WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Menosukhi Moments - those which bring a smile (or not)

Recently, I put together a talk to present to a small group down in Suffolk.  It is a regular monthly gathering and many and varied talkers have presented to them.  It is organised by Aitch and is sometimes held in the village hall and sometimes, as this was, in the church.  

The talk was of very immediate and personal importance.  Needless to say technology let me down, but on the whole there was something for each person to enjoy even if other bits they didn't and there were some brilliant questions at the end.

Over and above this though, I was interested in the effect on myself.  You see, the subject matter was "A Repatriate's Expatriate Experience".  Something which, in all honesty, is so immense, there was no way I could really do it any justice in the 50 minutes or so I had.  Particularly when I found that it was triggering all sorts of internal mechanisms.  Having rather flippantly tossed off the title at the original time of commitment I began to realise that it was the underpinning of some of the 'stuff' that was un-settling me in my attempts to settle!  It ties in closely with the spiritual journey and what became glaringly obvious to me was that I was very homesick for Australia.

That is not to say any decisions are about to be reversed!  (Don't panic, World.) However, recognition is half the battle of acceptance and another step in my process of transition has been getting dealt with.

Back here in Dunoon, I have been tackling the fine-tuning part of the great unpack.  The kitchen is finally tamed and on Saturday afternoon I had a neighbour to tea.  I baked cheese scones and laid the table and used the full tea service... such a simple thing yet it brought so much joy.  I can truthfully say to you here and now, that for the first time since leaving the ashram, I felt calm and 'present'...(so much for all that knowledge and training, thinks I, yet that visitor said she admired that I always looked so serene!!!)

This is big.  It is a menosukhi of this moment which is bringing happy smiles, albeit with a nostalgic tear or two.

It was in preparation for the talk that I got round to scanning all the old photos and began the little potted biography.  I shall pick that up again on Wednesday, with the next phase; Africa. Here's the teaser piccie..!



























Over  at MY TAKE TOO on Mondays I join a number of other 'cooks' to make Goulash with Grandma...check it out!

6 comments:

  1. My goodness, you are a well rounded expatriate!

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  2. Like you said it is the effect on oneself in such places. Like that 76 picture.

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  3. I guess it is 'normal' to feel unsettled after so many big changes. Who would not? Hope the 'calm and present' state persists as you continue to re-establish yourself in Scotland.
    Cheers, Gail.

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  4. Just love the picture from 76!

    I think living "in the now" could be the trick. I just relocated from "big city life" in the southern USA to "the middle of nowhere" life in the Pacific Northwest and am having quite the challenge getting settled, so your words really touched me, thank you!

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  5. Places do have a profound effect on us especially after living somewhere for a number of years. Once in awhile I find myself missing some place I have lived. A good example is "the middle of nowhere" in the Pacific Northwest where Dory and her Mama are living now. We lived in that area for some time and I fell in love with it. While I would like to go back I equally love my home now.

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  6. I'm not surprised either that it's taking time to settle back in the UK or that you miss Australia. You've been through a few years of enormous change and it will take time for all the experiences to integrate and for you to feel fully at home in Scotland again. A nice tea party is a lovely step in the process. :-)

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