Monday, December 24, 2012

Travelling lightheartedly


Whenever come to this time of the year, the energy in our surrounding becomes rather hyped as people are busying themselves with holidays, celebrations, gatherings and New Year plans, etc.  Naturally, the yoga studio is becoming quieter and more still.  So with the tranquility that is more evident than usual during this period, I sit back and take some space in my awareness to reflect and recollect.

As usual, there are some regrets and there are some triumphant too.  But more than anything, I became very much lighter in my heart and spirit this year.  So I am proud and content. 

I always considered myself a simple person without many things to clear after me if I were to die tomorrow.  It was my foremost priority to travel lightly in life, so I regularly sort things off in my house, wardrobe, etc.  But then, I realized my major hindsight.  I forgot to look into my heart and spirit.  To my astonishment, there were much heavy stuffs still uncleared for ages….

So my major New Year resolution is to travel lightheartedly. 

We all are travelers in the journey of life.  We came from somewhere and will go somewhere at the end.  In between we travel; we are ‘living.’  But in the way we travel, the styles and preferences are all differ.  Some likes sightseeing in the comfort of well-organized tour groups, moving together with guides and the fixed schedules.  Some likes backpacking without particular plans or company, preferring to stay or leave wherever, whenever they feel like it. 

The first group favors structure and security whereas the latter freedom and adventure; but each has its own price to pay—inhibition versus uncertainty; dangers of stagnation versus self-delusion; shallowness versus rootlessness, etc.; just to mention few. 

I am definitely in the second group.  How about you? 

I wouldn’t say which one is better than the other because whichever group you are in it is all individuals’ choices.  And we are responsible for our own choice not for others, but to make sure you are aware of what it entails when making choices, so that we have no regrets whenever the journey comes to the end.  After all we got one life only to live well accordingly to what our hearts desire, not by what others might expect, think or judge of us.  Otherwise you might have to struggle with the intense burden on your shoulders throughout the journey, and there is no sadder way to come to the end the journey regretting over what other routes we might have taken rather than the one we have walked on. 

Many things have happened during this year for me, and at the same time, not much has changed externally.  Instead it was a lot of inner turbulences, changes that occurred.  I can’t tell you what all that was, but, one thing for certain, I came out feeling stronger and clearer sense of where I am and where I am heading in this stage of my life.  As I reflect the journey I walked before, even what I thought the worst moments in life, in retrospect, it was not all that bad or lousy.  Actually every time it created more space to push me forward to be a better and more useful person.  Without this kind of occasional life challenges, we are so easy to get slacked.  Our inert laziness will always have tendency to drown us down into self-mortifying tragedies. 
So I am glad and grateful for many things in this year and am looking forward to the life journey lies ahead. Still there are no definite plans or certain routes that I can foresee to thread on. And yet, I can sense fresher air and brighter sunrays from where I am sitting.  There is also more grateful heart for life in just the way as it is.  Thus I think the New Year is holding something even better than this year. 

I wish you all the same spacious awareness to reflect and recollect your life during last few days of 2012 and come out with lighter heart to welcome 2013 full heartedly. 

I have attached Yoga Class Schedule 2013.  Please note for the time changes and additional morning classes.  There are also additional TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) healthcare feature that is enhanced.  You can check the website for the details.  Sorry for the delays in making website change.  Our assistant instructor Ms. Vivienne Yu has been on the technical task for it, but, her mother fell into severe health mishaps… Let’s hope together for her mother’s speedy recovery, and, at the same time, wish each other and family the best health and happiness in the New Year!

See you all in the Yoga class!

Yours sincerely,

Beth Lim