Container Gardening

Attended an online workshop on container vegetable gardening today. The irony of the parallels drawn:

The seed matters
 yes indeed it does
Choose your pot 
No control over the pot you receive but much that can be done with what is in it.
Soil is important.Heavy soil can weigh the pot down and harden over time. Soil needs to breathe.
Breath is everything. Create space. Allow room to grow. Dont pack your life too tight and forget to pause.
Plants need light. The more the light determines which kind of plant can grow in the pot.
Could not agree more. Faith, spiritual nurturing, seeing the good in the world and people rejuvenates and strengthens the core. The stronger the turn towards " sunlight" the deeper the roots and growth.
Look for decay and disease
Be aware of poor choices, toxic relationships,  perceptions, prejudices that can thwart this growth. Or find the right treatment to help the plant grow.
 Water the plant just right. You need to know your plant for that.
Every " seed" has its own innate potential and for it to grow to it's fullest you need to tend to it.
Soil needs nutrients and fertilizers not just soil
One can live one's life just by moving from one experience to another-nothing wrong in that. But adding more to it for growth and self development helps the " plant" grow well.
Re- pot with each season and so that the plant can grow well.
The most poignant of it all. This year has all been about awareness of   changing "pots" and the " removing  away" of deposits. Life in it's essence continues- a much loved person gone yesterday - moves along as a new loss takes over. Form disappears but the essence of what the person meant to one, remains. People often say that one is remembered for the footprints he leaves behind. True, but one is remembered by another only if another wishes to. SO life your life the best way you can -for your innate best potential - walk your path -and if your footprints are treasured -it is because it is seen and felt by the kindness in another.
Sometimes you may do everything right but may not see produce as you would like to. Keep working at it. Every attempt is a new learning.
Indeed. That is the fact of life. Nothing in control. Life does not have to give you the best. You make the most of it .
Grateful for the learning  And now to order the containers to grow a vegetable garden.

Gratitude

Grateful.
Thankful.
A beautiful life.
Amazing deep connections.
Family beyond the immediate.
Values.
Inspirations.
Doing what you love.
Loving what you do.
Love.
Laughter.
Calm.
Togetherness.
Faith.
Grounding.
Awareness.
A four legged guide.
An ordinary life.
Some amazing " extra" in moments.
Grateful
Thankful.
A place holder.
 A reminder.
 I have more than all that i need.
My cup is full.
Every added moment is one more drop of happiness.
Because....
" Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect"- Margaret Mitchell

Main apni hi mann ka hosla hoon,
hai soya jahan par main jagaa hoon,
peeli seher ka nasha hoon,
madhosh tha ab yahaan hoon"- Irfan Khan. .RIP

A beautiful poem. Reminder

Brilliant.

Boundaries

Recently we watched two shows as a family and what followed was a wonderful open discussion on what defines actions as right and wrong, true or false. While there is no black and white in life, we often find ourselves holding views and opinions that put us on one or the other side of a fence.
There is a growing awareness that all of us are conscious beings united in love, yet as humans we have grown conditioned by rules ; some familial and some societal. It will be easy and a tad " holier than thou" to say we need to be unconditional in our thinking all the time.  As our own kids grow, we teach them ways to speak, sit, stand, distance to maintain via being respectful of person or relationship, and more, which as they grow they question and choose to follow or not follow. Society too has invisible rules and lines that fade in and fade out in different ways and under different circumstances and events.. How does a human then hold his or her own non judgemental, unconditional stance when it clashes with the rules and lines of society? The world knows enough men and women who are glorified or condemned based on which side of the line people are. However that is not the question or comment.. The question is if a person who chooses to live life throwing caution to the wind so to speak, or rather chooses to live life on own terms, are they always comfortable in their stance or do the invisible lines of the human world challenge their thoughts and stance?
Nothing is right or wrong , it's all perception. but in the world of different perceptions  and the resultant questions, the strife towards " just being" the way one wishes to be is interesting and so unique to each person and their sense of harmony.

Peace Perspective

Today was a good day for a good day!.Despite the gloomy weather outside at the start of the day, it was a beautiful start in home. The day was dotted with laughter, banter, discussion, music, carom frenzy , and individual and shared activities. The day included moments of learning , reading and inspiration in home and from staff and parents thinking out of the box to make a new system of education work for some incredibly beautiful kids. To add to this , we indulged our four legged baby to his heart's content and he expressed his joy to our hearts' content. I would call it a " beautiful" day or perhaps a " heartwarming" " peaceful" day.
As we stepped out for yet another walk, we met some delightful neighbors who commented " Isn't it all so peaceful", and further down a few dog parent friends who kind of stated the same" Gotta love this peace and quiet"!
Peace was the piece i had on my mind as i came back home. Each of us talked about and perhaps experienced this peace in different ways...or maybe it was the same. Is peace an internal starting place radiating outward, or an amalgamation of things/states of being  inside and outside? Is there a perfect ratio? What defines peace for each individual? Can we hold the feeling? If we can create a meditative, mindful bubble for ourselves, will nothing  break the bubble? Can a replication of a similar day replicate the feeling of peace?
We are blessed to stay in home but many are on the forefront are battling this pandemic head on. I wonder how they define peace?.It is definitely not an ongoing state, but  moments that received our complete  awareness, attention and recognition as being "peaceful" .
As varied the definitions of peace may be for each individual, we humans are all so interconnected by our relationship and strife towards balance in the" thought -emotion- behavior" drama in our varied roles. But keep us humans aside, the entire universe, nature seems to have  found " peace" in their synchronization and alignment. If each of us figure all our individual pieces that define our individual peace, will it guarantee peaceful co existence and peace on earth?
Just a piece to ponder over.

Communication

What is communication ? Such a fascinating topic.

 Is it conversations? Is it actions? Is it "vibes" and " energy"? Is it a sum total of all of these?

Do plants communicate? If so what do they say? or do we infer that?
We know animals communicate, but do we know all they "say" ?
Musicians communicate through the rhythmic cascades of their music- but yet it is subject to and colored by the individual listener.
Potters communicate through their revolving wheel- but not everyone who stops by picks a pot made.
Babies communicate through their cries - but every caregiver responds differently.
The ones who cant use their words- they find their way of telling us too.
A smile speaks.
Eyes speak.
They say actions are louder than words.
They say silence speaks.
More and more are seeking " quiet time" to make sense of the world we live in and to find our own equilibrium.
Yet " Words"- the biggest tool man has - is the most simple-yet complicated- oft misunderstood  form of communication.
Words can so easily convey exactly what needs to be said yet there are layers to the understanding of the same.
How powerful are words then? Do you express more of the emotion with more words or with less words?
Why are words deemed so important? Why are the words spoken or not spoken often the crux of an argument?
In my professional world, when we teach a child to use their words instead of  inappropriate actions, I am aware that we are often choosing the words to give them to use- yes words can empower the child but when those words are used constantly - those words are not deemed desirable any more.

Communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity and it works for those who work it. Its a beautiful subject and personally i believe communication is listening- to understand that which is not spoken.
In the " people world" people often listen to reply. But not responding is communication too- again easily misunderstood!


-

I AM

Question: Am I....

a name?
a qualification?
a relationship ?
a being?
an energy field?
a thought?
a feeling?

Answer: I AM


Conclusion: That's it! I just Am.

Perfectly flawed and imperfectly perfect : I AM

.

Joy in the Mundane!

This enforced time at home has brought new awareness to the mundane- and new appreciation of the same! Washing dishes, mopping and sweeping floor and even folding clothes have received more attention than i have given it in the past, and i am grateful for that. I have been blessed with family and friends who value "perfection" in ordinary every day things. Be it cleaning, adorning the temple in home, ironing clothes  or stacking them neatly into piles. The joy in cutting vegetables -each piece exactly the same - is a joy some in my family take pride in. I read recently, that there is significance in  this - a positive energy field created . Today when i read about this as energy fields the concept seems " profound" but as a growing child one only sees  " perfection" being executed, deemed  as important, but not necessarily understood as one of value- at least not necessarily when young. They say you get wiser as you age ( not sure if wisdom and age are necessarily inter connected but that topic is for another day!- However there is so much to learn and that is truly a blissful experience.) The first step in " knowing" is acknowledging that you don't know.

I am fortunate to be in a profession where i have discovered and continue to discover and celebrate joy in everyday moments, something that perhaps can be termed as mundane activities.

Wearing shoes, putting on a button, opening the lid to a box, putting something in, folding  a piece of cloth, identifying a spoon- the list is endless. But the two times i felt a change in my core was, one when i saw a child discover, stretch and count each finger out for the first time. Imagine knowing that your fingers belong to you - the fascination i saw on that face , I will never forget. That day, he taught me in ways never imagined. The second was when I watched the steadfast determination of a 3 year old learning to put on and then zipper his jacket. Through the countless tries he made with determination, I learnt lessons in patience, and new meanings to the concepts of time, effort and success. Yes he did it!, but moved on to the next in a blink of an eye! Success and celebration took on a new meaning since then.

And, just saying I was and am older to both those kids.Wiser?Hmm... they taught me and i learnt  new meaning to learning.

What is Perfection then? Arnauld Angelique expressed it beautifully when he said " perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extra ordinarily well"-

I have come to learn that it's the simple things in one's life that makes up the bulk of it. The mundane is where we live and we end up missing most of it in pursuit of extra ordinary moments, events or experiences. However, silence and attention to every day life and it's countless moments, allows us to experience the " extra" in every ordinary moment. 

Garam masala!

With all the cooking these days, it is hard  not to have a chain of thoughts triggered by the time in the kitchen😀

Every dish made involves a bunch of ingredients : from the vegetables to the lentils and spices needed. You wash them, chop them, saute them, blend them, add spices to then savor the final product with or without accompaniment. Whole garam masala is often a staple ingredient to many rich gravy based dishes. You remember to add them in and when it's time to eat, many pick them out and place them gently( or forcefully) to the side to throw out later. Why? well as much it adds to the dish, it's distinct taste is not always taste friendly.

People are also a lot like dishes ; different blends, some running all over the place, some eye pleasing, some bitter, some a mouthful to take in, some spicy, some sweet and some just right. But remember - just right is a matter of perspective. Just like a dish that i love may be one you detest.  People come with their own unique " ingredients" that make them distinct yet the " garam masala" in them may not be always savory. Do we accept them as a blended whole and savor their whole presence in our life? Do we strain out/pluck out the unsavory bits and turn a blind eye to those?  Do we even have the ability to do that ? 

Actually it is a little silly to compare humans to food dishes but if you think about it, in both cases it is the receiver - the one savoring the dish or interacting with the person, who communicates if he or she wants to have the garam  masala in or out, or if shehe needs adjustment to the spices in. And if no communication is made, then it is what it is. The dish remains as is - and you can do as you please with or without complaint! This does not diminish the essence of the ingredients - the garam masala will continue to be the touch of magic to add to the richness of the dish or the person .

To be or not to be

In recent times the concept of "being " has often been used , heard or discussed in various forms. References to " be " like nature , we are all conscious, eternal " beings" are oft referenced to. I have come to enjoy the many readings and discourses on this topic.

What is it to " be" ? Is it a state of  calmness ? a state of stillness? or deep rooted-ness? Perhaps.

 If i were to compare it to the world outside my window, nothing seems  still or necessarily calm, consistently. I notice tiny blades of grass rustle, leaves dancing to the tune of a breeze or trees swaying to the gust of the wind. I see the changing colors of the sky, moving clouds, furry critters moving around and birds adorning the branches and skies. Is " being" adaptability? To take things as it comes? Perhaps.  Perhaps it is acceptance of perpetual change. Why else is there such beauty in a tree? A full bloom of leaves, flowers and fruits , it adorns itself over time with  rich colors, only to drop it off one at a time, to stand  tall , bent or fallen, bare and dry. And just like that it begins the process all over again marveling at the sprout of 1 leaf on it's branch. Amazing! Humbling!. Ah!To live life like a tree.

 The sight of a standing bare tree is quite spectacular- It seems like the branches are actually roots growing into the universe connecting itself to the universal energy. Connected in both directions and always growing - in faith and universal expansion and love. Yes to " be" deep rooted, yet growing and energizing the self to the beat of the universal heartbeat -perhaps that is to "be"

A blade of  grass stands tall next to a towering tree. Creepers bend along the strong trunk of the tree that supports it. No matter the height, the width, the strength of the plants - everyone co exist, supporting each other, accepting each others' unique form, allowing room for one another to fall, to lay against. No clamor for rising higher nor posts to proclaim achievement of surviving a storm or seeing the magnificence of the sky , sun and the moon in their glorious forms. Simple acceptance, tolerance and the ability to bow down where needed- no questions asked - no justifications sought.To " be " inter connected and accepting, yet unique - perhaps that is  the lesson.

Trees give shade and protect many from the furies of the natural elements. Fruits and flowers drop away -fallen to the ground - or into the hands of those who wish to receive. Clouds protect us from the scorching heat of the sun and also cool down the earth with  rain drops -sometimes gently, sometimes in  heavy downpour. Even as they fall,  trees give themselves up to warm homes and hearts. To "be" giving -without expectation. Give because you can. Perhaps that is why we have two hands -receive with one and give with the other. As simple as a breath in and a breath out

BE-ing can be any of these, all of these and so much more. The question is : Will you choose to" be" or not to " be"?

Puzzle Pieces April 2020

Man is a puzzle part- one piece. Some people  find their perfect fit in their life puzzle and some trim their edges and evolve their own piece to make themselves fit. Some pieces never find their puzzles. They are on a quest to find where they belong.
No matter what piece you are, the puzzle of life is ever forming and not set in place You may find yourself fit in and your puzzle seems complete and pretty . You may shout out with sheer happiness only to have factors beyond your control lead to the puzzle breaking out again. You may never find the puzzle you belong to lamenting the loss as you move along.

The point is that, there are no perfect puzzles to look for. There are only puzzle pieces. WE are only puzzle pieces. We make our puzzles as we go - some coordinated pieces together, some mismatched, some square and some round. We find our puzzles pieces and create a puzzle form. A puzzle form we want to build.

There are no pre made 1000 piece puzzles of life available out there . You can make a puzzle of any size and any kind you want- as long as you find the pieces you want in your puzzle of life. There is no one standing back to appreciate the life puzzle once you are done. No - you cant do that either . Because you see the joy is in being the piece and it is best to be your best piece.

Poetic Justice?

A conversation with a friend and a new perspective to look at our current scenario. For years man has been relentless in his pursuit of achieving progress and making advancements-some personal and some for mankind. Truly history is witness that there have been several selfless endeavors in this direction. But in this pursuit, have we been ( actually the truth is that we have been) exploiting and abusing non human living species that exist along with us? The intelligent species we are, with each new advancement we proposed , we selectively ignored the impact of our action on countless species that once co existed with us , some, now, endangered and many, extinct. We never paused, never retraced our steps to correct actions that stood to impact living species around us. A few collective voices were raised and some small steps were made ( thank you to those who cared) but for most life was all about us human species. There were several pandemics that affected other living species, threatened their existence, some before our time and some during our time but they did not hold front page news coverage.
Today the existence of man is threatened. We don't know what the future holds for us. In the midst of this the birds fly, squirrels hop around , animals and critters move about unfazed. An unknown unseen virus threatens mankind. Is it is poetic justice? Are we too late? or are we just in time to realize the importance of harmony and co existence. Will the end of this pandemic restore the world back to the way it should be without us or with us?

It is what it is!

April 2020
So it's my second attempt at this blog thing ! I started it on the first day of the new year to kind of transition written notes to a tech format. After a few diligent posts  entered in, now there seems to be no record of anything :). Everything is wiped clean and the tab in front of me says " new post". Almost like a reset.Which only means that the thoughts that are relevant to me today makes it  into this post. Don't know if it will remain!
It is eerily similar to today's times. The world is living in the grip of the COVID 19. A sombre name with a deadly impact. Many have lost their lives, mnay grapple with the reality of this. The life we once knew, seems a distant past and the future seems unclear at the moment. It's like we are in a bubble. Many rightly say, it is a perhaps a way to slow down our lives and focus on that which is important .As i look out the window while i pen these thoughts i am fascinated by how unchanged nature is through this pandemic that is gripping the world. Trees sway, clouds pass, birds sing, the sun plays peek a boo as it pleases. Nature seems oblivious to our new reality -a virus that we cant see, cant locate - yet looms over. Yes - does feel like a bubble -except is nature in the bubble -protected, unharmed? or are we in the bubble- frozen in time and thought ? Where we truly cannot think beyond the NOW. Days seem fused together and all of us are moving along from one " now" to another. It is what it is. It always was and always will be - pandemic or no pandemic

J