Keep your focus

Yesterday, I was hit in the face by three separate encounters with various ones who make up a big part of my life in Bangkok. Each party presented a different theme that hit into my own life space. One was hurtful in their lack of inclusiveness and basic graciousness. Another was being far too quick to be bloody minded with someone at the workplace over a small issue - and why? I asked. Another was just moving too fast and just changing the game plan far too rapidly as they shared with me about their life's present happenings - and I wondered what is happening as this is too much for me. How do they cope? I asked myself.

I talked about it all with my good friend here. He made a point using Pascal who gave some statement about diversions in our life and how they stop us from facing ourselves. Then I heard a line on TV - Islam teaches that the greatest jihad we all face is the one where we face the inner struggle and face ourselves.

Then it hit me. I had actually forgotten one of my own central principles in living here - KEEP YOUR FOCUS. My own little chaos of yesterday made me remember my own good advice.

You first have to name your focus. For me here, that focus is and has always been - working with refugees and building up a healthy life that is in line with who I am. This leads onto one of my other guiding principles for life here - being is more important than doing. Your doing comes out of your being.