MY QUOTES FOR EVERYDAY

March 2011

1. Conscious Revolution brings in Soul’s evolution!
2. Love is beyond boundaries!
3. As humans we can’t see fellow beings suffer. How can God see some people suffer? Is it because you need to burn your Karma good or bad? And do we know who we were in our previous birth and what we did so as to suffer in this birth. Isn’t it better if it all happens in this birth, right then and there, so everyone can become good or abide by the rules of goodness.
4. Self-knowledge and Self-realization is the true education.
5. Mind is corrupted with two many information. Ignorance is bliss!
6. Follow your mind and heart and do not get influenced by others opinion.
7. Misunderstandings occur easily whilst Truth is beyond belief!
8. Sound mind is a seed to awakening of sublimity.
9. Respect great people,great minds,and great works for they are greater than us!
10. Consolation or comfort reduces one’s grief. Do not hesitate to give it to fellow beings when needed.
11. Life is easy when you are simple and straightforward.
12. Good discussions lead to success in our life.
13. Do not imprison love, let it go free and it will come back to you surprisingly.
14. Fate is what you face, for you have brought it upon you!
15. Treat everyone equally, do not discriminate whatsoever!
16. Do your duty not for its sake but excel in it, though however mundane it could be!
17. God is the one and only person who understands you and is with you forever!
18. Don’t waste your time,effort, and thoughts on anyone except God!
19. Cleanse your mind by deleting the negative experiences in your life.
20. Lighten your heart by expressing your thoughts to the person who brought the burden into your being.
21.Rejuvenate thyself by being cool, calm and composed for at least once in a day.
22. Animals, plants and trees speak to you and understand you more than people do.
23. Bitter experiences in one’s life makes one a better person.
24. Blame not fate, but learn to fight it’s battle!
25. Passion less life is burden less life!
26. Dissolve the discrimination of pain and pleasure and become more neutral with all the opposites in life.
27.Hesitate not to do the right thing.
28. Only one way to salvation - speak to thy Saviour
29. Meditation is the true medicine for all kinds of maladies!
30.Overcome your difficulties by open arguments!
31.Free your path to succeed!

MY QUOTES FOR EVERYDAY - 2011

JANUARY

1st Jan 2011 : BE YOURSELF and LIVE YOUR LIFE! For it makes you very happy and accomplished!

2nd Jan 2011 : Do whatever you are passionate about ... and at any cost don't follow others passion!

3rd Jan 2011 : No excuses whatsoever sometimes you have to do what you have to do!

4th Jan 2011 : Anything and everything should be done in moderation!

5th Jan 2011: I love, to love, love! For love teaches you many things in life! Gratitude, friendship, courage, strength, understanding, telepathy, intuition, inspiration, enthusiasm, happiness, care, unselfishness,sacrifice, .....you can make a big and never ending list!

6th Jan 2011 : Learning knows no destination. Learning is a never ending process. From the moment one is born and until one leaves this world, is always learning and maybe even after, for the Soul continues the journey.

7th Jan 2011 : Jealousy captures the heart that has housed unreasonableness.

8th Jan 2011 : Sufferings are challenges in our lives. We become a better person by conquering the trials and tribulations. It makes us humble and wise!

9th Jan 2011 : A teacher is a most influential person in a student's life!

10th Jan : Try to maintain your inner peace at all times!

11th Jan : Welcome change and change will welcome you!

12th Jan : Our destiny is nothing but the outcome of our own thoughts, words and deeds!

13th Jan : Mind is only a machine, and your thought is the switch which can make it work the way you want!

14th Jan : Nature is the tonic to real health and happiness!

15th Jan : Be happy and bring happiness to everyone in and away from you.

16th Jan : Realization is a magic wand. It can make you into whatever you want! So think good, be good and do good, then goodness will fill your life!

17th : Jan : Now and then we must evaluate ourselves to become a better person!

18th Jan : Words of kindness and friendliness leads to progress!

(Especially when you are down, and truly need someone to cheer you up.)

19th Jan : Nth degree of desperation is equal to nth degree of achievement!

20th Jan : Try to be calm and quiet as many times as you can in a day or at least once in a day it will help you maintain your inner balance or resume your harmonious self!

21st Jan : Simple life leads to sublimity!

22nd Jan : Solitude is Bliss!

23rd Jan : A mantra gains power by chanting it devotedly, knowledgeably and repeatedly. Hence, any word can become a mantra especially when you keep repeating it or using is often in your life! . So be careful in what you say and always utter good or positive things!

24th Jan : All mistakes, problems and even addictions can be changed and solved in a fraction of a second just by REALIZING IT'S TRUE CAUSE AND COMMANDING YOUR MIND TO UP ROOT IT!

25th Jan : Be the person who can make others smile!

26th Jan : LOVE is so INTOXICATING!

27th : JAN : Tears are the Soul’s cleanser and purifier! Doesn't matter whether they are tears of joy or sorrow but tears are the true cleanser and purifier of the Soul! Massilla athmavai valarka kanneer udhavukiradhu!

28th Jan : Soul’s sole connection is The Supreme Power!

29th Jan : Find time to enjoy Nature : Looking at a blossom, Enjoying the sight of the bright blue sky, Appreciating the sparkling Sun, Watching the rainbow, Or watch it snow!

30th Jan : To receive is great, but to give is the greatest!

31st Jan : Listen to your inner self it is always right in telling you something. It hints and cautions you, good or bad, conveys a message to you!

FEBRUARY
1st Feb : Nature is the tonic to real health and happiness!

2nd Feb : Meditation provides answers to all our unanswered questions!

3rd Feb : Delve deep down within you to discover the rare gems in you!

4th Feb : Nothing is Everything and Everything is Nothing!

5th Feb : God is Permanent! He is always there waiting for you when you need him. Only we don’t have time for him. For we are drowned in this worldly things! Or caught in a mire of emotions and materialism. God is the only savior!

6th Feb : Learn to live not to exist, but make life interesting and worth living.

7th Feb : Freedom, it really feels very great to experience freedom after being chained with emotions! Emotions both of happiness and sorrow. Along with anxiety and worry. When we are bind by emotions we become so involved and crazy.

8th Feb : Channelize your tension, anger, or worry into doing something productive! Like cleaning the closet or all your clutters for it clears your discomfort and the delayed chores!

9th Feb : Look twice even thrice before you leap!

10th Feb : Anger is your first enemy, beware of it and tame that ferocious tiger in you!

11th Feb : Detachment should come from attachment and not from detaching oneself from the bitterness of life!

12th Feb : Value of a person should be valued by the simplicity of his nature and not by the material complexity!

13th Feb : Be nice to one and all, at the same time be aware of whether the person you treat good is worthy of it or not!

14th Feb : Love is in the air, love is everywhere, and love is always there, we need not exaggerate to make the best out of it only today! For it is a business- man’s motive to make money from your love for that special someone! Love needs only love and nothing in return!

15th Feb : To forgive and forget easily is a blessing for some people.

16th Feb : Relieve yourself from the routine rut of yours so as to re-energize!

17th Feb : Don't forcefully stop yourself from doing what your whispering voice said, for it will lead you to disharmony.

18th Feb : Be brisk and do not risk your presence of mind!

19th Feb : Speechless art thou when overwhelmed with emotions!

20th Feb : Parents' love makes them stronger than their poor health when their children are around! (So as to serve the later.)

21st Feb : Sometimes we are more closer to some people than we even think. Hence we are there to witness the soul leaving the earth.

22nd Feb : Rest in peace is after death, be at peace and rest your restless mind before death!

23rd Feb : Be straightforward for it's not that hard! But acting to be straightforward is really hard.

24th Feb : Enjoy the beautiful things that Nature gifts you with....especially the early morning fresh air and the dawning of the Sun. For it fills you with energy and enthusiasm!

25th Feb : Do nothing at times but eat and sleep for your body needs that nourishment and rest!

26th Feb : Beware of surprising others for surprises spring upon thee!

27th Feb : Hasty decisions lead you to no place!

28th Feb : At times too much is thrown into your life, that you are unable to utilize your best given opportunity!

Thoughts that teach

Thoughts teach us something everyday and every time. Soul is stronger than body. Heart is the commander in chief and not the mind. Mind is actually trained by the heart. Heart is filled with emotions, senses and feelings. Mind is filled with knowledge and experience. Soul is superior to both mind and heart.

God has created this world for us and he has already provided us with everything. Whatever is in surplus for us we need to share it with those who are deprived of it. That’s what God wants us to learn. There is so much joy in giving.

I used to wonder couple of years ago why God gave good and bad, joy and sorrow, health and illness, rich and poor, positive and negative, intelligent and dumb, etc. all different kinds of opposites. But now I comprehend the reason just to enlighten us with certain facts and truths about life. And to learn and lead our soul to progress further. The lesson learnt here is inexplicable. Each one of us can understand only when we are ready for it. Thereby I fail to actually explain the truth.

Simple life is the secret for happiness. To keep ourselves free from tensions and worries. To take life as one step at a time. To prioritize the progress of our soul rather than concentrating on materialistic advancements.

Born as a Human

“Being born as a human is the noblest form of all”. Why did people say that...? Well as per my belief, humans have the capacity to think and act accordingly. But do we really make use of our brains to the best possible way? I wonder...

God gave us this beautiful world for everyone to fit in and share and care for each other. But we human beings set boundaries, and create foes instead of friends. Above all, it is so painful when humans don’t respect humans. O boy, I truly despite this category of people. People may be rich or poor, belong to upper caste/class or lower caste/class, be intelligent or dumb, beautiful or ugly, white or black, learned or not, knowledgeable or foolish, but still all are human beings! Hence we should respect our own fellow beings, and work together to benefit each other and live in harmony.

Every single person is born with some talent or skill that he/she is superior than the other. Simultaneously, the person who lacks the same skill is no where inferior to the other person. Thereby we need to recognize and acknowledge each person for their individuality. Priorities may differ between individuals that doesn’t mean that they can be authoritative of that particular field in which they excel and insult others who are not familiar or have little knowledge in the same area. Feeling superior, and acting superior breeds contempt and brings disharmony and divisions among fellow beings. Thereby we need to up root all the negative qualities within us.

First and foremost we are gifted to be born in this world as human beings. That proves the point all humans are equal. Secondly, we are all born to fulfil some task. Thirdly, we all lack something within us and hence we are here to learn that and nurture our soul with the next step of progress to attain Godhead or Mukthi. Precisely, we are all in the same boat. So, my principle is try not to criticize others, neither be snobbish, nor mock others. But try to help each other with all the virtues thou art bestowed with and utilize it to conquer ignorance and inequality within oneself.

Think beyond money and materialism, there is more meaning in life when we avoid the former to dominate our life. Have noble thoughts and ideas and act accordingly to influence others to help each other. There are people who are stingy, frugal, and calculative in this world who are like weeds in the garden. But there are saints seers and herbs too! So, take the best example and avoid the beastly nature of selfishness. Lead a simple life for all we need is three meals a day, sheltered place to stay, and clothes to protect us from different weather conditions. When there are less tensions and worries we can lead a healthy and happy life. Thereby simplicity leads to sublimity. We need to mould ourselves into worthy human beings. For the word human comes from humane. Hence we need to be noble minded.

I truly marvel at people who don’t have enough for themselves but truly and willingly give from the bottom of their heart to help others. A millionaire can contribute how much ever he wants but it cannot equate to the charitable nature of a person who contributes a single penny while he cannot afford for a single meal. He has a heart of Gold. That’s what I’m talking about wealth and knowledge should be shared than being hoarded to help one’s own off springs. We are all God’s children so we have to share and care and dare not disobey him. Be noble, think noble and act nobly. Be worthy of being born as a Human Being and please do not demote yourself but promote to the next level and evolve your soul!

About Giving

By giving one gets immense joy in life! The satisfaction and contentment a person gets is beyond measure. To give one needs a true and generous heart than the material. There are many ways to give. One can give his or her precious time, the most valuable commodity to serve humanity. Or different materials that you don’t need or that you have in surplus, but wisely give it to people in need of it. Last but not the least, money - the most important currency for several organizations which help humanity. Having things in surplus and the willingness to share it with others is a noble gift in some people. Not every one has the heart to give, so we need to commend this exceptional quality and hope it inspires others to do so.

Rarer gems are found in this world. For example, some people who do not have enough for themselves, have a great heart and wants to give to help others who are in dire need. And they do not honestly expect anything in return. This kind of person is nearer to God for his true spirit in helping others. There are some people who are not millionaires but simple people with such sincere thoughts and concerns for others in this world, who give whatever they can and the gift they receive out of this is true happiness and immense satisfaction. May God bless them with good and long life so they will be there to inspire,guide and help others.

What is Freedom?

The physical and psychological mind being free from any kind of bondage is called freedom! There are two types of freedom, the physical is the outer freedom and psychological is the inner freedom. When a person is controlled or dominated by the other, it falls under outer freedom which in turn affects and curtails the inner freedom. And hence :

The freedom of speech is curtailed when one has a mental block
The freedom of action is curtailed when one's mind is preoccupied
The freedom of thought is curtailed when one's emotions are suppressed
The freedom of expression is curtailed when one's dominated by hesitation!

Realization and awareness are two virtues which brings true freedom. This new born true freedom puts us on the right track towards spirituality by freeing our soul from worldly ties and makes us fly magnificently like the Albatross!

Shopping a therapy of sorts!

Many a time we see new items in the stores, on TV and at a friend's place, we would love to shop. Buying new things makes us happy. We shop for many reasons first and foremost for ourselves and secondly to gift others. Variety is the spice of life. So there are tons and tons of things to shop, from mundane things to most unique ones. But the happiness we get out of shopping, is a therapy to our mind which makes us lighthearted and bouncy.

Window shopping has become very common these days. Some people love to window shop, they love to spend their time in venturing into new stores and novel items. There are mainly two reasons to window shop, one is its a nice pass time or a hobby. Secondly people who are unable to afford it just enjoy by looking at it or plan to save and buy later. Though it is a different kind of shopping still it makes them happy and encourages them to earn or save money to buy them, so that's a therapy too!

Shopping is a therapy to some and an addiction to others. Some people can go bankrupt too if they don't have a control over their wants and expense. But like two sides of a coin, everything in life has a negative and positive side. In this case they might need some therapy to get out of their extravagant shopping habit. But not everyone gets caught into this web, only a few who can't draw a line between spending and over spending.

People who can afford and who are rich and who have good taste for novelties, artistic and exotic items have lots of fun shopping and also enjoy sharing and giving others. Which is a wonderful habit and expresses their generosity. As well as these positive qualities in them are satisfied by shopping which acts as therapy agent in their life. For, they are fond of expressing their love for humanity by giving others. Thus shopping is a therapy of sorts!!!

Friends and Foes

This world is full of people. But not all are your friends. People form their own circles! According to their tastes,castes,likes,dislikes, and their choices in life. People talk about matching wavelength, and this is what they mean i guess, belonging with similar interests or as the proverb goes “Birds with the same feather flock together”. Like the different types of birds, there are different types of people, and only people who are like minded get along with each other or sometimes pretend to do so too!

But what about some people who do not restrict themselves to these kinds of notions. They are people who treat everybody equal! These people truly face a lot of rough situations in a cool and calm way but there is a saturation point in their life too! Name and fame are not important to them! Quality is what that matters to them than any other thing! Of course these special people have feelings and emotions like every other person. But unfortunately the society takes them for granted and never respects them or even credits them for what they are...! Instead, exploits them and hurts them as much as possible. Which is really a shame to the human world!

All this happens because people fear that some individual's superiority, might get crushed or may not be highlighted! The character of a person is the most important thing! Everyone talks about it but most of them forget to practice due to their selfishness!

There are three types of groups of people namely, the people who boss around with some superior principles,ideas or tastes; secondly the people who worship these people and enjoy belonging to that group; thirdly the people who are just their own who really don't classify to any particular class, creed or kind! (The noble minded people!)

But when we are in a foreign land initially meeting people from the same country is considered important, later, when there is more population from the same country, people start restricting themselves and narrow down to their castes, tastes,etc., and start grouping people to the inner circle , outer circle and so on. This makes others feel like “a fish out of water”. One time friend becomes a foe here! People develop inner conflict, cold war, and then try searching for soul mates! Finally find that the people who come under the third category are true friends! But the ego in the people who were hurt by others starts to dominate thus soiling their reputation! People are not ready to change but expect others to accommodate accordingly!

A noble minded person, gives important to equality and values other people's interest and co-operates with them. They are the people who cherish the integrity of the human world ! These people are like the Sun which gives light, life and energy to everyone! But many people fail to absorb or gain the positive energy that flows around them because they shelter themselves in the shadows of some false truth which they believe to be true!

The so called noble minded people are free from age, caste, creed, kind, and false principles! They are straight forward, simple, sweet people! Simplicity, Equality, and Fraternity are the blood, life and soul of these noble minded people!

Sreelatha Shankar
11pm to 11.57pm
22nd April 2006
Saturday

Parents and Children

Well a wonderful topic to be discussed! When we are children we want to grow fast and become parents. For we think its cool to be a parent, since the parent has everything under his or her control. And hence miss some precious moments of our childhood or forget sometimes even to enjoy childhood! But fortunately or unfortunately when we become parents we realize being a parent is not a piece of cake. For every single thing we have to struggle, from changing the child's diaper, giving bath and making the child eat. Especially, when the child is not even a month old and in spite of our blues we have to struggle for all these regular chores. It makes us feel so bad, when we cant accomplish these normal things in life. Of course we enjoy the relationship with our children. So, what we learn from this is, take one thing at a time. Relax and enjoy what you are and who you are...!

Parents have lots of responsibilities in taking care of the family, precisely providing food, clothing and shelter, the basic needs. We don't stop right there but strive in life to achieve a luxurious life. And we need to save like the ants and squirrels do for the winter. It's a whole lot of work, not so easy. Mostly men take care of the monetary part and the women in raising the children. I am always puzzled at this statement when the kids do a great job the credit mostly goes to the dad while the moms struggle all day to help them reach the goal. Whereas anything bad is blamed on the mom, “well you didn't raise the kid to the expected level”- this indeed is ridiculous. As parents we need to share the family responsibilities and switch places at times to experience many things. It is difficult to raise a child ?! It is not an easy task. Needs lots of sacrifice, effort, time, and money.

Children are full of energy we need to channelize their vitality. Well what to do if they refuse to do according to our advice? Just wait patiently, until they are ready to agree and do things, thats one way , and the other is making them do what we think is right for them. They are children they cant decide, so we have to decide for them. Its so difficult for the parents to make right choices. Some parents have their dilemmas, not only that when the children don't co-operate it is very, very hard. And this creates hell of problems between the parents. But what i worry about the most is the peers, both of children and parents.
In this fast moving world the children need to catch up with lots of things their peers do. Its putting more pressure on them. Some times its difficult to trace the true talent of the child so as to cherish it. Some parents are lucky and are blessed with kids who are interested in any and all kinds of activities, who are willing to try many things, who are very enthusiastic and curious. And there are kids who are not interested in anything at all. In this case the parent is to be pitied and sympathized but are only criticized, and are helpless. What a mental agony this parent has to face! Only parents with similar problems can comprehend well. Most often we think everybody under the blue sky is our friend. Its not true! A friend in need is a friend indeed! Knowingly and unknowingly we discover real friends to whom we don't talk everyday or see everyday. But they care about our family and exchange valuable information about children's issues and parenting problems! What an excellent surprise in a world of disappointment. May God bless these people who truly care abundantly!


Children are our teachers too! They teach us various things, they test our patience and abilities. They manipulate us well than we do! Children are so adorable. Very affectionate, and unexpectedly truly caring. They cheer you up at times of distress. They are indeed very concerned. They are a lot more fun to be with and grow old. From the time of their birth to until what they are now. Millions and millions of memories to be replayed in our minds and hearts. Though we have videos, cameras, all high tech things to capture precious moments. We still lose to capture many as snap shots but our mind and heart has it all. It is always good to maintain a journal about these interesting things that we notice in our day to day lives. So we can enjoy reading them while we have free time or energize ourselves at times of pain. Children are challenging! It all depends on how we take it! Its a struggle, and a battle to a tired mind and physique! Its an interesting competition to the healthy couple.

Like the two sides of coin, life is also full of opposites, we would not know the value of good if bad did not exist, so is with happiness and sorrow, success and failure, etc,. Thats why we have all these challenges, to make life interesting. We should try to learn and comprehend things in a positive way or be optimistic. From all the criticism we hear or get we need to focus on the negative aspects to change it to positive results. Our clear mind and our trial and error method should pave a way for our success.
Sreelatha Shankar

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Prayers

Prayer to the Sun God

O Sun God, let your radiant rays, and brilliant sunshine, bathe us and bless us with strength, courage, confidence and spirit in body, mind, and soul!
10.45 a.m.

Prayer to Lord Varuna (God of Rain and water)

O Lord Varuna, thank you for the wonderful showers that you shower, for it brings energy and life in all living beings and makes us fresh and new with more vigour and vitality everyday! As well as washes away all the germs, diseases and makes our body and mind clean and pure!
10.55a.m.
Prayer to Lord Agni (God of Fire)

O Lord Agni, purify me, enlighten me, and help me to carry the spark of the Divine and enrich this world!
10.59 a.m.
O Lord Vayu (God of Wind)

O Lord Vayu, protect me and bless me to live and cherish, nourish and flourish the good. Help me to carryout my special duties effectively to strengthen goodness in this world and guide me to attain mukthi!
10.58 a.m.
O Boomidevi(Mother Earth)
O Mother Earth, bear me, bless me, be with me and guide me to tread on the path of righteousness . Help me serve this world!
11.01 a.m.


O Akasha Deva (God of air and space)
O Lord help me to be in balance at all times. Both physically and mentally so as to take care of my life and serve others well. Bless me with the answers to my questions that is floating around in your kingdom!

12.45 a.m.

Words of Wisdom

Our destiny is nothing but the outcome of our own thoughts, words and deeds!
2/19/07 7.55pm

Now and then we must evaluate ourselves to become a better person!
2/20/07 9.23 pm

Welcome change and change will welcome you!
2/20/07 9.25 pm

Realization is a magic wand. It can make you into whatever you want!
2/20/07 9.30 pm

Mind is only a machine, and your thought is the switch which can make it work the way you want!
2/20/07 9.31 pm

All mistakes, problems and even addictions can be changed and solved in a fraction of a second just by realizing its true cause!
2/20/07 9.32 pm

Nth degree of desperation is equal to nth degree of achievement! (Nth degree stands for the number of Degree).
2/20/07 9.42 pm

I love to live with Nature for its my true energizer!
2/20/07 9.44 pm

Nature is the tonic to real health and happiness!
2/20/07 9.45 pm

To receive is great, but to give is the greatest!
2/20/07 10.02 pm

Keep your heart clean and pure like a white sheet of paper, so that you can be clear of what you hear and give a correct solution!
2/21/07 4.15 pm

Find time to enjoy Nature : Looking at a blossom, Enjoying the sight of the bright blue sky, Appreciating the sparkling Sun, Watching the rainbow, Or watch it snow!
2/21/07 4.17 pm

Try to be calm and quiet as many times as you can in a day or at least once in a day it will help you maintain your inner balance or resume your harmonious self!
2/21/07 4.19 pm

Points to Ponder

Be good, do good, and surprisingly you will be rewarded with good things.

Listen to your inner self it is always right in telling you something. It hints and cautions you, good or bad, conveys a message to you.

Don't take anything for granted, it has much more than you think.

Be happy and bring happiness to everyone in and away from you.

Words of kindness and friendliness leads to progress.

A person is blessed with great potentialities only when she or he is worthy of it.

A mantra gains power by chanting it devotedly, knowledgeably and repeatedly. Hence, any word does become powerful. So be careful and always utter good or positive things.

Maximum utility is the best to utilize anything and everything. (Especially good chances and opportunities for students.)

Learn to live not to exist, but make life interesting and worth living.

Be always positive and ambitious for it helps you to achieve something if not your goal.

Sreelatha Shankar

Blogging is therapeutic!

Writing is a healthy hobby as well as a wonderful skill! It helps us to share our thoughts, ideas and views about different things. Magazines were popular in those days. When we were young we used to write letters to our relatives and friends. And by sharing some incidents it helped us to learn, heal, and comfort. Some people have the habit of writing a journal or diary. No matter how interesting or eventful their day was, it was their every day ritual to write down the events of the day. Hence writing was therapeutic!!!

Now we write blogs. People maintain individual websites and add articles on a regular basis or a group of people either discuss or write on a particular subject. Blogging is very useful because we get a lot of information on a certain topic from browsing in the internet. Useful advice regarding particular disease or alternate health remedies are given. Lots of tips, references are given. Wide range of articles from politics to religion, business to education, fables and fantasies are discussed for the knowledge and fun of it. Most of all it's easily accessible by everyone around the world.

Blogging is therapeutic! Because we are able to communicate with people who share similar problems or similar subject matter. Be it yoga, health, children, family, literature, dance, music, etc. And we get to know the sites where we can proceed further to nurture and express our skills and talents. It is very informative and helps us with our doubts regarding any subject. Blogging involves both writing and sharing! And sharing is comforting, especially when it deals with some sorrowful incidents. It contributes a lot to either our physical or mental well being so blogging is therapeutic!

Friendships - Do we have time for them today?

Life is an ocean and we sail in it comfortably with friendship! Friendship is something that is inevitable in our life! However the world may change, friendship will exist. Hence, friends are there for each other at all times.

Friendship is a fine and interesting chapter in everyone's life. As per their age group, even in this modern era, children and adults find time for friendship and spend time together. Our busy lives are consumed by the different activities that our spouses and children participate. Still we look forward to meet our friends to have some fun, share our thoughts and ideas with them.

The only difference is in those days, children played outside with their friends and spent time well in person. And the adults met occasionally. Nowadays, though they are not able to spend so much time in person, they have the advantage of using technology. This generation is more tech savvy that they interact through emails, internet chat, telephones and text messaging to keep in touch. Since the physical presence is also essential, friends take time to meet and go out to movies, beach, sight-seeing, lunch or parties.

Older generation remembers many interesting incidents! But not everyone is able to recollect all the fun. As time goes by, they are so involved in their lives that they forget the nice moments. Whereas today we have camcorders and cell phones to capture those moments and keep them forever as a memento. Whenever we think about our friends, we play the DVDs and recollect the precious moments.

We always find time for friends. When a person is down with a dreaded disease like cancer, his friends rally to his side. They offer support and encouragement by writing or talking to him. They pray for him, raise money for the medical expenses and conduct drives to raise money or to find a organ or marrow donor. We see friends really devoting their time, energy and money to help save their friend's life! Some people travel from distant places to visit and serve them too! Friends from different parts of the world unite to help out their friend. So, its not only we take time to have fun but also to help.

To highlight the value of friendship, here is another example. A couple's only son was in the army for five years. Not only his parents, but many other families who knew him, prayed everyday for his safe return. And by God's grace, he returned home safely.

More than ever, we definitely need and have time for friends now.

Work/Life Balance - Are women born jugglers?

Wow, a wonderful topic to discuss!

We have heard many times people saying : He is born to be a doctor or born to be a teacher! It refers to their in born skills, meaning, apart from being trained as a doctor or teacher, they are very capable by nature in their respective profession. Whereas when we ponder about our topic it is something we need to acquire, strive for balancing our Life with Work efficiently!

There are two important things that help a woman to be well balanced in both Life and Work, namely, the physical and psychological strengths. Nurturing the child from her childhood days with nutritious and healthy food, good values, skills and knowledge, helps her to become strong in both the aspects. And also introducing several activities to the child while growing up and providing the right environment to practice what she has learn't shapes her into an efficient individual who would succeeds both in Life and Work. As we know Practice makes people Perfect!

Thus the child grows into a healthy, strong and complete woman fit for present life challenges. And she is able to perform well in all her different roles as a daughter, wife, daughter-in-law, mother, tutor, driver, friend, co-worker, cook, planner and organizer apart from the position she holds at her work place.

Hence those who are blessed with enough nourishment in both physical and mental/vital aspect are successful! And the others who miss either one of these have to struggle a lot to meet their needs and goals.

Only opportunities, preparations and practice makes anybody an expert juggler! Secondly, not everyone can do it! As some people are physically and mentally (vitally) strong and some others are either physically or mentally strong, so depending on the individual's strength, the ratio of their balance falls in place and hence they are either good jugglers, moderate jugglers, or not.

An added advantage is the growth of fast food, good restaurant and cafeterias in the office campuses which helps them to manage and handle well with their house chores and family matters especially in needful and dire situations. It saves time and helps them to accomplish more in a day.

In my opinion, nobody is born as a good juggler, but they can become one.

Depression

When I see these wonderful TV ads or read in the magazines about the depression medication, I feel ah well how nice and easy it would be if a single pill could take care of all our worries, sorrow, and anxiety. Whoever has written the script or marvelous wordings for the ads greatly lure the depressed people. Well the medicines does not really cure but leads us to other side effects too. But unfortunately, the cold truth is NO MEDICINE CAN CURE DEPRESSION. Medicines can only calm you down and help you to rest, relax and sleep! It is only a temporary relief like a pain killer medication. Well you are the only person who can cure depression. Yes you can do it!!!

Everyone has their rough time in life. We are all born to learn something and the rough time in our life helps us to discover the follies, weaknesses, and mistakes in us and to correct them. It all depends on how efficiently and smoothly we can handle them, instead of being very upset and feeling very sad, hopeless, helpless, and being a loser. No, we are not a loser in anyway. What is going on in our life revolves around our past, present and future, and that's why we are experiencing the present condition.

Lots of things affect us unknowingly. All the situations, circumstances and experiences account to our character and nature which forms to be the basic qualities in us. So we should not blame ourself for what we are going through, because there are various factors involved. We should not judge ourselves as others do but reason out and find the answers for the questions : Why, what, when, where and how!!! That shows the maturity in us rather than being like a child who cribs, cries, or whines for the things it wants and it didn't get.

So, we need to stop for awhile calm ourselves down, and start thinking. What is the reason for becoming very unhappy? What is that, that is bothering me? Am I right or wrong in doing this? How can I solve my problems. Most of all how can I be happy and lead a healthy life? Here is the most important solution. MEDITATION!!!

Meditation, is a very essential factor in keeping our life happy. We should take time to meditate for at least ten minutes everyday. Well one can start with even few seconds or one minute of sincere quietness of mind. One can acquire the quietness, by initially letting the thoughts flow and empty itself out of our head without we pondering further on it. The more frequent we practice the more faster we can master the technique and can dive deep into the realms of meditation and find the truth. Hence, when we are undergoing depression or any other problem, we need a very quiet place, devoid of all distractions and disturbances, to think and analyze about ourselves and our problems and things that cause this hopelessness. And meditation is the most efficient method to find out the causes for depression or any such problems and will also show us some solutions.

Secondly, time to time evaluating our self helps us to progress in life. This helps us to stay away from depression. Every simple, single step we take really leads us a long way to success. We should believe in ourselves, we should highlight the good qualities in us and jot down the bad ones that need to be eliminated. We should accept our mistakes. By eliminating the bad qualities we help us to cleanse our mind and open our self to something new.

While we talk about evaluating, comparison comes to our mind, generally people say "don't compare yourself to others, everybody is different ". Well that is right but we need to view at it in a different angle for eg. The doctor compares the growth of the baby to a growth chart, to measure the growth of the baby. Every baby is different then why does the doctor do this, since there are some general norms. According to me we should compare. It is good to compare ourselves because we come to know how blessed we are than the others who are in some way less fortunate than us,(for eg. regarding health, wealth, status, character or profession etc.,) as well as how much effort we need to put to come up in life like some other people who really thrive so well in life.

We also need a very good, reliable, friend in whom we can trust and count upon some advise, support and encouragement which can help us in solving our problems.


We should also write down our goals in life. We should dream about them, we should work hard to achieve our goals and not worry about the results. Unexpectedly everything will fall in place, and make us happy. And we will be able to achieve something like others. As we know failure is a stepping stone for success. Depression can make us accomplish too!

The Green Wave

On one pleasant sunny day, we were on our way to Norfolk on a business trip. We had to stop for lunch and while we waited for food from Taco, listening to the lovely Beatles song: “we all live in a yellow submarine…” there came this invisible green wave.

Our car was parked in front of a gorgeous green tall wall of wonderful trees. The hue of the leaves was of a slender tender green, very fresh, closely knit, born from the lap of Mother Nature, was shaking, shivering, shuddering in the nice breeze.The beautiful breeze lulled the newly born leaves and there was the green wave, so wonderful to watch.

It appeared to me like the flashing of lightening the visible, invisible green wave. Like the blue and white waves of the sea, here I could see the green wave appear and disappear in a fraction of a second. Repeating the rhythm of nature’s dance is a like a lucky chance to win something. The great experience, here, is the wonderful treasure to me!

The Parked Van

I
Watching it rain, seated inside the van was a novel experience. The water pouring down on the windshield gives the vision of being drenched down to the earth. But you are safe and dry seated inside. Still amazing views you can see and justify the filmmaker’s fantastic scenes. For, a solid building can be shaky, when you view through the water flowing wet windshield of your car.

II
Watching outside while you are seated inside the parked van is a beauty in disguise of your boredom. When suddenly the glass door in front of a parking lot is opened, you see the dance and collision of the different parked cars and vans. A true silent movie, a feast to the eyes takes you to the world of surprise. One single car can do magic by multiplying itself into two or three, when the enclosure of the building is constructed with glass walls and glass doors.And when the door opens and closes in front of you, wow, the reflection in a glass door is a wonderful gift of amusement!

2002 Spring/Fall

Fortunes and my comments

1. You are deeply attached to your family and home.
Sure, no doubt and no wonder that’s why I have a family too!

2. Honesty always pays, but it sometimes pays just a little bit.
That’s fine, as long as you gain something and not lose anything!

3. Watch your temper. Short temper is a loss of face.
Uh…oh…sorry you tend to lose many precious moments in your life!

4. Ignorance never settles a question.
May be it raises one!

5. Time is money, especially a good time.
There is nothing called good/ bad time, it’s the way you take it or make use of it!

6. Your mate has a pleasant surprise for you.
I strongly wish one now and then!

7. You are always welcome in any gathering.
I feel honored!

8. You will make great gains in any project.
Yes, because your wife is behind it! B. (As you sow so you reap!)

9. If your desires are not extravagant, they will be granted.
I don’t care, my desires are my desires, and my hope in them succeeds!

10. Silence will be your best reply.
Somebody has to give up by being silent!



My Fortunes

1. Be good, do good, and surprisingly good will come to you.
2. Words of kindness and friendliness will lead to progress.
3. Listen to your inner self; it’s always right in telling you something.
4. Don’t take anything for granted, it has much more than you think
5. A person is blessed with great abilities only when the person is worthy of it.
6. Learn to live not to exist, and make life interesting and worth living.
7. Be always positive and ambitious, for it helps you to achieve something if not your goal.
8. Make the maximum utility of all that you get.
9. One cannot change a person, until the person willingly changes.
10. Learn to accept your mistakes, for they mold you into a better person.

I Tree Eternal

I

At first I was oval in shape, then I took the form of a raindrop. I didn't know what was happening to me. I waited in the moist dark land.


II

O…What a wonderful surprise, it was worth waiting, I was bathed with the beautiful beam of light and dressed with its golden hue and I saw a very big world in front of me. I had big and little friends who used to smile and wave at me now and then. It used to be very pleasant to be in such a nice atmosphere.


III

Everything was fine and I had grown into a small sapling. Every evening a care-taker came and tended us and we were all happy together.


IV

The next morning a new two-legged being visited us and I was chosen for his garden. I was transported to a nouveau jardin where everyone was surprised to see me and it was my new home. That evening I saw a little girl walking towards me, she seemed to be very friendly and nice. She was the one who took care of tous les arbres le nouveau jardin.


V

Days, months and years passed by, all of us grew together. Various flowering plants and trees such as button- roses, victoria-rose and other roses, jasmines, coral-stalk-jasmine, creeper-jasmine, tree-jasmine, hibiscus, white-scented-lilies, cute little green-bells, balsam, all blossomed, and the whole garden was filled with its hue and its own mild fragrance gently filled the fertile land. The fruit bearing plants and trees such as jack fruit, guava, cricket ball, custard apple, mangoes, jamblams, grapes, orange, bananas, pomegranates, cashews, almonds all looked full, round and ripe, delicious and juicy.


VI

This place was like a heaven on earth, especially to all the birds, butterflies, squirrels, lady –birds, etc.,. They always had a never ending feast to their full and were very healthy and happy singing to the glory of God and especially their master cum friend the no more little girl but belle dame.

VII

Majestically, I stood there with mildly baked body and emerald crown with topaz bouquets and jaded bunch of base -balls which held transparent juicy liquid and milky kernel within, my nuts were relished especially on a hot summer day, I helped the humans to cool down and rest and relax under my shade. My dear friend would read or write enjoying my cool atmosphere many times. I was happy with the others and
sort of proud too, for ma belle dame liked me the most for she often danced and sang around me whenever she was very happy, jolly, and in her high spirits.



VIII

Soudain, down to earth was my condition, I was ill and treated with pill but it was of no use, I deteriorated day by day, hence my life was coming to an end. Although everyone and even the agriculturist lost hope in me, and told that I was 99% dead and there was no point in having me and thereby to replace with a new one. Mais, cette belle dame, who had great confidence in her, challenged that within a month she would bring life into me. She devoted much of her time and energy in achieving her project. She loved me all the more and took extra care by thoroughly washing me off the decayed matter, removing the unwanted stuff, allowing free flow of light and air, by bathing and feeding me well to such an extent that I recovered from my deathbed, and regained strength and life. I was back with usual majesticity and pride—o no, now humble and wise, thankful and grateful to the heart that saved my life, where I am eternally united to that lifesaver. I do not exist anymore.

IX

I live in eternity!