A Joyous thought for this year

Cuddly, warm and joyous

Came she, a blessing claimed they

Pink angel, a streak of Sun 

amidst clouds dull, cold and bored.

Brought with her, life around

Eager to wise up; everything around

A ray of hope 

with every breath with every step

I wonder why, I wonder why

A childish snicker, a tingling giggle

warmed, brought 'em together

Now no place any better 

until soon those sails sail way away

P.S.: Copying from the Bugs Bunny cartoons, "That's all folks" (for this year)

A very Happy New Year to all you readers out there!

Unforgivable littles and firsts

 

A yet another monotonous ride on the elevator, and a longing for something exciting - both triggered my grey cells. It used to be really exciting to ride on an elevator some years ago; when it wasn't a regular thing. I cant say I remember it vividly, but as kids, we used to be pretty excited the first few times that mom allows us to push the buttons on the elevator!

 

Speaking of those little things that caused joy the first time, and some others which continue till date...

- the first time I sneaked out my brother's bicycle for a ride, and painstakingly avoided the pull of gravity!

- the wind blowing my hair the first time I rode a bike

- long walks by myself along some beautiful paths and the endearing sounds of nature lighting up the senses with each step

- the sight of those first few heartthrobs; mostly celebrities.. arguing with friends to defend them - priceless :)

- on same lines, the warm feeling that kicks in on seeing those celebrities 20 years later!

- standing in the warm, gentle rays of the Sun during winter

- sitting by the window, reading a book whilst sipping hot chocolate; rain pelting on the window outside

- snuggling into the blankets those extra 10 minutes after the alarm goes off

- getting lost in the wordy art of books

reminiscing childhood with a flash of lightning..

Blinking Blinking O' big line
How you make the dark sky shine!
Over the clouds yet not so high..
Like a tubelight in the sky!

It's sometimes boils down to being this silly when we remember things that have been making us happy eversince we can trace back in time. Rain is something that has always stolen my awe, soothed my mind, and in a way, assured me that everything will be just fine, everything will be allright. A short walk at dusk with a potential storm brewing up brought this out for me. Oh, haven't I said so lately? I just love the rains and the entire feel they bring into our lives!

 

Metamorphosis

What was, what isn't

a game day to day

age old played - 

Sunshine it shone, scabs it's sown

pretty flowers o' pink

withered they lay; purpose on brink

Beyond able previous

eyes now that scab, no fair reason why

Smile a smile o' play a play

blank in the eye, cold in the heart

negative mind says albeit!

... a thought to ponder over

Recently, I watched this video of Harsha Bhogle's speech at IIM-A., a speech about talent and the attitude which decides the direction of the talent. Here's the url to those who've missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-R8gfbump0

Re-iterating his words, it happens umpteen number of times that we see somebody around us being able to do a certain something at ease and wish we were like them; that we were as talented. At such a weak moment, we donot pause for a moment to even think that it is their attitude with which they have reached that stage; with which they are so good at what they do!

Harsha Bhogle illustrated the example of a person we regard as a legend in today's time – Sachin Tendulkar. I remember, back when I was in middle school - high school, come cricket season, and we used to have arguments at length over one's favorites in the team; a fight for whose idol is the best. Come to think of it, it now strikes me how Sachin has continued to take that stand in people's hearts till date. To top it all, people today quote "I was an atheist until I saw Sachin on the field today". Such is the power of attitude! Of course, while it might be impractical to imagine that with the right attitude, every person will evolve to be World famous like Sachin; it is also pessimistic to rule out the happening altogether! Worst situation, you end up with a clear conscience, a satisfaction on having tried hardest, and a confidence soaring among the clouds…and that doesn't sound bad, does it?

I have seen so many people claim that they have no talent; had a few other people even explaining all that they know and ruling every one of those thing off as something ordinary. A few others have said things like – 'I used to be extremely good at this when I was younger; but I'm out of habit now', etc etc. The right attitude, in my opinion, would be to revive the interest in whatever way is possible, since situations do change as we grow and evolve.

Every time we see somebody excel at something, we think to ourselves…wish I was like him/her; wish I could do something like that; etc etc. The next time we come across such a situation, one should simply stop and genuinely appreciate the goodness that embraces the other person and basically acknowledge the age old preaching that no two people are alike in all manners; and that each person is definitely blessed with something special of their own and inspire oneself to recognize that and exploit it in the right way. That, is attitude.

P.S.: Dedicated to all the elders in my life who have, and continue to inspire me with each talk I have with them; even if it is on the phone.

Special dedication to Amma and Pappa who have always encouraged me to think and reason the way I do

down memory lane to wishes...

I remember, as a small girl, I used to love reading books, and even had 'dibs' on the regularly updated books at a library that I used to haunt. There was this one monthly magazine for children, called 'Gokulam', that I grew a liking to…  Library aunty told me that the newspaper wala delivers it every month. Needless to say, the newspaper wala was told; and I had the magazine delivered to me promptly every month, and I normally completed reading it even before it was out for circulation in the library! So, I won one of such 'contests' J

About Gokulam… well, initial looks can be deceiving, but it is one of the best Children's magazine I have come across, till date. A treasure trove of knowledge with simple, yet flawless english. 

So, why do I remember this book on this day? Today is Mother's day, and like any other kid  raised in India during a time when the media hype and reach – both were comparatively lesser, I had no clue whatsoever about the very existence of such a day until I read about it in the very first May edition of Gokulam that I received! Till this day, I remember running to Ma and informing her about that, and later telling the same to Dad, planning something for the same with my brother, and later boasting about my find to my friends!

Ever since, there hasn't been a single year when I have missed wishing mom. I know, a day in favor is too less to express one's love, gratitude to a mother..yet, a very Happy Mother's day to you, mom. I hope this makes up for all those times that I don't express or speak anything; and I am grateful to you for not just understanding what I say, but for understanding everything that I do not speak too! It is rightly said that the heart of a mother is a deep abyss; at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. You are what made me today, and I love you!

 

• -          For understanding what I do not say
• -          For taking my side when nobody else did
• -          For believing in me at all times
• -          For what we have grown up to be
• -          Simply for being a mother

There can be a million such reasons, but all we want to say is we love you!

Happy Mother's day to my dearest, sweetest, bestest mom (I miss you!) and also to all mothers in this World for simply being what they are! J

 

 

 

 

 

Looking Behind…

Just the other day, I was standing, waiting to cross the street, when somebody called out my name from behind me (or so it seemed! ... but that is not what we are getting into). Quite reflexively, I looked behind, but what struck to me was that even in the fraction of a few seconds' gap between me hearing my name being called out and me looking behind; I later realized that I had thought/expected/tried to guess who it was calling out to me.

Why such an 'out-of-the-blue' story? This made me realize that in our lives, every time we look behind, we expect something; or we see an image of ourselves… an image of what we had wanted to be; an image of all those failures, all those mistakes we committed; an image of how much better we could've done if not for those very mistakes; and so on and so forth.

Some great person has once said – Each day is a blessing, reflect on your present blessings. Each day is indeed a blessing that we sometimes miss out to cherish on.

As a parting shot, on similar lines, "Look behind into not you wanted to be; or what you could've been… instead, look behind into what you've learned and gained in being what you are this day, this moment"

that which never was

Ever contemplating mind o' mine

   Bring back to me those thoughts never

   Never that chill down my spine

Be it charred under the Sun forever!

Reason, it may seem petty

   yet opens eyes wide, in plenty

little hope, negative all the way

   wrath that scared lil birds far away!

The lil birds now seem lost

   big bad outside, lone survivors round

   cold, wintry and grass covered with icy frost;

up from the air; below the barren ground!

Part oh clouds, make way for light

   Sun down, north star shine on crazy n' bright

Away, far away, taketh away

   far behind, thoughts now lie stray!

a little something..

"Warmth and wind and speed and Sun down the empty road
The last chills of the morning all thawed by the warm air
Wind and more Sun and more smooth road
Its so beautiful. Its so empty"



P.S. - from the book, "Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance"
Lines that appealed to he who turns a year older today. Happy Birthday, Pillu :)

This day, I surrender

Head down, eyes fixed on skies

      star-struck, moon smiling soft on me

Stars, they presume light, soft and gentle

      caress my mind, let it drift by...

Inner eye open, to me it asks and asks

Eyes shut tight, they stop the storm out

In vain, while the strong mind softens

Supple, on the brink

Filled so full, no more it yearns

Warm and gentle, the vast skies

Embrace in it, an Earthy touch

Power too hard, I give in

On this day, I hence surrender!

One 'almost-complete' year and how!!

Here's yet another new year, and as a protocol, it brings with it lot of 'resolutions', so called. Resolution…the very mention of the word brings forth so much scoff, so much more scorn. A very common statement, 'resolutions are meant to be broken' has become more or less an assumed fact. So, why do I venture further into this already-ventured topic? Just about this time last year, I too had resolved a lot many things, one being to write a little something at least every month, and of course, post them here. A month later had me having to re-resolve to pursue a few resolutions in my list, thanks to which, 2009 has been by far one of my most fruitful years. Sincere thanks to all people and to all elements who have knowingly or unknowingly inspired me out of a prospective writer's block. At the end of it all, I did prove to myself that the blind statement can be false! This year's resolution? Well, I really haven't thought of any yet.. I just hope the breeze of words continue to flow in this direction.

 
It might sound boastful of me, or it might be just an attempt to fill up this January slot… I am just not judging myself J. Here's wishing everyone a happy new year, a year of happiness and cheer beneath the Sun; and lasting contentment when the year's done! Cheers!