Tai Tai, Dhit Dhit.....OUCH!!!
The result; I have finished my Bharatanatyam training for this month. I will return back to Thrissur in January for a few weeks, it is then that I will return back to Kalabharati's studio for four or five lessons to recap/ review, finish the Padam, and receive my certification. I will also have an additional "dress-up" lesson (wheee) in proper stage make up and how to wear the costume properly. Fun things ahead, but for now NO DANCING, ice, and enjoying the gorgeous windy Kerala weather....A small forced convalescence.
In this relaxation time I am going to eat, cook, pack, clean, do laundry, do a bit of hair ring crafting. Enjoy the last sweet moments with my Father-in-law.
This month has been wonderful. I have not often mentioned details of my Father-in-Law (Appachan), but he is an incredible man. I often kid with him...."I don't know why I am spending thousands of dollars looking for a Yogi, when you are the most centered person I know." Appachan is a model, and in fact, I suspect I have already learned more from him then I ever will from anyone else.
My Father-in-Law is widowed. He lost his wife about 10 years ago. Grace, Ajith's mother, I never got to meet. Appachan lives alone here in Thrissur, he is a retired Sociologist and published author, and now holds a prestigious role as the Chairmain of the Children's Welfare Committee for a government run children's home(s) for boys and girls in Thrissur. In this role he makes legal welfare decisions on very serious and delicate cases involving children that are seized by the state in matters of various domestic abuses or crimes. It is a high-ranking authoritative position and at times it puts him in danger.
Most of the crimes he deals with are of horrendous sexual abuses against children. India, like anywhere else has child abuse, incest cases, and sex trafficking. He has seen it all...imagine the worst, most vile atrocities on children, and he has seen it and intervened. This has become his life's purpose and he cares for these kids very truly. He is worried for the future of their welfare, and is often fighting a corrupt government system that looks at these children as dispensable human trash.
Without getting too far into this (it's complicated)...my trip here has many facets. I am doing my personal dance and yoga study, I am visiting and getting to know relatives and friends, but my third reason I have not spoken much about. I will mention it here briefly as it is very serious and important to me. It is worth mentioning. I am also here to work with my father-in-law on creating a non profit organization that will create safe shelters for children who suffer abuse in Kerala.
Right now in Thrissur this concept does not exist. These organizations are rare in Kerala, and my Father-in- Law only has a year and a half left as an appointed chairman. Once his time is up, he cannot be re-elected as chair. He has served two terms and that is the limit for this role. He is concerned for the future, there is massive corruption, and few people that care about the welfare of these children. We have discussed and decided to see what steps we can make in making a change. The long-game plan is to have a safe home/shelter for children to freely come to escape the abuses of home/work/life. How this plan will proceed is what we are currently discussing. This idea has been in the making for a while, but it is not a easy task. It is complicated and we are working out best ways to accomplish this long term goal.
I completed my Masters in Nonprofit Management in preparation of this idea. It started as a seed and has been at least two years in the making. Timing is now right, and I came here to sit down and involve the necessary people. I have also been visiting and meeting people here that are sympathetic to our cause. People we may work with or need in the future, I have also visited the children's home on many occasions to get a sense of what is the current situation. I will talk more on the specifics of this once firm ground is established. When I return back home I now have a green light and can completed some of the steps I have been waiting to start, but right now here in India, we are fleshing out the structures and operational plans. There is much to consider and I wanted to be here to pitch some ideas to Appachan and others and get the ball moving.
As you can see this trip is big, possibly complicated. I have been wanting/planning to jump off into this pool for a long time. I have been patiently waiting for the right time, and luckily for me that time frame started to reveal itself. This trip has had so many wonderful life-changing doors and facets for me. I am growing so much. My personal mantra since my 38th birthday has been.."I want to live the next half right, and on my terms". I am true to that. I am now putting dream plans in action, learning the things I have always wanted to learn, trying to grow beyond myself to include others in a meaningful way, tossing aside the conventions I was taught were "right", and going forward with a personal jet-pack of AWESOMENESS strapped on my back. No boundaries.
The next phase: Yoga and intensive spiritual and physical practice.
Stay tuned, the next blog will be about my upcoming Yoga training. I am hella nervous, and hella excited. I am gonna meet some rite-hippies, some wandering yogis (yoginis), some super ripped-up euros, and in the middle there will be me. I am excited, I have already met (online)some of the very cool people joining this training. I am eager to learn from them and to meet the extraordinary Yogis (and Yogini) that run this organization. Check out Yogi, Rakesh's blog. Pretty cool.
Stay tuned,
Namaste,
Christy
No comments:
Post a Comment