Sara in Singapore: Staying Conscious and Grounded

Back in the United States now since the beginning of September. I had a chance to share with my church community what I learned while in Singapore. 

To be very honest, I struggle to find a way to bring my experience in Singapore, Cambodia and Malayisa back to the various communities I am a part of here in Chicago. How do I apply all the knowledge that I acquired to those communities?

I want to share with you what I wrote to share with my church. I spoke a few Sundays after I returned to Chicago. 

"Staying Conscious and Grounded"

What I learned from this summer's experience working in Singapore for the United Nations can be useful for all of us. 

I can summarize my summer with just 10 things I learned that provide tools for my life and perhaps for yours as well. 

1. Live simply and deliberately. By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast paced world, you are doing your part to slow dow. You will discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive. 

I was thrilled to again live in Singapore since I was born there. I consciously chose to enjoy it all, everyday instead of get frazzled by the pace of a fast moving hub of Asia. 

2. Stay in touch with yourself. Soul searching, meditation and journaling are just a few of the many activities that help you stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes and dislikes, dreams and fears. 

Having a solid sense of myself through blogging but more so through deep journaling, gave me a firm foundation for this summer experience and my own next steps in how I will contribute and live in this world. 

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This will help form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place. 

My life is so much better when I can help others and when I can learn. I know that that is who I am. This summer offered me the opportunity to meet so many really dedicated and motivated people. We are all trying to make the world a better place, one action at a time. 

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. As we all know, the media bombards us with visions of hate, war and pain and skewed expectation. Be judicious about what you read, watch and listen to. 

I witnessed some really awful issues very up front and personal (since my project at the United Nations was about human trafficking). I tried to balance that with a positive outlook about what we can all do to change that vs. dwell on the negativity that is that issue. Human trafficking is a tragedy and a horror for everyone who is involved. From each individual woman to her community and the larger society we are all part of on this planet. It is up to each one of us to address the issues of inequality, violence and hate we see and do something positive about it. I acknolwedge that it is one of those cases easier said than done, but in all honesty, with a little effort and motivation, we can affirm goodness in the world. It starts with us. 

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in the sprawling metropolis or a suburd, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you. 

I was fortunate to see and experience beauty and generosity each day. I was able to travel to Cambodia on my own, visit and speak with women and children of prositution and trafficking. It humbles me that the world is so beautiful and people through suffering, are kind and generous. It encourages me to keep that perspective and honor the world and all who live in it. 

6. Nuture your ties to your trive. If you dont have one, create a community that you can belong to. Modern life can be isolating. When you have a trive, you have a circle that you are a part of. 

I have truly found a new community this summer. The family I lived with, everyone at Unifem, new found friends and neighbors etc. They are all a source of support, caring, guidance and companionship. 

7. See the larger picture. Remember the way that you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your perspective by exploring other modes of being through research, travel and discussion. It sounds so simply, but really it is a beautiful way to enlighten our lives. You might think "we dont have the means for that". Neither did I, but with prayer and affirmation, we always get what we need. 

I have been priveledged enough to see and enjoy so many ways of living this summer. It has been yet again another eye opening experience to the humanity of people and to how I want to live my own life. I now understand so much more about myself and others. 

8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem routine. 

I realized that everything can get routine, unless I continue to learn and listen and stay present. If we each continue our knowledge about whatever we are doing, our lives will never seem dull. 

9. In this busy world, it can be easy to live a sedentary life. Move your body! Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a visceral way. It also restores our vitality. 

I took yoga this summer and make it a point to walk everywhere I could. It made a huge difference in my attitude. Again, this concept is so simply, but yet we ignore its importance. 

10. In Unity we reiderate this alot but it is because it is important. Make time for stillness, silence and sollitude. This world can be noisy and we are all subject to all kind of noise nearly every waking hour. We are also often "on the go" and unable to relax. 

I make sure to spend time being alone in a peaceful place making time for quiet and enjoying that. I needed a way to let go of what sadness I was feeling from some of the work. This helped me realize the distinction between being alone which is healthy and being lonely which is not. I was able to perform much this summer. Keeping my passion alive for music made me a happy camper and allowed me to express myself in one of the ways I know how.

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I know we have heard these steps before or something similar but repeating them and revisiting them does not hurt. Try being present to these few steps and try taking them on. You'd be surprised what shows up for you in your life.