OLIJ STUDIO
  • Home
    • Instagram
    • Biography
  • Studio
    • Workshops
    • Flow Painting
    • For Students
  • Art
    • Travel Sketchbook
    • Fashion Illustrations >
      • Designer Bank Notes
    • Drawing from Life >
      • Still Life
    • Portraits
  • Blog

Giving

23/12/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture

So the holiday season is here,  and it's a usually reflective time for me, for a little look back at what 2013 looks like.  In the spirit of the holidays, here I give you a little package of thought wrapped in a nice neat post before the year changes and we're all a year older. 


I want this gift to be a thought about Giving. 


Giving to me is about being given space. A space in your busy-ness where you might see a gap of clarity about what matters most. Space in your head make you more mindful, more considerate, more patient even. This is the most valuable lesson I learned this year when I navigate through my commitments and responsibilities, my brain slowly become more scattered, busy and anxious. 


Here's Davidji talking about 'the gap'.

Giving space in my mind are these things in no particular order : 

 - Not reacting, pausing for a whole breath before responding. 
Applicable to moments when you feel under pressure, rushed or hassled. When your expectations does not match the outcome. When one frustration begets another, when you call the day you've had 'a bad day'. A day where many of your needs were not met. You know what I mean.


- Letting go
Applicable whenever you feel irritable and overwhelmed. The letting go is therefor an act of resignation and acceptance that things will go whichever way it goes and you have relinquished control to whatever will be, will be. This….. gives you some breathing space, so you can relax in the moment.


- Watching your breath
This one's very under-rated. This activity is easy to do, but often under appreciated because the thought around watching breath can be a little too slow, too little and has a slow effect, while what you really get  when your only effort is too watch the inhale and release, is the quieting of the surface ripple, so you can see the deeper ends of your thoughts.  


- A safe place 
Applicable when you need a little help, when you feel a slew of emotions that are contradictory, when you feel perplexed, and all you want to do is cry but you can't because you feel embarrassed. and crying seems inappropriate. A friend can lend you an ear where a safe haven is given to you, a place where you can just let yourself fall apart yet feel protected and cared for. Also applicable when you feel grief, sadness, maybe even a little depressed. 


Happy Holidays! 
Be merry
Enjoy the family and friends.
The food, the drinks, and
The new year.



0 Comments

    SUSAN'S BLOG

    The blog explores, questions and ponders ideas, people and life. 

    Archives

    November 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    April 2018
    July 2017
    August 2016
    November 2015
    May 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    RSS Feed

Subscribe to Newsletter

Olij Studio
53 Niven Road
​Singapore 228401
2019 COPYRIGHT SUSAN OLIJ
For Inquiries. Email ME 
Proudly powered by Weebly