28 Apr 26 - The Stillness in the Queue

The Stillness in the Queue

Last week, I visited Putuo Village 普陀村 (in JB, Malaysia) for the first time. I was in awe of the magnificent dragon made of bamboo, but I found myself truly intrigued by a much smaller, quieter sight: a group of turtles lined up in a queue, standing in perfect stillness.

(https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/21/kulais-floating-dragon-a-labour-of-love)

There was no sense of hurry, no looking over shoulders, no restlessness. They were simply there, resting in the present moment, embodying a quiet dignity in their wait.

In our daily lives, we often treat "waiting" as an obstacle—a gap in our productivity that we try to fill by scrolling through our phones or checking our watches. But these little fellas reminded me of a different way to be. They reminded me of the attitude of patience: the choice to be fully present, even when we aren't "moving" toward a goal.

When we embrace this stillness, we experience 3 Shifts:

1) From Resistance to Acceptance: Dropping the internal fight against the passage of time.

2) From Rushing to Noticing: Finding beauty in the details we usually overlook while hurrying.

3) From Irritation to Gratitude: Realizing that a pause is often a gift of rest in a busy day.

Next time you find yourself queuing for your favourite afternoon cup of coffee or your favourite vegetarian bee hoon, perhaps you can channel the stillness of the Putuo turtles. Instead of reaching for your phone, try reaching for your breath.

Stand in that space with a beginner’s mind, and see what happens when you simply choose to be.

#PutuoVillage #Mindfulness #Stillness #SoulfulLessons #Patience #Presence #SlowLiving #SingaporeMindfulness

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