# way of being | Savvy Raj

In the giving, we find our self
In the receiving, we understand our self.

In learning to give and receive well we learn about our own nature. How we feel in accepting a gift or compliment or reward or title… For many, it is a task that is confusing, to say the least, especially how to accept a gift in a graceful dignified way.
Even more so, however, is how we learn to reciprocate what we receive and how to do so.
It truly is about reflecting gratitude. A gift well received is a gift in the truest sense or else it can be perceived in many other ways. How do you receive the gift you are given and how you care to express it back can make all the difference. Although subjective to the giver and the occasion the way you acknowledge it is very important to the giver.

I remember this incident from my childhood…
Many years ago as a young kid at school, I used to carefully collect and save my pocket money so as to be able to buy small gifts for my family and friends on their birthdays. I would forgo my little sweet treats at lunch break and put it all in a little purse.

Once it was one of my dear relatives birthdays and I managed to joyfully search and buy a beautiful bracelet, a trinket actually from the saved money and happily gifted it to her. But to my dismay …in a few days she went and exchanged my gift for something else and I felt a little disappointed for a while when she told me casually about it only much later. But then gradually I let it go and accepted it as every person is entitled to their own taste of things. And I also felt, what may appeal to one may not suit the other. To each his or her own!

All is a matter of a shift in perspectives.

As soon as you adjust the way you see things the so-called issues that irk disappear on their own… but the question is are we ready to see beyond the niggling bits.

Lessons in life and living indeed!
A few more reflections on Giving and Receiving

Give with all of your heart

whenever and wherever you can

Because you truly can.

Receive by expressing the value

In heartfelt appreciation

of what you have got

Because it truly matters.

For then in the giving and receiving

Is established a full circle

of a contented connection.

And that will pave the path of grace

For more to follow along.

Give generously without any expectation

Receive generously in true appreciation.

Both are the core of human nature in action.

And all is well in the circle of interconnection.

When you give heartfully forget about it.

When you receive gratefully, remember it

Savvy

Tell me have you ever had a similar experience
What do you think about it? How would you feel if your gift was exchanged… or have you exchanged a gift for another?

Would love to hear from you, do share your thoughts…

Savvy

November 17, 2017
by Savvy Raj 7 Comments

On Being Grateful.

A beautiful and well meant message share came my way this morning … and I thought it was relevant enough to share ..

The qualification that gave you a job is the same qualification someone has who still does not have a job.
Be grateful.

The prayer that God answered for you is the same prayer others have been praying but without success.
Be grateful.

The road you use safely on a daily basis is the same road where many others lost their precious lives.
Be grateful.

The temple in which God blessed you is the same temple other people too worship in, yet their lives are still in discord.
Be grateful.

The rain that made your field produce good crops is the same rain that devastated someone else’s field.
Be grateful.

Be grateful because whatever you have is not by your power, your might , your talent or your qualifications, but it’s just the “Grace of God.” the giver of everything you have.

For everything you have, be grateful. 😍

Gratitude Rocks!

Savvy

November 14, 2017
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

Musings On Peace

Today I am glad to share my reflections on Peace coupled with my mothers musings on Peace and expectations…

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

Men 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 and emotional turbulence . Perseverance, hardwork, focus and luck help them to achieve their goals. But after attaining all these are they peaceful ?

Unfortunately the more one gains, the greater is the loss of inner peace. Loads of pressure weighs us down .

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 start expecting the same from all around them.

Whichever field or whatever state, there is always expectations. Family, friend, society, teachers, work place, children, lifestyle, appearance , behaviour fit to their age and status… Again it is endless. Peace still eludes .

Like the most difficult puzzles have very simple solutions, life problems also can be simplified. Just stop expecting from others or living to other’s expectations.

One word mantra to peace

Live , let live. Stop expecting.

Be yourself , let others be themselves. Never shy away or ignore social responsibilities or inner values. Do without expectations.If every one adhers to this,’Peace’ will befriend the surrounding.

Do one’s duty, Be grateful ,

Be understanding.

Be selfless – all without expectaions.

With whomever or wherever one be, adopt and adjust without expectation , happiness and peace will follow.

Anjana

Living in this now is a sustaining yet exacting task and as every moment presents itself uniquely there is no game plan other than living in it, being at peace,sensing peace and spreading peace in every now as life plays on …So own up to your share of peace.

Savvy

November 13, 2017
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

Strength of Subtlety

All matter is energy

And we are unique speckles of vibrations.

All resonating in the universality of life and living.
Trust you matter, more than you know

Believe you can and are making a difference

As you connect deeply in the universal flow

Tune in to reflect the truth of your being.

Every word every deed

Every step every move

Impacts the larger whole

Just as much as the world around affects you.

So start with who and what is around you

Sense your intuitive self talking to you

Telling much in all its subtlety.
Trust it for it is abound

With the strength of the subtle energies.

Resonate joy, abundance, balance

Resonate love ,harmony and peace

For you have the power to transform your world
Savvy

October 27, 2017
by Savvy Raj 10 Comments

Ride the waves…

Ride the wave of passion

Ride the waves in perseverance

Ride the waves of purpose

Ride the waves in patience

Ride the waves in equanimity

Ride the waves in understanding

Ride the waves of peace

Ride the waves of love

Ride the waves of joy

Ride the waves of contentment

And success will tide in your way

Strive not just the pinnacle but progression

As the next step is a downfall in one but

evolution in other!
The tipping point is on the top of things

But life is a game of choices in the making

Whether uphill and downhill the trick

Is in tiding and riding through the waves.

Savvy Raj

September 7, 2017
by Savvy Raj 11 Comments

Body shaming has to stop!

Yesterday I happened to revisit this very strong yet contemplative piece of writing by my dear mother. And I knew I just had to request her to share this because of its significance as much as the sensitivity of content which I felt is very relevant to the times we live in.

My mother writes a lot on and off and I want to share this as I feel she should put out her writings in a blog but she simply hasn’t done so yet for reasons best known to her. So while I try convincing her to write and share more, here is this post from her that touched my heart💙💚💙

Savvy

Love All!

Making someone feel badly about the way they look is the worst thing that one can do to another individual. It has the power to make someone feel unlovable. It creates so many insecurities and unwanted feelings. That is something we shouldn’t do or inflict upon anyone.
Body shaming has to stop. We have to stop tearing people down just because they don’t fit to the standards created by another in the first place. We also have to stop judging people based on their appearances. There is no meaner phase of being than hating oneself for the looks and it is not fair that we are pushing people to that point. We need to be accepting of all body types.

We need to encircle each other rather than bring each other down and we have to understand that every one is different, both physically and mentally. Anjana

We are created to be different, and we need to learn to love those differences.

Body shaming, a term that has become all too popular recently because humans are obsessed with appearances. We criticize the way that others judge us yet never hesitate to pass comments on others in a sarcastic friendly manner. We have separated ourselves into categories based on the way we look and it is wrong.

Effects of body shaming

What people don’t understand is what body shaming really does to an individual. It gradually breaks their confidence. Instead of holding their head high — they scan the floor because they don’t want people to notice them. Instead of feeling beautiful, their self worth decreases and feel like an alien in their own skin.

Body-shaming is a serious issue that’s secretly and silently ruining the lives of many out there. It’s high time we addressed it. And equally so for both women and men and children.
Those who are born fit or beautiful or intelligent didn’t do anything great to achieve it . It is the way they are born genetically.

What use is physical beauty if the mind is ugly? Let’s learn to value individuals for the values they hold, their character, their goodness and compassion, their talent and in general as a fellow human being who are all equal to one another.
As it is the society has created large gaps based on caste, creed, status and richness. On one side as educated and civilized people we are trying to eradicate them and on the other side creating new dividers between individuals.

Respect and value individuals for what they really are.
Instead if seeing others as

Being short or tall,

Being fair or dusky,

Being fit or fat,

Being beautiful or ugly

Being rich or poor

Being modern or simple

Let’s learn to see others as

Being kind or cruel,

Being adaptive or adamant,

Being compassionate or egoistic

Being selfless or selfish,

And above all

Are they humane enough ?

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Nature need not have to create so many different species to co exist, it could have easily made an assembly line of similar looking robots.

Value the differences.

That is where beauty is hidden.
Love all.

Anjana

September 1, 2017
by Savvy Raj 2 Comments

Many paths lead us home…

All the questions come in living;

All the answers are in the living,

And life is happening to you as you strive

And you are sifted in the sieve of life

While you flow or reverse the flow

In every now and then, moving fast or slow

To gain a grounding in the sun.

Are you ready for the race you wish to run?

Care to pause and reflect on these:

Whose choice is it the way you are?

What chances do you have to have it your way?

Who should make the change to what can be?

When can it be the way you want?

Where do you want to be in this now?

And how you can reach there?

Step out your own way

To sense the unfolding of other paths,

To see the effects before the cause,

To choose to smile at destiny’s face.

And that makes all the difference

In finding it all!

One fine day in your own sweet way!.

Savvy

August 22, 2017
by Savvy Raj 2 Comments

Keep Smiling From The Heart!

Keep Smiling from the heart!

It’s truly a wonderful way to live inside out

There is a lot in life to be thankful for

Sending such an intention outward

is an unending hope, that life never hardens

the living with all our heart & soul.

Savvy Raj

August 11, 2017
by Savvy Raj 15 Comments

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