Tag: inspiration

Communion – 26th May 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

A spark flies on wandering wings
Darting forth on invisible strings
Before coming to rest on the orange soil
Growing here a cluster of limes
By the river flowing since ancient times
And the field the poorest farmers toil

The leaves all fall and flow downstream
Watched by those that wish to dream
Of lands and opportunities far away
What is here and there is just the same
The seas and cities all wax and wane
Only the princes are happy to stay

Keeping butterflies within their cages
Whispered words on parchment pages
Tell legends of a joyful union
Setting fires ablaze, the whole world sings
Another spark flies on wandering wings
Ignites the story of our own communion

Today I’m feeling:

Good and happy. This morning I opted for a 7-minute chest workout because yesterday whilst students were talking to me one of them whispered ‘Teacher nom yai’ and I looked at her and grabbed my chest and gave a stern face and then a sad face, all the while we were all laughing. As my lower back was a bit sore this morning I decided to try and work off some boob fat!

Today I’m grateful for:

Goy and Bae for letting us share their Netflix until now. News is that they won’t be able to share anymore as Netflix is changing the options to only be able to share on the same wifi network. That’s ok for me. I enjoy watching things on there but I already have a whole host of other things I can spend time watching.

The best thing about today was:

Whilst sitting in House, watching a lecture on modern poetry and trying to find inspiration to write something myself, an attractive young couple came in and ordered coffees, and inspiration was found in the young ladies’ soft smooth tan skin, pretty feet and bare waist. So I wrote about temptation, how it can only lead to trouble and that it’s better just to enjoy the view.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I had a plan to go to see Matt between my classes today and messaged him as he had asked before leaving school to drive there. I had contemplated cancelling as I’m pretty tired from the first full week of classes but figured it would help keep me going for the rest of the day rather than sitting around for the whole four-hour break between classes. Unfortunately, Matt replied that he was busy caring for his mother-in-law who had broken her ankle. Well, the change of plan was fine. I mean, I don’t need much convincing to sit around drinking coffee in a favourite cafe and doing bits and pieces of reading and writing.

Something I learned today?

Also at House, Gui offered me a new tea that he had in stock. He told me it was a famous Chiang Rai tea though I didn’t quite catch the name and when he presented it to me it was blue, made with butterfly pea flowers. It was sweet tasting without having any sugar added and refreshing with ice. He then offered more but this time with milk and a little syrup and that was delicious. Along with two coffees and two glasses of water, I was well slaked.

Where do I usually find inspiration?

Well, I guess thinking back on today’s poetic inspiration it would appear that pretty ladies are where I usually find it! In general though, I would say inspiration is found in beauty, wherever that may be seen. A river, a rainbow, a flower, a tree. Similarly, it can be found within the dark ugly shadows of desperation too. 

I took this picture about ten days ago and posting it today as I haven’t had much time or inspiration to take pictures these last couple of days.

Hey Coach – 20th May 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Everyone’s a life coach these days
Selling dopamine for the bucks
Hiding behind their plastic smiles
Of a thousand nips and tucks

No one is living by their words
But knows the right things to say
Stuck forever in the idea of living
Instead of just living that way

Today I’m feeling:

A little weak and tired from lack of sleep but I got a little motivation after talking with Amy. Sometimes I just need a kick-along and be given a task or a deadline. She’s very good at giving me tasks. I’ve gotten very lazy since she’s been overseas.

Today I’m grateful for:

Inspiration found in different places. Sometimes I struggle to find things to write a poem about but if I’m noticing enough and paying attention to the small things then ideas can be transformed into words in my head and then to paper.

The best thing about today was:

Feeling satisfied with just instant noodles, a little chopped onion and an egg for lunch. Some days it’s enough.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Amy inspired me to take a look at the back door and try and make it usable again and I soon realized I’d need the electric drill to get out the screws her dad had put in. I found it again and was reminded of the fact that our drill is useless. It works for two seconds and then stops and will maybe start again with a jiggle of the battery or fully removing it and slamming back in again.
I remembered that this seemed to be the case even after charging the batteries up but I had no choice and will have to try again tomorrow in the hope the batteries are improved after an overnight charge.
It’s frustrating because I remember when we first moved here that Amy didn’t trust me to buy a drill and said her dad knew more about these things. I didn’t want a cordless drill figuring we have power outlets all over the place. The drill we ended up with is a pain in the ass and I was getting so frustrated with it this evening that I almost threw it in the field and wanted to drive to the store to get a decent drill instead.
Hopefully, I can have the door sorted tomorrow.

Something I learned today?

I learned a bit more Thai after downloading a new app DuoCards. I’ll try and keep some momentum going with studying again.

How did this past week go?

This week has been pleasant. I could go to school and hang out with my students again and come home and chill for most of each day. My new timetable only has me teaching for one hour on Mondays so it’s almost like a three-day weekend

Last night Amy took this picture because she is staying at her boss’s house to take care of this ball of fur. He’s like a massive dog version of Cap! Amy is still a little wary of dogs after Tokyo bit her and this pooch is bigger than her but he seems quite gentle and soft.

A Blind Man’s Tale – 11th October 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

When the sword swings to cut
Is the lover’s face seen?
the battle fought through passions
Whispered in a dream
Towers set to blaze a message
New lives together begun
And so three daughters rose
Along with the morning sun

Based on the Junichiro Tanizaki short story

The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer.

Ken Kesey

Today I’m feeling:
Happy and satisfied
Today I’m grateful for:
Having two days in a row not using aircon during the day. I do still have it on for a couple of hours through the night though. I like to feel cold so I can wrap up to sleep. Hopefully, my electricity bill will decrease a little for a few months now.
The best thing about today was:
Finally finishing ironing my shirts whilst watching the last episode of Thai Cave Rescue, then watching a documentary about the rescue and then to come full circle and picking out old clothes, including lots of shirts, which I took to Nick at Daytripper to give out.
Who inspires you?
I don’t know that there is anyone in particular who inspires me currently. I take inspiration from many people depending on the situation. Ultimately I depend on myself for inspiration.

I took this picture because Kim Chi seems to have gotten so lazy that she forgets to get up for dinner. I know she comes and snacks during the day and through the night so I’m not too worried.

The Scarecrow – 26th February 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

The crows are building
Nests under my hat
I’ve thought long and hard
About this
And I’m no longer scared
To be alone

Based on the titular Khalil Gibran parable. I found almost every one of his parables poetically inspiring. More coming, I’m sure!
8th Feb 2024 – Shared to Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge Scary
2nd Nov 2024 – Shared with Word of the Day Challenge – scarecrow

…a fraction of atoms cohered into the elements necessary to form the complex structures necessary for life…the tiny improbable fraction of a fraction of a fraction with which we have the perishable privilege of contemplating the universe in our poetry…

Maria Popova, paraphrasing Alan Lightman

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to have discovered Khalil Gibran’s parables and to be inspired by them.

Play time doesn’t last forever – 23rd September 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Hard on the kids? Maybe. Put them into line a little – talk to them more. Even small classes, it’s hard to get through to everyone – if they don’t understand. Find a leader – push them forward. Help them work together.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to have my own room to be in, to explore my thoughts and feelings, to play and practice hobbies, to meditate and exercise.

To-do list

  • Five compliments
  • Savour something

It’s Oct 4th now. Not sure if I managed to do 5 compliments in one day but I have been conscious to try and compliment more and generally have been able to.

I have been savouring at times though not been consciously finding time to do it.

Teaching has finished though we have one week of sports (we’re not required to do much) and then one week of lesson plans before two weeks holiday.

The irregularity of classes is a little strange to get used to. If I’m at school I prefer to be working and teaching. The environment is still positive and happy though.

I’ve been watching saved YouTube videos to try and clear that backlog. Tomorrow I will take a book and go and sit in a coffee shop and read for a while.

Now that we have free time it’s boring to go to De Lanna when there are other coffee shops to try. The coffee is better in other shops even though the environment may not be so nice.

We got that attitude! – 27th December 2019

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to my son who often surprises need with flashes of inspiration. I know he is a good-hearted person and thoughtful about things. I will give him more positive feedback about this fact.

To-do list

  • Stay invigorated – do not complain.
  • Compliment another teacher – as many as you can.
  • Positive messages for all students.
  • Enjoy the company of your friends.

Some people seem to be just small hard peas – 1st December 2019

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

What books have influenced your life?

The first books I remember reading were the Thomas Covenant Chronicles. Big thick fantasy books. For some reason, they resonated more with me than my attempts at the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings.

Later On The Road and Kerouac’s short Alone on a Mountaintop inspired a wonder of wander for me so it was not a difficult decision to make to move to Australia.

Right now I’m reading Anna Karenina whilst learning as much as I can about stoicism. I think the recommendation (to read AK) must have come from Daily Stoic as there is so much stoicism within the writing. This is the first book I’ve really looked at Cliff Notes for too.

He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.

Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to be excited for this coming week at school. I really enjoy teaching with the kids and they give me good energy.

Weight: 81.6kg
Resting heart rate: 50