One week in

Posted by Dante on Jan 8, 2012 in Indonesia | 0 comments

Nearly a week into 2012 already. Can you believe it? Perhaps if you’re reading this in a week’s time you won’t believe it, but as I write this, time is passing.

I decided not to make resolutions this New Year. I’ve decided on things I would like to do this year but have no resolutions as such.

It’s funny how we are only a week in and I’ve already change my mind about one of the things I wanted to do this year. I was thinking of becoming a Staff Instructor – which is a diving qualification – this year but I’ve now decided against it. I now think it makes better sense for me to get some more experience as an instructor before I do any more training. Life is not always a race.  Last year it felt like more of a race for me.  In 2011, I qualified as a diver and set up the Karang Divers centre on Gili Air.  But I am now settling down to the slower pace of island life and things are relaxing.  There is no need to rush all the time.

View at Picasa My office in a morning, I have my cushion, my fan, a book and a drink, plus the sea view and a smug grin ;)

View at Picasa Bones, scuffy, badly coordinated cat, but we love her

View at Picasa Arak Attack - this stuff sends the locals insane, thankfully I am not a local.

I’ve also decided this year that I should treat people how I want to be treated, not how they treat me. I think this is a challenge in a modern, aggressive world but I’m going to give it a go.  It is more in keeping with island life.

But, even on a tranquil desert island we still meet some difficult people. There is a member of staff at the hotel who is a bit of a dick, there are people from other dive shops who don’t really check what they are saying before they open their mouths and there are always the snorkelers who get very angry when you mention diving to them.

I am also going to work on the second of Don Miguel Ruiz’s code for life – part of the Four Agreements – http://www.miguelruiz.com/

“Don’t take anything personally – Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”

This is in keeping with my new island philosophy.

What I think he is saying is that people are too quick to interpret other peoples’ actions as a comment on themselves.  So, if someone seems to ignore you, you might think that they don’t like you but it is more likely to be about something that is happening in their own life.  They might have troubles of their own and not notice you.  So, don’t stress.  They don’t mean to say anything bad about you.

I do not actually know much about Don Miguel Ruiz.  I have only actually read these Four Agreements, nothing else of his work.  But I have the book they come from to read on my trip to Singapore later this week and will find out more about him.

View at Picasa This is a full week, how exciting is that!

View at Picasa Bones after a small war with the feather duster!

I’ll need to see how this goes.  It is quite a big step to move to a less stressed way of life so, while the theory might make sense, it might actually be hard to put his ideas into practice.   And, sometimes revenge is a much more fun option

Talking of Singapore, I am there for three days.  I have to sort out my visa and then mostly do the following:

• enjoy Aircon – so long since I have felt cool;
• go to the cinema and eat popcorn;
• eat KFC and Pizza Hut;
• buy a power kite and a stunt kite;
• hunt down a Kindle; and
• perhaps buy a camera.

It will be the first time I’ve been on a plane by myself.  That is going to be exciting and scary at the same time.

How’s your 2012 going?