There is no public holidays for Christmas in China but I manage to take a few days off on Christmas day until the New Year. No exotic holiday plans. Instead I am spending quiet time at home for reading, meditating, resting and reflecting. I find it valuable to spend time in reflecting on the key events that happened to me in the past year and what I have learnt from these experiences. In the external environment, 2008 has been a year full of both celebrations and tragedies: e.g. the success of the Beijing Olympics, China accomplishing the first space walk, Obama elected as the US president, etc. vs the floods in Southern China, the Sichuan earthquakes, the Mumbai terrorists attack, the global financial crisis, etc. My own personal journey has been as colourful. I encountered successes and failures, happiness and sorrow, inspiration and disappointment, peace and frustration, clarity and confusion.
On quiet reflection, these are all valuable learning experiences for me. Through difficulties, I grow to be stronger and tougher. Through the goodness I received, I learn to be grateful for all that I have. Through the practice of mindfulness, I expand my awareness and discover more about my true self, my potentials and connections to the world around me.
As I dwell in my reflection, I am aware that the present moment is made of my past. This awareness helps me to realise what is the best thing for me to do at this moment, which is the only moment I can act on, and a new space for creation. It is wonderful to be aware, to live fully and to just be.
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2 comments:
Thanks for sharing your personal journey to your feeling and awareness.
People have time to celebrate, feed, drink and laugh the heart out. People keep themselves busy in the holidays. I am one of them, not to mention the consequence of not doing that with the loved ones and the acquainted. My diary is quickly filled up.
Sometimes, we do this because we don't want to face life. We don't want to face the truth of NOW. We don't want to feel lonely and stale. We don't want to care and empathesize too much. We don't want to deal with soemthing we couldn't see and touch. We pile ourselves with events and information bombardments that we could have no time to reflect. We let ourselves take on an easy ride to spend our life. We escape from meaning and truth.
I know a journey to inner peace is always alone. It needs a desire to discover and discern, a determination to go beyond the superficial, a humble mind to listen and be available, and have to do it on our own.
I am grateful your message has reminded me once again, at the time I am working on a number of personal and business plans, to drop myself out of the planning mode, and experience the moment...on a quiet Sunday morning, hearing the birds singing, watching the river flowing, amusing at the shape of the mountains...i feel blessed. The world in front of me is actually beautiful, and needs beautiful souls to appreciate it.
My mind needs to re-connect.
Hi Tommy,
Great to know you have been enjoying the moment of now and thanks for your sharing! We have strong habit energy to be busy and not being there. From time-to-time it is worth reminding ourselves to come back to the present moment. Regular sitting meditation is helpful. Walking meditation is also a simple and effective way to help. Just slow down, be aware of your breathing and be aware of the environment as you walk. We can do this at home, in the office or even better in a park. 10 mins a day of sitting or walking meditation is a good start.
You write beautifully, and I can see that you understand and enjoy the wonders of being in the now. Your sharing helps me to keep up my practice! I hope you will keep practising and sharing. Thank you! :)
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