Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!


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All is a part of life!

Here is share of my mothers reflections after reading my yesterday’s poem

Light after dawn

Every example stood out for me and I just had to share .. with some pictures for the same and a title.

“A seed has to undergo so much to come out of the earth with new shoots of tender leaves

Gold nuggets have to undergo much before they become beautiful ornaments

Raw diamonds and precious stones have to undergo much to get their brilliance .

A mother has to undergo so much before the birth of a wonderful life.

A rock and tree have to so much undergo before they become priceless sculptures

All things of Nature have to go through a lot of transformations before a finer end product emerges.

Never fear the blow of the hammer, the cutting of the axe, the heat of the burning fire or the hurts, pains and insults one has to bear as each blow makes them stronger, shapes them to what they are going to become. Gives them more power, value and a beautiful form.

Keep smiling. The smile and silence can unsettle the opponent.

Make each experience as a stepping stone to rise high,

A lesson to learn, to mould you to become a better, stronger, mature, independent and fearless as a person than before.

Remember there is dawn after every dusk.

Yes, your transformation will be hard. Yes, you will feel frightened, messed up and knocked down. Yes, you’ll want to stop. Yes, it’s the best work you’ll ever do.

Robin Sharma


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Life and Living

Life is in the living.

Sharing a beautiful message from this incident.

Nearby, a building construction work was going on.

Lots of poor labourers were working there and their small children used to hold on to one another’s shirt and play “train-train”.

Someone would become the engine and others would become bogies.

Every day, these children used to take turns becoming the engine and bogies.

But, there was one small boy wearing only a half pant who used to hold one small green *cloth* in his hand and become the guard daily.

So, once I went to him and asked him ..”son, don’t u also wish to become an engine or a bogie some time?”

He softly replied, “Sir , I don’t have a shirt to wear so how will the other children catch me to make the train?

I could see the slight wetness in his eyes.

But, it gave me a lesson…. he could have cried and sat at home and abused his parents for not affording to buy him a shirt.

But instead, he chose another way to play and enjoy himself..

In life, we don’t get all things we desire and we keep complaining ..

I dont have a bike, I don’t have car , I don’t have this or that etc…

Life is like that ….we need to make it beautiful and be grateful for what we have ..🙏🏼

*HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE*

Life is in the way we see it!

Savvy


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On Mindfulness

Mindfulness is always a work in progress… It is a continuous journey in awareness, not just a destination.
It is a cultivation of appreciation for life and living in every moment…

  • To meet & see things as they are
  • To have an awareness of the self and another.
  • To integrate the mind and body
  • To know all is deeply connected
  • To acknowledge the arising perspectives as part of the flow.
  • To value the spaces between the steps
  • To respond than react.
  • To create a habit to be in a witness mode.
  • To have patience in waiting.
  • To sense the awareness of the oneness.

  • To feel safe and supported
  • To develop space to be content and connected.
  • To be glad for no particular reason.
  • To live with awareness than simply exist in the moment.

Savvy

#morningmusings #thoughts #nowmatters # worklifebalance


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The Magic Circle

“My mom smiled at me. Her smile kind of hugged me.”
Palacio, Wonder

Power to the Magic Circle….

The hug is a magic circle

All it needs are willing arms

And a heart full of love…

Savvy


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The Creative Touch

The Creative touchIs in the hands of the artistA simple stroke here a drag thereCreates a whole new meaning.Bringing life to the art.While embellishments adorn the art in the artistryThe message conveyed well, even in the simplest formAdds the depth of authenticity to the story telling.The genius is in the ingenuityIn the portrayal of the abstractsWith an intuitive intellect of insightsAll in the astute acumen of innovation.Art can be both joyful and painstaking in the process…To cast and carve, chiselling awayTowards the finesse of the elusive perfection.All is but a masterstroke of the creative touch.An ode to artistry I must thank this unknown artist in the clip who created this beautiful depiction of the festival of Pongal celebration in South India.Watching this video clip made me write a few dedicated verses on the art and flair of the creative touch.Savvy


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Slipping sands of time

Interesting set of reflections , I just had to share…

Hardly the day started and … it is already six o’clock in the evening.
Barely arrived on Monday and it’s already Friday.
… and the month is already over.
… and the year is almost up.
… and already 40, 50 … years of our lives have passed.
… and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize that it is too late to go back …

So … Let’s try, however, to take full advantage of the time we have left …
Let’s not stop looking for activities that we like …
Let’s put color in our greyness …
Let’s smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.
And yet, we must continue to enjoy serenely the time that remains.

Let’s try to eliminate the “after” …
I do it after …
I will say after …
I will think about it after …
We leave everything for ‘later’ as if “after” was ours.
Because what we do not understand is that:
after, the coffee cools …
after, priorities change …
after, the charm is broken …
after, health passes …
after, the children grow up …
after, the parents get older …
after, the promises are forgotten …
after, the day becomes the night …
after, life ends …
And after that it’s often too late ….
So … leave nothing for ‘later’ …
Because always waiting for later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences,
the best friends,
the best family …
The day is today … The moment is now …

The above post is replete with the wisdom of Now. It resonates so much, especially with two of my earlier share of verses… one penned by my mother…This moment!

And the second my own verses called The Potent Now.

Savvy


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What makes words flow?

Poetry is a joy that cannot be contained
Poetry is in words that get themselves aligned
What makes words flow
So many things I say

The pull of the idea conveyed
The push of the underlying emotions
The interconnects in the thoughts
The interdependence in the choices made.
Some say verses flow only in rhyme and meter
Some like it structured to the tee
And some a bit undone.

But true poetry is a feeling created
A magnet for thoughts imagined
That move to synch in a symphony
In the most unique of ways.

Every poem is a dance of words
In rhythmic flow all its own ….
Touching hearts through those words
Conveying so much more than words can say!

Savvy


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Truths of life

As Above So Below

As Within So without

As the Universe So the Soul…

Artwork by Savvy Raj

Truths of life.

Life manifests itself the way you see it.

Your words thoughts and attitudes

Are powerful beyond your understanding.

As you intend, you co-create the path

The truth of life is within around and beyond you .

Your choice in free will matters

Your integrity of spirit and soul evolves along the way.

Action creates reaction which needs to turn to response in awareness.

Hurry or worry is simply a state of the mind and emotions which needs understanding to let go.

All is a work in progress

A continuation in the evolution.

Savvy


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Knocks of wisdom

When wisdom knocks it is never easy…
When wisdom knocks know its just the beginning
When wisdom knocks be ready to be challenged
When wisdom knocks know you are learning
When wisdom knocks know you are meant to learn
When wisdom knocks be open to understand
When wisdom knocks it opens many doors

When wisdom knocks know be ready to experience the now
When wisdom knocks be ready to dare
When wisdom knocks be ready to acknowledge
When wisdom knocks be ready to respect
When wisdom knocks be ready to witness
When wisdom knocks be ready to accept
When wisdom knocks be ready to gain
When wisdom knocks be ready to let go
When wisdom knocks know the value of balance

When wisdom knocks know your own equanimity
When wisdom knocks be ready to know your self
When wisdom knocks know there is something beyond your self
When wisdom knocks be aware of the greater purpose
When wisdom knocks become willing to understand beyond…

When wisdom knocks know it seeks you
When wisdom knocks know there is always a reason
When wisdom knocks trust yourself
When wisdom knocks keep the faith
When wisdom knocks know you are in the path of awakening.

When wisdom knocks be ready to accept responsibility
When wisdom knocks know you are strengthened in spirit and soul.
When wisdom knocks know you are on your path.
When wisdom knocks know you are blessed
When wisdom knocks know you are enough for you!.

There are many knocks of wisdom…
Each unique in its potential lesson
To learn to see the now in every moment
Every knock of wisdom leaves imprints in the spirit of the soul.
Are you ready?
Savvy


8 Comments

On Leadership

As a dance educator and trainer…while teaching and sharing social dancing skills one of the important learnings we work on is the understanding of the art of leading and following. Both very significant for any kind of partner dancing as much as in life itself. After all, life is a dance and dance imitates life!

In the first place, what does it take to be a leader? Many things but most importantly, a follower. So simply put, there must be a follower to be a leader. There can be no leader without a follower and there certainly would be no follower without a leader.

Dancing together is a lesson in leading and following in partnership!

In such a perspective both the leader and follower in the dance have a relevant role to play, that of completing the dance successfully and like so in life as well.

A dance can teach a lot about leadership and here are a few reflections on what it is to lead…

To lead is an opportunity to honour the trust of a follower.

To lead is to light the flame of inspiration to win the vote of trust of the followers.

To lead is to have a strength of purpose that inspires confidence.

To lead is to allow yourself to make decisions for others to evolve along.

To lead is to accept the responsibility of mistakes.

To lead is to maintain a decorum of standards unflinchingly.

To lead is to believe you can!

To lead is to be led by a greater purpose.

To lead is to value the laws of nature.

To lead is to value the need for self expression while respecting the need for structure.

To lead is to better the followers and not beat them down at every opportunity.

To lead is to be able to collaborate and learn just as much as to compete.

To lead is to denote respect and not expect overt attention.

To lead is to show the way for others to follow.

To lead to work tirelessly with a sense of inner commitment without hesitation without expectation.

To lead is to muster the resilience of the spirit.

To lead is to endow the spirit of courage in others.

To lead is take into account the potential of all possibilities.

Savvy

Do share your take on leadership. I would be keen to understand how you see it impacting your life and work.

The strength of support and flow of movements while dancing together is based on the connection established and that marks the quality of leadership in question.

Savvy

http://www.danceconcepts.in

#danceworkshops #dancing #danceeducation #dancelessons #lifelessons #learners #leadership #leadandfollow #danceconcepts


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One life

Just one heartfelt move… makes all the difference!

One who knows the worth of life cannot afford to waste even a single moment of life… Take a step towards a more meaningful life for you ….

Savvy


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Project 101

Today marks a personal milestone in blogging as I publish my 101st post. I have completed my continuous 100 days of writing on WordPress.

On a lark after a challenge to post a few of my favourite songs for three consecutive days came my way from a fellow blogger and friend Dr Sridhar. I decided to take it up and posted my favourite songs for three days. Then I started thinking if I could manage to post for a week and continued to write . The seven days went smooth and easy and then I upped my goal a little further to see if I could write a post everyday for a month.

I had a few ground rules established in my head . First that this was no competition to complete in pressure but simply an effort to see if I would find an inspiration to write on anything that caught my fancy each day . Second would I have the perseverance to continue and be able to dedicate time towards the effort .
Thirdly I wanted to see if I could keep my readers and audiences interested if I happen to post everyday.
And most of all I wanted to test whether my creative instincts are effected in anyway by habit…
A months regular posting on WordPress got me supercharged to aspire some more. Wp would egg me on with reminders of completing a 30th day streak of posting on WordPress.
It was no surprise that once I reached 30 I wanted to try and reach the 50th day.
Seemed then that I could do it if I was smart enough to manage my writing time around the early hours of the day. And that’s what I did.
No one in my family or friends knew much about this plan, but I was pretty clear how to go about it by then and dedicated a bit of time to writing every morning no matter what.

A few learnings.

Have a goal that seems workable, it is easier to focus.

Persevere… and believe you can work towards it.

Push your goal a step ahead as you reach a level.

Manage your time better, to make it happen

Value your goal and be dedicated.

Your creative sense will begin to work for you all the more…

Believe in your self and be passionate

Trust that you will find the way!

And most of all enjoy the journey as much as the destination.😊

Although I have written on WordPress for a few years now and I would have written and posted perhaps continously as well earlier without my own realisation. This was a task that had a goal and hence it is different to me.

The last few months have been personally challenging in terms of health where I was even admitted to the hospital and I am continuing to battle a condition that might require surgery soon. So basically being unwell literally I use the relatively painfree bits of time in the day, I have in my hands for creative enrichment …be it writing or painting and more.

Blogging through I reached my 50th day of posting. And I knew I couldn’t stop it in my heart . The magic figure of 100 floated in my mind and I was sold to the idea of making it happen.

Today it is the 101st day streak of publishing a post everyday and I truly wonder how I managed it all along with my present condition.

My biggest take back has been the loving support and generous comments from my readers which kept me going .
But other than that was a learning and affirmation that if we really make up our mind , we can beat the odds and find a way to acheive our goal .

Besides that I realised how my reading others blogs and writing every day would bring up some topic to contemplate creatively for the next day. The best part was I never had to try too hard … every post I wrote and shared I enjoyed with all my heart.

Writing gives me a sense of completion.
A feeling of contentment of a job well done. And if its well received it truly makes my day… and my fellow writers this I am pretty sure you would agree as well.

Thank you my dear readers and friends for staying with me right through. It has been an absolute pleasure to share and learn along the way… on what I can gratefully now call Project 101.
Wishing an awesome year 2019 for us all !
God bless all!
Savvy


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Caring To Listen

The Heart of Nature
Plays tunes for those who listen.
Pull a single chord in nature
You will hear it commune in the synchrony

Being In nature we understand
The value of balance
And we learn to trust in faith
As we inspire wonders of nature.
And a certain reverence for life.

For in respecting life in and around us
We learn to understand ourselves more.

Nature teaches us much,

If we truly care to listen.

Savvy


4 Comments

Being you as you are!

Being you as you are

A few tips…
In a world that can entangle you with varied opinions and beliefs…know you are a multifaceted unique individual.

Allow yourself to take time and understand your spectrum of being .
Accepting yourself is a great start to being you.

In knowing your self you are able to discern what your choices are and gradually you are able to be comfortable with your own self. Remember everyone of us here have our own journey of life to explore and fathom.

Allow yourself to explore the truths of your own being.
Be authentic enough to avoid being who you are not . It simply cannot last too long. And it is not a path towards your purpose of being.

Being yourequires a whole lot of respect for yourself as you are. In moments of turmoil and confusion, just say to yourself ‘ I am enough for me’
There is great power of truth in these simple words .
Trust that you are enough for you.

Be all that you are!

Because you truly can!

Savvy


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It’s just a matter of time!

Time heals it all they say
And its so very true
So when we are in throes of torment
Trust time to pass to a better moment

When life throws a googly at you
And you are left flummoxed
That you just have no certain way
Trust time to move you on along the way

In trying moments of despair
When you are left fending for yourself
Know the answer is around the bend
Trust time to let itself mend.

For time is the answer
Be patient to let it pass
For no two moments are alike
Such is the eternal mystic of time.

Savvy