May 12, 2013 Parenting/ Home-schooling / Family Music and other Notes
Mother’s Day (or is it Mothers’ Day) Rant (a small one!)
©By Vijaya Sundaram
May 12, 2013
(Cross-posted on Facebook as well)
I dislike Mother’s Day AND Father’s Day. It’s a totally made-up construct, a way to single people out, and a way to make some feel left out. It’s a way to create expectations and crush them for those who have them. What’s the point?
I have no expectations. I love being a mom, and every day is Mother’s Day for me. I did tease S just a tiny bit today, and W too, but she picked some lilacs for me (and promised to make me a card, because she wants to do so, but had no time), and so far, he’s done nothing but teach music online all day.
Do I feel bad?
No!
I suppose I could pull a guilt trip on them, but I’m not interested. It’s silly.
Plus, I have no stomach for cheap sentimentality. Sorry, I know this day is sacrosanct for many. I guess I’m just rebellious, and traditions be damned!
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Tags: Being rebellious, Disliking Convention, Mother's Day Rant, traditions be damned!
May 12, 2013 Awake in Real Time: Coffee-induced Meditations and Journal Entries, Reading, Writing, Thinking, Teaching and Learning
Meditations on Greatness and Ordinariness
©By Vijaya Sundaram
May 12, 2013
I’ve often wondered why people can exist in a kind of dumbstruck awe of those who have achieved greatness in a particular field.
I do not mean to imply that I don’t respect great people or am not in awe of their gifts, tenacity and devotion to their field. I do not mean that I find them puny or insignificant. Not at all! I admire them deeply, intensely, with great respect and open eyes and heart. I appreciate enormously the sacrifices they must have made and the strength of mind to keep at their art or science or any other field. I look at them, and see their greatness as part of the power which pours from an unseen source into their hearts, into their minds, the minds of those who are compelled to follow a dream. I love that, and wouldn’t mind some of that to spill over into me as well.
What I don’t understand is the slightly subservient attitude that is adopted by those who pay them tribute — or, maybe I mean something other than subservient. I’m referring to the slightly timid manner which people adopt in the face of greatness. I find it strange and slightly discomfiting.
Perhaps, I’m thinking that the possibility of greatness is in all those who seek passion and purpose in their own lives, along with tenacity and vision. And I am wondering why tenacity and vision, which should be everyday things, things of no great consequence, could be so extraordinary.
I know why — because they are extraordinary.
But they shouldn’t be!
I don’t wish to slavishly idolize those who possess creative greatness and heroic tenacity. I want to appreciate them with eyes wide open, and with a readiness to let them take me elsewhere, without giving up an iota of my own being. Surrender to greatness, without surrender of self.
Is that possible?
Therein lies the paradox of the attraction and repulsion that “great” people hold for me.
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(NOTE: I’ll probably write a longer meditation on this. This is all I am capable of for now — work awaits.)
Tags: #musing, greatness, Greatness and Ordinariness, surrender of ego, surrender of self, surrender to greatness
May 12, 2013 Kitchen Table Anecdotes, Parenting/ Home-schooling / Family Music and other Notes
Morning Silliness (A Kitchen Table Anecdote)
©By Vijaya Sundaram
May 12th, 2013
(Cross-posted on my FB page, because I really didn’t have time for a special blog-post this morning, nor any yesterday, it being a morning-to-midnight full day out of the house yesterday):
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A few minutes ago, at the kitchen table, a scene that was strangely satisfying to me (as you can see, my life is seriously lacking in entertainment!):
W (my husband, after I teased him about something): You never let me have ANY fun. You mock me in my infirmity.
(S, our daughter, is watching seriously, not sure whether he and I are being serious or not)
Moi: Never. I never want you to have ANY fun. And besides, (randomly) you cannot say “miaow” like a cat.
W (in a horribly deep, stentorian voice, because he REALLY cannot mew): MERWWOWW!
Moi (Collapsing with laughter): Choke! Gurgle! Snork!
S (getting it and joining in the horrible hilarity at poor husband — I know, I know, we’re terrible!): You sound like a begruddled cat, Dad!
Warren and I, not in unison: Wow! That’s great! Disgruntled and befuddled.
Moi: Get me to the InterTubes!
W: Our child is a neologist!
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Tags: #Daughter, #Father, Family silliness, kitchen table anecdotes, mother, neologisms