But I may be going to Egypt this year. ^^ Even just thinking about it gets me all excited! (I’ve always had something of a fascination that borders on obsession with the place and have been dying to go there since… God, it’s been almost ten years)
Well like I said, it’s not definite, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I haven’t really been saying what I think recently, usually because I’ve been wanting to avoid embarassing situations – even with my close friends and my sister. I’m usually the type of person who won’t say anything if it’ll mean no awkward or tense moments. Some things really are better left unsaid, though.
Wow, it’s amazing what you can find just surfing around on the internet. I’ve discovered, contrary to my belief a few weeks ago, that there are actually Buddhist temples and centres near where I live. One centre has actually been in existence since 1987, before I was born! I’ve been browsing around on their websites and I think I may have to head on down to one of their meetings one of these days, just to check out the general scenery there.
Also, I suppose if I do eventually become serious about Buddhism, it would be a nice place to go to and attend meetings and all that. I’ve been reading about the importance of the Sangha in a few books, so at least if I were to be Buddhist in the near future then at least I’m not in a country devoid of fellow Buddhists.
It’s strange, the other night I actually did a proper ‘split’ – normally I have about 1 or 2 inches to go, but I guess I was just extra flexible that night. lol
I’ve tried to do it again, but I’m guessing doing the splits is an accumulative thing. The more you do it, the better and easier it gets. I haven’t performed it on the other side either, so for both reasons I don’t think this one’s complete.
Being aware of a bad posture is already half the battle. I’ve found myself sitting at a desk and generally slouched over my notes, until I look at my reflection in the window and think ‘yikes!’. I only realise how bad I’ve been treating my back when I stand up later and feel aches and pains on my lower back. Sooner or later I’m gonna be able to realise it without even looking at the mirror.
Hmm… I’m starting to wonder if maybe if being ‘financially independent’ isn’t the same thing as being ‘independent financially’? Wouldn’t it be great if none of us ever had to worry about money? :)
Well, I’m studying for my finals right now, but in the meantime it’s that time of year where I go looking around for jobs to do over the summer. I’ll holiday next year, hopefully. On the bright side, I’ve cut down on my spending this week, though that could be my growing frugality in general.
I took out this book from the library yesterday. It’s called “Universal Compassion” by Geshe Kelseng Gyatso, a perspective of practising love and kindness from the perspective of Tibetan Buddhism. I really recommend it to anyone, even if you are solely interested in just being a little bit nicer as a person. It really did open my eyes on how we might be better able to treat people with equanimity and compassion, whether they are friends, enemies or people we don’t know yet. It certainly is going to help me complete this goal, if I can complete it that is!
I’m starting from scratch sometimes. I really should have written this yesterday, but I opted for bed after my 45 minute yoga workout. Some poses weren’t so bad, but I tried the shoulderstand cycle – something I haven’t done in months – and it was brutally sore, in a good way, I suppose. I realise how unfit I am in my upper body. I need to try doing asanas to target my back. I usually have bad posture anyway, and then there’s that saying in yoga, “You’re as young as your spine”.
I really need to work out some kind of routine.
I missed doing a session yesterday as I came home late and generally tired and feeling like my arms and legs weighed a tonne each. I’ll make up for it tonight, though. I need to do more. Way more. I will not give this one up!
The blood clinic I wanted to visit was shut yesterday. I sorta forgot they don’t open on the weekends, but I suppose I can always just go in next week. Besides I hadn’t had a proper breakfast when I went out, which was probably very stupid of me if I want to be giving away about a pint of blood.
But not quite paid it forward technically. I’ve been holding doors for people more and it feels great to see them smile and thank me, but I’ve got to another step. Just need to seize the next chance and do something actively nice for someone.
I’m trying to control my feelings of hurt and resentment right now, but it’s quite hard. It doesn’t help either that I’m already feeling so bloody confused and miserable. I understand that sometimes people (better not go into details this time) will make you feel like that, so I know this is just a passing thing. It’ll go away, so I should try not to feel so bitter right now. Compassion shouldn’t be forced. I’m going to just give myself some breathing space and try and get over it and start again.
It seems to have flown, but I actually completed it. Even if there are no obvious benefits to my having sat down every evening and meditated quietly on my mantra for 20 minutes, I think it’s instilled me with better discipline and follow-through, and I’m not normally someone who finishes everything they start.
Maybe now I’ll even try a mantra siddhi! (Well, maybe much, much later…)
I probably should have paid more attention to 43things in the last few days leading up to the completion of this goal. For any who read this, you can take my word for it that I actually did complete the 40 days, regardless of what my personal challenge page says (the site could use a little tweaking here and there).
Anyway, the 40 days I completed just about a day or two ago, but I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I started. Literally, if feels like I decided to sit down yesterday and start a personal challenge. Should time fly when you’re meditating? I’m taking that as a good sign! :)
Another 40 minutes of yoga today, and I have to say it wasn’t easy. I remember something like this happening the first time I started yoga. The first few weeks can be brutal on the hamstrings, but afterwards the aches and pains disappear and you feel great. I know I’m starting again, so I thought for today why not focus on trying to perform asanas that would open the root chakra. Thankfully, they’re easy enough: surya namaskar, the triangle, pigeon, tortoise, lizard and downward dog pose. The pains should go away soon. Hopefully. Just have to get back in the game and I’ll enjoy it again in no time.
These are easier to read than I had thought they’d be. I’ve finished reading the Sutra of Vizualising the Buddha of Immeasurable Length of Life, but I’m only half finished the Sukhavati-Vyuha sutra. I think the sutras I’ve been reading are Pure Land Buddhism scriptures. A lot of praise is given to Amitabha Buddha.
At least, I think the worst is over. My headaches have subsided, but tea-lover that I am, I’ve switched to decaffinated tea and have tried avoiding eating too many chocolates and confectionaries. This may be complete sooner than I thought, because I don’t think it would kill me to live like this in the future.
Really it’s just a matter of where to plant it now. I was thinking my local park; that way I can see it everyday if I want to and make sure it’s growing healthy and strong. So I’ll have to make some phonecalls I guess and see if that’s ok. Haven’t decided fully yet. My back garden wouldn’t be very ideal for a young tree to grow in, as it faces north and is crowded by bushes anyway.
God, I can say the stupidest things sometimes. I can be hurtful with my remarks too. Maybe this goal wasn’t such a good idea… I may be expressing myself more liberally in one sense, but on the other hand, I’m compromising other people’s feelings. I don’t know if I should give this one up. Decisions, decisions.
I went on a field trip today for part of my course to a botanic garden, and I am really glad to be part of such a beautiful world. I mean, it’s not that I don’t normally appreciate a garden, but I was particularly aware of how the flowers were in bloom and the day was fine. The diversity of flowers and trees amazes me still; some of the species I saw today were several hundred million years old. The length of time man has been on earth doesn’t even cast a shadow on that. It’s not that I haven’t appreciated the smell and beauty of flowers before, but I suppose I am reminded of how they make the world that much more colourful and glorious to be apart of.
