Life

Our lives are made up of million moments,

spent in a million different ways.

Some are spent searching for love,peace and harmony.

Others are spent surviving day to day.

But there is no greater moment than

when we find that life,

with all its joys n sorrows,

is meant to be lived one day at a time.

Image Credit

I got this as a Good Morning mail  from one of my friends and found it to be profoundly meaningful.

Rejoice, cherish the moments of joy. Stand firm in face of sorrows and difficult times. But do not forget to be "in the moment". Whether, it be joy or sorrow, realize its in the now. Regretting about the past or worrying about the future will not benefit in any way and will only perturb the mind.

Someone has said it correctly. Life is like an ice-cream, eat it before it melts. We have only one life, then why shouldn't we make the most of it. Why don't we begin today by simply doing the following

/**  Love our dear ones, let them know how much we care.

/**  Exercise daily and be healthy.

/**  Think good positive thoughts.

/**  Help the needy.

/**  Set realistic goals and strive to achieve them.

/**  Simply smile. It costs nothing to smile.

/**  Appreciate nature and the way God created it.

/**  Innovate,Learn something new.

/**  Make friends, read good books.

/**  Relax, listen to some good music.

You do not require to be wealthy or knowledgeable to enjoy life's precious moments. All that is needed is the realization that we are entitled to all that life gives and takes in its full magnitude.Why then should we let it go? Start every day anew and live to its fullest.

Would you like to add any other ways in which you would like to enjoy moments in your life?

One Step at a Time

This is a golden lesson, a lesson in standing on our own feet that mothers teach their babies, when the tiny tots are keen to learn how to walk. This very small and simple act serves as the best illustration as to how simple things in life can be achieved.

Baby Steps!! yes :) that is what will help you to efficiently finish any task that you undertake. In the simplest of words, take one step at a time towards your goals, dreams or ambitions. One small step will take you a long way. Also it would keep you consistent on your path, since you wouldn't be too fast or too slow, you would just be in the right steady pace. A slow and gradual step towards your goal would build your self-confidence and keep you moving in the right direction without any deviations.

One step at a time has its own plus points..I have listed down the points I could ponder..

+ Motivation Making smaller commitments to yourself is easier and easy to accomplish. Once accomplished, you get the necessary motivation to keep pushing. You get the drive needed to achieve more. Say, for instance weight loss, if you lose a kilo in a month which is quite doable, you are inclined to lose more the next month. Hence one baby step at a time is quite a motivation booster.

+ Clarity Consider yourself the developer for a software product. You don't come up with the whole architecture, the whole system in a day. You brainstorm, you build upon each module, you take one step at a time. This aids in clarity of each module, how each module interconnects with each other, the functionality of each module in isolation as well as unision. See the magic of one small step at a time, helps us to think simple, implement simply, stay away from cluttered thoughts and gradually build upon.

+ Satisfaction As you look back and track your progress at each step of your journey, you will be filled with immense self-satisfaction. This satisfaction would steer you forward as you keep looking back. Every success achieved would pave the path for another.

+ Patience & Calm Focussing on one step at a time builds patience and pacifies oneself. Have you ever observed what multi-tasking leads to?? Restlessness, anxiety, stress,distraction. On the contrary, one task at a time can be nipped in the bud quickly and without much botheration, you are able to concentrate better since a single task is at hand.

Do you have any other plusses that taking one step at a time would add to?? Please do share...

While I can run, I'll run ;
While I can walk, I'll walk ;
When I can crawl, I'll crawl.
But by the grace of God, I'll always be moving forward.
Cavett Robert

The Benefits of Walking

"Walk and Talk" is quite a popular ad of Idea these days. And why not? It makes a lot of sense, its a wonderful way of advertising and at the same time conveying a message related to health. The advertiser has strategically used health as a means to advertise owing to the fact that health/weight loss is one of the buzzwords these days. 

You see Gyms popping up in each and every area, some even 24 X 7. You see Sugar free ads, you see so many health magazines on the news stalls and now-a-days there is much increased awareness about food stuffs, which fat is healthy, which is not. In a world, where technology is progressing at a rapid rate, the advent of obesity is also on the rise. With our sedentary lifestyles, we ought to be concerned. Also, with our busy schedules, sometimes its hard to be a regular gymmer. And hence, I am talking about the benefits of walking.

All you need for a good brisk walk is a pair of good walking shoes, an mp3 player(if you get bored like me while walking),good company and the most important a good levelled walking area. Good shoes are a must as they will help you give a good walking grip and help you to maintain a steady pace. Also one should try to wear comfortable track pants and a tshirt. Now for a person, who has just begun walking should take it easy and maintain a comfortable pace. It is important to keep the body relaxed. The sole aim of walking is to exercize the body while remaining calm, don't let your shoulders get strained or legs feel the pain.  Walk straight, do not droop and maintain natural motion. The right way to walk is such that the heel should strike the ground first in a walking step, not the front of the foot.

I know its hard to get the motivation to start but once you look at the benefits of walking mentioned below, am sure you would be urged to start walking your way to health :

1) Walking helps to burn fat. Walking is a cardio exercize and just like walking on the treadmill helps you to burn fat, so does walking and what can be better that its a no-brainer, you need no machine and you have a natural eco-environment unlike the fabricated environment of the gym.

2) Boosts energy levels. Sit in your house whole day, and just observe the difference after a 30 minute walk. You will feel more energetic.

3) Boosts mental fitness, cures depression

4) Helps cure sleeplesness, walking keeps stress at bay.Stress usually interferes with sleep, walking thus helps.

5) Since its a cardio exercize, walking is good for reducing blood pressure and keeping a healthy heart.

6) Brisk walking 30 minutes a day is good for boosting your metabolism.

7) It helps in increasing your flexibility, by strengthening your muscles, bones and joints, thereby toning your body.

So..Walk away and make way for a healthier you!!!

26/11

As 26/11 is drawing near, and most News Channels have started having discussions on it,  I happened to watch one such program on Times Now last Sunday.The discussion was how do we feel about 26/11, now that we are close to its anniversary, do we feel angry, do we feel determined or sorrowful? While watching the same, I felt that isn't it pointless to have such sessions? What do we achieve from them? The discussion just served as a painful recalling of dark events,one such instance being where the photographer Sebastian D'souza talked on his memory of how he photographed Kasaab on CST station where the man slaughter was on and how he was not proud of that photo..since it was associated with a bad event..

Instead if media could summarize what went wrong, what could have been improved in the plan to counter the terrorists, how more lives could have been saved..can't the media experts in turn work with the government experts to implement the changes? We have the full footage now..of all the 26/11 happenings, we have all the facts, how the infiltration happened..can't we analyse them and be ready for any such further attacks..

One should watch the documentary on 26/11 directed by Dan Reed here. Its a live account of the 26/11 massacre, with live conversations of the terrorists with their pakistani counterparts, urging them to kill more people..telling them with enthusiasm that the Taj attack was being given maximum coverage on TV, that they are coming closer to heaven. That killing one Jew is equivalent to killing 50 other people. Its nerve wrecking how victims relive their experiences, give first hand accounts of how the Pak terrorists mercilessly killed people like how a child would use toy guns to fire at people.How they hadno signs of horror or shame on their faces, 20 something boys trained to such perfection to murder innocent human lives.

With this documentary some shocking facts also came alive. The one scene where a policeman tries to fire at Kasaab while he and his fellow mate are exiting CST station and his rifle jams!! Can you imagine that?? the rifle jams!! anti-terrorism squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare was wearing a bullet proof jacket and yet he succumbed to death . What does this manifest?? Jamming rifles, sub-standard bullet proof jackets! Is our security system, security personnel equipped enough to counter such terror attacks??

It is unimaginable, the wave of terror that was spread by just 10 terrorists from Pakistan. Is human life so cheap in India that infiltrators come easily, may it be a busy city station, a cafe, a jewish educational centre or 5 star hotels and start shooting at people as if there is no value of life!! Just 10 terrorists and a whole city terrified, 62 hours of massacre, 170 lives taken. And Kasaab the only terrorist alive out of the 10 hasn't been sentenced yet. The stark irony being that the anniversary of 26/11 just a day away and still justice hasn't been served. What can be more shameful than this for a nation like ours.

UP is UPlifting..UP you go :)

Picture courtesy : Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures

This is the first 3D animation from Pixar, yet another triumph for them.Pixar and Disney have done it again.

Indeed, Up is a charming and such a sweet movie. In some of its scenes, it touched me more than any non-animation movie. There are such real emotions in the movie that you might actually want to shed a tear or two while watching some scenes.After Ratatouille and Wall E, its UP :) And yes UP is going to go very up in its ratings.Currently, its IMDB rating is 8.5. And the tomatometer is 98% :) yey!!!

The movie's characters exude such warmth. Carl and Ellie as a sweet couple, taking life's ups and downs with a smile and Russel, the cute plump wilderness scout who is keen to earn an elderly assistance badge.Kevin, the trotting peacock-like bird, Dug the talking dog :D

In the beginning of the movie I thought its similar to Wall-E where there were such minimal dialogues. Since early in UP too, there is a non-verbal set of scenes potraying how Carl and Ellie met, fell in love, got married, could not have any children and finally slipped to old age. What superb story telling without a single word. And so profoundly moving.   

Carl and Ellie share this dream of having a Venezulean trip to the Paradise falls. Which Carl gets an urge to fulfill after Ellie expires. I love the balloon scene :) The house soaring with a bouquet of balloons...its such a happy scene :) its a balloon house cum plane :D looks so cool,so swell, so colorful in the blue sky..people exclaiming at it sight.What imagination!!  How Carl and Russel in their eventful journey bond and come to like each other, how Carl fulfills Ellie's dream and also learns an important lesson about what really matters in life. Quite a heart-moving story.

My favorite scenes in the movie, are the soaring house for one and the scene where after placing the house on Paradise falls mountain, Carl again flaps the pages of Ellie's adventure book. He stumbles on the many photos of theirs, capturing all their happy moments, each photo placed with care and thought :) These pages were meant to be filled once her dream of building the house on Paradise falls mountain got fulfilled. This very scene conveyed such a simple learning. We might not always get what we dream. The things/goals achieved in the process of achieving your dreams hold equal or maybe much more importance :) Wonderful, just a wonderful movie..

Personally I was glued to the movie every single moment while I was watching, was spellbound by it, so mesmerizing at times. An incredible movie, kids would love it, adults would enjoy it. UP is a must-watch, go watch it!!

Some extras:
See The director Pete Docter and the production designer Ricky Nierva discuss their work designing characters for the 3-D animated film “Up.” here
Quite interesting to see each character has been given such thought, some study has been done for each like for Dug, the talking dog

Watch the gallery of UP pics here

 

Indulge in Green Tea, Indulge in good health

Its high time we stopped consuming normal tea and coffee and switch to the very healthy green tea. So myriad are the benefits of green tea that one should start its consumption necessarily. Its a boon for people seeking weight loss especially.

The weight loss benefit is owing to the fact that Green Tea increases your metabolism rate by 4%. Ain't that great!!! Now after having read various sources, it has been said that consuming 3-5 cups of green tea per day can help you in reducing 70 calories a day. On other sites, they metioned drinking 5 cups a day such as here

Also green tea helps to increase the good cholestrol which is HDL and lowers the bad cholestrol LDL.Green tea has polyphenols which has anti-cancer properties, helps blood clotting and lowers cholestrol levels

It is very beneficial for people suffering from diabetes as atechins in green tea help to inhibit the movement of glucose into fat cells thus controlling obesity. Green tea may also act as a glucose regulator. It helps to slow the rise in blood sugar after a meal.I have read that it can even treat diabetes.

Green tea protects the destruction of brain cells thereby making the probability of contracting Parkinson’s to minimal levels within our body. Also it strengthens the immune system thereby protecting the body against various disorders

Green tea also helps in maintaining dental health. It aids in digestion and reduces bloating.

A very detailed article on green tea benefits can be read here

I myself have tried Twinings Green Tea and Mint, it has a particularly good aroma and is easy to drink. Pack of 10 tea bags costs 35 bucks. Yet to try Lipton green tea, cheaper at 18 bucks for a pack of 10 tea bags.Can be tried with a dash of fresh lemon juice and honey to add to the taste.

I am surely gonna drink my way to good health, so should you :)

Atonement..You can only imagine the truth

Atonement implies making amends for a wrong doing. Here the atonement is being made by Briony Tallis, a 13 year old precocious girl who lives with on her family estate with her mother and sister(Cecilia Tallis/Keira Knightley).She is shown to be an avid writer.

Robbie(James McAvoy) is the family's servants' son whose education at Cambridge was kindly paid by the Tallis family. In an encounter between Robbie and Cecilia near the fountain, both of them realise the attraction and heat they both feel for each other, but the same encounter witnessed by Briony from the window is mistaken by her. Also because Robbie is Briony's crush.

After the fountain incident, Briony reads a letter intended for Cecilia and concludes that Robbie is a sex maniac as the letter was quite sexually explicit.Robbie never meant to send that version of the letter but mistakenly does. Robbie arrives for dinner at their house. He and Cecilia discuss the letter and admit their love for one another. They make passionate love in the library but are discovered by Briony

When Briony' cousin Lola is raped, she tells the police that it was Robbie she saw committing the deed when in fact it was a visitor to the estate.

A Wounded and vexed Briony deliberately gives witness against Robbie without realising its repercussions. Robbie is taken as a war soldier, an option given to prisoners. Cecilia becomes a nurse warden, Robbie and Cecilia meet before Robbie goes on the duty of war, Cecilia wants him to come back.

The immense feeling of love that both feel for each other. The postcard that Cecilia give Robbie to remind him of her. Alas, Robbie dies on the last day of evacuation and Cecilia died a few months later when a German bomb burst a water main and flooded the subway tunnel in which she and other Londoners had taken refuge during the Blitz.

In the climax, Briony is shown in a TV interview in which she is talking about her 21st novel Atonement, which is also her last novel as she is dying. Atonement is an autobiographical novel in which she has tried to give the happiness to her sister Cecilia and Robbie which she so prevented them from having in real life. The scene when she goes to meet her sister to say how terribly sorry she was for having given the wrong evidence, the audience might think happened really. But here in the interview, its clarified that she never had the guts to do that.

She wanted to have a happy ending for both of them in her book to atone of her sins. The movie ends with a happy scene.Robbie and Cecilia walk down the beach on a bright, beautiful day. On the steps of the seaside cottage, they look at the beautiful white cliffs, then disappear inside.

What an extraordinary atonement..a heart wrenching story..

Revolutionary Road

Kate Winslet has played a remarkable role in this movie released in 2008.As April she is shown to manifest varied emotions, disappointing as an actress, trying hard as a housewife, still lost in life and trying to find a meaning in the hopelessness and emptiness. Trying to find a place of her own in the world.

Her husband Frank, having a typical office job is frustrated with the emptiness too. Then one day April recalls the fire that was in Frank whilst his youth. His talk of going to Paris and she puts forth a plan, where they should move to Paris. Why? So that he can really find the time to know what he really wants to do in his life, while she would be working in one of the government organisations and be the bread winner.Frank agrees to this irrational, impractical plan. Thereafter, they are shown to be in a state of such happiness, they proudly tell their friends that they are moving away for good, for discovering the real happiness, for witnessing the beauty of Paris.

In the meantime, Frank is getting offered a promotion to work with the chief executive on a new project: computers and hence is in a dilemma as to what to do. When April comes to know of this and also that shes pregnant, the whole plan goes to ashes.

April is shown so unhappy, this part that Kate Winslet has played so brilliantly. In her misery, she still puts up a smile in front of her husband before she gives herself an abortion. Her misery finally takes her life.

The perfect Wheeler couple story is shown to end in sheer tragedy

A melancholic movie with some great acting by Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet, based on a novel by Richard Yates.

Ajab Prem ki Bore Kahani.

Well..this movie certainly qualifies to be added to the list of movies which are advised to be watched leaving your brains at home..The movie scored in nothing, the only consolation was watching the gorgeous Katrina Kaif and the chocolate boy Ranbir Kapoor although both wasted in underrated roles.

The story begins with this school dropout guy Prem(Ranbir Kapoor who runs a certain Happy Club, members being all good-for-nothing people. A total निकम्मा guy to be precise. Parents keep cursing him for doing nothing..In comes Jenny (Katrina Kaif), an orphan who lives with her parents, who just want to get rid of her by marrying her off to some rich Christian guy Tony. And here we are shown another agonizing set of scenes where Prem helps Jenny to elope..only to realize that she already has a boyfriend Rahul(Upen Patel) My God, why on earth he was given that role, I fail to understand.  Gazab kahani actually :|

Finally Jenny falls for Prem.I do not want to go into the details why and how.There is lil humour here and there, but its not enough to save the movie..Even the music fails to impress..A total bore, this movie. Thumbs down for Ajab Prem ki Gazab Kahani.

तेरे खुशबू मैं बसे ख़त..

 तेरे खुशबू में बसे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

प्यार में डूबे हुए ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

तेरे हाथों के लिखे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

जिनको दुनिया की निगाहों से छुपाये रक्खा..

जिनको एक उम्र कलेजे से लगाए रक्खा..

दीं जिनको जिन्हें ईमान बनाए रक्खा..

तेरे खुशबू मैं बसे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

जिनका हर लफ्ज़ मुझे याद पानी की तरह..

याद थे मुझको जो पैगाम-ए-जुबानी की तरह..

मुझको प्यारे थे जो अनमोल निशानी की तरह..

तेरे खुशबू मैं बसे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

दूर दुनिया की निगाहों से जो बचाकर लिक्खे..

साल हां साल मेरे नाम बराबर लिक्खे..

कभी दिन मैं कभी रात मैं उठ कर लिक्खे..

तेरे खुशबू मैं बसे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

तेरे खुशबू से भरे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

प्यार में डूबे हुए ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

तेरे हाथों के लिखे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे..

तेरे ख़त आज मैं गंगा में बहा आया हूँ..

तेरे ख़त आज मैं गंगा में बहा आया हूँ..

आग बहते हुए पानी में लगा आया हूँ..

Nostalgia..

Ahh what days those were!! Trip to buy a pair of earrings for each of us(junk jwellery :P), evening snack at Juice Junction which was primarily a hot grilled Brown Bread Sandwich followed by a 1/2 juice at times..or mouth watering Paani Poori(this mention is especially for one of my dudette friends Preeti, am sure you are getting tempted even at the mention of this Preeti ;) also the brown bread mention was a tribute to our evening time together :) )..or a cup of hot chai and steaming plain dosa at Krishna Udupi..Lunch at Graamin..or Dessert at Corner House(This one's for Priya, one of my very sweet friends :D, yeah Priya I know you feel like a Death By Chocolate now :D)or Window shopping at Forum & to have something at Transit, look at the Soch sari outlet(remember Sanghamitra? :) ) Am musing if I have forgotten something..Oh yes...and the chat trips to Anand Sweets :P Amazing days!! Just so incredible that I won't ever forget them..And how did I not mention the post lunch chai sessions :D the post lunch walks..

I mean what more do you need to enjoy life..A good group of friends..who have common interests( Junk Jwellery and Gossip for us.. :D hee hee & oh oh I forgot!! commenting on ridiculous dressing sense of others, now don't mind this since it was for pure fun :D)

Feel so fortunate to have had such a good time with people I enjoy being so much with..Sanghamitra with her one liners :D Priya almost always busy in her work (But not these days ;) ) and Preeti always ready with tips on trendy dressing and health food :D Sigh! I miss you guys so much..so much that I had to write this post today..Just today I realised how much these little joyful moments meant to me..Those days will never come back again..but memories do remain..I hope you remember me too..maybe by looking at the junk jwellery I got for each one of you...or the capsicum curry that I prepared(the besan one yes :) ) or for the food court instance, when me and Sanghamitra ended up having bhel poori after a bland plate of Salad(which we started eating very enthusiastically but ended up making faces :D) or for the chikki Priya?? :)

I can't even express in words..how much I have begun to feel that no one can fill the places that each one of you held in my life and still hold..No matter what gals..I will always cherish your friendship..All of you rock!!! This post is especially for the three of you..my buddies..Preeti, Priya and Sanghamitra....Huggs

Writing is a great way to bust mental funk

Recently I found myself irked by boredom, routine, doing the same chores , same tasks day by day. I felt so vexed by it that I started to look for a way to relieve myself. I found reading blogs is a very constructive way to use time at hand. And there is a plethora of such fine quality blogs out there. Just do not understand how I was untouched by such a vast blogosphere out there. Anyhow am happy am part of it now.

While going through my usual reading routine I found this blog http://www.thehappyself.com/10-ways-to-bust-out-of-a-mental-funk It was just what I needed. Mental funk , that was exactly what I was struggling with.Generally, I find myself in a mental funk due to being very much in routine or having too much leisure that leads to a feeling of unproductivity. And the blog suggests such doable ways to bust out of it, am glad I read this post. Although I also feel that its easier said that done. 

When all is said and done

more is said and less is done

In addition to the points listed there, I think the last one "Compliment yourself", that was the one that helped rekindle the spirit in me. Definitely, the first point would maybe be the best solution of breaking out of the trap of mental funk. But when you are really in it, it takes immense efforts even to take a single step towards breaking out. At that juncture, you need a driving force, maybe just a flicker of hope that may come in any minimal form.

For me, it came in the form of user comments on my blog for the topic Minimalism. Here I was, in the inertia of dullness, sluggishness and all the synonyms of depression or blues and lo, I see some comments on one of my posts. That really cheered me up :-) I would associate it with complimenting myself. 

I had not written from couple of days giving into some mental blocks. Fortunately for the comments, thanks to all who commented, thanks for providing me the tiny bit of inspiration and motivation. 

And finally I feel free, out of the clenches of the blues..I owe this all to writing, to the ability that we have so that we can pen down our thoughts, may they be simple, yet they provide a different kind of freedom to the soul..

The only time I know that something is true is the moment I discover it in the act of writing.
Jean Malaquais

A relief from Ektaa Kapoor serials on TV

Am fortunate or some would say unfortunate to have a TV. Not that am a couch potato but yes its a good to watch something while eating dinner or while cutting vegetables(yes I make my own dinner, even thats a big relief)

All the saga of Saas Bahu serials, all the politics and conspiracy games in families, thankfully all those serials no longer come on TV, or maybe I have stopped watching that channel. You should try watching the channel Colors if you do not already. It has some very good quality serials and couple of them are on social issues which makes them all the more interesting to watch.

Baalika Vadhu on child marriage and widow remarriage. Naa aana is des Laado on female infanticide. And both of these serials are female oriented serials, the head in the family being a female. Such classy and genuine characters, each one are appreciable in their own role. No wonder TRP rating of Colors channel is so high.

Bye bye to ekta kappoor serials and Welcome to Colors :)

Never Resign to Fate

There maybe instances in life when it would be easier to resign yourself to fate than fight the odds. But that would be a cowards' path to take. Yes, it may take a lot of relentless effort to come out of your trials and tribulations but it definitely is worth the effort.

Why should one be hell bent on leading a life which does not give one the bare essentials of happiness. Where one is given no importance, where one is stuck for a loved one and bearing all the pain for no love, no respect in return. How meaningless, how torturous such a life would be, it is difficult even to imagine. Everyday would be like burden.

I have seen people in situations where coming out is the only solution. By coming out I mainly mean breaking out of a relationship. Making or breaking a relationship demands tremendous effort from any individual and that is always a life changing step, one that has serious, positive or negative implications on ones' life. And both are equally difficult to be decided upon. 

Religion and spirituality teach us to be patient, that things will be fine one day but that does not mean weaving a new world far away from the realms of reality. For, the need of the day is to be practical and stay in reality. One needs to be proactive for solving any relationship issues. Merely waiting for the day to come when things would be fine is just utopian theory.

I highly appreciate individuals who opt for a divorce when they foresee that it would be difficult or not feasible to carry on a relationship. Brave are those individuals, it takes heart, more than that it takes guts to end a relationship. How liberating it could feel and at the same time painful. But the question here would be are you leading a life you really wanted to or it is just an arrangement that you have made with fate?

And what if there is a child involved? The situation then becomes much more complex. Couples  try to stick together just for the sake of the child, not giving thought to the fact that the child also becomes aware of the cold war, the mental tension that has come between the parents. And this has a bad impact on the child. Single parenting sure would be tough but at least the child would have a healthy environment and if the single parent can provide for the child in health and sickness, what more is needed?

In instances, where people stay on, resign themselves to their fate, everyday is a slow death. Everyday is a step towards killing the person that you really are. Everyday is a compromise.

So this is what I have learnt today "Never Resign to Fate"

I dedicate this post to my father whom I so respect, my respect for him grows each day. He is my inspiration in life. Thanks for everything Papa!

Big Boss ??? Naaaa

Today I was watching Big Boss on TV. Yeah yeah in my defence, I was busy doing one of my chores while my parents were following it. And I had no option but to steal a sight once a while, mostly I was passively listening to the drama.

First and foremost and that seems to be the USP of the show :D Each character they have picked for staying in the house is so unique and I must say some of them are real samples, at least I felt so. The ones I really felt irritated with were Jaya Sawant. I mean com'on Aunty jee isn't it enough your daughter doing drama on reality shows when you felt the need to plunge in? but I must say you provide no entertainment :P Only Rakhi is proficient in that :D Rakhi I hope does not take this as a compliment :P

Next in line is that Kamal Khan, first of all I do not know who this guy is. But one thing am sure of even his mike would be begging for mercy. He has this umm how should I say it, a very shrill voice which is not at all कर्णप्रिय. If you know what I mean, myself I would like to be deaf rather than be around such a person. Sorry KK. no offense for you, I am just irritated with your voice and by the way it influences your personality.

Hmm, let me see, yess how can we miss Vindoo when we are counting others.Now folks this one is very foxy, knows how to shift the blame, when to take the blame and use each situation to his advantage. I think the others in the house should "beware" of him. Basically, looks like He's the Boss now.

Sherlyn Chopra?? Gosh!!! I just don't like her. Ok guys I know you might but I don't care. She just comes around like a gal who has a lot of attitude. The kinda gal who can mix up only with guys. Exactly what is happening in Big Boss now..

Ooooooh, Rohit, the fashion designer. I know the world is ready for its gay people but puleeeez, I do not want to see this sissy of a person on the show. Even Ross was better(Friends wala Ross :P)

Well..My list of "Not like" people ends here..All the Best to the others..Hope I do not follow Big Boss :| Although my father says its a physchological test for the people, I think its total crap of a show. What do you think??

10 Quotes on Happiness..

Happiness is a state of mind. It maybe due to the very trivial of things, nonetheless its a state of high that must be thoroughly enjoyed. For..life is short...

1) "Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you" -- Nathaniel Hawthorne

2) "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." -- Mahatma Gandhi

3) "Happiness is like a cat, If you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you; it will never come. But if you pay not attention to it and go about your business, you'll find it rubbing against your legs and jumping into your lap." -- William Bennett

4) “Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower, and draws all good things toward you.” — Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

5)“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called. — A.A. Milne

6) “Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don’t collect all these tiny successes, the big ones don’t really mean anything.” — Norman Lear

7) "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light." --Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter

8)"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion." --

The Dalai Lama

9)“The foolish person seeks happiness in the distance; the wise person grows it under his feet.” -- James Oppenheim

10) "Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory." -- Albert Schweitzer

Magnolia - The Movie

After having watched the movie, I endeavored to reason how the name of the movie was apt enough.

Well Magnolia is a flower as the movie poster vividly depicts and just as every petal is different, similarly the varied characters. But just as all the petals are connected to the one flower, so too are the people in the film interconnected. Marvellously thought name.
IMDB rating of the movie:8.2, Director:Paul Thomas Anderson

Brilliant interconnection of characters and the story of each.

Story of a dying man,Earl Partridge repenting having left his son at the age of 14 and a dying wife, repentful that he cheated on his wife. Married Linda.

The nurse Phil brilliantly played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who endeavors to contact Frank T.J Mackey(Tom Cruise), the dying mans' son. As opinions go, this is by large the best performance given by Tom Cruise in the year 1999. Personally, am not a big fan of his. And plus his role in the movie, that of a Seduction Guru is well played by him.Although the character has been made to use some over offensive language.

Linda(Juliaane Moore), the dying mans wife, shown hysterical and maniacal. Mostly shown swearing in the movie, the part I disliked most. Self-realization dawns on her in the end and eats her conscience.

William H Macy, the Quiz kid Donnie Smith who is no longer smart as he deems himself and need a pair of braces just to befriend someone he think he loves, a bartender! Parents who never treated him well..the once whiz kid now shown desperate for love.

Jimmy Gator, the quiz anchor, who confesses to his wife about their daughter Claudia and how he had ravaged her.


Not to forget the cop who gets all cry baby when he loses his gun.


As quoted by Cole Smithey http://www.colesmithey.com/reviews/2009/03/-magnolia.html, I liked these lines of his best

Just as something so reliably surprising as the weather can modify people’s behavior, "Magnolia" encompasses an inter-connective human bond that accepts reality’s blind spots. Purity of intention, as the story suggests, is a happy accident that can hit everyone.

Pati Patni aur Woh..pure baby torture

In my previous post, I felt Pati Patni aur woh was better than Sach ka Saamna..but gosh it is worse than I imagined. This I realised only after I watched it myself. 

Imagine Rakhi Sawant trying to feed a baby which is 6-12 months old. The baby is howling away and clearly is troubled. Its so atrocious the way parents can loan their child. Yes, thats what the parents say, they have loaned their children. What kind of parents will want to have their baby tortured this way? In their defense the parents say "The show has a 'social purpose' - aimed at giving young newly married couples a crash course in parenting." Source : TimesNow 

What an insensible excuse! 

Now this statement itself does not make much sense. Do newly married couples need a crash course in parenting????? Or do they need a crash course in Relationships?? How many married couples nowadays have a baby shortly after marriage? I know very few personally. 

Am glad though that NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) is protesting the content of the show claiming it violates the rights of children as it uses babies as 'props'.Thankfully for now, the show has been taken off air. See this

Babies as props????? What are reality shows coming to!! Highly stupefying!

Diwali is coming..

Myriad thoughts crossing my mind. Diwali..desperate to go home..Gandhi Jayanti..Freedom so labouriously earned that we so enjoy today..My Blog..Time Management..Jab We Met :D yeah its running on the Colors channel now..one of my all time favourite movies...Imagine if someone could be like Geet in real life :D

One more prominent thought in my mind is ways to improve my writing (skills) Let me be modest and include skills like an optional word :P Seriously I need to learn a lot when it comes to writing. Was going through some good blogs, one of my friends shared with me http://www.whatay.com/, this blogger is very popular, name's Sidin. But gosh, there is a plethora of things when it comes to blogging. In my opinion, once you start being a regular blogger you start getting a hang of things. Equally important is reading other blogs and giving important comments. The world of Blogging is so vast and so interesting, I wonder why I discovered it recently.

Moving on to Diwali, the festival of lights, the festival of crackers and sweets. One of our major Indian festivals, when the light of lamps enlightens all places and the sound of crackers echoes through the night. When Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of Wealth is worshipped, according to mythology Lakshmi jee incarnated on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month during the churning of the ocean (samudra-manthan), hence the association of Diwali with Lakshmi.

I always associate Diwali with home, and presence of my loved ones. I just remember one Diwali which I spent away from home. And it did not feel like a festival at all. That was First year B.Tech when we weren't given enough holidays for Diwali. For me, Diwali means being with my parents at home.

More than the sweets preparation, Buying new clothes,Welcoming guests,wishing them,sending cards, more than all of this, for me Diwali is of utmost importance because I am at home with my parents, its a feeling inexplicable, possibly people staying away from home could better fathom. If it weren't for being at home, I would be utterly depressed at Diwali. Although its celebrated without any pomp and show at my home. Nevertheless, the simple Lakshmi jee poojan done by my father, and the simple goodies made by mom, the warmth of their love and care seems to shone much more at Diwali, strangely and why I do not know. Well, can't wait for 17th October and to be at home...

"He who Himself sees all but whom no one beholds, who illumines the intellect, the sun, the moon and the stars and the whole universe but whom they cannot illumine, He indeed is Brahman, He is the inner Self. Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman, and enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul"

Wish you all a Happy Diwali in advance..

Twitter , major source of Blog traffic

The importance of Twitter can be realised only if one looks at the interesting findings by hubspot

These were some statistics, this was done in 2008..

• Twitter traffic has grown over 600% in the past 12 months
• Twitter became one of the top 1,000 websites by traffic in May 2008
• Twitter is dominated by newer users, 70% of Twitter users joined in 2008
• An estimated 5-10 thousand new accounts are opened each day

All these facts mean that Twitter is a very significant platform for bloggers. Bloggers can increase their blog traffic and exposure by finding, getting in touch and providing good readable content to who interested.

Well, I myself have just started blogging, my enthusiasm is at its peak now. I want to keep writing some good stuff and popularize my blog through mediums like Facebook and Twitter. Internet has a plethora of information, the only thing needed is some acumen to tap it to your own benefit which I intend to do thoroughly.

Have started with stumbleupon,twitter and facebook. :)