A very special 26th birthday {TaMiL sTyLe}

What's the female version of being knighted? Gracie veiling me :)

My 26th birthday celebration began at around 12:14 am. I could see figures going past my tent in the front room. There was a light in the distance and some whispering voices. I heard, "Greci...Gracie..come out, come out for one second, come.." (there are currently two Gracies - me and another one) A few thoughts ran through my mind. But I really just thought I needed to hop out cause they heard a rat or some type of pest running around and wanted to kill it! I had been asleep for probably less than an hour, the power went out about 10pm and usually stays out .for at least 1 or 2 hours after being turned off. Since there was no fan working, I stayed up a bit later sharing the music and videos from my iPad with Lata. After being tortured by some mosquitoes I hopped into bed, and shortly after falling asleep was when I heard them calling my name.

I rubbed my eyes and followed the voices. I knew it had to be something special when I saw them sitting outside in the front with Iman asleep in Isaac's arms and these huge, sleepy smiles painted on their faces. Without contacts I really couldn't see much but white teeth and white cake! I ran back inside in a hurry and put my contact lenses on (kind of ruined the special moment) but I had spied the cake too, so I was totally going to take off my retainers for that!

I sprinted back out in the brown nightie (a fancy nightgown every Indian woman wears) Lata let me borrow. Got some hugs, a few blessings from the folks, lit the candle, got sung happy birthday, blew out the candle with a grand finale of a huge and loud glitter cracker!

 

Each family member fed me a bite(minus the sleeping babies.) We took plenty of photographs and they eagerly watched me opened my gift. An awesome outfit Isaac picked out for me at the store. There isn't much communication between Isaac and Lata and apparently she was as shocked as I was at everything that was happening!! Despite the sleepiness and late hour, they were all such good sports. Even my tent mate, Grace shared her hugs and kisses with me. It was the most special way possible to bring in my 26th year of life in this body, on this planet! I appreciate how much effort they have put into making me feel like family, I definitel feel loved for and taken care of.

Isaac feeding me cake, Iman asleep in his arms

Got icing on one cheek and Lata on the other!

Before deciding to come back to India, the thought of having my bday here did cross my mind. The thought of me possibly not liking it here much, the thought of being lonely crossed my mind, but it didn't linger long. And so what if I hadn't celebrated my birthday? I decided that I wasn't going to work any plans or make a decision around a simple birthday. And now after being so showered with love, attention and affection I'm so glad I trusted my instinct. Sometimes we are so caught up in our minds, and over thinking everything. We ignore what we feel, in our hearts. If we listen just a little bit more, we will realize that we have all the answers already. At times we ask ourselves, or God, or the stars or friends what we should do- but all it takes is turning some of that attention and energy inward and the answers will reveal themselves. 

I'm not giving a pep talk about staying positive or being a hippie or what have you. I'm only giving a simple reminder to not be fearful. A reminder to trust and to not have attachments to certain outcomes, to not let our mood be affected by things we think we need or want to happen in our lives. It's just accepting things as they roll in, it's about riding the wave. The wave may be a little rough, you may lose your balance a bit, you may get some water in your eyes- but you survive , you live and you get to smile and laugh along the way! Wanting certain things out of life is OK, wanting a result or an outcome of a situation is totally fine. It's good to manifest and make things happen, to see and be aware of the power of your mind. But the best way to prevent yourself from feeling disappointed or let down is by not attaching yourself or your happiness to a certain result. Yes, know what you want, how you want to feel, but we must not let anything dictate our state of mind, our peace, our joy. That must be untouchable.

For example, I feel pretty good in this town, made some friends and had a few expectations on how my birthday was going to go..

EXPECTATION:

On my bday I wanted to get to bed early the night before, wake up at 5, have a sweaty asana yoga session, practice some deep breathing techniques, go to the Ashram, meditate, listen to pujas, climb the mountain a bit and explore the cave. Grab a tea, head to the house and have breakfast with the fam. Take a bath, tie my sari, have Tom come over for lunch ,share my birthday cake with all the children and neighbors, eat delicious food, find some wifi, go to school, share some chocolate with the students, listen to music at the Dreaming Tree with my friends, come home, have dinner, eat more cake and go to bed. That was what I had tentatively planned in my mind as the perfect way to spend my bday in Tiru. 

eating birthday cake and drinking hot chocolate with my brothers and neighbors

REALITY:

I got called out of bed at midnight, came back to bed excited and happy, had trouble falling back asleep, had a mosquito in my tent, woke up at 7 instead of 5. Went to do yoga for 45 min instead of an hour, got to the ashram past 830, thought it was too late to find the cave. Sat in the main hall, listened to some music, got a fancy dot on my forehead, meditated for 10 minutes instead of 30. Got a text from my only bday invitee, Tom, telling me about his stomach bug. Left the ashram, got overcharged for some fresh flowers to put in my hair. Ran into the local wheelchair bicycle guy as I was finishing my 8 rupee chai, he asked me to push him down the main road cause he was in pain, pushed him for 15 minutes uphill, dropped him off, didn't give him the money he begged for, came back to my side of town.

Wheel-chair bicycle beggar man 

 Then I ran into my Israeli friend on the street, he gave me a ride home on the back of his bike, told him to stop by later for lunch or cake. Had a late breakfast, took a bath and was forced to wear my new outfit that was gifted to me instead of the beautiful sari I was dreaming of. Got dressed quickly, went to the main road to find Tom some coconuts for the electrolytes (he had diarrhea) and re-hydration, dropped off his goodies, went to use the internet but the power was out, stopped by Tom's place above the internet shop upstairs, got another really awesome bday present, came home, had lunch with my family (no friends showed up) and ate a bit of cake. Went to the shop to buy chocolates for the neighbors and friends, came back home, gave some chocolates away to the kids (Indian tradition) Lata tied the sari she wanted me to wear. Went to school on the back of Isaac's motorcycle, got a lot of dust and dirt in my eyes, mouth and hair. Gave a short lesson, sang songs and had a dance competition.

The best way to spend a birthday

Wearing a sari makes me a really good teacher!

REALITY (continued)
Laughed and sang some more, gave more chocolates away, came home, had more chai with Indian mother and roomie, went to buy more chocolates for al my other friends (feeling popular) Went to the internet, stopped by poor poopy Tom's again, gave him a chocolate, gave the internet buddies chocolate, my fav restaurant waiters chocolate, went to the famous Dreaming Tree and gave every employee and person eating there choco, got wished a happy birthday by everybody, had a DJ named god there in my honor, listened to some jams, gave away more chocolates, got compliments from the Indian ladies about my sari, got a free chocolate cake. A real chocolate cake! With chocolate sauce! Even had a sip of good (actually good) red wine, got more hugs, came home, swept up the kitchen and washed the dishes. Watched Lata cook (I only watch cause she doesn't accept help), came out to the front sat on the floor and joined the fam for dinner (It wasn't the fried rice I was promised) ((not a big deal, I didn't actually care)) We had Idly, dosa with sambar and vada on the side. The power went out, used the torches on our phone to have romantic dinner and to be able to see where I was dipping my dosa. Had more of the cake, sat around with no power while Grace and Lata had an intense conversation in Tamil, felt really comfortable, content and at peace. Played music so Isaac wouldn't hear what they were gossiping about from his room, wrote in my journal and waited for the electricity to come back before crawling into my tent for another good night's sleep.

Vada are the brown balls: garbanzo, coriander and spices mashed and deep fried! 

Bday dinner, the white round thing is Idli and the big round one is Dosa

Josh and Lata- huge smiles!

Happy birthday to me ! So, despite the fact that a few things I had planned for on my special day didn't happen, that never got in the way of my joy. I never attached myself, my peace of mind or happiness on any certain thing happening. I never once felt sad or disappointed. I just kept laughing and smiling at how eventful my day was, I was glad I was able to bring a smile onto so many peoples' faces. It's amazing what one piece of chocolate will do! Even some of the neighbors I never spoke to got chocolate and they reciprocated with so much love. They wished me such sincere happy birthdays, and all I had to do was show up in the fanciest sari ever, with pink flowers in my hair and chocolates in my hand

The Sari-Look complete with Lata's white sandals she forced me to wear!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me. and to my twin Laura, with whom I share such a special connection and love for. I can't wait to bring the giving chocoolate tradition back home with me. I much more prefered buying and gifting people something as simple as a piece of chocolate. I was showered with gratitude, blessings and smiles. All of this really touched me and I feel privileged to experience all of this.

26 sounds so mature doesn't it?? Feeling good!!

-GIA