A TRIBUTE TO FRIENDS
by Azmi Samdjaga in Mind+Body+Spirit | 1 Comment | Add your comment

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In view of the recent world issues that have clouded life with a number of miseries, what with the war, the rising crimes, and the natural disasters, the world has become a tougher place to live in. Thus we are more in need to find comfort and a safe place surrounded by people we trust and love. And these people have become an important entity in our lives.

They have been called angels, they’ve been called saviors, but more than anything, they have definitely been remembered as the ones we love till the day we pass. They are our FRIENDS, the true and loyal ones, who will stand by us no matter what.

Friends are those who are there for us come rain or shine. They do not judge, they do not rule. They listen and they reach out to us. The best thing about them is that they accept us, tolerate us and respect us for who we are, no matter what we are or where we come from.

In a world where hate and bigotry have darkened livelihoods, robbed spirits and destroyed families, friends are there to make lives more significant. They tell us they love us when others have left us, they care for us and nurture us when others neglected us. When we are kicked in the face and down on our knees, friends reach out their hands to us and help us back on our feet.

I can never imagine life without friends. How dark it would be, how insipid it could be. The saddest thing about life without friends is that loneliness sneaks in and takes upon itself as our soul companion. It brings with it heinous feelings of dejection, vile self-deprecation and the wretched air of desolation.

In due time, the bogus compadre shuns our hearts from being discerning of people and in the end, we attract bad and manipulative company to step in and take over our lives. They control us; hurt us and they break our hearts. While some of us manage to struggle through, many of us may drown in its sorrows. However, for the lucky ones, real friends emerge and they embrace and protect us from the evil ones who inflict pain upon us. Can you imagine life without friends? Or our whole life only to be surrounded with superficiality?

Some of them leave us and live their own lives as we grow apart, but as friends, we will never ever fall apart. Those who live among us will be with us and look after us, some become families and others bloom to be our soul mates. For those who are not with us will remain in our hearts and keep us in their thoughts. For when the time calls and when we are in need, rest assured that they will be there for us to stand by us as best that they can.

Let’s count our blessings and remember the friends that we have by loving them unconditionally and gratifying their companion through kindness and compassion. Although we may lose them through acts of nature and unforeseen circumstances, keep them in our hearts and never ever lose them from our thoughts.

We are defined by the people we love and for the reasons for loving them. So let’s thank our friends for being there in our darkest moments and above all, for making our lives worth living for.

~~~ About the contributor ~~~

If passion is what keeps a person alive, then Yoga is his life. Azmi Samdjaga has been one of the strong and well sought after teacher in the Yoga industry having taught in countries like Indonesia, Singapore and Japan. With over a decade of experience and studying under yoga legends such as the late Sri Pattabhi Jois, Matthew Sweeney, Lance Schuler and Louisa Sears, Azmi has converged his expertise that he acquired and brought it to the heart of his practice. An Ashtangi by training and a background in dance and massage, Azmi often shares the grace of his practice in the classes he teaches.

Groomed to be an Architect in school, Azmi changed his course of life and found his calling in teaching after he experienced a great shift in his life during his training in India. He is known for bringing his passion in his classes, creating a close bond with his students which, have built a yoga following that, has grown in numbers throughout the years. Up till today he has students who have been practicing with him since the day he started teaching. The greatest thing that he loves about Yoga is that it has helped him through difficult times in his life. He believes that yoga only works best when you apply it to your life.

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