Friday, September 29, 2023
Counting birds to deal with stress
When I am tired of people or stressed because of what they do, I count birds and record my counts and sometimes even their calls/songs. And even if it seems like the most mundane thing to do in a busy world, never, in my 22 years of bird watching, I have counted exactly the same number of birds each time. There's always a change: a couple of pigeons less, two more doves, the common mynahs and bank mynahs are exactly the same, the murder of crows has a few new members, the egrets are missing three... Humans are predictable and often boring because we have created clocks and routines, rules and regulations and social norms that are often cast in stone. Birds just be birds. I am grateful for them in my life.
Labels:
bird census,
bird count,
birds,
counting birds,
stress,
stress-buster
Thursday, September 28, 2023
About Compassion and How I Got It Wrong
Compassion is prepared to meet others wherever they are, recognizing that the circumstance or challenge they now face is as much a part of their life as any other part of their life. Compassion can laugh or cry, joke or commiserate, be curious and inquisitive, chatty or silent. Compassion is not afraid to be fully present, hopeful, or lighthearted. Compassion does not turn away. It is never afraid to see beauty or find humor or share a fractured heart.
Compassion contains no pity because it does not judge one circumstance of life as better as or worse than the next. For it comes from a place in which all things are from G‑d's hand, presented to us to be lived to its completion.
Compassion is not constricted by "rules" because it recognizes the uniqueness of each instant and each person. As compassion opens the door to visit the sick, it has no idea what lies ahead and so is prepared for spontaneity, for the unexpected — whether from the patient or from itself.
Compassion creates its own result. As it interacts with the other, a new thing happens, because compassion is prepared to yield to whatever happens next, always with the other in mind.
- Jay Litvin https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/160887/jewish/Compassion.htm
Labels:
compassion,
Hermetic Qabbalah,
Jewish,
outcomes
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Book 45: Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris
Book 45: Cilka's Journey
Author: Heather Morris (New Zealand) đłđż
Genre: Historical Fiction
Set in: Slovakia đ¸đ° Poland đľđą USSR ☭
Page 279:
Everyone affected by war, captivity, or oppression reacts differently – and away from it, people might try to guess how they would act, or react, in the circumstances. But they do not really know.
Flag score: đ¸đ° đŹđˇ đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż đłđŹ đŽđˇ đľđŞ đđ° đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż đŹđž đŽđŠ đľđž đŚđˇ đŠđ° đşđ¸ đđˇ đľđš đŽđš đŠđŞ đ¨đŚ đżđŚ đ¸đŹ đŹđ§ đˇđ´ đ˛đ˝ đłđż đŽđ¸ đŚđş đąđ§ đłđą đŽđŞ đŞđ¸ đ˛đ˝ đšđż ☭đˇđş đŽđł đŠđŞ đ¨đ đŤđˇ đŤđ˛ đľđ° đŻđľ đłđŞ đ§đŠ đŚđŤ đ¸đž đ´ó Łó Žó ľó ´ó ż đŞđŹ đžđŞ đ¸đ° đľđą đŚđš đ¨đł đšđ đŚđŞ đ¨đş đşđŚ đ°đ đ¨đż đ°đľ đťđł đđş đ¨đą đ§đ´ đ§đˇ
#readingjourney23 #flagscore #cilkasjourney #books #heathermorris #gulag #ussr #sovietunion #stalin #auschwitz #birkenau #nazi #WW2 #bookoholic #primereading #kindlebooks #amazon
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WW2
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
A Mandala for Gratitude
A mandala made of the names of all the people, institutions and beings who have touched my life, thanking them while remembering them all.
To Zoroastrians, with Love
Most of my friends, teachers and colleagues have been Zoroastrians and I have had the privilege, at times, to have been the only non-Zoroastrian at a dinner. Their food and culture has been an integral part of my life. In India, Zoroastrianism is a closed-door religion. You cannot convert and Zoroastrian women are excommunicated if they marry outside their religion. It's one of the reasons why the population of Zoroastrians in India have dwindled over the decades. Non-Zoroastrians are strictly not allowed to enter any of their places of worship in the country. This is to honour a vow given to the king of Gujarat who gave them sanctuary when they fled Persia in the 7th century AD.
In Iran, in spite of centuries of persecution under Islamic regimes, the religion is more open-door and you can enter their places of worship (or find some videos on YouTube) and you discover the rituals are not very different from most Eastern religions. Fire is sacred and pure. Incense is burnt. There's chanting. The priests wear white and stand out from the rest. The women cover their heads.
While we can debate forever about what came first and who had more followers than whom, isn't it amazing that somehow, irrespective of which part of the world they were in, people, through centuries have devised very similar techniques and rituals to offer prayers and even made the same tools for worship? That, I think is the triumph of humankind.
Labels:
culture,
Parsi,
religion,
rituals,
Zoroastrians
Of Afghans and Sufism
Between 2015-21, I was part of a peacebuilding through education project in Afghanistan, the birthplace of Rumi. I had students in Kabul, Herat and Kandahar - bright young minds who believed in free speech and democracy. Our exchanges were beautiful as they talked about hope and peace. Then, in August 2021, the Taliban took over the country and they found themselves turn into refugees. I have learnt more about courage and survival from them. They wrap their horrid tales of desperation with humour. When I talk to them, now in their 'safer' new homelands, often they quote Rumi and his teacher, Shams. The soul keeps seeking.
Monday, September 25, 2023
Your most authentic self
You are never going to be the same person you are at this moment. Your thoughts and cells change with each heartbeat. Your most authentic self is what you are right now.
- Eisha
#authenticself #thoughtoftheday #thoughtsbyeisha
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Of beggars and a lesson
There are many beggars on the streets in India and growing up here you stop "seeing" them because they're everywhere, or you have been warned by your elders to keep them at bay or you're aware of the huge begging mafia. Around 15 years ago, I was at a street food stall eating a sandwich when a child begged for food. There were others too. I feared they might all ask so I turned him down. He kept 'irritating' me while tugging at my shirt. I gobbled my sandwich (couldn't enjoy it) and ran to the car. He had followed me. I had posted this on Facebook to highlight how irritating the experience was, a student of mine replied, "Ma'am, you could have bought another plate of sandwiches and asked the kids to share. It might have made all of you happy instead of irritated."
Monday, September 18, 2023
Seva or Service: An Indian daughter's duty
To serve, is ingrained in daughters of Indian households. When we marry, we marry the family, not just the person and so we take on the roles of the nuturer, the breadwinner, the companion, the server, the cook, the carer, the keeper, the supporter, the chronicler, the spiritualist and the defender. All forms of seva or service.
I have played these roles for 15 years in a huge household with a culture very different from my own. It hasn't been easy but every step has been a learning. I am very individualistic by nature and the conflicts between nature and culture surface from time to time. And yet, I have realised that if I look at it more as seva, with humility, I have more to love than not.
Sunday, September 17, 2023
The Gift of Presence, The Perils of Advice by Parker J Palmer
Here’s the deal. The human soul doesn’t want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed — to be seen, heard and companioned exactly as it is. When we make that kind of deep bow to the soul of a suffering person, our respect reinforces the soul’s healing resources, the only resources that can help the sufferer make it through.
Aye, there’s the rub. Many of us “helper” types are as much or more concerned with being seen as good helpers as we are with serving the soul-deep needs of the person who needs help. Witnessing and companioning take time and patience, which we often lack — especially when we’re in the presence of suffering so painful we can barely stand to be there, as if we were in danger of catching a contagious disease. We want to apply our “fix,” then cut and run, figuring we’ve done the best we can to “save” the other person.
Read the rest of the piece on:
https://onbeing.org/blog/the-gift-of-presence-the-perils-of-advice/?fbclid=IwAR2T6FV9XlTmzSOPosq6zhg9__2FGimwp2m8QpMTrCOFnPf-mkz42x4vc4Y
Saturday, September 16, 2023
The dog in my garden
A stray dog has been coming to my garden for the last six months and I have been feeding her for the last couple of months. I don't want to 'own' her so I haven't given her a name. She responds to a couple of my whistles, jumping out of the shadows and hovers behind me wagging her tail while I set a dish of food in front of her. I have never touched her, and I think she, having lived a life of a stray in India - shoved, pushed and chased away - avoids being touched as well. She waits for me to leave while she eats. I collect her empty dish only after she leaves. She appeared at a time when my son's occupational therapist insisted that we should get a dog. I have never wanted to buy one and was hesitant about adopting one and taking on the additional responsibility. This could be divine intervention. She doesn't ask for more and am happy with the balance this relationship is in.
Friday, September 15, 2023
When your birding activities make it to the national bird lists
When birdwatching is not just a hobby, this . Thank you #stateofindiasbirds for this appreciation and ebird for helping me conduct these bird censuses. #ecology #urbanbirding #birder #india #ebird #cornelllabofornithology
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birder,
birds,
birdwatching,
ebird,
ecology,
ornithology,
the Cornell lab of ornithology,
urban birding
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Can compassion become toxic?
I had a toxic relationship (for the lack of a better word) with someone I thought was my friend and he manipulated my need to be compassionate towards him. It has made me overthink each time someone appeals to me for help. In retrospect, I was too proud to see the toxicity believing that I had the power to change him and his ways through love and support. After giving myself time and distance, I have realised that compassion, for the sake of reinforcing one's belief that one is compassionate, panders more to the ego than the soul.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Thought for the day: Extraordinary
Labels:
extraordinary,
life,
thought for the day,
thoughts by eisha
Monday, September 11, 2023
Book 44: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Book 44: Atomic Habits - Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results
Author: James Clear (USA) đşđ¸
Genre: Behaviour/Self-help
Set in: USA đşđ¸ UK đŹđ§ Hungary đđş Netherlands đłđą Canada đ¨đŚ
Conventional wisdom holds that motivation is the key to habit change. Maybe if you really wanted it, you’d actually do it. But the truth is, our real motivation is to be lazy and to do what is convenient. And despite what the latest productivity best seller will tell you, this is a smart strategy, not a dumb one.
Flag score: đŹđˇ đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż đłđŹ đŽđˇ đľđŞ đđ° đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż đŹđž đŽđŠ đľđž đŚđˇ đŠđ° đşđ¸ đđˇ đľđš đŽđš đŠđŞ đ¨đŚ đżđŚ đ¸đŹ đŹđ§ đˇđ´ đ˛đ˝ đłđż đŽđ¸ đŚđş đąđ§ đłđą đŽđŞ đŞđ¸ đ˛đ˝ đšđż ☭đˇđş đŽđł đŠđŞ đ¨đ đŤđˇ đŤđ˛ đľđ° đŻđľ đłđŞ đ§đŠ đŚđŤ đ¸đž đ´ó Łó Žó ľó ´ó ż đŞđŹ đžđŞ đ¸đ° đľđą đŚđš đ¨đł đšđ đŚđŞ đ¨đş đşđŚ đ°đ đ¨đż đ°đľ đťđł đđş đ¨đą đ§đ´ đ§đˇ
#readingjourney23 #books #atomichabits #habits #behaviour #jamesclear #bookoholic #flagscore
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reading journey 23,
self help
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Decoupage: My late father-in-law's briefcase
Decoupaged my late father-in-law's old briefcase with the leather-top with son's first painting (with my father-in-law in 2020) and an old thank you card my husband had made when he was about 11. The butterflies and stickers are from my son's collection. The inside is intact and hence will be used to preserve their memorable works of art đ #art #decoupage #oldandnew
Labels:
art,
decoupage,
mementos,
memories,
old and new
Friday, September 8, 2023
Book 43: History of Communism: Trace the Bloody Roots of this Extreme Political Ideology
Book 43: History of Communism - Trace the Bloody Roots of this Extreme Political Ideology
Authors: Steve Dacombe, Adam Markiewicz, Laurie Newman, Kate Puttick, Drew Sleep, Katy Stokes (UK) đŹđ§
Genre: History/Politics/Communism
Set in: USSR ☭ France đŤđˇ UK đŹđ§ Germany đŠđŞ Ukraine đşđŚ Cambodia đ°đ Cuba đ¨đş China đ¨đł Czechia đ¨đż North Korea đ°đľ USA đşđ¸ Vietnam đťđł Austria đŚđš Poland đľđą Hungary đđş Chile đ¨đą Bolivia đ§đ´ ArgentinađŚđˇ Brazil đ§đˇ Yugoslavia
Page 82:
Maoist communism commanded the people to live side by side in communes and eat together in communal kitchens. When the Great Leap started, workers were encouraged to eat as much as they wanted in the communal kitchens. What followed was severe food shortages as the harvests could not support such demand for food and the communist system wasn't strong enough to provide food aid to all parts of the country. This led to famine.
Flag score: đŹđˇ đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż đłđŹ đŽđˇ đľđŞ đđ° đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż đŹđž đŽđŠ đľđž đŚđˇ đŠđ° đşđ¸ đđˇ đľđš đŽđš đŠđŞ đ¨đŚ đżđŚ đ¸đŹ đŹđ§ đˇđ´ đ˛đ˝ đłđż đŽđ¸ đŚđş đąđ§ đłđą đŽđŞ đŞđ¸ đ˛đ˝ đšđż ☭đˇđş đŽđł đŠđŞ đ¨đ đŤđˇ đŤđ˛ đľđ° đŻđľ đłđŞ đ§đŠ đŚđŤ đ¸đž đ´ó Łó Žó ľó ´ó ż đŞđŹ đžđŞ đ¸đ° đľđą đŚđš đ¨đł đšđ đŚđŞ đ¨đş đşđŚ đ°đ đ¨đż đ°đľ đťđł đđş đ¨đą đ§đ´ đ§đˇ
#readingjourney23 #communism #historyofcommunism #books #bookoholic
Labels:
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books,
communism,
history of communism,
reading journey 23
Book 42: Ottoline goes to School by Chris Riddell
Book 42: Ottoline goes to School
Author: Chris Riddell (UK) đŹđ§
Genre: Children's Books
"Cheer up," said Alice B. Smith after they had bandaged Mr. Munroe's hand. "Flower arranging isn't everyone's cup of tea."
Flag score: đŹđˇ đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż đłđŹ đŽđˇ đľđŞ đđ° đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż đŹđž đŽđŠ đľđž đŚđˇ đŠđ° đşđ¸ đđˇ đľđš đŽđš đŠđŞ đ¨đŚ đżđŚ đ¸đŹ đŹđ§ đˇđ´ đ˛đ˝ đłđż đŽđ¸ đŚđş đąđ§ đłđą đŽđŞ đŞđ¸ đ˛đ˝ đšđż ☭đˇđş đŽđł đŠđŞ đ¨đ đŤđˇ đŤđ˛ đľđ° đŻđľ đłđŞ đ§đŠ đŚđŤ đ¸đž đ´ó Łó Žó ľó ´ó ż đŞđŹ đžđŞ đ¸đ° đľđą đŚđš đ¨đł đšđ đŚđŞ
#readingjourney23 #books #bookoholic #ottoline #chrisriddell #childrensbooks #childrenslaureate #illustrations #graphicnovels
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books,
children's books,
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Chris Riddell,
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ottoline,
reading journey 23
Monday, September 4, 2023
Book 41: The Veteran by Frederick Forsyth
Book 41: The Veteran
Author: Frederick Forsyth (England) đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż
Genre: Thriller
Set in: UK đŹđ§ Thailand đšđ France đŤđˇ ItalyđŽđš UAE đŚđŞ USA đşđ¸
Page 185:
"The Church needed reform but not schism, yet many in power could not see it that way."
Flag score: đŹđˇ đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż đłđŹ đŽđˇ đľđŞ đđ° đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż đŹđž đŽđŠ đľđž đŚđˇ đŠđ° đşđ¸ đđˇ đľđš đŽđš đŠđŞ đ¨đŚ đżđŚ đ¸đŹ đŹđ§ đˇđ´ đ˛đ˝ đłđż đŽđ¸ đŚđş đąđ§ đłđą đŽđŞ đŞđ¸ đ˛đ˝ đšđż ☭đˇđş đŽđł đŠđŞ đ¨đ đŤđˇ đŤđ˛ đľđ° đŻđľ đłđŞ đ§đŠ đŚđŤ đ¸đž đ´ó Łó Žó ľó ´ó ż đŞđŹ đžđŞ đ¸đ° đľđą đŚđš đ¨đł đšđ đŚđŞ
#readingjourney23 #fredrickforsyth #thriller #theveteran #flagscore #books #bookoholic
Closure
As non-fiction writers, we often leave things open because the story never ends as per the deadline. As a fiction writer I attempted that with my series, The Goa Saga, and I got some mixed reactions from the older generations who like tighter endings. We, on the other hand, have adapted to the bottomless scroll of our newsfeeds and hence leaving things open mean there may be something better coming our way that we might have shut ourselves to had we had our closures.
Friday, September 1, 2023
Our best version
We are all trying to be our best selves but maybe the best version of us at this moment is who we are in this moment.
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