Home is a shelter from storms

“May I become at all times,
Both now and for ever,
A protector for the helpless,
A guide for the lost ones,
A ship for those to cross oceans,
And a bridge to cross rivers,
A sanctuary for those in danger,
A lamp for those in darkness,
A refuge for those who need shelter,
A servant to all in need.”

– Dalai Lama – 

When I woke up this morning, I knew that I would write a blog post today about the importance of shelter. 

Recently I have found myself needing to find a new place to live, and despite my best efforts of looking and searching, not much showed up. In fact, it wasn’t until all of my things were packed into a removal van, did I get a text message from a friend offering me to come and stay in their spare room. How funny the Universe can sometimes be, leaving you hanging, right until the 11th hour. 

So, even though it’s Christmas, and the majority of my possessions are in storage, I am very grateful to have had a place to stay for the last few weeks, and will have for the coming months. This stray Kat has a home for the foreseeable future. Better still, the people that I am living with are all beautiful, kind and incredibly compassionate. 

Plus, it seems as though I’m not the only stray who has been welcomed into the house, but another cat (who we have affectionately named Dave) has started to visit us regularly. In fact, I think he came to see us on 4 separate occasions yesterday. No sign of him today, but perhaps he’s enjoying some Christmas Treats with his own family today. 

I can’t tell you how special it is knowing that I have a loving home to come and live in. A place where I feel welcome, and that I belong. Even though my biological family are on the other side of the world, it is incredibly comforting to feel part of someone else’s, when it isn’t possible to be with them physically. 

And it is for this reason that the new company I am starting next year is supporting a Children’s Shelter in Kathmandu, Nepal called the Katja House Foundation. They exist to give shelter, food and clothing to the street children of Nepal. 

And for every tote bag that we sell through Katkin, we will give shelter to one street child for one night. 

There are over 30,000 street children in Nepal and there are 500 children a year that are added to that list in Kathmandu alone. 

There is a running joke in Australia, that if you’re an expat here at Christmas and you’re not with your family, then you are referred to as an orphan, and that is true for me this year. In fact it will only be the second Christmas out of the 33 years that I’ve been on this planet, that I won’t be spending it with my family. 

However, I’m grateful for the shelter and beautiful home that I have to live in, the lovely family that I am living with and the food, fun and frolics that we will all be enjoying together over the festive period. 

If you would like to buy a tote bag and provide shelter for a street child for one night, skip over to our crowd funding page to purchase one and help us raised $10k by 19 Jan to start our business in 2014. 

Wishing you a Merry Christmas Eve. 🙂

Sending you all love & light from Sydney,

Kat x x x

P.S.

Here is a beautiful song by the British songstress, Birdy called ‘Shelter‘.

Show loving kindness to others

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

– Dalia Lama –

I have just come out of a deeply relaxing meditation and this is the first thing that came to mind, so I wanted to share it with you.

I have a very simple thought to share with you today. Be kind to others. Be loving to others. See everyone around you as a mother or father, an uncle or an aunt, a grandmother or grandfather, a sister or a brother, a cousin. Treat everyone as if they are a family member.

When we treat others with loving kindness, we treat ourselves with loving kindness, because, in essence, we are all one, we are all connected.

The Wake Up Project

I recently came across this fantastic project called the Wake Up Project when I went to see the Dalia Lama a couple of weeks ago and wanted to tell you a bit about them.

Their mission is to celebrate and inspire kindness and wisdom in modern life.

What does it mean to Wake Up?

According to their website, ‘It means to wake up your natural capacity for kindness and wisdom. It means savoring the beauty of each moment and expressing your unique gifts into the world. All this, while remembering to lighten up, laugh, dance and celebrate your precious human life.’

Join the Kindness Revolution

In an effort to inspire people to carry out random acts of kindness, you can order a pack of kindness cards that they will send to you for free, which you can leave, anonymously, whenever you do something nice for someone else.

How it works

What can you do?

You can order your kindness cards here. 

So, what random act of kindness are you going to carry out today?

Sending you lots of love, hugs and light,

Kat x x x

Inspiration for this post

The Dalia Lama

The Wake Up Project

The Dalai Lama’s 18 Rules for Living

A very neat, clean and simple one today for you my darlings.

At the start of the new millennium the Dalai Lama issued eighteen rules for living.

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: 1. Respect for self 2. Respect for others 3. Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Sending you lots of love, hugs and light,

Kat x x x

Inspiration for this post

The Dalai Lama’s 18 Rules for Living

We are all mirrors of one another

“One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself”

– The Golden Rule –

The people that we attract into our lives are gifts. Opportunities for us to learn about ourselves and become the best version of ourself possible.

What we love and adore in someone else, we love and adore in ourselves. And what annoys or frustrates us in another, reflects annoyances and frustrations that we have yet to resolve in ourselves.

‘Like attracts like’ (as in The Law of Attraction) is one of the spiritual laws of the Universe and when we see ourselves through the mirror of another, we have a wonderful opportunity to reflect.

You get back, what you put out into the Universe. So if you are being surrounded by people who elicit habits or traits you dislike, seek to make those changes inside yourself and in your life, and you will transform the people around you.

Equally, the more loving, respectful, helpful and grateful you are towards the people in your life, the more that will be reflected straight back to you.

I stumbled across this beautiful video of two twin babies having a lovely chat and mirroring one another on You Tube recently. It has had over 85 million hits, so there is clearly something very special about it. I think it is probably the most wonderful example of just how perfect a mirror we are for one another.

If you wish to see more happiness, joy, fun, laughter, kindness in your life, all you need to do is put it out into the Universe and it will be reflected right back to you.

Love, light and big hugs x x x

Inspiration for this post

Talking Twin Babies video – You Tube

 

Remember to have R&R

“Sometimes the most urgent thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest.”

– Ashleigh Brilliant –

It’s a short and sweet one from me today, as I’m wanting to take my own advice.

Sometimes we spend so much time running around, getting stuff done and taking action, we forget to take time out for rest and relaxation. Time to slow down. Time to just be.

So today’s blog post is a reminder to do just that.

It’s very nearly the weekend, so be sure to enjoy it fully. Refuel and recharge, so that you can be at your best, refreshed and renewed, when Monday arrives.

Your body and your mind will thank you for it. I promise.

Inspiration for this post

The Travelling Wilburys – Handle Me With Care

Blog post by Cat Li – ‘What it means to really take care of yourself’ – from tinybuddha.com

Be kind to yourself, be gentle with yourself, take care of yourself

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” 

– Jim Rohn –

We only get one body. It’s pretty irreplaceable, well parts of it might be, but the whole thing, that is something that we need to cherish and love and adore and take care of.

Most other things are replaceable when they get broken, TVs, cars, furniture, stuff in general. And most things are replaceable when they’re lost, passports, credit cards, keys, mobile phones, etc.

So my message and for today is very simple. Love yourself, and love your body. Treat it well. Put good things in it, good food, good thoughts, good liquids. Nourish it and it will give   back to you in equal measure.

Inspiration for today

Loved ones in my life who aren’t very well at the moment.