Everything Changes

"One minute, you're closer to someone than anyone in the whole world,
next minute, you're never going to see them again..."

-Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason

Heartache

All of my regret will wash away some how,
But I will never forget the way I feel right now !

-Paraphrased from song lyrics I read some place.

Lessons I've learned over the past year

• I've learned that people who have huge egos lose great friends
• I've learned that having expectations just leads to disapppointments
• I've learned that dancing with the devil to make him a saint is a stupid idea
• I've learned that some people are selfish and accepting it is better than trying to change it
• I've learned that help and solace in time of difficulties comes from unexpected sources
• I've learned that crying makes one feel better
• I've learned that good friends know exactly how to cheer you up
• I've learned that getting your heart broken hurts physically as much as it does emotionally
• I've learned that some people are just too stubborn and stupid to change
• I've learnt that class doesn't come from money but from good upbringing and values
• I've learned that no matter how much you do for some people they still treat you like dirt
• I've learned that being a nice person does not ensure that others will be nice to you
• I've learned that a kind word or deed can go a long way in making someone feel good
• I've learned that people who genuinely care are not ashamed to show it
• I've learned not to take what people say at face value
• I've learned that the harder you try to make something work, the greater are the chances of it not working out
• I've learned that people who keep changing their minds are not genuine
• I've learned that you learn something new everyday if you pay enough attention
• I've learned that it is important to learn to let go and move on
• I've learned that some people have no conscience
• I've learned that a hug can make me feel better when nothing else does
• I've learned that people who make you cry and don't feel remorse are not worth bothering about
• I've learned that talking about things always makes me feel better
• I've learned that always apologising for others mistakes and making up is not worth it after a point
• I've learned that some people just cannot admit that they are wrong
• I've learned that consistency in relationships is important to me
• I've learned that I have very strong intuition about people close to me
• I've learned that you never find yourself until you learn to face the truth
• I've learned that if you are unable to find tranquility within yourself it is useless to seek it elsewhere
• I've learned not to trust implicitly
• I've learned that you can sit in a room full of people and still feel lonely
• I've learned that the people that hurt you the most are usually the ones you least expect
• I've learned that some people are insensitive
• I've learned that some people can empathise way better than others
• I've learned that some times comfort can be given without speaking a word
• I've learned that going for a long drive with nice music helps me think and unwind
• I've learned that I cannot live without music
• I've learned that, one should never impose on others what one would not choose for ones self
• I've learned that everything has a moral, the problem is finding it
• I've learned that there are no failures, just experiences and your reactions to them
• I've learned that we are not limited by our abilities, but by our vision
• I've learned that words and ideas can change the world
• I've learned that some times I just need to be on my own
• I've learned that some people can lie without batting an eyelid
• I've learned that I am responsible for my own happiness
• I've learned that if you let people they will take you for granted
• I've learned that people who can't laugh at themselves are hard to live with
• I've learned that learning when to speak and when to keep quiet is extremely important
• I've learned that people who don't communicate are difficult to deal with
• I've learned that words have the power to hurt more than deeds
• I've learned that it hurts to feel

Top Ten Favorite Songs for December

My favorite songs of the month are :-

• Renegade - ATB
• Let Go -Paul Van Dyke
• Fields of Love -ATB
• It's not over -Chris Daughtry
• Beautiful Liar - Beyonce Knowles
• Breathe Me -Sia
• Umbrella - Rihanna
• I wanna Love you -Akon
• Don't think of me -Dido
• Something Just are the way they are - ATB

There is nothing half so pleasant as coming home again....

Finally back home after five months ! Such a relief to be back to the old and the familiar, it's strange how some things give comfort just by being the same. Come to think of it , I think that's what most of us look for in life, stability or consistency in relationships or in anything for the matter. That's what keeps one sane when other things go crazily out of orbit !

I've spent the past five months in Singapore and it's been an enlightening and enjoyable experience. During the time away from home, I've grown a lot and learnt a hellavu lot about myself and about people in general. Strange how staying with people makes you bond so much faster with them. I never thought i'd miss my friends in my holiday break, I guess it's weird when I think about how I didn't even know these people five months back and now I miss them when I don't see them everyday ! I guess home is not a place where you live, but a place where they understand you...

Letting Go n Moving On

"Sometimes it makes me sad, though, Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are just too bright... and when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice... but still, the place you live is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend. "

-Excerpt from Shawshank Redemption

Resilience

We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation, when facing a fate that cannot be changed.
-Viktor E. Frankl

Growing up

Learning to own your burdens is half the battle in life , and once you do that, you learn to take responsibility for your actions.

Loss of a loved one

The moment you lose someone you love, is the moment you lose a part of yourself...

Compassion

You cannot care about everything and stay sane. You cannot care about nothing and stay human.
- Katherine Whitehorn

Right n Wrong

No one is always completely right, there is something wrong with all of us...

Challenge

The greatest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone wants you to be somebody else.
-E.E Cummings

Distance

Even though we drifted apart in distance, I still think of you as a part of my life. And although we both have many new friends I still cherish our friendship and always will.

And then , it rained !!!

Beautiful isn't it ? I love the rain ! :-D

Home

Home is where the heart is...

Bitterness

Only someone who has been really close to you, can hurt you with a precision that few others can achieve...and in the end all that's left is bitterness...

Passion

If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for , he isn't fit to live.

-Martin Luther King

The Future

I guess you never know where a road will end... Sometimes you just know that it will...

Top Ten Favorite Songs for the Month of May

I have this strange habit of finding songs that I like, old or new and then listening to them again and again, till I get sick of em. So I’ve decided to regularly post a list of my favorite songs. You may wonder why I feel the need to subject you to my music preferences, and well I have only one answer for you my friend, It’s my blog ! If you have any objections you are free to leave a comment or better still get your own blog! :-)

So here goes this months list :-

1. Begin –Ben Lee
2. Chasing Cars –Snow Patrol
3. Here without you –Three Doors Down
4. Beautiful Wreck –Shawn Mullins
5. Some Hearts –Carrie Underwood
6. Everything Changes –Staind
7. The Real Thing –Bo Bice
8. I’ll Stand by you –The Pretenders
9. Faraway – Nickelback
10. The Fear you won’t fall – Joshua Radin

The Old n the Familiar

In this place I hear the quiet rasp of things as they used to be. I come at dawn, I come at nightfall, and all the hours in between. I come to hear the twilight robes and songs from yesterday. I come because old things live here, things I understand without knowing why...

-Paraphrased from "Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend" - By Robert James Waller

Daddy’s Girl -Always!

Three years have passed since I lost my father but for me time seems to stand still. My father still forms an important part of my life. There isn’t a day which goes by where I don’t think about him, miss him or talk about him. I often wonder what his views on certain current events would be, whether he would enjoy food at the new restaurant that opened down the road, or whether he would like the latest acquisition to my wardrobe.
I guess that’s what happens when someone has a larger than life presence. In a strange way it permeates even when the person no longer exists. I still hear his voice telling me not to do silly things, to have patience when I’m sick of waiting for things to happen, and telling me to be strong when I feel like I can’t deal with things. Is it really possible for someone to talk to you from beyond the grave or is it a game your mind plays with you to help you deal with the sudden shock of losing someone so near and dear to you?

I don’t know the answer to that question, but I’m glad that I can still hear his voice in my head. It makes me feel safe, happy and content knowing that, it’s a part of him I’ll always have.

Looking back, I know that in the past three years I’ve grown up more than I did in the 22 years before that. I guess losing someone close to you makes you grow up faster than you ever intended. And all the values that they tried to instill in you seem to suddenly become the values that you strive for even when their physical presence is not around to guide you. As a person, I’ve learnt to be more responsible, goal oriented and focused. I've learnt to prioritise and make time for work and fun. I’ve learnt to face my fears and deal with it head on. I’ve become stronger emotionally than I ever thought possible. Suddenly life seems too short to hold grudges or to fight over trifles. Family has gained more importance than it ever had before. Making time for hobbies and learning new skills has become a part of my routine. In short, living life to the fullest. But the greatest lesson that I have learnt from my dad is, that forging relationships with people is more important than just getting the job done.
And though there are lot of things in life I’m not sure of, one thing I know for sure is , I’ll always be daddy’s girl !

Loss

Loss? What does it mean? Loss of property or life?

Loss of property can be replaced given time, but loss of life – never. When someone loses someone near and dear, people often say, give it time… things will get better. I always wonder what their talking about?!! Better with time? For whom ? Maybe for the person saying it because, with time he/she will forget about it and move on with his/her life. What a foolish thing to say and how very naïve of them to assume that everything gets better with time, like time is a panacea for all ills.

I know that with time the pain intensifies, as time flies one realizes the gravity of death. A person who is dead will never ever return. You can never expect them to walk into a room while you’re sitting there, never have a conversation with them, never touch them and never hold them close. And the pain you feel at the unfairness of it all, doesn’t get better with time, it gets worse, like a festering wound, becoming larger and more painful. Losing someone close to you can change your life in ways you never even imagined. It can make you stronger or weaker, the choice is yours. Strong individuals find ways to circumvent the pain and look for ways to channelise it; the weak succumb to the pain and undergo depression, sometimes even trying to commit suicide.

What irritates me is individuals who feel the need to give advice on the loss of a loved one when they have absolutely no idea what their talking about. Sometimes it’s a good idea to shut-up if one doesn’t have anything intelligent to say, might save the rest of us the torture of listening to crap.

Change

Sometimes we foolishly believe that if we take the easier path we'd still be in safe waters.. like a ship in the harbour...but then ships were not made to stay in the harbour...and hanging around in the harbour would just make us into bored, unhappy and dis-satisfied individuals... sometimes it's important to take risks...otherwise life loses its meaning...

The Quarter Life Crisis

This is the time in your life when you realize that however much you hate it, change is the only constant in life and that things rarely go according to plan. You start realizing that there are many things you thought you would have achieved by this time, but now they seem a distant dream or not even a possibility.

You start feeling insecure and confused about your goals and wonder what you will have achieved in a year or five years time, since you haven’t managed to achieve what you had set out for yourself, and now you’re frightened to set more goals and not achieve them once again.

You start realizing that life is short and that people are important, and somehow you always treated the ones who were difficult better than the ones who always stood by you. You realize that people can be selfish and that the only person who really cares about you and looks out for your interests is yourself and expecting anyone else to do it is just setting yourself up for more disappointment.

You’ve reached a phase in your life where you’ve been through a number of relationships and you now know what you want and don’t want in a relationship, where you are willing to compromise and what you are not willing to budge on.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved with every ounce of your being could hurt you so much. You wonder why you go from one destructive relationship to another, constantly searching for that elusive something. Or you lie in bed at night and wonder where all the decent people are hiding because you can’t seem to find anyone that you want to get to know better. Or on the off chance that you do meet someone interesting, they are already taken.

You are now much more confident as a person. You have learnt to take things with a pinch of salt. You laugh and cry with more feeling than you ever did before. Each experience in your life is etched deeply in your mind and impacts the way you think and how you interact with people. You are more careful and less trusting of others. You try hard not to become cold, jaded and cynical.

You begin to judge people more than you did earlier in your life. You are constantly observing other people and renewing the boundaries in your life, adding things to the list of what is acceptable and what is definitely not.

You have a smaller close knit group of friends who form your support system. You talk to your friends about the same things again and again- work, family, higher education, men/women in your life and analyse the same problems again and again searching for solutions, hoping that you will have the courage to make tough decisions and follow through with them.

You stop going along with the crowd and realize that you don’t need to try so hard to fit in. Getting completely wasted and acting like an immature idiot loses its charm. You undergo some self realization and some of the things you’ve discovered about yourself are not entirely pleasant.

You worry more about your family and the health of your loved ones. You take on more responsibility and try to help out with daily chores and financial obligations.

You worry about loans, money, marriage and making a life for yourself. And while achieving all your goals would be nice, you would settle for at least a definite path to your goals with a blue print of all the potholes or at least a way to get around them.

You feel alone, scared, anxious, excited, worried, and happy all at the same time. One minute you wouldn’t want to change anything for the world and the next minute you wonder how you got stuck in this rut.

You know you’ve never felt so alive or so frightened in your entire life. You feel like you are standing at the edge of a cliff and the only way to move forward is to jump and pray the parachute holds.

What you don’t realize is that everyone in this age group is going through something similar and would be able to relate to the gamut of emotions that you are facing. So relax and try to enjoy yourself. Think of it like a roller coaster ride, where you’re poised on top, waiting for it to begin, you know its going to be fun , though scary in some parts and exhilarating in others. So what you need to do is embrace it instead of trying to fight it!

And when you feel lost and lonely next time, remember we are all searching for our place in the world and as we stumble along in search of happiness, there is always company and it’s not going to be a long lonely ride.

I wish you all the very Best of luck ! :-)

Different People, Different Views

Strange isn't it how you think you know someone and then something happens, either an event, a disagreement or even a serious conversation about important issues and you suddenly wonder who the other person is... what their real beliefs and values are... what their guiding principles are and how different or similar to yours they are...

The way a person thinks, deals with problems or treats other people depends on how they have been brought up. Family and friends play an important role in nurturing an individual. Many a time our views about certain topics are solely based upon the experiences of our family and friends. And while many of us have similar thoughts about certain issues our views might greatly diverge on other topics...so to assume that just because a person agrees or thinks in a similar fashion about some things that they would agree with you on all other things would be a gross injustice to them and to you...

So when it comes to settling down with someone it's important to figure out those issues which are important to both of you and ensure that your value system is the same atleast on those... otherwise it just leads to un-necessary complications and marriage is tough without having that to deal with too..

Truth

The truth is almost always more complicated than it seems... Everything is not black n white.. Some things have shades of grey...But the truth always surfaces sooner or later...

Love's Philosophy

The Fountains mingle with the River and the Rivers with the Ocean,
the winds of Heaven mix for ever with a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine in one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine?
see the mountains kiss high Heaven and the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven if it disdained its brother,
and the sunlight clasps the earth and the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What is all this sweet work worth if thou kiss not me?

-Percy B Shelley

Dancing

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.
-Angela Monet

The Purpose of Life

We all die, the goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.

True Love

For some quite inexplicably, love fades; for others love grows stronger with time... and for still others love is simply lost... But then of course love can also be found...

I believe True Love doesn't stop when time passes, or you live in different places, or sombody's gone....true love transcends space and time...

Pain

No one can hurt you, unless you let them.

Death

As flies to wanton boys are, we to the Gods. They kill us for their sport.
-William Shakespeare

Motto in Life

You must live for another if you to wish to live for yourself.
-Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Pure Love

Have you ever thought of a love so pure that you want to do what's best for the one you love ? How many of us ever achieve that heightened level of awareness ? Most parents feel strongly about their children... strongly enough to give up their lives without a second thought if it came to a choice...and most children would do the same for their parents.. but how many couples would do it ? Seriously, how many couples even understand each other enough, to know that sometimes it's better to go different ways than to hang on to each other and make each other miserable in the long run.. by standing in the way of each others dreams and aspirations...sometimes the simplest actions such as walking away are hardest to follow through with.....

In the Pursuit of Happiness

We spend our entire lives in the pursuit of the happiness... and what is happiness really.. it's a fleeting moment in life when everything is right...when the world seems a beautiful place and we feel at one with everything and everyone...as if we couldn't wish or hope for anything more... but I say it's a fleeting moment, because given time we want more...it's just human nature...

I think happiness is almost like an illusion or maybe even a state in which we are delusional and believe that life is perfect...and in time...reality bites.. nice and hard... and it's back to the search for the unattainable...

Everyone has hopes, everyone has dreams, everyone has pain, everyone has ambitions, everyone wants something, needs something , desires something, cherishes something, loves someone, dislikes someone, hurts someone, wants to protect someone and while all our lives are so different in the end it's all the same...

Would you lie with me and just forget the world ???!

We'll do it all
Everything On our own
We don't need Anything
Or anyone
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind meTo find my own
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes
They're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things
Will never change for us at all
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world ??!!

-Snow Patrol ( Chasing Cars)

Hope

Sometimes hope is all we've got.. and waiting is the hardest part.. not knowing.. just hoping that things will go as we want them to...bcoz we can't even imagine the alternative at the moment...it's just too upsetting and scary...

For a change I hope things will go in my favour...

Reflections

This is a pic I took on a nice deserted beach in kerala while watching the sunset...

I really like this pic... something so powerful and peaceful at the same time...

Should be able to take lots more pics as soon as our beach house is ready and I get the chance to go n stay there...

Hopefully by then I'll know more about photography than I know now... :-)

Food Orgy in Kerala

George Bernard Shaw once said ,"There is no sincerer love, than the love of food"...n how true that is...

I spent the last week in Kerala..n had the most amazing time.. my entire family believes in eating constantly, and most of my family can put a good chef to shame... so as expected i've gained quite a bit of weight.. so now the weight loss plan begins.. but here are a few pics of my grandmothers delicasies.. maybe that will explain why i couldn't resist.. :-)))

Letting Go

Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong -Sometimes it's letting go...

Memories

Life gives us brief moments with another...but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that can last a lifetime...

I've learned that goodbyes will always hurt, pictures will never replace having been there, memories good and bad will bring tears, and words will never replace feelings.....

Passion

Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.
-Hebbel

Quote for Valentines Day

The more you judge, the less you love.

Ideas for Valentines Day -Part 3

Home-made Cherry layered Strawberry Cake...bcoz to love is find pleasure in the happiness of the person loved... And what better way to do that than to feed em something sinful..

Ideas for Valentines Day -Part 2

Home-made pizzas... bcoz the way to a man's heart is through his stomach... :-)

Quarrels

If we open a quarrel between the past and the present , we shall find that we have lost the future.

Ideas for Valentines Day -Part 1

Home-made Chocolate brownies and a bottle of wine. And maybe a little card, which says "I love you like a fat kid loves cake".

Nothing says those three words better than food and drink.... unless ofcourse you are planning to give diamonds... :-)

Communication

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love.

-Washington Irving

Silence

Spiteful words can hurt your feelings , but silence breaks your heart.

Friendship

Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.

Diplomacy

In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.
-Thomas Pickering

Dogs

• Dogs are not our whole life,but they make our lives whole.
• If it wasn't for dogs, some people would never go for a walk.
• A dog, I will maintain, is a very tolerable judge of beauty, as appears from the fact that any liberally educated dog does,in a general way, prefer a woman to a man.
• If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
• Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car,in case the need should arise for them to bark suddenly at nothing right in your ear.
• If your dog doesn't like someone,you probably shouldn't either.
• Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.

Disguise

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.
-Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Imagination

Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.
-Jamie Paolinetti

The Real Thing

When looking for someone to settle down with , one keeps asking oneself , "Is this the right person ?" Today while surfing the internet I came upon something which I think perfectly said it all...

"Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep...

Wait for a boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you.. The one who turns to his friends and says,' that's her'. "

Women

The house does not rest upon the ground, but upon a woman.

-Mexican Proverb

Family

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.

The most powerful ties are the ones to the people who gave us birth , it hardly seems to matter how many years have passed, how many betrayals there may have been, how much misery in the family : We remain connected, even against our wills.

-Anthony Brandt

Humour

Through Humour, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.

-Bill Cosby

Absence

There is one pain I often feel, which you will never know. It's caused by the absence of you.

-Dedicated in memory of my late Father.

Freedom

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.
-Mahatma Gandhi

Epitaph

I want to be remembered as the girl who always smiles even when her heart is broken, and the one that could always brighten up your day even if she couldn't brighten her own.

Advice for the New Year

Be who you are, and say what you feel, cause' those who mind, don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Suess

Risk

To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure , but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

Generosity

What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
-Albert Pine

I’ve learned that :-

• Days are long, but life is short.
• I can’t change the past, but I can let it go.
• People treat me, the way I allow them to treat me.
• Whatever I enjoy doing, I do well.
• If you smile at people , they will almost always smile back.
• That a person’s greatest need is to feel appreciated.
• The only time I want to sleep late is when I can’t.
• The best way to appreciate something is to be without it for a while.
• To get the right answer, you have to ask the right questions.
• Being through tough times does not necessarily make a person tougher. It’s not what you've been through that matters, its how you came through it.
• The ability to laugh when life gets you down is the only thing that can help you get over all obstacles.
• Being good looking might give you an audience, but after fifteen minutes, you better know something.
• Having a supportive family and good friends can help you overcome anything.
• Being bigger doesn’t necessarily mean being stronger.
• Most women are emotionally stronger than men.
• One of the greatest joys in life is to be greeted by a pet .
• Good food and chocolate can cheer me up like nothing else.
• Being hard working might not give you immediate results but hard work pays off eventually.
• Deciding whom you’ll marry is the most important decision you’ll ever make.
• Most of the things I worry about never happen.
• No one has a clue about what the stock market is going to do.
• The greatest challenge in life is to decide what’s important and to disregard everything else.
• You shouldn’t fight a battle, if there’s nothing to win.
• You should never be too busy to say “Please” and “Thank you”.
• You can’t judge people by the way they look.
• You can’t throw mud without getting some on yourself.
• A person is only as good as his or her word.
• It doesn’t cost anything to be nice.
• Nothing of value comes without effort.
• Trust is the single most important factor in all relationships.
• Silent company is often more healing than words of advice.
• If you care about someone, it shows.
• More comfort doesn’t necessarily mean more happiness.
• Life sometimes gives you a second chance.
• The worst pain is watching someone you love in pain.
• When someone tells you that it’s the principle of the thing and not the money, it’s usually the money.
• Sometimes I just need to be hugged.
• You never really know your friends until you live with them.
• I still have a lot to learn
  
  
  
  

Revenge

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
-Confucius

Impossible

IMPOSSIBLE IS JUST A BIG WORD THROWN AROUND BY SMALL MEN WHO FIND IT EASIER TO LIVE IN THE WORLD THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN THAN TO EXPLORE THE POWER THEY HAVE TO CHANGE IT.
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT A FACT. IT'S AN OPINION.
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT A DECLARATION. IT'S A DARE.
IMPOSSIBLE IS POTENTIAL.
IMPOSSIBLE IS TEMPORARY.
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING.
- Adidas

Temptation

Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself.
-Rita Mae Brown.

Inspiring

Watched Oprah this afternoon and was really inspired by some truly amazing people and their amazing lives. I don’t think I’ve been so inspired in a while.

Melissa Etheridge was on the show, she is a singer and a cancer survivor. Melissa talked about her fight against cancer, the chemotherapy, her fears and the anguish at being diagnosed with cancer. Her pain and her anguish was so real, that it almost reduced me to tears, but when she talked about how she fought back and got through it all you could almost see her spirit waging a war and winning. She sang at the Oscars this year, and since she was undergoing chemotherapy at the time and losing her hair, she just shaved her head instead. So this completely bald but beautiful woman, took what life gave her and made the most out of it. We could all learn a lot from that. Truly truly amazing.

My favorite song, from Melissa’s latest album is “I run for life”. Really neat lyrics… here’s a stanza from the same…


“It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To waken when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all

I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend I run for life”

Contentment

Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have.
-Doris Mortman

The Train Ride

Asha was tired, it had been a long tiring weekend. She was really looking forward to getting back home, back to her own room, her own bed. She wished the train was on time. She felt it was time she told Ajit that he should look for a job in Bangalore. These weekend commutes were really getting to her. But she kept telling herself that this was important for Ajit’s career and it wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy spending time with her husband, she just wanted to relax on the weekends and get some time for herself .

Asha frowned and looked down the platform there was no sign of the train, the platform was crowded, with people sitting on the floors, on the broken cement benches, on their luggage and on any flat surface. It was noisy too, with vendors trying to sell their wares, street urchins begging and the occasional announcement by the Indian Railways that no one could understand. She heard foot steps, she turned slightly it was Ajit. In his hands he held two plastic glasses of hot coffee, she smiled gratefully and took one glass from him.

“Is the train on time?”, she asked.

Ajit smiled, “Yes, don’t worry it’s on time, should be here in five minutes. You should reach Bangalore by 10.00 pm.”

Asha heaved a sigh of relief, she just didn’t have the energy to wait indefinitely for a train today. She looked around the platform again, her eyes lingering on the magazines in the bookstall. She wondered whether she should pick up something to read, then decided against it, she was really tired and could do with a nap.

“Here comes the train. It seems to be exactly on time, I guess even the Indian Railways is frightened of being late when it comes to my wife.” Ajit chuckled.

They looked at each other and smiled, each remembering how they had, had long fights during their courtship period as Ajit had always been late for their weekend rendezvous. Now it seemed like so long back, almost another life time.

Ajit grabbed the small weekend bag, and helped Asha board the train. She had a seat in the AC Chair car section of the train.

“Call me as soon as you reach home, ok?”, Ajit insisted on his wife reporting her activities at constant intervals.

Asha nodded, it had become a routine.

As the train pulled out of the station, she waved at her husband and thought of how the whole procedure would repeat again after a weeks gap. She sighed and then made a conscious decision not to think about it any further. She could already feel a head ache coming on. She looked in her bag for an asprin, luckily she had one left, she picked up the bottle of Bisleri water that Ajit had bought for her at the station and took a sip, swallowing the medicine with it. Then she stretched her feet and went off to sleep.

When Asha woke up she was dis-oriented, it was dark outside and she had forgotten she was on the train. She looked around and found the Ticket collector.

“Excuse me, can you please tell me which the next station is?”

“Next station, Cantonment”, said the ticket collector as he walked past in a hurry.

Asha was relieved, she got up and stretched her feet, picked up her bag and walked to the door. She loved standing near the door and always made it a point to get up a little before the train reached her station.

As the train pulled into the station, Asha smiled to herself, coming back home always made her happy. She got off the train and started walking, the platform was deserted, cold and wet. November rains in Bangalore always made the weather chilly, she shivered, and pulled on her jacket.

Then she heard footsteps and an out of breath voice asking anxiously, “Excuse me, Is this the last station?”.

Asha turned, it was a young woman around twenty five years of age, “No, the last station is city station, get back on the train”, she said.

The woman didn’t look convinced, “Are you sure this isn’t the last station?”

Asha smiled, “Yes, I’m sure, the next station is city station and that is the last station”.

As the woman looked back at the train hesitatingly, the train started pulling out of the station.

The woman now tried to make an attempt to get back on the train but it had gathered speed. Asha looked at her and made a mental note of how strange it was that most people only realized that they wanted something when it was too late.

The woman looked flustered now and suddenly burst into tears. Asha walked up to her, she felt sorry for her. She knew how it felt to be alone and lost in a strange city.

“Hey, don’t cry, you just need to take an auto to the city station. Is someone meeting you there? It’s pretty late.” Asha said, looking at her watch.

The young woman lifted her tear stained face, “My husband said he would be waiting for me at the last station. This is my first trip to Bangalore.”

“Well, don’t worry then, its not far. Come on, I’ll drop you, my car and driver will be in the parking lot”. Asha had stopped relying on the auto drivers a long time ago, she hated being at their mercy.

The young woman nodded, but her face was expressionless. She still seemed very troubled by her predicament. Asha decided to give her time to recover her composure.

When they reached the city station, it was deserted except for some porters who were taking a nap while waiting for the late night trains to come in. Asha and the young woman walked up and down the platform but there was no sign of the young woman’s husband. It was already eleven ‘o clock. Asha decided to check with the station master. The station master was a helpful friendly old man. He said no one had been here looking for a young woman but perhaps her husband had been delayed.

The young woman suddenly came out of her reverie,

“I’ll be fine now, Thank you for dropping me. Please don’t wait. You’ve been very kind to me, I’ll never forget this.”

Asha smiled, “No problem. Take care then, I hope your husband comes soon.”

Asha thanked the station master and left. She slowly walked back to her car, it had been a very very long day. She was looking forward to getting home and having a hot bath and some food.

After a week, Asha was back at the station returning from Chennai and as she jumped off the train and started walking towards the exit, she heard a familiar voice say,

”Excuse me, Is this the last station?”.

Regrets

The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.
-Harriet Beecher Stowe

Thought for the day !

Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.

Time

Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not. Time takes it all, time bears it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness and sometimes we lose them there again.
-Stephen King

Some funny one liners...

1. I Refuse To Have A Battle Of Wits With An Unarmed Person.
2. I Haven't Lost My Mind. It's Backed Up On Disk Somewhere.
3. Chaos. Panic. Disorder. My work is done here.
4. I don't suffer from stress. I’m a carrier.
5. Everyone needs to believe in something. I believe in chocolate.
6. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
7. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
8. Sarcasm is just one more service I offer.
9. I'm not rude. You're just insignificant.
10. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
11. I may be fat, but you are ugly and I can lose weight.
12. I'm really easy to get along with once people learn to worship me.
13. I have plenty of talent and vision. I just don't care.
14. Born free. Taxed to death.
15. The 11th commandment: Thou Shall NOT Whine!
16. Coffee. Chocolate. Men. Some things are just better rich.
17. If they don’t have chocolate in heaven, I’m not going.
18. It’s not just the ups and downs that make life difficult. It’s the jerks.
19. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
20. I'll try being nicer if you will try being smarter.
21. I don’t know what I want, but I do know I don’t have it yet.
22. All Men Are Animals. Some Just Make Better Pets.

Sadness

We gather strength from sadness and from pain,
Each time we die we learn to live a little...

Read some thing which I thought really epitomized sadness and how suddenly it creeps up on us when we least expect it...

"I thought that I could not be hurt;
I thought that I must surely be impervoius to mental pain or agony,
My world was warm with April sun,
My thoughts were spangled green and gold;
My soul filled up with joy,
yet felt the sharp, sweet pain that only joy can hold...
Then suddenly my world turned gray,
And darkness wiped aside my joy.
A dull and aching void was left,
Where careless hands had reached out to destroy my silver web of happiness..."

-Slyvia Plath

Books...

Outside of a dog, a man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx

And what if I were to die tonight or tomorrow? What did I spend my last hours doing?

Well, I went to the gym early in the morning; I had a nice chat with my sister on the way there about her upcoming wedding. Returned from the gym and spent the rest of the morning studying. Had a nice leisurely lunch with mom and caught up on all the latest news on our large extended family. Then massaged moms head, she was having a bad headache. Helped my maid clean a cupboard, and learnt about how she celebrated Diwali. Then read my book and had a good laugh. Currently reading, “Mediocre but arrogant” by Abhijit Bhadhuri. Quite an interesting read.

In the evening, my best friend dropped in for a good heart to heart chat. Then my sister and her fiancé came back from work and we all had dinner together.

After my friends left, I spoke to my mum and sister for a while, checked email, showered and got into bed to read for a while before finally switching off the lights and calling it a night.

All small insignificant things. Today I didn’t rescue orphans or give all my money to victims of natural disasters, or nurse a cancer patient or change the world.

Do I regret that? No, No I don’t think I do. I regret not being there enough for my mum;I regret leaning on my best friend instead of supporting her; I regret not spending more time with my grand parents; I regret not being more demonstrative towards those I love…

What good is it trying to accomplish BIG things when you can’t be a good person? What good is it trying to change the world when you cannot be kind and charitable to those around you? We don’t need hundreds of people who are willing to do big things, while neglecting those around them. We just need little people who are willing to go the extra mile for those around them and with that the world will be a much nicer and happier place to live in.

When the going gets tough, the tough eats chocolate mousse…

So after I gave up studying for the day I decided to make some chocolate mousse...I have a theory, eating lots n lots of chocolate helps increase concentration...it may not be true, but do I dare take the chance? C’mon guys, I really can’t afford it...exams coming up and I need all the help I can get, though at the rate I’m going, divine intervention might be the only thing that can save me...

Anyway here’s a picture of my creation..


Found some cool quotes on Chocolate...

 Forget love -- I'd rather fall in chocolate!!!
 I could give up chocolate, but I'm not a quitter.
 Nine out of ten people like chocolate.The tenth person always lies.

Happiness

Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it.
-- Bernard Meltzer.

Marriage

Marriage is a promise. It is a belief in each other and in the possibility of love. A decision to ignore or simply rise above the pain and hurt of the past. Marriage binds two souls and yet severs prior ties. It is the celebration of a chance taken and the challenges that lie ahead. For two will always be stronger than one. Like a team braced against the tempest of the world. And love will always be the guiding force in our lives. The ceremony is a mere formality, only an announcement to the world of feelings long held. Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always...

-Lucas,OTH (Slightly modified)

Reason and Passion -Khalil Gibran

Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul...
If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas...
For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining ; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction...
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing;
And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.

One of the best quotes i've ever read...

If you're not confused, you're not paying attention. -Tom Peters.

Thot for the day

To the mediocre, mediocrity appears great.

Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it. –Lewis Carroll

I wanted a perfect life. Now I've learned, the hard way, that it doesn’t exist. Nothing ever goes according to plan I guess some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, or an end.
Life is about not knowing,having to change, rising to the occasion, grasping the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. In other words, total ambiguity.
But still there are some things that we just know, like how do you define space? How do you define color? How do you define love? You can’t...you just know it...
Our world in no more permanent than a wave rising on the ocean, whatever our struggles and triumphs, they all pass with time and the only thing that remains are the memories and the people who have contributed to those experiences. When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving any advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain by just being there. The friend who can be silent in our moment of despair, who can stay with us in an hour of grief, who can hold us in a big comforting hug and let us cry till we are feeling better, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who really cares and understands.
Just being there for someone you care about, seems simple, somehow it isn’t that simple. I’ve often found that when people are confronted with someone in despair or anguish they either resort to trying to cheer the person up with some stupid jokes or trying to change the topic. And some really insensitive people just leave. Why do people have a problem with facing reality?
Yes, sometimes there are no solutions, quick fixes or cures, but does changing the topic change that? Does making some inane joke make it better? Does laughing nervously help anyone at all? Why is it so hard for us to accept that we might not have solutions to everything? Why can’t we accept that life isn’t all that is cracked up to be? Why can’t we be more accepting and learn to listen and comfort instead of trying to make an already bad situation worse? Why do people struggle with not knowing what to say? Is it really that hard???!!
Some things I will never understand…

The 10 Most Important Rules

1. The female always makes the rules.
2.The rules are subject to change at any time without prior notification.
3. No male can possibly know all the rules. Nearly all women are born with this knowledge.
4. If the female suspects the male knows all the rules, she may immediately change some or all the rules.
5. The female is never wrong.
6. If the female is wrong , it is because of a misunderstanding which was a direct result of something the male did or said wrong.
7. If rule #6 applies, the male must apologize immediately for causing the misunderstanding.
8. The female may change her mind at any given point in time.
9. The male must never change his mind without the expressed written consent of the female.
10. The female has every right to be angry or upset at any time.


PS - Now if i can just get someone who will follow the rules how nice life would be... :-)

Thought for the Day

Some things need to be believed to be seen.

I am supposed to complete these sentences...

I am thinking – that either I’m crazy or the others are… I wish I knew...

I said –to myself, it’s probably the others, they all look and act insane...

I hear – strange voices in my head telling me that it’s not them, it’s me who needs to get my head examined...

I wish – I knew what I’m doing and where I’m heading...

I am – surprisingly simple or intensely complicated…

I want – a huge farm, at least ten dogs, a big garden with lots of flowers and a man who spoils me rotten.

I miss – my dad.

I sing – totally out of tune.

I dance – like there is no tomorrow.

I wonder – what life has in store for me...

I am not – naive...if you think that , you haven’t understood me yet...

I write – to clear my head and help me let go of pent up emotions.

I hate – people who don’t respect animals, those who don’t have an opinion about anything and those who are just plain spineless.

I confuse – myself into believing that all people are inherently good...

I’ve learnt – some people are pure evil...

I am passionate - about everything I do...

I believe - it's not the cards you're dealt , it's how you play the game...

I should – learn to let go more easily and stop taking on others problems as if they were my own.

I finish – everything I start.

I regret – agreeing to complete these sentences.

Why does love make us say and do stupid things??!

There's one sad truth in life I've found
While journeying east and west -
The only folks we really wound
Are those we love the best.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best.
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

There are two tragedies in life...

One is not to get your heart's desire,
The other is to get it.

List of things to do which I found in a fellow blogger's site... decided to see how much I've done.. Statements in bold are those I've actually done..

01.Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins (R u kiddin??! Dolphins r huge..)
03. Climbed a mountain (well atleast a hill)
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive (I actually know someone who has one, so just got to get to the US n then convince him to let me drive it...)
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid (must do..)
06. Held a tarantula (Nope , n i hope i never have to...too creepy for words..)
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone (Hmmmn...interesting...)
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped (No waaaay... i suffer from vertigo...)
11. Visited Paris (Ah.. must do soon..)
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea (Nope , but watched a storm at sea from the shore..)
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise (Very very beautiful..)14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (Had the opporunity to go for a few cricket matches in Sharjah... somehow never had the inclination... though the free food was tempting..)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa (Not looking forward to climbin stairs anywhere... last week my trainer went mad n made me climb stairs at the gym, n i couldn't walk for a day...n that was hardly any stairs..)
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables (I'm a strict non vegetarian.. i love vegetables... don't eat em.. )
18. Touched an iceberg (Not a bad idea unless i'm on a ship headin towards it..ala titanic style..)
19. Slept under the stars (Hmmn... that was fun..)
20. Changed a baby's diaper (Yes , n it was quite disgusting to say the least...)
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon (Heights again...)
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity (Give to charity.. though probably not more than i can afford..)
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope (I want a telescope... such a cool thing to have...)
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse (Not into gambling..)
29. Asked out a stranger (Nope... too many weirdos out there...though come to think of it... they usually find me...)
30. Had a snowball fight (Definitely must do..)
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day (Ah , how i miss school..)
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 10 provinces (Which provinces are these i wonder...)
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends. (Yes , still have em... :-))
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe (Hmnn... sounds like fun..)
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach (Yes , very nice... n strongly recommended..)
50. Gone sky diving (Height again ... n again..)
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love (Been heart broken , though not for that long.. somehow no one is worth that much...)
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your cds (Not that organised... i enjoy some chaos..)
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lazed around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64.Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken.
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days (R u kidding ??!!)
77. Made cookies/cake from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice (Very romanitc... i 've heard... definitely must do some day..)
80. Gotten a tattoo (Soon... very soon...)
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage (I hope college fashion show counts... :-))
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark.
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror.
96. Raised children (Nope, not that old yet..)
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country (Don't know how to cycle yet.. tried to learn but other than injuring those who were tryin to teach me , didn't achieve much..)
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over (Haven't done anything so bad yet...)
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery (Nope , i'm too perfect... ;-)) )
104. Survived an illness that you shouldn't have survived (Yup, got some strange infection as soon as i was born , n frightened the daylights out of my parents by nearly dyin..)
105. Wrote article for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds (Nope , was never that fat..)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray (Not a good idea... look what happened to poor Steve..)
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone (Tore ligaments in both legs.. luckily didn't break a leg..)
114. Gone on an African photo safari (Definitely have to do this...)
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol (Nope , n don't intend to.. unless its at the shooting range..)
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery (Hope i don't ever have to..)
120. Had a snake as a pet (Nope , too scary...)
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited foreign countries
124. Visited all 7 continents (Thats going to take a while..)
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi (I love Sushi...)
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school.
131. Parasailed (Great fun...will definitely do it again if i get the chance..)
132. Petted a cockroach (Not likely to happen in this life time...)
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes (Vegetables again..!!)
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Nah... too traumatic..)
137. Skipped all your school reunions (Now , why would i do that ??!!)
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language (Yes , if writing gibberish in your computer exam counts..)
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts (Hey , i'm human..)
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair (Temporarily.. yes...)
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head (Thought of it... somehow got scared it might not come back..)
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life (Yes..If saving someone from drowning in the school swimming pool counts....)

On Love

It is wrong to think that love comes from long companionship and persevering courtship. Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations.
–Khalil Gibran

Thot for the Day

Everything that begins has to end,
What matters is not how it ended,
But whether it should have begun at all...

Marry for Love or not at all ??!!

Why do people get married??! I’ve heard a number of reasons like financial security, my parents wanted me to, I was bored, I thought it was the right time , peer pressure, but not one of those reasons has made me feel like grabbing a person of the opposite sex and saying marry me now, I’ve found a reason.

I’ve always been dead against arranged marriages, maybe because I’ve always been the kind of person to do exactly the opposite of what anyone was telling me to do.
So why do people agree to arranged marriages? Maybe it’s because they haven’t found the right person and aren’t sure where to look so they agree to parents finding someone suitable for them. Now while this might not be a bad idea, very rarely do parents, relatives and those involved in introducing the girl and boy, give them any privacy or allow them sufficient interactions and time to decide. They want an answer after two or three meetings, which is ridiculous because no one ever really knows anyone in two or three meetings. And those meetings are going to decide the person their going to spend the rest of their lives with, seems bizarre, like playing Russian roulette with your life. But going by the number of arranged marriages in our country I guess there are a whole lot of gamblers out there.

According to me the ONLY reason to give up my freedom and independence is love.
So why do people who don’t even understand the meaning of love always insist on giving advice about marriage. I’m often confronted with over enthusiastic relations/friends who want me to have an arranged marriage and I now have a standard answer, I’m waiting for love, if it doesn’t happen I’ll die a spinster. Somehow that troubles them further, I guess people always feel if their in a mess it’s good to have company.

Now the probability of an arranged marriage or a love marriage finally working out has to do with the two people involved. Though if there is love, compromise comes naturally, also the time and energy required to make a marriage work is very similar to that required to make a relationship work, so both parties are already aware of the kind of commitment involved. And if I have to bet my life on it, I want the odds to be good.



.

The Quarrels of Lovers are like summer storms, Everthing is more beautiful when they have passed

Ever really thought about why relationships are so hard? Is it because being alone is harder? Anyway, let’s take a moment to explore the situation further. Boy meets Girl, Boy and Girl spend time together, Boy and Girl are happy, Boy and Girl start to exclusively date, and that is when all sense goes out of the window.

Oh the illogical things people fight about, it’s quite amazing. But after having a long and interesting discussion with a close friend I think we’ve narrowed it down to a few problems which every couple has,the rest are just permutations and combinations of the same thing.

So here go the standard problems and my take on them :-

1)Girl/Boy overly possessive or not the least bit bothered - Supposedly there is an exact degree to which you have to be possessive and no further. It’s like a warning light goes off which says “Sorry my friend, you have crossed the limit, please leave, better luck next time.” So you’ve got to master this or your relationship will end before it begins.

2) Why haven’t you called me? – For some reason it never occurs to the person asking the question why he/she couldn’t pick up the phone and call if she/he didn’t receive a call. Very strange, but happens a lot.

3)Why are you always late ? – If you ever go to a shopping mall, a movie theatre or any public place like a coffee shop there will be at least one couple having this fight. In Mumbai I once saw a girl spill an entire cup of cold coffee, ice cubes and all on a guy's head for being late. So always a fun fight, but can get messy, so unless you have a change of clothes, it’s just easier to be on time.

4)You always take me for granted ! – When u hear these six words, you know its going to be a long long night. Here you have to beg and plead and promise that such behaviour will not be repeated, after all you wouldn’t like it if anyone took you for granted so that’s the only solution here. And from my experience more women have this complaint than men, though there are enough men who complain too.

5)Where is this relationship going ? –This question always reminds me of a kid on a car ride, constantly asking "Where are we going ? Where are we going ?". Now let's be honest, most people don't even have a plan for tomorrow so such profound questions are never going to be answered with any degree of clarity. I've always believed it's a bid by your partner to make you play Nostradamus.But don't get carried away , i think all their really asking is if your in it for the long haul or not. So that's one you got to figure out at break neck speed once you hear this question being thrown at you.And even then , this could take a while, because no one is really sure what they want to hear.

6)Do you find him/her more attractive than me ? – Even if the person that is being referred to is a super model, NEVER EVER answer that question with a yes, unless you want your current relationship to end. If that is your aim, then not to worry, it will self destruct in five seconds, no guarantees that you will survive.

So Best of Luck and Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand. :-)

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain

I’ve always loved the rain, to me, the rain symbolizes new beginnings, sadness, happiness, relief, destruction, hope - Life.

As I child, I often used to sneak out of the house to play in the rain. Oh what joy it is to dance in the rain,one of the simple pleasures of life.

As I grew older the rain started to symbolize so much more, not just fun, but a time to introspect, to lie in bed under a blanket, sipping hot cocoa while the rain pelted away at the windows and just watch. Such a lovely feeling and what a lovely smell. It always made me feel grateful and content.

During my first year at college, i clearly remember the first time it rained, my friends and I ran out in the rain and got soaked. Let it suffice to say, that we could not attend any further classes for the day and I was sick for the next two days, but it was great fun.

Strangely enough, in my life the rain has always been my companion when I was sad or depressed. When I broke up with my first boyfriend as I walked away, I was glad it was raining so no one could see I was crying. And as the rain washed away my tears I was glad that I had finally gotten myself out of a destructive relationship which had made me miserable.

When I got my first job and moved to Mumbai, I was excited and impatient waiting for the rains as I had heard so much about them. Early one morning while I waited with my dad for my company bus to pick me up, all of a sudden it began to rain. As I heroically pulled out my huge umbrella, my dad watched in amusement. In 5 seconds my umbrella had been rendered totally useless by the wind. And however hard I tried, I just could not fathom how to hold it to prevent it from turning in the opposite direction. As I soon learnt, there is a technique to hold an umbrella in the rain. My dad was laughing so hard at my bemused expression that he was having difficulty giving directions. Finally, he just held my hand and tilted it so that the umbrella was pointing in the direction opposite to the direction of the wind and lo and behold my umbrella was fine. In the process we both got wet and laughed like crazy, but its one of my happiest memories of the rain.


A few months later, when I got the news that I had lost my father, as I wept in despair the skies joined me. It rained continuously for three days, from the day I got the news till the funeral was over. And as I sat in my ancestral house in kerala surrounded by hundreds of relatives who were searching for the right things to say, I kept looking out of the window at the rain and the comfort I felt just looking at the rain was so much more than listening to anything anyone had to say. Just hearing the rhythmic pitter patter and watching the droplets of rain fall to the ground and become one , made me feel in a strange way that maybe each of the tiny droplets joined together for a certain reason, maybe there was a purpose to everything after all. And as I looked out, at the dark green leaves and the red earth, I could see my father standing in the rain and smiling at me, with a look which said , don’t cry, I didn’t teach you to be strong for nothing. And suddenly I felt a sense of peace knowing that I would always be able to see my father in the rain.

The Search

Have you ever felt so alone...so completely alone...like you are the only one...

Loneliness is not about not having people around you... its about sitting in a room full of people and feeling like you don't belong...like you can talk but you don't know the language....alien words which have no meaning...

I look around... the room is crowded...i say something... but everyone ignores me....i try again...then i scream, but no one can hear me.... the silence envelopes me and threatens to drown me... i gasp and shake my head...my head throbs..i feel like its going to explode...my ears are ringing...i scream again.. but no one hears me... no one at all...

I have a million questions but no answers...a million thoughts and conflicts but no solutions...a million pens but no paper...a million wishes but no fairy god mother...a million dreams but no idea how to make them come true...

When will i find that some one... the one who knows when i'm calling..the one who knows when i'm hurting...the one who feels my pain...the one who knows when to hold my hand... the one who understands me... the one who makes me feel safe...the one who will make all this go away...

Will i ever feel complete... will i ever stop looking for that face...will i ever find my soulmate...

Am i the only one who was made in this mould...does the other half exist... is it a figment of my imagination...

Will i know when i meet that someone... will i know that i need to look no further...or will i continue to search for the impossible...will this remain an eternal search for the non-existent...

Dad

He always made me smile,
He always had his own style,
Helped me take my first step,
Was there to hold me when I leapt,
Held my hand when I nearly fell,
Carried me when I wasn’t well,

Laughed with me when I lost my teeth,
Threatened to box my ears when I wasn't sweet,
Made fun of me, when I acted silly,
Bought me a dog named, Milly,

Was anxious when I came home late,
Scolded me, when I broke a plate,
Taught me how to swim,
Bought me presents on a whim,
Worried when I wasn't well,
Waited at my school till the bell,

Taught me right from wrong,
Taught me how to be strong,
Made an attempt to teach me math,
Decided to leave it at that,

Picked me up when I fell down,
Taught me how to trudge along,
Listened to me when I talked,
Was very troubled when I got stalked,
Took care of me when I was weak,
Gave me hope when I thought things looked bleak,

Wondered whether I had a phone attached to my ear,
Was quite sure that I couldn’t hear,
Looked concerned when someone broke my heart,
Offered to take him apart,

Gave me a gentle nudge so I would explore,
Told me that there were special things in store,
Smiled when I tried to sing,
Gave me courage to face new things,
Comforted me when I was sad,
And protected me from all that’s bad,
Soothed all my fears,
And wiped my tears,
Bought me lots of books to read,
Was kind to me in every deed,

Danced with me when I had two left feet,
Taught me how to handle defeat,
Held my hand when I was in pain,
Taught me how to hold an umbrella in the rain,
Was proud of me when I got my first job,
Taught me how to eat corn on the cob,

Encouraged me when I tried my wings,
Told me all what life has to bring,
Talked to me about everything under the sun,
Made me feel like the party had just begun,

I wish he didn't have to go away,
I know a part of me died that day,
And life will never be the same,
Somehow everything seems so lame.

-Poppy.

Dedicated in the memory of my father, who taught me so much and whom I miss more and more with each passing day….

Love this Song ! :-)

Faraway -Nickelback

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know, you know, you know

[CHORUS]
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing
if I don't see you anymore
On my knees I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you,
I'd withstand All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything
but I won't give up
'Cause you know, you know, you know
[CHORUS]
So far away
Been far away
for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know
I wanted I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and,
never let me go
Keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and,
never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and,
never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and,
never let me go

Life is not measured by the numbers of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away

The Sun goes down, yet its warmth lingers on the land,
The tide recedes, leaving bright sea shells in the sand,
The music stops, yet it echoes on in sweet refrains,
For every joy that passes, Something Beautiful Remains.