Author: hannah.ananas

The Last Samurai

I just watched the film “The Last Samurai”, and it was the first time I’d seen it all the way through, as well as the first time I’d seen any of it post-Japan (remember that I lived in Japan for a while).

I balled my eyes out over and over and over again, and mostly for things I never would have considered before having lived in Japan.

As Katsumoto-San says, ‘There are many of our customs/traditions that seem strange to you… Yours are the same for us.’

And now I see both sides of it all, and I wonder at how anyone could consider that only one side to anything in life is good enough, satisfactory enough, adequate… for anything beneficial to anyone or anything.

It can be terrifying, but seeing through the eyes of ones we don’t understand creates a solution to any problem, because, as Ender Wiggin said, once we understand our enemies, we can’t help but to love them.

Post-a-day 2018

Where we belong

Today, I was reminded that I am exactly where I belong right now… Just like when I let go of things having to look a certain way when I lived in France – when I acknowledged that the exact French life was not for me, because, well, I’m not French – and I could just be myself (while, of course, still being respectful of and to those around me), I ran into the people whom I liked best.  I started going where I liked to go and doing what I liked to do, and friends showed up.  I had failed at making friends by trying to be French, so I stuck with being myself truly, and friends popped up all over the place, better than I ever could have expected.

And today was just like that, but on a miniature scale.  I was doing what I felt was the right thing for me to be doing, and I followed my heart and intuition while doing it… and that led me to a wonderful person (someone about whom I have been wondering a lot lately, but whom I haven’t seen in years!).  As we chatted, walking together to the person’s yoga class, I felt as though this one encounter was perfect for me and my life, and that it had a positive impact on that person’s day and life, too.  It was like one of those feel-good movie moments, those “meet-cute” situations, where the music is happy and everyone leaves the scene feeling better than ever about life in general.  My being the main character of the scene, I especially felt wonderful about life – things are still totally insane right now, but I can see that that’s really okay for right now.  It’s going to be even more amazing than I ever could have imagined, and so I just need to stick with moving forward in what feels right, and let go of being so tear-prone angsty and totally freaking out on such a regular basis (except actually… that’s no joke, though it totally makes me laugh).

Yeah… so I’m trusting what feels like the right path, even though it’s terrifying right now. It serves no one when I am so stressed and panicky as I have been, least of all myself.  And I want to take care of myself, so that I can do all of these extraordinary things I’ve been dreaming up, and better.  😉

Post-a-day 2018

Tears of fear and laughter

I was all set to write something good, using my computer…, but the internet is, yet again, not working properly, so I got pushed back to my phone for a short bit of thumb tapping instead (because I like two spaces after my periods in writing, and the phone application doesn’t allow such a thing).

Life can be tough and miserable, or it can be tough and comical… I think I’ll aim for the latter this week, since this small incident is one tiny straw on this bundle that feels like it’s breaking my camel’s back…

Post-a-day 2018

Life

The Universe gives us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.

Period.

Today, I needed a reminder of the magic that abounds, and I was granted that reminder thoroughly and beautifully.

I was even declared an interpreter by someone who didn’t even know that languages are a prominent part of my life, nor that I know more than one language.

And, on my way home this evening, just to let myself free in having fun, I sang a free-flowing song in a language I don’t entirely understand (yet, anyway)…. and it, too, was magical.

Yes, today has been magical, magic-filled from the Universe.

Thank you

Post-a-day 2018

Being true to yourself

Sometimes, people are offended by who I am…, but, if I am being true to myself when that happens, then perhaps those people are just not people who are meant to be in my life for long… you know?

Like in the Barbie musical “Princess and the Pauper”, in the cat song:

…
And if what you are is a strange you,
Doesn’t mean you should change you.
Only means you should change your point of view.
…

Surprisingly deep for a Barbie musical, I know, but it’s really good, isn’t it?

Be true to your heart, folks… that’s my goal every day for myself, and it isn’t always an easy one to fulfill.

Post-a-day 2018

Mutual Getting

Do you ever find that, when you’re with the people who get you, – and I mean really get you – it is easy to stay up late with them; it is no concern getting minimal amounts of sleep whenever they’re around; the traditionally hard bits to sacrifice of life are no big deal to let go?  Isn’t it amazing, the power of connection, love, and appreciation present in those interactions, that we are able not only to bear life better, but to bear the usually hardest bits of life better than we ever bear the everyday ones?  It’s always worth it with the ones who love us and get us, and whom we love and get.  Always.

Those are the relationships I want filling my life.

Post-a-day 2018

Rainy Day Winter Vibes

“Banana Pancakes” is such a nice song.  It epitomizes my feelings on a rainy day, and just playing or listening to it brings me to that wonderful feeling that comes with a cold, rainy day… like magic awaits.

And yes, I do mentally correct the last line, though I never say it out loud, because that -ly doesn’t rhyme…  😛

Post-a-day 2018

Cleaning out my brush

Sometimes, it really is the small, mundane things that gives us the most value in life, should we choose to do them with intention and focus…

Washing a pile of dishes…, folding the laundry…, cleaning out the towel fuzz that has ended up in my brush…, making the bed with fresh sheets…

These are the places where a mindful, intentional, meditative action becomes infinitely more than just a simple task of keeping house, but puts us in touch with the universe, the Divine, that dwells somewhere within.

Post-a-day 2018

Cry me a river

That cathartic cry…

… It really does make All the difference…

… even if it does come from a commercial for Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals, or from the fact that the shower keeps messing up, and today’s issue is that it is giving only freezing cold water, making it miserable alongside the sudden quite cold temperatures outdoors.

Sometimes, we just need to cry ourselves a river, so we can float on forward.

Post-a-day 2018