When the rain is pounding on your roof, you become overwhelmed by the sound and sensation of relief. It is the sound of peace when people take cover in their homes, in their cars, under a tree or some sort of shelter.
Rain brings one to a temporary stand still and offers a welcome breather or a pause in your sentence of activity.
The feeling of sheltering is a human instinct that begins even before we see the first light at birth. Being at peace is feeling sheltered and safe from the outside world. Peace is when you are able to focus on the task at hand and experience a sense of accomplishment on your own. Peace means you are able to manage time without feeling the pressure to adhere to anyone's beg and calling.
To me, peace means getting lost between the forms that are shaped with every brush stroke on my canvas. An escape to a surreal world of wonder and a real world of rain...
Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Wednesday, 15 April 2020
...after action, satisfaction.
What is more satisfying than that sigh at the end of the day?
The yes-it's-time-for-wine-moment! The realization of accomplishments.
Long days, long hours of labour when you feel everything comes to a close. Less demands, less phone calls, less worrying and more self love. It is the sensation of hot water over tour back, the squirt of the shower gel in your hand palm and the eventual scents of soap and perfume on your naked skin.
Switching off, logging out or locking down is an art many of us neglect. We constantly give in to the demands of others; pushing ourselves a bit kore and more until the point of exhaustion. Our immune systems kicks into gear to say amen to another demand from yourself. We have bowed down to the constant demands of daily traffic congestion, work obligations and social calling way beyond our means.
The sigh at the end of the day is your sign to stop. It is the warning light to make adjustments and start saying no to others and yes to yourself.
It should the sigh of keeping up the good balance.
The yes-it's-time-for-wine-moment! The realization of accomplishments.
Long days, long hours of labour when you feel everything comes to a close. Less demands, less phone calls, less worrying and more self love. It is the sensation of hot water over tour back, the squirt of the shower gel in your hand palm and the eventual scents of soap and perfume on your naked skin.
Switching off, logging out or locking down is an art many of us neglect. We constantly give in to the demands of others; pushing ourselves a bit kore and more until the point of exhaustion. Our immune systems kicks into gear to say amen to another demand from yourself. We have bowed down to the constant demands of daily traffic congestion, work obligations and social calling way beyond our means.
The sigh at the end of the day is your sign to stop. It is the warning light to make adjustments and start saying no to others and yes to yourself.
It should the sigh of keeping up the good balance.
Wednesday, 8 April 2020
...Like red wine
According to a google search, fermentation is a metabolic process in which an organism converts a carbohydrate into alcohol or an acid.
Dealing with the transition of life in your twenties to your thirties, from thirties to your forties and forties to the fifties, requires clever maneuvering simply to get by or plainly to adjust to the demands of keeping it together. The ever present "What society wants", becomes a constant reminder of how to behave according to your age.
When I was recently reminded that I am not fun to be around with anymore, it really struck a chord. I chewed on this bitter thought, spat it out, put it back after three weeks and realized that it tasted differently.
Whether we are at any stage in life, we are still carbohydrates, gracefully processing our experiences into a fine wine. By looking from a distance, we become more of a spectator rather than a spectacle. We participate differently, more slowly, more quietly, but with more dignity and wisdom.
We don't shake a bottle of red wine, but we still shake the Martini. It is the ability to recognize the adventurous distinction between humor and acid.
Dealing with the transition of life in your twenties to your thirties, from thirties to your forties and forties to the fifties, requires clever maneuvering simply to get by or plainly to adjust to the demands of keeping it together. The ever present "What society wants", becomes a constant reminder of how to behave according to your age.
When I was recently reminded that I am not fun to be around with anymore, it really struck a chord. I chewed on this bitter thought, spat it out, put it back after three weeks and realized that it tasted differently.
Whether we are at any stage in life, we are still carbohydrates, gracefully processing our experiences into a fine wine. By looking from a distance, we become more of a spectator rather than a spectacle. We participate differently, more slowly, more quietly, but with more dignity and wisdom.
We don't shake a bottle of red wine, but we still shake the Martini. It is the ability to recognize the adventurous distinction between humor and acid.
Monday, 6 April 2020
An honest affair
It is only after midnight that my conversation with myself can become an honest affair.
The surrounding darkness echoed by an eerie silence so frightening still that I have to question my very existence in a moment of supreme quietness.
The intense affair of self reflection becomes a private conversation of question and answer. No - not really an interrogation but a brutal and honest acceptance of oneself. This acceptance can be either kind or cruel, being the author of your own happiness.
We are measured and weighed according to other people's standards. An often silent, but intolerable cruelty suffered by many but only if we could recognize that our true strength lies in the art of being kind to ourselves . It is about finding the fine balance of truly knowing yourself.
To love yourself, makes loving others easier, with kindness. Love is not selfish, but sharing. Love is not cruel and dictating, but patient.
Life is an honest love affair with oneself.
The surrounding darkness echoed by an eerie silence so frightening still that I have to question my very existence in a moment of supreme quietness.
The intense affair of self reflection becomes a private conversation of question and answer. No - not really an interrogation but a brutal and honest acceptance of oneself. This acceptance can be either kind or cruel, being the author of your own happiness.
We are measured and weighed according to other people's standards. An often silent, but intolerable cruelty suffered by many but only if we could recognize that our true strength lies in the art of being kind to ourselves . It is about finding the fine balance of truly knowing yourself.
To love yourself, makes loving others easier, with kindness. Love is not selfish, but sharing. Love is not cruel and dictating, but patient.
Life is an honest love affair with oneself.
Monday, 30 March 2020
...the choices we make
When to sleep or not?
What to wear or not?
What to eat?
What to cook?
Should the washing be done today, again?
Should I read or watch a movie?
Water or wine?
Tea or G&T?
To wait or not?
On the couch or on the bed?
Do it now or do it later?
What music to play?
iPad or computer?
Lights on or lights off?
What color to paint my nails?
To the front or to the back?
To the left or to the right?
In or out?
Open or close?
Wet or dry?
Salt or sweet?
To press enter or not?
Stay at home - not really having a choice.
Choice...is to go with the demands of time and the continuous flow of adjustment.
It is the ticking heartbeat of our existence. Choice is to accept, adjust and live with the consequences of our decisions.
What to wear or not?
What to eat?
What to cook?
Should the washing be done today, again?
Should I read or watch a movie?
Water or wine?
Tea or G&T?
To wait or not?
On the couch or on the bed?
Do it now or do it later?
What music to play?
iPad or computer?
Lights on or lights off?
What color to paint my nails?
To the front or to the back?
To the left or to the right?
In or out?
Open or close?
Wet or dry?
Salt or sweet?
To press enter or not?
Stay at home - not really having a choice.
Choice...is to go with the demands of time and the continuous flow of adjustment.
It is the ticking heartbeat of our existence. Choice is to accept, adjust and live with the consequences of our decisions.
Thursday, 26 March 2020
...unplugged.
Looking at my nest of cables and wires scattered on my floor, which some of them are disconnected from yet another extension cable, the idea of the world unplugged, begin to nestle within me.
The thought of the forgotten generation of elderly people, confined in a 12 feet square meter room, whom may be oblivious to what's happening in the world around them, and going about their day to day routine, has been disconnected from life and family in so many ways. The unspoken illness of loneliness has unplugged them from society. The lost ones.
Living in quarantine or self isolation has become a reality and calls for the pause button to be pressed. It is an unexpected, welcome invitation to plug into yourself and re-wire the cables while the world takes a break from living. Connecting with your inner self, means taking care of yourself first, then of others. Social distancing is not a curse, it is a blessing. A time to give back some kind of normal.
For the not so single ones, it is time to lay the table with your best embroidered table cloth and have a hearty home cooked meal together, unplugging social media, having real connections.
I am plugged in - how about you?
The thought of the forgotten generation of elderly people, confined in a 12 feet square meter room, whom may be oblivious to what's happening in the world around them, and going about their day to day routine, has been disconnected from life and family in so many ways. The unspoken illness of loneliness has unplugged them from society. The lost ones.
Living in quarantine or self isolation has become a reality and calls for the pause button to be pressed. It is an unexpected, welcome invitation to plug into yourself and re-wire the cables while the world takes a break from living. Connecting with your inner self, means taking care of yourself first, then of others. Social distancing is not a curse, it is a blessing. A time to give back some kind of normal.
For the not so single ones, it is time to lay the table with your best embroidered table cloth and have a hearty home cooked meal together, unplugging social media, having real connections.
I am plugged in - how about you?
Wednesday, 25 March 2020
When thunder tastes good
A change in the weather causes an alert on my metabolism. The very thought of rain coming our way, excites me with wonder and the urge for cooking! It is that rush to take off the washing on the line, hiding the things out of harm's way, making that telephone call to say pancake is on the way... C'mon over!
The latest health curse has a severe impact on our natural longing to connect with others. The first rumbling sound of thunder always sparks some sort of an alert, followed by that split second decision of what to do next. Waiting...
In my childhood, I was often lost in my own imagination of constructing stories around sounds and other tactile triggers. Thunder was the clashing king ruling over the dark skies speaking for the quiet voiceless ones. He was the Robin Hood of the sky, the giver and the protector.
The rhythm of the raindrops intensifies with each puffing sound on the fibre glass rooftop of my enclosed balcony. The rain cleanses. It disinfects the heavy thoughts of the disease which claimed so many innocent lives. The sound of thunder and rain, lifts our spirits and recharges our batteries to digest yet another day of the grim statistics of the Corona virus.
The world needs a clean slate. Thunder tastes good!
The latest health curse has a severe impact on our natural longing to connect with others. The first rumbling sound of thunder always sparks some sort of an alert, followed by that split second decision of what to do next. Waiting...
In my childhood, I was often lost in my own imagination of constructing stories around sounds and other tactile triggers. Thunder was the clashing king ruling over the dark skies speaking for the quiet voiceless ones. He was the Robin Hood of the sky, the giver and the protector.
The rhythm of the raindrops intensifies with each puffing sound on the fibre glass rooftop of my enclosed balcony. The rain cleanses. It disinfects the heavy thoughts of the disease which claimed so many innocent lives. The sound of thunder and rain, lifts our spirits and recharges our batteries to digest yet another day of the grim statistics of the Corona virus.
The world needs a clean slate. Thunder tastes good!
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