tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54448420767494084482024-03-19T05:27:57.168-07:00LifeSUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-50971211338255509562021-04-09T02:54:00.000-07:002021-04-09T02:54:22.802-07:00Hero or Victim ?!!<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8GyYA-LRBD9dnruFIgTWx8uB-ywtxt2nm4S_rpbhmDC-rLK5rZOmn7M9MJZPdr20gqhYhfUdCS2kT9kdReinN8QoilJZ-AEJgD9A7-MKIPbMjrf-65YZZhq5tFKbJlF57SUQ3_XzJafQ/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="335" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8GyYA-LRBD9dnruFIgTWx8uB-ywtxt2nm4S_rpbhmDC-rLK5rZOmn7M9MJZPdr20gqhYhfUdCS2kT9kdReinN8QoilJZ-AEJgD9A7-MKIPbMjrf-65YZZhq5tFKbJlF57SUQ3_XzJafQ/" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Confident, Savvy, Steadfast, focused, Inspiring, Go Getter, are a few words that my colleagues and friends use to describe me! Well even Nametests seems to have a few of them right!!!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A few years ago, I decided to take the big leap away from the ultra cushiony MNC job and then the Foreign Government job. Traded all of that for the high of entrepreneurship!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the initial stages the going was tough. Multiple months down the line, the initial euphoria gave way to conflicts, dreariness, arguments, fall outs, self doubt, a lot of blame and whining. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I made myself a victim, felt low and let that emanate into all the spheres and relationships of my life too! Probably at that time, none of the positive adjectives mentioned even existed in my persona!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There's many a time that Life hands out raw oranges to us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the course of one's journey, we may have been pelted such or even worse rotten oranges from various angles, jobs, bosses, partners, peers, parents, a random client or even a stranger.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sometimes these have been chucked non stop like the practise balls from the cricket bowling machine, all in a volley, leaving you gasping and unable to understand what hit you and yet the volley just does not stop!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is philosophical talk about how a tea bag performs best when dipped in boiling water, yet how a potato gets cooked to a delicious softness when boiled in water. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">None of this appeals to the sufferer at that time. It sure feels lonely, like a battle of self doubt, of being misunderstood, misjudged and having no support.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have seen people who are dear to me lose both parents in a short span, lose their jobs, battle with the deadly cancer at 35, seperate or deal with a third force that shook their beautiful married life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why me? Why not someone else? Why now? Why all at once? I NEVER hurt anyone in my life, then what did I do to deserve this?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don't I deserve better? These are just a few of the thoughts that cross the mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Am sure at some point in time, we have all been through or seen a loved one go through these emotions. Yes it is painful to see or experience this.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Being a victim of one's situation is a sort of a self fulfilling prophecy. It is an easy option. Self Pity and receiving sympathy is a vicious cycle that creates constant anxiety and in some sorts fulfilment too. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At times an individual gets so wrapped in this little fable, that their situation could well become the entire biography of their lives. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The trajectory of wallowing in self pity is enslaving and has the potential to hook you to that staggering story all your life. The more a person delves on upon the adverse situation, the higher the bitterness towards life and others. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When you are in the eye of the storm, there is no right or wrong about what you feel. At the vortex of the situation the road ahead does seem dark.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Today in hindsight of what happened many years ago, I can says it all worked out pretty well. I am wiser with the lessons in life, relationships, business & monetary dealings! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Expressive about what I do and do not want. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Law of Nature dictates thus:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Every storm passes...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A rainy day does create a rainbow...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A confrontation could be bitter, yet lead to realization...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">An argument could actually open up a new perspective...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A fall out with a business partner, may just catapult you into another realm...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A setback may offer newer avenues that did not occur earlier...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A break up may release the drag and dowdiness from your life...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A layoff may open up other better opportunities</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Having been there and done that, I would say, it does help to take a small step back, and look at it from another point of view. Seek help, talk it out!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>For a while remove the colored glasses of victim and look at it from a hero's perspective!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Afterall the hero does shine through all the strife that he/she goes through! The journey is never easy, but the outcome could probably be worth it all!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And yes, I would say not judging yourself at that moment, not blaming another for how you felt or is definitely a key to bouncing back to normalcy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No judgements on playing victim, we all do it. It simply disallows you to see your own flaws. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think I like being the hero of my life, my story, of my game, of my business. I love feeling the exhilaration after the victim in me decides to give way to the HERO! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>Next time that I fall into the victim's snare, I intend to ask myself, what is the yarn that I am going to spin, VICTIM OR HERO?!</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAM0rDk8HSs6HpuOu1npYnfadihID4g5Yl2kY2szVtUYg9PdTLsBN__mXVYtZ4B86UwFGPMmK0QnRyHwolWD5l0zCD5HEQaHsfRXFYgIOOyTHPRmEggsdlM_uYw0xUQ8SZp6B0rzuWTOmR/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAM0rDk8HSs6HpuOu1npYnfadihID4g5Yl2kY2szVtUYg9PdTLsBN__mXVYtZ4B86UwFGPMmK0QnRyHwolWD5l0zCD5HEQaHsfRXFYgIOOyTHPRmEggsdlM_uYw0xUQ8SZp6B0rzuWTOmR/" width="241" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-70598093051749125192020-03-21T09:25:00.000-07:002020-03-21T23:57:06.021-07:00 NO CHOICE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The word CORONA actually means the ring of light around the sun or the moon usually formed during an eclipse. In these current times I guess all of humanity has forgotten that interpretation of the word!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am a working Mompreneur and this forced break has left me with a few or even no choices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Initially like everyone we also scoffed at the idea of panic and blamed on the media going out of hand in the way the virus was portrayed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Soon the thought changed to OMG, this is a reality, however the attitude was we are smart and we will tide by this and "this too shall pass".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today in just a matter of a few days, we have reached a stage of acceptance and resignation to the fact that it is, what it is and responsible citizenship is the need of the need of the hour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyday sees an overflow of wisecracks, parodies about " Surviving", "Stayin Alive", "WFH causing stress to the whole family and several more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is a peek into looking at the whole situation from an angle that is a far cry from the usual "complaint mode".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am stickler to schedule and time, My comfort zone is calendar & agenda, however I am now forced to free flow, learning to work at any time rather than a fixed time everyday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The usually sleep deprived and harrowed me is now sleep fulfilled and yes quite at ease with the acceptance that this will alter with a few months of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My children are learning the value of household work and actually pitch in to do their bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From having very little time for the children, it is now about long winding walks and myriad conversations with them, board games, badminton, the bitsy stuff that we often have no time for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Summer typically meant keeping the children occupied with a multitude of sports or other camps meant to keep them busy as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This time however, my children are learning the value of patience, doing their own work, and of course understanding the meaning of boredom too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Generation X has no access to boredom with all the gadgets and the plenty of toys that went through the 2 minute euphoria! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see a lot of the cobwebs being dusted off the "new toys" that weren't looked at beyond the moment they were bought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ever hustling swamped me took my friends & relatives for granted, this meant just a brief conversation probably once in a few months and a hurried one at that! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now I see myself reaching out and actually connecting with the people who mean the world to me and relishing those little conversations or memories...💗</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this fast track existence of ours, humankind is the master of "outsourcing" of everything. Food delivery apps, to entertainment to sending a courier as well. With the onset of the pandemic, the mindset now is one of "self", home sourcing and DIY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meals are consumed on time and we are probably heading to our healthiest best with the home made nutritious food we are consuming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mother Earth decided to take a break from us, but also <b>cinched a deal</b> for us to take a break from the dizzying busy world that we have created.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not just a break, but Mama Earth also said, the break will give us enough time to get used to adopt to a newer way of living and change our perspective entirely. (P.S anything done for 21 days at a stretch forms a habit) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She probably said buddy, time to reconnect with yourself and those important to you, <b>revitalize</b> the frayed energies of stressful lives, <b>restore</b> relationships and hobbies, <b>rejuvenate</b> yourself and <b>revamp</b> the way you think!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For this too shall pass and in no time, we would be back to our slaving lives with a distinct panaroma on how it can be different too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I guess the CORONA after all does mean <b>"The light" </b>that is vital to our existence here! And maybe this time around the CORONA around Mother Earth was just the medicine we all needed.</span></div>
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Life is full of Alternatives, but NO CHOICES - Patrick White </div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-79037403572291576382019-06-03T08:31:00.002-07:002020-03-17T00:04:32.850-07:00ODDBALLS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If trigonometry made you go in circles and Algebra made you feel like alphabets were your worst enemies in mathematics....<br />
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Did the 26 characters waltz around you to your tune when you looked at them in grammar and made you feel like a super star when the marks were announced.<br />
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If you had the logic and reasoning to fare well in the subjects that seemed to love you, more than the ones that you loved. I suppose you are part of the rare breed who appear intelligent and can understand a lot of stuff, yet would struggle with the simplest in such subjects.<br />
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On the other hand<br />
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Do you remember yourself as being the "Teachers Pet" beaming in appreciation while everyone around you applauded you for being the super star!!<br />
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I revere these people, who certainly helped me motivate & push myself to do better all the time. Am sure we all have those ultra brainy friends who have no compulsion to study yet they are the scholars in class always raising the bar and scoring the coveted highest marks too.<br />
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Were you on the other side with the brightest of ideas or being the best in sports yet not making a positive impact in stereotype lesson learning and marks scoring?<br />
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I recall the story of the ugly duckling who was shunned until the duckling turned into a beautiful swan. That is probably the first story of the "misfits" as classified by the society that we got introduced to.<br />
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As I grow older, I find myself withdrawing into my shell, hesitant before I trust people, choosy about who I spend time with, selective about folks that I call as friends. I see myself being fastidious in the leisure activities that I like to indulge in.<br />
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I grasp now that it has always been about trying to "fit in" in the myriad groups of people.<br />
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I may have never been the genius in class who made it to the top every time, but I did blossom as I grew older. Although Mathematics is not my best friend, I understand that leading entrepreneurs, speaking in public is my innate strength. Marketing is a breeze and my natural abilities flow among other capabilities too.<br />
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I see a few of my colleagues who probably were classified as the dim wits in class, today shine and excel as businessmen. I see around me the "dim wit" branded geniuses, whom I tend to adore and idolize. I know of a data analyst who can churn out the most brilliant advertisements and compose melodies.<br />
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I spot these ODDBALLS as the flexible and adaptable folks who are sensitive to people around them and maybe just a little bit more humane than the rest of us normal people.<br />
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I sense the depth of knowledge when I see them code like a prodigy, see them build planes and drones, compete in rallies, crack Sudoku like it was child's play, watch them come up with inventive solutions to the most complex predicaments.<br />
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It is the same people that I have seen struggle with languages, maths or in simple things like balancing a cycle.<br />
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Society has a lot of names and descriptions for these individuals. Weirdos, Freaks, Introverts, Reticent, Intimidating, Non congruent, shy, bashful, uncommunicative, secretive and more.<br />
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Being a mother, it is a constant strife between asking your children to confirm to the norms of normal and draw parity between being mid-ground or NORMAL VS DEFYING NORMAL.<br />
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If you were to judge an elephant by its ability to be agile and a cheetah in its competence to mow down a tree, you would cease to see the existing fortitude in both.<br />
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I find myself surrounded by geniuses, my children who speak such super intelligent stuff that I do not even comprehend, yet I pretend to understand. (probably am still trying to fit in!!)<br />
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We are beset by others who seem to have several solutions to business concerns that I face despite the fact that they may not even speak fluently, by my maid who has some very out of the box solutions to domestic chores.<br />
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Cognizance to the oddballs, the introverts, the dim wits, the reticent individuals. I think its far easier to be a performer who is <br />
recognized.<br />
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The nerds, the weirdos, the eccentrics, the loners, the lost , the forgotten, I have seen that you are the guys who have the most beautiful souls.<br />
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I see that the obsession to perfection in all that you do can take you to your vision. I see that others may not really see you or the talent in you.<br />
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Mediocrity in academics is certainly acceptable, however eminence in your sphere is certain to get you the credit that you deserve.<br />
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To the ODDBALLS, "fit in" is passe, strive for excellence in what you are passionate about.<br />
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To the rest of the world, just let them be, Encourage them and please put an embargo on "Stereotyping the odd ones.<br />
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-59356553867542141022018-12-11T03:18:00.000-08:002020-03-17T00:09:24.013-07:00Monday Musings - The Wall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the last several years, I have found it difficult to make new friends. Sometimes I wonder if I have become emotionless and if eventually I will become friendless!! Its been over a decade since anyone became a cherished person or a confidante to me.<br />
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I am known to be someone who keeps only a closed circle of friends and someone who appears talkative and an extrovert, yet deep within is a wall of defense that I appear to have built for myself.<br />
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I see it, I feel it many a time in my smile, in the super superficial conversations that I can keep up with a few.<br />
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I am assuming that I am not lonely in this journey, fact being that I am choosing to write about it while many probably talk about it or just let it be.<br />
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WHY THE WALL<br />
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I guess it happens as a survival instinct, you sort of build an invisible wall around, a barricade which ensures that not many emotions & people reach the "heart"!<br />
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That little voice which kind of cautions you to stay away.<br />
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It is the war between the brain and the heart. The brain says dont get too close, cause there is hurt on the way. Yet the heart appears to have a mind of its own and follows a course that none can control or correct.<br />
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Creating an invisible boundary makes it impenetrable. It means that few negative emotions do not affect you.<br />
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I have been called several names in the last few months. Some who see goodness in me call me "Wonderful, The Bull, Iron Lady, Strong Woman, Multi Talented, Creative " and more.<br />
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The reality is that you are all of the above and probably more! Wear the hat of a mother, daughter, sister, wife, daughter in law, the boss in the office and the friend who is tenacious.<br />
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All of the above add expectations.<br />
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I now understand the meaning behind the statement "Its lonely at the top".You are tough, capable and staunch in your being.<br />
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Being vulnerable is not easy and you plausibly disallow vulnerability too. Many a time it is about staying strong, proving yourself and making it look effortless.<br />
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You get habituated to being strong. You have set an expectation that you can handle anything and not be flustered!<br />
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It appears that you can take everything in your stride, you are a fighter, made of iron and that you have secured yourself.<br />
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I have also been called arrogant, witch, dominating and a lot more, some of which I pretend to ignore.<br />
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Founding your own company is not an easy task, if you dont have the above virtues, you end up acquiring them in the course of managing and taking your business to the next level. It is learning on the go, dealing with challenges that arise and simultaneously applying some of those life's lessons at work too!<br />
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Considerable wisdom has been acquired in the last few years.<br />
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Leading a group of entrepreneurs is no mean task, each person has character and stands tall in their category of business. Being a lady leading them is bigger vice.<br />
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It is indeed lonely at the top, you wonder if you have become a Mrs Doubting Thomas and if your associates are really true.<br />
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Ever so often you realize that you dont even have the mind space or the bandwidth to think or feel about the people who are important to you. You do miss them yet an opportunity to express that is rare. Work takes over.<br />
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I believe that we are here to make a difference to people. A positive one at that.<br />
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May our tribe increase<br />
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-63948632511632102242018-09-23T23:31:00.000-07:002020-03-17T00:09:53.109-07:00The Noodley Life!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal, Ebay, Shopclues...am clueless about the number of providers who are responsible for turning us into a generation of Instant Karma.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A much sought after dress, toy, mobile and just about everything that is "wanted" is available in an instant.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just like how you can make a cuppa noodles to appease your hunger, in this world you have split second gratification for all that you crave for.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You surf google guru for every small requirement. Google Chechi as I call her directs us, we have stopped talking to our neighbors/ friends to check for the best restaurant nearby, instead google auto types - restaurants near me!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Fire TV Stick has enabled on TV several of the old gems that were dear to us (children from the 80's). Swami from Malgudi days is on Amazon Prime. My boys (7,9 & 40+) were addicted and I was delighted. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps a tad too early. I found the 7 & 9 year old squabbling since one had watched 15 minutes more while the other was in the bathroom. My delight changed to anguish at being the war breaker between them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My son asked me "Amma how could you wait for a whole week to watch just one episode?" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The reality of the instant world we live punched me on my face. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We not only waited a whole week, but finished all our chores and homework and if there was a power cut, we learned to live with the disappointment of not getting to see what we missed. Probably as a generation we are stronger and have more strength of character due to our ability to handle downfalls and take failure in our stride. Even if we could not take it in our stride we developed the ability to pick ourselves up every time we fumbled.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In retrospect this created in us several values of appreciating what we had, made us patient, helped us motivate ourselves and sort of even have a goal that we would work on with fortitude.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been spectator to manifold show of tantrums for instant gratification adults and children alike. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I enjoyed visiting a book store, rummaging through the shelves and reading a wee bit here and there, looking and feeling the pages and books. Many a time meeting another bookworm who would say a kind word or two.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I looked forward to library days where I would be surrounded by a galore of books and I would spend time wondering which one to borrow, reading bits & pieces and the review on the back cove. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I liked the fact that I decided whether or not I liked reading the book based on my opinion and not the hundreds or reviews that I saw online.Now I see a hundred book suggestions/reviews every time I am online, which is practically all day.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are spoilt for choice in this World. Making cards for Birthdays of friends is passe. The effort is not even required. You log onto an e-tailer and you can have the gift delivered in a few hours with "gift wrapping".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Archaic, but the handwritten cards on hand made papers with crude drawings and expression of love for a lifetime is something we would cherish.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The photograph you take, you can see instantly. Missing is the family tea gathering after the wedding/event to see the pictures and peals of laughter at awkward poses and expressions. These real situations have now been replaced with a lifeless "emoji" most of which need explanation to a layman like me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Life is INSTANT! The awkward expression is corrected, the candid pose is still picture perfect, the imperfections can be amended, effects can be added and you can look like or become a celebrity in an instant.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anything that you need, a ticket, a drink, groceries, books, apparel, is all just one click away. A dish that you crave for is also available at your doorstep.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How then do you practice or learn the meaning of patience, or the value of waiting for something that you have been craving for.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even love in this world seems instant. Dating apps make a partner available on the spot and hell, you even have help in building your profile and taglines on these apps.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next generation is being treated treated to an extravagance of everything instant. Are we getting used to it too?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instant Noodles, Instant Gratification, Move on, Fast Track generation, and of course comes with it the man made Instant Karma.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looks like the day when you can order instant karma like a bunch of flowers and have it delivered at a doorstep is not too far away!</span></span><br />
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-88672010290157836522017-10-10T23:58:00.000-07:002017-10-11T04:49:45.746-07:00The Queen!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My son asked me "Amma" why dont you paint the nails on your hands?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A seemingly innocent question, the answer not so easy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Truth is and believe me when I say- that it is maintenance free!! How? do you wonder?! Logic in my head says, if I paint my nails, thanks to all the house work, it would chip off in a few days and I may not really have the luxury of doing them again. I would rather be seen without nail polish than with chipped nail paint!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Same logic applies to painting toes in light colors so they look neat and clean for a couple of weeks atleast!😒</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The lady at the parlor squints when my friend says - Don't touch the upper lips, shabby eyebrows are ok, but I cannot be caught with that little mustache that grows off the edges of my lips!😳</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most of us are the queens of our lives. The loving princess perfect to her father, the heroine of her children, the queens who occupy centre stage in the world of our spouses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the princess darling of our lives the "Maid does not turn up" we are the washing queens with that mega haul of utensils that sit in the kitchen talking to us and staring us beckoning us to pay attention to get them gleaming all over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the washing machine or the "washerman/woman" twerk their noses at us, the pile of laundry hollers from every corner of the house, with grim reminders to consider them urgent and turn them out to dry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My dreams of living in a large luxurious home are generally interrupted with the desire to be "practical" and live in a compact home that would be easier to clean, when my dependable help decides to become undependable as a regular feature!🙌</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My husband feels every time he says he does not need lunch he can see hear and feel that inner joy! Reality it converts into one less task on thinking what would be an "acceptable" lunch for the kids and the husband and self. Of course not to forget the extra ten minutes of snooze granted to you by the queen herself!😀</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Texting in the loo, catching up with your girlfriend while driving (headphones of course), waking up 20 minutes early to catch a few moments and a cuppa to yourself, the next me time you know is atleast 24 hours away. Vices that we are all prone too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Talking to the world about your children, announcing that you are studying for middle school and primary schools exams and hence a call or a meeting in the evenings is a definite "No Show". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Taking conference calls on mute because at that moment is when the children decide to noisily bicker!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Making Gillette Venus your best friend in replacement of the salon, preparing the next days snack whilst cooking dinner, laying out the work wear for the morning, cleaning the bathroom when the kids are showering, ironing uniforms to last an entire week Ahem!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Standardizing toothbrush colors for the children, buying socks in the same color for yourself so you dont have to look for a pair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is madness and mayhem, blanking out, zoning out, missing keys, missing the most important item on the to do list is all too common. Mixing up clothes, medicines, homework I hear quite often. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Online groceries, clothes that dry fast, wearing the apron over that little black dress to finish up with the chores just before a girls night out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Superwoman. Wears her crown with grace and elan .The Queen of Sheeba, Cleopatra, Rani, Reina, Mallika, Regina! The Queen of Hearts, The Queen of Multi Tasking, Queen of disaster management, Queen of Resourcefulness, Drama Queen, Scatter Brain Queen. Heroine to the children, Queens of glamour and the Queens of the hearts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Superwoman - eminence to you. Tag another superwoman who inspires you.</span>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-59175089352752846992017-06-11T21:25:00.001-07:002017-06-13T22:27:08.215-07:00From the desk of a New BNI Entrant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was a normal day and I was busy with client meetings and work as usual. My buddy Vandana who is in Florida, pinged me to ask if anyone could help her mom with the ticket booking to Florida.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had given her a disclaimer that every time she needs something for herself or her parents in India she must check with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I referred Sujith Sunny from our chapter who could help her with the tickets. She got in touch with him and I could see both of them were upbeat. Vandana,since the whole process was extremely hassle free. Sujith since, she was the only customer who had asked him what his service charges were. Also she was very clear about the tickets and the flights and the route that she wanted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since the parents would be away travelling, they needed a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Security system at home - none other than Vasanth from Safe Hands. So he got a referral too, the couple had a detailed conversation from USA to understand what everything meant. None of the other providers had given such details, and the ones that Vandana's mom met, complicated the system explanation. By the end she did not even want to have a security surveillance system installed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They also needed a house keeping services since the previous one was unreliable and inexpensive. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Who other than Taranath to meet the expectation of being reasonable and reliable? Reference provided with the quotes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Man proposes and God disposes, to their sadness Vandana's mother had a nasty fall and injured her hip, an emergency surgery was scheduled and Vandana flew to India to ensure her mother is well cared for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Post the surgery, she wanted the post operation support for speedy recovery, so she can take her mom to the USA. She needed 24/7 nurse care, physiotherapy for her mom. Who better than our Doc Madhusudhan, who took her under his expert team and care.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She again blocked her parent's tickets to USA through Sujth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">RideMix for her airport transfers and probably for her parents when she goes back .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Vandana is so full of gratitude that she did not have to deal with the numerous calls to/from Justdial for these services and that most of what she wanted was just a call away and a trusted reference.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She says that the entire episode of her mother falling at the age of 75 was harrowing and dealing with an 85 year old dad and her mom was far bigger a task than managing the three children that she has. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However her experience here has been seamless and she realizes what a powerhouse BNI can be. Her nightmare turned into quite a fairytale. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She is happy that she could just contact one person and get a gateway to so much that she needed. Infact now her relatives and family want to know how she managed to get everything done so efficiently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She is sure that whenever she is looking at property in Bangalore, she will again get in touch for a dependable person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At Tampa she runs her own Interior designing firm and jewelry line and is now convinced that she must somehow join BNI and bring to reality what she has envisaged for herself as a business woman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BNI is not just about give and take, it is a potent ecosystem in itself that supports growth.</span><br />
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-25059240067754187212017-05-09T04:00:00.002-07:002017-05-17T09:21:26.507-07:00Rains of wisdom!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I jogged today, by the lake which is one of my favorite places, where thoughts accompany me more than anyone else. That bliss and solitude of being able to be one with nature whilst soaking in several reflections is a space I treasure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The weather was pleasant and I could hear the thundering clouds, the breeze was refreshing and it was a relief to be out from the scorching heat that Bangalore has been subject to in the last few months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The heavens opened up and there was a big downpour, there were few people walking and everyone scurried for shelter on the tank bund. Few found trees, while few cut short their walk, some more chose to run, the children playing cricket dashed right out of the park. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The rain lashed out and got heavier, I could not see much, the ground below my feet was all slippery and slushy, the jog however was enjoyable and the rain seemed to be watering away all my troubles. The reflective thoughts in me turned to enjoyment, of just the ecstasy of letting the rain drench away the worries and the maladies. I saw the sheltered few staring at me with amusement and a smile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To me the world had stopped, I knew nothing of what was on my mind, I had no control over when I chose to ponder about, it was just "being in the moment". For several minutes I just stood by myself enjoying myself, surrendering to the "raw power" of nature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I felt the rain beating down on me, it was cold, the breeze added charm to the slight shivers. There was beauty around me, the leaves sashaying like they were dancing to the rain,bamboo shoots swaying like they were welcoming the rain, the smell of the earth in the rain was tantalizing, the view was blurred and I could see no further than a few feet, yet I continued to move. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The rain calmed my senses and soothed me into a different realm of thoughts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I went back to a few events of my life:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I fought against all odds and signed up for a piece of land, even though I was quite unsure, it never materialized and I lost my investment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I ran after my dream job, and I got it too, later to realize that the dream was more about the money and not about what I was passionate about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I tell my children they can be whatever they please to be, yet they must achieve great grades, now I realise I am not convinced if that even applies in today's world. Still the need in me to oft repeat this statement to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I lost contact with a good friend, I now recall literally annoying her to be in touch with me for the longest of times...and feeling the turmoil every night, am much at peace after accepting that the relationship no longer exists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember chasing a promotion that was never even meant to be, I feel the pain of being rejected, now I see logic and understand it was never meant to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know the anxiety of wanting to have a child, combating the odds, it happened when it was meant to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I re-live the panic at losing a game, I bethink the multiple prayers for something that was never meant to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can envisage several instances where I have force fitted my needs, my wishes and wants onto myself and others - antithetical to what was meant to be, more often than not these situations have yielded no peace, no happiness and no results.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can look at the number of times I was sick and my body would need the rest, yet I battled the odds, just to tell myself I could handle anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know I have said, I surrender, but have spent disquiet moments waiting for the outcome I desired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can dwell on the number of times I have held on and and not surrendered to the emotions or the feelings that I have felt. Probably that is so deep rooted in my, that the trend of choosing holding onto control would be far higher than the times I give into vulnerability and surrender.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have blamed others, my loved ones for my feelings and emotions of pain and hurt, not because I accepted what was within me, but because I wanted to be in control and hence I could never be wrong. It seemed that the easiest way, was to say <b>how the other made me feel.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time changes you and the events that encompass you, yet we expect everything else to remain at a constant, whether its a relationship or an emotion.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I liked to believe that I was one of those people who believed in the greater power and could surrender myself to that power and everything else.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The rains today chaperoned a question to me:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Are you in Incomplete Surrender or In "Complete Surrender"?</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Children I see are the best example of being in complete surrender to their emotions and feelings...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">There has been an uneasiness in me, every time something was going the way I wanted it to, sort of coerced the universe to drive it my way, yet it was not meant to be. ..some of these situations still make me queasy, although it is exactly what I wanted and the way I wanted it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Disclaimer : Surrendering to what is is does not absolve you from the actions that you need to take to achieve your goals. It only means that you have the ability to dream a dream and work towards it, yet being open to riding in the direction of the winds and allowing the winds to propel you to your destination.</span></span><br />
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-41256866247904090302017-02-28T03:23:00.000-08:002019-02-22T01:57:31.262-08:00Eventful? Unexpected? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My blog page is called "eventful" ! I have always believed that life has a way of serving up the most unforeseen twists and turns in contradiction to what you normally plan. Although I would like to believe that I am adaptable to such uncertainties, I think now, maybe I am not!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Becoming an entrepreneur teaches you a lot of lessons. The plusses and the adrenalin rush that you experience when you </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even if I were to blow my own trumpet, now I think vainly so... I always thought I was not change resistant, I could improvise at the last minute, manage myself and manage any situation and every other thing that made me believe I was like the flexible reed ready to bend and bow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The last few months have been a path of one self discovery after another. What have I learned about myself in those months?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some ideas in my mind are so strongly embedded, that I would rather hold on to them than let go! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anything that is <span style="color: #660000;">done in haste without deliberation</span> can backfire on you. Bigtime! I have been too quick and hasty in judging people and probably lost a couple of wonderful friendships by now. All because I judged too soon, I hurt too soon or I simply gave up too soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I recently took a call to give up the comforts of my stable,secure, cushy foreign government job to start a company with a trusted business partner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know that I definitely trust myself and my business partner and the model we have envisioned for the company.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also believe that in our quest to make a positive difference to people's lives, we will make our fair share of Vitamin M too. Yet there are times when "Anxiety" rules and spreads its menacing tentacles around, keeping me in its stronghold and deterring me from moving forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When my 6 year old son talks about growing up to be a comedian having his shows across UK, USA and Japan, my heart bulges with pride and I tell him, you can be whatever you want, keep your dreams alive. Yet I find myself saying to him, hey you what you still need to study and get good marks (80% and above)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My 8 year old devours books, and is a pro at computers and all things technical, I swell with pride again, though when his handwriting lags, I tend to question his interest in studying!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of this and more is dictated by <b>"Anxiety".</b> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What I find difficult is sometimes letting go of the anxiety of the uncertainty that dictates, beyond us all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes there is no logic to that feeling, sometimes I quieten it, sometimes I bear no control over it and then it nightmarishly</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> magnifies into a gigantic monster. Many a time I become the monster in the situation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We tend to live in this perception of the quintessential life, a life of perfection until we learn to let go and then the real picture manifests, sometimes to our pride and happiness and sometimes to our disappointments and displeasure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Either way,life will go on, events are bound to happen, you will make mistakes, you will be caught off guard and there will be lows and highs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What is due to you will certainly be yours, when it is meant to be. Try swimming against the tide and you will see that the effort only drains you while you remain at where you started or further away still.</span><br />
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-72091198943257382142016-12-22T10:09:00.001-08:002016-12-22T10:22:59.656-08:00Musings of a Mother - Sports<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5:20 am : A Cold Sunday Morning. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No alarm, yet the mind's alarm wakes me up on the dot, without fail every Sunday.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I look at the boys, fast asleep. </span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mommy in me feels like letting them sleep for a few minutes more.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I go to them and whisper, hey do you want to sleep in today or go for your football/cricket classes? The answer with sleepy eyes is YES AMMA,we will go to the ground..</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The tone for the day is set with the enthusiasm the children have.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6:00 am The boys are ready in their uniforms, spic white for cricket and red for football. We still have 15 minutes so we decide to cycle to the ground for their sports practice.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is cold and nice, I enjoy the speckle of sunlight and the morning dew. Traffic is sparse with just the few newspaper boys and milkmen all cloaked up.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To me chaperoning the boys for their respective classes is no chore. It is JOY. Unmatched and unparalleled. </span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6:15 am The venue is a burst of energy. Effervescent, ebullient, bubbly,exuberant and every adjective that can describe the numerous activities and the upbeat energy.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While waiting for the football coach to arrive, I usually jog around the periphery and love the fact that is not crowded. Two rounds later, I see many children, adults, men, women milling in to start their games. </span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Manifold of games - Cricket, football, karate, basketball,badminton,throw-ball and the groups of people in their improvised attires that have gathered to play a game of cricket.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Women's Throw-ball team that has a sprightly old gentleman playing with them catches my attention. I am mesmerized. I am touched to see a teenager, few home keepers dressed in a saree or a salwar kameez, several college students , some in tracks, some in shorts.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They play with grace and elan. Not a trace of hesitation in them.I notice a lady who must easily be in her 50's clad in a saree. She is engrossed in her game and they recently won a match against another locality. I am surging with pride to see them play with gusto.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7:00 am I want to remain seated for a few minutes before I rush back to my weekend chores. </span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I soak in the sounds and the energy from the ground and the people.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cry of "Ball"..Aunty - <i><b> Ball ball Ball</b></i> shakes me up and I retreat back to reality, and acknowledge my admiration for </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The coaches who may or may not be in other full time jobs, but are here to mentor the children.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The children of all ages who gather at the specified time, come rain,shine or dew.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The adults who use the venue for rekindling the child in them.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The parents who encourage their children to pursue such sports and hobbies.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I look at myriad emotions that play out here in the brief time that I spend here.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The joy of scoring runs, goals, of leading the team to victory, the elation at being the man of the match, of having played well, of celebrating a win with your team. The bond with the fellow members in strategising as team, the heady high when they shine and play their best game.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Discipline, persistence, will power, the urge to play and win, the disappointment of losing, knowing that they have no choice but to go when the umpire declares you as "OUT". Giving another a chance to play, bonding with your team"BRO" seems to be the word for addressing team members.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dejection at not being selected, angry at yourself that you let the team down. Changing the plan or strategy, following instructions, accommodating the others who use the venue to play their game, indeed shouting and letting your guard down,playing in a team, accepting defeat for reasons other than just yourself.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see a Lions share of learning coming from :</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These children are learning to lose, learning to let go of victory. They know how crushing defeat can feel, they know what it means to be disappointed.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see them learn that you cannot always be perfect and that you never will be. I see them understand that they can look at everyday as a new opportunity.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knowing that he/she played their best, yet could not achieve victory for their team.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our world today is permeated with luxuries and we tend to "over protect" our loved ones from being exposed to "hurt" whether physical or emotional.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see that these children in sports, pick up the spirit of "being hurt" in all the senses and see them build in them the resilience to deal with it and yet get on with hope.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">These are just few benefits that I can think of, of course the one that makes most impact is how much healthier it makes a person, to just be in sports. <br></font>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-57413422526378160662016-12-09T01:23:00.000-08:002016-12-09T01:57:17.256-08:00Find Yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Life with all its events and elements can leave you feeling overwhelmed and burdened - several times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many a time, we get lost in this fast paced choatic life with its myriad aspects, and that is the time to reintroduce you to yourself and appreciate your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the recent few weeks,inundated is how I have been feeling with the innumerable things that I am doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being an entrepreuneur, in ways more than one, being Mommy, daughter, daughter in law,sister, friend, soulmate,wife and most importantly the "Taxi Driver"!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There appears to be so much on my schedule and plate that I do feel like taking another sojourn to the Himalayas.The thought of being away from routine and normalcy was alluring, however not real or feasible at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taking flight or running away seems to be the best answer and I am doubtless that we all do indulge in it in our own special ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since the option of ambling away from my everyday was unavailable to me, I started exploring what were the other things that would help me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am guilty of retail therapy at times, my friend does a spa outing, another goes for a movie, some of them travel, some paint, few make jewellery and so on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I sat down thinking I would do something that relaxed me.To my consternation, I did find a chunk of things that I love and would take away my mind from the flux it was going through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Driving, reading a book, writing my blog, going on my walk, talking to a girl friend, going to the library, sitting in silence, cooking, baking,going to the temple are a few that I can think of.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For all of us in this mad mad world, I am sure there are activities that could calm you and help you find yourself when in a space of pandemonium.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is indeed about finding yourself and doing the things that you love, that will mitigate the bedlam in your mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It not about imitating or trying to fit in or doing something just for the sake of doing it. If I were to follow someone else who liked crowds and malls, I would come away feeling worse than before, for that is just not me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Find Yourself, Make a manifest of that you would love to do in this lifetime. It could be anything at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is my lineup of things that I yearn to engage in ( am sure there will be more to this)</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few more treks up the Himalayas (Leh Ladakh,Nepal,Bhutan) am smiling already!🌄</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yellowstone National Park , Yosemite National Park in USA🌎</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Switzerland and Paris</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brazil and the untouched forests of South America</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Pyramids of Egypt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Safari in Kenya and the Masai Mara</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Participate in a Car Rally (Probably comes easy with 2 decades of driving)!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Girls only outing/vacation with a few of my best buddies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recognition for entrepreneurship </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Camping outdoors with my boys</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wearing heels of 5" or more👠</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red Lipstick 👀💄👀</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Zipping around in my SUV (Red)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Fossil watch ( Rolex isnt my type you see😇)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Learn to swim</span>🏊</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Start my own fashion label</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Write a few bestseller books and make tons of money$$</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vacation for my Ma and Pa</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Get back to college and act like I am 16👧</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Start an enterprise to help the ultrasmart children tap into their potential and interest</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wake up to having slept enough and not an ALARMMMMMM!( Mommies I know you are with me on this)💤💤💤</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Become someone famous and sign autographs🙌</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Run a homestay nestled away from the urban landscape and meet different kinds of people💒</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And as I list the catalog of my life that I want to fill up, the discord of having too much to do slips into oblivion, am cheerful about having done myriad things that gave me pure joy and have been ticked off my agenda already.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We may complete a few and many may still remain on the list, but if you found yourself in the few things you did,that says it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dream up your list,share it, live it and FIND YOURSELF.</span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-48806197716085709882016-02-09T19:16:00.003-08:002016-10-07T23:28:44.378-07:00Who is your Valentine?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRymwkJ-Dv5QZJtoSuYE8necUfnaFXSj8Fangdfo9cGKhF4PuCn8L2I58D4_qpenuy6N1V4t5cHqM5X2atZT8AcsLgwuopkR4hAC-yXariXWBUfv3NhyphenhyphenJlivbfEnz84_rGK_zhHa6OnwSe/s1600/kidshearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRymwkJ-Dv5QZJtoSuYE8necUfnaFXSj8Fangdfo9cGKhF4PuCn8L2I58D4_qpenuy6N1V4t5cHqM5X2atZT8AcsLgwuopkR4hAC-yXariXWBUfv3NhyphenhyphenJlivbfEnz84_rGK_zhHa6OnwSe/s400/kidshearts.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Who really is your valentine? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The person you had a crush on?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Someone you fell in love with?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your Soul mate? Romantic Life partner?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Somebody about whom you cannot stop thinking and cannot have enough of being with?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Probably that person who makes you feel complete?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The one whom you can reach out to with your silliest fears and tears?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The one who will lend you a shoulder when you agonize over a trivial fight with your best friend or your mother?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The one who will laugh at you when you trip, instead of picking you up!?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The one who will agonize with you when your crush sees someone else, and then be downright angry that you are sad and weepy and will not hesitate telling you that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The one you can completely hate at a moment and melt in love just the next minute!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 36pt;"> Or</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was it your mother who smothered you with all her love who you fell in love with beyond yourself, and no matter how old you grow, she will always remain your first love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was it the hero in your life – your father, you loved in your teens?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was it your sister or brother or cousin with whom you fought yet could not bear to be separated from for more than a few hours?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was it your best friend, whom you made your valentine, because you really did love her/him truly, madly deeply?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was it your neighbour or classmate, whom you thought you secretly loved?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was it an aunt or an uncle that you adored in your childhood and really love and respect even today?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have we in our zest to commercialize love, started to create boundaries to define the meaning of “love”?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Why have we started to define frontiers to “Valentine”? Is it not possible to love more than one person? Don’t you love your parents, siblings, friends and your romantic partner too?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How and why did the definition of valentine have to change as we grew older?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 13.5pt;">Isn't it true that when you love someone, you are thrown off balance, when the equation in the relationship changes even a little bit? And this applies to every relationship that is close to you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As a child my Dad was my first Valentine and hero.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">During college, my best friend doubled up as my valentine and to date remains my first and my best valentine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Despite being in two different corners of the world, we are connected and would instinctively know if something was not right with the other.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="background: white;">We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> John Lennon </span></i></span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-76538728908970295812016-01-19T02:52:00.001-08:002016-10-07T23:32:14.521-07:00Runaway Maid!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The good old days.There were the times in school where imagination of life and the events around us was more real than the real life we were reading.<br />
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The times when Nancy Drew was our heroine and Frank from Hardy boys appeared to be the best boyfriend one could ever have.<br />
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Add in a little bit of mystery during vacations, and if you were 5 in a group, even though borrowed, it meant, you called yourself "The famous Five".<br />
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Summer vacations meant looking for adventures just like Malory towers and keeping secrets like the secret seven.<br />
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Let us call this the case of the "Run away Maid"!! This word makes me think of a 100 perspectives on maids right now, but let me try to stick to what really happened.<br />
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It was holiday time and my best friend Roshni and I were strolling around the peaceful bylanes of our neighborhood just "wandering aimlessly" as my math teacher would have put it.<br />
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A kalakhatta candy and an animated discussion on the insufficient holidays was going on.<br />
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We then saw a maid looking about furtively and walking away with a big suitcase in her hand.<br />
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Antennas up, we knew that Mummy was away at work and her maid seemed to be taking the chance to escape.<br />
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The maid , lets call her Bhagya, started with a slow calm walk and then walked up faster. She looked around to see if anyone she knew noticed her, we ducked behind the big round dust bin just in time to hide ourselves.<br />
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She walked across the road to a PCO, ( in the good old days Public Call Office, from where you could make calls) and seemed to pull out a crumpled little piece of paper and make a call.<br />
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After some head shakes and a smile on her face, she stomped off to the bus stop.<br />
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In a quandary, we did not know what to do, so we split ourselves up, so while Roshini decided to talk to the owner of the phone booth, I decided to follow Bhagya.<br />
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Somehow Roshini managed to have a conversation with the owner of the phone booth and collect the counterfoil that gets generated upon completion of the call! That gave us the number of the person that she had called, and generally chatting up with the "phone booth uncle" also helped get some tid bits of information as to what the maid was planning to do.<br />
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Meanwhile I had managed to note down the bus number that she boarded.<br />
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Put in 2 x 2 together we opened up the bulky telephone directory book and looked up the address that the maid had called.<br />
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Evening came and we updated the parents about what had happened in true detective style.<br />
<br />
So they were presented with a Smart Sheet mentioning the time she left, call made, the conversation, the address that she had gone too.<br />
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Next day had more mystery for us, so I accompanied my dad to see the maid and she seemed quite happy at her new place, so we just came back along. She refused to come back home, since she had indeed run away from us in the hope of better opportunities.<br />
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The next few days minus the maid felt like years filled with umpteen struggles. That is just saying the least.<br />
<br />
Soon we heard from the maid, this time over a call, asking for us to rescue her from the clutches of her new evil employer, who gave her no food and locked her up in a room.<br />
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Turns out that she only came back because we went and saw her. Else she had no way of coming back and would have been at the new house bearing the abuse and everything else that she was subject to.<br />
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You would probably agree with me that no matter how tortured you felt and how angry you were about the maid playing truant for several days, the very sight of her walking into your door dissipates all the anger and brings you back to your cheerful self.<br />
<br />
Today it is 2 decades since the Runaway maid was rescued and brought back. She continues to stay at our home and is more of a family member now!<br />
<br />
Maid rescued or Mom rescued ??!<br />
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Either ways 2 decades on, Mom and Maid continue their daily saga!!<br />
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-53283629651962298942016-01-03T22:46:00.000-08:002016-10-07T23:34:06.333-07:00The Good Life, The Simple Life...hmmm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnnvXtcjDf1KlTAOlN7Xm5VNezF70CTL4KIetrDhMkBlvAGGX5EZeRFciBDmITt9x4Dei-SfUlsAK6DIVKjuBLMdL7SjHYB1fPht9NeMA4XfCvxJiTctosIxSVWeL1fRmjV5RhQTrDo-G/s1600/life+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnnvXtcjDf1KlTAOlN7Xm5VNezF70CTL4KIetrDhMkBlvAGGX5EZeRFciBDmITt9x4Dei-SfUlsAK6DIVKjuBLMdL7SjHYB1fPht9NeMA4XfCvxJiTctosIxSVWeL1fRmjV5RhQTrDo-G/s640/life+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Penning my experience and the emotions of the contrasts in life that we live with in todays world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At a five star hotel, I loved the attention to detail, the smiles, the ultra courteous staff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The location and the venue was mesmerizing. Self contained it had just about everything that one could ask for, Including two different types of commodes within the same bathroom!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Backwaters, a spa, a lounge bar, a gym and so much much more.. that staying overnight seemed so insufficient and almost like I was doing injustice to the facilities that were available there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The food, Ahem, so rich and so much in variety that I was unable to taste all the dishes on the buffet!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of weeks later </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Christmas vacations meant fun and cheer. We drove down to a lovely place called<a href="http://pugmarkswayanad.com/"> pugmarkswayanad</a> that offered a rare kind of accommodation and some homely food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The semi resort-home stay seemed ideal for the eight urchins that we were!;p . P.S It was difficult to see the difference between the "baccha party" and us " the adults".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The resort was abundant in nature, located amidst the coffee and pepper plantation, it was indeed heaven. The intense heat during the day, the extreme cold in the night was unregulated by any modern equipment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fog in the morning, driving through the woods at night, hoping to catch sight of an animal....Watching the lazy and slow gait of the elephants as we waited for them to cross the road in their unhurried candor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enjoying the gush of the waterfall, without a care and feeling the fury of the ice cold water massage your back - simply astounding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Incredible, the experience of being one with nature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ravenous after the trek up and down to the waterfall and eating a simple plate meal, with just the basics - rice, roti, sambar and papad, felt so wholesome. Served piping hot, with a warm host ensuring you did INDEED overeat, gladdened the soul. No buffet spread however scrumptious has felt this good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Climbing up the shaky ladder to a watch tower, brought back some fears to me, and watching my 4 year old niece clamber up without a care, did embarrass me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scaling down another sturdy watchtower, we saw us cautioning the children and asking them not to look down and climb down backwards, only to see them climb down forwards and in full speed, looking below. ( in hindsight - I think over cautioning)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So who really creates these fears in the minds of the children?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The swings, the zip line added to the fun and it appeared that the children were at home, being one with nature and doing stuff that don't really get to do in the urban locations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No one felt the absence of the idiot box, it was time to play hide and seek, watch the bugs, play cards , Frisbee, eat meals together and so much more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the adults it was all about laughing and enjoying the holiday unadulterated by technology in so many ways, including the best one - waking up to the chirping of the birds and not the multiple alarms by the bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so I start my 2016 with an intent to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Treat myself and my family to several more of such simple pleasures of life. Things that no luxury can ever replace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I almost missed saying this " The good life, has me bragging about having stayed at the pricey place and its reputation" while the simple life is about the ethereal experiences that are imbued in memory forever. </span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-28491135306120493812015-10-26T20:43:00.003-07:002016-10-07T23:41:59.555-07:00What If ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are brought up in the rut of "consequential living"
or fearful living as I would like to call it..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-size: 14.0pt;">Perhap</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;">s it is o</span><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-size: 14.0pt;">nly natural that
"fear" is what drives every activity of our life. Most of us do stuff
- For example- take up a job for the fear of not having anything else to do, not having
enough money, to meet expectations of society/parental pressure etc etc </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-size: 14.0pt;">How many times do we get to see someone who,
has the courage to follow their dream? Even if you do, in all
probability they have a "strong financial backing already"!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Look at some of these
situations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You are sick, unable to focus on work , But your mind is thinking
- Cannot take off, <span style="color: #990000;">what if </span>my boss thinks I am faking it, I am on leave
next week as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
At a mall, mother yelling at her unruly son, Stop that Sharath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sharath - <span style="color: #990000;">What if</span> I don’t stop amma?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Amma - I will not buy you that chocolate or the toy you have
been wanting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Father - Look at the dismal way this boy is studying, <span style="color: #990000;">What if </span>you do not score well,
how will you get a job and prosper? ( getting a good job = Prosperous, Else -
NO)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
I am pregnant, I am happy! the other side - <span style="color: #990000;">what if</span> my appraisal is ruined this
year?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
What will the family think of me if I stop wearing sarees and wear something
contemporary for the wedding I would be attending?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
I hate wearing jewelry, but at my wedding I have to look like <span style="background-color: orange; color: #990000;">"Walking, Talking LULU Gold Palace"</span> <span style="color: #990000;">what if</span> the world thinks my
father is not well to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
Pre wedding shoot, post wedding shoots, during the wedding poses of the
"perfect moments", I focus at the cameraman and his lens more than
rituals, <span style="color: #990000;">what if</span> the pictures are awkward?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
I don't like crowds, but I go for parties, <span style="color: #990000;">what if</span> my friends stop
calling me?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
My spouse speaks in a way that humiliates me, I cannot say anything, <span style="color: #990000;">what if</span>
she/he gets offended? How often can we be candid about our emotions and express
them, without the fear of being judged?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
I have to send my children abroad to study, <span style="color: #990000;">what if</span> I cannot guarantee A SECURE
LIFE for them?!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
Photoshop is my best friend, for it makes me look pretty, <span style="color: #990000;">what if</span> my friends
think I am ugly and do not hit "like" on my face book page!?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
I love to eat ice creams and pizza, yet I refrain, <span style="color: #990000;">what if</span> I become fat?!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-size: 14.0pt;">We need to make property, else how else will we
secure our future? (read the children's, grand children, great grand children's
future)?!!!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I see that this fear manifests in every aspect of our lives, yet
we seem to take pride on our routine and busy schedules. More often than not
these schedules provide fodder to our fears and keep our true emotions boxed
in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The list is endless, add the "phobias" to our
fears and then the truth is that a majority of people, are happy to be at
Status Quo rather than take any risks at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The fear of everything overrides the only actual fear - that of
death. We continue to live like we are eternal, rare in giving and loving,
harping about the petty things and dwelling on the unpleasant or living in mere
aspiration, while the present appears to flit away...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our <span style="color: #990000;">"What If"</span> strategy stifles our thoughts, actions, feelings,
achievements, joy, love and so much more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ever thought about - "What If" there were no tomorrow - Have you done all that you wanted to do? Are you done giving all the love that you wanted to give, but never did? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Are you complete with what you have carved out of your life and relationships?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I find myself guilty of giving in to "what if" several times. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are the far and
few moments when the rebel in me awakens that is when I have had my
moments of glory and pride.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This time, though no thoughts on "what if" my blog does not appeal to everyone!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Till next time, </span></span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-88644149504320366432015-09-19T10:52:00.003-07:002016-10-07T23:45:47.036-07:00Quick Fix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismqkTSImOby7155sQ0CpGy9_zud_g8yzxdKOHPwmUtHhwHiUKxMgk_Zryv7euVou-VtNtZy1XrYtWAnMdt0tem10j_vYS2UL34xrmio3H2M881zQngIaVi-JsZ-LnwtrC27IGhc3p2fpT/s1600/rejuvenate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismqkTSImOby7155sQ0CpGy9_zud_g8yzxdKOHPwmUtHhwHiUKxMgk_Zryv7euVou-VtNtZy1XrYtWAnMdt0tem10j_vYS2UL34xrmio3H2M881zQngIaVi-JsZ-LnwtrC27IGhc3p2fpT/s400/rejuvenate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Speaking to myself, while rummaging my
waaaadrobe , I felt that I needed some really good clothes to </span><span style="background-color: white;">wear to office, on my walk, when I stepped
out within the locality, when I went out with my family, when I
stepped out to the grocery store, when I travelled, when I went
jogging, when I slept and blah blah blah blah….</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s when the saga started. If I did buy new
clothes, I would need shoes too! It didn’t matter that I could no longer
remember the number of shoes I owned ! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">I looked confused as I mumbled to
myself, making a mental list of what I thought I needed. My little one looked
at my confusion and asked me, what I was thinking? I told him Amma wants to buy
new clothes. He looked at me plainly and asked, why amma, you don’t have
clothes is it?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">That triggered my thoughts.. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">I did have enough clothes, but I felt now that they weren't good enough! ( few were either tight or loose or some were out of fashion)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Did we really own more than one or two pairs of
shoes as children? When a shoe broke, we just took it to the cobbler for
repair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In today’s world - "The fix" simply is buying new
ones. It does not matter if it’s a shoe or a gadget or anything else at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see excess caused due to the "fix" in every aspect of my life <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Clothes, Shoes, collectibles, gadgets, linen,
stationery, vehicles, temples, prayers , food, fat, cholesterol, sugar, weight and
every fathomable thing. An excess of relationships too!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An excess in all, yet faced with a poverty of
time. The poverty actually caused by the excess in everything else that we
have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The excess in the materialistic objects that we
tend to stash away in the confines of our home, choosing never to discard the
clutter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The time we spend arguing about something petty
and holding onto the ego rather than enjoying the moment and making memories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The time we spend looking for that perfect dress,
and maybe once is all you wear it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The time we spend trying in vain to make another
happy, yet find no inner peace within.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time spent in mindless conversations on social
media, yet maybe not a deep connection with someone special.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The time and the effort in making up excuses for
not spending time with a loved one, yet not making way for quality time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Life just seems to be on a brutish autopilot
mode, that has been carved by each one of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most people seem to take pride in their gruesome work schedule. I
Increasingly see these excesses create paucity in love, in living and in
laughter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;">The excess in fact caused by our attitude of quick fixing = replace anything that does not function well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The quick fixes I see everywhere. Most adults and children do not seem to value anything, whether expensive or not. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Appears to me in may instances, people, relationships, friends, clothes, books, shoes, jobs, diets are just "fixed" (read replaced) when they don't work as expected.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Good or bad, beneficial or not, I do not have an answer yet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">But at times I do feel despair, that expectations are the basis for relationships and not unconditional love. That people give up even before trying.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">That most take the easy way out and "fix" stuff with an alternate with not a thought on mending it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Telling myself that there is meaning in words like "renew, rejuvenate, mend, repair" and hoping to unlearn my penchant for the convenient "fixes". </span></span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-57502466229380233262015-07-19T02:29:00.000-07:002016-10-07T23:47:37.251-07:00Angels everywhere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsib7_G_j1eRVQVSfNIM1vGu9NvR5C8Z0ZkF9JplP7TAKRqacPZyPwZakAOcwjANVLosKj0LQLDT_-FaQdFO3Ebo0JIKqYV0DQGnJQjPfJ7hdQ62v2s85SJ9CtqZFrMeHHggmaIQGBa3MX/s1600/angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsib7_G_j1eRVQVSfNIM1vGu9NvR5C8Z0ZkF9JplP7TAKRqacPZyPwZakAOcwjANVLosKj0LQLDT_-FaQdFO3Ebo0JIKqYV0DQGnJQjPfJ7hdQ62v2s85SJ9CtqZFrMeHHggmaIQGBa3MX/s1600/angel.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was brought up with my fair share of fairy tales. I believed in the angel from Cinderella and in prince charming from Sleeping Beauty, the dwarfs from snow white and more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I considered angels to be true and they gave me hope and made my childhood simple, cheerful and pleasant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Somehow as we grow up, the sense of reality is so deeply ingrained in us, that we forget that there could be angels watching over us. We miss the simple pleasures of life in the complaints that we have rather than seeing the beauty around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a Friday morning. My mind was relaxed as it did feel like"Thank God It is Friday".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The morning overdose of work was complete, my playful sons aged 4 and 6 were ready and good to go to the bus stand to board the school van.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7.30 am : Off went the factory siren, that indicated it was time for the school van. We set out after the loud and happy byes to "ajji" and "thatha".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pick up point for the bus is about a 3 minute walk away and as we were close to reaching the bus stand, I saw the girl that I meet everyday..frantically gesturing to me. It took me a minute to understand what she was trying to to tell me from afar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To my horror I realized she was indicating that the van had left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was complete panic as the children had to be dropped off at school and yet I had to reach office within the next 20 mins for an important meeting, that I could not skip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The working mother's reflex machine turned on and whilst walking back home I gestured to my father in law,for the car keys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I called my brother whose children board at the next stop and told him to "hold" the van while I revved up the engine with the children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With a calm resolve, the car was taken out and, we managed to catch up with the school van in just a few minutes after missing it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I come home smiling, much to the amusement of hubby dear, who incidentally has never missed a van or ever been late for a meeting!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I told him, I was happy about the angels around me. He looked confused. I did have a bit of explaining to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The girl who gestured was someone I met everyday at the bus stop, and we would speak for a few minutes. Mostly her van arrived before ours did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She had walked up further to alert me about the van having left, so I saved precious time in walking up and even waiting there, wondering why the van was late.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My father in law who was waiting right outside the gate and rushed in to get my car keys yet again saving a few moments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My brother who literally did "hold" the van for a couple of minutes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We missed the van, yes of course. But I did comprehend that there were guardian angels all around me, watching over me, protecting me. You may not see or know that they exist, but when you need them they appear in different forms and look after you...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I started driving to office for the meeting, I said a silent thank you and went back to the several instances where I was protected by an angel..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During a tough exam, I asked to pass and I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I lost something precious, I always found it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I needed to cry, a friend was there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I needed a hug, a loved one came by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I met with an accident, but escaped with just a few bruises.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I was low, there was always a reason to pick myself up and go along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">i could think of myriad such instances and even more the number of times, that an angel watched over and covered up for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love these people, for they have no wings, nor a halo around them, they don't fly nor are they dainty, but they exist and they are my loved ones and take forms of friends, acquaintances, partners, spouse, parents, relatives or a stranger too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also conceive that the attitude of blame and complaints does distance me from my angels. However gratitude and love take me closer and they become more persistent in their appearance to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think the angels may not really respond when you call them, but if you ever needed them they have been there, in silence with their handiwork making things better for you.</span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-20494702335637132012015-07-01T09:45:00.001-07:002016-10-07T23:51:00.222-07:00Life: The Law Of Attraction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgIr1SNr8dDv895F6IdIVwg35mpEU6XQ4eKLp8Hk2rwyBTqFxdKS14nwgWBUWuUNuTUvg3ecuMsYXRF75u0DgxRoVG7ZZCAThsx0H5b-R0-8wLMNF9nM0wftDGhOkPP45CutoDZn2IT1N/s1600/loa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgIr1SNr8dDv895F6IdIVwg35mpEU6XQ4eKLp8Hk2rwyBTqFxdKS14nwgWBUWuUNuTUvg3ecuMsYXRF75u0DgxRoVG7ZZCAThsx0H5b-R0-8wLMNF9nM0wftDGhOkPP45CutoDZn2IT1N/s400/loa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://raosumanaeventful.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-law-of-attraction_30.html?spref=bl">Life: The Law Of Attraction</a>: There is truth in the "Law Of Attraction" !! Oh well, I am not really talking about the ones that make your hormones go awr...</div>
SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-92022973528836009832015-06-30T07:37:00.000-07:002015-07-01T09:38:17.051-07:00The Law Of Attraction <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
is truth in the "Law Of Attraction" !! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh
well, I am not really talking about the ones that make your hormones go awry
but about the way each one of us attracts events, people and situations in our
lives.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will save the one on "hormones" for the next blog!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To illustrate a few examples<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My
children (one six months and the other 20 months) were unwell and I was at my wits end managing the tiny tots who hadn't eaten in two days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was
tired too. Home remedies (courtesy wisdom from the elders) showed gradual results but the fatigued mother in me
wanted quick fixes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
mandatory visit to the doctor and the obligatory "dakshina" seemed to be the guaranteed way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
shared this conversation with a friend and he told me - that this was all in my
mind and I could well ensure that my child recovered without the
"mandatory" visit to the doctor. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I argued and insisted he prove it to me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That
marked the beginning of a conversation that still empowers me in everything
that I do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realized that
right from when I was a child I hated visiting a doctor. I disliked
medicines , and that is what continued to be my reality, even when my children
were born.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
were some people in my life that I did not like, and try as much, I could never
be away from them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If i
walked into an exam fearing that the part I did not prepare for would be a
critical question, it indeed was there on the question paper.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
There was such an exaggerated conversation about what I did not want in my
mind, and that is exactly what materialized all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<b><i>The learning I got was that - The more I resist
something, the more it persists. </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">I cruised back to my college days, when I would have prepared
for a few questions really well, and prayed that they appeared in the final
exams, and they did. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">I thought about the times when I remembered a friend or a
cousin and by some magic they either called or came home..</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
secretly wanted my own bike, and to my surprise my dad got me one the moment
I turned 16, it was exactly the black Kinetic Honda that I had
been dreaming about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted to see my name in print and it happened almost instantly!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>The
lesson : Dream, imagine and visualize</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmm,
interesting but I found myself going back to several dreams that did not
manifest.. <b><i> </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted
to be a topper in class. It did not happen, ever. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have
been visualizing a solo holiday for the last 5 years, I continue to dream about
it even today !</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A
new sleek red car, with the stylish me driving it is another dream...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well,
these are wishes of mine yet to become apparent, for what is missing
is the belief in me that they will happen. To make it simple, I
believed I was good at studies but also that I was not made
of topper material. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dream
of a solo vacation, but don't believe I can let go of my children and go away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dream of my new red car, but believe that
right now I don't really need it, and as a result of my
disbelief in my dreams they do not manifest as quickly as the the
ones that I believe in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>The
Lesson - Believe in your dream - right from the bottom of your heart! and yes even logic defying dreams come true- often!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of
this and more takes me back to the conversation with my friend
and about the law of attraction .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simply put, you will end up meeting the person you don’t want to, going to a party
that you don’t want to, doing things that you don’t want to. The contradiction is also powerful and true for when you really wanted and craved for something you may have just got that as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looked up google and this is what I found </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
"The <b>law of attraction</b> is the name given to the maxim
"like attracts like" which in New Thought philosophy is used to sum
up the idea that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts a person brings
positive or negative experiences into their life".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you wish to learn more about the mystery behind the law of attraction and bring alive your dreams..</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read the
book "The Secret"- Rhonda Bryne or <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">watch the
video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZVfahVzBrY.">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZVfahVzBrY.</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*P.S the video link opens only in India</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-67633064508483878922015-06-20T10:48:00.001-07:002015-06-20T19:45:32.480-07:00Life: Soul Mates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Soul Mates</span></h3>
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<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few years ago at a personal transformation workshop, I did an exercise called the Circle of Life.</span><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were asked to depict the circle of our lives. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My circle was a happy one with not much hierarchy. Very simply put, my circle depicted just about 7-8 people who made my life meaningful.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was told that my circle was quite small and I do not let people into my life easily. I rebelled and said stuff that a non believer would say. I said that I was a very friendly person and got along easily with several people in all spheres of life.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, my phone book is filled with numbers and I cannot even tell you how many groups on whats app I belong to. A picture updated on facebook leads to a flood of hundreds of likes and comments! Of course I like to think that I am popular and people "love"me. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Few alumni meetings were called, and I did not respond to the invites nor did I attend those gatherings. It caught me thinking and wondering,why did I not feel enthusiastic about meeting my old friends?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is when I realized that I had been wrong all this while. It had indeed been several years since I made real friends. I have been choosing to act in the capacity of a mute spectator rather than participate in what according to me are "mundane group forwards and conversations" on all social media.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just when I started to wonder if I was moving into the realm of enjoying solitude better than company of people, a few long lost...and I mean really looooong lost friends reached out and got in touch.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words cannot do justice to that heady elation I felt at just being able to re connect with these people.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was so easy. Time, distance, differences, years, misconceptions faded away into oblivion. The vacuum of being cut off made no dent. Memories came alive, as if it were something that had transpired just the previous day.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a believer in the concept of"soul mates". There are a few such "mates" in my life, who enrich my life just by their presence. I see the difference in me, when they are around me. I light up, become myself, rather than my "normal" self. Sometimes there is a song in my head, many a time, it is euphoric, several times it is dissent and confrontation too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The way every experience concludes is just the same.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The joy of feeling complete.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The pure bliss of connecting with someone you love, where "inhibitions" have no place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These soul mates of mine are a few...yet bring in an abundance and multitude of charm to my life in varied roles and forms. They bring life into my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quoting Richard Bach "<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">“Can miles truly separate you from friends... If you want to be with someone you love, aren't you already there?”</span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, if like me you have soul mates in your life, reach out and tell them "yes you love them" and are grateful for their presence in your life.</span></span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-29357267958524443752015-06-20T10:40:00.000-07:002015-06-20T10:54:34.854-07:00Soul Mates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeHTXKz4f57eLJ-4XQjbUG0enH-sfOdpLIaewDwqbRdBXZ-tsWDnCUG2O6iwBYqTtIr5uY0wYL3PoCSKBixk_76w9wvK7yHbJJbpTA_2XHc1MJn08lgKenFuEpQ2DbKryP0L6G7s6eJgP/s1600/soulmate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeHTXKz4f57eLJ-4XQjbUG0enH-sfOdpLIaewDwqbRdBXZ-tsWDnCUG2O6iwBYqTtIr5uY0wYL3PoCSKBixk_76w9wvK7yHbJJbpTA_2XHc1MJn08lgKenFuEpQ2DbKryP0L6G7s6eJgP/s320/soulmate.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A few years ago at a personal transformation workshop, I did an exercise called the Circle of Life.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We were asked to depict the circle of our lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My circle was a happy one with not much hierarchy. Very simply put, my circle depicted just about 7-8 people who made my life meaningful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When I was told that my circle was quite small and I do not let people into my life easily. I rebelled and said stuff that a non believer would say. I said that I was a very friendly person and got along easily with several people in all spheres of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yes, my phone book is filled with numbers and I cannot even tell you how many groups on whats app I belong to. A picture updated on facebook leads to a flood of hundreds of likes and comments! Of course I like to think that I am popular and people "love"me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Few alumni meetings were called, and I did not respond to the invites nor did I attend those gatherings. It caught me thinking and wondering,why did I not feel enthusiastic about meeting my old friends?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That is when I realized that I had been wrong all this while. It had indeed been several years since I made real friends. I have been choosing to act in the capacity of a mute spectator rather than participate in what according to me are "mundane group forwards and conversations" on all social media.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Just when I started to wonder if I was moving into the realm of enjoying solitude better than company of people, a few long lost...and I mean really looooong lost friends reached out and got in touch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Words cannot do justice to that heady elation I felt at just being able to re connect with these people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was so easy. Time, distance, differences, years, misconceptions faded away into oblivion. The vacuum of being cut off made no dent. Memories came alive, as if it were something that had transpired just the previous day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am a believer in the concept of"soul mates". There are a few such "mates" in my life, who enrich my life just by their presence. I see the difference in me, when they are around me. I light up, become myself, rather than my "normal" self. Sometimes there is a song in my head, many a time, it is euphoric, several times it is dissent and confrontation too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The way every experience concludes is just the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The joy of feeling complete.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The pure bliss of connecting with someone you love, where "inhibitions" have no place.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">These soul mates of mine are a few...yet bring in an abundance and multitude of charm to my life in varied roles and forms. They bring life into my life.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Quoting Richard Bach "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">“Can miles truly separate you from friends... If you want to be with someone you love, aren't you already there?”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Well, if like me you have soul mates in your life, reach out and tell them "yes you love them" and are grateful for their presence in your life.</span></span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-60423834074453062182015-05-27T10:42:00.000-07:002016-10-07T23:53:40.936-07:00Namit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was a friend’s wedding and as much as Namit hated crowds, this was an event that he could not avoid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All dressed up in his traditional Coorgi avatar he
grudgingly went to the venue. Racked with boredom he set out looking for
company. Spotting a bevy of youngsters he stood around watching them. That was
when he spotted Pari, looking bedecked
yet restrained in her finery. Laughing with the group, she yet seemed like she
did not belong there. Charmed by the vibe he picked up, he walked up to the
group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A closer glance revealed a dark slender alluring
beauty with a spiraled fuzzy mane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Surrounded by a bunch of friends , the dolled up
tom boyish girl had an aura about her that awed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He walked closer, fumbling for words. That’s not
how you eat, come on let me teach you the right way to eat”! Startled Pari
looked at the bulky stranger and wondered why he was giving her tips on eating
well! Polite that she was, she heard his tips on the right way to eat a multiple course Coorgi meal!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The awkward lunch ended and they went their separate ways.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She soon became his living dream, day and night, Nothing
could take his thoughts off her and Namit realised, that he had fallen - hook,
line and bait for the mystical charms of the demure Pari.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mustering up courage, he invited himself over for
lunch to her home, even talking directly with her firebrand Colonel father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They met and their eyes spoke beyond all words. He
had known from the very first sight of her that she was the one for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To him she was the epitome of love and all that he
had craved for since he was a child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Namit had a disturbed childhood…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Instead fond memories of love and laughter, he
recalled the agony of separation from his parents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A child who was deprived of a mothers love. The
career that kept his parents away from him..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Namit, standing behind the bars of the window at
his hostel, ever waiting for his mother to arrive and hug him and tell him how
very much she loved him. Instead sobbing away, praying and wishing that by some
magic his mother would appear to him. Alas the magic never happened to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He recalled the endless days and years that he stood in this
anguish, the sinking feeling of going to bed disappointed, dejected and feeling
rejected.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The shooting pain of feeling abandoned, craving to play with his mother to be
smothered by her love and affection.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The strong willed young boy then realized that his
dream of experiencing the love and affection from his mother had turned into a nightmare, for he felt only pain, everytime he thought about her</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He stopped every form of communication with his
parents even refusing to speak when they met.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The distress and anger in his mind was so deep that he refused to converse with his own mother who could be hard hearted enough to send him away at such a tender age. Meeting him just once a year for a brief while. He had completely withdrawn and chose silence over communication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A few months in the hostel and he became dear to
everyone at his hostel. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fresh are his memories of how he took up
sports to keep himself away from the anguish that haunted him every waking
moment.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He soon learned to keep his mind and body focussed on sports.After a successful stint in Cricket, he also tried kabaddi and aced the game and the tactics.</span><br />
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His hard work and determination to be independent kept him going and very soon the 16 year old boy stopped being dependent on his parents for any of his needs including finances.</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This inspiring Eklavya award winner, did not even inform his parents when he received the award. He had chosen to disallow them the joy and pride of an achiever offspring. After all they had abandoned him. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">30 years on, Namit is leading a content life, filled with warmth, grace and love.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
The love that he had looked for from his mother ... He found from Pari, truly the angel in his life. The petite beauty towers over him with love and affection and takes care of every need of his with the tenderness of a mother.<br />
<br />
Strange are the ways of the universe, and today Namit is wary of accepting his Mother back in his life while she craves to spend time with him..<br />
<br />
Namit stands tall, a self made man, a sports man par excellence. Complete with affection and love from his doting wife and his adorable son.<br />
<br />
One look at the couple and you will see them living upto the "made for each other" tag.<br />
<br />
He has found love from his wife, that made up for all the years of craving.<br />
<br />
Brings to the mind " Love isn't something you find, Love is something that finds you".<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-79859868104056664262015-03-06T03:20:00.000-08:002015-03-06T03:20:45.669-08:00Spirit of Holi!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had the opportunity to experience 'Holi" yesterday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thought of being drenched in colours and water does not appeal to the grown up me! Am not really someone who enjoys Holi . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However the maternal instinct in me wanted the children to enjoy and experience the merriment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I heard about a Holi celebration being planned at their skating rink, I was also excited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well prepared with old towels, spare clothes for the kids, pichkaaris and few colors for the kids to play with, we set off to the rink and rushed the kids in to play;).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The plan was to be a bystander and watch the fun. The riot of colour at the venue and the joy in everyone's face was priceless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was happy to be an observer, passing comments and giggling away with a soul connect, when out of the blue, I felt myself being serenaded, by a blast of colour and tons of water!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OMG!! I did not want to play and I thought everyone knew that!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The spirit of Holi is once you are dunked, you are in the game. Period.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no space for being guarded, restricted, ego, nothing at all. You also just become a child and give into your instincts and keep finding people that you want to see coloured!! Another learning at letting go and just surrendering yourself to whatever was happening around me and enjoying it despite having resisted it earlier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It certainly was enjoyable to see the children and their child like adults, play in pure abandon and it was amusing to let yourself get spoilt with the colours and the water and all so called "yucky" stuff that you probably never do!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79;">H</span><span style="color: #351c75;">A</span><span style="color: #0c343d;">P</span><span style="color: #990000;">P</span><span style="color: magenta;">Y</span> <span style="color: blue;">H</span><span style="color: #38761d;">O</span><span style="color: orange;">LI</span>, enjoy it while you can...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWQGhyphenhyphen_ZYYULww7ChupxtNAddXhBeKnLq6M52p_BoscrfmkKE-kcYHgus00dKWfu-bb8o8Dl6tzxJjfJoLxk_e4nMXSO3lqC1gAHyNiMpoQZ5HobWzMfUm99-FsvmdRyPq9KqdRXVbnT4/s1600/Holi+Mar++2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWQGhyphenhyphen_ZYYULww7ChupxtNAddXhBeKnLq6M52p_BoscrfmkKE-kcYHgus00dKWfu-bb8o8Dl6tzxJjfJoLxk_e4nMXSO3lqC1gAHyNiMpoQZ5HobWzMfUm99-FsvmdRyPq9KqdRXVbnT4/s1600/Holi+Mar++2015.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-47735843679552602542015-02-27T06:28:00.001-08:002016-10-07T23:54:53.563-07:00Letting Go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZT-BaCWBtmNemVU9FtRTNggWbfHBxDFue6rFfAz9Y80wlCVq_vJhdVgxdKUb45UYC4xz6_Ccl6XyAJp3fmBKtx1g99Z4fV0nNceFoT-Th6iye0PjmbFVQRJQs6TzwOYJpaWsljPXLEmZ/s1600/Let-Go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZT-BaCWBtmNemVU9FtRTNggWbfHBxDFue6rFfAz9Y80wlCVq_vJhdVgxdKUb45UYC4xz6_Ccl6XyAJp3fmBKtx1g99Z4fV0nNceFoT-Th6iye0PjmbFVQRJQs6TzwOYJpaWsljPXLEmZ/s320/Let-Go.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I came across this today</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 13.60000228881836px; line-height: 18px;">“Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone's hand is the beginning of a journey.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 13.60000228881836px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 13.60000228881836px; line-height: 18px;">At other times, it is allowing another to take yours.” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 13.60000228881836px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 13.60000228881836px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/186145.Vera_Nazarian" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-size: 13.60000228881836px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Vera Nazarian</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Such a simple looking statement with collosal meaning within it...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sharing a few of my thoughts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I rarely allow another to take my hand (Literally and metaphorically of course!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are others that I trust and my blind faith in them allows me to let go and be held in different ways and spaces by that person</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some of these people are my parents, spouse, soul connects and many a time my children, and it is with these people that I feel completely at ease about just being who and what I am...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reaching out and taking charge comes to me very naturally. It is about feeling and being powerful and the center of attention, of being the one who can hold things and emotions together even in the most vulnerable state.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I find myself in a state of contentment when I am the one who is taking someone else's hand...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a long long time, my outlook towards life has been about being in control and stretching out my hand every time I felt someone else needed it...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At times I have let someone else take the lead and nurture me, some one who is not necessarily in my circle of trusted people, and this can also feel wonderful!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I recognize now that conceding to what you truly feel within and allowing yourself to be held renders and nourishes a warm and wonderful relationship too...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also in perception of the fact, that its not only about people, but the events in life as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several plans that have gone awry, well according to me! In hindsight though some of the best things happened to me when indeed my plans did not materialize.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To all of us out there who feel like one has to be in the driver's seat, give a shot at taking the back seat every once in a while and letting things just be...you may probably cherish the experience so try it!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5444842076749408448.post-76972211259409399962015-01-19T02:58:00.000-08:002016-10-08T00:03:21.299-07:00The Sheikh's Son<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuZpluIZUbouLbM0-LBiIzWRRuJP56JWCPJtgKOBJP_7g1mvpiyDwzWCKQfn_BnuhjvwEmdkaRpVOkhxsVfPXdNE4UtF_nj4PkG3bramIT4oG8BA-NLwJv4QGKvY9YgclJqorQv-tJxW0/s1600/word-hospitality-rs113326134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuZpluIZUbouLbM0-LBiIzWRRuJP56JWCPJtgKOBJP_7g1mvpiyDwzWCKQfn_BnuhjvwEmdkaRpVOkhxsVfPXdNE4UtF_nj4PkG3bramIT4oG8BA-NLwJv4QGKvY9YgclJqorQv-tJxW0/s400/word-hospitality-rs113326134.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Vasans household was abuzz with activity. In truth it
was Meera who was quite busy hustling around in preparation for the guest who
was to arrive. Siddharth was to arrive in two days and the house was in a mess.
Shravan( her son) had exams and Rangan (her husband)was inundated with work
from his office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Raman’s were all excited. Their son was all set to land
in India and stay at their closest friends home for a while. The Vasans and the
Ramans had not met in two decades. But the bond of friendship remained quite
strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meera meanwhile finished with all her chores and started to
sip her evening tea with the morning newspaper! Oh yes with her schedule, even
sipping tea was a luxury, it was mostly gulping down food, water and anything
edible before she could get to the next task at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She travelled back in time, reminiscing some of her fond
memories that both the families had spent together. Siddharth was then just a
sweet little toddler who called her “maami”! Now a young man of 24 years! She
thought about how he and Shravan had played numerous games as children and how
much trouble they caused to the girls in the block.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She was smiling when the shrill ring of the telephone shook
her right out of her reverie. It was Siddharth. He had landed in Bangalore 2
days early! Calling in just to check if “anybody home”!! To say Meera was stunned is an
understatement. She had planned a lovely dinner with her best buddy and now she
would have to call that off in the last minute. Of course she could not be rude
to Siddharth and so she told him she was delighted to have him at home and he
could come in home right from the airport.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ahem !and Meera trotted back to her laboratory to dish up
dinner and called her best buddy to re schedule their dinner date.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Siddharth arrived with noise and din, lugging up about 4 big
bags! Meera wondered if he intended to stay at her home forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dinner was uneventful, the only highlight being there were
no leftovers. Meera got chatting with Siddarth and understood that he was on the lookout for employment in
Bangalore. He also mentioned that he would move to a paying guest accommodation
very soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The little while, that Sid was staying over, started to get
longer and longer. The excitement of having a guest was soon turning into the weariness
of when would he leave?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meera had horror stories everyday . No leftovers suddenly was
a nightmare, since that meant cooking thrice a day!! Slept in beds, cushions
lying around, extra laundry to be done, television
hijack, newspaper not folded, unwashed coffee cups left around, another extra
member to be taken into account for outings, co-ordination for the house keys.
Sid was not even courteous to clean up after his dinner, bath anything at all.
Borrowing clothes from Shravan, money from Rangan. Goodness gracious the list was endless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He seemed to expect service that he would get from his
supercilious pampering mother! Meera was feeling smashed at the tumultuous
routine that had got built up since the arrival of Sid. She was forced to break
from her walks, her precious “me time”, her part time work and so much more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2 weeks later unable to bear the guest with his disgraceful
ways, she gently asked him, when he planned to move out to his accommodation?
Sid only said yes aunty, I intend to go out over the weekend with my friend and
he will take me around looking for places to stay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Horrified, No mortified is what she felt, Two weeks had
passed there was not even an inclination to look out for his accommodation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Further conversation with him revealed that in truth the
multi millionaire’s son from the Land of
Oil and Gold, did not have enough finances to support himself at Bangalore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meera was quite at a loss and flowed with silence being the
best answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few more days and Meera felt stifled at her own home,
seemed to her like she did not belong there anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Subtle hints gave way to open talk and conversation, that
gave way to discussions on why you cannot impose yourself as a house guest onto
any family. But some skins are thicker than just talk and hints. Meera took the
situation upon herself to resolve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gave Sid an ultimatum and told him to find his footing by
the end of the week .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally D day arrived and Sid had confirmed that he would
leave before noon. He stepped out in the morning. Noon and evening passed, yet
there was no sign of him. Phone remained switched off too. Jangled nerves as her companion, Meera went
through the days routine and with no sign of him, even at 10.00pm, she and
Rangan decided to wait till the next morning before they intimated his parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A little past midnight the doorbell rang and it was
Siddarth, standing there saying – HIYA Aunty!!
He revealed that he had partied all day with his friends and had made no
attempt at looking for PG or moving
out!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next day Meera handed over his stuff, all packed and his
lunch too and wished him luck in finding his place. Looking bewildered he took
his bags and went out! Finally!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Influx of relief and Meera was ecstatic to get back to her life
and routine. The last few weeks had indeed taken a toll on her. Strange how a
person can knock you off guard and make you feel intruded in the comfort of
your own home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One week on – Sid calls in again to check if he could stay
over with the Rangans for a few days, since he was uncomfortable with the modest
Paying Guest accommodation he had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This time around, Meera refused and said that it would not be possible
for her to commit to being the host yet again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The relationship with the Ramans, now seemed to be going
down the precipice and somehow this seemed like the right thing to happen. The
extended hospitality over the extended duration seemed forgotten and the sense
of “ you did not meet my expectation or care for my son” is what came through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meera sighed, from the realization that sometimes life twists
and turns itself, creating a plot and paving the way for the what is the best
for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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SUMANAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525065965823937230noreply@blogger.com0