Life goes on…

To protect ourselves and to contain the virus, most of us are indoors. Below are some ways we can keep occupied while we are indoors.

book on a white wooden table
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1. Spend more time on yourself

Each of us must try to get active for 30-45 minutes each day. There are many ways to get active indoors. Some of the ways will be through qigong, tai chi, yoga, meditation, home exercise types of equipment such as the treadmill, etc.

From The Chopra Centre, free programs: https://chopra.com/free-programs

From The Box of Happiness, yoga and many more: http://theboxofhappiness.com/yoga-sequences/

From Live & Dare, free meditation and more: https://liveanddare.com/

From Flowing Zen, [COVID-19 Support] Learn Qigong Online from Me for Free During the Crisis: https://flowingzen.com/21150/learn-qigong-online-from-me-for-free-during-the-covid-19-crisis/

From Reiki Rays, on Reiki resources: https://reikirays.com/

2. Less Clutter, More Energy Flow

The lesser things you have, the more positive energy flows in. Are there things that need cleaning/clearing at your surroundings, closets, kitchen cabinets, etc.? When you are focused on cleaning/clearing, it will relieve you from the stress.

Clean & Happy Nest, Bright Ideas for Better Living: https://cleanandhappynest.org/wpd/category/bright-nest/

How To Make Your Home Totally Zen in 10 Steps: https://freshome.com/inspiration/how-to-make-your-home-totally-zen-in-10-steps/

3. Hobbies: Handicrafts / Sewing / Crochet / Knitting / Paint / Drawing / Colouring

Focus on hobbies that increase your creativity. When your creativity levels are high, there is no place for stress and negativity. There are many online options available.

Crochet Basic Stitches from Karen Costello Soltys: https://www.shopmartingale.com/images/marketing/how-to/pdf/BasicCrochetStitches.pdf

4. Gardening

Spend more time with the plants and feel connected and grounded to nature. Some things you can consider is to grow a new type of plant, repot an existing plant or redecorating your garden space.

The Micro Gardener: https://themicrogardener.com/ten-tips-for-creating-beautiful-gardens/

Good housekeeping: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/advice/g495/small-garden-ideas/

The Spruce, Apartment Gardening for Beginners: https://www.thespruce.com/apartment-gardening-for-beginners-4178600

5. Journal writing

Are you feeling angry and stressed? You can always write out your thoughts and feelings in a journal. By doing that, not only you are releasing all anxiety to the paper, you are lightening the load from yourself.

Tips to start a journal writing from wikiHow: https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Journal

6. Scrapbooking

Heard of this? Get creative about this.

What Is Scrapbooking? by Rebecca Ludens: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/what-is-scrapbooking-2960505

Scrapbook Ideas for Beginners: 25 Inspiring Layouts by Megan Andersen: https://www.creativelive.com/blog/scrapbook-ideas-for-beginners/

7. Sing and Hum to yourself

Sing and hum to yourself…

Singing And Humming To Yourself Can Have A Huge Impact On Your Body’s Health: https://www.littlethings.com/singing-humming-benefits

8. Cooking / Baking

With all the panic buying and stockpiling, this can be a bit challenging. Let’s be creative and create simple dishes or bake new items to try.

9. House Improvement Works

You can consider repainting your home or doing some simple home improvement works. And if you are intending to paint walls, why not use the stencils and get creative?

How to Make Wall Stencils: https://www.toolnerds.com/how-to-make-wall-stencils/

10. Write a story

Have you ever wanted to be an author or write a story? There are many online tools available to create a story online.

Commaful: https://commaful.com/writers/

For Children: https://www.imagineforest.com/

My Storybook: https://www.mystorybook.com/

11. Reading Books / Inspirational Guides

Do you still have old books stored away? It will be a good time to get them to re-read. If your nearby library is closed, you can also consider reading the electronic version of books.

12. Origami

A standard size paper of 75 x 75mm and you can make amazing crafts. It is a fantastic activity for the whole family. But do take note that origami paper comes in several sizes.

From Origmi.me: https://origami.me/

13. Board Games / Card Games

Board and/or card games will bring the nostalgic feeling of the good old days! At the same time, it will provide a break from electronics.

Top 10 Health Benefits Of Board Games: https://howgameareyou.com/health-benefits-board-games/

14. Other Ideas

Coronavirus Keeping You Home? These Fun STEAM DIY Kids Activities are Parenting Rescues! by SassyMama: https://www.sassymamasg.com/parenting-coronavirus-stay-home-kids-activities/

In short, all I can say,
Be positive! Be creative!

Blessings,
Esther

 

TOP 25 THIS TOO SHALL PASS QUOTES | A-Z Quotes

From The Chopra Centre: The Immeasurable Value of Meditation for Coping During the COVID-19 Crisis

Want to know the benefits of meditation in this difficult time?

Refer to the below link for more details:

https://chopra.com/articles/the-immeasurable-value-of-meditation-for-coping-during-the-covid-19-crisis?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=200324-March-Newsletter&utm_campaign=Newsletter2020324

For free 21 day meditation, refer to this link from Chopra Centre:

https://chopracentermeditation.com/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=200324-March-Newsletter&utm_campaign=Newsletter2020324

aquatic bloom blooming blossom
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International Day of Happiness – 20 March

Times might not be right to be celebrating this…but it is necessary to be in gratitude and in happiness whatever that can be happening around us.

Refer to this link on how we all can come together to face the crisis: https://www.dayofhappiness.net/#new

There is also a 30-day coping calendar available for download.

Blessings,

Esther

blue banner sign posters
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Quote for Today

18Mar2020

“We are like children building a sand castle. We embellish it with beautiful shells, bits of driftwood, and pieces of colored glass. The castle is ours, off limits to others. We’re willing to attack if others threaten to hurt it. Yet despite all our attachment, we know that the tide will inevitably come in and sweep the sand castle away. The trick is to enjoy it fully but without clinging, and when the time comes, let it dissolve back into the sea.”
~ Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times ~

…there is still hope…and every single hope begins with each one of us…

Daily, all of us are receiving news of the coronavirus and how the numbers are increasing around the world. While this is no easy news to digest, this is also not the time to discriminate against a group of people and/or country. In this difficult time, all of us must be calm and positive. We should make a point to turn all negative energy into positive energy through prayers, compassion and thoughtfulness.

Below are various articles on suggestions as to how we can better manage the current crisis. Let us all come together as one united family to assist each other in this difficult time.

Amid “darkness” and confusion over the virus, there is still hope…and every single hope begins with each one of us.

Love & Peace,
Esther

Sources of Information

From Sadhguru on Coronavirus Outbreak in China (YouTube Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP-mCfo4-f8

From The Chopra Center, Sheila Patel, M.D., Chief Medical Officer “Anxious About the Coronavirus? Here Are Eight Practical Tips on How to Stay Calm and Support Your Immune System”
https://chopra.com/articles/anxious-about-the-coronavirus-here-are-eight-practical-tips-on-how-to-stay-calm-and-support?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=200310-March-Newsletter&utm_campaign=Newsletter2020310

“Healing COVID-19 – Method to Transmute the Diseased Energy”, by Saummitta A Mazumdar
https://reikirays.com/73291/healing-covid-19-method-to-transmute-the-diseased-energy/

From Live & Dare, Giovanni D., “Meditation and the Coronavirus”
https://liveanddare.com/coronavirus-meditation/

From Sassy Mama, “10 Things Parents Should Know About Coronavirus (That We’ve Already Learned in Singapore)”
https://www.sassymamasg.com/10-things-parents-should-know-about-coronavirus-singapore/

From Flowing Zen, Sifu Anthony, “11 Practical Tips For Dealing with the Coronavirus”
https://flowingzen.com/21048/11-practical-tips-for-dealing-with-the-coronavirus/

From Ministry of Health Singapore, Infographics
https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/resources

From HealthExchange.sg
https://www.healthxchange.sg/men/health-scares-outbreaks/how-to-keep-safe-novel-coronavirus-self-care-tips?utm_source=memberenews-feb20&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hxcmemberenews-feb20

Reiki Practitioners / Healers, you might find this useful:
“Eradicate Coronavirus”, by Rinku Patel
https://reikirays.com/73177/eradicate-coronavirus/

12Mar2020

“There is a saying in Tibetan,
‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.”
~ Dalai Lama ~

Quote for Today

09 Mar 2020

“Remember, happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think. So start each day by thinking of all the things you have to be thankful for. Your future will depend very largely on the thoughts you think today. So think thoughts of hope and confidence and love and success.”
~Dale Carnegie~

Happy International Women’s Day 2020!

Hi, my friends!

It has been a long while since I posted in my blog…I am back again! What a better day than to be back on this meaningful day for all – Happy Women’s Day to all!

Each of us has both feminine and masculine qualities – we should strive to balance it all…Even though today is purely dedicated to females, I also want to take this opportunity to include the men who are actively taking up roles as a mother, daughter, etc in a family.

So, Happy Women’s Day!

You can also read about the International Women’s Day 2020 theme: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Happy Weekend to all!

Love,

Esther

Silhouette of Four People Against Sun Background

 

Wisdom Gem No. 1

Wisdom Gem Header

“When you look at a field of dandelions,
You can either see
a hundred weeds
or a hundred wishes”.
~ Unknown

Reflection by Esther
How we view life or a particular situation is entirely up to us. No one can change the way we think of something unless we ourselves allow it to happen. Rather than looking at something, someone or a situation as negative and a hindrance, why don’t we step aside and look at ways on how we can learn or benefit from it. We all have to remember that anything negative that is taking place in our life is not permanent. Everything will pass at ease if we allow our thoughts to change accordingly. We must always see every situation in our life an opportunity to advance further. We must never let a bad situation drive us to darkness, depression and negativity.

(This was part of series of “wisdom” handouts I created in the past for my retail customers and my students.)

Wisdom Gem #1

Graduation in Our Daily Life

My workplace is located at a University Campus. During late June and July, the scene of the University grounds changes to that of graduation, plenty of posing for photos in the graduation gowns, with friends and family, happy moments, etc. Graduation or other words, upgrading to the next level is not only restricted to students who are studying. It is also applicable to all of us too. In our daily life, we are always learning – learning from experiences, relationships, emotions, feelings and more. Therefore, should we not be graduating too? Yes! Definitely.

Just like how a student goes through his difficulties in his education term, we too experience that in our daily life. Each day, we become newer and wiser with our experiences. We also must celebrate our graduation from our good old self to our better self. Past mistakes, regrets and negative attributes – who does not have it? On and off we need to reflect upon our past self and congratulate our new self…

If we do this regularly, we would have plenty of reasons to love our new self and embrace new beginnings (or openings) in our life…

Happy daily graduation everyone!

photography of people graduating
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