ASHTA 1/6 20 points

For 5 minutes, be completely silent and listen to the sounds around you. Don’t judge or try to identify them, just listen and be completely present. Close your eyes and open them again, do you hear differently?

When I close my eyes, I feel like I can hear more things than I could before. Once, I heard that when one sense is sabotaged then another is heightened and I believe that its true because I experienced it personally.

TRI 1/3 10 points

Remember what gave you the most joy when you were 5. Try to recreate the mood. Do a cartwheel, skip around the house, do finger painting, play with marbles or legos.

When I was 5, I did not have may toys so I would draw. Drawing was something I could without having an expensive toy or something I could do that made me happy and would keep me from bothering my parents
.

I am putting up many posts because I wrote them and I haven't had time to post them :)

EKA1/5 10 points

Observe your feet with care and appreciation. They hold you all day, get squeezed into shoes, run, walk and don't usually get noticed. Soak them in hot water and give yourself a foot massage. Observe the sensations in your feet, the toes. If any emotions come up, observe them also.

Yesterday, I wore flip flops and they felt less restricted. When I walked they felt more free and nice because of the nice weather. I later got a pedicure and it felt so nice when the jets in the tub were massaging my feet and it made me happy because I feel so relieved when the pressure is gone.

CHATUR 1/1 20 points

In a group of 4, brainstorm all the legitimate reasons someone might have misbehaved: - one prisoner’s wife said she would visit, she does not come. Why? Someone pushes you while you are waiting in line. A car rushes past you on the road honking.

• One prisoner’s wife said she would visit, she does not come: She might have been abused by her husband and she finally had the courage to leave him since he is locked up.
• Someone pushes you while you are waiting in line: Maybe the person did not mean to do it and it was only because her phone rang and she was expecting an important call from her husband that she hasn't talked to in a while because he has been doing research in the amazon with no cell phone service.
• A car rushes past you on the road honking: Maybe I did not have my lights on because I forgot to turn on my lights on or maybe they weren't working and that driver was just trying to tell me that.

CHATUR 1/2 20 points

Make a list of activities that reward patience, learning an instrument, practicing a sport, a craft. What would you do if you had the patience? Start small but do it!

There are many things that I can do to help with my patience like:

• Tutoring young kids
• Trying out new recipes
• Practice throwing on the potters wheel more
• Talk to people to figure out why the way they are

PANCHA 1/2 20 points

A key principle of nonviolence is the commitment to oppose the deed, not the doer of the deed.

Brainstorm with 3 other people on how this could apply to your lives.

My 3 ways are geared towards prevention and they are:

1.) Meditation opposed to violence

2.) Take time and journal and write out your frustrations

3.) Have a rational conversation with the person to avoid the violence

My argument was that a lot of this could be used for frustrations relating to jealousy, spite, anger, etc. but we could use that to help out our consciousness and help us to be better peaceful people that don't hold grudges for things that won't help us in the long run.

EKA 1/2 5 points

Watch this video about a woman who travels to Iran with her fiancee to get married there Iranian style.

I watched the video and the thing that striked me the most is the words the Iranian man had to say about american people and how we wish to impose our religious views on them, which is not necessarily true.

Peace In Egypt

In the last week or so, there has been many issues in Egypt and other Middle-Eastern countries about political freedoms and the fight for more democratic form of government.

As of today, the protests have becoming more violent and my hope is that this situation resolves itself as soon as possible so that peace could be attained. This crisis can potentially cause a domino effect of political unrest throughout the world which could potentially be dangerous for innocent people who aren't biased and just want to live their lives normally.

I pray that the people are safe and that they could find a better way to combat their indifferences in a way that does not cause any sort of casualties in the world and a more peaceful way to attain their goals .

ASHTA 1/3 20 points

Take time to be with your parent, partner, friend -- spend time listening to each other -- have eye contact for several moments.  

After my last post, I decided to talk to my father about his struggle growing up. Every time he tells it to me, I realize how fortunate I am to have all the things I do and that I didn't and don't have to get a job while I am in school like he did. This talk really helped me to realize that everything I do matters and if I continue to have drive, then I could achieve the things that I want.

SHASH 1/1 20 points

Express appreciation for someone in your life who you might have taken for granted. Say it, draw it, sing it.

I really appreciate my parents but especially my dad.. I rarely ever recognize what they do for me and my brothers. They are willing to sacrifice many of the finer things in life and go into a large debt so I can go to the college I really want to go to. I am really fortunate that they are willing to support me and see that I go through with my plans of going to medical/pharmacy school when they know it will take a long time to pay it back and how they have also been open with their hopes and dreams for me.

Every time I talk to my dad about pursuing a career in medicine, he gets excited that I am the only one of  who wants to be a doctor like he did. ever since I could remember, he has been influencing me to  make a change in this world. he always encouraged me and told me that if I stay dedicated to helping people through medicine, I could possibly create a cure for cancer or some vaccine that could potentially save many lives.

My dad came from Nicaragua and came to this country with 10 years old and had a hard time learning the language and assimilating with all of the other people here but with his dedication and drive, he was able to achieve success in most of the areas that he tries in. Being first generation on both sides, I feel more pressure to achieve more and with his positive influence and guidance, I see it being attainable and I am really thankful for it whether I tell him this all the time or not.