People who have nine as their lucky number never, ever stop weaving their dreams…
If you live with your heart open, fear becomes an adventure…
I was ready, I guess. At least I was of age. In many ways, I had less than most—living on the rubber plantation, saving pennies for food, fighting for floor space by the window, never seeing Father, tapping trees at dawn with Mother. And then there was my arm: I would be leaving home with a terrible secret hidden under the sleeve of my blouse…
But I was leaving with a good education. I had people rooting for my success. I had a strong foundation in several faiths. I was a hard worker, and honesty came easy. I did not have much of an ego left, but that would later prove to be advantageous. I had birds of paradise, monkeys swinging from trees, the roosters crowing at dawn. I had sunshine, and warm rain on my cheeks reminding me that life is about moments. The shiny rubber tree seeds in my pocket represented the power and beauty of growth.
Mostly, I was leaving with Mother’s voice in my heart; it made me feel safe, as safe as a girl with only one good arm could feel….
I had an incredible childhood, if you think about it. I literally won the lotto when it came to school. And those diamonds in my pocket were priceless to me. They were the reason I had anything at all. My arm brought panic, but sports changed my life. When I threw the shot putt, no one stared at the scars on my arm. Their eyes followed the path of the ball. And then they cheered. They always cheered more loudly than I thought my throw deserved.
My childhood has been blessed.
It’s all perspective, I guess…
And when I left my mother’s arms, I felt joy and freedom. And “this girl” who made all Cs in school found more success than she ever could have dreamed.
Despite my rather busy career life, I threw myself into extra-curricular traveling activities, too. I have hiked Mount Bromo in Indonesia; Mount Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Mount Sinai, Isreal; Monte Limbara, Sardinia. I took a Viking Cruise from Sweden to Norway and Finland. I cruised along the Yangzi River in China; the Nile River in Egypt; Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Niagara Falls, Canada; Galapagos Islands, the Equator, and the Amazon River in Peru. I went scuba diving in Sipadan, both east and west of Malaysia, and in San Lucas in the Caribbean. I learned to surf in Hawaii and in California. I took a Sand, Surf & Air Balloon ride to watch the sun set and rise in Dubai. I enjoyed formal Tea Tastings in Sri Lanka, England, and Mount Wu Yi Shan in China. I learned to ski and hit the slopes in Australia, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Prague, and America. With a pack on my back, I traveled all over the world. I bungee jumped into Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe in Africa. Also, and this is the best, I parachuted out of a plane from 20,000 feet at Perris Lake, California.
But I was always searching, for something, for peace—in the jungles of Malaysia, the Sistine Chapel, and the Krishna Temple. I chased after it in marathons in Hong Kong, Europe, and Malaysia. It wasn’t on that Viking boat. I prayed in the temple in Sri Lanka, but didn’t find it there. Prague? Berlin? They were fascinating. I’m so blessed, but life was not still when I visited those places. That came gradually.
“Peace starts from within in the hearts of each of us.” Gandhi said that. It was the Father of India’s message to the world. Each one of us has an opportunity to make the world a better place. Everyone can make a difference. It brings me great peace to visit this temple and see the shrine to Gandhi. And I like to meditate in the temple and feel the serene energy on the lake too. I look forward to my daily meditations. I have found balance, and it anchors my soul. At last I have found my way home.
Whether I am with my Buddhist mother, or my Jewish husband, or with the Headmistress at the Catholic Convent School, I am one with everyone, as they are with me, as we are all one with the Source. It’s a very free way of thinking. I don’t know that it’s for everyone. I just know it’s for me.
Even though we were poor, those six years at Chinese school took that feeling of wanting away. For starters I was too busy to think about my secondhand shoes. Education helped my self-esteem immensely. And the school had this grand church bell announcing a new day. It should have been at the top of Notre Dame Cathedral, this magnificent bell, not at my little school. I can still hear it today: music to my ears.
Rina would like to thank her husband Dr. Marshall Bernes, best friend, Chief Janitor, and supporter. Mr. Lance Roberts, owner of Froggy’s Fish Market. Ken Atchity, Lisa Cerasoli, Chelsea Mongird of The Story Merchant and Youth Ambassador, Autumn Porter of Yoga Gives Back.
