Your body is home to life.
Treat it well.
Let life live through you
Enjoy the moments in awareness
Let your words be kind and
Let your deeds be compassionate
Allow yourself to be gentle.
Speak softly and share goodwill
You are nurturing yourself this way
Your ways will affect the energy
In and around you.
Respect the space you occupy
And value your temple of being.
Savvy
WordPress says I have crossed 400 days of continuous writing and publishing now.
And it is a great motivation personally to me. As sometimes a few words are hard to come by and then there are times when a river of words flow…
There is so much learning in simply putting thoughts down in a structure.
In the way, they flow
In the way they arrange themselves
From our thoughts to the words
The choices of perspectives
As they appear and form
To convey what we want to say.
As I continued to write
Early every morning
I found myself creating a space for me
A time that stands still
In the silence of thoughts
And in the dance of reflections.
This time has been a dedication
For the writer in me
In unravelling and understanding
The power of love for writing
And the potential of possibilities
In patience and perseverance.
And coming away with the realization
That to write a few words every day
Whether in a poem or prose
Is truly a beautiful healing
For our mind heart and body.
Creating anything takes energy
And in expression is a release.
In contentment and intention.
In gratitude for the inspirations.
And ever grateful for the support
Extended here by my readers
And a special mention
Goes to the WordPress family
Whose encouraging likes & responses
Paved this journey of words.
Thank you🙏
Savvy
It is amazing how creativity is enhanced by leaps and bounds in the age of the internet . Especially with an app ready for every possibility.
Before the internet, drawing was a skill that was an innate gift or had to be honed by years of practical training. Back then artistry was challenging and time-consuming and most of all needed patience and dedication.
Having developed a bit of interest in artistic pursuits I remember enrolling in courses to learn the art of embossing and decorating pots, learning the intricate art of henna on the hand as well as joining a fabric designing course at a very famous and leading fashion institute of those times which I truly enjoyed and excelled in. And I remember using the understanding to create and sell my artworks and being rewarded not only monetarily but also emotionally through the contentment of creativity becoming tangible. The course of learning and experiencing it all was truly very fascinating indeed.
Today I draw a parallel on how one has to know how at the touch of a phone, the apps take you through the course at the speed you want, you can erase the art you create and redo at will, as often as you fancy. And most of all your drawings get texture, special effects and animation and you can even create a live 3d model for you to touch and sense!
Technology can charm the living daylights of you indeed!
Yet there are certain senses that are not touched upon…
The feel of holding a brush of colour, it flowing on the paper, and at times may be in error and you working around it creatively.
The sense of proportion in actually mixing medium and paints and getting the right shade.
The touch of canvas or other mediums and the way it feels after the painting.
The simple satisfaction of being able to feel connected to your artwork right through it all. It creates an intimate relationship between the art and the artist.
To be fair Art today has evolved along the way, there is computer precision and ease of use through applications that take artmaking to infinite possibilities.
The potential of an artist can increase leaps and bounds and endless pieces and options of colour choices can be churned out at the touch of a few keys. Everything is customisable giving the advantage to both the artist as much as the customer.
The scope and reach of creativity through Art is definitely increasing and that is a development worth noting. Everyone can create amazing art now unlike before. And that is quite an interesting phenomenon. Knowledge is openly accessible for the user.
In spite of the amazing advantages of technology, human emotional and creative connect is yet a challenge.
But nevertheless, I have chanced upon apps that give a great sense & feel of creating art.
Sharing a few of my earlier artworks.
Savvy Raj
Every life is uniquely endowed with perspectives and experiences.
A living book is a human who shares his life’s stories and wisdom with willingness with another interested individual.
If the conversation is interesting the living book is read some more but if it does not meet the requirements of the individual reader, he is free to get up and find another living book to meet and connect.
Living books library concept is an interesting way to bring together learnings from life experiences directly on a one to one basis and a group setting. The conversation depends on what you want to understand and turn it towards.
Life teaches us much and every human can benefit from unedited direct soul to soulful connects where words flow at the moment.
In such connection is the transparency of truth that is glaringly stark from a book of prewritten words arranged in a format predesigned to sell in the market.
Life is so much than being a business.
In these discussions, the reader or the learner and the living book are both free to direct the course of the conversation without constraints.
Unlike a regular library of books, the human library is a gathering of humans and is event-based.
There are many functioning human book libraries all around the world today.
The concept began in Copenhagen Denmark in 2000. The idea is to be nonjudgemental and engage in a dialogue that helps break barriers and social prejudices. The human book could be anyone who has a story to tell and is ready to share it. Or someone who has gone through any kind of discrimination and wants to share their experiences openly.
So next time you want to explore the idea of reading a book, consider and lookout for opportunities to connect with a human book!
Savvy
A dance speaks much without words.
A look, a stance, a tug, a step
There is energy playing in every move.
And energy speaks without words.
Every dancer creates energy.
Movements convey in the emoting.
The essence of the moves.
For every dance has a story!
Savvy
The Entrepreneurs,
Learn to sift through the chaff.
All your endeavours are nothing without a proactively engaged people
Invest in integrity. It goes a long way.
If you can’t find a hire you want, look around,
Give a chance to those at the office
Maybe there is someone there who has the required talent. And all they need is a bit of training.
Recognize genuine interest to do work.
Whoever it may be.
And value sincerity even if age or experiences are not on their side.
Allow people to grow, value & respect good intentions.
Treat them well without favour and
not only if they are useful for a reason and for a while.
Who knows who comes in handy.
Yes, you may be a startup but that is no excuse for not pulling up your socks.
Every bit of professionalism matters.
And make sure you practice what you preach.
Don’t lose your temper in stressful times. It leaves a mark of imbalance.
Every person on your side is a valuable addition to your enterprise.
A company is only as good as the company of people working in it.
One manship or one-man shop is never the answer
Hire positive people at all levels, not dictators and procrastinators.
And if you by chance happen to see someone, coming in daily without fail,
on their own without any excuses, and trying to do something for the better, notice them and give them training and the resources to flourish.
You will gain from not wasting their talent and time .
Respect another’s time as much as you respect yours.
Savvy
Have written and dedicated a couple of posts earlier on the topic of Giving.
But here is my dear mother’s philosophical perspectives where she focuses on the the spiritual mindset in giving.
Dhaanam
There is a saying in Tamil.” What ur right hand gives, the left hand should not know”. True. While giving, unknowingly a little superiority, seeps in. To counter our ego secrecy n humility is needed. Giving is called Dhaanam .
There are various types of giving. It can be of anything. Money used unwanted items like clothes or other durables, food items, even sharing your knowledge is a form of giving.
Rules of Dhaanam
Giving new unused things of good quality is the best Dhaanam. This is followed in ritualistic or religious dhaanam.
Always give with humility. Never show attitude.
Give to worthy persons. Donate to needy ones. Giving shoes to a legless person is useless . It will hurt the person reminding his disability. There is a saying ‘pathiram arindhu pichai idu. ‘
While donating unwanted used items see that it can be useful for at least six months or further. Never give throw away things.
Give happily, with a full heart. Anything given with a prayer in mind and lots of goodwill at heart will bring prosperity and happiness to both the giver and receiver.
Another important aspect of giving is never to boast or keep on reminding them. Once given it ceases to be yours… The recipient has all the freedom to use it the way they want. Do not expect a life long gratitude.
Taittriya Upanishad says
Give with faith
Give with sensitivity
Give with abundance
Give with understanding
In Bhagavat Gita, Shri Krishna talks about 3 types of Dhaanam
namely Satvic, Rajasic and Tamasic.
Satvic is the one which is given to worthy persons with full humility and without expecting returns in any form.
Rajasic is the one which is given to show supremacy or expecting some favour in return.
Tamasic is the one where one gives with attitude, without respect to place n time to undeserving persons.
Vedas describes dhaanam of 4 categories.
1. Nitya dhaanam which is given daily as part of our routine without expectation.
2 Nymithika dhaanam is giving with the intention to wash away our sins.
3 Kamya dhaanam is giving with a desire to achieve some special favours.
4. Vimala dhaanam is giving with humility, devotion and without expectation of any returns.
The best dhanams are
Anna dhaanam -. Feeding the poor( It satisfies)
Vidya dhaanam Sharing ur knowledge and skill. (It increases)
Kanya dhaanam – giving a daughter in marriage. (I think it’s about letting go of a child be it a son or daughter into their next phase of life)
Raktha dhaanam and organ dhanam-. Saving one’ s life.
Keep giving.
Give wholeheartedly.
Give with a smile.
Anjana
I would simply also like to add that
True giving is when you don’t feel the weight of parting in the giving.
You never know how many lives you are unknowingly touching.
Savvy
Every person has a place
On this earth that you call home
Beyond houses made of bricks
The space that is ones own
Are those that nourish and nurture you
Where you find yourself at home
A place that helps you evolve
A place that speaks to you
A place of learning and goodwill
A place that let’s you be you.
A place that is welcoming and inclusive
For me it is the vast open spaces in nature that speaks to me.
Be it the mountains the sea the sand the sky or the fields.
But I am also the happiest when I see a beautiful smooth open dancefloor
For it gives me the joy of endless possibilities of freedom to move…
What place comes to your mind if you are reading this?
Savvy
For any person who is much too stressed or confused at the moment…do read this.
A rare conversation between Krishna & Today’s Arjun. Read it loud to family,
it’s one of the best message I have come across…
1. Arjun :- I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic.
Krishna:- *Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you free.*
2. Arjun :- Why has life become complicated now?
Krishna :- *Stop analyzing life… It makes it complicated. Just live it.*
3. Arjun :- Why are we then constantly unhappy?
Krishna :- *Worrying has become your habit. That’s why you are not happy.*
4. Arjun :- Why do good people always suffer?
Krishna :- *Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer.With that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.*
5. Arjun :- You mean to say such experience is useful?
Krishna :- *Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. It gives the test first and the lessons later.*
6. Arjun :- Because of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading…
Krishna:- *If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides the way.*
7. Arjun :- Does failure hurt more than moving in the right direction?
Krishna:- *Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.*
8. Arjun :- In tough times, how do you stay motivated?
Krishna :- *Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.*
9. Arjun :- What surprises you about people?
Krishna :- *When they suffer they ask, “why me?” When they prosper, they never ask “Why me?”*
10. Arjun :- How can I get the best out of life?
Krishna:- *Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.*
11. Arjun :- One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.
Krishna:- *There are no unanswered prayers. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.*
Stay blessed and
Stay Happy Always…..!!!
The voice within us.
Your true voice is not only the one you speak
Your true voice is the one you may hear
If and when you care to listen
It may be just a whisper
It may be heard just by you
But it says all that you need to hear
And it may be worth listening to!
The voice within us
Speaks the truth of the being
It expresses what you may need
But do not know yet.
It guides the way
It is a heartfelt reminder
Of all things beyond the surface.
It may be wise, listening to!
Savvy
Artwork by Russian Surrealist Painter Vladimir Kush
How are you going to reach the tree of knowing?
The climb is not a cake walk
It is tough to balance on the way up or down.
You are at the base.
And yet you are not grounded.
In the knowing that sets you free.
At times you climb almost all the way.
But think twice about entering its core
For it is demanding.
Life never comes with a planbook
All happens in the living.
All is meant to flow along the way.
Things refine or distort
To change or transform
Into new paths of purpose.
All, a leap of faith
To reach beyond knowing.
Savvy
Expressions of a beautiful mind indeed!
A lesson to learn!!!
A father before he died said to his son: “this is a watch your grandfather gave me and is more than 200 years old. But before I give it to you, go to the watch shop on the first street, and tell him I want to sell it, and see how much he offers you”.He went, and then came back to his father, and said, “the watchmaker offered 5 dollars because it’s old”.He said to him: “go to the coffee shop”.He went and then came back, and said: “He offered $5 father”.“Go to the museum and show that watch”.He went then came back, and said to his father “They offered me a million dollars for this piece”.The father said: “I wanted to let you know that the right place values you in the right way.Don’t find yourself in the wrong place and get angry if you are not valued.Those that know your value are those who appreciate you, don’t stay in a place where nobody sees your value”.
Know your worth.
This beautiful share by a friend says much in this short story.
The picture above was shared by a dear friend on social media. It speaks the truth of life today.
Helplessly surviving the carelessness of mankind,
These birds are seen flying after their own once lived homes.
Totally shattered and in deep despair.
Isnt this world theirs too?
As logs of wood are transported
It’s hard to see them fly this way
Searching for their lost homes.
Desperate to find their babies in the woods.
Wooded forests are fast disappearing
Birds are losing their safe havens
They are clueless where to nest
They have no place to roost and rest
Why is the human being so monstrous
It is nothing short of disastrous
It is wrong of us to tamper the ecosystem
And be without any guilt or remorse.
Cutting and felling the trees
Burning the world’s forest cover
Where would we go without the oxygen
How can we survive without clean air?
Why are we playing with fire?
Can we each undo the damage?
In adopting sustainable ways of living.
Every bit will make a difference…
If we only understand
Every element has a purpose
Every matter exists for a reason
Every life is strengthened in the interconnects.
Let’s care and nurture trees
Let’s plant and grow more trees
Let’s help the birds live on trees
Let us learn to coexist, so every life will breathe easy.
Savvy
Savvy Raj 
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