hilitehead

It’s a beautiful day
Don’t Let it get away…

sings Bono from U2. Well it sure was one of those days today! I could not help but feel a strong internal happiness. I found this morning that today, October 14, 2011, is the best day of the year 2011 according to Mongolian Astrology. Apparently its the 17th day of the second month of autumn, an auspicious day in the Mongolia Buddhist calendar. It is believed that today will bring all that is good; prosperity, happiness, wealth, and luck. In Mongolia, today is called “Baljinnyam and Dashnyam” (Buddhist deities) or a double-Nyam day which has a strong symbolic relevance for all Mongolians. And many things ranging from a multimillion dollar agreement to political party meetings, feasts, to haircuts may be scheduled this day. It is reported that over 128 couples have wed and continue to wed at the Ulaanbaatar’s Wedding Palace today starting from around 01:40 am until 22:00 pm, which leaves about less than half an hour for each couple.

I think the good luck has also been rubbing off on me because I was just full of smiles and happy thoughts today. On the other hand, its unfortunate to realize that I haven’t felt this way for a while, and whatever the case may be for this kind of downwards attitude, I have decided to try and keep this beautiful, positive energy up for as long as I can.

The stress level has been a big burden for me lately. I am working on various things on simultaneous speed, and last night was no exception. I didn’t have a good nights sleep, and in the morning I seemed to be passing the hours in a haze of sleep deprivation until around the early afternoon when I had to step out to complete a couple of errands with my mother. Then all of a sudden, while in the car, my surroundings came into perspective. I realized just how beautiful the Autumn trees are, with their golden-yellow to amber tones, and how vast and cobalt-blue the sky is, and noticed how fortunate I am to be drinking salted caramel mocha from Starbucks while feeling a perfect warm breeze on my skin and through my hair. Then I took one look at my mother, and felt pretty guilty that I could not always be such a positive influence, that I could not always be like today. But rather than blame others, I understood that I have been my own worst enemy lately, consciously disallowing myself not to enjoy the simple things I used to endear, even though the feeling feels quite like an unconscious decision. So I recollected to myself the power of the mind, and thought that as long as I truly desire to be happy and not lose sight of this feeling of light, then I can strive to achieve a balance; my goal to enjoy more happy days than blue ones.

And for this great thought, I thank you wonderful Fall weather! you inspire me to become a better person. I also managed to take a series of photographs to document the latter half of the day where I went to a nearby lake with my mother, sister, and a little boy we look after, to feed the ducks some fresh bread. The ‘duck feeding’ has now become a sort of family tradition. I’m not sure that the parks completely allow such a gesture, but we do it to practice compassion in hopes of doing a good deed. Here is a photo storybook of our day documented by me and my sister, Jennifer. She is quite the photographer! and please excuse my awkward poses, I just felt the need to dance!

The shard of evidence left from today, piled in a mount!

So with great contemplation, I pass on my happiness to you, and in your own way, I hope you can celebrate today, a happy day for all!