Tuesday, 30 September 2008
A leaving note
And so I stand before this door. There is light behind it, and I know whatever awaits me ahead can only be good, in its good and bad, if you know what I mean. It can’t be otherwise, for the road that led me to this point was a good road… And I just can’t help smiling when I look over my shoulder.
I think this is the first time after I moved out into my “adult life” that I have been able to reconnect my past, present and future in such a profound emotional way. I used to be very aware, in every meaning of it, but somehow somewhere I stopped having time for these moments of being with myself and seeing the big picture. In this past year – which had been one hell of a year for me!!! – certain situations and certain people have influenced it to return, or maybe it’s just ‘cause I finally had time – 2 months of being absolutely, blissfully, full-time jobless (and literally so!) Universe knows I needed it so badly, and there I was… It has been a healing, “cleansing” experience, the one of regaining my peace at last. And I know now I can go ahead and start living this new chapter of my life without that much of excess baggage. I’m taking my flight to the UK in a couple of hours, so I just wanted to say THANK YOU before I leave…
To the dark times of my most recent history that didn’t break me, however much it seemed close at times.
To the other times of this same recent history that took me to the heights of happiness and that I will never, ever forget.
To the matooke of Kampala, stillness of Lake Vic, craziness of Nairobi, long beaches of the East coast, elephants of the Samburu plains, churches of Rome, long road to Kilimanjaro, snows of the Himalayas, that night at the Golden Temple, those many truly eternal moments in the blue and green of Mauritius...
To my parents' faces when they met me at the airport and to mom’s support and selflessness.
To the train trips and the endless lands of my country.
To grandma’s food and grandpa’s lectures on politics.
To waking up at 1 p.m. and not feeling guilty about it.
To the old friends that never really changed.
To the get-togethers with their kids around, all grown-up.
To the unlimited mobiles and gtalk. (Oh, and to the odnoklassniki.ru of course, a special one!)
To the dreaming autumn of my city, and to its 600 years.
To beer and smoked fish.
To the 14 year-old me, who so thoughtfully ensured that I always have a blueprint of my dreams for reference, whenever I need it (and to them my old diaries!)
To the childhood memories that started to come back, in their full colours, smells and sounds.
To growing up (a bit).
To the adventures I lived.
To the people I loved.
To the lessons I’ve learned.
To Something To Hope For.
Amen.
I think this is the first time after I moved out into my “adult life” that I have been able to reconnect my past, present and future in such a profound emotional way. I used to be very aware, in every meaning of it, but somehow somewhere I stopped having time for these moments of being with myself and seeing the big picture. In this past year – which had been one hell of a year for me!!! – certain situations and certain people have influenced it to return, or maybe it’s just ‘cause I finally had time – 2 months of being absolutely, blissfully, full-time jobless (and literally so!) Universe knows I needed it so badly, and there I was… It has been a healing, “cleansing” experience, the one of regaining my peace at last. And I know now I can go ahead and start living this new chapter of my life without that much of excess baggage. I’m taking my flight to the UK in a couple of hours, so I just wanted to say THANK YOU before I leave…
To the dark times of my most recent history that didn’t break me, however much it seemed close at times.
To the other times of this same recent history that took me to the heights of happiness and that I will never, ever forget.
To the matooke of Kampala, stillness of Lake Vic, craziness of Nairobi, long beaches of the East coast, elephants of the Samburu plains, churches of Rome, long road to Kilimanjaro, snows of the Himalayas, that night at the Golden Temple, those many truly eternal moments in the blue and green of Mauritius...
To my parents' faces when they met me at the airport and to mom’s support and selflessness.
To the train trips and the endless lands of my country.
To grandma’s food and grandpa’s lectures on politics.
To waking up at 1 p.m. and not feeling guilty about it.
To the old friends that never really changed.
To the get-togethers with their kids around, all grown-up.
To the unlimited mobiles and gtalk. (Oh, and to the odnoklassniki.ru of course, a special one!)
To the dreaming autumn of my city, and to its 600 years.
To beer and smoked fish.
To the 14 year-old me, who so thoughtfully ensured that I always have a blueprint of my dreams for reference, whenever I need it (and to them my old diaries!)
To the childhood memories that started to come back, in their full colours, smells and sounds.
To growing up (a bit).
To the adventures I lived.
To the people I loved.
To the lessons I’ve learned.
To Something To Hope For.
Amen.
Monday, 1 September 2008
Dream Big
If there were ever a time to dare
To make a difference
To embark on something worth doing, it is now.
Not for any grand cause, necesarily - but for something that tugs you at heart
Something that's your aspiration
Something that's your dream.
You owe it to yourself
To make your days here count.
Have fun.
Dig deep.
Stretch.
Dream big.
Know, though, that thing worth doing
Seldom come easy.
There will be good days.
And there will be bad days.
There will be times when you want to turn around
Pack it up
And call it quits.
Those times tell you
That you are pushing yourself
That you are not afraid to learn by trying.
Persist.
Because with an idea
Determination, and the right tools
You can do great things.
Let your instincts
Your intellect
And your heart
Guide you.
Trust.
Believe in the incredible power of the human mind.
Of doing something that makes a difference.
Of working hard.
Of laughing and hoping.
Of lazy afternoons.
Of lasting friends.
Of all the things that cross your path this year.
The start of something new
Brings the hope of something great.
Anything is possible.
There is only one you.
And you will pass this way only once.
Do it right.
- Author Unknown -
To make a difference
To embark on something worth doing, it is now.
Not for any grand cause, necesarily - but for something that tugs you at heart
Something that's your aspiration
Something that's your dream.
You owe it to yourself
To make your days here count.
Have fun.
Dig deep.
Stretch.
Dream big.
Know, though, that thing worth doing
Seldom come easy.
There will be good days.
And there will be bad days.
There will be times when you want to turn around
Pack it up
And call it quits.
Those times tell you
That you are pushing yourself
That you are not afraid to learn by trying.
Persist.
Because with an idea
Determination, and the right tools
You can do great things.
Let your instincts
Your intellect
And your heart
Guide you.
Trust.
Believe in the incredible power of the human mind.
Of doing something that makes a difference.
Of working hard.
Of laughing and hoping.
Of lazy afternoons.
Of lasting friends.
Of all the things that cross your path this year.
The start of something new
Brings the hope of something great.
Anything is possible.
There is only one you.
And you will pass this way only once.
Do it right.
- Author Unknown -
Monday, 28 April 2008
Random thoughts along the sunset beach
"Some people do not have to search -
they find their niche early in life and rest there,
seemingly contented and resigned.
They do not seem to ask much of life,
sometimes they do not seem to take it seriously.
At times I envy them,
but usually I do not understand them -
seldom do they understand me.
I am one of the searchers.
There are, I believe, millions of us.
We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content.
We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret.
We continue to explore ourselves,
hoping to understand.
We like to walk along the beach -
we are drawn by the ocean,
taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty.
We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well.
Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter.
To share our sadness with the one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know -
unless it is to share our laughter.
We searchers are ambitious only for life itself,
for everything beautiful it can provide.
Most of all we want to love and be loved.
We want to live in a relationship that will not impede
our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls.
We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.
We are wanderers, dreamers and lovers,
lonely souls who dare ask of life
everything good and beautiful."
- - James Kavanaugh
they find their niche early in life and rest there,
seemingly contented and resigned.
They do not seem to ask much of life,
sometimes they do not seem to take it seriously.
At times I envy them,
but usually I do not understand them -
seldom do they understand me.
I am one of the searchers.
There are, I believe, millions of us.
We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content.
We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret.
We continue to explore ourselves,
hoping to understand.
We like to walk along the beach -
we are drawn by the ocean,
taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty.
We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well.
Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter.
To share our sadness with the one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know -
unless it is to share our laughter.
We searchers are ambitious only for life itself,
for everything beautiful it can provide.
Most of all we want to love and be loved.
We want to live in a relationship that will not impede
our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls.
We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.
We are wanderers, dreamers and lovers,
lonely souls who dare ask of life
everything good and beautiful."
- - James Kavanaugh
Friday, 25 April 2008
Rediscovering Ukrainian poetry... (дякую, Надька! ;o))
Не любов, не примха й не пригода, —
Ще не всьому зватися дано!
Ще не завжди ж у глибоких водах
Відшукаєш непорушне дно.
І коли Твоя душа воскресла
Знову мчиться у осяйну путь,
Не питай чиї натхненні весла
Темний беріг вміли відштовхнуть.
Не любов, не ніжність і не пристрасть,
Тільки серце — збуджений орел!
Пий же бризки, свіжі та іскристі,
Безіменних, радісних джерел!
(Олена Теліга)
... and here goes a word-to-word translation:
It’s not love, not a whim, not an adventure –
Not everything has to have a name!
Because not always down in the deep waters
You can find the steady ground.
And when your soul came back to life
And is rushing on its shining journey
Don’t ask whose inspired oars
Pushed away the dark shore.
It’s not love, not tenderness, not passion,
Only the heart – an awaken eagle!
So drink the splashes, fresh and sparkling,
Of the nameless, joyful springs!
(Olena Teliha)
Ще не всьому зватися дано!
Ще не завжди ж у глибоких водах
Відшукаєш непорушне дно.
І коли Твоя душа воскресла
Знову мчиться у осяйну путь,
Не питай чиї натхненні весла
Темний беріг вміли відштовхнуть.
Не любов, не ніжність і не пристрасть,
Тільки серце — збуджений орел!
Пий же бризки, свіжі та іскристі,
Безіменних, радісних джерел!
(Олена Теліга)
... and here goes a word-to-word translation:
It’s not love, not a whim, not an adventure –
Not everything has to have a name!
Because not always down in the deep waters
You can find the steady ground.
And when your soul came back to life
And is rushing on its shining journey
Don’t ask whose inspired oars
Pushed away the dark shore.
It’s not love, not tenderness, not passion,
Only the heart – an awaken eagle!
So drink the splashes, fresh and sparkling,
Of the nameless, joyful springs!
(Olena Teliha)
Saturday, 19 January 2008
On conversations...
Was just thinking about all those conversations I was fortunate to have in my life - with friends, or sometimes strangers... Not the time-killing socializing type, not the whats-in-it-for-me networking type, but those random moments of truth and wisdom, when people suddenly connect on such a deep level that what they actually say to each other comes as a revelation to those who speak themselves! Topics can be everything from the mysteries of the universe to corruption in Nigeria to latest discoveries to spirituality to childhood experiences to definitions of love...
I remember the forest house somewhere in the Carpathian mountains in Ukraine, where we sat with Nadka on the staircase on the new year's eve of the Millenium and talked the night away... I remember the first day I met Angey and we ended up bonding for life while downing some unimaginable quantity of beer jars on the bench of some hotel in Botswana... I remember the more recent "deeeep sheeeet" discussions with Rachit on some deserted Mauritian beaches, of which we never got bored... Or sometimes it was just a brief encounter with someone new, and after minutes of talking we felt that we knew each other forever.... Sometimes I discovered new things about the world, or identified with the other ways of living and thinking, or took a fresh look at who I was. And it really didn't matter whether it was a full-fledged wine night with a close friend or a 15-minute Gtalk with someone I just met recently, what mattered was the depth and meaningfulness of the connection, and what I learnt and took with me in the end.
I think of how much time we spend every day of our lives talking some senseless crap with people who do not really matter, and I thank God for giving me a chance to have so many moments with all of my friends, the moments that really shaped me, built life-long relationships and left me feeling warm and fulfilled. These are the moments that will never be forgotten.
I remember the forest house somewhere in the Carpathian mountains in Ukraine, where we sat with Nadka on the staircase on the new year's eve of the Millenium and talked the night away... I remember the first day I met Angey and we ended up bonding for life while downing some unimaginable quantity of beer jars on the bench of some hotel in Botswana... I remember the more recent "deeeep sheeeet" discussions with Rachit on some deserted Mauritian beaches, of which we never got bored... Or sometimes it was just a brief encounter with someone new, and after minutes of talking we felt that we knew each other forever.... Sometimes I discovered new things about the world, or identified with the other ways of living and thinking, or took a fresh look at who I was. And it really didn't matter whether it was a full-fledged wine night with a close friend or a 15-minute Gtalk with someone I just met recently, what mattered was the depth and meaningfulness of the connection, and what I learnt and took with me in the end.
I think of how much time we spend every day of our lives talking some senseless crap with people who do not really matter, and I thank God for giving me a chance to have so many moments with all of my friends, the moments that really shaped me, built life-long relationships and left me feeling warm and fulfilled. These are the moments that will never be forgotten.
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Thank you India
Happy 2008, friends! Love you'all! Although it appears that I'm really not much of a blogger or a regular communicator, he he... ;o)
I'm just back from India. It was fantastic, amazing, mind-blowing... and yes, absolutely super cool! ;o) It's a place to experience at least once in a lifetime, but you have to have a right set of mind to really enjoy it, it's very important. The people who make your experience there also make a whole lot of difference - so thank you dear Jain family for making it so unforgettable for me!
Well, I am simply speechless... Will just post pics with comments, I'm sure they will tell the story better than my long boring write-ups! ;o)) Check this out: www.planetranger.com/tereshonok
In the meantime, here's something for you from Dalai Lama (2 weeks ago I've been as far as the gate of his house, but one day I swear I'll have a cup of tea with him! ;o)))
Never give up
No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart
Be compassionate
Not just to your friends but to everyone
Be compassionate
Work for peace
In your heart and in the world
Work for peace
And I say again
Never give up
No matter what is happening
No matter what is going on around you
Never give up
H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama
I'm just back from India. It was fantastic, amazing, mind-blowing... and yes, absolutely super cool! ;o) It's a place to experience at least once in a lifetime, but you have to have a right set of mind to really enjoy it, it's very important. The people who make your experience there also make a whole lot of difference - so thank you dear Jain family for making it so unforgettable for me!
Well, I am simply speechless... Will just post pics with comments, I'm sure they will tell the story better than my long boring write-ups! ;o)) Check this out: www.planetranger.com/tereshonok
In the meantime, here's something for you from Dalai Lama (2 weeks ago I've been as far as the gate of his house, but one day I swear I'll have a cup of tea with him! ;o)))
Never give up
No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart
Be compassionate
Not just to your friends but to everyone
Be compassionate
Work for peace
In your heart and in the world
Work for peace
And I say again
Never give up
No matter what is happening
No matter what is going on around you
Never give up
H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama
Sunday, 5 August 2007
Head above water
Yeah I know... That's me! In a nutshell, since the last time I was in any mood to blog, I've been in and out of bad and good times, did lots of things I always wanted to do (and no, I do not mean just sleeping!), passed a professional qualification exam, got promoted, went to Italy, spent 2 weeks with my family in Ukraine, and a beautiful day in Paris. Now back to Mauritius, business as usual, weather is crap, but hey... there is always something to hope for. Ain't it?
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