The Time Is Now

Revelations creep through each and every entries I post and I find it a relief that my feelings are validated after I finished posting my stories to share. There were moments of weariness and trodden despairs whilst tidbits of guilt and bursting happiness. Each and every stories are pages of my life from the past to the most recent.

What did I learn from all these years of writing uneventful or surprising events? There are a lot to say about the good and that I am ready to face whatever evil comes along the way in forms of jealousy, envy or flat criticism of my style of writing. I write because I needed to open up a kettle full of steam. The feelings inside maybe of hatred or love, success or failure, or just plain sharing of idle thoughts. Needless to say, it's my life.

I write because I wanted to pave the way to my feelings toward other people such as my family, my friends, my interests and my students. My compliments for them simply stemmed up from my respect and heartfelt love for being with me, or believing in me, or by supporting me in many ways.

The time is now for me to say thank you and that I owe them what I have, a life that I respect and a life that I perceive as full of grace and unending rewards. The time is now for me to say I miss you all and that you're always be included in my prayers. The time is now to reveal that I do love being with you as much as I love seeing and hearing from you all.

Special thanks to Jepoy, Lucas, Kris, Tik, Lilian, Joan, See Teik, Odelia, Jiji, Steph and to all those who visit and read my entries.

The Dancing Man

Ruth Bornstein's The Dancing Man is of a wonderful story about a little boy who was fond of dancing. One day, he met an old man and gave him silver shoes as a present. When he was old enough to wear them, he ventured far away and danced for everyone. He made his way from one town to the next, meeting good people who appreciated his dancing and touching their lives. Until one day when he was tired and weary, he knew what to do and decided to continue the legacy of the Dancing Man by leaving the shoes to a young boy whose dream was to dance and see the world.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to a charity performance presented by Point Studio based here in Bangkok. It was the studio's fifth anniversary and they decided to showcase their dancers and students with a production called Fun+.

The entire show was mesmerizing as the dancers gave their brilliant performance interpreting various styles of dancing. It provided the audience with different aspects of Thai society seen today and in the entertainment field. Of outstanding value to me was the interpretation that reflected the dark side of Thai society featuring the night club dancers, the garbage collectors, the beggars and the hungry. Scene after scene, the dancers captured the audience with the intensity of their dancing and artistic rendition of different roles. It was a feast to the senses.

We are the dancing men and the road we traverse is the road to our goal or dream. The people we met along the way are the experiences of our lives, the failures and the happiness. The passing of the shoes means the love we can pass to others as we travel the road to our self-fulfillment. We become messengers, providers, and receivers and we do our job in many ways. For some, it is in dancing that they convey their sentiments. The Dancing Man and the dancers at Point Studio speaks of the same things: love to one's craft and the pursuit of one's dream.

A Typical Day

I start the day with a bright spirit. The morning rituals of dressing up, breakfast and going to school has always been accompanied by prayers of thanks and provisions. My driver is the first person I see every morning. He is jovial and would always be smiling. There is a certain air of light bearing that is pass on to me.

Then I see the people in my school. I get some greetings from some and a great, big hug from a very good friend. I start the day greeting each and every child, making sure I speak with everyone giving my full attention and make my students' learning fun. This is one typical day. After school, I go and conduct special tutorials to older children.

After a tiring but joyful sharing of my time, talent and wisdom, I retreat to my abode for a needed rest. I either use the computer while waiting for the washing or simply lie down on the couch facing the television. I do some watering and some cleaning up. If I have the luxury of an hour or so, I would be walking and inspecting the garden and eventually doing some gardening. Later, I would be going to bed with a book to read, a prayer to offer and off to a much needed sleep.

A typical day with atypical purpose: to live a meaningful life, to touch lives of others, and to commune with my surroundings.

The Secret Life of Jonathan Yu

A colleague who happens to be a good friend is back and she is still full of zest and enthusiasm. I have not seen her for many years and she has been away from the e-mailing thingy since then.

Before she left for the US, she asked my permission to write a book and told me that she'll be giving the book the title, The Secret Life of Jonathan Yu. I was intrigued because my friend does not know much about me but she made mentioned that she was just going to use my name because it sounds fascinating for a title.

Anyway, I thought of this when I met her again and through my mind, the ideas had been running like crazy. What is there to write if I actually have a secret life. Could it be my brush with accident and death in many different instances? Could it be my unconsummated affairs from the past? Could it be the many stories shared to me by strangers and how open they were to me? Could it be the invitations to meet new people and the offer to marry some strangers? Could it be the encounters I had with robbers, hired women, and cabbie drivers?

Our secret lives are feasts to others whether they are weaved by gossips or truthful events. Our secret lives proves the duality of living something we are interested into and something we dare to try. We are not dictated by the society to act like what they want us to behave. We dare not defy the law nor aim to please others but we live our lives because we wanted to live worthily and be happy.

The Secret Life of Jonathan is already written in this blog. Though sometimes it takes some layers to peel to truly understand my thoughts and innermost feelings. As one enters this realm of understanding someone else's thoughts, the revelations can merit different reactions. Simple yet fulfilling.

Friday's Treat

Friday for me is my fave day of the week. I named it my ice cream day. The reason is because I get to go to the nearest mall to get myself an ice cream, kind of a treat to myself for being a good person.

The rewards I seek are simple: a pat for a job well done, a simple thank you note, a smile from a colleague, a warm hug from a lost friend and others. I treat myself to an ice cream, or a bar of chocolate or a movie. I reward myself of a day's rest or a weekend's retreat to the beach. Simple rewards in everyday situations and not wanting more.

Some rewards are yearned. I do miss the times when I opt for the weekends because I get to be with friends. I do miss the times when I opt for Sundays because I get to do some Christian missions. I do miss being with my friends and the story is different now.

While I grow older and reward myself with less things, I am learning that living is not about accumulating wealth but by living it wisely. Just like a child, a small rewarding experience is better than being given a bulky present for good behaviour. If we somehow train a child to get what he wants all the time, then we do not give justice to his or her upbringing. If we provide just what is needed, then problems would be more manageable as a child grows. It will always be a conflict between wants and needs.

Yes! I like Fridays but I like the other days of the week too. Each and every day is a goal oriented day whether there is a reward to be collected or not. Overall, it stems up just being simple in needs yet living a fruitful and satisfying life.

Dreamsong

Dreamsong is a beautiful book written by Alice McLerran and illustrated by Valery Vasiliev. It talks about a boy named Pavel who heard a song from his dream and decided to seek the meaning during the course of a day. He found bits and pieces of the song but was searching for the beginning till he was tired of searching and headed for home.

Dreamsong could be interpreted in many ways yet it was the song of a mother that simply distinguishes the story from other books about motherly love. The song was portrayed as wonderful, triumphant, tender, joyous and wistful. For only to our own child could we create and sing a song not wary of the people around or the voice range used. To every child, a mother's voice is pure.

Though there will be no opportunity for me to sing to my own child, I render my singing voice though admittedly OK but not great, to the children I teach. I do not rock them to sleep but I transform the class into one lively and joy filled session with the goal to appreciate music.

My mother's voice is heavenly as she used to be a singer during her younger days. I was told by my grandmother that she was sought after by men and radio companies. I was also told that among the five sisters, she was the best singer of them all. I miss my mom and I am raring to see her this holiday season. For me, my 'dreamsong' would always be my mother's voice.

All the beauty that I knew,
All the love, I put in you.
Now the music can take wing;
Now the song is yours to sing.

Sweet the grass and warm the sun,
Learn to leap and dance and run.
Nothing in the world to fear-
If you need me, I am near.

Loveliness without an end!
Ah, what lies around the bend?
Loveliness that is today,
Loveliness that cannot stay....

Rivers flow into the sea,
Gliding into memory.
Gliding off, and born again-
Rain to river, sea to rain.
(McLerran)

A Lovely Letter

The measure of friendship is not the number of times we meet each day or the frequency of calls or chats we do in a week. When some consider the long absence of communication a sign of weakness or death, I consider the absence as an opportunity to revive and renew.

I received a thank you note recently from a friend and it is just a joy to get one from a fine teacher and person like him. The letter speaks of quality hence, this entry.

Dear Jonathan,
In the closing days of my stay in Thailand, I had a thoroughly enjoyable
and delightful evening in the company of a charming gentleman.

That was a lovely gesture for you to take me to dinner and the show at
Siam Niramit. Thank you. That is now ensconced as one of my treasured
memories. And thank you too, for the gift of the buffalo horn salad servers.
We eata lot of salads throughout summer so the thoughts of Jonathan
will never be far removed from my mind.

It really was a treasure to see you again. Though our meetings
are but once a year, I anticipate them eagerly for the warmth
and friendship they renew.

Always with love, Stephen

P.S. Do please consider a holiday in Australia. My family and I would love to welcome you as our guest.

YOU'RE WELCOME!

More on Art

Under the Spell of the Moon is a beautiful read-aloud art book created for children by the world's greatest picture-book illustrators. Some of the featured artists in this book are Quentin Blake, Mitsumasa Anno, Anthony Browne, Rosemary Wells, and others. These mentioned artists are some of my favourites.

I create art works through my students by exploring different styles and techniques of doing art and works of different artists. Right now, we have started making an ABC art book based on paintings made by famous artists. We have Picasso, Klee, VanGogh, or Marc to study. It is very rewarding as art becomes a form of creative expression not just of the mind but also of the spirit. 

We might not be artists in the real sense of the word but there is always a sense of creativity that flows among us.  It goes with the way we move or the way we dress up. It could be the manner of speech or the organized system in our lives. Art forms a part of our day by day living and it makes our environment a better looking place.

Artist or no artist, the beauty of creating something matters such as when we plant a seed, when we read a book, or when we create a fave dish to eat. So when we make ourselves artists in our own rights, we make ourselves whole as a person. We give something to this world. 

Growing Old With Grace

Seated inside a bus and looking at the window, I can't help but notice the many trees lined up along the road from the province of Lamphun going to the city of Chiang Mai. Each and every tree was wrapped with a saffron cloth and tied with a bow. The religious implication was just so vivid. Each and every tree can possibly be hugged by three or four friends joining hands together. The trees stand for its beauty, its strength and its grand old age.

My life had not been a whirlwind of activities or event-full of grandeur. My life had been simple and quiet. I had met some people who from a very young age, lived their lives to the fullest enjoying each moment. I had met some people who had aged but still pinning for that hope to live their lives. I had met some who goes uphill and downhill as they search for the meanings of their lives.

When we search the meaning of our existence, we gather through the years experiences that will help us stand firm and strong. As we age, we then become wiser yet our body becomes weak or sickly. When we die, we make it a point that someone along the road, we had made an impression.

I am one of those trees because I knew from the many stories I heard and from the many people I extended my support and help that I am also a revered friend to them. I may not be wrapped by saffron cloth for protection nor tied and chanted with prayers nor hugged to see how my existence had been beneficial to others. Yet I knew that when someone takes a short trip along his or her own undertakings and reminisce, the shadows of my generosity and wisdom linger to their lives, now.

While living, we should strive to be of importance to many people and not just to our family. Our being a person should be marked with beauty, strength and wisdom. When we grow older, we should grow with magnitude and grace. The trees I saw became good examples to how I should be living today.