A beautiful and well meant message share came my way this morning … and I thought it was relevant enough to share ..
The qualification that gave you a job is the same qualification someone has who still does not have a job.
Be grateful.
The prayer that God answered for you is the same prayer others have been praying but without success.
Be grateful.
The road you use safely on a daily basis is the same road where many others lost their precious lives.
Be grateful.
The temple in which God blessed you is the same temple other people too worship in, yet their lives are still in discord.
Be grateful.
The rain that made your field produce good crops is the same rain that devastated someone else’s field.
Be grateful.
Be grateful because whatever you have is not by your power, your might , your talent or your qualifications, but it’s just the “Grace of God.” the giver of everything you have.
While this trip to the Middle east, was a great getaway of sorts, between the work and pleasure, it undoubtedly became a fodder for thought and much reflections in those moments of chanced and planned connects with some amazing people living there. And some of them I met for the first time and bonded so instantly as if I knew them forever and a few who I knew for decades but didnt get to meet and connect earlier.
There were many more on my list of people who I wanted to meet but have left that for my next trip sooner than later.
Connects of empathy:
Meeting another human being for the first time is an enigmatic phenomenon. In todays age of technology although you may try to connect in so many ways online. Real time meet and greets hold their own a bag of surprises and treats in tow.
One such meet was planned … by me and my dear warm hearted friend from online. Fatima.An eloquent writer with a heart of gold and a keenly developed insight of people and their resources who draws much strength in positive reflections and most importantly a kind and brave heart following her dreams.
The heartfelt connects established in moments of our first meeting was clearly visible. She treated me to an amazing authentic Arabic dinner that evening and while catching up on our lives, in between us was a complete ease of being which we both mutually sensed in the lovely ease of conversation and strength of connection in the little time we had that day. Her warm hospitality and generosity touched me and I truly look forward to meeting her again sooner than later and wish her the best always from my heart.
Then there was this local Arab woman dressed in the traditional Abhaya worn with the hijab and those alluring kohl rimmed eyes with whom I shared a lengthy conversation of their culture and learned much but who moved me in the simplicity of her words and in sharing her heart’s deepest desires for freedom of movement and her eagerness in learning to dance…
Another wonderful woman with whom my daughter and I shared a great rapport albeit in just a few minutes of conversation was a travel guide who invited us to her home in Abu Dhabi. We got talking about so many things in such a short span of time. We bonded without reservations.
There are many more truly endearing people I met and connected some who I managed to catch up with on phone …but simply put perhaps it is just my way of seeing but I found many friendly people from across the world living there making a living thriving in the tolerance and interconnects that makes up much of Dubai’s culture in recent times.
And yes of course my visit to the traditional city of Sharjah had its own share of charm . As the people I met there were my very dear friends connecting after so long … yet the heartconnects were entrenched so deep that it felt home to me .
A short driving across the city will lead you through the Corniche where you can stay on to watch the beautiful Arabian Sunset and may be drive further on to Al Ain as well.
Will not forget the trips to the Gold and Spice Souks and most of all the Creek and the dhow cruise on the creek one pleasant evening….
Foodwise :
Being a vegetarian I thought my choices would be limited to pizzas and pastas and of course my saviour’ Subway’ besides the Indian food . But I was pleasantly surprised to find my flavour in Arabic food. Suffice to say the sumptous starters of the Arab cusine and their spiced tea was perfectly suited to my vegetarian and satvic senibilities. And I must thank my dear friends, relatives and hosts who took so much care and put so much consideration while ordering that I will hold very fond memories of dining out in this delightful trip.
Thanks to my amazing hosts I tried many dishes some which were known like the falafel and some new to me…tabbouleh and the zatar and lentil soup
‘Creativity stems from the acceptance of your authentic self. It is a never-ending journey of endless possibilities that is much beyond the pursuit of a hobby or craft and can be a habit of a lifetime. So besides being a Dance educator being a writer and a designer, creating art and writing poetry gives me immense satisfaction with the infinite ways of expressing myself as I believe in enjoying the journey as much as the destination.’
Today I am glad to share my reflections on Peace coupled with my mothers musings on Peace and expectations…
Already a lot has been said and written about this. So that many experts in different fields have shown so many ways to attain peace.
Peace- the ultimate human need even after reaching peaks of success in their fields. It eludes even the so called achieved souls.
Men have various desires and find various ways to fulfill them. Need for wealth, health, love, knowledge, family , status, fame, power, comforts… the list goes on. To achieve them they go through various states of hardships and emotional turbulence . Perseverance, hardwork, focus and luck help them to achieve their goals. But after attaining all these are they peaceful ?
Unfortunately the more one gains, the greater is the loss of inner peace. Loads of pressure weighs us down .
The need for more never get satiated. Contentment is always on the other side of the river. Because our expectation keeps on increasing. From childhood one has to live to the expectations of people surrounding them and in the process start expecting the same from all around them.
Whichever field or whatever state, there is always expectations. Family, friend, society, teachers, work place, children, lifestyle, appearance , behaviour fit to their age and status… Again it is endless. Peace still eludes .
Like the most difficult puzzles have very simple solutions, life problems also can be simplified. Just stop expecting from others or living to other’s expectations.
One word mantra to peace
Live , let live. Stop expecting.
Be yourself , let others be themselves. Never shy away or ignore social responsibilities or inner values. Do without expectations.If every one adhers to this,’Peace’ will befriend the surrounding.
Do one’s duty, Be grateful ,
Be understanding.
Be selfless – all without expectaions.
With whomever or wherever one be, adopt and adjust without expectation , happiness and peace will follow.
Anjana
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.
Empathy is seeing with another, listening to another, and acknowledging them as they are in a non-judgmental way.
It is being with another, sensing their feelings, and caring enough to reach out with support through words, actions, and deeds.
~@SavvyRaj #WUWorldChanger
Whenever we are able to see beyond the physical characteristics and see the reason why a person behaves the way they do , and strive to be the best we can be , we are attuning ourselves to the divinity in and around us ….
Harmony beckons… BRINGING PEACE , JOY AND ABUNDANCE
And it is often necessary as each cannot do without the other. We are all living an interdependent life after all.
‘Thank you ”
A thank you means a lot …
A recognition of your action
An appreciation of your effort
An acknowledgement of humanity
An assurance of a job well done
A gratitude of attitude in the being
A sense of value of anothers deed
A strength of goodwill in our life.
An expression of politeness
In the acceptance or refusal
Of the offer in question….
So today I take this opportunity to first of all thank my readers and friends who have supported me in my journey of writing and continue to do so … I do believe our strength is rooted in these interconnects built and envisioned in wordshares. In fact many a times even though we may have never met we literally can trust ourselves in reading the person like a book… such is the power of a heartfelt share💙
And secondly like I always say writing is a pleasure and reading is a joy I want to thank my fellow writers for their wonderful blogs, amazing contributions and inspiring shares.
So very thankful for this journey of ours as writers… A never ending road in creativity.
The picture above holds a special place in my heart. Taken in the lovely city of Athens Greece during the World Congress of Dance Research held there. A common passion for dancing brought us together that memorable evening.
Over the years we may have gone on with our lives in different zones of space and time…but am pretty sure, whenever we lay our eyes on this picture, it is sure to make us three smile with all our hearts remembering this lovely evening back then.😊
Years ago when I first read this post and saw this video clip of a musician from Iraq who played and moved to tears soldiers in the very ground where a major bomb had exploded … it moved me deeply and it moves me beyond words still.
Salute to the Power of Human Spirit.
Strength to defy & dare destiny in the face
Of danger destruction and devastation …
Comes from a deeper conviction that creates
Courage to rise beyond catastrophes …
The heart has the capacity to deal
with almost anything … as that is how our life is
wired to cope and heal.
Expressing through Arts is a power within us.
In empathy with care compassion
It is an act of kindness in realization of the oneness.
That what hurts you is actually eventually hurting me …
Beyond passion is a light,
Of love and dedication.
Make that light lead the way,
Move beyond the pursuit of passion.
As passion can be blinding,
Create rifts and indifference.
Arise from love and light,
Allow yourself to be lead in love.
In each tomorrow care to lovingly envision Let yourself commune with light, give a way
As unlike the shades of passion
Glory of light will never lead you astray !
Savvy Raj
‘Your purpose is ordained and your passion is entwined with the light of your being . Moving beyond passion reveals the impassioned strength of the soulfulness.
In my painting above titled ‘Emergence’ I use red to depict the colour of passion at play and the blue streaks as a balance factor interspersed with the greys depicting ( the rifts and strifes) the shades and tones of colours in our life , taking us through the crossroads in our journey of discovering the self. The purpose of being I choose to depict the white background as‘Light,’ which is after all the’ Eternal truth of the Being’.
Felt I must leave this painting a little raw as all the answers we seek , ‘is was and will be ‘with us if we choose to see beyond the tinted glasses and acknowledge the glorious light that we actually are.
As inspite of the disarray and chaos that it portrays, if we choose to see beyond the games of passion …
Savvy Raj 
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