Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!


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On Practice

Does practise makes it perfect?

Practice is to engage and rehearse repeatedly in order to perfect a skill to mastery , but not all who practice acheive the level of an expert even with structured and deliberate practice standards in place . So we can safely say practice makes one better gradually.

A consistent practice of any talent or skill will begin to show results for sure. It could be tangible jump or it could be a little step according to the amount to time, focus and energy given to practice. In time the results could be exponential in its rewards as well.

Practice can be truly rewarding and a great source of confidence.But practice needs not only consistency but also determination in perseverance.

A few tips to improve and implement a practice routine..

Be ready to self reflect so as understand why you are motivated to continue practicing.

Be willing to develop the learners mindset and maintain it.

Be mindful of your behavioral changes as you improve and work on it positively to sustain you.

Be engaged proactively to adjust your practice levels as per requirement.

Be focused to set short and long term goals and work on achieving them.

Most of all…

Continuity of practice is important after achieving a set goal…

Keep your practice going!

Savvy


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On Engagement

Engagement is an involvement

It involves committment.

Engagement is an action

It involves doing, a deed

Engagement  is a focused interest

To do whatever is possible.

Engagement can be a moral obligation.

What are your daily engagements?

What keeps you engaged in them?

Savvy


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On understanding!

Today I came across this interesting proverb.

If a man fools me once, shame on him. If he fools me twice, shame on me. ~ Chinese Proverb

It makes me think a little more…

How much of experiences does one need to help learn from making mistakes?

Till we use our mistakes as stepping stones to success.

If there is a surefire way to surf through life without issues…

It is in the ability to take the self lightly!

To realise what seems like a big issue today may seem very insignificant in time.

How much does one depend on the armour of God to help in tiding through lifes crisis?

In sensing that faith is all there is…

There is a knowing that there is always hope beyond despair.

How can we learn to see through the facades?

In understanding that there is more to seeing beyond the looking.

How can we protect ourselves from being conned?

In trusting the self before all else!

Does loneliness or loss and the ensuing vulnerability make one a target or a victim?

It depends on ones perspective of life .

For in the loneliness there is a opportunity for self awareness

And our strengths can emanate from our vulnerabilities.

How to keep the spirit calm, collected & contented ?

In witnessing the world while breathing deeply and bringing our awareness to the now…

And how can we learn to take responsibility for our errors of judgment?

In knowing we have the power of choice with us! And remember to think well and choose equally well!.

Savvy


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On Teamwork

Our world is not so perfect

Yet it must go on

And Ants know it best

They work as a team to solve their own set of problems.

All fingers of a hand are different

All are meant to be for a purpose that is not yet visible.

Yet much can happen in coordination & collaboration.

When one that is weak is supported by the stronger.

There is a semblance of balance

In this ball of blue.

Savvy


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Prep Matters

According to Psychologists, there are four types of Intelligence:

1) Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
2) Emotional Quotient (EQ)
3) Social Quotient (SQ)
4) Adversity Quotient (AQ)

  1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ): this is the measure of your level of comprehension. You need IQ to solve maths, memorize things, and recall lessons.
  2. Emotional Quotient (EQ): this is the measure of your ability to maintain peace with others, keep to time, be responsible, be honest, respect boundaries, be humble, genuine and considerate.
  3. Social Quotient (SQ): this is the measure of your ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over a long period of time.

People that have higher EQ and SQ tend to go further in life than those with a high IQ but low EQ and SQ. Most schools capitalize on improving IQ levels while EQ and SQ are played down.

A man of high IQ can end up being employed by a man of high EQ and SQ even though he has an average IQ.

Your EQ represents your Character, while your SQ represents your Charisma. Give in to habits that will improve these three Qs, especially your EQ and SQ.

Now there is a 4th one, a new paradigm:

  1. The Adversity Quotient (AQ): The measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life, and come out of it without losing your mind.

When faced with troubles, AQ determines who will give up, who will abandon their family, and who will consider suicide.

Parents please expose your children to other areas of life than just Academics. They should adore manual labour (never use work as a form of punishment), Sports and Arts.

Develop their IQ, as well as their EQ, SQ and AQ. They should become multifaceted human beings able to do things independently of their parents.

Finally, do not prepare the road for your children. Prepare your children for the road.”

✏️ Author unknown


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One heartfelt move

Power of one candle to light the darkness

Power of one tree to give shade

Power in one smile to change the mood

Power of one hand to feed the hungry

Power of one kind word to change hearts

Power of one heart to ignite hope in the world

Power of one touch to lift the soul

Just one heartfelt move… makes all the difference!


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On Kindness

If only we could realize how valuable it is to be appreciated and supported .

If we could only know how important it is to feel inclusive in our diverse ways.

We must understand that love and kindness is the only way besides adopting a non-judgmental approach.

We must realise how vulnerable life is, but beyond feeling victimized and create further suffering due to negative thoughts

We need to respond with empathy, show unity through kindness and compassionate deeds.

The power of kindness is truly infinite.
KINDNESS IS THE PRAYER IN ACTION.

Savvy


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A Dedication To Dance

Life reflects itself through the things you do, the people you meet as well as in your passions and perseverances, in so many intriguing yet enthralling ways.

One such beautiful reflection I  experienced in my travels earlier in France.

A sense of deja vu, a throwback to the fond memories of teaching dances to people in the different places, all thanks to the Dance & the magic of movements.

While visiting France I met my colleague from the world of dance, Celine Maheo who resides in Rennes
Celine is a practicing clinical psychologist and an Argentine tango dancer.
What’s beautiful is that she is a dedicated professional who uses the dance therapy for helping Parkinson’s patients with their movements through Tango dance sessions.

My interest was piqued, as earlier I had been conducting very similar dance sessions as well, especially remembered our Seniors Dance for Wellness workshops back in India.

So over a beautiful meet and greet sipping cups of hot herbal tea at the Les Grands Gamin at the heart of Rennes, ensued a free flowing conversation where we exchanged notes on each others life. Our passion for dancing was the visible to see as we hardly knew how moments passed by.

To dance is to sense connections beyond the dancing bodies.

To dance is to honour life and its unique expressions in the movements.

Savvy Raj

And when Celine invited me to her next Tango Therapy Workshop, it was an offer I could not refuse. I was actually keen to understand whether and how the cultural differences change the way of conducting and experiencing workshops here.

Dancing can improve the mobility and balance in senior adults.
Adapting the dance to suit the requirements of the group, like simplifying the steps, the placement of the feet, improves their coordination, mobility and balance.

The dance session was deeply engrossing & truly inspiring to witness and participate as well. The music played that day stayed with me well after the session.

So the next step turned out to be me conducting a Chacha session for them. The challenges of language barriers were surrmounted easily as Celine offered to translate my teaching from English to French.

Everything fell in place beautifully and voila time flew again.We danced a bit of Chacha that day and also some more in the next few sessions as well. I was told later by the learners how much they enjoyed it!

It was an amazing experience sharing the joys of movements and I thank Celine for her inclusivity in requesting me to conduct the dance sessions as well. And I deeply appreciate all her beautiful learners that I met,connected and danced with. It was a truly warm and wonderful time spent with them all.



After the sessions we would gather together and discuss opening many facets of the learning and imbibing. It was a beautiful way of empathising and understanding each other.



Some of the beautiful souls I got to interact with in the few months I was there.

Dance has a way of soothing your entire being and bringing forth and connecting you with the depth of who you are. That is when dance begins to feel meaningful and transforms life.
The dance connects established,  in those sessions is a beautiful memory etched in my heart, that I will cherish forever.

I chanced on these beautiful moments again as I found the photos I clicked back then and I decided to give them a little artistic effect.

All across the world April 29th every year is  celebrated as International Dance Day, although every day is a great day to dance!

I dedicate this post to  all my dance friends and colleagues and all the dance educators in the world who are making the world a better place, with every step in time.

Savvy Raj


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Flow through life

Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before childrenKahlil Gibran

A life well lived

Includes experiences

That makes us who we are.

We are not set in stone

Or cast in iron that cannot mould

Our emotional being cannot be suppressed

We are life living breathing and exploring possibilities.

Our infinite ways of expressions is unique to our being

We surf the tides of changes and flow

And we learn as we go.

Savvy


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On Education

The Degrees that we acquire

Are but an endorsement of our skillsets

But degrees do not define our nature.

No matter the set expectations.

Our behavior day in & out,

Is a testimony to our true education

No amount of degrees can guarantee our behaviour.

Our ways of being and our attitude towards others speaks a lot more…

Of how we apply our education in our lives.

Savvy


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Wisdom of Balance

A plant needs the right amount of nutrients to grow
Like just enough  water and sunshine
Not more not less
For both will weaken the life within
That is the wisdom of moderation.
Apply it to life and living
Life wilts in the extremes.
Choose to respect  life
And not tilt the stability.

When you supply everything beyond need
There is no drive towards the higher purpose.
The foundation is taken for granted
And might eventually get weaker
Suppy enough to keep it nourished.

Nurture life with a balanced approach
Just enough to fulfill its purpose.
Let the strength of resilience develop.
For when roots are deep and grounded
They withstand the onslaughts of nature.

Savvy


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Time

Walk in this now in time
Tune into its current frequency
Listen to it gratefully
And live it well and wholeheartedly.

Allow the worries to fade into the past
As you cannot worry for what is gone
Allow the future to manifest in course
As you cannot hurry time by force.

All is fine as it truly is
All is well as its meant to be
In the realm of times
Between the you and the me.

So as only time can truly tell
Walk with me
Not before and not after
Walk with me in this now.

Savvy


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Strength of the Soul

On Integrity!

Treat yourself well
And treat others equally well!
Value your sense of self esteem
But value another’s right to theirs.

True integrity lies in…
Practicing one’s own preaching
Be true to your word
For both matter a whole lot

No one is an island
Every one is necessary and important
For who they are and deeply entwined
In the grand plan of life .

Stay true to who you are
For you are best at being you
Integrity speaks from deeds not words
Make sure your actions justify your words

And sense the calm you feel in your heart
And watch the ease of being when with another.
All it needs is a little care and concern
For the world in and around you!
Savvy


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The Good Today

Notice the good
Sometimes the simple act of noticing  something  good  can make all the difference…
Trust there is always more
Than what your eyes can see
In the sensing and the knowing
The yet undiscovered good manifests
Right before you for you to notice.


Savvy


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Mirrors in reflection

We are but mirrors in reflection
Across dimensions of space and time
Such is the eternal truth of our being.
We construct and deconstruct
In our imagined cosmos
The truth of our own existence.


We bounce and reflect our perspectives
In and on to each other.
We shine our brilliance.
We mirror perceptions.
We are vulnerable and yet volatile beings
Beaming energies boundlessly.
The task is to recognize the strength of our souls.


Savvy