Today’s Friday Five guest post is by Dharini Vivek. Dharini is a poet, a student of classical music, and a nature lover. Here is her personal exploration of the five thoughts and ideas that are currently resonating with her. Her loving encouragement “simply to wake up to the very life we’re living” (thanks John Cage), whether it is through a handwritten note or a cup of warm water, is lovely and refreshing. I hope that you enjoy reading her Friday Five as much as I did.
Water
Yes, I am talking about H20. It kick starts my day. The first thing that goes into me after I wake up and freshen myself is a glass full of warm water. And I love it! Most of us start our mornings with a hot cup of coffee or tea to warm our bodies after getting out of bed. According to Ayurvedic medicine, regularly drinking very warm water, especially in the morning, can heal our bodies, providing digestive power and reducing metabolic waste that could have built up in our immune system. The usual tricky question is ‘how much to drink’, and trust me, you will find all sorts of answers when you search online ranging from 7 glasses per day to 11. Instead of trying for answers online, I feel the best way is to try asking your own body for answers. Drink enough water to keep yourself from dehydration, especially during winters when the need to drink water doesn’t arise often, but your body feels depleted due to the artificial heating sources that we surround ourselves with.
That’s about the water intake from a health perspective. But my love for this liquid goes beyond that – its presence in oceans, rain, streams, lake, ice, snow or tears! And to me, the most beautiful life lesson it teaches – Go with the flow.
Music
Music is my meditation. My vipassana. My Kriya. While I have always loved music since childhood I surprised myself when at the age of 30, I developed this sudden interest to learn classical music. While Bollywood, Sufi and Tamil melodies have ruled all my life – I was surprised when I suddenly took to classical music which I never understood hence never appreciated. I didn’t even know if I could sing. But today, a year old student of this beautiful art, as I learn and sing the notes – I am discovering a whole new world through my singing and practice. Increased awareness, keen listening skills, focus, multi-tasking ( Rhythm, Taalam, shruti, memorizing… all parts of your brain is engaged) and most importantly – pure enjoyment! Learning music has such healing effects that one almost doesn’t realize its power to transform you. The beautiful dance of the seven notes is a journey of self -discovery. And it heals. Yes, it does. No wonder then that the seven notes of the music corresponds to the seven chakras in our body! Trust me, it is never too late to discover music, and yourself through it. So for all you people who always wanted to learn singing but never could and feel its too late to start – I did it, so can you!
Plants/ Trees/ Nature
Oh my…. What do I say about these beauties! I only wish everyone looks at them through my eyes. My eternal love affair with nature, the palettes, the seasons with their moods, the mountains, oceans, sky, earth, mud, space – Yes, I can gaze, admire, lech at them for hours …sometimes much more than I would do for a Shahrukh or a Ranbir Kapoor. To me nature is a symbol of creator’s aesthetic sense and it fascinates me. Trees, again in particular are one aspect of nature that I love. To me, it is symbolic of unconditional giving and strong rootedness. And yet how happy and graceful they look swaying to the music of the breeze. Yes, that’s why I repeat – you’ve got to look through my eyes. No wonder in ancient traditions or religions all over the world, there is always a sacred symbolism for trees. Wisdom with beauty – now wouldn’t we all wish to be perceived like that! I love tending to my plants (a recently developed love), getting my hands mixed with mud, dirt grounds me completely! So I recommend everyone to develop your relationship with nature or any aspect of it – and spend some time to bask in its presence. And trust me, no one will mind this healthy affair.
Writing
In this day and age where everything happens at the click of something, the art of holding a pen and putting the ink to the paper is lost. I find writing incredibly charming. A persons handwriting has a unique touch of his/her personality and there is a sense of intimacy or closeness in a hand written note or letter or for that matter even a to do list! I always carry a pen and a note pad in my bag, my to do lists are handwritten on post its, I still write letters ( usually hand delivered), my poetry is first written in a book, and even at work I have a note pad to jot down during meetings and yes, I have a music book where I write all the songs/ notes that I am learning! Okay, before you roll your eyes on this one -Try this today – leave a note of love something’s , on a post it for a dear one at home or for a friend – And it is sure to make their day brighter; for pronounced effects try it on a cloudy/ rainy day.
A healthy dose of ‘Inspiration’, Play and Creativity
This tip is strictly for adults. While children have no trouble sourcing these happiness ingredients, it is very important for us to get a dose of this in our everyday life and higher the doses, the better! I feel we beat ourselves so much in so many ways each day that it has become a necessity for sanity and peace to find ways to stay inspired. And this doesn’t only mean you have to have a hobby, it means spending that little time with something which fuels the lightheartedness within you. Well, if this ever comes bottled as a pill or a herb I will surely recommend it – until then try sourcing it yourself. Just stay curious, healthy and spend at least a few minutes to unwind and get inspired.
Sources
Medical Daily; Health Benefits of Warm Water: 6 Ways Drinking Warm Water can Heal your Body
