My sincere thanks to Dr Sridhar for nominating me for a ‘3 day Lyric Challenge’
Please do check his wonderful blog at
Philosophy Through Photography
And dwell into the philosophical angle of his photos which is his interest as well.
Hence the apt title.
My choice for Day 3 of the Lyrical Challenge is
I hope you dance By Lee Ann Womack
This song is about taking chances and not being afraid to try something new.
I hope you dance
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger May you never take one single breath for granted God forbid love ever leave you empty handed I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance Never settle for the path of least resistance Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’ Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’ Don’t let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along) I hope you dance
I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder) I hope you dance (Where those years have gone?)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along) I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder?)
Rules:
1.Thank the person who nominated you.
2.Share one of your favorite song/lyrics one at a time for three days.
3.Nominate three other bloggers each day.
Life is…
A little ray of light.
A little smile, a little laughter.
A little company, a little love.
A little gift of kindness.
A little gleam of sunshine.
A little sparkle to our day. A little glimmer of hope.
A little hand that cares to help.
A little wish that comes true.
A little touch in loving care.
A little wave of joy.
A little walk across the bend.
A little rain on a hot summers day.
A little warmth on a cold winters day.
A little sunshine on a cloudy day.
A little shade in a hot deserted road.
A little water in moments of thirst.
A little moonbeam on a dark night.
A little twinkle of the starlit sky.
A little dance to fill our senses.
A little song to renew the spirit.
A little fun to freshen us up. A little chocolate to make your day.
A little comfort in moments of despair.
A little ride on country roads.
A little prayer in the bliss of grace.
A little book to unwind at night!
Savvy
It is in these little things that life renews and restores faith in life once again. Life goes on ….
Take a little moment to live lovingly and notice the little things in this now as it is.
As someday these little things matter a great deal! Savvy Raj
Do you even know how blessed you are? Your being there is enough!
Feeling so grateful for all I have! I believe all is well…
Just with these few words above
You have forayed rightaway
Into the vibration of resonance
A shift towards positive mindsets
Into the dimensions of healing awareness
Through the sound of these spoken words.
So take stock of your potential within
You have so much going for you
Remember to believe
In the power of your own words
There is much you can do for this world
to transform for the better.
And it can start with you… Good thoughts good words Can be a start… Think well, Choose well Speak well!
A dear reader has sent me a link I want to share … It is his translation of my recent article Flow with Life.
Happy to share this here for my Spanish speaking readers.Thank you Ignacio-orna-nacho
for your kind effort and share.
For all language aficionados in any new language, there is a draw of nuances of the culture and its interpretations in the flow in both the way it is spoken and written.And that is often beautiful to note.
El que cambiemos es inevitable, es Ley de Vida pero tú eres quien está a cargo de cómo el cambio te impacta.
Aliento y movimiento:
Somos la suma de nuestras partes individuales. No hay corazón sin nuestra mente y ninguna acción sin nuestra percepción.
No hay dos momentos de nuestra vida que sean iguales. Nuestro cuerpo está hecho de células que se renuevan a tiempo. Las emociones y el comportamiento que manifestamos son profundamente integrales a cómo nos sentimos acerca de nosotros mismos y la situación en cuestión … por lo que nuestros movimientos son tan únicos como lo somos nosotros.
Cultivar la conciencia de nuestra propia respiración puede brindarnos el apoyo necesario y la sanación interna a través de los caprichos de la vida y nuestro modo de vivir.
Solo asegúrate de sentir tu calma interior y ser uno con tu aliento, sin importar la situación en la que te encuentres. Esa es la forma en que te puedes conectar gradualmente contigo mismo en un nivel más profundo.
Mientras más conectado estés con tu aliento, gradualmente comenzarás a relajarte en el momento.
Ajustando tu aliento y movimiento
Deja que tu aliento guíe y lidere tu movimiento. Valore las energías sutiles de su propio ser que abarque su propia respiración.
Siente la integración de tu aliento y tus movimientos. La respiración le da a tu movimiento una forma y dirección. Por lo tanto, no solo puede vincular su respiración y su movimiento, sino también practicar la iniciación de tus movimientos con la respiración.
Tu conciencia aumentará gradualmente de cómo tu propia inspiración y espiración se utilizan en tus movimientos. Lo que potencia y da energía a tus acciones y lo que calma y ayuda a la relajación. ¡Y cómo puede fluir envolvente y abarcante, conectándose y complementándose como un baile elegante!
Tan pronto como empieces a practicar, aprenderás a bailar con ello.
Change is inevitable, but you are the one in charge of how the change impacts you.
Breath and Movement:
We are the sum of our individual parts There is no heart without our mind and no action without our sensing.
No two moments of our lives are alike. Our body is made of cells that are renewed in time. Emotions and behaviour that we manifest are deeply integral to how we feel about ourselves and the situation at hand … so our movements are as unique as we are.
Cultivating an awareness of our own breath can give us much needed support and inner healing through the vagaries of life and living
Just make sure to sense your inner calm and be one with your breath no matter the situation you are in. That is the way you can gradually connect with yourself on a deeper level.
The more connected you are with your breath you gradually begin to relax in the moment.
Attuning your Breath and Movement
Let your breath guide and lead your movement. Value the subtle energies of your own self that encompasses your own breath.
Sense the integration of your breath and your movements. Breath gives your movement a shape and direction. So not only can you link your breath and your movement but also practise initiating your movements with your breath.
Your awareness will gradually increase of how your own breath (inhale)and out breath (exhale) are being used in your movements. What powers and energizes your actions and what calms and assists relaxation. And how it can flow enveloping and encompassing, connecting and complementing each other like an elegant dance!
Stay humble and grounded
Remember your roots
For they are your strength
To know tough times move on
Leaving you solid in the rooting_
Yet flexible to flow and adapt
Knowing the wisdom of humility.
A happy ‘Third year Anniversary’in writing and sharing to me today as I just got informed that I am officially 3 year old here on Word press.😀
It’s neither too long a way back in time nor too young to let go a look back in time .
Amazing memories of writing and sharing and learning here on WordPress with you all my friends.
Yes the learnings are a treasure I welcome all thanks to you my lovely readers and cowriters who have been so very thoughtful and inspiring as well as engaging in each of these posts.Thank you so much for the appreciation of my writings and paintings.
My artwork and poetry has definitely flourished in the patronage extended by so many of you kind souls. I extend my deepest gratitude for the caring and kind and encouraging words you share in your posts and comments.
Well as I look around the bend and take a bow in gratitude for the memories past am eagerly looking forward to writing and hoping to share so much more in time in love and goodwill.
Wishing you all lovely day and a wonderful weekend!
A recent spate of connects and requests from my old students to hold a workshop for them got me thinking of what is it that makes sense of what truly matters. Almost most of them were and are middle-aged and above and seem to be in the same boat.
All of them feeling loneliness creeping through somewhere into their lives in spite of having family and friends and an active social life and network.
Many of them are seeking a purpose in their life … unknowingly searching for a sense of meaning. It has become common for people around 40s to begin a second innings of soulful searching of that spirit that someway has deviated and lost its way.
In the throes of bustling family life and living, new meaning seems hard to find but around middle age, children take care of themselves the spouses find more time to pursue that which they have never done before or found time to do. In such times there is scope to do so much more than before. The question then is how to fine balance life well and achieve all that you set out to.
Here are a few tips on living well and achieving a work-life balance:
If you find yourself feeling stuck and stagnant in your present condition maybe in your relationships be sure to take some time to find solutions creatively.
Watch out for signs of loneliness or hopelessness if so make sure to replace negative thoughts with positive reflections and thoughts
Use this time to find new outlets of creativity within you like maybe find your new interest in hobbies art culture in your environment
Try to spend time making new friends increasing your social circle
Try to take time out to read solve puzzles for they help in bettering your neural pathways. Every new thing you learn as you grow, your brain re-activates and channels certain parts of your dormant brain cells.
Avoid procrastinating and face your fears and problems headlong one by one the trick is to not try to do too much at one time but to be open to challenges and yet find time to do concentrate on the thing you are involved at that moment.
Make sure that you have small goals that you have in mind and work towards fulfilling it.
Respect the life you have and appreciate the moments for what it is.
Work on yourself by being grateful, nurture relationships and friendships and spend some time caring and sharing this lays the foundation for a more fulfilling life.
If you’re looking for things to do that can make a difference to your personal self as well as feeling productive consider volunteering. A number of organisations require genuine help from people who are having the time to share and mentor.
Use your knowledge to make this world a better place teaching youngsters basic life skills or even taking lessons for them can change your life in dramatic ways
Try to find places where you can volunteer your time and resources constructively. The take-back you will have is the undeniable joy.
Spend time nurturing and caring for yourself and also do not hesitate to take advice from those who have done it so before and change your life, swim the tide through to positive ways.
All is a matter of choices we make and the positive intentions that we choose to carry.
Positive change begins with us.
Every living being is making a difference to the environment in every moment. The question is how and in what way can it become sustainable.
Like the Great Barrier Reef, once the coral reefs are affected there the entire ecosystem stops thriving, and less fresh water will flow through the lakes…
Closer home the topography of the Great Himalayas are changing as well.
With melting ice-caps, the collapse of vegetation and wildlife, and violent surges of hurricanes droughts and frequent wildfires are all concerns for our world.
And there is really not much difference in the apathy that is happening in the name of sustaining the future… only much similarity in the situation of corruption and deceit through politics of governing people whatever the part of the world we are living in.
I realise I am perhaps contributing in my little way by ‘Spreading Awareness'(Tip 35 on the list ) on the need for Environmental Sustainability … but I found a lot of the tips here pretty much adaptable and relevant to us as an individual …
In a land of diversities in all spheres from culture to climate, from religion to celebrations.
Every region expresses its culture distinctly according to the ethos of the people of that particular region.And as dances are a coherent expression of human nature thoughts and feelings, each form of dance that originates, encapsulates it distinctly.
Indian dances can be broadly divided into Classical Dance Forms Semi Classical and the Folk forms.
The most well known Classical Dance styles of India are the Kathak, Odissi & Manipuri of Northern and Eastern parts of India.And
Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam Kathakali from Southern parts of India.
Classical Dance and Arts is given a revered status as according to the legends, the Gods invented the dance. It incorporates music melody beats drama form and line along with gestures through hand fingers and eye movements.
The elaborate costumes and heavy makeup somehow helps convey many depictions of the overall performances.
There are a number of Folk dance forms that are performed as well.
Traditionally all these forms have been structured around the nine emotions or rasas namely:
Hasya: happiness
Shoka: sorrow
Krodha: anger
Karuna: compassion
Bhibatsa: disgust
Adbuta: wonder
Bhaya: fear
Viram: courage
And Shanta: serenity.
The earliest Indian religious texts have described creation in terms of a dance. And the dances of India are said to have their origins in the Vedic Age of 1000BC
Even today the practice of the Indian dances have an element of religious rituals although much may have changed with time.
Musings on Dancing
A dance is an expression of who we are, our mindset our bodies our culture all intermingled inextricably. It is a statement of our roots and our connection to others.
We can express ourselves by learning and staying rooted in the structure or choose to vary and fuse and develop our understanding by adding to the repertoire other dance forms and evolve in the sharing. The choice is ours to choose. We don’t need to discard old learning as we learn something new but align ourselves to understand the larger picture. This way we experience diversity for ourselves as we learn to see the significance of every form its contribution its essence and relevance of its roots in culture through the movements and expression. Learning dance from different lands helps us understand and evolve. We can learn to respect others traditions and cultures while valuing our own.
Team spirit is an Inspiration towards Integration.
To inculcate a positive temperament and boost morale, individually and communally any management must ensure team spirit to help enhance an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding.
Collaboration is an art of management through team building activities that increases productivity and helps to finish more tasks on time.
Tip 5: Concurring to Collaborate
The spirit of Collaboration is in giving and sharing value to and with one another. And most of all respecting skills each have been uniquely endowed with and can bring with them.
How to Collaborate Better? A few tips :
Work with respect for one another’s individuality.
Aspire towards a team’s goal plan
Set roles and norms in place.
Value and incorporate accountability
Recognize the uniqueness of creativity
Understand and listen to perspectives
Simplify communication protocols.
Share the knowledge and information
Be responsive and receptive to learning and co-working.
Learn to trust & build an atmosphere of trust.
The trust comes from encouraging one another. It builds team spirit!
Giving is the movement where the heart speaks without hesitation and in the flow through deeds and words.There is a moment of decision before the giving and it is in that moment that the life can be propelled to evolve along with the patterns of thought.
There is a lot of lovely words focussed on Giving and most are essentially on the’ Give before the Take.’
However, I also have something to share here …
Every giving may have its own reasons…
Some may be in an instinctive reaction like warming up of the heart due to mutual understanding either being in the wavelength of a resonance at that moment.
Or it may be because it is in goodwill as you genuinely care to show your appreciation.
Another would be because of your own good nature where you cannot leave without a positive act of appreciation in response…. there may be so many million and more reasons for giving which is wonderful for the world at large.
Now the reasons for not giving may be personal and unique as well.
Like for instance when you feel you are being used for a purpose that is self-serving.
Often there is a certain energy, in the very act of giving and that is what leaves an imprint on us and decides our future course of action.
Like at times a particular person’s energy may overwhelm and exhaust you or may be too much to handle that giving more thought or attention to it would feel counterproductive.
Like when you feel stressed and overburdened in the complexities of life and living that you simply may have overlooked the fact that the giving action is truly way beyond the gift itself.
Like when you fail to understand the reasons for giving or think the giver has ulterior motives for that matter…you may just appreciate it out of politeness but steer clear of receiving further as its truly not in your best interest to receive such a gift.
But whatever it is, Giving nurtures and nourishes the soul of both the giver and the receiver when the intention is positive.
A short story of inspiration for beginners learning to dance!
A pleasant Sunday morning, finds me in a new venue, a family club actually for my dance workshops in the suburbs of Mumbai , well it was a start of something new, so there I stood before my new batch of learners. I notice a lovely couple had brought their daughter of five along with them. Being a parent myself I understand the limitations of nuclear parenting in Mumbai and the fact that there are times that one has to just take the kids along where you want to go, as sometimes, there is no one you could leave them safely with.
The keen observer in the picture is the little girl I have written about 🙂
I smiled at the little girl who gave me a warm smile back. Very sweet I thought! Soon enough I began the session with the usual round of introduction to the dance form and then went on with the basic step of swing. I was quite busy with the parents and just had a cursory glance the little girl who I saw amusing herself standing near the corner where a couple of chairs were stacked.I went about explaining about the beat, counts and the rhythm and the body positioning and was halfway through the session . I was engrossed in teaching so much that I was suddenly jolted with a soft but insistent tap on my arm. I turned and was absolutely amazed when the little girl showed me the basic step with perfect timing to music. The little girl had carefully observed what I was doing and imbibed it for sometime standing quietly in the corner and once she was confident she came up to me silently for approval.
I was clearly bowled over by the power of observation and interest in this child. Many a times with power of observation we can master all that we want to by our-self , provided we have the determination to focus on our goals.
The little child’s brain had mapped a visual imagery of the step clearly, and was able to recall it at will even though she had not practiced it half the number of times her parents had… along with me.
The power of observation has no age barrier, some are gifted and some have to develop the latent power within, but we all certainly have it within us to reap the potential of this power.So do care to see a little beyond the denials and negations just trust and believe you can dance and then You Most Certainly Can Dance!
This was first written for my dance students and future learners, a couple of years ago .But I felt it can be shared for the power of perseverance and belief makes all the difference !
We are all unique in our movements , so we must strive to find our own path to fulfillment , wherein lies our success. Success follows whenever we move with the strength of intention to learn to dance !
Take a step , start dancing today ! Make dancing a way of life, To find out more about learning to dance at your pace…
please contact here or write to me: savvy@danceconcepts.in
Savvy Raj 
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