Reiki

Reiki (Rei=Universal) (Key-ki=Energy)

I am now-a-days receiving a lot of information about Reiki. About a year ago I visited a webpage where I could see many names and e mails listed who offered free Reiki healing online. I simply read that page and got some information about Reiki. Then I wrote a lady whose e mail I got from that webpage and she promptly replied sending me 'healing'. I felt better. I didn't have any diseases at that time. But I felt better emotionally, a better wellbeingstate. Reiki is a 'healing tool' in a broader sense. When we go through the testimonials of people from all over the world we will find Reiki a simple hands-on method for a wide variety of physical and psychological ailments. The vital energy present in this Universe gets harmoniously blended with human being's life energy during Reiki attunements empowering that person with 'healing touch'.
I remember Jesus!

In the early part of 19th century, respected Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese became enlightened and perfected the art and science of Reiki. He initiated many into Reiki and the tradition follows.
I would like to know more about Reiki. I think this is the beginning.

Stressful life

Life has become very stressful!
All over the world human life has switched over to the fast lane. I haven't been everywhere in this world but this is what I feel!.... We made ourselves stressful; competition, comparison, envy, never-ending quest to make more and more money, relationship problems, ego clashes....the list is endless.
There is no common world for us to live-in, everybody is living in their own world! Naturally stress level goes up. The stress-spring mechanism in the body gets tightened.
Unwinding it isn't easy!

The importance of stress reduction and relaxation in human life cannot be over emphasized.
Meditation, prayer, positive thinking, relaxation exercises (I have written about Relaxation exercises before, See my post dated April 12, 2008) will help in loosening the stress-spring.
We have to make ourselves happy, stress-free.
We are what we think!
Feed the mind with positive thoughts!

Parenting from far-away!

I am single.

I am not a parent.
But being a teacher by profession I understand the problems of kids whose parents are not around. I also understand the agony of the parent who resides abroad /away mostly for professional reasons and for earning a decent livelihood for their family. This problem is very common in Philippines, my country.

So I thought of writing about this sensitive topic today.

As I mentioned earlier, this topic is very delicate, complicated and sensitive. Circumstances force people to stay away from their children and loved ones. 'Parenting from far-away' is one of the most challenging tasks in the life of a parent and in some rare cases-both parents.

Looking into the different aspects of this complicated task I observed how people cope up with this stressful event positively. These can be considered as some successful tips to tackle this problem.

1. Try to be "present" in the kid's daily life

When one of the parents is missing from the child's world it can have a negative impact in the process of personality development, confidence build up, self- esteem, etc. But now-a-days, in the hectic day-to-day life even parents residing with kid ('s') as family tend to forget to be in the kid ('s') world; they 'live' in their own world forgetting to get involved in the kid ('s') world. So try to be in the child's world as much as possible while communicating with them by whatever means possible. Listen to them at length. But most of the time it would be the parent talking...talking...discussing classes, grades etc etc. Give an ear to what the kids are saying. It doesn't mean that there shouldn't be any discussion about their academics but adequate time should be alloted to hear what is happening in their world also.

Patiently listen to them. Let them come out with all their anxieties, fears, apprehension, doubts.....Imagine how we felt when we were small kids.. Think with your feet in their shoes...
Who else will listen to them apart from you? Imagine how we feel if no one listens to us? We all need attention, love.

Always keep in mind that our kids are also very much stressed like us. The present day living is very much stressful even for kids.
We think, as adults, we are mature enough. But are we really? We all behave childishly when we become stressed, when we face problems.

Try to be a role model for the kid.

Kids will look at what you do and copy it. They won't listen to your words but they absorb non- verbal actions /doings of adults. You can fool masses by your vocabulary but not kids.

2. Regular Correspondence

This can be in the form of emails, chats, postal snailmail letters, telephonic conversations etc. Most of the children love to get letters by post. They feel important. You can send them pictures, cartoons cut from newspapers, drawings etc.

It is not a big deal now-a-days in the era of Broadband Internet to establish regular contact with loved ones using web cam, voice chat, Instant messaging and emails. Of course not forgetting mobile telephony and text messaging.

Children better do text-messaging if that is unavoidable than using the mobiles near their ears.

Write to them / tell them what you are doing everyday, the things happening in your life etc etc.

It's not a luxury to own a digital camera now-a-days.
Snap pics, send them. Children love to see beautiful photos.

3. Be punctual

Be punctual and orderly if you promise something. Be punctual and systematic in correspondence.
If you don't turn up for chat at your regular time they will feel great disappointment.

4. Give them company

Loneliness breeds insecurity.

The spouse at home can easily fill up their world making them miss you less. Always encourage kids to find out more and more friends.
Never allow them to become couch potatoes. Try to create an environment where they can interact with other family members especially grandparents. Contact other family members and grandparents regularly and motivate them also to spend more time with your kids. Encourage them also to correspond regularly with kid (s) if they are also far-away.

5. Gifts

Never forget their birthdays. Send them gifts. There is no need to shell out your hard-earned money for expensive gifts. What I believe is that every expatriate should live modestly and bring up children also like that. Kids also should be given some idea about financial matters early in life. Some lessons they also should learn to be financially stable and successful in life.

Teach them a lesson or to save for future needs.

Celebrate in whatever way you can, their birthdays and important occasions. If possible view the celebration online using web camera. Let them record it if you can't attend the celebrations live, well you can watch it later.

Send them e-cards. Preset the e-card early to be delivered at the correct date to avoid last minute confusions.

http://www.123greetings.com
is a beautiful site. Look for cute e-cards!

6. Support the carers

Support the person / persons who are looking after the kid (s) in whatever way possible. Don't find faults only with them. After all, we humans are not perfect, to err is human. The carer also
needs support, love and... understanding. It is not only money that they want... but love as well is needed.

7. Talk to teachers

This is very important. Teachers will surely notice what the carer / parent misses. They can give valuable advice to the parent(s). When you visit home for vacation you must meet the teacher(s) and talk to them at length, find out what more needs to be done. If possible must go to school. Even if the spouse is interacting with teacher(s) you also must meet the teachers. Find out time for such things also.

Every teacher must take notice of the shortcomings, if any, in the children whose parent(s) is / are abroad. They must make it a point to give little more attention to these children.

8. Talk and interact with their friends

This is fun. Children become immensely happy when parent(s) interact with their friends. Invite them also to home when you go for vacation. Give them also gifts or rather let your kid give them gifts.
Even when you are away, you can interact with your kid's friends.

9. Morally good up-bringing

Encourage them to attend prayers and mass. Try to show them what is right and what is wrong. Give them the opportunity to learn right things. Spend time for religious activities as well while you are on vacation.

The spouse / carer also can be counseled for creating a morally good environment for children. Interact more with people who are religious.

10. Watch them

Watch their activities online. Don't just believe that your kids will never do wrong things. The temptations to do bad are there everywhere in this world. Liberal media, violence everywhere I need not elaborate upon such things.......

It's not easy 'parenting from far-away'. The problem becomes more complicated if you are divorced /separated.

May God bless you and guide you !

Living the present moment!

I often feel that I am not 'living' the present moment. When I was a child I really enjoyed each and every moment in my life. I still remember the ice creams I ate...it's taste...flavor...the jokes I shared with my friends while enjoying the delicacy...it was really good...those olden days. During childhood we often feel the moment we are in, we enjoy that moment. As years flew by... responsibilities creeped into my life...I began thinking about so many material things and such thoughts and consequent actions became a priority in my life. Each present moment simply swept past me without me really involved or enjoying it. My mind began racing towards future moments but couldn't enjoy the present. Little did I realize that the future moments became the present moments later on which I thought will be wonderful while I was at that present moment.

Very sad! Time just ticks away, it doesn't wait for anyone. We are just being carried away like a stream in todays fast pace of life.

It's up to us to enjoy the moment we are at present having. We have to live the present moment well. It is this present moment we have full control of, so we must make use of it to the maximum and enjoy. Live life fullest!

'Feel' the taste of the food we eat, 'feel' and enjoy the love we receive, 'feel really" everything life has in store for us. We always lament that our glass is half-empty but never accept the fact it is half-full. We forget to smell the roses we see everyday, we only see the thorns on their stems. We don't consciously appreciate what our sensory organs are feeding us everyday, every moment. We instead feel apprehensive, we wait for a bright future moment to start 'living' but the present moment here was the moment we were longing for to live well or start living well, happily.That was the moment we thought we will become happy, this was the moment we thought will make us happy, this we don't realize.

Do you agree with me?

May God help me as well as you to live life well enjoying the present beautiful moment right now we are all having given to us by Him!