Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!


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Lessons in Teaching

An old man meets a young man who asks:
“Do you remember me?”
And the old man says no. Then the young man tells him he was his student, And the teacher asks:
“What do you do, what do you do in life?”
The young man answers:
“Well, I became a teacher.”
“ah, how good, like me?” Asks the old man.
“Well, yes. In fact, I became a teacher because you inspired me to be like you.”
The old man, curious, asks the young man at what time he decided to become a teacher. And the young man tells him the following story:
“One day, a friend of mine, also a student, came in with a nice new watch, and I decided I wanted it.
I stole it, I took it out of his pocket.
Shortly after, my friend noticed the his watch was missing and immediately complained to our teacher, who was you.
Then you addressed the class saying, ‘This student’s watch was stolen during classes today. Whoever stole it, please return it.’
I didn’t give it back because I didn’t want to.
You closed the door and told us all to stand up and form a circle.
You were going to search our pockets one by one until the watch was found.
However, you told us to close our eyes, because you would only look for his watch if we all had our eyes closed.
We did as instructed.
You went from pocket to pocket, and when you went through my pocket, you found the watch and took it. You kept searching everyone’s pockets, and when you were done you said ‘open your eyes. We have the watch.’
You didn’t tell on me and you never mentioned the episode. You never said who stole the watch either. That day you saved my dignity forever. It was the most shameful day of my life.
But this is also the day I decided not to become a thief, a bad person, etc. You never said anything, nor did you even scold me or take me aside to give me a moral lesson.
I received your message clearly.
Thanks to you, I understood what a real educator needs to do.
Do you remember this episode, professor?
The old professor answered, ‘Yes, I remember the situation with the stolen watch, which I was looking for in everyone’s pocket. I didn’t remember you, because I also closed my eyes while looking.’
This is the essence of teaching:
If to correct you must humiliate; you don’t know how to teach “


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Eloquence of words

When words propose in a flow
That is persuading and all pervading
No matter the rhyme or form
It becomes poetry
Creating a zen like feeling
That makes you want to be
In that state of awareness
Inspite of knowing
Everything moves on…

Have you ever been enticed by the eloquence of words?

Personally I have many favorites

But these profound words by Gibran deeply impacted me…
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

Infact all the lines that follow are equally poignant as well as profound.

So much wisdom in those words for life and living.

Which is your favorite piece of poetry?
Do your remember those verses vividly ?

Do share. Would love to read!

©Savvy Raj


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Dreams & Intentions

Story : A social media forward.

Three trees in a forest were talking about their dreams.

First tree said, I want to become a beautiful chest & lots of precious treasures should be stored in me.

Second tree said, i want to become a magnificent ship to carry great kings & queens safely across the ocean, even in storms.

Third one told
I want to become the tallest tree in this forest. My height should reach the sky that I should think I am near God.

After some time people came to the forest to cut the trees.

They came near the first tree and said this seems like a strong tree. We will sell this to a carpenter who will make boxes. The tree became happy that its wish is getting fulfilled.

Second tree they decided that it would be suitable to build a ship. The tree was happy that it would finally become a ship.

They saw the third tree and didn’t think of any great use . So it was made to logs n stored.

The carpenter made a box out of the first tree to store hay in a shed.
Second one was made into a small fishing boat.
The third tree was lying as log n stored.
Thus all their dreams were shattered.

Time went by. The trees had forgotten their dreams.

One day a man n woman came to the shed. The lady delivered a baby.They put the baby on the hay in the box made of the first tree.. Immediately the tree realised that it is carrying the greatest treasure on earth.

Few years wentby. Some people were voyaging on the small boat made from the second tree. A big storm started n the tree was worried that it could not save the people it was carrying. At that time one man in the boat said to the sea, be calm. The sea became calm. The tree realised that it is carrying the king of all kings.

After some days a man was carrying the logs from the third tree & walked the street. The people on the way were ridiculing him . They reached a small hill top & the man was nailed on the log & made it stand . After three days the tree realised it was very near God as the man was Jesus Christ.

The dreams of the trees were fulfilled, but not in the way they wanted .

Similarly all our dreams will be fulfilled. May be not in the way or time we planned. But it will happen.

Dream big. Dream good.

Hope is what takes life forward.

Translated from a tamil forward by  Anjana


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Light of Change

Change & Creativity

Evolution happens in the changes that are a precussor to transformation.

As humans much of our creativity is often boxed in association of concepts and experiences and their correlation.

A conscious unshackling of patterns of thought brings forth new and different ways of seeing & thinking. Every now and then take a pause, acknowledge the diverse new associations for it breeds creativity.

A deliberate action that reaches out far and wide to step out of conventional thought patterns is never easy especially as humans like to feel safe and secure in comfort of knowing of a stability and at ease at rest.

Change can be unsettling and startling for most to accept, to digest & acclamatize in the new shifts.And yet to create new spaces for light is to step up in the gamut of creativity there need to be, a dare into the unknown that explores dimensions beyond.

Savvy


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A Great Idea

In thinking through
No idea is too small
Or no idea too big

Many small sparks
Come together
To ignite a great idea
In effort & execution
The ideas find a foothold
And steers on to success

An idea is as good
As the executors
As much as the values
And purpose behind it.
So that it sustains
As without follow ups
No idea evolves itself.

To claim anothers idea
As ones own.
To belittle anothers ideas
Is a mark of insecurity
And fear of losing out

Different intelligences
And respect for diversity
Grows ideas by leaps & bounds

What every founder
Must remember
Beyond funding
Nurturing the idea
Takes many minds
And many hearts

Treat people well
Stay humble & polite
And allow space
To communicate
And collaborate
And find transperency
Will work it’s magic.

Go confidently
Play on your ideas
Until the ideas
Strike the chord in you
Trust your path
Oblivious of naysayers

There are always
Going to be
Opposers to the plan
Think of them
As a free perspectives
To sift through
And fine tune ideas.

Keep seeding and nurturing positive inspiration.

Savvy Raj


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What is art called in your language?

Painting by Savvy Raj

This is one of my favorite pieces from my paintings

I like a few things specifically besides the colours…

The flow

The fluidity

And the feel

I feel movements in a flow in the fluidity

I sense harmony in the synchrony

I sense the synergy of colours in the flow

I enjoyed painting this piece in one go.

I connect with this art deeply

Art is something that speaks from your soul.

In my native language ‘Art ‘is called ‘Kalai”

Would love to know what art is called in your native language?

©Savvy Raj


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On Creative Fulfilment

Is there a purpose
To creativity?
For creativity fulfils itself.
In it’s own doing.

©Savvy Raj


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Light & Dark

Image Credits :
A Painting By Savvy Raj

Light is only light as long as you can see it.
Else there at most the   anticipation of light.
What you see as light
Is your choice
For it is your point of view

But if light is a sense
Of the tingling warmth
Or scorching heat
Or the tenderness of touch
Light is sensed in its glow
Then light is a feeling
In  the sensing
Of its so called attributes
Associated by you.
Then it’s your point of sense

What you see
What you feel
What you sense
Is a dance of illusions
Of the perception
All within you!

So is light light?
And is dark dark at all?
It is all in you!

Cont’d

©Savvy Raj


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Somewhere somehow

In moments of loneliness

The tango of the mind & heart

May seem to overwhelm.

Choose to shift the narrative

Understand you can be alone

Without feeling lonely

Blame not your luck or fate

Find connects with your own self

Draw out the beauty of you.

Acknowledge your feelings

Allow your emotions to express

Draw your patterns of possibilities

Doodle, dance, sing or play

To express and let go.

The spirit of the soul revives.

Care to relish the moments

Of connects that you sense.

Remember you matter to you

Stop being hard on yourself

Start to discover your potential

Choose to know yourself

All of you body mind & spirit

Seek to sense the freedom to be

All that you want.

Do that which feels you

With or without company

Choose to carve your life

Choose to be in spaces

That makes you happy

Find ways to connect

Volunteer your time

For a cause that resonates

Sooner than later

You will find

Your kind of vibe

Somewhere somehow.

©Savvy Raj


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Sensing peace

Imagining peace
Soothing the spirit
Calming the senses
A river of joy flows through
In the sweet sounds of music
Memories of many melodious moments
Fleeting by in the harmony of the flow…

Savvy


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Learnings from Bamboo Plant

Sharing a wise forward that came my way….

Lesson from Bamboo.

A bamboo plant is an example for patience.

Try growing a bamboo plant. Water it regularly. Seasons will come n go. It will stay adamant without even growing an inch taller. For four years it will stay the same. One has to have patience watering it for four years. Nothing will happen to make you happy.
On the fifth
year the magic will happen. On the next season it will start to grow. Not an ordinary growth. In one year it will reach a height of 80 feet

How a plant which remained dormant for the first 4 years could reach this magical height
in the fifth year.

There lies Nature’s secret.. The wonder of Creation.

The first four years the plant prepares a strong base inside the earth. For it’s astonishing growth in the fifth year it needs strong root base to hold it’s height . The patience it has is for the initial four years is for it’s sustenance in the following years.

That’s the reason when it reaches great heights in the fifth year it never collapses or fall down.

Patience is a virtue that creates great heights in success. Never be in haste to grow and expand until you create a strong foundation & groundwork for your growth. Then nothing can stop ur growth and success.

Nothing is impossible here.


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Purpose of learning

The learning is introduced

In the reading or telling

The learning is beginning

In the teaching & watching

The learning is supported

In the coaching & mentoring

But the learning actually happens

In the involving & engaging.

And the learning is reinforced

In its applications and sharing.

Learning is a dance

Of the heart & mind

But when the spirit & soul

Connect in the learning

The purpose finds its path…

Savvy Raj


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Nature

Nature is magnificence
Teaching great lessons in humility.
Nature is amazing grace
As she holds within
The truths of the universe
The secret of the stars
As well as the sounds of silence
She is a dance in the stillness
Nature is flow and flow is nature Nature is life. And life flows…

©Savvy Raj


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Power of Self Belief


I gave myself permission to feel and experience all of my emotions. In order to do that, I had to stop being afraid to feel. In order to do that, I taught myself to believe that no matter what I felt or what happened when I felt it, I would be okay.
Iyanla Vanzant

I love this powerful quote. It speaks to me of the strength within. Of valuing every emotion and it’s expression for what it is.

And most of all the strength of self belief in self assurance that all is well no matter what happens. It helps to be in touch with your feelings and make it your friend.

Whatever you feel is a way of channelizing your emotions. It heals you through expressions. It helps to acknowledge your emotions.

As you understand your emotions and feelings you become more self aware in life’s situations. It gives you the necessary strength and intelligence to tide through the rough times.

When your self-belief is strong, and faith is deep, nothing can rock your boat.

©Savvy Raj


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On Courage

Every life in this world

Is born with courage to thrive

And the courage to survive

It is a matter of recognising

And awakening to your courage

Courage has many facets

In you exists so many kinds of courage…

And each of us have different degrees of it.

There is courage is a dare that speaks to your truth

A dare that makes you confront

With the truth of you.

When was the last time you sensed courage?

Or lack of it in a certain situation? .

Courage that dares through physical challenges.

Enduring discomfort hurt

Or pain and even possible danger.

Then comes the emotional courage

To be able to confront

Your deepest fears and doubts

Having the ability to seek help

Express your inner feelings

Takes a great deal of courage too.

Not everyone can share their truths easily.

Have you ever been tongue tied and socially awkward?

Perhaps you need to work on being socially courageous.

Speaking with self confidence means assertive communication.

Connecting with people from all walks of life with ease.

Work on your voice and poise which helps in speaking publicly.

Have you sensed the need to learn more?

To educate yourself every now and then?

It is about being courageous to develop your intellectual strengths.

An ability to say’ I don’t know’ or admit’ I was wrong. ‘

Breaking the ego build up and allowing space to understand more

This also require the development of humility in great measures.

Somewhere deeply inter linked with morality and conscience.

In the ability to admit to mistakes to stand up for values and fight for rights

Upholding the principles with conviction & braving opposition.

Not many people find it easy to fight the odds. They give in.

To understand beyond the self calls for another type of courage

The empathically courageous will go beyond biases to get into the others persons perspective.

Empathy is a courage to sense the trials and tribulations of others.

Along with this is another kind of profound courage

An exploration of your own Spiritual truths.

This calls for conscious connections, remembering to honour your life, in and around you in every form.

Courage is an inner reserve

That actions from all of you

Your nature and nurture

Is unique so is your courage

And the way you are…

Explore what facets of courage has naturally become your strength in time.

And what facets do you need to build and develop in yourself.

Now when you think back of the many situations that you exemplified your courageous self.

Every thing you need is already within you

Waiting for you to trust yourself enough to recognize it.

Remember your courage is one of your many gifts of strength.

Acknowledge and use it wisely.

©Savvy Raj