On Love

Stay loving and graceful
For that’s what truly matters
In the throes of life and living
Love is what makes the world go on…
Savvy

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


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


Every writer has many or no reason about what and why they write …
It is the most natural thing to do or it is a task to even bring two words together. It is an integrative experience or a chore to get done with depending on our attitudes, to begin with!
Any artistic expression like writing is always very interconnected with the emotions an emotionally charged experience especially when you express anguish through words.
Writing can set free deep-seated emotions and in such freedom is the underlying responsibility…
Writing is a responsibility as once writ, the words have great power to stir emotions and touch hearts , to enthuse or infuse hope or hatred . So it is imperative to exercise awareness through every word written and published.
“It’s only words and
Words are all I have to take your heart away…”
And so the beautiful song ‘Words’ goes on but the truth is undeniable.
Words wield power and the choice of what you say or write matters a great deal than one can imagine.
Write to express
Write to share
Write to heal
Write to enjoy!
Savvy


Learning to dance is a discovery
Every step of the way!
As you explore the pathways
Care to enjoy the journey!
Savvy


A balloon seller now she is
Her name does not matter
Married for she was considered a burden
By her very own parents.
A poor girl from the city of Rajasthan India
Surviving, living by and around
Cafes in the city of Pune
Just 19 solar cycles old
Her malnourished body has no signs of youth
She works all day selling balloons in hope
For one square meal to come her way
Often she says she eats only once in the day
If she is lucky she gets a bite-sized meal.
She wanders around till late evening
and sells her wares outside the hip street cafes
Often times to children and some for grown-ups too

My daughter is all of 19 too
Was visiting the cafe with friends
She chanced upon her last evening.
Begging her to buy some balloons
She took a bit of time and listened to her woes
She was deeply moved and she fed her dinner
In return, she was gifted a balloon from the heart
And this story above is the truth of this balloon seller’s
Life and existence
That she heard first hand and narrated to me last night
I reflect on how she said…
‘The balloon seller is stoic and yet hopeful’
Her life is a tragic story and pitiful
An account of a woman’s day!
Another day dawns …
They call it Woman’s Day!
The woman labours on
With the same fervour and faith
Like every other day
It makes no difference to such countless women really
If there is a day marked in her favour
Using her name politics is played
Institutions have events and clubs have parties
Felicitating and celebrating in the name of womanhood
When will lives of every female child truly change
As a mother or the daughter or the sister
Maybe there is a recognition and sweet words
from your family and friends for a day or so …
Her life is a mere existence in making through each day and night…
What a day like this going to matter to her.
Really not much.
She is out in the open vulnerable and bare.
Bounded by duty imposed without a right
Carried on in the throes of life and living.
Praying a day will dawn when every life matters.
Where every child is born and raised with love
For the future of this world belongs to them.
Savvy Raj


Sharing this immensely fulfilling read of stories which came my way today!
That’s
*FAITH*
That’s
*TRUST*
Morning but still we set the alarms to wake up.
That’s
*HOPE*
That’s
*CONFIDENCE*
But still, we get Married.
That’s
*LOVE*
On an Old Man’s shirt was written a cute sentence
‘I Am Not 60 Years Old.., I Am Sweet 16 with 44 years Experience.’
That’s
*ATTITUDE*
Faith is a certainity & trust is a true measure in hope that comes with a knowing confidence of the unknown which is what brings forth the bonds in a boundless love that warms the heart and soul when a life is lived with a never say die attitude !
So keep the faith
Keep the trust in belief
Keep the hope alive in life
Keep the love in the heart always
Keep the attitude of gratitude going strong.
Savvy
After writing a series of posts on the topic of Nurturing I found a lot of ideas floating out on Parenting and thus I am drawn to deciphder and draw the parellels in the the two…
I tossed the topic out to my mother who is currently visiting my brother and his family Besides the members of the family , it is home to two cats and a dog as pets. Life is certainly different there for her than with me here . My brother, a passionate animal lover is also an actively involved with Blue Cross of India. Rescue operations happen just about anytime and often at the middle of the night. And some hurt and disabled animals and birds eventually have known to have landed up at home as pets.
Nurturing comes naturally to him especially so for those hapless animals and birds . I have personally seen the amount of care and concern he and the volunteers at Blue Cross give without any expectation in return . Just a week back there was an adoption drive for more than a 100 puppies and by the end of the day all the puppies found a home .The contentment in those volunteers hearts must have been uncontained for sure.
In lieu with our topic nurturing I took the liberty of envisioning and including the perspectives of nurturing a pet as much as parenting a child by my sharing of the backstory of my brothers home which is always more like a zoo or a sanctuary to me. Just kidding bro😊
I am going to share my mothers perspective from such a backdrop… on Parenting and Nurturing .
Parenting and Nurturing.
Parenting and nurturing go hand in hand. Parenting needs more sternness while nurturing needs compassion and kindness.
Parent is a nature given blessed title and parenting is bliss and pain with growing responsibilities.
Whereas nurturing is the quality any one can develop on any living being. A plant well nurtured grows well. With kindness , compassion and love flowing from the heart one can nurture a plant to blossom into fruits, an animal in a healthy surrounding, helpless children and seniors to thrive in a dignified way .
Parenting is our duty towards our children . Nurturing them comes naturally. Parenting involves providing, caring, shaping their future with lot of disciplining. Parenting has a natural tendency to forgive their follies and wrong doings , will find an excuse for their wrong behavior and justify them.
Parenting cannot be done without nurturing whereas nurturing doesn’t need to be parenting. The reciprocation of parenting can be seen in the nurturing of parents by the children in their old age.
By nurturing one can increase other’s self worth, self value and increase their confidence level. It can bring joy to a miserable person . Nurturing is a divine quality any one can develop. It is the extension n expansion of parenting beyond self. It can best be selfless
Nurturing can be done in many levels. Physical nurturing is one thing, emotional n psychological nurturing also help a long way in sculpting better human beings.
Sometimes mere words of encouragement n appreciation of their deeds become vocal nurturing to perform better. Weaning away the weeds is also a part of good nurturing.
Nurturing can be time and place limited without possessiveness. Let going becomes easier whereas the feeling of parenting crosses these lines as the bond is life long till death do them part.
The name and nature may vary. But without parenting and nurturing qualities the world will not survive. They help the future generation to grow into better persons. The legacy will continue by all sometime, somewhere. They are the two sides of the same divine coin. Good parenting makes better human beings, good nurturing creates a better society and a better world.
Both will make the world smile.
What you nurture is important especially in your own nature.
Just remember in nurturing, what you choose to nurture, develops…
Choose wisely!
Savvy

Have you really touched someone today?
Have you been embraced with expansive love?
Have you felt like reaching out with all your heart?
Have you held another’s hand in your hand?
Great is the healing in a caring touch.
One handhold can lift a broken spirit.
One hug can heal another soul.
One step to reach out can tug at another’s heartstrings.
One touch of kindness can make all the difference.
Great is the healing in a caring touch.
Both life and living can at times turn cold
When the children grow and empty their nests,
When life becomes too busy to be,
When relationships start to lose their meaning,
When tired body leaves one forlorn,
When thoughts seem to turn anxious,
When moments seem to drag,
When a sense of utter loneliness prevails,
Whenever there are feelings of helplessness.
Remember to reach out and hold a needy hand
As the power of healing is in a caring touch.
Savvy Raj
About the Author:
Ms Savvy Raj is a Member of the International Dance Council UNESCO the official worldwide organisation for all forms of dance. As a Dance Educator and Corporate Wellness Trainer, she conducts workshops in Social Dances, Holistic Well-Being as well as Personal Effectiveness. She is a certified adult trainer who uses the creative medium of dance towards bringing empathetic consciousness in her students. Using International Social dance forms and a variety of improvisational techniques as well as creative movement exercises she brings forth the human connect in it all. Working towards the development of an individual through dance applications and nurturing in the learners an enthusiasm to see and live life positively.
Savvy is also Certified Graphologist who pursues this as a hobby in her spare time along with a passion for writing, painting, poetry, drawing, sketching and designing.
https://savvyraj.com/2015/09/23/circles-of-compassion/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141120124350-232760496-dancing-magic-of-movements
Walk the path of the heart,
Where action emanates from empathy,
Where sight envisions noble deeds,
Where one senses the calm of compassion, ears listen to sounds of silence.
In the chaos that may reign around,
The way of the heart finds its home
And roots itself deep within the core of the being.
Where peace and love abide side by side,
Where everything that matters is let to be,
Where talking is less and listening is more,
Where strength is not measured by power alone,
Where kindness of heart is the true wealth of being
In these eternal truths, contentment reigns,
Always in realization of what is than what was or might be.
And every heart knows the way.
Such is the way of the heart!
Savvy
About the Author:
Ms Savvy Raj is a Member of the International Dance Council UNESCO the official world wide organization for all forms of dance. As a Dance Educator and Corporate Wellness Trainer she conducts workshop in Social Dances, Holistic Well Being as well as Personal Effectiveness. She is a certified adult trainer who uses the creative medium of dance towards bringing empathetic consciousness in her students. Using International Social dance forms and a variety of improvisational techniques as well as creative movement exercises she brings forth the human connect in it all. Working towards the development of an individual through dance applications and nurturing in the learners an enthusiasm to see and live life positively and empathetically.
Savvy is also certified Graphologist who pursues this as a hobby in her spare time along with a passion for writing, painting, poetry, drawing, sketching and designing.
Image Credits: ‘Heart knows ‘Artwork by Savvy Raj
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