A ball and multiple responses!

I was curious to know the thoughts behind the different body language of the players while following this ball!

I had a conversation with one of the players after the match. He mentioned to me that the response in the field is almost involuntary. There is no time to think or plan! Everything is almost at an impulsive level!

A sports psychologist, who accompanies  teams for the university level competitions mentioned to me that his role is to help the the players to develop quick thinking skills in a heavily demanding situation. His main approach is to help players to think, 'all situations can be redeemed to an advantage'. He uses the 'losing stage' in a match to bring a new level of synergy between players. 

Life is living is a series of  compelling circumstances. 

There is no winning or losing, but journey through experiences which are formative!

A friend, who recently moved on in life in her late seventy once remarked, 'life has told me that there is stillness beneath the turbulent surface of a sea'. 

This is a purposeful view of life and the all circumstance we are called to go through!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Bird family !

This is the best picture I could capture at dusk without a zoom lens!

However this picture came alive to me when I heard them sing to each other almost reciprocally for a while. It was a strong wind prior to a down pour which interrupted the singing and them flying off to a safer place! 

They were male and female birds form what I could make out both form their physical features and the way they sang. The male birds sang with multiple tones and with a melody. The females were different in their tunes. 

What says with me of this sighting and singing of a bird family is how they flew in together to rest on this tree and flew away together to a far away place. There was an inherent harmony. 

I saw this captivating scene while in a recovery phase of a difficult situation where harmony wast at risk in relationships in a situation I was recently involved! 

What brings us together is our sense of belonging! Three children were playing with a handball in the garden. One of them fell down and bruised himself. The other two stopped playing and walked him home! I asked them, whey they stopped playing! The two boys told me, 'we stopped playing, because Ben was hurt'! A remarkable view of shared living!

I wish, we would learn to keep that value as inherent to our calling!

M.C.Mathew

Should I !

This is the pause of Dulcey, when I call her to come in after the early morning stroll in the garden! There is a long pause with this 'pitiful' look before she slowly comes in. The two pictures show the reluctant response! But if I were to shake the biscuit container or say,'biscuit', she runs in to the house. I now deliberately allow her to come in without priming  her with a reward. 

As I have watched this behaviour for almost six months since we began to introduce to her some basic behaviour of compliance, I noticed that the tone of the voice matters a lot. When Anna or I call her in a gentle and pleasing voice she complies far better than when we are loud or forceful in voice. I learned recently that even dogs can discern a loving or caring tone in human voice!

I have been through a difficult phase recently on account of confluence of events. I have had to be involved in various engagements. I have been giving more attention to the tone of my voice as to how I use them on the phone, in conversation, discussion or even in arguments. 

I have noticed that there is more inclination to use forceful or categorical language in conversations or discussions almost appearing to control others or force one's opinion.

While spending a few hours with a family recently their fifteen months old baby kept amusing us with all kinds of social responses. I was amazed at the way the  parents make that happen by their gentle and  caring ways.

We can help others respond better when we show forth kind and caring ways and in the use of our language and tone of our voice!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)