When I worked in an office, doing the “daily grind” back in Melbourne, I was most definitely NOT a morning person. I was usually sleep deprived, dreaded the alarm going off in the mornings, and was unenthusiastic about having to get ready and go out to a place that didn’t inspire me.
Recently, it struck me how much all this has changed.
When we moved into our new apartment, I put a lot of effort into creating a meditation space on the terrace. I wanted a place where I could go to feel peaceful and still but also uplifted. Now, it’s become a huge part of the reason why I love getting up in the mornings.
Even if I don’t meditate as such, I look out over Mumbai coming alive or gaze up at the endless sky where birds are soaring. I light an agarbatti. Sometimes I play bhajans. Other times I listen to the sound of the mosque in the distance. The sun shines on my face and warms my body. I feel so blessed to be loved, and doing work that I feel passionate about.
Most of all, I feel blessed to get this time every day for reflection and mindfulness — just being in the present, noticing everything that’s going on around me, even the way the sun’s rays bring out the warm colours of some buildings.
All feels magical in the world.
Big city life. Maximum City wakes up.
© 2013, Diary of a White Indian Housewife. All rights reserved. Do not copy and reproduce text or images without permission.
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What a lovely post, I am very happy that you have found peace ! Next time I walk half awake to my office, I will send a thought to you in my morning prayers. Hugs.
I will send you some inspiration and positive vibes too!
Thanks Sharell, I need them !
Morning is when we are filled with energy. it is the best time to do meditation. especially in mumbai you cant lie on the bed for long. its hot. you are up and never lazy…
Hi Sharrel,
Which singer’s bhajans you listen to? Anup Jalota or Jagjit Singh. I hope you have heard about them. They are both brilliant. Jagjit Singh was actually the gazal king and passed away recently. I guess you are into buddhist chants.
I don’t listen to any specific singer, rather I prefer compilation albums, such as this Sacred Morning Chants. http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Morning-Chants-Shri-Devi/dp/B000VYXGGA
It’s a Times Music album and I have quite a few of their compilations, there are heaps to choose from: http://www.timesmusic.com/genre/devotional-2-1.html
I mostly listen to Hindu bhajans, although I listen to Om Mane Padme Hum sometimes. It all depends on my mood.
Oh, and I neglected to mention I have a few of these vedic music albums: http://www.omvedstore.in/category/1702-vedic-music.aspx
Hi Sharrel,
Speaking of spirituality, I saw a tv report on an Australian man and his family who is building a boat to provide free transportation to the pilgrims at Allahabad. Apparently, he first visited sangam during the Mahakhumb twenty four years ago. He was saving to build a boat for years and came to India just for this purpose. His devotion towards India and Mahakhumb was amazing.
It is estimated that 5-6 crore people are expected at the Khumb Mela. I have seen it because my inlaws live in Allahabad. The organizing of such an grand event is incredible. Who says Indians are bad at planning I wish we could replicate the same model throughout India.
Yes, I read about that in the newspaper this morning. He was also in touch with me a few months ago, when he started his journey to India. Fascinating!
The fascinating part is during Kumbh everyone is well behaved while in other places, like Railway Station, Indians, jostle and push each other. It is said that everyone is deep in devotion and no one is competing which each other. I wish this discipline was the case in all walks of our life. It also makes us aware how powerful is religion is in India. I guess religion should play a pivotal role in awakening Indians on various issues like patriotism and social evils. For foreigners, it is unlike anything they have encountered in their own country. The management of the Kumbh Mela is part of management research.
So can we conclude that the “secularists” for the most part make up the ghetto culture of India?
That’s gorgeous… although I am still not a morning person! At all..
It sounds magical. I can relate to not liking mornings when working in a job you don’t love. I used to sleep in until the last possible minute but I have created rituals that help me transition into the working day; writing practice, some meditation, poetry and walking through the Fitzroy and Treasury Gardens to work where possible.
Oh, the Treasury Gardens, I used to lay under a tree there at lunch time. I also used to read inspiring books on the train on the way to the CBD, so it was something to look forward to after getting up and getting ready.
Hi Sharrel,
Completely off topic, today in the Hindustan Times I read a fantastic article by a man who described his experiences growing up as a boy in sexually repressed India. I makes for fascinating reading. It aptly describes what most Indian men feel. He tells that there is always and element of violence in the way sexuality is taught to Indian boys. There is nothing live love or courtship in Hindi language. Good to see Indian men mustering courage to tell their part of the story.
It would be great if you could find a link for it online and share it so I can read — thanks!
Hi Sharrel,
I don’t know how to get a link. Can you tell how I can link articles or you tube videos to this blog. The article goes by the following name. “My mom injected some French feminism into my imagination” which is the title of the article. It is written by one Palash Krishan Mehrotra, today 22.1.2013 Just type the above mentioned sentence in Google.
Sometimes, I find something interesting but cannot send to u because I do not know how to create the link.
Oh, it’s simple, just cut and paste the URL from your browser: http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Chunk-HT-UI-IndiaSectionPage-WakeUpIndia/My-mom-injected-some-French-feminism-into-my-imagination/Article1-997867.aspx
Have you read it, did you like it. Indian men are taught that women are a thing from Mars and women are taught that all men are evil. This is at the root of all our problems.
Yes, it sure seems that way. It was a very interesting article, thanks.
I tried to copy the URL of youtube video but it did not create a hyperlink. Instead of hyper link it pasted only the URL in gibberish language. Can you tell how to link youtube videos to this blog.
I think you might’ve done something wrong. Other people have posted YouTube links in the comments successfully. I presume they’ve just cut and pasted them from the browser.
I think you might’ve done something wrong. Other people have posted YouTube links in the comments successfully. I presume they’ve just copied and pasted them from the browser.
I fully endorse being a morning person. I however being the consummate student that I am, will go late to bed and wake up late.
When I was in India, I was also a morning person – mainly because the sun was very much up by 5:30 and making it uncomfortable to stay in bed in the heat of the Delhi summer! This meant that I could take the 6am cab to the office, get a good workout in, steam room, shower and get ready there and still be to work well before my 9am start time.
How I miss 9am start times! (And sun at 5:30 AM!)
So what next, Sharell Mata
This reminds me of some blissful mornings I’ve had in India. Though I did nothing extraordinary those days, the pleasant breeze against my face and hair as I jogged, no traffic on the roads and a faint smell of fresh coffee from afar while I romanced the beauty of the crimson sun, tapping as many branches as I could on trees lined along the pavement
I can draw energy from that memory even now, years later!
Aaaah, that sounds so delightful!
Just reading this post gave me the much needed Morning Boost and the Virtual Vitamin D that I am deprived of, as I was preparing to drag myself through yet another dreaded Seattle morning.
I’m so glad it helped you!
And I as always wondering why I am up this hour and reading this post