Sometimes it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest difference.
This is such a girly one.
I started to part my hair down the middle at the start of this year.
Now that one annoying strand of hair no longer pokes me in the eye.
I have embraced that awkward cowlick hair growth direction that defies gravity and all forms of hair products.
Finally at peace with the way my hair wants to go.
And I am so much happier with it!
I spend a lot of time staring at my calendar.
The calendar on my wall.
On my phone.
On my iPad.
On my computer screen.
Sometimes this brings me a sense of calm.
It allows me to see how my life will pan out in the coming days, weeks and months.
Sometimes this brings a slight panic that starts to well up deep inside.
It shows me how my life might or might not be in the coming days, weeks and months.
So I remind myself.
Manage what is within your control.
The rest, let it go.
All that and more, goes on in my mind when you see me staring at my calendar.
Some days are just filled with as much frustration as there are things to be grateful for.
It’s better to find sweetness in those small moments than to let the disappointments get you down.
I can do this.
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.
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.
When you open your mouth, what comes out?
Mud? Filth? Negativity?
Useless comments?
Meaningless uttering?
Or lotuses?
Beautiful flowers that rise from the mud?
Generous praises and kind words?
Appreciation and thankfulness?
This stoic reminder is so simple, but so hard to do.
I like to imagine what spills from my mouth so that I do not speak words in hate, anger or frustration.
It is a daily practice that I do not often succeed at.
The one night you try to sleep early.
The night before you have to get up early.
You even did some sleepy time yoga.
You made sure you did not have any caffeine after 12 noon.
You had a bath.
You read.
You kept the TV off.
But.
You're in a strange bed.
In a hotel.
Even with your blankie there, it happens.
Your Sleep disappeared.
It just vanished.
One minute it was right there, within reach.
The next moment, gone.
And here you are, drawing, writing, reading some more.
Hoping Sleep would somehow come crawling back.
And soon, not at 3am…
