Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!


1 Comment

On Acceptance

Accepting the difficult truths

Can be hard

Most challenging at times

But in acceptance

Is an ease of being

Your vulnerability

Can be your strength

It’s all in the attitude

That you may choose to have

In life and living

Accept yourself first

As you are, all of you

The rest will finds its way

To fit in .

Savvy


3 Comments

On Love & Inclusion

A poignant tale of a little child sensing the favoritism by her own father was shared by my friend Ali Anani in his post….

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ali-anani-phd-15305319_love-experience-empathy-activity-6970262610063589376-9Fbe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Here are my reflections on this post… which I had initially shared with him privately but then realized that perhaps it needs to be read and understood in the larger context of the trials and tribulations in life and living..

Truth has a way of baring open the wounds of the heart and mind on its path of healing the hurt.
For truth is on its own path of self correction in this world.
For unfairness and
Injustice has to somedayfind justice
Exclusion to inclusion
Doubts to clarity.

When truth speaks
In one way or another
It is important to listen
In empathy without judgements

Truth speaks as it is
In all of innocence
Or in wisdom of awareness.

And yet…
Innocence can be daunting  to handle . But addressing the truth one way or the other
Leads to discoveries of how little we know or of what is sensed & perceived.


In the story  that my friend shared…here are instances of lack of inclusion in a family

Where in one day there is marked difference in the way the father speaks,
When the child says
Why are you speaking to me…

Interesting to note that you perceived  the young child as witty
Whereas another may perceive  it as defiance,or even an evidence of an awareness of lack of inclusion and discrimination at this household in the young child’s mind.
And that she is voicing  it in all of innocence.

What would be of significance  is how the father addresses  this brewing disconnect.

Lack of love can be a difficult  phase at any age especially  for a child.
Let’s trust the universe to show the way for this child to receive what she is yearning for one way or another.
May every life be able to sense  love and live life lovingly. 

Savvy


5 Comments

Travel Diaries

Musings on a flight from France Amsterdam

Onwards and upwards

Here I am traveling light

With heartfelt gratitude

In the giving and receiving

Sight of fresh colors of flowers

In clothes people are wearing

Is a sea change from the mostly black monotones

Sensing summer vibes in the air.

Remembering the romance of Parisian bylines

Hope the time forward is full of hope and possibilities

Looking forward to new experiences …

Every country has a unique culture

Tuning in to the collective personas

Like tasting the wine in every sip

Travel can be a truly an immersive experience.

All it needs is a willingness to travel & adapt to the changing scenarios

And a spirit of tolerance as much as the love for freedom.

Savvy


2 Comments

Love & Respect

Life challenges us all in every moment

Yet love is the way to surmount the odds

For life to truly thrive in wellbeing

Making this world a better place.

Savvy


6 Comments

Learning from a free spirit



Today I write about my dear and very loving father…

Perhaps the most uncomplicated man.

A paragon of the free spiritedness of a child.

He has an uncanny ability to be happy like a child.

What he desires are little things like a child.

Yes, he knows how to get what he  desires

But the happiness he feels & expresses, in the most ordinary things

That is his blessing of simplicity.


Life can be an epitome of adventure and adaptability.

It can challenge you & test your resilience & reserves

But to be able to be in touch with the inner child in you.

No matter how  life takes its toll on you

Is the strength in the vulnerability.



I dedicate these musings today to my eternally ‘young at heart’ father.

For from him, I have imbibed many beautiful learnings
Will share three, especially relevant here…

  • To be able to find happiness in the ordinary things.
  • To be able to stay hopeful, light & positive, no matter the density in the moment.
  • To think well of all and make way for happy thoughts and share goodwill.

  • God Bless You Dad!

    Savvy






    10 Comments

    On Seeing

    When you look at other people through a lens of compassion and understanding rather than judgment and jealousy, you are better able to see them for what they are—human beings.” ~ Unknown

    The way we see the world

    Changes our experiences

    Lesser expectations

    Greater contentment

    Lesser assumptions & doubt

    Greater trustfulness

    Lesser hopelessness

    Greater possibility

    Lesser the complexity

    Greater the clarity.

    Savvy


    4 Comments

    Accept, don’t expect

    Peace

    Whenever we get too drawn into the vortex of living life and whenever it starts to feel like a burden and like there is no lightness in the moments it is perhaps time to take a check on our own way of being. So today I am heart fully sharing my dear mother’s two bits on the way of peaceful life and living… I have re read it earlier for to balance my own thoughts as well.:))

    Already a lot has been said and written about this. So 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.

    Humans 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 n emotional turbulence . Perseverance, hard work, focus and luck help them to achieve their goals. But after attaining all these is one peaceful?
    Unfortunately the more one gains, the greater is the loss of inner peace. Loads of pressure weighs down them.

    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 then they grow up, they start expecting the same from all around them .
    Whichever field or whatever state they are, there is always expectations. Family , friend, society, teachers, work place, children, lifestyle, appearance, behavior befitting their age n status…expectations everywhere.; either by us or from us at all stages of our life. Again it is endless. Peace still eludes .

    Like the most difficult puzzles have very simple solutions , life problems also can be simplified.

    Simply working towards reducing and gradually ceasing the expecting from others or living to other’s expectations.

    Be yourself , let others be themselves.
    Never shy away from our duty or ignore social responsibilities or inner values. Doing without expectations. But it is not easy to transcend basic human nature. More than desires, our expectations not happening cause us more sorrow. All are not yogis or saints. But peace is ultimately desired by all. If every one adheres to practice non expectation, peace will befriend the surrounding .

    Do your duty, Be dedicated, Be grateful , Be understanding ,Be helpful, Be kind and compassionate,
    Be selfless , all without expectations.
    Your due will come to you in its own time in its own way.

    Such is Cosmic law.

    No expectation –
    No disappointment –
    No arguments –
    No disharmony –
    Peaceful existence

    With whomever or wherever one be, adopt, adjust & accept. Happiness & peace will follow.
    When acceptance becomes our nature the rest become easier.
    One word mantra to peace
    Live, let live.
    Stop Expecting.
    Start Accepting.
    Live happily.


    1 Comment

    Heal the world

    Heal the world

    The stories of the bygone are contained in the stone

    For within, it holds the secrets of the past.

    The fragile flower owns its freshness to this now

    The Blossoming of the bloom is the present truth of time.

    How delicate is life and yet so very powerful in potential

    One life has the power to transform lives…

    But our life carry us on, not backwards

    But further into the future.

    The good we can do today will impact the life we have in future.

    Touch a life positively & make an impact.

    Intend with the goodness of your soul.

    Treat yourself and others well

    For you are creating goodwill in every action

    Speak well and share kindness.

    Enthuse yourself and create cheer.

    Smile through the moments

    Live love laugh.

    Help heal a life and you have helped heal the world .

    Savvy


    No room for I, Me & Myself

    In a world that is literally shrinking globally,
    In a world where respect for cultural diversity,
    Is paramount to humanity.
    In a world where inclusivity is a necessity,
    In a world where businesses are adopting empathy driven approach.
    In a world where love, kindness and faith is needed much more than ever,
    In a world that is changing states quo…

    There is need for all of us to come together.
    There is need to value connections.
    There is need to understand each others vulnerabilities.
    There is need to be inclusive in the diversity.

    When we move beyond the I
    And envision the Us
    When we see the world as ours than mine.
    When we care to collaborate together,
    In mutual respect of the differences
    When we acknowledge the strength of unity in the diversity.
    When the, Me and Myself
    Shifts to Us beyond the Mine.

    Artic Circle Rovaniemi Santa Claus Village. Image Credits Deepa Rajesh

    The world will evolve for the better of all.
    Let’s know, how interweaved we are!
    For that’s where our true strength lies
    In this very interconnectedness.
    No matter the distance of space or time.
    So, in a world where it is right now
    There is no room for the I Me &Myself Anymore.

    Savvy


    5 Comments

    Live and let live.

    To Those Who Bring Small Children to Church:

    There you are at church. Your baby or toddler is restless. Perhaps even a little boisterous. You try to silence them, and nothing. You try to pacify them with food or toys, and nothing. Eventually, you resort to the last thing you wanted to do: you pick them up, and before a watching audience, you make the march out of the church. All the while you’re a little embarrassed, maybe a little frustrated too. You might even think to yourself, “There’s no point in coming to church. I get nothing out of it because I have to constantly care for my kid.”

    I want you – mothers and/or fathers – to know just how encouraging you are to so many. The elderly woman who often feels alone beams with a smile at the sight of you wrestling with your little one. She’s been there before. She knows how hard it can be, but she smiles because to hear that brings back precious memories. Seeing young parents and their small children brighten her day; she may have just received bad news about her health but seeing the vitality of young ones removes – if but for a moment – her fears. The older man who always seems to be grouchy notices you too. He’s always talking about how children in this day have no respect or sense of goodness. But he sees you – a young family – in church every week. Like clockwork, he can depend on the sight of you and your young family. You give him hope that maybe the Church isn’t doomed after all, because there are still young parents who love God enough to bring their restless children to church.

    Bring your children to church! If we don’t hear crying, the church is dying. As hard as it might be for you as a parent who’s half-asleep, keep on doing what you’re doing. You are an encouragement, and you’re starting off your children’s lives as you should. – Author unknown

    Came across this beautifully expressed piece recently. Was moved to share it here. Have encountered this kind of approach to parenting in many cultures across the world. Not only in churches but where people are silencing self expression in their growing years.

    And there is also the other extreme where whatever the child does is ok! That is the other side of the issue in question.

    Yes I agree, we must ensure our children are well behaved in society as they grow.We need to help instill good values.

    But there are cultures where if a little child speaks out aloud while traveling in a bus for example the mother goes apologizing for the sounds the little kid is making.

    Extreme restraint restrictions, repriminding and silencing are negative reinforcements in suppression of self expression.

    Yes there are limits to tolerating childrens tantrums, and bad behavior. Teaching them proper social etiquette is part of good nurturing. But controlling even natural things like laughter and speech can become a little too suffocating. What do you think?

    Are you free at all then? Isn’t that a little too restrictive. I wonder?

    What is life without a little expression.

    Life is meant to live and let life live.

    Yes there are stark differences across the world in raising children. To each his own.

    Lets hope to share the world with them in positive possibilities lovingly.

    Chances are they will hopefully treat you just as well in your old age.

    Here are a few of my musings…

    Life can never thrive in suppression

    Or in denial and disapproval.

    Or control and criticism

    Choose to appreciate and approve

    Let go of the nagging and niggles.

    Let go of judgements, fear and worry

    Life is in each of us just the same.

    Allow life to live.

    Engage with it lovingly

    Life can be beautiful!

    Live and let live.

    Savvy


    8 Comments

    On Knowing Your Worth

    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.


    8 Comments

    Circle of Love

    As you go through daily life just care to remind yourself that you are being watched over and cared for …this will bring you immense peace and transmit universal love 🙂

    Savvy


    4 Comments

    Live life lovingly!


    Shape life ❤fully!

    Life is lived in every moment
    For life is unpredictable
    And so full of surprises and wonder

    Life is best lived
    In valuing the now
    Respecting life
    For what it is
    As then you discover
    The magic that life truly is.

    Shape life heartfully❤
    Live mindfully
    Be present and be engaged
    Live life lovingly.

    Savvy


    8 Comments

    Behind the scenes

    Behind the Beautiful

    Are often inexplicable truths

    Behind the dare

    Are often unbearable circumstances

    Behind the victory

    Are often countless defeats

    Behind the smiles

    Are often gutwrenching griefs

    Behind the wisdom of silence

    Are often heartbreaking stories.

    Behind the scenes of glory

    Are often those unspeakable truths

    Of lives lived and living

    In hope beyond the despair

    Of wins beyond the losses.

    Of success beyond the failures

    Like each facet is necessary

    For the diamond to truly sparkle!

    Each phase is full of purpose

    For everything matters to the whole.

    Savvy


    2 Comments

    On Gratefulness

    Gratefulness is a gift of realization of the infinite.
    It is an attitude worth cultivating
    It is a a breakthrough towards transcendence
    It is the ability to change the difficult to bearable.

    It is a positive step in the transition
    It is a sensing of faith trust and belief
    It is a relief from hatred.
    It is a pause to allow the hurt to heal.

    It is a inner transformation.
    It is a breathe in awareness
    It is a creator of infinite abundance.
    It is a move from the heart.

    It is an awareness of potential flow
    It is an acceptance of the almighty
    It is a conscious awakening of the heart
    It is an expression in thankfulness.

    Savvy