Dubrovnik, this week in my history
Whether you are a fan of technology or not, it has its benefits. Or rather the applications that are built on technology are quite incredible. Applications such as Facebook, though I am not a big user, remind you of things that you did on a certain day 2, 3, 5, 6 years ago. So, even if your memory slips you, technology reminds you of what you did back then.
My husband is a little more active on Facebook than I am. And because he posts photos when we are on trips, Facebook rewards him by reminding us of what we did in history.
It is my birthday week! Yes, why celebrate just one day when you can celebrate the week. My father was not big on celebrating birthdays and I grew up thinking birthdays were just another day. Yup, another case of my father doing my thinking. But recently, I decided that birthdays are special days and worth taking a pause and reflecting on the year gone and anticipating the year to come. And I took it one step further and now celebrate my birthday week! Why stop at one day when you can extend the vibes and motivations for a week. And even though we are currently in a tight lockdown the brain is not limited.
My husband alerted me to this week’s memories and for me, this picture means so much. It was one of the many highlights of the entire trip through the Balkans. The year was 2015 and we did a tour of 5000 km starting in Austria then to Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia (now North Macedonia), Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, and back to Vienna. All on an old BMW motorbike – a classic beauty. It was an incredible trip. This picture was taken in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Dubrovnik is already a famous destination on the Croatian map, but its fame grew exponentially through the infamous Game of Thrones series which was filmed there. It is a gorgeous little town. And although it’s overrun with tourists, it is a fully functioning regular town. Home to the many locals who live there. And as we were walking through the town, I came across these ladies and immediately told my husband that I wanted a photo with them. There was a gap in the bench, and I promptly nestled myself in. I was greeted with smiles and hellos.
The picture says it all. It was a spontaneous moment. I felt the sense to sit with them. But I wanted a photo too. So, I asked their permission and they obliged. Only one lady was not sure she wanted her face captured on screen, so she decided to engage with me instead. That’s the lady ‘talking’ to me.
We had no common language between us, but my intention and emotions spoke for themselves. We connected at a human level that transcended language. There was warmth and humour that did not require language. I spent some time with them before moving on. I gathered from their ‘questions’ that they wanted to know where I was from, and we had a warm quick ‘chat’. I was conscious of their privacy and space and did not want to invade it for too long.
This photo brought back many memories and it got me thinking. A picture is worth a thousand words and MANY emotions. And that it is possible to uplift ourselves, and others just with our thoughts. After all, our thinking is the foundation for everything we do.
I have always believed that a random sentence in a movie, a phrase in a book, a song, or a photo is all it takes to trigger an action, inspiration, idea, or even an article. Just walking down memory lane and describing this photo to you evokes the emotions of happiness, wonder, and anticipation in me. I know this feeling is contagious and capable of affecting others. I hope that I have described it well enough for you to feel it too.
Do you have a song, photo, or go-to phrase that you use or can use to uplift yourself and connect with your core, inner wisdom? This is important because when you are there, you feel it and so do others around you!
As always, you can reach me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com
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