I have been practising the Four Agreements since the start of this year.
And I have not been very successful at all.
Not even with the First Agreement: Be Impeccable with Your Word.
It is much harder than I imagined.
The first doodle of 2018 is inspired by Don Miguel Ruiz’s book, The Four Agreements.
And of course, the greatest poet philosopher, Khalil Gibran.
And, my failures and mistakes.
“Students are the hardest working people on this planet.” – according to students.
They deserve every mini celebration!
This post features my daughter Nadia who is *working hard* on her university final exams.
With a special appearance from Wellington the Bear, a trusty long time companion.
Life is tough.
Life is also short.
I believe in mini-celebrations of success.
Even micro ones.
Nano ones.
We listen to seek understanding.
Or at least we try to.
Yet it is not often easy.
But definitely worth it.
There are times when I am just walking down the street, minding my own business when suddenly I am struck by cluelessness.
As if everyone in the world knows what they are doing and why, and I am the only soul here who is entirely clueless.
Then I look around and think again.
Perhaps everyone else is as clueless as I am. And it’s OK.
No need to panic.
Hotel rooms.
The knobs and buttons for all the various lighting fixtures in hotel rooms will forever remain a mystery to me.
Trying to switch them all off simultaneously so that I can sleep in complete darkness is always a challenge.
Me and my first world problems.
I went to the bookstore again today.
Came home with three books.
My purpose there was not just to purchase books.
I also went to have a coffee today.
Drank a lovely little cup of coffee.
My purpose there was not just to drink coffee.
I went and did a bunch of things today.
Accomplished several tasks and errands.
But my purpose was not to complete tasks and run errands.
I failed to see your pain.
I was too busy with my own.
I failed to feel your struggle.
I was too busy with my own.
I failed to see things through your eyes.
I was too busy with my own.
I failed to understand you.
I was too busy trying to understand myself.
Our natural instinct is to avoid pain.
When we feel pain, we find ways to distract ourselves.
We suppress the feeling by scrolling through our phones, checking our messages and looking at other people's pains.
Then the pain just grows.
It builds up, it spreads like moss.
Till nothing is beautiful anymore, and our lives are but a puzzle of anxieties, dreads and unrequited love.
When people exercise they advocate "feel the pain and do it anyway".
The same goes in life.
We need to surrender.
Let it wash over us.
Feel every molecule of pain writhe through our bodies and squeeze your heart dry.
Only then will the pain begin to fade.
And you let other feelings in.
At first it is all bit numb. Then you start to feel your toes again.
And then you wriggle your feet.
And you get up.
And you start all over again.
My love.
I’d like to add one thing to our list.
Let’s slow dance to this Neil Young song.
“Harvest Moon”
Come a little bit closer
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleeping
We could dream this night away
But there’s a full moon rising
Let’s go dancing in the light
We know where the music’s playing
Let’s go out and feel the night
Because I’m still in love with you
On this harvest moon
When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart
But now it’s getting late
And the moon is climbing high
I want to celebrate
See it shining in your eye
Because I’m still in love with you
On this harvest moon
