Jo has a really funny habit. At any part of the day, there will be a time when you will definitely catch him taking a look at his palm. Rumour has it that he's been doing it for ages - years apparently. I can't confirm how long has he been having this habit because I have never asked him. It really is a peculiar habit because there are times when you see him taking a glimpse of his palm and you would almost certainly catch a smile drawn on his face.
Those who didn't know him well would probably be thinking he has one screw loose too many in his head. But it was a little secret Jo carries. Jo always had something written on his palm - sentences, quotes, words of encouragement, little captions. It was his energizing mantra, apparently. At least that's what he told me.
I found his practice very peculiar, to say the very least. There were two things I asked him about his palm practice:
1. Why the palm?
2. Does it really help?
His answer to my first question:-
"I wanted an easy and quick reference point. What better way than to write it on my palm? I mean seriously, your hands are the mostly seen parts of your body. You do stuff with your hands and that means you'd be looking at your hands most of the time. Another reason why I chose my palm was that I didn't want to be carrying little notebooks or flash cards around. Just too troublesome! By writing it on my palm, I just flip my hand over and I get a quick read of whatever I have written on it."
His answer to my second question:
"It does help for me! I can't say the same for you or anyone else since all of us are different but it really does work for me. Every time I take a glance at my palm I feel rejuvenated. It's like a friendly reminder to myself . Imagine it as a Post-It Note that follows me everywhere I go and every time I need to remind myself I just flip my hand I see it on my palm. Simply convenient for me.
Another reason why I chose to write it on my palm is that I as inspired by the saying, 'it's in your hand'. I guess it's a good way to tell myself that everything is achievable and it's all in my hands as long as I reach out to grab it."
Might be something worth trying. ;0)
I don't have anything on my palm or carry notes. But I have 2 things, one for good times and one for bad times.
ReplyDeleteFor the bad times, I have learnt a phrase: "This too shall past."
For the better times, I chant a metta chant (love and compassion), to share the joy to people around me. It's a mental sharing.
I think it works for me.