Read: Everyday Kindness

Title: Everyday Kindness: Short cuts to a happier and more confident life

Author: Stephanie Dowrick

Publisher: Allen and Unwin, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-74237-824-4

Stephanie Dowrick's latest book, Everyday Kindness: Short cuts to a happier and more confident life, is a good read that could calm the nerves and inspire. 

Ever since I had read about it being published in Nov 2011, I had wanted to get myself a copy of this book. However, I could not seem to find a copy of it in Singapore. So when I was in Sydney this May, I was very delighted that I could find and purchase a copy of this book! The author was very kind and had autographed my copy of the book. This would make my copy of the book quite a treasure to me!

When I read the back-cover of the book, there was a quote that got me to think about how to demonstrate kindness. Here's sharing the quotation:

Kindness begins with how we think about ourselves and others... and every day offers a new beginning.

This book can perhaps be described as a compilation of many short chapters, each which is written to allow the reader to read at a single sitting. The way the book was organized has made it easier to read it whenever I had snippets of free time. I read this book whenever I was travelling about places, and whenever I was waiting in a queue. Reflecting on what was written in the book had taken a bit more time than the reading of the book itself. While I had started reading this book from end of May 2012, I had only finished reading it from cover to cover in mid July 2012.

If you were to ask me about what I had remembered from this book, strangely, I cannot quite recall down to the details! Yet, I remember that whenever I read this book, I would usually feel inspired to practice being kind, and I would feel a sense of encouragement to do my part to practice kindness. Perhaps each and every second, we can practice being kind, if we choose to do so.

The author organized the contents of this book into eight broad categories. These are: kindness, personal power, self-confidence, relationships, identity, children and their parents, moods, and work. Such a way of organization perhaps suggests that in every single context, there are possibilities to be kind.

Under the broad category of kindness, Stephanie Dowrick discussed a range of topics of how kindness is integral to our well-being and more. It was interesting to read the thoughts and writings of a brilliant thought-leader in Stephanie Dowrick.

When Stephanie Dowrick was discussing on the topic of personal power, she seemed to be reminding that each of us have the power to make a difference through our choices and behaviours.

Jokingly, since I could not remember all the details of the book, I would gladly reread this book in the near future. Perhaps I would just flip randomly to one of the short chapters, read it, and savour at the wisdom that this book would bring me. Come to think of it, I had experienced this book to be similar to Richard Carlson's Don't Sweat the Small Stuff series, with each chapter discussing the ideas more extensively.

Many thanks to Stephanie Dowrick for sharing her thoughts on everyday kindness, and being encouraging in demonstrating that it is possible to be kind irregardless of one's situation and context. Hopefully, may this book be available in Singapore soon.

Here's the official website of the author, Stephanie Dowrick: http://www.stephaniedowrick.com

20 May 2012: Attended an Interfaith service at Uniting Church

20 May 2012 (Sun):

Stephanie Dowrick has been one of the authors whose books I have enjoyed reading when I first chanced upon one of her books a few years ago. When I realized that the dates which I was available to visit Sydney allowed me to attend one of the interfaith services led by Reverend Dr Stephanie Dowrick, I decided to schedule a visit to the interfaith services. 

The interfaith services was held on 20 May 2012, on the very same day when I arrived in Sydney when I visited Sydney in May 2012. The interfaith services in Sydney are held at 264 Pitt Street, Sydney 2000, Uniting Church, on the 3rd Sunday of each month. I learnt that the Uniting Church at 264 Pitt Street is housed in a beautifully restored neo-classic building.

Before the service, there was a chance for people to sing together for an hour before the monthly sevice. This is intended to deepen participants' experience of prayer through music. I had missed the singing session because I did not realized it was taking place even though I was just nearby the church that day.

Nevertheless, when I attended the interfaith service, it turned out to be a positive experience. I felt welcomed. Reverend Dr Stephanie Dowrick spoke on the topic titled "Transforming our views". In this talkm she reminded us of "our power to contribute to a kinder, more tolerant world" One of the members of the congregation shared about personal reflection on the topic of sharing compassion. 

To listen to Reverend Dr Stephanie Dowrick speak on the topic of Transforming Our Views, please visit http://www.stephaniedowrick.com/blog/stephanie-dowrick-on-youtube-transforming-our-view/

Some of my learning points from the service were:
1) Do not dishonour the positive efforts that we make no matter how small it may seem.
2) Remember to give ourselves due credit for the good work that we do.

I also remember the Sarum Primer prayer that was recited during the service.

"God be in my head
and in my understanding
God be in my eyes
and in my looking
God be in mouth
and in my speaking
God be in my heart
and in my thinking
God be at my end
and in my departing"

One of the members of the congregation had generously and kindly baked cakes for everyone who were at the service. The cakes were shared at the end of the service. Many thanks to her kindness and generosity!

At the end of the interfaith service, I had the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Dowrick. In addition, I have managed to get a copy of her latest book, Everyday Kindness, and had it autographed. It was a wonderful delight and surprise!

Somehow this simple attendance at my first interfaith service was in some ways positively transformative. Many thanks to everyone at the service for his/her kindness and fellowship.

***
Uniting Church in Australia
Pitt Street Congregation
264 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000.

Interfaith services:
http://www.pittstreetuniting.org.au/interfaith.html
http://www.stephaniedowrick.com/featured/interfaith-services

***
Also visit: Sydney, May 2012: A time to heal and to be inspired

Choosing Happiness, part 1

I have just embarked on reading a new book titled Choosing Happiness: Life and Soul Essentials by Stephanie Dowrick. While writing this post, I have found out Stephanie Dowrick is the author of a number of life-changing best-selling books, and she has lived in Sydney since 1983 and is the mother of two children.

I wonder if it is by good grace and fate that I ended up choosing this book to read in the month of September 2009? To read a book on the subject of choosing happiness, by an author based in Sydney?

It is now spring in Sydney. It has been close to a year after my last trip to Australia. About a year ago, in Sydney, one of my friends, XS, shared with me a powerful insight that happiness is often a choice. That insight helped me be more mindful in my everyday choices and has helped me find the strength to face challenging situations with greater ease than I had in the distant past.

I am still practising how to choose happiness mindfully in my everyday life. Earlier this evening, I decided that I shall make an attempt to have a humble blogging project to blog about some of my reflections and learning points that I have had while reading Stephanie Dowrick's Choosing Happiness. To honour my friend who was the first to share this powerful insight with me a year ago, I shall dedicate this blogging project and all the related posts to dear XS. May she be blessed with joy and happiness every moment.

***
Entry No. 1:

For the past few days, I managed to read up to page 50 of the book. One strategy that I find helpful from what I have read so far from the book is that when faced with challenges, it can help by paying attention to the strengths needed for the situation. Stephanie Dowrick suggests that we could ask the question, "What does this situation need?".

Reflecting upon some of the past challenges that I had faced recently, I realised that when I had asked similar  questions, I was more able to face the challenges squarely and positively than to be paralysed by the challenges. I shall practise this strategy for now as I am facing the inner challenges preparing myself mentally and psychologically for the upcoming music performance exams.

I find it a useful move for the book to start its first chapter with the topic: Trust who you are. I suppose this reminds us that happiness starts from within ourselves, and the first place to start is with understanding ourselves.

So far, I think Stephanie Dowrick's writing is fairly accessible. I look forward to reading the rest of the book.

***
Other entries:

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Read: The Universal Heart - A Practical Guide to Love

Image source: Amazon.com

Title: The Universal Heart - A Practical Guide to Love
Author: Stephanie Dowrick
Publisher: Allen & Unwin (2012)

Once again, I read another book by one of my favourite authors, Stephanie Dowrick. As I was reading, I felt as if I was learning from the wise guidance of a compassionate soul. This book, The Universal Heart, was first published in the year 2000. I was reading the 2012 edition of this publication which I had gladly gotten myself during my visit to Sydney earlier this year. I wish Singapore's book stores could appreciate Stephanie Dowrick's works more.

It took me more than a month to read all 444 pages of the book. In this book, Stephanie Dowrick explores how it is possible to live out our highest ideals and intentions in a life that is of love. Using her compassionate style of writing that has a psychological depth, she shows how we can live more appreciatively across all our relationships, including that with our own selves. I like the way she writes with such wisdom and compassion.

Some sections of the book got me thinking more deeply on issues that I had previously not given a deep thought on. I quite like the way that Stephanie Dowrick offers bite-size tips at the end of each chapter.

If it helps to give you a glimpse of the wonderful topics that were discussed in this book, let me try to list down the key chapters in this book:
1) Love generously
2) Know what is going own
3) Live encouragingly
4) Trust others
5) Listen Carefully
6) Value truth as your ally
7) Light up your shadow
8) Transform aggression
9) Relate as an adult
10) Every day, a new beginning.

This is a book to read to learn from a wise and compassionate soul. I find this book deeply thoughtfully and sets me thinking about the larger issues related to humanity. Even though it took me quite a while to read this book as I was reading it while I was commuting and waiting in the queues, I am very glad to read this book that encouragingly affirms that it is possible to live a life that is of love and worth living.

***
Also see: http://ebooks.avidreader.com.au/product/9781742695402

Read: Stephanie Dowrick's Heaven on Earth

Image source: Amazon.com

Title: Heaven on Earth: Timeless Prayers of Wisdom and Love
Author: Stephanie Dowrick
Publisher: Jeremy P. Tarcher/ Penguin, New York, USA.

Stephanie Dowrick is one of the authors whose writing I have enjoyed reading. In this book, there is a compilation of prayers and poems. It was a tranquil and very human experience reading some of the prayers and poems that were printed in this book. A comforting read. This is a book I had read over a period of at least seven months, and I was reading many other books in between.

I think reading Stephanie Dowrick's "Seeking the Sacred" before reading "Heaven on Earth" had helped set the context that was useful in facilitating me to appreciate many of the prayers and poems in this book. I wondered if it would be even more beneficial to get an audio book of "Heaven on Earth" and hear Stephanie Dowrick herself reciting the contents?

Read: Stephanie Dowrick's Intimacy and Solitude

Title: Intimacy and Solitude
Author: Stephanie Dowrick
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Ltd

A few years ago, I was reading one of Stephanie Dowrick's books for the first time and I was attracted to her sensitively written and compassionate style of writing. She does not seek to give an answers and yet through her insightful exploration of various issues, her books often urge her readers to discover more about those issues on their own.

I was searching for other books by Stephanie Dowrick in Singapore, and was pleased to find a copy of her book "Intimacy and Solitude" at Kinokuniya Bookstore. It was the only copy of the book available in the store. I have checked many other bookstores in Singapore but it seemed quite a challenge to find her books in Singapore. Perhaps the next time when I visit Sydney, I shall check the bookstores there to find out if it would be easier to find copies of her books.

Intimacy and Solitude, as its title suggests, seek to explore the two themes, intimacy and solitude. There are, in my interpretation, two sides of the coin, in balance they work in perfect harmony. I find her examinations of the issues of solitude and intimacy to be pretty accessible and sensitively written. Her theoretical framework appears to be influenced fairly much by psychodynamic theories.

Perhaps one of the most fundamental concepts of this book centered around the concept of inner reality. Stephanie Dowrick draws upon Carl Jung's colleague, Marie-Louise von Franz's quote that goes "The experience of Self brings a feeling of standing on solid ground inside oneself, on a patch of eternity, which even physical death cannot touch".

The proposition is that when one has that solid ground inside oneself, it is "possible to trust" oneself, probably to "love yourself" and "to be ready to reach out and trust others in relationships of greater and lesser intimacy".

This is quite a thoughtful read, and I figured that I may have to read it another time in the future to better appreciate the depth of thinking that has went into writing this book. I took about three weeks to read this book while commuting on the public transport.

Read: Stephanie Dowrick's The Almost-Perfect Marriage

Author: Stephanie Dowrick
Title: The Almost Perfect Marriage: one-minute relationship skills
Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Ever since I had first read Stephanie Dowrick's book, Choosing Happiness, about two years ago, she has became one of the authors whose books I would read even if the subject matter is not at all relevant to me yet. Her writings radiate her values and her vision, and I have found her writings to be comforting and inspiring.

It was natural that when I came across another book by Stephanie Dowrick at the library, I knew it was the book to borrow and to read. This book is a compilation of quotes and wise suggestions for better relationships and the almost-perfect marriage.

Perhaps this quote from the book in much ways sum up the core element that will make a marriage almost perfect.

”It’s not age, sexuality, wealth, religion or culture that will determine the success of your relationship. It is your willingness to discover what love truly means.”

Read: Stephanie Dowrick's Creative Journal Writing

Source: www.stephaniedowrick.com

Title: Creative Journal Writing: The Art and Heart of Reflection
Author: Stephanie Dowrick
Publisher: Penguin Group, USA.

On several occasions, I had borrowed this book from the library. Each time, I read a few chapters of the book. Recently, I have managed to finish reading most chapters, if not all, of this book.

This book provides ideas for anyone who is interested in journal writing. Stephanie Dowrick, through her writing, reminded me that the process of writing journal is not to be understood, it is to use writing as a process to understand ourselves people.

I like the practical suggestions and the key principles that were mentioned in this book. To illustrate the joy and benefits of journal writing, the book includes stories of how people have used journal writing to transform their lives.

As I read this book, I started to rekindle the activity of journal writing using pen and paper. While blogging is in some ways a form of journal writing, I find that writing down one's journal using pen and paper is a more direct experience.

One of the ideas I find helpful to use when I experience some kind of creative block is to write about 'nothing'. Exploring 'nothing' can be a journey of the unexpected in itself.

I also like the idea of writing to my wise self. There seem to be a sense of connection with the divine in the process of doing so.

This is a book to re-read from time to time as we engage in journal writing.

Also see: Creative Journal Writing: The Art and Heart of Reflection.

Read: The Moon Shines Out of the Dark

Source: Stephanie Dowrick's website.

Title: The Moon Shines Out of the Dark

Author: Stephanie Dowrick

Illustrator: Anne Spudvilas

It has been a while ever since I have read a children's book, more so a book for preschool children. I was prompted to read this book simply because it was written by Stephanie Dowrick and I was curious how it would be to read her book through the eyes of a preschool child.

This is a heart-warming story of a little boy, Harry, and his parents. It shared about how Harry draws strength from the moon when he misses his mother one cold night. 

Reading this book reminded me of the simplicity and authenticity in books for children. I could imagine that this book will be a book that will connect members of a family together through the process of sharing this story.

Read: In the Company of Rilke

Title: In the Company of Rilke
Author: Stephanie Dowrick
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published in 2009
ISBN: 978 1 74237 180 1

Sometime ago, I had the great pleasure to read a number of books written by Stephanie Dowrick. I like her thoughtful and clear writing style. As such, although my first impression of the book "In the Company of Rilke" was not very favourable, I decided to pick up a copy of the book anyway because it was written by Stephanie Dowrick.

This book is in short about a poet, Rainer Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926), and his writings. While this is not the kind of book that I would usually read, I am glad that I had made the effort to read it eventually. Reading the booking reignited my interests in poetry. As Rilke wrote in German and not English, all of the quoted poems in this book were translated. I felt his poems have qualities of depth and yearning. Some I have read a couple of times, and could not quite comprehend their full essence. Anyway, it is still nice to do something new and read a book that I may otherwise not have read.


On the side, I have found a website that lists the various poems written by Rilke. Here's the link: http://www.poemhunter.com/rainer-maria-rilke

Read: Forgiveness and other acts of love

Stephanie Dowrick
Forgiveness and other acts of love
Penguin Books Australia Ltd, 2000

ISBN 0670873608

I was reading Stephanie Dowrick's Forgiveness and other acts of love for the past few weeks. This is a book containing wisdom on how the humane qualities of courage, fidelity, restraint, generosity, tolerance and forgiveness could help sustain and support us, be it good or difficult times.

After a good read of Stephanie Dowrick's other book,  Choosing Happiness: Life and Soul Essentials, when I came across yet another book by her, I decided I could put time aside to read it. I like her wise and encouraging style of writing.


***
Here, I attempt to share a few of the learning points that I have gained from the book:

On the value of courage, I have found this section in the book to be noteworthy: "To step more fully into courage's embrace, it may help to discover that you don't need to give up fear. Fear may be an old familiar in your life, and fear itself can be courage's best teacher. Sometimes it is only courage that allows us to acknowledge that we are afraid."

If I were to put it into context of my own life, perhaps this quote on courage is a reminder to me that it is still possible for me to be courageous even when I am feeling fear. One can act in courageous ways despite experiencing fear.

From the chapter on fidelity, the gist that I have learnt is to be true to myself. Fidelity isn't just about being faithful to a sexual partner. The concept of fidelity also encompasses being true to oneself, one's destiny, one's beliefs, values and vocation.

The chapter on restraint contained many clear examples to illustrate this very value. I suppose one thing I would like to remind myself years after this book would be the concept that restraint and very different from the concept of "constraint". Constraint restricts a person's life. Restraint, however, is according to the author, "not a habit. ...It is an expression of your choice to act - or not. Your choice to be true to what you believe is important, or not. Your choice to be loving to yourself and thoughtful about the social good, or not."

From the chapter on generosity, I was reminded that it would be ideal that the impulse to generosity arises from unconditional love. Here, unconditional love is a commitment to love for love's sake, to go on believing that there is good in humankind. I particularly like to share a section from this chapter which suggests that generosity can teach us to cultivate a sense of trust that we do now have enough and in giving where giving is needed, one will have no less. In cultivating this sense of trust, we are led to experience freedom and love that is beyond riches. Having read this chapter, I could then better appreciate the generosity that many people in my life have showered me with. My words of deep appreciation to them. Thank you.

Tolerance is perhaps one of the more profound chapters to understand. Other than discussing about tolerance to difference, it speaks about being tolerant to that dark side of ourselves. It is quite a thought-provoking chapter to read.

Finally, the book concludes with the value of forgiveness. I would find it helpful to highlight this teaching from the Dhammapada, "Hate is not conquered by hate. Hate is conquered by love. This is a law eternal."

** *
I may probably need more time to appreciate the wisdom that is found in Forgiveness and other acts of love. Nevertheless, it has been a good read.

Read: Stephanie Dowrick's Seeking the Sacred

Author: Stephanie Dowrick
Title: Seeking the Sacred
Published by Jeremy P. Tarcher/ Penguin

This book took me more than a month to read while commuting on buses and trains. Nevertheless, it was a comforting and insightful read. I may have to re-read it a few more times to better appreciate the depth of the ideas.

I chose this book as I have grown to find comfort in the writing style of Stephanie Dowrick. I experiences her writing style as one that gently inspires and encourages while providing the space of kindness to grow.

This book, like its synopsis says, is "a book for the spiritually curious, as well as for those already engaged with the deeper questions". It is an invitation to "discover what makes our lives sacred, satisfying, and meaningful". I like the inclusiveness of this book. It is worth a read especially for someone who lives in a multi-religious country like the one that I am living in.

The key topics in this book are Reverence, Identity, Love, "Do No Harm" and Transformation. Each of these topics provided depth to invite us to "imagine the world we would live in if we dared to see all of life as sacred - unconditionally."

With this, I wish you blessings for the Lunar New Year.

(Here is a list of reviews on this book: http://www.stephaniedowrick.com/news/seeking-the-sacred-reviews/)

Stephanie Dowrick's Ten Tips to take charge and stay calm

One of my favourite writers, Stephanie Dowrick, shared ten tips on how one can take charge and stay calm.

Please find her tips here: http://www.stephaniedowrick.com/?p=2606

One of the tips that I have found useful is this:

2. Ask yourself: “What’s needed right now?” Or, “What would help right now?” When your primitive mind says, “Nothing”, persist. Keep asking: “What memory, what plan, what breathing, what comfort would help right now?” In very bad moments, write down the question and your answer. Keep writing until you have some clarity and less confusion and helplessness. It will also help just to remember that, “This too will pass.” At times when you can’t write, say your helpful phrase over and over like a mantra. This literally soothes. When stuck, imagine what you would say to the person you love best. Say that to your own self.

Choosing Happiness, part 4

I have just finished reading Stephanie Dowrick's Choosing Happiness: Life and Soul Essentials, and I shall continue my humble project to blog about some of my learning points from the book.

This is a joy-inducing book to read, and I am grateful that I have found the time needed to read it from cover to cover. After reading the book, I have a better idea how happiness can indeed be a choice.

What does it take to be happy then?

The author, Stephanie Dowrick, gave a list of suggestions that can help make happiness easily available to anyone. I will attempt to list some of her suggestions that I have found worthwhile to share:

- Think well of ourselves. Give ourselves plenty of reasons to do so. When we let ourself down, learn something, make the change that's needed - and move on.

- Pay attention to what's uplifting - and be uplifted!

- Think and speak positively about ourselves and others.

- Choose work that supports one's integrity.

- Give time and attention to our close relationships.

- Be the friend we would most like to have.

- Practise kindness. Live kindly.

- On a daily basis, relish the wonders of nature.

Spread the happiness spirit. If you have anything you have found useful to make you experience happiness, share with us through your comments. Or, you could pick the book, read and learn.

And after reading this book, I could better realised what had made my dear friend, XS, experience joy from within such that she sang one of the most lovely and joyful tunes when she drove me about Sydney in her car. With this post, I pray for happiness to be with her each and every moment.

Best wishes XS. I thank you for being the friend who pointed out to me that happiness can be a choice.

***
Entries in the series:


Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Sydney, May 2012: A time to heal and to be inspired

Sydney was the choice when I was deciding on how to spend a week away from my usual routine. It was originally the destination to visit for the month of May 2012 for a music exchange trip which has yet to materialize, and so my mind must have been primed to choose Sydney as one of the first options.

The possibility of spending some moments to reconnect with a few of my friends who are living in Sydney, the chance to visit scenic places and be closer to Nature, the temptation to take ferry rides across the Sydney Harbour, the chance to attend an interfaith service by Dr Stephanie Dowrick (one of my favourite authors) and the pleasure to catch the first night of Vivid Sydney were enticing factors that influenced to decide that Sydney was the place to visit.

In the upcoming posts to follow, I shall pen down some of my observations, experiences, thoughts and learning points from a recent visit to Sydney, from 20 to 26 May 2012. In these posts, take a glimpse of Vivid Sydney and the first Vivid Live Stage Door Tour, find out a few of the wonderful places to enjoy breakfast in Sydney, be moved by the beauty of Berowra Waters, North Head, Watsons Bay, Milsons Point, the Blue Mountains and more.

Nature is healing. I am grateful for the therapeutic effects that visiting National Parks, the Sydney Harbour, and many other places have on me. I am also deeply appreciative to my friends in Sydney for their kindness, hospitality and generosity. I am very thankful and grateful to the kindhearted folks whom I have met during my visit to Sydney. They have provided timely help, directions, guidance and kindness to me, the solo traveller.

What better way to share my gratitude and delight than to pen them down? May you find comfort and inspirations from the posts to come.

***
Also see: Sydney, May 2012

20 May 2012: Breakfast at Reuben Hills

Breaktast at Reuben Hills, Surry Hills.

20 May 2012 (Sun):
It was the day when I arrived in Sydney by plane. The main goal for the day was to attend an interfaith service led by Reverend Dr Stephanie Dowrick in the afternoon.

When I reached the Travelodge Sydney hotel in the mid morning, although I was too early to check-in, I was able to store my luggage at the hotel's storage room. After the paper work was done, I was hungry for breakfast (my second serving of breakfast for the day!).

Since the nearby Joe Black cafe was not opened on Sundays, I headed to Reuben Hills at 61 Albion Street for breakfast instead. Both Joe Black and Reuben Hills were identified by Time Out Sydney's review to be in the top ten establishments for Sydney's best breakfast! I had used Time Out Sydney's review as my main reference when I was scouting for worthy places for breakfast in Sydney.

The queue outside Reuben Hills.

When I reached Reuben Hills, I spotted a queue! This place is popular! I learnt that Reuben Hills is a coffee roastry and cafe. It is well-known for its selection of roasted coffee. The generally unassuming warehouse style interior design and the laid-back ambience of Reuben Hills made it pretty inviting to me.

*
A TIP FOR ALL GUESTS:
It took me a while to understand the queue system at Reuben Hills. Each guest of Reuben Hills who are having his/her meal at the cafe ought to get the attention of one of the waiters/ waitresses so as to have his/her name listed on the list of people in the queue. I was told that the waiting time on a Sunday was about 20 to 40 minutes.

*
The queue system was rather confusing for yours truly who was new to Reuben Hills. I was patient with the queue because of the raving reviews of Reuben Hills. While I was queuing, I noticed that there were quite a number of people who came to Reuben Hills to order take-away coffee. The scent of coffee beans was evidently in the air at Reuben Hills.

I ordered an egg baleada (AUD$11 each) and a pint of expresso (AUD$5).I like the taste of the black beans found in the egg baleada. It has a mildly spicy yet sweet taste.  I learnt that baleada is pronounced "Bae-YA-Da".  A baleada is a tortilla filled-then-folded Honduras dish. I chose to order a baleada because it was novel to me. On the other hand, I am not a coffee-lover to feel confident enough to critic the coffee from Reuben Hills. The coffee was nevertheless delightful to my taste-buds. Many thanks to the people at Reuben Hills for the thoughtfully made breakfast.

According to the reviews, other highly recommended items from Reuben Hills include the "Not Reuben sandwich", the Dogg's Breakfast and the pulled pork baleada. Do check this place out. I was told by one of my friends that Reuben Hills has been named as one of the best of Sydney's cafes in The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Cafe Guide 2012.

***
Also read: 
Reuben Hills by Time Out Sydney
The best of Sydney's cafe
Reuben Hills by Urbanspoon
Reuben Hills: Coffee roastry and cafe (7 Feb 2012) by Simon Leong
Reuben Hills by Kitti
Head for the Reuben Hills by Henry Brink

***
Reuben Hills
61 Albion St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia
Tel: +61-2-9211-5556
Opens: Mon - Sun 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
http://www.reubenhills.com.au

Nearest train station: Central

***
Also visit: Sydney, May 2012: A time to heal and to be inspired.

Choosing Happiness, part 3

This post is part of a humble project that I had started a while ago. In appreciation to my friend, XS, who have introduced me to the concept that happiness is a choice, this series of posts is specially dedicated to her. May happiness and joy be with her.

I have been focused on reading Stephanie Dowrick's Choosing Happiness: Life and Soul Essentials such that I have managed to read about 90% of the book by the time that this post was written.

There is a chapter entitled Build Self-Respect, and I would like to share this section titled Turn a Difficult Situation Around. The author suggests that self-respect is gained when a person turns a difficult situation around.

I have found some of the questions that the author has suggested that we ask ourselves when we are in a difficult situation to be useful. Here's to share:

- What can I learn from this situation?
- What past experiences can I draw on?
- What values and qualities do I need to help me?
- How am I going to put those qualities into practice?
- What question am I not asking?
- What issue am I not seeing?

And if you have found some of these questions to be useful, do pick up this book and have a good read. I think it is better to read the various strategies in their proper context.

***
Entries in the series:


Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

22 Jan 2010

There isn't anything in particular today. It is just that I felt I should do some writing.

This evening, I borrowed Stephanie Dowrick's Creative Journal Writing. I think I am beginning to like her writings. Her writings seem to have a calming effect on me that urge me to reflect deeper on the complexities of life itself.

Somehow, reading the first few pages of the book reminded me that I could do more in terms of writing a journal. There were certain very dark periods of my life that I think journalling had helped me get in touch with some very deep emotions. Those were confusing moments filled with anguish, lots of doubts, and sadness. There were possibly glimpses of hope to find hope.

When I was doing spring cleaning about more than a year ago, I threw away two of journals in which there were very significant entries. Maybe I felt I was like the composer, Brahms, who would burn away the not-so-good works and the works that were not meant for public's eyes. I did not quite regret throwing them away. Afterall, I rarely reread those entries. It was just perhaps that only if my memory could continue to serve me well, then I would be able to access the memories of what had been written on those entries that have been thrown away. Those were the entries that bear witness to the ups-and-downs of my life, my darker sides, my failures and my triumphs.

Life is beginning to seem so complex. Yet it can be so simple if we live by certain values. What used to seem just a matter of black and white, now seems to be a gradation of greys. It's not that when we are older, that our eyes can't see well enough. It may be exactly that we are older, our evolving wisdom helps us see the finer nuances that we had not seem to see. That in the brightness of the day, there is darkness. In the times of hope, there is uncertainty underlying. In the times of confusion, there is a time to help one reflect on one's purposes.

Then here I write, with no intention to be understood. If any reader were to read this and don't understand, it is perfectly normal. Yet I hope in writing, I could lend you a glimpse of me, and how writing about journal writing got me thinking about life itself.

Choosing Happiness, part 2

This post is a part of a humble blogging project that I have started off recently to pen down some of my learning points and reflections from reading Stephanie Dowrick's Choosing Happiness: Life and Soul Essentials. As mentioned, this series of post shall be dedicated to one of my friends, XS, to honour her for being the first to introduce to me the concept of choosing happiness.

Yesterday evening, I spent about an hour reading the book at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. I decided to find a spot away from the crowd to read the book. At the same time, the spot that I had chosen was close enough to the speakers from a nearby stage such that I could hear beautiful live music performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra while I read the book. My favourite piece of music that was performed was Mendelssohn's The Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave).

I realised it was nurturing to be kind to myself and to treat myself to fresh air from Nature. Somehow, the act of taking care of myself by going for an activity that would recharge me seems to coincide well with the topics that I was reading today: self-love, and soothing oneself.

Here are two strategies that I have found very useful from what I have read from the book thus far:
1) The strategy of emphasising and thinking of what had went well, what we appreciate and enjoy.

2) The strategy of telling ourselves "I can deal with this" when we recognise symptoms of panic, anxiety or fear in our body. I figured that this strategy can help us to shift the focus of the mind to something more positive, and hopefully we can look at the issue at hand more effectively.

So far, I have enjoyed reading the book. I am delighted to realise how enjoyable it can be to read a book out in the Nature. I've got to listen to the lovely sounds of Nature, breathe in fresher air and feed my mind with insights.

***
Entries in the series:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Sydney, May 2012

My visit to Sydney from 20 - 26 May 2012 gave me the needed moments to heal, rest and to be inspired. The visit also allowed me to have some time to reconnect with friends.

In addition, I had the pleasure to meet one of my favourite authors, Stephanie Dowrick, in person. It was a calming and inspiring experience to attend one of the interfaith services led by her.

Below is a list of the various posts that I have written on my visit to Sydney in May 2012. May you share the healing moments and joy that this visit have had given me.

Sydney, May 2012: A time to heal and to be inspired
25 May 2012: The first Vivid Live Stage Door Tour
25 May 2012: My first experience of Vivid Sydney
25 May 2012: Susannah Place Museum
Tea break at Strand Arcade
25 May 2012: Picnic at the Royal Botanic Gardens
25 May 2012: Gothic Revival time at Government House
25 May 2012: Sydney Opera House
25 May 2012: A morning at Milsons Point
Breakfast at Pancakes at the Rocks
Joe Black at 27 Commonwealth Street
24 May 2012: The night at the Sydney Observatory
24 May 2012: Dinner at Reuben and Moore
24 May 2012: The Boutique Mountain Tours
23 May 2012: Nourishing dinner at Dae Jang Kum
23 May 2012: Refreshing moments at North Head and other parts of Manly
23 May 2012: Headed to Chatswood and was acquainted with Mr Vitamins
22 May 2012: The search to find Revolver at 291 Annandale Street
22 May 2012: An afternoon at the Observatory Hill
22 May 2012: Beautiful Watsons Bay
22 May 2012: Circular Quay, Parramatta River and a night in Sydney
21 May 2012: A treat to Flour and Stone
21 May 2012: A stop-over at Pymble
21 May 2012: The scenic Berowra Waters
21 May 2012: A beautiful evening
21 May 2012: Dinner together
The hotel that I stayed in: Travelodge Sydney
20 May 2012: Breakfast at Reuben Hills
20 May 2012: The chimes from St Mary's Cathedral
20 May 2012: Attended an Interfaith service at Uniting Church
20 May 2012: Taste of Shanghai, Sydney
20 May 2012: A quiet night at Milsons Point
Hyde Park Sydney
26 May 2012: Ferry rides and a visit to Milsons Point yet again
26 May 2012: The Anzac Memorial
The Rocks, it rocks
26 May 2012: Bye Sydney

In the meantime, I look forward to more time in Sydney, to sketch, to be inspired and simply to experience its beauty.