A Zen moment in KL

(I wrote this for a magazine four years ago, when my eldest had just started at my school. These days, with three kids, two in the same school, zen moments are rarer than ever!)



If you are like me, and barely have time to breathe and juggle with a repertoire of madness that is all about city living, read on.

This mused into mind when I was attempting to balance like a tree in a yoga class and keeled over.

I decided that zen moments are pretty rare for someone living the fast lane in KL for numerous reasons. My ultimate zen moment is the time I have sitting on my throne with a good book before I start my day as a educator in a large international school.

The minute I drive into the massive school complex, all hell breaks loose. Parents, drivers, teachers alike jostle with each other for limited space- parking illegally, going on wrong designated lanes, honking, driving each other off etc. Aahh, you grab that last legal spot of parking and hurry out, work-bag, food-bag and hand-bag in hand and screech at your 6 year old to hurry up as Mummy will be late for her briefing. You drop your girl at primary, run like mad back to the secondary block in whatever heels or wedges, you are wearing straining your back for sure. You go to briefing and are barraged by a slew of notices. You grab the class register. The bell goes, and kids stream into classes to be registered or they are ushered into the Grand Hall for assembly. The bell vibrates again for first lesson. You rush into class before your students troop in. You clear your mind for a killer starter lesson. You are the star actor of your daily solo play. How you start determines how well your student will learn.

Throughout the day, an orchestra of events unveil themselves- bass trumpeting, cellos cooing, the strings shrilling at you, as you, the professional bustle headlong until the final bell rings, crescendoing to the end of yet another hectic day at school. Then, there’s the endless marking…

We have a special name for people who live like I do. In the allegory Animal Farm, there’s Molly the vain horse who loves candy and ribbons and there’s dear old stoic Boxer, who does nothing but work. In real life, I don’t think I can stay idle, but I do love my candies and ribbons, hence, Moxer is my name. A moxer is one who works so hard that at the end of the day, collapses into bed in a heap of exhaustion. A Moxer needs her Zen moments.

Here’s what I do to stay focused, active, positive and chirpy:

-If I am awake by 5.00am, I try to savour a few quiet moments by myself, writing, reflecting, crafting.

-After my "throne with a book" moment, I try to savour my mixed-fruit power juice. I know every second counts and I have to rush into my car before I get stuck in traffic, but to savour the lovely and potent liquid even for one second extra is zen enough.

-I try to go to Hatha yoga at least once a week though the initial lofty idea was to yoga at least thrice a week. That’s tranquil enough for me. I get to sweat, and yell less.

-I write haikus- poetry in its most succinct form. It’s therapeutic.

-I know forwarded jokes and affirmations seem so last year, but I do laugh at them once in a while. Laughter keeps lines at bay.

-I update myself with the latest Grey’s Anatomy, Glee, Gossip Girl gossip and zealously follow each episode, knowing that at least my life is less complex, less chaotic than the characters of the shows that I have started to enjoy. So shallow I know but it’s entertaining zen.

-When my chronic back problem doesn’t act up, I climb Bukit Kiara and walk the 5 km circuit twice, enjoying the privacy of a tiny sliver of nature that a crane or condo hasn’t sullied yet. It’s enthralling.

-I visit art galleries- a personal favourite is a gem of a gallery in Brickfields, and stare at canvases that were once void but now splashed with the genius of true artists. Art relaxes.

-I do my bit for charity, in whatever way I can. Others first.

-When I need to share, or cry, I call my girlfriends or sisters. They rock!

-I chat with the man who is my husband, who is my best-est friend really, and we still have the ability to make each other laugh. It seals our marriage.

-I play with my daughters( and son too). They complete me.

-I phone mum, or dad- whoever answers first and always feel better.

-I pray. It still works.

Yessss…….. Zen.