Ramadan Mubarak

This week:

My colleagues have accused me of being Intense. This, when I was talking about America's Next Top Model.

I am not intense. I am easy as Sunday morning. And am on a mission to prove it.

Just because I analyze things to death, the grave and beyond, does not mean I am intense. I am merely thinking about stuff. For well-considered responses, you understand.

If I stew over events and insist on the principle of the matter, it means that I am deconstructing. I can deconstruct and be laid back at the same time. It is entirely compatible.

------------------------

Am working self to death - promotion spells more stuff to dump on you under thin guise of recognition, entry into the Exciting World of Management comprising endless and pointless meetings, more Clients getting on my nerves and abusing the system, more policy papers to write on top of daily work, nightly Arabic classes which are bloody hard and masters thesis over the weekend.

am tired, tired, tired.

Whinging aside, i do feel like life is Full. and have no time really now to go into a Funk. Or to over-analyze anything (which futher proves my non-intensity, skeptics take note).

Ok I admit. Work is great at the moment. I do feel Alive and infused with Purpose. And am working on Thrilling Life Changing paper that am hoping will launch me into a whole new world.

---------------------------

People can be so rude.

I was giving a lift to a colleague and we were talking about the upcoming Ramadan. I am looking forward to Ramadan - the older I get, the more I appreciate the finer aspects of fasting e.g. beyond the physical fast to more abstract forms of fasting to temper the soul and nurture the spirit.

Her response to me: "The Muslim fast is really unhealthy. Every Western doctor will tell you that. I dont know why you do it, it's ridiculous to go without food and water for so long".

It was like a kick in the stomach.

I am tired, tired, tired of defending and explaining my faith to people who choose to be so rude. If you don't believe in it fine - I don't care - just don't belittle me if I do. Especially if you're in my car.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

I have counseled my Christian Clients countless times on 'finding Jesus' when they come to me broken and suicidal, I have stoutly defended the Buddhist faith when people condemn the Buddhist Myanmar junta persecuting ethnic and religious minorities and I love the facets of yoga which deal with meditation that is so much a part of Hinduism.

When I went to the Borobudur last year I was blown away - monument of lava rock amidst emerald fields and a smoking volcano in the distance - and on the plane that was Nirvana, there were golden butterflies, dancing in the morning sun. (Perhaps Lita and I went a little overboard and missed the point a little when we became butterfly-obsessed and hunted them down with the zeal of a convert on mission to take the perfect photograph of gossamer wings against solid stupas - but hey, you can't blame us for not being appreciative.)

My Onion Man, Mr Chong, at the wet PJ market, which I go to every Sunday, told me this once:
"Your Ramadan is very good lah. Fasting is suffering. Suffering is good for you. Makes you a better person. Very good one"

These little philosophical nuggets from Chong, while I am selecting the garlic and ginger and chillies.

There's hope yet.

---------------------------

Ramadan Mubarak!