Expat Blog Challenge--Day Four: Reflection

Within this post, I'm meant to read the fifth entry I've made on this blog and reflect upon my frame of mind within it.  Considering this is my 4th blog entry, I am going to have to behave like a seasoned educator and....modify.

Therefore, a reflection on Reflection it is.

Today, my seven year old came home and wanted to teach the family how to meditate.  Apparently, a yoga teacher (or someone of similar background) came to teach the kids about "learning to channel the calm" within themselves.  For my child, this comes in the form of cooling off after she's been re-directed or given any kind of criticism....whatsoever.  This usually results in her slamming doors, quickly and curtly responding "I WILL, O-KAY?!?" or "I'm SORRY, Oh-KAY?!?  

I feel her pain.  Really, I do.  My mother used to chastise me for "The Pout."  As a child, I would purse my lips in a similar fashion to Arnold from Different Strokes (seriously, can we have a Pub Quiz at some point with ONLY 80's TV questions?  I'll NAIL that).  Remove the baseball hat and adjust the grayscale a bit (no need for a height differential--I'm still about that size), and that's me below....circa 1985.

So, it's genetic.  What can I say?  It was a bit humbling to be educated by my 7yo on tranquility.  She did a stellar job--spared no detail.  She even had props (paper "boats" to put on our bellies as we breathed) and a meditative "ocean track" playing in the background.  I'm glad she's practicing the skill early (way to go ISD 2nd grade team!). Me......well.....I'm kind of a "burn the candle at both ends" type.  Rarely does it do me any good to speak of--typically the "snowballing" or "in the weeds"effect and resulting headache....

Dhaka itself does not inspire quiet meditation.  There's constant construction noise, airplanes passing overhead (we live close to airport), incessant barking dogs, horns and bells from traffic noise, loud-speaker amplified prayer calls, people everywhere.  It's a different rhythm than Santo Domingo noise--which I could tune out with no problem--and we haven't really acclimated to the rhythm (not entirely sure we ever will, honestly).  It still physically jars us. So, meditative and quiet time is a treasured commodity.

I've been pondering the wisdom of this gal lately:  "The Day I Stopped Saying 'Hurry Up'"  and, though I confess that my crazy-hectic life still impedes my mastery of the "mindful" lifestyle, at least it's a goal in the forefront of my mind.  Since our move to Bangla, we've instituted a "no electronics" rule for the dinner table (where we do homework, eat family meals together, etc.).  But it is frequently a challenge to keep ourselves focused on what's REALLY  important instead of what's pinging or buzzing or notifying us from various devices within our reach.

I'm encouraged by our willingness to unplug, though.  We have a four-day weekend at the end of this month, and a 2-week break in April (yeah, read that and weep, DR friends!).  We hope to go to Thailand for April, so we're staying put for the 4-day.  My youngest wants to lead a family yoga-workshop, and I'm stoked about it, as she and I are the ones who need it most :).  Perhaps we'll make it a weekly trend....IF we can schedule it in.....(kidding, y'all....Only kidding!).

Peace, hugs, and love to you from the Desh.