Tuesday, December 1, 2009

I have arrrived!!!

Well....here she is....my home sweet home for the next 5 months, whom I affectionately have nicknamed Sugars. It was quite the trek getting all my luggage here and set up but I am very much settled in now. Paradise Island is only accessible by boat on the bay side so there is no sounds of traffic. The property has about a 1000 ft frontage, ocean front...and is the width of the island. During the day you will hear party boats cruising down the bay and the occassional party going on in a dancehall or dockside. It is a reminder for me of what a contrast I am living here in the ashram. There are no radios, televisions or general noise that we are so accustomed to....they are allowed but have to be kept down low so not to disturb others.

Our meditations consist of either walking down the shoreline past the Atlantis resort (see picture to the left) and watching the sunrise off the ocean or sitting in an open area build to sit quietly. It has a roof and only one full wall...the rest of the building is open, allowing for the breeze to pass through. Sitting in this temple you can hear the waves lapping upon the shore just outside the door, the birds singing their songs in the mornings or the crickets chirping their music at night. Last Saturday night we were well into our meditative states and all of a sudden you could hear someone yelling over an acoustic system RASTA-FAR-YAH followed by some very heavy reggae music. I found it hilarious and had some trouble stiffling my giggles....sometimes people are just to serious.
Following meditations is yoga on the beach deck at 8 am thru 10am. I captured a pic of this pigeon on our yoga deck prior to class. The days are incredibly full from our wakeup call at 5:30 am thru to 10 pm. Most programs that run through the day are mandatory attendance for me due to the commitment I made with the Karma Yoga program ( work study). By days end you fall asleep pretty quick. Some of the tiredness comes from climatizing to this environment and lifestyle as well. Most people I have spoken with tell me that a timeline of 10 days seems to be what you need to settle in....I am at about 7 days now and feeling pretty good so that seems to be about right. Each day you feel 100% better than the day before....pretty hard not to with living in fresh air 24/7, exercising, meditating, being around positive people in a healthy environment and eating healthy food.

I have become a bit of a social butterfly here, always laughing with someone about something. Already I have had to say goodbye to 4 different people but have their email for contact. One couple is going to be back before I leave here in late April so it will be nice to see them again before I depart. The majority of the peoples stay here is between 3 days to 2 weeks so my situation is a bit unique and drawing alot of interest from others. My time is a mixture of activity, dependant on if I am doing work study or in a specific course I had enrolled in. Either way the day starts with meditation at 6 am to 8 am and yoga at 8 am to 10 am, followed by brunch and either work or study.

Detoxing can be emotional, I have cried once...okay, twice, but it was cause I was exhausted, frustrated and scared....basically acting like a spoilt brat. When I arrived, one of the yogis showed me to my tent space and said to leave a path in front of the tent area, therefore requiring it to be set up on uncleared land. Well, I didnt have any equipment other than my hands to do this and was hauling around 200 pds of luggage that I wanted to just unpack. I started yanking at vines, knocking down brush and cussing and crying. Another Karma yogi seen me struggling and came over to give me moral support and advice. He ended up helping me put up my tarp and we were singing The Lion Sleeps Tonight in this little piece of jungle down in Bahamas. Having the tent trunk backed up into the brush actually ended up having its advantages as well...it provides more of a canopy under the coconut trees from the rains and just feels safer from the winds. Funny how things seem to work out.

My work designation is the kitchen doing prep work and cleaning. I work with a really cool chef and it ends up being like any kitchen area in any home...a gathering place. It does allow me to get to know everyone quicker and we have already broken out in song and alot of laughter in there. One thing I am certain of is that I have enormous respect for the devotion and discipline some people have to their particular beliefs and faiths but I was born to laugh and that will always be part of my way of living.

I guess that is enough for now....I am safe, smiling, learning and meeting tons of people. I have no regrets with the choice of coming here...it indeed is and will be the most rewarding experience for me, hopefully enabling me to share with others.


One Love

Sherri

22 comments:

  1. So lovely to get such images-especially the ones of you laughing and doing what you have always and will always do-make others laugh...the Ashram will not want to let you go after 5 months...I just know it. I did not want to let you go!!! Miss you already, but I am so happy for you, and look forward to your blogs...love sue
    oh yeh...same old stuff her! ...it's a jolly, holly xmas and all that....you know how happy that makes me...when I am not so tired I will tell you my story of special xmas sale day at sears!!!

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  2. Hey Sista - glad to get your first update and a glimpse of what this chapter in your life looks like. I'm proud of you.

    We will be sure to keep in touch - is it OK to send you the odd photo? Christian has a Christmas concert this week and a piano recital next week. Tracy found a tuxedo for him to wear to the recital so he is pumped!

    One love

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  3. Oh my God Sherri, just seeing this blog with all your great stories tells me you are where you are supposed to be.You sound very happy and positive. I am so happy for you, keep your chin up and thank goodness I got your blog emailed to me,I have been wondering how you made out. I knew you would do well even with its trials and tribulations and that you would always be singing, because that is who you are.

    Have fun and keep the stories coming, I will be checking up on your blog constantly to see how its going.1 luv
    Cindy R

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  4. So happy to hear from you Sherri! Send us more, please!!! This is so inspiring and I love the pics! You sound sooo perrrfect....all is just perfect and you will forever be impacted by such an incredible, transformational experiencE! I wish I was there with you!!!

    Love,

    Susanxo

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  5. You spoke the plan, and now you are living it! Wow. Now as the river of souls passes through this paradise of yours may you be enriched as you uplift others. You are a special soul. So glad there is a spot on earth like this for you to find your center. Blessings in abundance be yours.

    Don

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  6. O.K. I'll try this again! I enjoy looking at these pictures. A far different habitat than the last. You sound very wonderful.And you? A Social Butterfly? Never! lmao!
    I know a different funny, lovely lady.
    I send you Reiki Radiance with love. I've been sending it dauly to Jim, he feels it stronger every day. Best is when I have my hands on him and can send with that image and feeling in my mind's eye.
    We have developed into the perfect relatiuonship. Filled with love and truth!
    Mr. Plato would be proud. I told Jim his was the most satisfactory relationship I have ever had with a man. Ergo' a great loving friendship with no need of anything else.
    Keep up your positive attitude, study and work hard. I know you are where you need to be in this stage of your life. I love you bunches and send hugs..Blessed be my sweet sister.

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  7. Sherri loved hearing from you and that you are doing good wishing you more happy times there...miss you
    Odette

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  9. Ohhhhh Deepti!!!! I was thinking about you a lot and was SO EXCITED to read your FIRST blog when I saw your email!!!! :) :)
    I can picture everything through your words and was longing to be where you are! I could feel your pain when you wrote about clearing the area to set up your tent and laughed out loud when you wrote about singing The Lion Sleep Tonight and hearing the RASTA-FAR-YAH and reggae music!!!! I would have had a very hard time to not burst out giggling upon hearing that!! Too funny!
    They are so lucky to be blessed with your presence at the ashram and agree with Sue about them not wanting you to leave when it's time...
    I look forward to hearing of all the great zen individuals you meet while you're there and I can't wait to read your next blog!!
    Take a picture looking out from your tent so I can get a perspective of what you see every morning!
    Overjoyed for you and miss you muchly!!
    All my love, M.

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  10. Hello Sherri,
    Congratulations on living your dream. You're already on a roll, and I wish you all the best with your goals.
    It sounds like Sugars is becoming a sacred place, where you can privately reflect on your activities and gain strength from your experiences. In Scots, Sugars is close to being a "But 'n' Ben" : a place of retreat and enjoyment (not a literal translation, there is none, but expresses the sentiment).
    You said you are protected by a canopy of coconut trees - make sure there are no coconuts directly overhead !
    All the best for the days and months ahead, and I look forward to keeping-up with your blogs.
    Fond wishes. Cheerie, Doug :)

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  11. Hi Sherry Berry

    Glad you made it to your new adventure, your bedroom looks neat and tidy !!! Miss you already hun. Will keep you updated on whats going on. Thinking of you God Bless you Sherry.

    Love Ya
    Barb

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  12. Hi Bear!!!! So happy that you made it safetly and to see you all set up. Enjoy yourself...and I can't wait for your next update. XXX

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  13. Love your new digs! I've been thinking of you and was so pleased to get your email. Keep writing about everything, even the crying (I wouldn't have believed you otherwise!). I just get a smile on my face when I think of you. You are doing one intense thing! Lots of love your way, Sophie

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  15. So glad to hear you arrived safely and are settling in. Not surprised to hear you're making alot of friends already.

    Keeping you in my amens.

    Love,

    mss

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  16. I loved reading your blog and how you're coping with your new life. Sounds absolutely blissful. Love your sense of humor and sense of adventure.

    It took alot to take this big step in your life and I'm sure you will be rewarded in mind and spirit.

    Many Hugs and Much Love My Dear!!
    Kathy

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  17. Sherri,

    You sound so amazing! I'm so happy for you to be able to have this experience. It is going to be life changing.

    You truly are an inspiration.

    Keep the blogs coming as much as you can :)

    Love, laughter and health,

    Kely

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  18. Hi Sherri,
    I am glad all is well with you. Liz and I are still plugging away with TM. I emailed you at your yahoo email, but got no reply. Whatever...
    There is an interesting new UFO *star* event on Youtube.com under "spiral UFO" that was confirmed by Benjamin Creme to be the *star*. It was over Norway on Dec. 9.
    Joe Huard

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  19. good morning ms sherri!
    you know doubt are already up (it's 6:40 here)..have scraped the junk off your tongue, blew salty water through your nose, scraped last nights dead skin cells off your body and followed this with some healthy vegan breakfast, bit of yoga and meditation and are now allowing your healthy mind and body to take in all it can- myself on the other hand I am having my second cup of cofee with cream, got about a dozen greasy wonderful breakfast sausages cooking, which I will have on toast with HP sauce, then have another cup of coffee and off we go!!!!Hi Ho, Hi Ho...
    Has the weather been accomodating for life in the French Quarters? and are you coping with the sand and limited space?
    Is there anything you are missing?-apart of course from your friends? I know I am missing you...
    must be so lovely, peacefull and calming to be away from all the pressures of working life, and life North American style in general.....Recently the media has been on a major feeding frenzy (Roman forum style),on the Tiger Woods "story", it was unbearable, and now they have moved on to the Panty Bomb situation-I realize not to be taken lightly-but I really don't want to have to take my panties off at the airport!!!, oh yeh and competing with that story is something to do with Charlie Sheen who also has fallen "from grace", and we (I) only just got over all the xmas sentimental crap! Now that we are entering into a new year they will have to review all the "stories" of the past year that we already have been exposed to agnosium!%*.. Oh dear I am on a rant this morning...perhaps I should join you, I could bring some of my positivity to the Ashram..better go eat my breakfast that should help...love you
    Sue ......

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  20. Glad to hear that you are enjoying your time Sherri. Love the flower picture...it looks like a lime in the middle of it. Miss you lots...and lots of love! XXX

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