The World is Against Me

I am happy that August is endingJ

It is my favourite month but this time I am fed up of this month. More than me, maybe my husbandJ

We have done only one thing great going to doctors and doctors and just doctors. Though I will remember my 31^st birthday as my husband took me for Salsa Night and I met my Salsa Instructor there.  I love that moment when you dance with your partner and you are not dressed in the right attire and still your teacher appreciates and encourages you.

The email of my brother Valerio and a call of Srikanth at sharp 12 AM made me feel so special. But the reality is that I kicked off my day at a hospital and I am still going rounds and rounds and roundsJ.

Honestly, I am not fed up but exasperated. In the whole of this I got a great compliment when my husband said “I appreciate your patience, Archana. God has crossed my patience but do not know how you are dealing with so many problems and pains. I just wish this is your last problem for the year. I admire you for your strength and patience that maybe you developed over years facing so many problems. But I am broken this time.”

I wanted to say and tell him, indeed my parents, that I am broken too. Indeed, I feel to run away to some place where there are no hospitals and doctors for a while but I cannot run away from my body and the problem is me to myselfJ. I have to fight and be patient as that will only helpJ. Crying and Cribbing over problems is no solution to any problem. But I preferred to stay silent as I know my husband can read what I wanted to sayJ.

It seems the whole universe is against me. But then I read this poem and I feel so much good. I feel positive and I am sure God is watching me. He can only give us pain as much as we can bearJ. I share the poem below that made me fall in love with my problems. I am going to fight till I win. I can relate this poem to the current situation of India as well. Anna Hazare is a good example as he has changed the direction of the winds to storm the country with Anti Corruption Drive.

The world is against me," he said with a sigh.
"Somebody stops every scheme that I try.
The world has me down and it's keeping me there;
I don't get a chance. Oh, the world is unfair!
When a fellow is poor then he can't get a show;
The world is determined to keep him down low."

"What of Abe Lincoln?" I asked. "Would you say
That he was much richer than you are to-day?
He hadn't your chance of making his mark,
And his outlook was often exceedingly dark;
Yet he clung to his purpose with courage most grim
And he got to the top. Was the world against him?

"What of Ben Franklin? I've oft heard it said
That many a time he went hungry to bed.
He started with nothing but courage to climb,
But patiently struggled and waited his time.
He dangled awhile from real poverty's limb,
Yet he got to the top. Was the world against him?

"I could name you a dozen, yes, hundreds, I guess,
Of poor boys who've patiently climbed to success;
All boys who were down and who struggled alone,
Who'd have thought themselves rich if your fortune they'd known;
Yet they rose in the world you're so quick to condemn,
And I'm asking you now, was the world against them?"

BY Edgar A. Guest

The World is Mine by Dr. Tennyson Guyer

Before this week ends, read this poem to start afresh tomorrow. When I face a problem and think “WHY ME?” asking God, the following is a poem I read to keep me stable and happy. Next time you think and ask GOD – “WHY ME?”...Below is your answerJ

The world is full of wonderful things -- we all should be as happy as kings.

The World is Mine

Today upon a bus I saw a girl with golden hair;
She seemed so gay, I envied her, and wished that I were half so fair;
I watched her as she rose to leave, and saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch, but as she passed--a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine;
I have two legs--the world is mine.

Later on I bought some sweets. The boy who sold them had such charm,
I thought I'd stop and talk awhile. If I were late, t'would do no harm.
And as we talked he said, "thank you, sir, you've really been so kind .
It's nice to talk to folks like you because, you see, I'm blind."
Oh, God , forgive me when I whine;
I have two eyes--the world is mine.

Later, walking down the street, I met a boy with eyes so blue.
But he stood and watched the others play, it seemed he knew not what to do.
I paused, and then I said," Why don't you join the others, dear?"
But he looked straight ahead without a word, and then I knew, he couldn't hear.

Oh,God forgive me when I whine;
I have two ears--the world is mine.
Two legs to take me where I go,
Two eyes to see the sunset's glow,
Two ears to hear all I should know,
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine;
I'm blest, indeed, the world is mine.

Buona Notte:)

What I want on my birthday?

You would have read the below post about launch of my new blog – Live Life Arthritis Style

Now what I want on my birthday?

ONE EMAIL FROM VALERIO –

An email from my brother Valerio in my account that comes every year sharp at 12 AM. That is the first thing I login and check on 25^th August for last 7 years. It tells me that relationships are not time or distance or blood related onlyJ. He completes my birthday and his love is like blessing gift for me. I still remember when I left and the way we hugged and cried. A 6 feet good looking guy bent on his knees to match my height. We speak different languages but we learned languages to talk to each other. I need that email this year also.

12 AM CALL –

A call at 12 AM that tells that I am still special for my people.

GLASS OF ‘LANCERS’ WINE –

A glass of my favourite wine (check this link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancers_(wine)) . Somehow I could develop the taste of this wine only.

YELLOW GERBERA FLOWERS-

I want 10 yellow gerbera flowers. Please no more roses. I do not like them anymore. Yellow is my colour these days so just 10 yellow gerbera flowers.

A GOOD CANDLELIGHT DINNER

A good Italian dinner.

Thats all.

I wish all this comes true this birthdayJ

Buona Notte!

My Birthday Gift : Launch of My Another Blog – Live Life Arthritis Style

I am very happy to launch my new blog – Live Life Arthritis Style on my birthday. I will be writing for both of these blogs from now onwards.

This is the surprise that I planned for my readers. To know more about this blog please click the link to the very first post published by me

About Live Life Arthritis Style

You can visit this blog through my profile also. If you click ‘View My Complete Profile’ tab available above you will be taken to my profile. You have to scroll the window and see all my blogs under the tab ‘My Blogs’.

Like my current blog, this blog is also searchable on Google for everyone. The name of the blog is suggested by my husband and this is the best gift he could have given me. I am still working on the looks and gadgets that I plan to add to my blog. So be patient with meJ

At the same time I owe my thanks to all my friends and readers as their confidence in me has given me the strength to live and be what I am today. As we say we all need help somewhere and maybe your consistency in reading my blog and stories helped me to be here.

What this blog is all about?

For the above question you need to read the blog so click the link above and enjoy. It is dedicated to people like Archana only!

I am happy I could launch it around my birthday.

Love You All

CheerioJ

No Doctor's Today, Thank You by Ogden Nash

No Doctor's Today, Thank You by Ogden Nash

I am dedicating this poem to myself as my birthday is coming and I am so happy and feeling good about what I plan to do. There are so many thoughts coming into my mind and yes it will be a day of a surprise for many of my readers. I am almost done with the Launch Stuff of my surprise so wait and watch!

 I just want no doctors and hospitals from now till 25^th. So I am dedicating this poem to my present thoughts and maybe to someone who is sailing in the same boatJ

They tell me that euphoria is the feeling of feeling wonderful,
well, today I feel euphorian,
Today I have the agility of a Greek god and the appetitite of a
Victorian.
Yes, today I may even go forth without my galoshes,
Today I am a swashbuckler, would anybody like me to buckle
any swashes?
This is my euphorian day,
I will ring welkins and before anybody answers I will run away.
I will tame me a caribou
And bedeck it with marabou.
I will pen me my memoirs.
Ah youth, youth! What euphorian days them was!
I wasn't much of a hand for the boudoirs,
I was generally to be found where the food was.
Does anybody want any flotsam?
I've gotsam.
Does anybody want any jetsam?
I can getsam.
I can play chopsticks on the Wurlitzer,
I can speak Portuguese like a Berlitzer.
I can don or doff my shoes without tying or untying the laces because
I am wearing moccasins,
And I practically know the difference between serums and antitoccasins.
Kind people, don't think me purse-proud, don't set me down as
vainglorious,
I'm just a little euphorious.

Stay Happy n Stay Healthy:)
Buona Notte!

I Captured This Video Just to Say – ‘Respect Nature’

There is one thing that I do not like about my birthday – Rain. No matter in which part of the world I am but for last 7 birthdays there is no such one that it did not rain. So please God, on special request it should not rain on this Thursday.

Link to Video - Respect and Love Nature!

Anyways I do not like rains as such also. But there is something about this video that I could not resist capturing it. This is a video I recorded to capture God's best gift to us that is NATURE! Respect nature and preserve it for our coming generations. The sound of rain drops and changing colours of sky recorded in this video is so soothing to eyes. I loved this video as it was not planned. I just woke up and saw it is raining like anything and could not resist capturing this beautiful scenic video of nature. Thanks GOD!

Hope my readers will like it too. It was hard to record this video as I am short in height J and it was like standing on a chair, twisting your body here and there to capture the best view. My apartment being the corner one does not give me much leverage to capture more than this. But still it came out to be a good one though could have been better!

So enjoy Nature!

CheerioJ

Why Do You Worry?

Worry is like a suicide. It hampers your mind and soul leading to so many ailments. So start your weekend with a great note – Not a big deal.

Forget your worries and enjoy this life...As it is my birthday month so I put a quote here that used to be always posted on the wall of my bay at Deloitte. I worked but without worrying about targets and deadlines. Read what I followed in my seven years of professional life -

"It is not work that kills men, it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more on a man than he can bear. But worry is rust upon the blade. It is not movement that destroys the machinery, but friction."

- Henry Ward Beecher

Other than professional life, I follow the following quote for my personal problems. If I have no solution for my medical problem or pains, there is no point sitting and worrying about them either. The best technique, I follow is take a pillow and sleep. It helps. I have fed this following quote in my mind that works in all adverse situationsJ. It keeps me going and fighting with myselfJ

"There is no use worrying about things over which you have no control, and if you have control, you can do something about them instead of worrying."

- Stanley C. Allyn

Love You All

CheerioJ

Contradictory are Complimentary!!

As this is my birthday month so I feel to write about something that I really follow and believe in life – Contradictory are ComplimentaryJ

It is strange but I have seen people around me who restrict things and relationships in their lives by looking for like minded people. I will not deny that we have some people we are fond of as they have things common with us but that is not the case for every relationship. The bigger challenge and fun is when you can accommodate yourself in all situations and be friendly to everyone irrespective of numerology, astrology and zodiac sign definitions. I agree to the fact that one might be more comfortable with a particular zodiac but when you decide your relationships by selecting one’s zodiac or date of birth or numbers you are at loss.

Being a Virgo my best friends are mainly from three zodiacs – Virgo, Sagittarius and Leo but I never realised until one day I sat making the birthday calendar that these three zodiacs are the best ones for me.

I always believe all zodiacs are same and all numbers are lucky for you till you are good at heart and stable at mind. Even when it comes to marriage I never checked that how good it would be if I marry a Sagittarius guy or a Virgo or some other zodiac as marriage is with a person not with his zodiac. Every zodiac will have certain things in common with yours and some things not what you are looking for. The fun of a relationship is when two people with different aspects stay under the same roof. You have lot to learn and explore. I am a theory person and my husband hates it. He loves to play with numbers and I run away from calculations. He is emotional and I am too bad at expressing my emotions. But being too different has been a challenge initially for both of us but today when we look back we have also learned a lot from each other. Where he thought me Vlookup formula in MS Excel, I thought him how to create a good blog. He is the last person to read my blog and stories but again the first one to tell me that his friends read my blog and complimented him. If I swim well then he is a better player than me in so many sports.

The purpose of this post is to explain that neither marriages are made in heaven nor friends are. Any relationship will succeed when you learn to compliment rather than contradicting all the time. Whatever difference you find in a friend’s or your partner’s opinion, sit and learn from it. If you compliment rather than contradicting, anything will work under the sun and above the ground. Compliment that Contradiction. Stop judging relationships by zodiacs or numbers. All numbers are lucky and all zodiacs are good till you know how to play your cards and place things at the right place.

Hope if any reader of mine had a fight with their friend or partner then read this post and just give them a call or an email or much more than that A HUG!

CheerioJ

I Cried After Reading This Letter!

I received this video on my FB wall and I could not resist sharing the link on my blog. Family is the most powerful pillar of anyone’s life and the foundation stone of this pillar is our parents. Like many of you, I also fight with them as they are the only one we can take leverage to fight, laugh, yell and play. They will forgive us without any questions and reservations in mind.

Click this Link

It is a coincidence that I am getting associated with an old age home in Hyderabad (I am not disclosing the name until talks are finalised) to volunteer and spend some quality time with old people from 25^th August – my birthdayJ.

I cried after watching this video and I am sure my readers will cry too. Love Your Parents. Fight with them, Laugh with them, Enjoy with them but PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM TO OLD AGE HOMES.

REMEMBER - Globe is round!!!

I will post my plans around old age home soon on my blog for my readers.

Good Night!

"Hope" is the thing with feathers

I think of this poem after what has India experienced today. A day after Independence we are still struggling for Independence. Anna Hazare’s arrest has raised lot of questions around our definition of democracy and independence. What India is living on is a word called ‘HOPE’.

A poem by Emily Dickinson for all Indians who are somewhere part of this struggle.

"Hope" is the thing with feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Happy Independence Day!!

I am always asked why I chose to settle in India and married an Indian guy. My answer is below for my all readers and friends. India is not only my home but my ONLY HOME!

"Vande maataraM
sujalaaM suphalaaM malayaja shiitalaaM
SasyashyaamalaaM maataram ||




Shubhrajyotsnaa pulakitayaaminiiM
pullakusumita drumadala shobhiniiM
suhaasiniiM sumadhura bhaashhiNiiM
sukhadaaM varadaaM maataraM ||



Koti koti kantha kalakalaninaada karaale
koti koti bhujai.rdhR^itakharakaravaale
abalaa keno maa eto bale
bahubaladhaariNiiM namaami taariNiiM
ripudalavaariNiiM maataraM ||


Tumi vidyaa tumi dharma
tumi hR^idi tumi marma
tvaM hi praaNaaH shariire


Baahute tumi maa shakti
hR^idaye tumi maa bhakti
tomaara i pratimaa gaDi
mandire mandire ||


TvaM hi durgaa dashapraharaNadhaariNii
kamalaa kamaladala vihaariNii
vaaNii vidyaadaayinii namaami tvaaM

Namaami kamalaaM amalaaM atulaaM
SujalaaM suphalaaM maataraM ||


ShyaamalaaM saralaaM susmitaaM bhuushhitaaM
DharaNiiM bharaNiiM maataraM |"


And now the english translation of the Vande Mataram

Translation by Shree Aurobindo

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.


Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.


Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.



Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!


And now Vande Mataram in Hindi Script

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यशामलां मातरम् ।
शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीं
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीं
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीं
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ।। १ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
कोटि-कोटि-कण्ठ-कल-कल-निनाद-कराले
कोटि-कोटि-भुजैर्धृत-खरकरवाले,
अबला केन मा एत बले ।
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीं
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् ।। २ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
तुमि विद्या, तुमि धर्म
तुमि हृदि, तुमि मर्म
त्वं हि प्राणा: शरीरे
बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति,
हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति,
तोमारई प्रतिमा गडि
मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे मातरम् ।। ३ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
कमला कमलदलविहारिणी
वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम्
नमामि कमलां अमलां अतुलां
सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् ।। ४ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
श्यामलां सरलां सुस्मितां भूषितां
धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् ।। ५ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।।

PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN!!!

I was not born in India but I want to die in India:)