Dear Jen

This is a reply to Jen’s email. But this is also to all of you. Because its hard to randomly start an essay like post on such wide issues, dreams, this gives me just the right context.

Dear Jen.

Ahh, a coffee shop, yes. I love coffee shops. And maybe one day if you and I both manage to fulfill our traveling dreams, we will meet in a coffee shop. Maybe several times. In different parts of the world. And then, maybe not. And that’s fine too. Connection is what’s important. And we’ve got that made.  

I was once told by someone not to share my dreams until I’m sure of them r until they are achieved because other people might not understand, or might trample over them or dishearten you unknowingly. For awhile it made sense to me. And in a way, it still does. But what about sharing? What about support and encouragement along the way? What about someone to share your disappointment with if it doesn’t work out like you hoped? Why should be convince ourselves that dreams are meant to be dreamt and realized or lost alone? Why can’t we have support and company along the way? And how about how much it may encourage another to find you, another person with the same dream?

How many dreams would be lost if we only kept dreams to ourselves!! So many of our dreams need other people for them to be realized. What about changing the world dreams? They can never be achieved alone. And because alone you feel to small to begin, you don’t. and that keeps the whole world from benefiting and helping your dream!

Its all a bit jumbled and in my trademark rambles but I’m just writing as fast as I’m thinking. Stream of consciousness style- so pardon any spelling errors, grammar etc.

I think sometimes we need the support and dreams of other people to feel we can make big things happen.

And other people can be supportive and just like us in so many ways. If we’ll only let them in, show them we’re interested.

 

Did you see the Colors magazine? It always feeds my dreams. Of travel. Of discovery. Of sensitivity.

 

A society that creates a fear of sharing, of opening yourself up- because they might beat you at it… yes, that sense is very strong in our cultures…everywhere. People tend to think that in the West its worse and here, somehow, we still have our heads neatly balanced on your shoulders.

Well, that’s wishful thinking. We don’t. we’re as pressed for company and time and joy and balance. And we are as ingrained with ideas of competition, fear, social acceptability.

And it’s sad.

 

Your idea of “Learning Centres for the Soul” is fantabulous! We can start private ones. You start one in your house. In one small section of a room. See what you need there. What you wish you could do. In different moods, what are your needs? Start to build yourself a Learning Centre for Your Soul and see where it takes you. It will probably (besides fulfilling its purpose for you personally) tell you what people need, yearn for.

 

I have a book called The Sensual Body, it’s a Gaia Publication and I cannot find any link to it online!! It is fairly old and it’s a course in body awareness. I have been through the book many times and each time I come back to it, it has something new to teach me. Body awareness, I’ve found is a necessary skill. Intuition begins in the body. So do emotions. And energy.

 

My Learning Centre would have a room. Empty. A padded floor. Just space to move in or sit unmoving in.

 

Blank books would be available free and with complimentary colours to play with.  The walls would be art-full. For anyone to come in and make their marks. Journal on. Wipe their tears on.

 

Whoa!

Jen! You really got me started. I’m going to make a section in my room for this. Just a space. To play in.right now, the whole house is my space to play in.

 

Yes, collaboration is important. Not important as in every person should collaborate. But important in the sense that every person should be able to collaborate if they feel the need to. There is a need for openness in our endeavors. And support.

 

Jen, I hope you manage to start one of these centres. Don’t worry about competition. What people need, they will find. Where there is joy and sensitive openness, people will come. And there can never be “to many” places of healing and joy!

 

Love,

M.

P.S.

I’m flattered by the attention you pay to my words, by your simple compliments and by the fact that you shared your dreams with me- and wanted to hear mine.  Thank you for this enriching, stimulating company!

[There! I’ve said it to the whole blogging world!! ]

 

P.P.S.

Some websites that are somehow relevant at this stage:

The Slow Movement

Sketchcrawls

The Colors Magazine

Wiki on The Slow Movement

Slow Down Now

Life Awareness and People Skills Guide

 

THIS WEEK’S AGENDA:

 

“Why? Because if a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing slowly. Some are born to slowness—others have it thrust upon them. And still others know that lying in bed with a morning cup of tea is the supreme state for mankind.”

-from The Slow Manifesto

Like my no comp week, this week too has an agenda. Dad has been staying home till late morning teaching Bhots and me to cook. Sushi. Chicken curry. Perfect omlettes. Interesting Coffee. This week, my agenda is to take it slowly. From the start of this week, it has been my endeavor to add richness. Add quality of experience, not quantity. Or pace. And so, I’ve been taking Yoga slowly. Taking time on the mat to get into a dance form. Taking time to move through a pose before moving to the next to get the workout over with. To savour food (which does not, for those of you who know mean I’m eating even slower than usual but it means I’m paying more attention as I’m eating. ).

 

As far as slowness goes, I’m not one to commit my whole life to a slow pace, consciously doing only one thing at a time, or savouring every breath. What I want to achieve is periods of richness even in the midst of a hectic day. Because hectic days, there will be. And rush, there will be. And multitasking, always. I want to do these mindfully. That’s all.

 

 UP NEXT, ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. TAGGED BY CHAMKI.