Category: Ponder
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Dendrophile // Tree Hugger
When I place my hand on a tree, the feeling’s different from a hand on a table, the concrete floor, or even sand. On a tree, my hand absorbs its calmness, its serenity and directs that to my heart. It sounds crazy but I feel trees so deeply. Trees are mesmerising. Trees are alive. Trees…
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Walking each other home
Last week, I wrote that nothing bad has happened this year. That very same week our hamster fell very sick suddenly. Pebbles died five days later. Today, we bid goodbye to our 91 years’ old ah gong after a five-day wake. Two weekends, two deaths. Did I jinx it? Should we never say we are…
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Letting go
I came to Gili Air for a special reason. Four years ago I met someone here whom my heart connected so strongly with. Never before, not yet since. Four years later I found courage and clarity to return, to meet memories, to be reminded and to let go. Some close friends know this healing leg…
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The beginning of daily meditations
On a full moon night on May 29, I sat in a bamboo shala with a few quiet souls, meditating. Tom, a volunteer at the shala, guided us into Prana meditation — the simple observation of breaths and sensations. We spoke briefly after, during which I was inspired to embark on a month-long meditation journey.…
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I love you at your darkest
I had a rough day at work and in my head. When I reached home fully drained, my parents were just about to head out for dinner. “Join us?” they asked. “No,” I coldly replied. They were in a chirpy mood tonight and I always love it when they are like that. Tonight though I…
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Meditation finds me again
One night, after a long draining day at work, I put on a face mask for my skin before sleep. I did not know what to do while waiting. I’m done with scrolling through social media. Done with words and texts and even reading. (Background: my writing projects revolve around social media) All I wanted…
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Are you happy now?
I first was asked this question on a bonfire night by the sea on Cook Islands. Susann, a young, vibrant and beautiful German, suddenly popped this question at everyone. We all had to answer her, one at a time. Some of us stuttered and started, “yea but…” She interjected and insisted, “no, now. Are you…
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Women’s Circle on Forgiveness
Last night I attended a women’s circle in Dunedin. We slow danced around candlelit rugs, held mugs of hot chai tea, savoured bliss balls and listened. As each sister spoke we listened in silence—no response, no words of comfort or advice. Too often when a friend confides in us, we’d start forming things in our…
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The lobster story
A funny thing happened on Tuesday this week. It began not so funny, when dad called me over in the morning by the pond, pointing out the remains of our baby red lobster. The head was detached and flesh was gone. Dad said, “no wonder last night I could only spot three lobsters. One was…
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2016 reflections
At the beginning of 2016 I set a theme for the year. It took me two months of reflection and I chose PLAY. I did this because a friend taught me once to have a mantra-of-the-day so that at any point of ups and downs, we return to ourselves. I decided on PLAY so I…
SHENAYOGA 