can become our biggest strength

In a globally connected world resources needs to be collaborated to help one another.No one then will feel left out and helpless.There will be less hoarding and accumulation and more sharing and utilization.

Reformed practices in education will manifest the outcomes in society through transforming mindsets

Empowerment will mean a lift in global consciousness and not be self-limiting in its connotations.Only then can we comprehend what true empowerment means and how much it matters!

Savvy


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And the woman labours on!

A balloon seller now she is

Her name does not matter

Married for she was considered a burden

By her very own parents.

A poor girl from the city of Rajasthan India

Surviving, living by and around

Cafes in the city of Pune

Just 19 solar cycles old

Her malnourished body has no signs of youth

She works all day selling balloons in hope

For one square meal to come her way

Often she says she eats only once in the day

If she is lucky she gets a bite-sized meal.

She wanders around till late evening

and sells her wares outside the hip street cafes

Often times to children and some for grown-ups too

My daughter is all of 19 too

Was visiting the cafe with friends

She chanced upon her last evening.

Begging her to buy some balloons

She took a bit of time and listened to her woes

She was deeply moved and she fed her dinner

In return, she was gifted a balloon from the heart

And this story above is the truth of this balloon seller’s

Life and existence

That she heard first hand and narrated to me last night

I reflect on how she said…

‘The balloon seller is stoic and yet hopeful’

Her life is a tragic story and pitiful

An account of a woman’s day!

Another day dawns …

They call it Woman’s Day!

The woman labours on

With the same fervour and faith

Like every other day

It makes no difference to such countless women really

If there is a day marked in her favour

Using her name politics is played

Institutions have events and clubs have parties

Felicitating and celebrating in the name of womanhood

When will lives of every female child truly change

As a mother or the daughter or the sister

Maybe there is a recognition and sweet words

from your family and friends for a day or so …

Her life is a mere existence in making through each day and night…

What a day like this going to matter to her.

Really not much.

She is out in the open vulnerable and bare.

Bounded by duty imposed without a right

Carried on in the throes of life and living.

Praying a day will dawn when every life matters.

Where every child is born and raised with love

For the future of this world belongs to them.

Savvy Raj

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Empathy :  The Unique Gift of Being Humane.

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Empathy is about inclusivity and expansivity…
In thought & understanding in action.
In applying the sensitivity to the needs of the another in pain.
In doing without expecting in return
In feeling a oneness in spirit

Empathy speaks through heartfelt words
And kindred souls.
When empathy speaks it channels the thoughts to kindness and compassion.
Empathy speaks at times without words
From one heart to another
Empathy instils hope in the being when all hope has left.
Empathy operates with the goodness of nature and denotes the goodwill of nurture.
Empathy is a feeling, a sensing, a knowing
whose true measure is undefined and uncontained.

At times it springs forth unexpected.
And at times needs be cajoled to manifest from within.
As in the throes of life and living
Empathy at times does the disappearing act
But humans are endowed with the sense of empathy in the being.
Law of nature balances itself by nurturing empathy in the human lives.
For that is what makes up the uniqueness of the species.

A few traits that are empathy driven …

  • You have a strong sense of intuition
  • You feel and sense another’s feelings.
  • You are sensitive and receptive.
  • You prefer the positive in and around you.
  • Being in crowded places overwhelms you
  • You avoid negativity from all quarters.
  • You can easily tell when someone is telling stories or lying.
  • You enjoy the calm of peaceful environment
  • You enjoy the beauty of art and mellow music.
  • You find having time alone to recharge helpful.
  • You may feel vulnerable at times due to being extremely sensitive.
  • You may be a very large-hearted & generous.
  • You tend to feel refreshed in natural surroundings.
  • You may find yourself listening more than talking.
  • You may have an evolved sense of awareness of your surroundings.

Do you identify with all or even some of

them and if so feel glad that you are

empathic. as being so can be tuned to

become your source of inner strength.

Empathy can be seen as a gift of being humane! Respect it! Value it! Nurture it!

Savvy