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Perspective

/ Sloan / 2 Comments

I’ve been in Thailand nearly two months now. Things that were first really strange to see are slowly becoming “normal”. Things I never thought I would get used to seeing:

• Monks walking down the street, talking on cell phones, drinking energy drinks (are they supposed to do that?) just being present in every day life.

• Stray dogs. Whether they are barking like crazy at me on my morning run or paralyzed by the afternoon heat these pups are everywhere—quite sad to see.

• Children with white powder (baby powder) on their face to keep from sweating as much.

• Adults with white residue on their faces from whitening cream.

• Food stalls everywhere.

• Really flat feet. Asians have extremely flat feet and wear horribly unsupportive flip flops that do not fit. As someone who has worked in footwear her entire adult life this pains me to see—someone send some mid-stability shoes here, quick!

• Buddhist temples. I love seeing these. Buddhism is becoming something I’m enjoying learning about, enjoying praying as a see a temple and notice the small details each one has. Buddha statues are amazingly unique and beautiful, my favorites are the ones that are laughing and smiling.

Buddha

Buddha

 

 

This list, I’m sure, will continue to grow as I spend more time in Thailand—more ‘weird’ things will become normal and my idea of normal will shift along with my perspective and outlook on everything.

Called Out

/ Sloan / 4 Comments

A mind shift. An attitude change. A complete 180, if you will. I got smacked in the face and called out this week. Not only by my Mother, (who, respectfully has that job) but by a new friend of mine too. They both called me out (each in their own way) on my negative attitude. Which made me stop and really think for a few moments. [by a few moments I mean a night of bad sleep and a long run and multiple TEDtalks later…] I realized I had to change it. I decided, yes, I made a very conscious decision to change my attitude. And it’s been a conscious effort to maintain it too.

I was giving all the credit of my bad attitude to this being hard, instead of me not trying. I am now 100% making an effort to be happier, to be more positive, to stop getting down on myself and to quit living the romantsized version of Hollywood self-deprecation. How do I expect other people to love me if I have a bad outlook on myself and verbalize it constantly? Down with negativity!

So in effort to change this I am down playing the negative self-talk, I’m slowing down. I am taking more time to read, more time to teach a lesson, more time on yoga, more time on writing—these endeavors are already making a huge difference in my life. Seemingly small changes are making me realize the beauty of where I am and what I’m doing. I am smiling more, I am appreciating every hug the children give me, every kindness the Thai people offer—I’m finally living closer to the now instead of the when.

…take a day, take an hour, to cut one negative thing out of your vocabulary, look in the mirror and smile, say I am awesome once a day—see what happens.

Kids

Kids

Lighting my Loi Krathrong and making a wish

Lighting my Loi Krathrong and making a wish