BLOG-A-LICIOUS

Writing wasn’t easy to start. After I finally did it, I realized it was the most direct contact possible with the part of myself I thought I had lost, and which I constantly find new things from. Writing also includes the possibility of living many lives as well as living in any time or world possible. I can satisfy my enthusiasm for research, but jump like a calf outside the strict boundaries of science. I can speak about things that are important to me and somebody listens. It’s wonderful!!

Virpi Hämeen-Anttila

Hello friends,

Today's post is in conjunction with the Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour a fantastic blog hop that brings together bloggers of all genres, backgrounds and locations. In today's hop, the blog featured before "http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/ " 
is "http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/ ". The blog featured after "http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/" is the captivating 
" http://tinahoggatt.wordpress.com/". Do stop by and say hello plus some of us are having giveaways and contests. Enjoy!

WRITING TO ME IS………..

What does one say when asked – what does breathing, eating or bathing mean to them? The answer will be…they are the basic necessities of life

.

As breathing is essential to living, so is writing to me. It is an integral part of my existence. As food is to the body, so is writing to my soul. It satiates me. Bathing is a healthy practice. Writing keeps my mind healthy, cleanses my mind and keeps unwanted thoughts at bay.

When you are in love with words, they seduce you, excite you. Writing is my passion. It is my eternal love story and I do not have to worry about heartbreak here.

That thing which is done mindfully and consciously with concentration is meditation. While writing I am totally focused, I shut myself out from the external world. Writing is sacred and holy. Writing is a blam, and is therapeutic.

“It’s only words, words is all I have…” (Song by Boyzone) applies to me and to all those talented writers out there. Writing is my art …. I create sentence, stories and poems which elicit feelings and images everyone can relate to.

Writing to me is fun where I play with words. It’s a wonderland of imagination, a fusion of fantasy and reality.

Last but not the least, writing to me is my identity. It is me, my voice, my thoughts, and my reflections. I am influenced by what I read, but what I write is essentially me.

“Why do writers write? Because it isn't there”
Thomas Berger

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. 
Cyril Connolly

I would like to include a poem, my first poem ..

HOPE.

Steps so light,

As if flying in the air,

Leaves so green,

Were they ever there?

Was I blind?

Or just oblivious,

Engrossed, maybe didn’t care!

Do you really exist

Or is it just a dream?

Do I feel you

Or is it just a game?

Feelings, they make you

And then break you

Some just don’t have a name!

Are you the one who makes the world go round

Or is my head spinning?

Are you the grace I have been looking for

Or is it the mirage within?

Am I blessed

Or being cursed,

The answer lies therein!

No rhyme, no reason

Life has its ways.

Few rights, many wrongs

HOPE IS A RAY!

Thank you.

 Now then there are other blogs on this tour that just might have a book that may inspire you here is the list of blogs on the tour.

1. Paula - http://hardlineselfhelp.com/ 

2. Stuart - http://bornstoryteller.wordpress.com/

3. Karen - http://karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/  

4. DK Levick - http://dklevick.wordpress.com/

5. Shannon - http://reflectionandreview.com/

6. Corinne - http://www.everydaygyaan.com/

7. Sonia - http://soniarumzi.com/

8. Sulekha - http://sulekkha.blogspot.com/ 

9. Dora - http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/

10. Sarah - http://sarahbutland.com/blog/

11. Marcia - http://insidejourneys.com/

12. Roy - http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/

13. Janki - http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/

14. Tina - http://tinahoggatt.wordpress.com/

15. Thelma - http://widowsphere.blogspot.com/

16. Muriel - http://mumugb.blogspot.com/

17. Nolan - http://nolanwilsonfreelance.com/blog 

18. Deborah - http://www.deborahswift.blogspot.com/

19. Jennifer - http://remembernewvember.blogspot.com/
20. Grace - http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com/

21. Dora - http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/

LIFE- I CANNOT UNDERSTAND YOU FOR THE LIFE OF IT!

“This is life”…………I had been waiting for this moment for months; hadn’t I been visualizing it. The adventure thrilled me at the same time, doubts gnawed me. Yet, I did it! Pushing myself with sheer will, casting aside my fear, step by step until there were no more steps to climb. The thrill and excitement of achieving, however small the goal, is immense. Yes! This is life.

“Is this life?”……….I stand beside my loved one who is in eternal sleep. There are words buried in the depths of my heart which couldn’t take the form of speech. The heart weighs a ton, tears cannot help unburden. Helplessness, regret, guilt, sorrow- all these dark forces have chained me, entering my every pore, every cell; they have imprisoned me.

There are times in our LIFE when we are happy, excited and euphoric and want to shout – This is Life!

And then, there are times when we are weighed down and question – Is this Life?

Life- What is it?

According to Oxford Dictionary Life means (i) The condition of being able to function and grow

                                                                             (ii) The existence of an individual

                                                                             (iii) Particular type or aspect of existence

                                                                             (iv) Living things and activities

                                                                              (v) Vitality or energy.

Do all these definitions sum up Life?

Is Life what it is or what we make out of it? Maybe both.

When we are born our Life is an empty canvas. As we grow, we start filling the canvas with pictures, with stories. We paint colours, myriad of them, breath ‘life’ into the stories and make it alive. Sometimes the pictures are black and white or maybe shades of gray. Life is a kaleidoscopic.

Life is a song- “Those who wish to sing will always find a song”- Swedish Proverb.

Life is a challenge- Accept it. Err…sometimes it is mandatory and we have no choice.

Life is a game – We win some, we lose some but participation matters. (As if we have a say in this!)

Life is a sacrifice – Yeah, yeah, been there done that. To gain something you have to lose something, this saying offers little solace, isn’t it?

Life is……….(you can keep adding whatever you feel appropriate)

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.”- Helen Keller.

We go on living, making sense out of nonsense, making memories and experiences till the grand finale…death.

We make a Life out of our Life and live it!

LIFE….

Hands extended,

Heart so warm,

Twinkle in the eyes,

Smile to charm.

Should I embrace you?

Should I be skeptic?

Hey, Life your are so mystique.

Charmed, warmed, I dance along

To your melody so sweet,

I skip,  hop and waltz around

To your heart beats.

 I fly, I soar with faith abound

Under your wings,

The ebb, the flow, I believe so

Is an intoxicating drink.

I stumble, I fall, I crawl along

Lift my morale and spirit.

I cry, I hope, I reach above

Hey, Life is to be lived!

DESERT STORM

Alone in the desert

Middle of nowhere

Searching for direction

Leading to LaLa land

Rogue wind blows

Indicating a storm

The mind is in turmoil

Can I hide or run?

The force takes me by surprise

Leaves me gasping for breath

Searching to hold on to something

Preventing my fall down to earth

Wind rips me apart

Layer by layer

There I lay stripped,

Unmasked, with just a prayer

The worst has passed

Revealing my soul

Am I not still here

Without crying foul?

Stone becomes a diamond

Passing through the hell

Character reveals strength

When you come out of shell

Middle of the desert

Lying on the ground

Covered with sand

I have come undone

I stand straight

Head held high

I carry on walking

Without as much as a sigh!

MY BABY AND I

Face contorted

Crying to complain

Wrinkled skin

I forgot my pain

Tiny fingers

Tinier toes

Her fingers grab mine

Never to let go

Cord is cut

But not the bond

The heart is filled 

With feelings profound

We grow together

My baby and I

She mirrors me

We are so much alike

Now all of fifteen

Wonder how years flew by?

Seems like yesterday

That I held my bundle of joy

I love her so

And so does she

All I can do, God

Is to thank thee!!!

JOURNEY

“You will become a clerk in some government office”- my teacher always used to tell me. Reason, I liked to write.

I remember, when we were in school, we had to keep our class work books at school itself. We were allowed to take them home a couple of weeks before the exams and had to return each book the same day of the examination depending on the subject. Intelligent (read ‘stupid’) as I was at the age, I thought – “Why unnecessarily carry the book tomorrow, when I can return it today itself?” So, I returned the science note book a day before the science exams! Result? No book to study from for the next day’s exams! My tuition teacher made me write the whole book, which I was only happy too.

Later, when in college I used to help my brother by writing his engineering notes for him and a couple of his friends. Ofcouse, I charged money for every page I wrote and for every picture I drew.

I used to go to British Library, look up reference books and make note. My friends happily xeroxed them….making a fine use of my efforts. I studied English Literature in college, but it wasn’t a conscious decision then, the foundation needed to hone my writing skills.

As far as I can remember, books have always been a part of my daily life. My earliest memory is when I was 3-4 years old; mom used to take me and my brother to the library every other day, I firmly perched on her waist and my brother, holding her hand. To get to the library we had to cross over a small over bridge and a railway track….it was adventurous even then to my young mind and that’s why I remember it so well. Thus started my long standing love affair with books.

Mom was an avid reader…maybe found an escape, took flight in her imaginary world of words, a world of fantasy. Books seduced her as they have been seducing me.

I got married, had kids…life went on and all the while I was feeling a strange unrest in my heart. A dissatisfaction which grew by the day……slowly turning into frustration. My heart was weighing a ton all the while. I knew, I wanted to do something, but wasn’t sure or wasn’t able to pinpoint as to what that ‘something’ was. I knew I wanted to write….what? How? Eluded me. Frankly, I was a chicken, didn’t have the courage to get started. I was filled with self doubt – Will I be good enough? Will I be able to reach out to the likeminded audience? But, more than for others I had to write for myself.

First, I had to find my voice, then fine tune it, add my own notes, and then modulate it to suit different emotions and feelings.

I owe a lot to my friend Mamatha for getting me started…..and few others for encouraging me unconditionally. Day by day I started gaining confidence. And here I am blogging since 5 months, getting good response. Slowly, the blanket of heaviness is being lifted off my chest. My mind is no longer idle; it is working overtime searching for words, words with meaning. It is not the same every day. Someday I am at total loss of words; turning my head upside down to find some and then, there are days when ideas flood my mind….finding peace only when I have penned them down.

At last, the journey has begun; I have taken the flight of fancy and baby, I want to go places!!!

COLOUR ME

Deep in my heart
Passion in my blood
Desire to conquer
Colour me Red!


Nature spurts life
I too turn a new leaf
In the season of spring
Colour me Green!


At times I am depressed
I dive deep within myself
Searching is the clue
Colour me Blue!


Friends are the sunshine
Like soft notes from a Cello
I bask in their love
Colour me Yellow!


I blush under his gaze
His love, a warm embrace
He turned my life in a wink
Colour me Pink!


Life can be overwhelming
That's why I look upto to HIM
In prayer I find light
Colour me White!


The overcast sky
Makes me come alive
To rains, never say nay
Colour me Gray!


I came from this Earth 
And so I endure
In grief I drown
Colour me Brown!


Quiet prone to anger
Here I don't have a knack
Logic turns its back
Colour me Black!


Life is a painted canvas
Happiness its frame
Intelligence is meeting a challenge
Colour me Orange!

PARADOX

Heavenly showers quench the thirst
Of many a soul and this Earth
I welcome rains with open arms
It entices me with sensuous charm


I sit on the rocks by the sea
Water meeting Water is all I see
Two bodies merging to be one
Rapidly disappearing in the horizon


The rain drop kisses the Earth
She sizzles under this touch
Hasn't She been waiting for seasons
This alone is enough to reason


Soaked to the bone in this shower
Drenched with love of the lover
Down the body, water cascades
Tingling feelings of intense desire


Rains, supposed to quench thirst
Yet, makes you more thirsty
Waiting to embrace your Beloved
Thoughts that cloud, make you heady


The cool water kindles a spark
Gusts of wind ignites that fire
Lightening and Thunder add to the duel
Who said water couldn't fuel???

JUST.........

At last, I willed myself to get my ass off the chair (my favourite place at home) and go out. It is one of those days when sheer routine of the day overwhelms me and sometimes freaks me too. Today is one or it was (as the day is almost over) of those days.

Yesterday, with the lady trainers being absent from the gym, the male trainers had a field day training us. At the end of it, I felt as if my biceps had swollen. Added to that, got tired jogging 4 kms + in the evening.

Felt bone tired in the morning. Skipped all the routines and just let myself go. If it wasn’t for the ‘paapi peth’……eat to live; would have skipped eating too. Channel surfed on the TV. Saw the obit of Mr. M.F.Hussain, where every B-wood biggie claimed to be his close friend who had talked to him just a few days back!!!!! Finally, settled on a kannada movie, happy to have the TV and the remote all by myself J Then I slept and slept.

Late afternoon brought rains………bliss! I snuggled deeper inside the blanket. Later, pulled myself away from the bed after promising myself to do this more often. (I actually do it most of the daysJ) Hot tea by the window, watching the rain works its magic on my psyche, a nice way to spend the evening. Nishu was down getting drenched in the rain, rolling in the muddy puddle that had formed in the lawn. He was covered in mud and grass when he came back…wish I could do thatL

If I hadn’t got out of the home I would have laid an egg for sure…had been sitting in one place for hours…..reading blogs on various blog sites. It was still drizzling when I went out. Being near the sea shore, the wind here is awesome especially during rains. Umbrellas are just useless. Went to the library….felt at loss as to which book to select. Finally, got two of them, fictions.

With hubby being away, there is nothing much to cook for the 3 of us. Dinner is a simple fare. Talking of hubby who is on a paid holiday in London…..all he is doing is hibernating in his hotel room without much work to do. If I were in his place, I would have hired a bike or a car or just hopped on a bus and explore the countryside. There is always so much to see if you want to see. Double, no multiple *sigh*’s here.”If wishes were horses……”

Tomorrow??? I haven’t seen it yet! Good night for nowJ

TEACHING VALUES

This blog is courtesy Nita, my friend, who visited us with her family a fortnight back. While we were talking  she asked me- “How do we teach values to our kids?” Today’s kids have many more advantages in life than what we had, more opportunities and they are much smarter than us when we were their age….all said and done, they lack values. This blog is not an answer to her question, because as a mother of two teenage kids, I too find it difficult sometimes to enforce some rules or to teach them some basic values.

When we were kids, our parents rarely indulged us. We could count the number on new dresses we got per year, why just dresses, it applies for everything else too. I did not have many toys, whatever was bought had to be shared between me and my brother. I had a favourite cute plastic doll which I loved. I did not have to share it. When I was in high school, my neighbor, a girl much younger to me had come to play with me. She took that doll with her and I did not have the courage to ask it back.” Anyway, you are too old to play with the doll” was all amma said.  Today, children have roomful of toys and yet they want more and we parents buy them more. My son always complains that we do not buy him a Wi, PS3 or an XBOX. We have to keep telling him that – “It is OK not to have everything. Look at the kids who do not have any thing and feel blessed for what you have."

 I cursed for having an elder brother who was just a year ahead academically and I had to do with ‘hand-me-downs’. I never bought new text books till I was in college. Thank god for making me a girl else, I would have to share the uniforms too!! We were taught to do our own stuff- ironing clothes, polishing our shoes, doing any other school work. The kids today do this stuff too, only when there is no absolute option. I felt like a Princess when I got my first pocket money in college. Moderation was a way of life.

 Prostrating before our elders, or touching their feet was so ingrained in us. We did not have to be told to do that every time some elderly people visited us. Today, when we ask our kids to do the same, they glare at us.

While talking to or addressing people who are socio-economically below the ladder than us, the kid’s use the ‘singular’, in spite of being repeated told not to do so. They feel offended if they are corrected in front of others.

 This is a tough one! Teaching today’s kids the value of money. The other day I gave my son a hug when he came home by bus from his cricket coaching class. With the rising fuel prices and our personal car drivers doing the disappearing acts every now and then, kids need to learn the dependability of a public transport…they are safe and reliable.

Gratitude is expressed only when something is received. Buy them the thing they want, and the “I love you’s “ and “Thank you’s” increase tenfold.  Otherwise, we have to remind them to say thanks. If I thank a rickshaw driver, my children ask me- “why did you thank him?” Well, for one, he brought me home safely, didn’t he?” Appreciating people doesn’t cost a penny.

Upbringing is a combination of everything…good values, good manners, good conduct, education, etiquette…these are the basic which we parents can offer our kids as their foundation. In the end everyone will turn out fine, but they can be better too.

P.S: Your feedback, suggestions and opinions are welcome.

MY IGNORANCE

This was during my last year’s visit to Agra and Mathura. It was quiet late in the evening when we reached Mathura after the Agra visit. There was an Englishman who was travelling with us and he had got chatty with my kids and so he stuck with us during the entire Mathura visit as we all were translating to him in English what the guide was telling us in Hindi.

First, we visited the place where Lord Krishna was supposed to have been born, yes, the very jail. (I am saying ‘supposed to’ because the place looked quiet modern, with ASI having restored it over the years.) Being the holiday season, the crowd was huge and as we pushed through (it was claustrophobic), this Englishman showed us a symbol on the wall and asked its meaning.  I went closer to have a look at the symbol, which was a “swastika” and I was stumped!!! Am familiar with the symbol, but its meaning?? Boy! Was I embarrassed and ashamed?

It is humanly not possible for a person to know everything but, this……we Hindus grow up with these symbols, i.e., the OM, SHRI, and SWASTIK. As toddlers we are first taught to write these symbols in the “Akasharabhaysa” ceremony that initiates us to the world of formal education. As kids, we are taught to use these symbols before writing anything in our books, as they are auspicious. These symbols can be seen on invitation cards and the Priest makes a swastika in vermilion before starting a religious ceremony, pooja or a ritual. These symbols are such an integral part of our customs and rituals and I did not know the meaning of this.

The old is giving way for the new and we are all evolving and changing in terms of beliefs and faiths. Our customs are evolving too….we are discarding what we no longer believe or need. But, we are not able to impart cultural and religious values to our kids as our parents did to us. I do feel that the basic knowledge of these should be imparted to our future generations as a part of our legacy as they are still relevant and play a pivotal role in our lives

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: - (for people like me who don’t know the meaning of swastika)

The word swastika came from the Sanskrit word svastika, meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck. It is composed of su- meaning "good, well" and asti "to be" svasti thus means "well-being." The suffix -ka either forms a diminutive or intensifies the verbal meaning, and svastika might thus be translated literally as "that which is associated with well-being," corresponding to "lucky charm" or "thing that is auspicious.( source- Wikipedia).