I shall pay more attention to how I breathe for the rest of the day. I noticed that I was breathing shallower and faster. It happens when I get carried away with work or other obligations and forget connecting to myself. How long it takes to slow my breathing can tell how negligent I was to myself. It’s taking pretty long this time. I need to be careful and take care of myself.
First full yoga in these 2 months. Can’t believe this is my body! Even downward facing dog pose was a labor! Every parts of body was clicking when I was doing just half sun salutation. I seriously needs to workout HARD. Agh.
The Ground Up
It’s raining all day in Tokyo today and it makes me feel happy. I enjoy sight and sound of rain. It makes new leaves look greener, soil smells fresher, and darkness of the evening softer.
[Ishinomaki Volunteer Trip Post Script]
Back in Tokyo after a long drive from Ishinomaki (although I was just a navigator as my company kindly drove all the way). Grateful for my fellow traveler and other friends and family who lent me help and encouragement in going on the trip to help animals affected by 3.11 quake. I was thanked for going there, but I couldn’t have pulled it through this trip without them, whom the credit must go to.
I slept long but still feel my body heavy. Today is to take rest and recover….(and go pick up my bunny at my mom’s. I miss the fluffy one so much!)
Yes, books have been piling up. Therefore, I would rather say, a few additional books won’t cause any problem, will they?
If you find difficulties buying English books in your region, try the Better World Bookstore. They have good variety, and offer reasonable price for both book and shipping. It also support literacy campaign in developing countries. Your joy of reading can help other people getting access to education. Isn’t it nice?
—-
“I and Thou” Martin Buber—My philosophy teacher at UBC recommended during a class. It’s about human relationship and different ways to view it.
“Essence of Heart Sutra” Dalai Lama. —His elaboration on the Heart Sutra, mantra that I memorized (2/3 forgotten by now) and never understood the meaning. Can’t wait to read.
“Don’t shoot the dog” Karen Pryor—An animal trainer recommended the book for those handles or have animals/pets for better communication with their animals. He was saying that methods explained was applicable to human relation ships and I thought it would be fun reading. Besides, I like psychology.
——
すでに積み上がってるけど、だからこそもう少し増えても構わないだろうと思って、ポチってきました。洋書を通販で買うなら、the Better World Book Storeがオススメ。種類も豊富で、価格も送料も安いです。途上国での識字教育活動も支援してる会社です。自分の読書の楽しみが、他の人の助けにもなるってよくないですか。^^
三冊とも洋書です。一冊目は哲学書。人間関係の考察、らしい。留学してたときの先生が薦めてくれた本。ずっとさがしてたのですが、ようやく購入。”I and Thee”だと思って探してたら、”I and Thou”だったらしい。笑。そりゃ見つからないよね。筆者の名前もFirst nameのMartinしか覚えてなかったし。みつかってよかった〜というか、よく見つけだした!と自分をよしよしする。
2冊目はダライラマによる般若心経の解説書。仏教書も道教の書もは日本語でよむと分からないので、読むときは英語のほうがすんなり入る。
3冊目はアニマルトレーナーさんが進めてた行動心理学の本。邦訳は「うまくやるための強化の原理ー飼い猫から配偶者まで」というわりとすごいタイトルになっている。笑。動物関係のボランティアおよび職場の人間関係にも使えるかもしれないと思い、読むことにした。
早く届かないかな〜^^cannnnt wait!
Slow Saturday. Got up 9ish and did some house chore but many left uncompleted. It was a long week that I think telling on me. New students are arriving while graduated students returning to their country. We have to take care of both at the same time and work has been crazy. The peak is in the rest of this month and it’s going to start with the business trip to Kansai region. Bright side is that I can be in Osaka and Kyoto. I wonder if I would get some free time to roam in town perhaps after work. Kyoto is my favorite place and I am sure that even a walk will bring me smile like it did so many times when I visited Kyoto rather frequently. Anyway, I needed to take my rabbit to my mom’s to be taken care of during my business trip and that’s the only task I managed to finish to day. Always great to see her. I think it made my day.
I volunteered at the event. I was late for the event and the venue was already crowded with people and animals. ARK Tokyo seems to have had new dogs and cats to be adopted while I was out of volunteer work. Almost all of dogs were new to me; however, I recognized kittens from the past adoption event. I was surprised how they grew big. I was especially glad to see a kitten, Lio. I met him at the first adoption event for him and fell in love. I seriously thought about adopting him. Unfortunately, contract of my apartment bans to have dog or cat and I had to give it up. To say the truth, I even thought about moving into pet-OK apartment. Today I learned that Lio will be soon adopted along with another kitten, Tiger. I couldn’t hold Lio (we had so many guest to handle) but managed to say good-bye to him over the cage. When I called, he came to my hand. He sniffed and licked it. He remembered me. I liked the cat so much but I won’t see him again. He has home and new family, which is best for him. I should feel happy for him rather than feel sad for me. Both feeling was mixed. He was looking at me. I said good-bye to him again and wished him the best.
Lio was rescued on the street where he was unable to move in debilitated condition. Near him, there were other 6 kittens abandoned. They were so small and their eyes were not yet opened. They all contracted cat flu and very weak. Under ARK and its volunteers care, they survived. They are adorable and will become beautiful cats. How come any human being can abuse and abandon animals like they are treated?