Bachpan se Badapan

What interests the tweenagers (excuse the social media parlance) today? Not an easy one to answer for sure.  With mobiles as their raconteur coupled with selective listening skills it’s no longer easy to connect with them.  The only way to reach out to these young minds is to include phrases such as “Whatsapp?” “K” “FML”, “ROFL” in your vocabulary.  Talking to my 14-year-old niece the other day had me fumbling for words, as she excitedly discussed the lives of her icons Ronaldo, Messi, Serena and Maria Sharapova, found it so hard to relate to any of it.  This is such a far cry from the world of 80s’ when we used to sit with the entire family to watch B.R Chopra’s Ramayan, cry at Sita’s plight and guffaw at sitcoms such as “Yeh jo hain zindagi”. 

VCR tapes would be borrowed on meagre rentals and all and sundry would gather at a neighbourhood home to watch scary Ramsay movies, or play cricket in the backyard only to be chased away by the irate society secretary.  Breaking a piggy bank to buy audio cassettes was such a euphoric achievement.  An India Vs Pakistan match would call for intense action as sides would be drawn up and bets laid.  Kismi bars were every child and grownups delight, breaking into Antakshari at any given opportunity was perfectly normal, birthday parties at home were a royal treat with mommy’s special recipes to whet appetites.  As children we just needed reasons to be outdoors and had to be dragged home, albeit in an embarrassing way at times.  Tinkle, Amar chitra katha, and the like were our vacation companions and going to Lonavala was a matter of immense pride.  When friends would plan their holidays to visit their Nani’s home we would count days to their return.  Our treasure booty consisted of rare stamps and old coins defending them like a hawk from annoying siblings.    Getting a spin in the confines of a Maruti 800 was akin to a Mercedes ride back then.  Sheer nostalgia, Sigh!

Cut to the scenario today, where more is less, if children possess cell phones, the make and quality is a critical matter.  Tablets are not prescribed any longer but are smartly marketed as a must-have lest you stay far behind from the know it all brigade. Phablets (surely a Doc devised that one), smart gadgets, cloud computing rule the mindspace of a tweenager.  It is a preposterous crime to not hold a FB account.  Parks and outdoor spaces will soon enlist as historic monuments, as they are only visited by the elderly of the city.  Death of innocence is how I would like to term these phenomena.  I wonder if today, offspring come with pre-programmed minds thanks to our love for technology maybe their learning starts when they are a tiny cell in the womb.  They are averse to learning précis these days but are quick to adapt to the 140 character norm and for Pete's sake everything should be centred around “i” (with due respect to Jobs greatest misinvention).  With the past becoming history and future bright with technology wonders we just have to learn to LOL at situations, not OMG at turn of events and FML when you find it hard to cope but remember...there is always Hope ;) (just for the sake of rhyming).

Life in the Wild...

Picture one day of your life without…

A ping on the BB screaming for action

The addictions of the world of social media

Rushing to manage the 9.30a.m compulsory swipe,

Literally living like a wound up robot (I know they are far more advanced these days a la Jarvis)

No alarms, no organizers, no endless meetings,

For a change just getting off the rat race and getting onto life… planning a date with Mother Nature…

Sounds blissful? Well this is exactly what I experienced when I planned to take a 3 day vacation and headed to the famous Nagzira Tiger Reserve, a picturesque dense jungle located 3 hours away from the city of Nagpur.  Being my first wildlife trip, the thought of encountering a feral being did send shivers down my spine, but then I chided myself that we deal with such species all the time, and by now should have mastered the art of ignoring their existence.  So I braced myself up for the adventure with no expectations from the excursion, for me it was just an escape from the mundane routine of the so called corporate lives we lead.  All I knew was we were going to be put up in tents at a resort bordering the jungle, again the thought of a stray breaking into the tent raised my alarm antennas, but I managed to hush the thought. 

Jungle trail

We checked into the resort in the searing afternoon sun, welcomed with icy cold towels by the hospitable staff, could hardly decide whether it was the warmth of the resort staff or the temperature which was close to 42 degrees, that was warmer.  Contrary to my beliefs, was relieved to see the tents well equipped with an A/C and hygienic washrooms.   My eyes wandered beyond the fence to the unknown world of the wild awaiting us.  Within an hour of freshening up, our open jeeps were ready to take us into the heart of the Nagzira jungle.  Before we knew it we were waiting at the gates of the jungle, to be ushered in by a guide. After the preliminary formalities we entered the jungle trail. 

Say Banana!!!

Once within the jungle, mercury played mischief, it dropped drastically causing a chill in the air.  Suddenly the jungle came to life with sonorous sounds, shrill calls, unheard of sounds of hidden beings, my ears become extra sensitive to every thud, every reverberation it could pick. Was unprepared for the glorious sights that lay ahead, it was the most amazing feeling, we were asked to keep our mouths on mute and experience this extravagance expanse of lush green, thus causing all our senses to feel super active.  The serenity and calm of the place evaporated my fears and made me freely embrace the beauty of the flora and fauna around. There were mountains of anthills, huge, some as tall as short trees, that dotted the trail. Captivated by the green cover, we spotted bisons, four horned antelopes, a peacock, wild dogs, white monkeys and a host of lovely birds. 

We scanned the jungle for almost 3 hours in the hope of spotting the most sought after striped mammal, but in vain.  Finally at one point, our guide asked us to strain our ears to monkey signals, which are known to carry cues to the arrival of the king of the jungle. We were close to a circular man-made pond; the breeze rustled leaves to produce strange noises, we waited with bated breath and trained our eyes to spot movement that could appear from any direction.  My heart was doing a mini marathon, could feel the vibrations of its beat, all was calm yet tense, after 10 minutes we realized it was a false alarm. 

Since we had another two days left to try our luck, we decided to make our way back to the resort.  We were nearing the end of the trail, when we heard excited cries from another jeep ushering us towards a certain direction, they had just spotted the tiger. 

Our ace driver, took a near jerking about turn, and raced liked a possessed demon in the direction shown by the tourists.  We reached the chosen spot, which was a narrow lane that already had three jeeps waiting to watch the majestic grandeur of the king. I strained to get a good view, before my eyes could hit upon the target, I caught a glimpse of the carnivore through the lens of a handycam belonging to a lady in the jeep ahead of us. That moment will be etched in my memory for years to come…as I took my eyes off the lens and stood up in my jeep, within spitting distance lay the most stunning creature I had ever seen.…I spotted my first tiger….Jai…the guide told us the tiger was barely 5 years old….its sheer strength and raw virility surely belied its age.  Just like a seasoned celebrity it lay in its mud dug out, unaffected and unperturbed by the attention around him.  At first we thought he was hurt, hence lay immobile, but later were told he had over-hunted and his gluttony was preventing his movements.

 

We got some amazing shots of Jai, as he happily posed for all of us.  As the adventure for that day drew to a close, I felt content to have seen a tiger in its full splendour and glory.  And as luck would have it we spotted him again the next day, this time relaxing in a water canal, oblivious to the stir he caused around him. 

What did strike me about this walk in the wild, is the harmony with which different species dwell, each playing a unique part on the canvas of life, just as crafted by the hand above. All we are meant to do is find our path, explore the trail, and we shall reach where we are meant to be…

(Photo Credits: Sundar Sarma)

Resolutionz 2013

Time of the year when our conscience speaks louder than our voice and prods us to resolve to change for the better.  Come year end and we make countless resolutions that barely survive beyond the 1^st of January.  Lets try it one more time!!!

What if…

What if life went exactly the way you wanted?  What if there was nothing called fear, rejection, depression, sadness and sorrow? What if you never felt heavy in your heart and tears did not exist? What if you had a remote control to change your circumstances? What if words such as “heartbreak” and “betrayal” did not exist? Sigh…for a second you did enter fantasy land, and heaved a sigh of comfort and absolute relief….but is it possible? Can we really turnaround our lives from challenging situations? Can we actually live the life of our dreams? I am no therapist neither a spiritual healer definitely not a magician…just another being who faces similar trials and tribulations in life.  But as I have experienced a gamut of emotions over many years of my existence, I do know we can have the life we want.  Once you plant this thought in your mind, there is no looking back, all you have to do is program your mind to react to what happens to you differently, yes you have the remote to your life and you may not be able to control what happens to you but you can control how you react to it.  Yes ok, heard this, done that, The Secret vouches for it, every site, publication, medium that propagates spirituality talks about it, Zen, Buddhism, and Art of living preach it, but do you believe it? 

Unfortunately, the bare truth is that your belief shapes your reality, if you see darkness how can there be light, if you only see sorrow, happiness is just an illusion, if you only see pain, joy is far far away.  Sounds preachy, to me too, absolute trash at times, we always wonder so easy for someone to advice, feels good for a minute, then we are back to our mundane lives facing the same set of struggles.  But at the core lies belief, we do not believe it, we rubbish it as we have become so comfortable reacting, behaving and living in a certain manner, robotic if I am say, in our conduct, we lack basic belief that yes it can happen, things can go the way I want them to, life can shape up as I will.  The path of affirmations is not easy, reverting to preset notions and age-old beliefs is a safer option, as it offers comfort to be in known territory, the unknown comes with no guarantee. 

But till you try how would you know?  Either you face troubles the way you have been facing or try acceptance, try changing your ATTITUDE, it makes all the difference.  If there is anyone in this world who can make you do any of this it is only YOU, the strings of happiness lie only in your hands. The almighty has moulded you in a way that only YOU can heal yourself, any problems, however complex, any situation however complicated only YOU possess the power to CHANGE it. Adversities wont stop, problems wont disappear, they will always be there to keep us human, but how you deal with them will make all the difference in your life. Phew, gyaan and more gyaan, but no harm trying, the worst is you will FAIL, at least you won’t regret never trying.  Anything that betters the quality of your life is worth a try, you might just succeed and your epitaph will read “AND HE/SHE LIVED and WOW”.

The writer is simbly HUMAN J

C’mon Man….Wake Up, Rise and Shine!!!

Little did the celebrated cartoonist R.K. Laxman know that his glorified “common man” will someday transform into a “Superman”. We are not talking about the fictitious character out of DC novels but a real life hero, who deserves applause and acknowledgement for the unimaginable feats he performs in real life. So our Superhero not only juggles between his responsibilities towards work and home but is also up against corrupt Government authorities, errant rickshaw drivers, uncompromising cab unions, angry traffic cops, an unyielding education system, and a host of stress inducing trials.  His travails do not end with fending for his family but he is witness to hosts of rage emerging in a world starved of patience, right from road rage, school rage, to office rage, and every possible condition that would enrage even an ahimsa follower.

He wakes up to the sounds of incessantly blaring horns or if neighbours are in festive mode, then bhajans played at ridiculously loud decibels attempting to be heard beyond the skies.  If he belongs to the middle or lower side of the socio-economic divide, he has already mastered the art of acrobatics that come handy while travelling by local trains. Once he manages to squeeze into the train, he has to engage in deep breathing, as artificial fragrances are still a luxury in our country.  And if he resides on the upper side of the divide, he better gear himself up for a long drive, arming himself with enough distractions to kill the extra hours before he reaches his destination, and God bless his soul if he is in the driver’s seat cause shifting gears will keep him busy throughout the journey.

Our superhero pays a premium for basic necessities, bears the weight of exorbitant taxes, is regularly subject to food, fuel and every possible price hike, and is supposed to take all this with a pinch of salt, lest that gets dearer too. He keeps himself alive breathing toxic gases which are far deadlier than what he lets out and has no choice but to ignore the crumbling state of infrastructure.  He has limited access to basic hygiene amenities in the city, is constantly susceptible to bomb scares, terrorist attacks and alien viruses such as H1N1, which do not attack computer systems but choose to target the human body.  Unwillingly remits a hefty sum to school/college authorities for admitting his offspring and has to keep a running bank account to see them finish education.  The rising costs of living, with barely any increase in income, just add to his woes, thus causing numerous ailments, which only contribute to the earnings of the medical fraternity. 

Inspite of contributing to the revenues of the Exchequer he leads a chequered life abound by twists and turns caused by his immediate surrounding than fate.  Each day he leaves home to battle a fresh set of challenges without any magical prowess.  He survives and surmounts countless obstacles with the hope of a better tomorrow. Just one look in the mirror will find a superman staring back, telling us “C’mon man get up and get going today is another day”.

“I do”

Dreams and desires have found new wings,

The frost of winter has finally paved the way for spring,

Surprises and laughter in the air,

Celebrate the fanfare with the blessed pair.

Embarking upon a new beginning,

Life is filled with fresh hope and meaning,

Mixed emotions wreck havoc on the mind,

Peace eludes plays hard to find.

The heart exudes a warm glow,

With love so true for the chosen beau,

Backed by faith in the divine choice,

Every moment I humbly rejoice.

Walking towards the altar of love,

Heavens shower blessings from up above,

All geared to share the sacred vows,

Shall reap the love of the seeds we sow.

A Heart without a Life

What if we were born without a heart?

Life would be simple, and not tear us apart,

Mind would be the sole ruler of ours,

We would need no healing from countless scars.

Emotions and feelings would be history,

Winning the heart would no longer be a mystery,

No one would steal our hearts and return it on a whim,

Speak spiteful words that would make us grim.

Cupid’s arrow would lose target,

Lovelorn poets would cease to write sonnets,

A relation won’t sink b’coz of lack of romance,

Jilted love would stand no chance.

The ruler above never foreseen this twist,

Before blessing us with this precious gift,

So we have to live and learn to love our hearts,

True to ourselves but never apart!!!

Zero se Hero or Vice-versa ;)

“Pat-ti hain ladki patanewala chahiye”…whoever imagined that the line of an old forgotten melody will turn into a reality.  Here we are in an age of cloud computing, i-phone rhapsodies, Blackberry wars and yet emotionally challenged to the world of love.  A while ago read an article in the paper that there is an upcoming breed of specialists or rather evangelists who assist young men in shedding their inhibitions (eyes wide shut) in approaching their lady love.  These love gurus or dream merchants promise to address their shiccups (sorry hicupps) in professing their feelings to the fairer sex.

From singles club to speed dating and now grooming for love, the world is dense with opportunists who are willing to make you believe that you lack something only they can fix.  Their claims to turn one into a suave, groovy eye-candy does go well with youngsters who are willing to offer their left arm and right leg to be heard, seen and noticed amongst peers.  They do not only teach you the art of winking, flattery, flirtation but also mastery over what lies beyond the bedroom walls. There are specialized sessions on conversation styles, deciphering cues thrown by women, reading body language, dos and don’ts of first time dates, and a whole lot of gyaan that equips the sole ranger in his quest to win over his mate.

What next I wonder, talk with a drawl or wink like Tom Cruise, walk like Stallion or ride the bike like John Abraham.  It’s funny and surprising that the evolution of the female species is still a mystery to the opposite sex. In a country where we pay for our most basic needs, such magical courses come for a hefty fee.  The online business model is a boon to such enterprises that reach out to you at a nominal or no cost, informing you about their services that can be customized based on your need. Matching your clothes to the attitude you carry, the Guru promises to teach you everything you already know but have failed to apply in real life.  The lure of such propositions is difficult to ignore given that you have been programmed to win, at any cost.

We so complicate our lives when we try to convince ourselves that we do not possess what it takes to win hearts.  Am sure each one of us has a winner hidden within, surely such gurus may have the knack to bring that hero to light.  But they do make out women to be an alien species who require intensive research to figure what goes on in that head of ours. We aren’t akin to Da Vinci’s code that needs to be decoded, neither a tough algorithm that requires complex equations, and yes we aren’t the ones who drove Freud to insanity, we just think from our hearts.  With all your boardroom expertise & intelligentsia why does it become difficult to understand what a woman wants??? I know this is like inviting a raging debate as the battle of the sexes is an age old phenomena and will sadly continue to exist.  Trust you me that it’s a whole lot simpler than it is made out to be, these techniques, tips and tricks will surely get you there, but what will make you stay is the emotional chord you strike with a women’s heart, rest as they say is a mystery ;)

Valuing the “PRESENT”

A second, a minute, an hour is gone,

Words unspoken, deeds unperformed,

Time is a bird that can never be caged,

So live every moment regardless of age.

Chase every rainbow, follow your dream,

Life’s a gift you better redeem,

Sing your life’s song, traverse the mile,

Coz before you know it time just flies.

Hold your love close to your heart,

As the tide might turn and tear you apart,

Treasure the moments of melancholy too,

They teach you to live a life that is true.

The Time to say goodbye maybe near,

Selflessly Love every being you hold dear,

Laugh through your heart, awash your sorrows with tears,

The beginning is known, welcome the END unknown.

Lyrics of Tujhe Bula Diya...(Unedited Version)

The Missing para in the song....Tujhe Bhula diya (Anjaana Anjaani)...

Tu nahin toh in labon pe ek shikayat reh gayi hain,

Door hi jab karna tha toh paas kyu laya bata Khuda,

Khuda tujhe bhi toh pyaar hoga, khuda juda tera yaar hoga,

Khuda jaanega tu faanslon ka hain yeh dard kya...

Life's Little Instruction Book

Was a forward....but worth a read...

_______________________________________________________________________________________

•  Have a firm handshake.
• Look people in the eye.
• Sing in the shower.
• Own a great stereo system.
• Keep secrets.
• Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.
• Always accept an outstretched hand.
• Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
• Avoid sarcastic remarks.
• Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery.
• Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.
• Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.
• When playing games with ! children, let them win.
• Give people a second chance, but not a third.
• Be romantic.
• Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
• Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.
• Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.
• Be a good loser.
• Be a good winner.
• Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.
• When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.
• Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
• Keep it simple.
• Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
• Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.
• Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets
• Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.
• Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
• Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.
• Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.
• Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes.
• Begin each day with some of your favorite music.
• Once in a while, take the scenic route.
• Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
• Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice.
• Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.
• Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
• Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later.
• Make someone's day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you.
• Become someone's hero.
• Count your blessings.
• Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home.
• Wave at the children on a school bus.
• Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal

Frame for my lil Sis(devil actually)...

I AM STRONG

Grip, hold, hang on to that pole,

It’s life’s way of testing your mould,

Nothing can crash or burn you alive,

Look it in the eye and shout “I will survive”.

Tears may not cease the pain,

Worry and misery may plague the brain,

As bleak as the winter may seem to be,

Springs sure to come and welcome thee.

Problems are here to see us grow,

Make us strong and go with the flow,

Fight it, face it, don’t give up,

Every time you fall, dust and rise up.

Whenever someone hurts the core of you,

Utter a prayer and say “God bless you”,

Sulking won’t make troubles go away,

Believe every dark night is followed by a Sunny day.

BEAUTY Vs. BETTY

The raging debate between Blondes and Brunettes is an age old phenomena occasionally piqued by the curiosity of moral crusaders, eternally persisting to prove the fact that good triumphs all that is dark and menacing.  But I guess this time round the freckled boy Archie shocked the masses by ending his quest for an ideal match by choosing the snazzy, fickle, blonde, Ms. Lodge and dislodging the gal-next-door Betty Cooper.

A heart broken betty became an overnight diva(with the extinguished flame of course) for scores of average, good natured, women across continents, who felt cheated, hurt and betrayed at the turn of events, as chocolate boy chose beauty over brains.  The famous write up by Jessica Leigh Griffith Ode to the nice girls too failed to offer respite to all and sundry.  Opinion polls reflected countless guys applauding Archiekins for his choice of soul mate, not to mention lasses too in favour of this decision.

The revelation when closely viewed is a conscience call by an eligible bachelor, who believes that beauty is not really skin deep. A well groomed, Versace clad gal is more of an asset and a bonus if she comes with a bank balance which will help survive the worst recession.  We needn’t travel too far to find such men, cut to the bride hunters in small time metros, phoren-returned desis seeking the perfect bride material, happy with a size zero beauty, brains matching the zero quotient, treadmill treading, vegetarian, who has turned into a grass eating mammal for the love of animals (aww maneka would be so touched).

No amount of lucky charms, self-help books, and secret incantations offer any comfort to differently endowed women as against the onslaught of botox, implants and the like.  The fact remains, beauty captures eyeballs while substance is best stashed away to be visited on lonesome nights.  The battle for looks will continue till eternity but for all Betty sorority well-wishers, its important not to lose heart, in-fact you have one in this age of instant karma is a rarity, guys like Archies come and go, what’s important is stick to your beliefs with rock solid faith, and as the wise would say “the rest just follows”.

Two become One

Life has come to a beautiful turn,

No longer does the road seem lone.

In tow with my betrothal would be,

I shall make my journey complete.

Looming ahead is a different horizon,

Beckoning with its grace enlightens,

Dreams and desires find a new meaning,

Abounded by joy it is overwhelming.

As we exchange vows for life

Amid bonhomie & love so rife

Grace the occasion with your love & blessings

Come be a part of this new beginning.

Transcending pain through the power of Faith

Is love for real?  A question that each one of us must have faced at some point of time in our lives.  Why do we feel so strongly for someone, why do we feel completely helpless and at the mercy of the one we love the most?  No explanation offers respite from these gnawing thoughts. Should love make us feel so powerless?  Isn’t it supposed to make us feel complete, secured, and content? Well agreed it isn’t always a bed of roses, the thorns appear when we least expect them.  Blame it on destiny, the unforeseen forces or anything that seems beyond our control, but the truth is that when the same love that gave us a reason to smile can become the cause of our misery. 

Healing comes with time just like the tide always turns, a night always turns into day and winter always turns to spring, each of these phenomena signal a wave of fresh hope.  Agreed the moments of melancholy seem endless, the pain unbearable, the anxiety over future looms ahead, but if we do not experience a plethora of emotions, we are cheating on life, finding short cuts to avoid occurrences which shape us, make us more human.  The lessons may seem harsh just like when we were little and hated professors who scolded us, but do not forget that they only had our good in mind.

Embracing pain is no easy feat; enduring hurt is an effort, living when all you want to do is stop breathing is by no means an easy task, but BELIEVE that this will also come to pass.  Nothing can hurt more than you allow it to, you will not feel this way forever, freedom from this ache is as far as you believe it is or as near you think it is, either ways you are right.  Easy for the world to tell you to renounce the pain and move ahead, but the heart that has suffered may not always find it easy to piece itself together to become whole again.  Time does heal, assure yourself you will be whole again, pray, have faith, that life will echo a song of joy and happiness once again; the heart which was once filled with sorrow will sing the tune of love.  It is very easy to give up and claim that you will not be the same again, requires courage to act difficult and not bow down to the adversities we face in life. 

Close confidantes may not understand your suffering, the world may mock you for your frailty, but do not feel lonesome in this inner conflict of emotion, always remember you have YOURSELF to rely on.  As long as you can be your own pillar, you will be fine, draw strength from your inner self, let the inner transformation happen at its own pace, don’t force yourself into believing or acting in a way which you disagree with.  You may feel you have lost the battle, feelings of uselessness may plague your mind, do not let them overpower you, as there is no such thing as failure, it is only a perspective.  At the end of it all what matters is what you believe in, if you think you gave it your best, that is the highest truth, nothing anyone says matters at all.  Life is worth all the happiness and sorrows it inflicts upon us, do not slander this precious gift, each one of us is unique and have been blessed to create and mould it the way we desire, do not hand over this gift to anyone to misuse.  You will laugh again, you will feel this emotion once again, only if you do not block your heart and shrivel up, you will dazzle with pride once again, you will LOVE again, as we are the result of love, and to love is where we shall return.

NO LONGER OBESE

  

What a world it would be

If obesity was not part of our dictionary.

Businesses cashing in on the hype would cease to exist,

The gyms & talwakars would be part of another planet.

Magic pills and fad diets would not be part of our routine

Treading the mill would be a long forgotten regime

And no longer would we sustain the ordeal

Of counting the grains in every meal.

But life can’t get as simple as that

Gotta battle the bulge and tackle the fat

So get going & don’t lose before you have begun

Relish every moment & savour the fun

Valuing the “PRESENT”

Imagine a life where we get a chance to live our entire existence in one single moment, imagine a moment of eternity to live, express, laugh, cry, shout, scream or do anything that will make our senses come completely alive?  Tough to imagine far tougher to believe, but trust me it can happen, because our being makes such unimaginable things a reality.  Sometimes the problem lies within us, after facing adverse situations we stop believing, stop hoping, faith is like a forgotten story and we succumb to misery, and in the long run it becomes our best companion, not because we lack the art of befriending the right soul but we seek comfort in the fact that we CANNOT change anything.  We assume, despair, alienate ourselves from the warmth that maybe just around the corner. Throughout our lives we pine for true love, but fail to realise that love isn’t only about that special someone, its about loving everyone who makes our life precious, don’t wait for love to come to you, give it selflessly, this may sound melodramatic but this can really steer the course of our life in the direction that leads to boundless joy.

Life happens, sadness happens, happiness happens, as much as we lose so we recover because the universe is not as miserly as Uncle Scrooge, who refuses to budge, it always gives, we have to seek so as to receive.  Closing ourselves from our fate is a terrible mistake, as sooner or later it will find us, so go out there fight your might, life isn’t a bed of roses but its worth living.  Each moment is as precious and as different from the other, each holds the promise of a prosperous tomorrow.  Breathe life into every moment, enjoy even the sorrow that comes your way, because when you find your moment of glory, you will value it like a four leaf clover, and preserve it just like an ancient mummy. 

People come and go, each person who touches our life is a great teacher, some may hurt, and some may heal, each one is important to help us grow out of our state of inertia.  The excitement lies in experiencing the valleys in the landscape of living and not the plane, reaching the peak after an all time low, adds a glow to our soul, and makes each moment of melancholy worth its while.  Make each moment special, do not question what it takes from us, question what we give it in return, the moment may inflict gloom, but you are the recipient, don’t accept it like a Grammy award, don’t curse your fate, fret and fume, take charge, challenge to change it, use your most powerful tool, the mind that is as potent as an alchemist’s elixir.

Problems plague the mind; success seems faraway, happiness an illusion, but the power and wisdom of turnaround lies within us.  There is always a solution to every worry; just as there is a day after night, calm after storm, each piece comes together in the end, the puzzle HAS to be complete, sometimes we try fitting the wrong pieces, but at the end of the day it all falls into perfect place. 

I Dream a dream

I close my eyes and surrender to sleep,

Oblivious to reality, dreams I reap,

Wings adorn my arms as I set my soul free,

Nothing holds me back, in these flights of fantasy.

Far away from reality I dwell in a wonderland,

Where angels tread and make castles in sand,

Happiness doesn’t elude me, wishes I command,

And all I desire is well within reach.

There prevails a sense of tranquility,

I am surely on the path of serendipity,

The soul reflects an inner glow & beauty,

Fears and sorrows no longer chase me.

Hatred is an unheard of emotion

Setting the wheels of boundless love in motion

If only I could find truth in all of this

Sweet dreams are certainly made of these…

Bonding gets a new meaning

“Am bored, need a coffee break”, sounds familiar? Welcome to the age of cushion comforting social networking.  Facebook takes the cake when it comes to connecting and bonding in the virtual world, an all encompassing by-product of Harvard dropout Mark Zuckerberg. It is surely the first utterance by a spiked hair teenager, before he even memorizes his history lessons correctly.    The addiction isn’t restricted to any age-group, as you do an advanced search you will be surprised to be filling your family tree faster than you ever imagined.

The quantity (minus quality) of your friend list determines your popularity quotient.   The zillion applications keep you occupied on a lazy day, you will be surprised to find out that you were an old witch in your last birth and will be a billionaire in the coming 10 years, and it doesn’t stop here, some apps also predict your hair colour according to your personality type, whether you are your friend’s best friend or worst enemy, the name of your lover in your past existence, and the list is endless.

Self-obsessed souls (me included), splash their pictures at every occasion, right from baby christenings, marriages(obviously), honeymoon(2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th….), picnics and every possible event worthy of being captured and preserved. Infact these days, pictures are taken in a manner which is Facebook worthy.  You can’t get any more clandestine than changing your current status, and proclaiming your commitment, to your beloved by announcing to the world that you are one. 

Anybody who is a somebody loves to give their views on status messages, best messages should indeed qualify for a Best Comment award.  RSS feeds would surely feed any comedian with enough hilarity to last a lifetime.   

You will never miss being a farmer, thanks to the Farmville application, you can be busy milking cows, raising sheds, trading elephants, and everything is a possibility in this virtually imaginative world.  Your secret desires of being a part of the cult mafia are also fulfilled as you can gang up against your friends using the Mafia Wars application. It is a boon to marketers as studies are being specially conducted to test its viability as a lucrative marketing tool.  The debate on its existence, whether it qualifies as just another fad or is here to stay remains a question mark.  As long as it can maintain its flavour of innovation and keep the interest alive, members do not mind being just another face on this book.