Happiness In Simplicity

                                                     image source: http://img3.rnkr-static.com/

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell 
me what is happiness. 
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of 
thousands of men. 
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though 
I was trying to fool with them 
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along 
the Desplaines river 
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with 
their women and children and a keg of beer and an 
accordion.  - Carl Sandburg

True happiness is in all those little things that life gift us in a blink of our eyes. To dance, clap hands, exult, shout, skip, leap, roll on, float on can make life a poem of new happiness. Happiness to me is all those tiny moments of sharing and caring. To be refreshed by the morning walk or an evening saunter spending some time with the morning birds and the street dogs. Sharing a chunk of bread or few biscuits and to see them wagging tails with words unspoken, yes they love. A cricket match with family shouting at every boundaries….cheering for home team and a bottle of Coke and popcorn to share are simplest forms of happiness. A long drive with a friend and then a watching a blockbuster movie giggling and laughing together, that’s happiness.
 I am real foodie and love to make innovative recipes with food and drink. It bring immense happiness when I share my innovative yummy delicious recipes not only with my family and friends but went out and share with the homeless or the street kids. It’s really a true pleasure to see those eyes sparkles with happiness when they see good food and drink in front of them. Once learnt and experience in my own life truth of this words “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” I find true happiness in giving.... whether feeding a hungry with delicious food ... a thirsty with a glass of drink ...  some good words of praise and happiness that will motivate and inspire and brighten a gloomy day of someone with a ray of hope. Sometimes people around don’t need any tangible good to feel the vibes of wellness but only some caring and loving words that can just make them feel good and move on in life with a smile. So even it’s a simple Happy Birthday to an unknown Facebook friend from a far land, I never miss to type that on their wall. I know it well that I will never meet them in person in this life time but just when I think that may be with my words I can sprinkle little color in their life canvas, my heart fills with an unknown pleasure and a pure smile lighten up my face. Life is nothing but pearls of moments beautifully tied together in the silk thread of time….let’s choose happiness.

 This post is part of Coca-Cola International Day of Happiness. To Coca-Cola, happiness is anything that brings a smile to your face! It's about adding a dose of refreshment, brightness & cheer to the lives of people who love it.

Be Happy. God Bless.

Send A Drop Of Kindness

                                                   image source : https://booknvolume.files.wordpress.com

Send A Drop Of Kindness -  Julie Hebert
Send a drop of kindness, 
And see a happy face.
A drop of kindness goes real far,
It may even reach outer space.

Send a drop of love,
And feel a loving embrace.
It feels so good to feel like,
You are in the right place.

Send a drop of hope,
But be that shinning star.
Hope is wonderful to have,
But sometimes you can't sit away so far.

Send a drop of faith,
With a single prayer.
And God will show the way,
As faith is always there.

Be Happy. God Bless.

How Do I Love Thee

                                                     image source : http://theprovidencegroup.com/
"Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end." - Author Unknown

 
How Do I Love Thee? 
By Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

How do I love thee? 
Let me count the ways. 

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height 
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. 
I love thee to the level of every day's 

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. 
I love thee freely, as men strive for right; 

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. 
I love thee with the passion put to use 

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. 
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 

With my lost saints - I love thee with the breath, 
Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, 
I shall but love thee better after death.


"Many are the starrs I see, 
but in my eye no starr like thee." 
 

Be Happy. God Bless.

Rise Above -Start A New Life

                                               

image source : https://www.cyclicx.com

Rise Above -Author Unknown
The world is full of people,
Content to be what they are
Who never know the joy of success;
They lack the will to go that far.

Yet in this world there is a need,
For some to lead the rest
To rise above the average life,
By giving of their best.

Are you the one who dares,
To try when challenged by the task
To rise to heights you've never dreamed, 
Or is that too much to ask?

This can be your year,
For great purpose to achieve
If you accept the challenge,
And in yourself believe.

Time came when we can stand on the same place and make progress we have to move on to make a fresh new start, to close the door on past and open ourselves to a new beginning. Whether we want to make large, dramatic changes or smaller daily changes we need hope and encouragement. We fill an urge within to show that our desire are universal and we too can have a better brighter future. What other’s have achieved we can achieve too if we have the courage to follow our dreams. The word impossible itself says that I am possible.
 I don’t want to join the corporate rat race but want to walk away with something new and unique that suit my type. It was a bold decision as well paid lucrative jobs were all around and leaving that and taking a unknown path is not only scary but bit crazy too. Adventure is in my blood. Love to travel the roads less traveled by and make a difference. So as decided started my journey to new life a fresh. Started my online venture. I must say the journey was not easy one.There is truly no short cut to success. Your hard work, determination, resilience, optimism all are the penny with which you can buy that success trophy. People will see success and may call it overnight but they never will know how much effort you put in other sleepless night of yours to bring back home success and achievement. The tough part of the story is you stay at your home and make it an office. For the people outside you are always stay at home type and for people at home you are always at office. So to bridge the gap between this two mentality and stay cool and walk tall towards your dream is what I call blessing. Life can throw few lemon towards you but it’s up to you to catch those lemons and make a lemonade and enjoy.
 House is not made of bricks but of emotions. Sometimes it give you solace and became a fort to fight back and achieve your dreams and build the success empire manifested in reality .

 This post is part of Housing.com#StartANewLife. At Housing, we love change - good change! Change signifies that we're moving forward, living better, and giving ourselves the chance to be the best we can possibly be. We want to read stories of how you've affected change in your own lives and started over, started anew. It could be the story of the first time you moved away from home to live on your own, the first house you bought with your own hard-earned money, moved cities to chase your dreams, or moved away to leave the past behind. Share your anecdotes with everybody using #StartANewLife, and you could just be the inspiration for someone else embarking on theirs!

Look Up Stories

                                                          image source : https://ada2writes.files.wordpress.com

“Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.” 
― Christian D. Larson 

My Mother wanted me to learn music and go to a good music teacher in my early teen years. I was one easy go lucky type not serious about anything a bit but quite choosy when it comes take up my passion. One day I was crossing a beautiful garden house and heard a very sweet voice singing my favorite song. Her voice was so mesmerizing that I could n’t walk a step further . The very next day I went again and this time one my friend noticed. She told me that a beautiful lady stay here but we never talk to her and she seldom walk out. I made my mind she is one I am going to take my music lesson form . A bit desperate in my determination I went in. A very well mannered person opened the door later when I ask may I meet Mam who is singing inside and I openly state the reason for my meeting. He asked me to stand there and with broad smile He went inside. My feet were trembling want to run away but hold my nerves strong. The Man came back after 5 minutes and then take me inside may be he too was impressed by my honest confession. I saw a beautiful lady sitting in front of the piano. The room was simple but filled with grace and beauty. She call me near her and touch me with such love and care that I am drenched in bliss. But then I realize she was completely blind. She asked me to come with my Mom next day. So me and my Mom reached there in time. I get my first music teacher Adelina Belrose. Her house was a serene place where music get it’s own meaning and spending 2 to 3 hours in weekend means enriching the soul with music and wisdom. She implanted the seed of such goodness not only with words but her deeds that in my later life it helped me to fight back the many odds. The poem above was her favorite and she use to quote it often. Sometimes I felt that God had taken away her physical eyes and gifted her beautiful heart eye with which the world is forever beautiful. For six long years she was my music teacher and then with her husband and son shifted to Paris.
The house was still the same well maintained by some house keeper . It was no less than a synagogue to me .
 Last week I got a call from her son that they are returning to my city. They will stay here for a year but want to buy another furnished home near to his office ask for my recommendation. I said you better log on to Housing.com for a good hassle free choice. This week they are landing and I can’t wait to see my sweet loving Aunt Adelina and hear her song and sharing her optimistic attitude sitting in the bench  of that beautiful rose garden of her house.

 This post is part of Housing.com#LookUp. Housing envisions a world filled with positivity. As elusive as it may seem, optimism can be found all around - in the laughter of children, in the excitement on your pet's face when you get back after a long day, and in the smile of your loved ones when you go back home after months of being away. Tell us your favourite story of optimism - optimism about life, about love, about the world and its future.

We Are Together In This Journey

                                      image source : https://archangelsanddevas.files.wordpress.com
In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer
 Years back my cousin sister was getting married and I due to my forthcoming exams had to stay back home while all other family member went to attend the marriage. Our domestic helps were well trained to do all chores so that I don’t have any problem and concentrate on studies. I too was enjoying my home alone version. It was that chilled Sunday afternoon, I finished my studies and all of a sudden was missing my family like a hell. It’s seems impossible to stay back, want to run and be there with them. I know they are just a phone call away and one call of mine and they all will rush back. But don’t want to spoil there fun and enjoyment . My Conscience is not permitting me to go selfish on such petty notes. On the other hand I am feeling desperate to be with someone as the loneliness is just making me damn crazy. Thinking to call few friends and ask them to join me for a cup of coffee. Hesitating as it was Sunday few are too serious lot…busy in their last minute exam touch up…will sure raise an eyebrow on such out of the blue fun party at such rear end of Sunday. While the other few fun lot may be already out to enjoy. Sitting with my phone book to decide whom to call. Suddenly our help informed that some one at the door step was looking for me. Went and with all my surprise it was my old high school friend. It was after a year or so that we are seeing each other. I thought I was out from her list. I am overwhelmed. Her mother use to love me a lot so she send a goodies pack of chocolates and homemade banana chips for me. She didn't came as a friend but like an angel to brighten up my gloomy day with love and light.
 Together we spend hours talking and laughing at silly jokes and remembering our days and memories when we are #together. After 3 hours of random nonstop chat we went out for a short drive to a local Chinese restaurant. We didn't sit at the restaurant  to have food as we know, we both crazy will burst out into laughter at any silly talk and people around will gaze us as if we are aliens. So we get back home with all the delicious yummy cuisine. Our house help prepared a cozy dine in our roof top. We indulge in girly gossip, we laughed our heart out and the evening end on a happy note. She left my home at 10 p.m. I am all changed fully energized, happy and stress was miles away.
 I will remember that evening for the rest of my life as it was angelic, some people bring sunshine wherever they go filling and lifting others with their share and care.
Living in different part of the globe rarely meeting in years but we are still #together if not physically but virtually.

 This post is part of  Housing.com#Together.Housing believes in the inimitable power of optimism. We also know that it's difficult to be optimistic all day, every day; and sometimes we need a little nudge to get back on track! This is the time we need to be with the ones we love the most. It could also be the simple act of meeting a long lost friend, having a cup of tea with a parent, or going for a walk with your best friend. Most times, it's the company that matters more than the advice, and that is the power of being #together!
Be Happy. God Bless.

Becoming A Mother

                                                   image source :http://bridalmusings.com/
This story came to my inbox today. I read Mr.Mehera's news letter as they are all soul satisfying. But today's post is an eye opener. Can't resist to share it with all my friends reading my blog as it will help many if followed. In today's competitive race people fail to understand that at the end they have to deal not with the degrees of their kids but they as a human.Please read the full story and think on.

              STORY OF A MOTHER'S CURSE - By Vijay Mehera
 Recently, I have visited a friend's father in an old age home. There I met a lady, around 74 years old, who reminded me of my mother. I introduced myself. & we talked for few minutes. Then, without any provocation, she started cursing her son & daughter. "Uday, you have come to see your friend's father but my children, those %@#%$, never cared for me. They ditched me here like an ugly decayed old dog..."she was cursing & shouting so loud. And the beauty of the words she used would create envy in even among parliamentarians in India. I have never ever heard such gutter adjectives that she used to address her son & daughter - horrible! I could imagine her pain, anger, hatred & alienation. I understood that her son is an engineer and daughter is a medical doctor. They have never come to see her. And she is living on her pension.
"Please don’t curse your children, mother..." I said."Both of them are living in huge bungalows with children & servants. They spent lot of money on poojas & rituals too....But they can't spend a minute or a paisa for me “she continued cursing them...
Apparently, she is disillusioned, depressed, frustrated & carrying lot of negative emotions. A tragic situation indeed. Barring the emotional outburst, we fail to see some basic factors that point to bitter truth in life."May I ask you a few questions, mother?"
"Yes..."
"You have given birth to your children with part of your own body. You have nurtured them well. You have provided them with nutritious food & nourished them..."
"Yes...yes...most of the times, I was starving to feed them...Since my husband was not earning well, we were living on my petty salary then..."
"You took care of their body so now they have a good and healthy body..."
"Yes - but my curse will finish off their health, their body will decay..." she scolded.
"Now, my question is, you took care of the body, but what about their mind? What did you do for their mind? Did you teach them any value based knowledge? Did you teach them your traditions, customs, rituals, culture and its significance? Did you read them our puranas (spiritual Indian literature)& itihas (history)?"
 "Who had time for that? I was busy to make both ends meet...I was starving, but I wanted to see them as an engineer or doctor...I wanted to see the society respects my children."
"So, your wishes are fulfilled and then what are you complaining about?" She looked at me with a blank face.
"You taught your daughter MBBS - she became doctor. You send your son to study BTech & he became an engineer. Those are very good positions in your society...You should be happy. You taught them to be competitive & selfish...Fair enough.
But how will they learn what you didn't teach them? Did you teach them any values in life?
Where will they learn from that they should take care of parents?"
 "But...they should...right? I have sacrificed my life...I starved..."
"Mother, you made two mistakes - one, you were irresponsible to your own body & mind.
When you starve, trillions of living beings inside your body will starve, have you ever thought about it? It is a self-violence. What about the curse of your own body cells?
 Second: you were sub-consciously deriving pleasure from this concept: "even if I starve, I fed my kids". So you already got your contentment &happiness.
Your wish was to make them professionals & earn respect in the society - it was also fulfilled..." She didn't have answer.
"Have you sought your kids’ permission before bringing them into this world? Did they request you to take them to this world? If you give them good body, it was your dharma to give them good mind too?" How Rajmata Jijabai did brought her son Shivaji up? Jijabai told him the tales of Ram, Krishna, Hanuman, Yudhistira, Bheem, Sibi etc - fighting the injustice, being truthful, humane and freeing of people from tyranny. These stories made Shivaji the great. He respected women and his mother. On the contrary, how did his arch-enemy Aurangzeb was brought up by his mother? She made a demon out of a man. He imprisoned his own father Shah Jahan & assaulted women & auctioned them. He was trading Indian women as slaves.
"But...I was ignorant about such things..." she said.
Ignorance of karmic laws is NOT an excuse; each & every karma will have its cause and effects. Abdul Kalam was brought up by his mother in poverty - he became India's most-respected president. On the contrary, Adolf Hitler was also brought up in poverty by his mother. See the difference!
"Mother, I am sorry to say, but you got what you deserve. You are responsible for your karma and hence the result" "But the struggle I underwent for them? The miseries & hardship I suffered for bringing them up?"
"Mother, everybody feeds their children. But you should have provided them something else too. Have you shown them or let them experience poverty, miseries & hardship?
You wanted to experience it for yourself in the name of love to children... Then how do you expect them to know your troubles?
You spent lot of money to make them professionals. Did you spend a single penny to make them a good human being?
You have taught them that life is all about tuition or scoring highest marks in the exams and competition items like dance and songs. Did you ever take them to a cancer ward in the hospital? Did you ever take them to an orphanage? Did you make them understand sufferings of old-age people? Where do you expect them to learn such things, mother? From reality shows? Commercials? Television series? If they think that life is about self-centered enjoyment, who is responsible for that life style?"
"But don't they know the meaning of "Mathrudevo bhava" & " she murmured something "Mother, Mathrudevo bhava means, get yourself elevated to the position of the God, not that your demand your children to respect you as God...” I said. She didn't utter a single word.
Tears rolled out of her eyes. I felt I was exceeding the limit. But somebody should tell it to her. It is for her own good. She should stop producing more negativity & hatred. She should take up the responsibility of what had happened to her. That will make her think. And I am sure that she will find solace.
There was nothing else I could do in such situation. "I am really sorry mother...Please forgive me if I have said something that hurt you..." "No my son, you have opened my eyes...I think I am realising your points..." "And please stop calling your son, 'son of a bitch' - in fact you are scolding yourself here. Let me assure you, your son & daughter are not going to escape from the results of their bad karma. They will get it back from their children. Then, they may repent. That point of time, they may understand the sacrifice of their parents.... So, just pray for them, instead of cursing them..." I said.
Be Happy. God Bless.

Still I Rise

Still I Rise- Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you? 
Why are you beset with gloom? 
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken? 
Bowed head and lowered eyes? 
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you? 
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you? 
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs? 

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

 

Be Happy. God Bless.