On Honesty and Integrity
Stay true…
To your words and deeds given and done.
For they are who you truly are.
Backing out in both, after promises
Remember is not an option.
For it shows up poorly for the self.
Savvy
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Stay blessed!
On Faith
Stay blessed
as blessed can be
Feel the divine within you.
You are part of the abundance of nature.
Linked in the magnificence of cosmic connects.
Savvy
Stay!
Stay between
the glancing back and gazing forward.
Lessons are learnt from past.
Time teaches us all
Yet look ahead in hope
For life is lived forward not backward.
Savvy
(On equanimity & present moment awareness.)
Life.
A journey so unique
Magnitude of creation.
Whole and complete.
When luck favours
Path of choice
Changes destiny
Opportunities galore.
When luck runs out
Opressive and intolerable
Insecurities abound
Trying times drying out resources.
And yet…
Times moves on it’s course…
Coffers empty to be filled again.
Luck charms it’s way back.
Such is the way
Of the cycle of life
Circle of life and living
Savvy
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
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.
In Striking A Balance!
Ego matters!
Ego is a sense of self-identity
Between being an asset and liability the ego drives our being.
Unmindful and ungrateful often times as such is its way!
It can interfere just as much as it can be indifferent to the being
It can alter goodwill and stall humility from expressing itself
It can change the words we were meaning to speak
It can halt a chance to commune with others
It can steer a dialogue to a monologue
It can become a bone of contention
It can rob us of cooperation and collaboration
And yet all this while a sense of ego can be a source of self-esteem
It can help a person from crumbling in a crisis
It can create a curiosity to know and acquire
It can be a strength of support in times of dire need
It can propel us to do more & achieve more
Your Ego can be your trusted aide
For it knows you more than you ever can.
It is born with you from your first breath
And plays on its course till your very last.
So the question is not about banishing but of balancing.
In striking a chord of balance between the states of being.
Mindful words from a heart full of grace,
Can be a precursor of changing ways.
A respect and regard for another’s perspective
Appreciation and value for others much as one’s own!
A few reflections on striking a balance
Accept that your ego is like your shadow
It follows where ever you go
It creates hurdles in your deeds
It can doubt and induce fear
Simply trust with your loving self
For it’s your internal guide
That leads from the heart
To let you see and know
Who you truly are!
Let your love meet your fears
It will understand the power of love
Choose to be loving and considerate
Change your track to being compassionate
Choose to avoid loose talk
Choose the virtue of generosity
Choose to be inclusive and expansive
Choose to admit your mistakes
Choose to see the world beyond the self
Choose to take your self lightly
Choose the freedom of laughter
It unshackles the chains of self-restraint
Let the self, express and entertain itself!
So allow the ego to a little space but make sure it knows its space.
Allow it to be a part of you but don’t allow it take the whole of you.
Transcending the Ego is the aspiration,
For every religion speaks of this very transcendence…
From trivial and baseline pursuits to higher consciousness.
Ego can be a tool for survival but it can be a weapon of mass destruction!
Transform it into self-improvement manoeuvre it to reconstruction.
In every deed of Giving the ego cannot be far behind for, to give itself seems so full of itself. The Giving means there is something to give an upper hand a stake a superiority if nothing else a contentment of a fulfilment. So to give seems a little egotistical in all its glorious ways.
Yet there is a transformation in every act of giving, that finds its path in the journey towards transcendence .
Savvy
10 Tips to Body Confidence
In an age of self obsession bordering on extremes of behaviour from starving to binging, from wearing those uncomfortable hip breaking harmful high heels to choosing crazy outfits that fool you in the name of fashion, to wearing outrageous clothes without it actually suiting your personality, just to fit in and feel accepted I find a lot of people youngsters especially finding themselves at odds with their natural body and having issues with who they truly are. It reflects in the clothes they wear as much as in their attitude to the fast convenience food they choose to eat.
Here in this article I address this very insecurity and deep need to measure up to the so called dictates of trends and fashion in the name of modernity and suggest ways to work with yourself to help yourself shine your best inside out. For, a comfortable and relaxed confident body is the best outfit you can wear.
Savvy Raj
A positive body image brings optimism into your life and makes it easier to manage stress.
It also helps you cope the pressures of social situations with confidence. Below, I’ve listed 10 tips to help you in owning a more positive body image and relationship with yourself.
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Be kind to yourself
Liking who you are and feeling good about being yourself begins with being good to yourself and showing yourself loving kindness.
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Respect thy Self
Move beyond a need for validation from others. Your life and happiness must never be dictated by assuming what others may be thinking of you. Avoid seeking approval from others.
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Think well and exercise the power of positivity
Keep a check on your own thoughts and steer clear of negative self-talk. See the positives in yourself and others and speak positively. See life transform for the better.
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The company you keep matters
Surround yourself with kind and positive people. Avoid those who are self-obsessed and definitely stay away from bullies.
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Cultivate a good attitude towards life
As you continue to work on your self-esteem remember body confidence is a matter of attitude and the way you carry yourself.
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Cultivate good posture and poise
Work on your sense of poise, avoid slouching and fidgeting. This can help you tremendously in boosting your self-esteem in any social situation.
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Speak well
Your body is always listening. So, speak well of yourself and others. Make it a habit to start and end the day on a positive note.
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Embrace Self-value
Try to understand your weaknesses and accept them as challenges to work on. Treat yourself well. Make sure to eat well, exercise, or take a walk. Be healthy and groomed. Make it a part of daily life.
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Take it easy
Over perfection is an obsession and can ruin your self-esteem and self-confidence. Ease up on yourself. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
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Own yourself
Embrace the uniqueness that you are endowed with. Remember you matter. You are so much more than a title, a rank, or a dress size. Don’t be desperate to fit in. Most importantly, be interested in your life and actively participate in it. Own yourself.
As you practise working on all these aspects and envision the positives, you create a positive shift in your perspectives.
Because you can!
– Savvy
Mystery Blogger Award
It is always wonderful to be acknowledged and appreciated. For the power of appreciation creates positive intentions and further channelizes creativity to flow even more meaningfully for a larger purpose.
The reason is after the first wave of elation over having received an award nomination you start realizing the responsibility of every word you are putting out there and how it can actually carry the power to transform thoughts if you want it to! And that’s truly incredible!
I would like to specially thank stylethatright for nominating me for this award.
Truly grateful to receive this nomination from her .
Do check out the blog https://stylethatright.wordpress.com/ as she shares her engaging and empowering posts on styling, beauty among st other interesting things.
What is a Mystery Blogger Award?
The creator of this award, Okoto Enigma, says “It’s an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging, and they do it with so much love and passion.
The Rules
Here are the rules for the award which I have to mention:
Put the award logo/image on your blog.
List the rules.
Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
Answer the questions you were asked.
Nominate 10 – 20 people & notify.
Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).
3 things about myself:
I am a happy go lucky type of person.
I am a peoples person and enjoy meaningful conversations and always find time to actually listen.
I am an intuitive person. I believe it to be a gift and often trust my senses and am deeply grateful about it .
These are the questions which were asked to me:
1: What is your idea of a perfect life?
Will answer this question earnestly…being a dance educator, balance in the being tops my list so as much as activity and movement is important to me on a regular basis, I believe a perfect life would be about enjoying the balance of the rest and movement in our lives. For in those spaces between the steps is an opportunity to appreciate the life we have and replenish with gratitude and contentment.
2: Why you started blogging and what is your favourite genre?
I remember writing a lot of poems in my years at school which at times were even published in the school papers and college magazines that gave me a momentum and then I realized it would make sense to have them all in one place as a body of work in time, that’s when I started blogging.
Well, I do enjoy writing in any form but I find a great sense of connect, in writing my thoughts as poetry.
3:If you were to celebrate your birthday with five celebrities who would you like to celebrate with and why?
Have never had any craze for the company of celebrities of any kind. And birthdays are preferably spent amidst family friends and my students. Yet to answer the question without naming anyone, in particular, it would be nice to include for their entertainment value, one celebrity from each of these categories, a famous ballroom dancer a latin dancer, a singer a guitarist, a pianist and a drummer.
Well guess I am truly set then for my perfect party!:-))
4: What is the most funniest moment of your life?(funny)
A lot of funny moments happen every now that sometimes I feel my life is one laugh a riot…. and then some more, but to remember one funny incident. Well, I was in 8th grade and was the captain of my school’s volleyball team.I was truly passionate about the game and would regularly practice with great dedication and pretty much excelled at the game.So we were often chosen and sent to play in tournaments across the city. In one such selection process, I went to play in the tournament held in one of the city college campuses. I was passed off by my selectors as a member of a working women team. I played that game as their vice-captain. We won that match and I couldn’t help smiling to myself as I went up the dais to receive the certificate as they were all so much older than me …the whole team had a huge laugh after the match about it all! Till today I have no idea how I ended up playing that particular match in the first place!!
5: Your favourite pastime?
Besides writing poetry and drawing, dancing on one of my favourite songs.. and at times with it in my thoughts as I often find myself joyfully thinking of patterns and steps for a song when I hear music that I happen to like. So yes that tops the list of my favourite pastimes.
I would like to nominate these blogs for the Mystery Blogger Award: I wish them the best in their endeavours.
https://thinkthoughtstaught.wordpress.com
http://thoughtsofsho.wordpress.com/
http://christophermcgeownwriting.wordpress.com/
https://kishanlakhotia.wordpress.com/
https://srishtiblogspot.wordpress.com/
https://pcblogscom.wordpress.com
https://stonestoriessite.wordpress.com/
http://akanksharastogi.wordpress.com/
https://prashasti125.wordpress.com/
https://thejoyofloving.wordpress.com/
Here are a few questions for you…
1: What does your perfect day look like?
2: If you had only one match and entered a Cold and Dark room, and there was an oil heater, an oil lamp and a candle, which would you light first?
3: Can you adapt smoothly to changing realities and if so what is your biggest strength?
4: Are you someone who works well on a team, or prefer to work on your own?
5: What ridiculously fun thing has someone tricked you into doing or believing?
I would like to thank everyone who is reading following and visiting my blog. I am still learning how to be a good writer. Hope this year is wonderful for us all!!! 💙
Cheers,
Savvy Raj
Behind the Scenes
Feel like sharing a blast from the past.
I wrote this as a self reflective piece, on what it is to be a teacher, trainer or educator and its varied perspectives in life and living.
There is always more than what meets the eye…
# Behind the scenes
When I say I am a Ballroom and Latin dance form trainer… there is this natural association with everything glamorous, high heels, fancy bare all clothes, svelte tanned bodies , hairdos and glitter, there is youth, shows and events galore, a fancy personal life filled with parties and a fabulous nightlife life may be .
Far from it is the truth, actually it’s so much more than just that, it’s about raising your conscious awareness in harmony and balance of the mind and body .
It’s about empowering your mind and heart with care and understanding of the relative nonverbal communication sensed through the medium of movement as patterns.
It’s about taking time to internalize at times complicated moves yet being able to be at ease with your own self so much that the strain of practice never shows.
It’s about making friends with your mental physical and spiritual body and creating a dimension of composure and gratitude for another to be inspired enough to want to learn from you.
It’s a huge responsibility, to make a connection with a human being and sustain it gratefully whether it is for a class a, a dance or a lifetime. Savvy Raj
It’s a huge juggling act more so, if you have other interests as well, professionally and even personally, being a mother, a wife, a daughter and most of all a free spirit. Its about understanding the perspective of the space in between all that you are and all that you want to be and managing your creative resources the best you can.
As one fine tunes the self to understand and accept the value of the pauses between our moves we reach to our potential heights gradually and learn to be at peace within and around us.
In the truest realm when we focus on any art form it’s about bringing discipline and dedication in every aspect of one‘s life , learning and growing all the way .In the journey that‘s ever enriching, with experiences that must be savored along the way.
Savvy Raj
Member International Dance Council
Savvy Raj 
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