Creative Meanderings

One of the distinct differences I have encountered since living on the other side of the world and in a culture equally foreign is our approach to adversity. 

The Western (or American) mind that I grew up with is that obstacles are immovable and we need to innovate how to overcome them either on our own or with the help of others. Once we find a route or method that works we generally leave it behind for someone later to use and also overcome more easily. 

The Middle Eastern mind seems to view obstacles as mere objects that can be potentially moved out of their way regardless of whether or not it’ll become an obstacle for someone else. Therefore, rather than find a way around, they try to negotiate a way to avoid leaving it to someone else to sort out for themselves. 

While there are merits and demerits in both, I obviously struggle with the one that is not mine. 

My university students used to frustrate me with their constant efforts to negotiate out of homework or learning – the whole purpose of getting educated – when they could use those same skills to study and excel in the subject. 😔

This remains the same no matter what age…. Six months of study in the art of yoga and teaching is not much. Yet, people want to do the bare minimum or find a way to do less…! 😳Yoga teachers have people’s health and wellbeing in their hands and so this attitude is worrying and yet it is not so uncommon…. 😳

My arrogant (with reason😬) western perspective is conflicted with trying to find compassion and understanding whilst pushing for excellence and standards…. 

Am I crazy? 😜

~T 😀

Well, oops is that I missed yesterday! 

So, I have a couple of never agains…, or maybe not any time soon.

First, I do not think I will be drinking more than a glass or two of alcoholic beverages ever again. I seem to not be able to digest it even and my stomach has been acting up since the weekend. I had a small glass last night and that did not sit well…. So, my liver, spleen and kidneys should be happy with this decision. 😛

Second, yesterday I did a border run for my visa, which is why I missed posting. I shall not being doing it again via car for a while. The overall experience was fine, but my car sickness seems to have worsened since getting older. Therefore, being in the car for 7 hours for a less than hour process was not ideal…. I have 39 days to figure out where to fly to next time for a night or worse case an airport visit in Muscat. In any case, I shall not be riding in a car for that long again…. 

We are going to Fujairah this weekend, so there will be a long ride ahead, but at least I will likely be driving for most of it and am okay when it is just two of us. 😉

So, there is my update on the last two days….

~T 😀

Life in limbo is becoming a norm. It becomes a question of whether or not life is never not so and we just manage to convince ourselves otherwise.

While I may be able to schedule what I am doing tomorrow, that schedule may have to shift based on what M is doing and whether or not he may need the car. I may be able to schedule where I am going to go for my visa run next week, but how many times I need to do it may change on a regular basis. Nothing is ever truly set despite my preference for knowing what is to come.

The reality is that we never know.

All roads seem to be narrowing in on heading to Europe, probably France in the near future. Doors locally and in other places have closed making potential decisions easier overall as choices become limited. The truth is that I am terrible with too many options, so it is better to have just one option available. 

Our possible plans in developing a yoga retreat center and organizing teacher training modules is becoming more of a reality; though all is still in a draft cycle.

Still, despite all this uncertainty and being in limbo, I feel calm and relaxed. My mind is at ease and I am ready for whatever comes. When it is time to pack my bags and buy our tickets to whatever destination presents itself I shall be ready. Until then, I am enjoying the moments of being where I am. 🙂

~T 😀