My dear readers,
The advent of spring and better weather took me to the South Island …. where I saw flowers in bloom, trees more green and a sparkle in the blue that lit the morning sky . Travel felt new and what brought warmth to my heart was the connection with my cherished friends and the visits with my oldest.

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Being with kind people and practising kindness brings in new purpose and also adds an extra dollop of wellness into our everyday living

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The intention of connecting with you today is therefore to affirm the goodness that comes with positive experiences . Today I had the opportunity to hear Dr.Bruce Perry speak on the healing that comes from repetitive nurturing experiences. Details perhaps on a later blog

So for now make sure you intentionally indulge in experiences that brings a smile and more kindness to your being. ….

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Ma te wa for now

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Kia Ora – Greetings to you all -I recently had my birthday – and throughout day I was blessed to be in the midst of experiences and people who brought more kindness warmth and joy to my being. So I felt the need to pen my thoughts on events , experiences and people who add to our wellness journey ….

I realise that each of us are a sum total of all of our experiences that we have had at different times….. The people and experiences once so close to me are far removed from how I live my life today. The current context of living in Aotearoa ( NZ in Maori) and then going through numerous changes has brought into my life – new ways of thinking and being – new people and myriads of experiences that has gone into the making of who I am today

I am grateful for what I had then and will cherish forever all that was imparted to me ….. I am twice as grateful that my cross cultural journey has seen me evolve to how I think- speak and live life today.
Speaking of the cross cultural journey …… having chosen NZ as my home, working within the educational realm, I realise the responsibility I have in embracing the bicultural component of this country. I am richer for that – and have been most fortunate to gain insight into Maoridom –through various personal and professional experiences .

My dear readers –and we in NZ also jsut celebrated Maori language week – so what I wish to share here are some Maori values that advocate for everyday wellness. It has a strong framework around connectedness….that is fundamental to wellness.

Manaakitanga – Connectedness with the self – is about nurturing the sense of self / mana and the also nurturing the mana in others –what is important to each of us …. how do we look after ourselves and how we demonstrate care for ourselves and for others …. the words we use to communicate

Whanaungatanga –Connectedness with whanau/ family – is about preserving the values of the families – how much do we each know of our family– what does family mean to us …..

Whakawhanaungatanga – Connectedness with community – is about preserving and contributing what is important for community wellness –

Rangatiratanga – value of ownership is about taking ownership and responsibility – it is to with skill building

So coming back to where I started – here is a wellbeing task for you …
Have a go at saying the Maori words…
Enjoy the richness that comes in using a value based language
Add an experience to each of the values
Take a count of the people that you meet/ met – include family and friends
Write down the learning that came with it
Count the people who helped us internalise those values at different times…..
Practice gratitude all over again !!!

Here is a gem that I came across in my learning in the past month-“ Education does not transform the world – education changes people – people change the world.” Paulo Freire

What is the most important thing in the world – He tangata – he tangata – he tangata – it is the people , the people the people ….a Maori whakaitauki / saying

For those of you , who connect to my work … nga mihi – thank you – much love and my namaskaarams

Dear readers- I am grateful to be connecting with you all today J  As I walked this morning I was reminded of some of the challenges that we as humanity are witnessing –job losses, to losing close family and friends and being unable to travel or to be with family thousands of miles away. I also pondered on my thought for today`s blog and decided to write on dialectical thinking…..  

Dialectical thinking is about exploring multiple perspectives in pursuit of solutions that work best for each of us…… The intentions to elaborate on dialectical thinking …are as follows

Firstly it is an inherent part of our wellness journey ; considering different options or views help in extending the thought process- it brings about flexibility in thinking. Such a relief when there is no need to feel stuck …. In one set way of thinking …. We get to choose what`s going to work best 🙂

Secondly , dialectical thinking- allows for acknowledgment / acceptance of the context –as a whole and urges us to go a little beyond the self –I have found that whenever there are barriers or challenges to my pathway …..The barriers seem to dissolve when I choose to change the lens with which I look at the barriers….I choose to see my barriers as potential learning points ….. And also get to work on alternative options that can transform the barriers into learning and or serving opportunities….Here are some questions that help when we get stuck???
What do I see in this – how can I make this work – what can I learn from this…..How is this going to change what is happening nowHow can I begin to feel better about this …..how can I make this work for me – how can I change this into a positive

Thirdly it encourages us to embrace change and set some goals ;  get at a bigger picture based on values that matter to us. To get to this place would involve making an audit on our strengths and making a plan …some examples…It urges us to remember that the problem is always smaller than the core of who we are – some questions that help…What are my strengths – how have I been resourceful in the past….What are my weaknesses- frailties – how do I stay away from repeating the same…..Who are the people – that have been supportive – friends- mentors –family – extended family – to work to where I want to be …..What are the agencies that I can approach. How can I preserve the core of who I am in in the midst of this challenge …..How can I make this easier for me…..as I keep on my journey

“We all live with the objective of being happy , our lives are all different and yet the same.”- Anne Frank

The positive here is no matter who we are – Our ranks or our capabilities –

Life throws punches at us at the most unexpected of times

The choices  we make,In the values  we choose – the company  we keep…

Our willingness to keep living – to give back our best selves  

To keep serving is what makes our journey a positive sustainable one !!!

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others –The Mahatma

Dear readers – hope you have had a gentle week – I did transitioning back from nearly three weeks of level 3 lockdown; I am also persuaded to share a personal experience…. So here comes… have been wanting Camellias for a while….. and was planning to buy them …..I wished for it – and thought of it no more …..

During my precious time with my youngest – to my surprise there was not one – but 5 Camellias waiting to be given away….. It seemed that my wishes for a Camellia tree came back to me in plentiful abundance.

I still cannot stop smiling ……

 So here are my thoughts ….. It is fantastic place to be….. When everything around you unfolds ….. Just as how you wish for it to be….. It comes with a cost of course…..

So in saying that –

To be in this frame of mind where there is pure joy, plenty of peace and liberation means, one has to embrace unconditional acceptance of the current context.

And the cost of this “pure joy – plenty of peace – and liberation” is learning to inculcate unconditional acceptance of the context that each of us are in at different times of our lives…..

“Let us bear with magnanimity whatever is needful for us to bear.” Seneca

Embracing unconditional acceptance ….. Begins with choice

• Choosing to be kind to ourselves and remembering the serenity prayer …
• It is about choosing to smile and letting the light within
• It is about choosing to be kind even when we feel pushed  
• It is about choosing to use a positive thought and word every time we are tempted to use a callous utterance and
• It is about choosing to let go of every memory that threatens to steal our peace….

“These choices are checkpoints on our evolutionary journey, opportunities to move away from what we have been conditioned to be and towards unconditional freedom”- Eknath Easwaran- Essence of the Gita

It takes a while but with time – kindness- patience and consistency – we can all get at that place of plentiful peace and joyful abundance …..

Warm wishes from beautiful Aotearoa that is now my home

This weekend ….I hiked with a favourite human friend of mine along with Fern my furbub – we went on a mini hike to One Tree Hill. From atop we saw – Mt.Eden basking in the light just a little higher from my peak where I stood and then Mt. Albert that seemed like a mini hill – took delight in sighting the lean sky tower amidst the undulating greens – and felt sheer joy in making it to the top !

The day was warm pleasant and the air was cool – I felt blessed to be amidst kind and fun company.
The intention of sharing my musings is to affirm the goodness that comes with
Taking time in being observant and
Being engaged (in our present moment )- in the now.

Taking time to observe is a carefully thought out process of making sense of the happenings around …
Gives scope to take a step back – instead of rushing into thoughtless utterances or
Engaging in actions that are carelessly impulsive –
Being observant is conducive to thoughtful words and kind actions
It is therefore an inherent part of reflection kindness and compassion.
Being observant is also then a stepping stone to wellness and resilience

All of us going through this pandemic era of ours are aware of how this illness wipes through communities regardless of socio-economic or gender or culture boundaries and divides. It has swept through nations deemed as third world and then the swipe has been twice as deadly in the developed nations of our world. This illness whiffs with ease way past the thresholds of humble dwellings and magnificient castles – as it cares not in the least and knows not between the haves and have-nots!!
Yet it seems ironic that we hear stories where regions or people afflicted by this illness are sometimes scorned upon by those that remain untouched for now …. hmmmmmmm- however let`s go with the wisest option to merge this illusory divide by

• Being mindful that for now – all of us are connected in going through this journey together and
• Celebrating the steady strickle of stories that celebrate kindness and compassion.

So now dear readers what are you doing to stay observant and being in the now- here are some suggestions

• Take time to engage a 100% with whatever you may be doing
• Be it giving your time in talking to a friend or
• Listening to the words in a song
• Enjoying the flavours in your meal
• Giving thanks to the food that nourishes you and to the roof and walls of your home that protects and keeps you warm

If you happen to live in the Southern Hemisphere do pause and
Count the daffodils that are beginning to bloom and watch out for the lambs heralding the arrival of Spring ….

Let`s finish with lines from our most regarded poet of the nineteenth century Shelley ” If Winter comes , can Spring be far behind ?”

I heard a podcast – and the speaker referred to emotions as “energy in motion.”….and I am compelled to write on this especially now as we are left with dealing with the element of unpredictability and challenges that come with this – our collective COVID era.

Scaffolding this further the positive emotions such as joy, happiness, kindness and love ….. Is bound to elevate our energy levels. It is a known truth that high energy levels boost our immunity – and our physical and emotional wellbeing .Emotions such as sadness, anger , fear or hatred is bound to bring a decline in our energy levels. Decline in energy levels sadly impact on our immune system and create a sense of displacement in our physical and emotional wellness.

“Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it” – Prophet Muhammed

All schools of wise thought proclaim the same. The Gita and Buddhism refers that the turmoil we see globally is a reflection of the conflict that we have within our minds….. The peace harmony and wellness within us impacts on our external world…. Just by keeping our peace – we welcome harmony for ourselves and for this world we habitat. The Quran speaks of kindness as a reflection of faith within. The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi begins thus…. “Make me an instrument of your peace ……

My dear readers let’s do all of the things that help us keep our peace within each of ourselves, our homes – and in our beautiful world that we co-habitat. So here are some lines from yours truly 😉

To keep the peace within

To instil – celebrate wellness for those around us  

To practice kindness and connectedness in some form each and everyday

Is in itself a humane act of service- In gratitude, in wellness for now and forever

 “ Be Kind it is always possible” – The Dalai Lama

There are days when we all feel – what seems an edge to a quest to do something- but not sure what ……such days can also give us a sense of ennui or boredom. However adding intention to this feeling can completely transform the flow of each day…

As I connect with family in India and with friends who live in places in perpetual “lockdown mode” – I realise that purpose and intention gives anchorage and / or direction to the flow of each day.

Living solo I have been through a journey where I have learnt that “living on my own” is an empowering experience. This did not come easy for me at all . This was very difficult , completely challenging and most daunting at the start. What helped me make it to where I am today is intention and purpose
I did this by taking an audit- making a plan of
– How I wish to spend my time and with who?
– How can I transform my day into being meaningful
– What activities bring me delight and joy
– What exchange of conversations add kindness
– Connecting with cherished ones- my all new tribe – my
adult sons, my friends- and ofcourse my furbubs
– Remembering to smile – share a laugh
-Having a project that is engaging
– Remembering to forgive even those who have caused us deep anguish
– Learning to embrace unconditional acceptance and

Making time for meditative practice and
– Always remembering to serve

Learning to understand that that so much of what shows up in our material world emanates for a reason unbeknownst …. to us … Adding a clip on from one of my all time favourites – Wayne Dyer on Power of Intention

I write this watching the rain – taking delight in the grey blue skies , the yellow bloom and the peaceful green right outside my window of my study. My dear readers- As I take note of this …. and connect with you with intention- all that comes to me is simple sense of benevolence and gratitude……
Wishing you all a very fulfilling Saturday with much love

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive you will see it” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Who we welcome into our lives to be our cherished friends is integral to each of our wellness journey…. The intention of sharing this post my dear readers is to affirm the significance of friendships and meaningful connections in our personal growth.

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself…. serve and thou shall be served” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Being an immigrant – family for me , here in NZ constitutes my adult sons along with my furbubs and my family in India – the latter being my mum , my siblings and my aunts and my cousins – some immediate and some extended who I count as cherished friends. Also very fortunate for still holding on to some of my friends from the time I was five or perhaps even younger .. However – In today’s context many of us are far removed from our immediate families and friends – for numerous reasons – some intentional and others by happenings ,events , choices and sadly , pandemics that is far beyond our control.

Each of us have the opportunity to meet and make few or myriads of connections…. I firmly believe that different people complete different purposes in our lives …

So as much as connections are important … it is twice as important that each of our connections have a purpose – enrich our life path through robust conversations ,shared interests , empathy , kindness , physical wellness ,much love and a lot of fun.

I have been very fortunate here in beautiful Aotearoa – that each of the connections I have consciously made – have brought me so much of joy and wellness into my everyday living – so I today I choose to give humble and loving thanks to the cherished friendships – my tribe – for making me the person I am today!!!

So sharing some quick check in queries that help in making meaningful connections ….

• What is the shared purpose here- interests, values or goals etc
• What difference does this connection bring to me
• What value do I add to them- him or her
• The time component – do we really have the time at all – good to take an audit
• Most important – What is the feeling that I get in his or her midst – feeling light easy and energised means – good keep going … and
• Always remember to be kind to yourselves

Continue reading →

Kia Ora my dear readers… my writing today is on affirming purpose driven days….. regardless of whether we live on our own or have company.
And thennnnnn – purpose allows us to have a “drive” to our day…. what are we doing today and why??? …… one day adds to many others and yesssss …..that makes up our life or lives 🙂 …… so each day matters

So I do, really value the wisdom that comes from
what is our life about ?? what is the purpose …..

Purpose driven life is about enjoying the simplicity of everyday living – it does not necessarily be about anything lofty like building an empire or ……???
Purpose is motivated by connectedness to ourselves and those of us around – and therefore purpose has everything to do with wellness.

So here I am sharing for you -few of the simple things I do to to abide by a purpose driven life

1. Stick to routines – this allows me with plenty of time- oh precious time- to embrace all the things I love – such as long walks , my art, time with my furbubs, and connecting with my friends, finding places that sells the best coffee and then much much more
2. Do my work mindfully – engage in the moment at home and at work …..this helps in a lot of soul driven work that I find extremely gratifying
3. Keep in loving kind and fun company ….the love we emanate- comes back to us in plentiful- ….. activating the mirror neurons

Stay in the energy field of higher energy people and your anger, hate, fear and depression will melt – magically converting to the higher expressions of intention- Wayne Dyer

So for now, it is your turn to take an audit of how you keep up your wellness quotient by living a purpose driven life

Greetings – It is blistering cold and windy in the Southern Hemisphere. Today my dear readers I am sharing my perspectives on language. I speak fluent Tamil – read and write the language and love using my language with my friends and family . I delight just as much in using the English language – love the flow of words that have rhythm and ring to it …. and am grateful that I come from a lineage fluent in both languages .

Language we all know serves the purpose of communication .

Language helps us to create and make meaning -of the myriads of experiences that life offers.

Language is a powerful tool that we use to describe our social experiences and emotional experiences .

Teaching ourselves to choose to use affirming words is a way of inducing positivity , welcoming connectedness and boosting our wellness quotient

Enriching our vocabulary is a way of widening our perspectives too. Those of us who are fluent in our first language also have the gift of living within the concept of a richer paradigm of beliefs

Living in Aotearoa , i have the privilege of experiencing the Treaty in practice – I am learning to use Te Reo ( Maori language ) in my everyday life . I enjoy the concept of connectedness that is celebrated in Te Reo- and the gentle kindness and mutual respect that is an inherent aspect of our indigenous culture.