A Penny for my Thoughts

Today was one of those days.  One of those magical days.  Brace yourself mom, I may "go all George Harrison" on you.

I was given the book Shantaram a couple weeks ago from a friend I had just met, Eugene.  The timing was impeccable.  It's like he knew what my mind and soul were craving.  Shantaram is a 933-page book; I am only on page 138 but I have already lost myself in it.  It's a story based on the life of the author, Gregory David Roberts, a robber and heroin addict who escaped prison and his nineteen-year sentence.  He fled Australia to the majestic country of India where he "came to find his humanity while living at the wildest edge of experience." 

It was a terribly rainy day in Melbourne so what better way to escape the dampness than to hit a cafe, sip on tea and lose myself in the words of a great story teller.  For the past few months, I have known that I want to go back to India and explore the entire country.  I have felt that a piece of my heart and soul are still there.  I have been trying to find the words to describe why India is the amazing place I believe it to be.  It always comes back to the people and the energy.  There is an excerpt from the book that struck a chord with me:

"You must be careful, here, with the real affection of those you meet. This is not like any other place.  This is India.  Everyone who comes here falls in love - most of us fall in love many times over.  And the Indians, they love most of all.  Your little friend may be beginning to love you.  There is nothing strange in this.  I say it from a long experiene of this country, and especially of this city.  It happens often, and easily, for the Indians.  That is how they manage to live together, a billion of them, in reasonable peace.  They are not perfect, of course.  They know how to fight and lie and cheat each other, and all the things that all of us do.  But more than any other people in the world, the Indians know how to love one another.  Without love, India would be impossible."

There is a magic in India.  If you can see past and just accept the hectic traffic, the sometimes awful smells, the rubbish and dirtiness in the streets, you too will fall in love.  It's a place where your mind is forced to open and embrace love for the people, the culture and just the enchanting place India is. 

As I walked home, I reminisced of my experiences in India.  I remember sitting on the steps at a beach in Kovalam with a couple of locals.  We chatted about life, love, yoga, India, and Canada.  I giggled as I remembered the older woman telling me to bring back some more Westerners for her younger friend and his friends to marry.  I remembered the little boy she had with her and how he wanted to touch me and hold my hand.  I remembered one man asking me if I had any Canadian coins for his son to bring to school.  I remembered eating a fresh pineapple the woman had just cut for me.  I remembered the smell of the Arabian Sea.  I remembered the feeling of true appreciation and the simple things in life that bring happiness.  Finally, I remembered that crow at the Ashram that flew over me telling me that I have made and am making the right choices and where my life is leading is exactly where I need to be.

I then began thinking about teaching yoga and the bliss I feel when teaching.  I had mentioned in a previous post how I was developing my own practise and how I wanted to take more courses before teaching asana classes.  It was the visit from my friend Gareth that changed that for me.  I realized that the aforementioned were just excuses and that ultimately, I was just lacking confidence.  He reignited the flame and gave me the boost and inspiration I needed.  It was a couple weeks after that a coworker had said to me that she always wanted to try yoga.  To her surprise and delight, I mentioned that I am a teacher; I now teach her and her friend two or three times a week.  And now that I am into teaching, I remember why I chose to pursue teaching.  The peaceful energy I feel among my students when our class is finished is what happiness and life are all about.

Melbourne has been an incredible experience thus far for a variety of reasons, many I have outlined already: the people I have met and the great vibe in this city mostly.  I suppose I should let you know that I have been working at a cycling apparel shop which allows me to talk about bikes and lycra all day long!  Along with that, I have working as a face-to-face fundraiser (which I have found a whole new respect for).  I've also been on my bike a lot and am starting to raise funds for my Ride to Conquer Cancer in October with two great guys I met when working for the Ride.  So basically, as I once proclaimed at the age of five, "Life is good!"

So do I know what is next for me?  No, should I?  All I know is that I continue to learn about the person I am and what life is all about - or at least how I believe I should live life.  To me, it's embracing every single day, never having judgment, appreciating the simple things, sharing my aspirations, listening to others' aspirations, inspiring others, turning negativity into positivity, and fulfilling my passions.

One other thing I am certain of is that I will return to India in the near future.  The compelling stories that fill up the pages of Shantaram have absolutely confirmed that for me.  Whatever else the future brings, only time will tell.  I'm just enjoying the journey.

Yes, today was one of those days.  Om shanti.

"...it unlocked this enormous big door at the back of my consciousness."                          ~George Harrison on India

Passing through a village in the state of Kerala, India on way to Neyyar Dam.

Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram in the district of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.  L-R David from Galway, Aishwarya from Delhi, Tyler from Saskatoon and moi. Amazing, amazing temple. Amazing people.

A gorgeous autumn day in Melbourne.

The two Tracy's.  She is one person who has made Melbourne as awesome as it is. A friend for life.

"'Cause you gotta have friends..." Themed parties at their finest: Mafia.  L-R, Belle, Nina, Nick, Lisa, Damian, myself, Mick, Ingrid and Dev.