Mothers Day thoughts

Beautiful is your face,
Gentle is your smile
Warm is your hug
And tender is your touch…
You have cast a ray of sunshine into my mind’s darkest place

Yes, that is you Ma…my mom!!!
Without whom I would not have been what
I am Today…

It’s been days, months and years of
Tireless efforts,
Selfless devotion,
Undaunting courage
And above all
Ocean of Love

To nourish my being and nurture my senses
To grow up…

And will you believe that Today…
I woke up to see a yellow rose on my bedside and got hugged with words whispering in my ears…. It was Happy Mothers’ Day wish from my 5 year old lil’ daughter.

And its here…
I pray on this day to Thy Almighty
That may You grant me the courage and the wisdom to sail on Life’s sea
And help me walk on the footprints of my MOM
So that years down the lane I can
Reminisce resplendent moments of togetherness
In the Sunshine of Today!

Dreams: The psychological content of a physiological state

From poets to artists, from fairy tale stories to scientific theories, there has been varied interpretation, myths and understanding surrounding dreams. Since ancient times, Sigmund Frued’s book Interpretation of Dreams to modern day experiment have made several attempts to question what goes on within our mind when we are sleeping.

Dream is an experience; an involuntary action that occurs during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of our sleep that can last from few seconds to hours. Dreams do occur in other stages of sleep too but then that is less memorable. Dreams reflect a world of imagery in our subconscious state of living and link our emotion to the deepest core secrets of our heart and mind.

Many theories suggest that by understanding your dreams you get a better insight on your life’s perspective. So, the imperative question that comes in our mind is…

What causes Dreams?
According to the Freudian school of thought dreams result from the subconscious thoughts while the other extreme school explains dreams as some noise in our neurons that has no special meaning.

Whatever be it Dreams are powerful and real. They can really help you unlock the hidden talents within you. There are several types of dreams and they are categorized into different segments based on factors such as content, occurrence and many more.

Repetitive Dreams: Dreams that keep on repeating themselves since a young age. This dream implies that there is a message within it and one needs to unlock to know the content. Psychoanalyst helps to solve this situation, as there might be some dark secrets of life and one simply pushes it to the unconscious state.

Message dreams: Here individuals peep into the pool of wisdom and tries to understand the message of his unconscious state. These dreams are like stories and always have something to unravel. Message dreams are sometimes repetitive dreams too.

Lucid Dream: Lucid dream is one in which you have a direct control because you are aware that you are dreaming. In this kind of dream you can also decide as what to dream. In a lucid dream, the dreamers wake themselves up once they realize that it was only a dream. An active participation by the dreamer occurs in this kind of dream.

And finally it is the negative dreams that are termed nightmares.

Other classification of dreams includes Astral dreams, Aspirational dreams and Release dreams based on their content.

Beat Stress Spiritually

In this time of economic meltdown, crashing portfolio wealth, job losses, pay cut and everything that brings a frown to your face, there is a perpetual tension and that reflects in everyday living. Stress seems to have overwhelmed our selves and we are simply plunging into greater darkness of ignorance.

Here are few simply day to day things that can help you light up a candle hoping for a brighter tomorrow that you can live with a radiant face and beaming confidence.

• Do not lose confidence and trust in your self. Believe in the hidden talent of your self and proclaim to the world that you are the best, not in loud words but in great and kind deeds. You need to constantly and consciously say yourself that time is fleeting and change is only constant; so a cycle of bad days will bring in time of good fortune.
  
  
• Connect with yourself. In praying lies not only solace but strength too. So connect with the God within you by a regular prayer twice a day. It need not be chanting prayers, lighting candles or putting incense sticks to create the right ambience in front of an idol for worshipping; it can be simply reiterating any favorite lines within your soul, as you begin the day and at night when you take leave from your chores and hit your bunkers.
  
  
• Discipline your mind and body. Try doing regular exercise, walking a mile, stretching for 30 minutes or just take a swim to fill your senses with fodder enough to chew for the rest of the day. Try incorporate deep breathing techniques in your daily schedule of things and feel the magic of meditation.
  
  
• Listen to your inner voice, as it keeps resonating within you. It’s your conscience that is your greatest companion, so never betray your conscience. Let it reign supreme amidst turbulent times, so that you come out stronger with passing days and your peace of mind is not disturbed.
  
  
• At the end, if you are a believer of Destiny, then continue doing your work honestly and live sincerely without any expectation of the outcome. It is Work that is Worship, so Keep working for the good of others, in no time you will find your platter filled with abundance of joy, happiness and success.
  
  
  
  

Friendship

How often I nurture in my thoughts
The times that we shared in our yesteryears
How often I recollect in my mind
The moments of togetherness

How often I get nostalgic
To recollect and relive the days and nights
Of laughter and fun; Of joy and sorrow
Of splits of fights and seconds of understanding

And today amidst frenzied pace of life
In search of happiness
Sold my time for causes rife

Sailing rudderless in the fathomless ocean of Life
I simply Thank for living in Friendship!!!

A relation that cannot be defined; a relationship that has no need; A relationship that is above all. Yes, I believe Friendship is one relation where you can exercise your choice. Yes, all relationships are forced upon us by birth. It is only friends that we choose to live with. So Friendship comes with no extra baggage, it comes with no ownership tag.

Friendship is like a free bird.
Let it soar high in the sky of faith and empathy…
Let it get drowned in the sea of love and
Let it live in our daily living so that we can walk a mile with a smile.

Fight life with Fear staying United

As another day dawns and you sit with a morning cup of steaming coffee to browse through the newspaper, you should not be surprized to read churches are attacked, suicidal rates are increasing and your value of money is experiencing a free fall. Thus, we are being asked consciously, carefully and categorically to live in fear each day with… rising prices, job cuts, scams, frauds and getting killed or paralyzed by a terrorist.
Everywhere the tittle-tattle is on, living amidst Fear but who cares?

As we get up to tie the snicker laces for a half-a-mile jogging on the tracks, we forget that the news write-ups have affected someone somewhere. We fail to recognize them or feel repulsive or even impulsive to act just because it did not happen to me. However, it is believed that we cannot blame us. As because the system is running and if we you fail to take the lead, the axe might be on your shoulder. So, our daily chores force us to move ahead trampling anything and everything that comes under our feet. So, live your life first is the motto of this generation. But, not being collective brings with it the horror of terror-driven life, where no one is bothered about none, and everyone thus living in fear that it might happen to them one day.

The thought needs a change, action needs a reaction… the undeniable truth is Unity is Strength, so why not we unite under the umbrella of Humanity and take a step forward to feel for each to live free. Instead of a robotic way of life, why can’t each one of us spare some time and share a joke or ask with empathy as to how are your next door neighbor’s family people? Will it take too much of your measured time? The answer is a vehement NO. Just try out and you can feel the change, start it with one to make it with the Rest…

Take a kit-kat break on a monotonous daily life to add humor to it, instead of taking stress reliever pills. Why not, laugh aloud, instead of timing your workouts? It is well researched, surveyed and published in varied journals, that advocates happiness is the key to a successful, stress free and longer living. So, no need to restrict carbs on diet or put facial packs, instead feel happy from within to reflect cheerful demeanor and radiant skin.

The adage “Don’t worry, Be happy” needs to be implemented consciously to tide over volatile situations, joining hands all together, apart from defining a Purpose of Life to live longer and healthier than the rest.

It should not be I am existing in Fear instead it should be We are Fighting Fear to be Happy !!!

Is it a New Year or the Old Habits in a new way?

The unthinkable attack on humanity that held the city Mumbai and kept hostage the entire Nation left me numb. More than 30 days have passed by…
Where we and what are we doing?
Did the flicker of the candle get blown away in the snow storm of verbose thoughts? Here we are today standing with fear in our mind and head bowed down, quite contrary to Rabindranath Tagore’s ode of "Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high…”

As you, I and all around us except the families who have lost their dearest and nearest ones will again usher in the New Year with renewed hope, zest and vigor, but this time punctuated with horripilate eeriness.

They did what they wanted to do. Killed many mercilessly, Orphaned many more and shaken the very existence of one’s being only to prove their Jihad.

But, what did we do? Arrange for debates, talk shows and salute the brave heroes…
Get a better TPR for the channels and promote products striking the emotional chord and selling words, encashing on the tragedy-This is what the Fourth Estate had to do!!!
And our inept, clumsy, slugabed politicians donate 5 lakhs for the lives we salute, quite contrary to crores that you shower on a boy born with a golden spoon to bring home gold in the Olympics… What is the principle and where is the logic?
An answer that I dare not expect from a bunch of clumsy, careless and corrupt people who live like parasites and have silently shaken the roots of our Nation.

We are going door to door seeking international unison to put to justice the perpetrators…Why?
Are we not liable and capable to protect our own people?
No, just because we don’t owe our Nation. We do not owe our people. It’s just the loss of individual families and you react only when it hurts your bum.
It’s just a Reaction with no Action because killing 400 odd lives in the land of billion populations cannot create an upheaval to change the Nation that is dominated by Politicians worse than Terrorists.
I say this because Mumbai incident brought in a terror face while our Netas are faceless terror that engulfs our existence and shrouds our being like a cobweb.

35 days… and still the identification parade is being held for the lone surviving terrorist. With evidences in our hand, we are diverting attention to different issues just because we are involved in our selfish motives.

It’s hurting but it’s true… if your mom knew you from fetus; terrorists know you till your corpse!

So it’s not this New Year but each day that you need to celebrate being alive amidst fear n insecurity, hoping and praying silently for A Wednesday to happen in reality!!!

Smile....the curve that sets everything right !

Before you read this post, just ask when was it last that you have laughed your heart out? Did you smile today? Well, the answer in most cases is not spontaneous. You really need to think hard to recollect when is it that you really laughed with all your 32 teeth (if you still have them intact) out.

In today's modern pace of life, don't you think that we are just slaves of Time chasing a mirage to realize and achieve the Unknown ? Are we conscious enough to realize that in the process we might have stampede the little moments of life that nurtures a bond, a relation? Yet we move on and on adding to our worries and anxieties increasing the stress levels, thereby increasing the release of hormone called Cortisol. In extreme cases, it often lead to memory impairment. Stress also adds to hypertension, has a negative effect on your metabolism and reflect early signs of hair greying and hair falling.

So, why add to these worries to your otherwise hectic life ? Why foot medicine bills? Thus, one can avoid frequent visit to doctors by simply laughing and smiling for a better physical and mental well being.

Simply laugh your way to a better cardiovascular system, respiratory system and metabolic system. The word of advice is, please stop suffering from the syndrome of Seriousness! Life is short, so live it fully to relive each moment for a meaningful existence.

Do you know there is again a release of hormones when you laugh or smile?
Yes, it is the happy hormones called Endorphins that does the trick and tickle and giggle its way to fight stress hormones cortisol.

So, if you are not spontaneous and lacks humor bone, please develop it cautiously and genuinely. There are Laughing Clubs mushrooming in the neighborhood where people of all ages exercise with laughter to continue their day energetically. If you can join one, good enough or else, pass a smile to one and all as you meet and greet on your way to workplace or at home. If you can crack a smile, and strike a conversation, the battle is half won. It decreases your level of anxiety and helps put things things Straight by one Curved Line... yes a true genuine smile.

You can check for yourself... If you are too worried, just stand in-front of a mirror and see your smiling face for few seconds, you are bound to feel better and with continuous practice you master the art of healthy and perfect living. Look through each thing with smiling eyes, soon you will find multiple opportunities from a tiny spark. Look at the funny aspects of life and laugh watching a comedy film or read a funny joke.

So, just take a lil' effort... giggle, chuckle and laugh at work to lift your spirits to greater height!!!!

Parenting

As the sun rises in the Eastern horizon, the calendar flashes another day, millions and thousands of people in different parts of this world celebrate their birthdays in one way or the other. It might range from a 105th birthday to an hour old birth of a child. Every one of us have our childhood memories in a special way to oneself. An individuals' childhood is very important in shaping ones future. They are just born in this earth, as naive & innocent as the freshness of the morning dewdrop on the grasses and flowers. It is the parents that they first look upto. It is the smell of the mother first, that they feel comfortable with. As they blinks to open the eyes for few seconds more they learn to see the fathers' wave. They grow few days old and then get familiar with the colours around, the noise everywhere and recognises the smiling faces all over him. They know they are important, they feel special always and make you utterly special too.The parents begin their noting downs in child book like the first sitting, the first crawl, the first tooth, the first walk, the first sound. The notes remain shut in their books. Begins the wave of comparison with the similar child around him or few children above his age in the neighbourhood.

Knowingly or unknowingly the child has been subjected to a feeling of not good.
Then as the child put his first step away from his familiarity to a school where he is expected to practice self discipline, a place where he would learn how to become a successful man, he is just thrown away in a melee of the unknowns.Their splash of colours here and there seem to fade away. It gets replaced by dotted lines & cursive writing within the stipulated time frame. They fail to respond to their own stimuli. Courtesy--the both working parents or the hectic schedule of this frantic pace of life. This modernity, tech savvy way of life carries with it a baggage of disadvantages too.Everywhere & in every step we look out at the "faayda" (profit)..little knowing that the damage on the minds of the lil' ones is already done...

Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par potrays many a "Ishaan" amongst the children of today. Its an awakening. Parents to realise that they are the bows & their children are like arrows going in varied directions according to their own pace & wish. Inculcate in them the values of Life not the value of only numbers. Children are really special. In our daily life with busy schedules and hectic pressures, the important question to ask us, the parents... are we spending enough quality time with our children... are we having that much patience and time to listen to them... to understand them.

In Search of Happiness

A Search of Life….What we humans search in our day to day existence? Do we all know what is it that keeps us kicking in life & ticking with time ?

Esconsed in the couch with a book on her chest, she mumbles to herself the REASON of LIFE.
Is it the mere existence?Just getting up each morning ,going to work the whole day to buy few thousand dollars to come back home & sleep tight to wake up for another day ..This is the life of the people who just live to sustain each day. They know not what tomorrow holds for them. As the sun rises in the East they walk out to the calls of DESTINY. Have they ever questioned themselves as to where, what, why & how they LIVE.A thought which have often crisscrossed my understanding of LIFE.

Are they happy? Do they suffer?Is the feeling of sadness creeps into their existence?..Do they FEEL the feelings of LIFE .. or is it that they live LIFE as it comes.This is a strata of people belonging to our own society.They are large in number & ever if they question there might be a REVOLUTION !!They have no luxury to feel the feelings but I make myself believe that they do enjoy & are happy because they live for another day & their WANTS from life is minimal.
It is in this society of ours only where we have another class of people who have the luxury to dance to the rhythm of raindrops … Have the time to listen to the songs of the birds from the faraway lands…Believes in the flow of the rivers in the mountain terrain..They work each day to achieve something higher, something greater than LIFE…In this pursuit of material gain & comfort they lose on to the charm of Living…

However are they happy?.. These strata of people can question as what is HAPPINESS?!
A fleeting moment? .. a recollection where you sit & smile..?.. A gesture which can make another person feel good? A deed of kindness bringing a ray of light in the eyes of a deprived child ? A warm hug from your loved ones ? A moment of togetherness ? Sipping a cup of Hot coffee together in a chilly wintry morning…

Do we buy these moments with the thousand dollars we earn?Do we feel these moments just because we have a hefty bank balance?Do we live & relive these minutes just because we know we have a better tomorrow…
The answer to me & me alone is No! … never !!

It is a state of mind …. You can never be happy if you do not want to be…Yes a WANT ?? a want is what defines your way of life… A want is what defines your attitude & it is this WANT that I feel we need to put a rein into to feel the Happiness in Life ‘s Living…

She comes back to reality … back again to the journey of Life like the other 364 days, let the search for Happiness continue … are you chasing it ?