Happy New Year Poem!

I have been writing for a website and this is one of the poem that I read on the same website. I loved it and as a new year message, I blog it here:)

Another year has passed,
And a new one is about to begin,
Everything you put your mind to,
Will be accomplished and you will win.

Just look forward in your life,
And set your goals for the year,
Then have a glass of champagne,
And bring in alot of cheer.

So don't look back at the past,
Believe this year will be the best,
All of your dreams are there for you,
Because you are so very blessed.

Happy New Year!  

New Year's Morning - Helen Hunt Jackson

Only a night from old to new!

Only a night, and so much wrought!

The Old Year's heart all weary grew,

But said: "The New Year rest has brought."

The Old Year's hopes its heart laid down,

As in a grave; but, trusting, said:
"The blossoms of the New Year's crown
Bloom from the ashes of the dead."
The Old Year's heart was full of greed;
With selfishness it longed and ached,
And cried: "I have not half I need.
My thirst is bitter and unslaked.
But to the New Year's generous hand
All gifts in plenty shall return;
True love it shall understand;
By all my failures it shall learn.
I have been reckless; it shall be
Quiet and calm and pure of life.
I was a slave; it shall go free,
And find sweet peace where I leave strife."
Only a night from old to new!
Never a night such changes brought.
The Old Year had its work to do;
No New Year miracles are wrought.

Always a night from old to new!
Night and the healing balm of sleep!
Each morn is New Year's morn come true,
Morn of a festival to keep.
All nights are sacred nights to make
Confession and resolve and prayer;
All days are sacred days to wake
New gladness in the sunny air.
Only a night from old to new;
Only a sleep from night to morn.
The new is but the old come true;
Each sunrise sees a new year born.

Boxing Day : Un Bacio Enorme Santa!!!

I baked a chocolate cake for my family and readers. I am sharing the pic at my blog. Wishing you all a very eventful, shoppingful Boxing Day!

Boxing Day has different competing theories around it and it is celebrated differently at different places. For me it is like distributing stuff at traffic signals and then opening my gifts. Though, there are only two gifts that I get every year on Xmas, one from my husband and one from my brother, ValerioJ

A gift does not matter but what matters are the feelings behind it. But still, I wait for 26^th December desperately as these two gifts on Christmas matter a lot to me.

My painting teacher gave me a very beautiful gift – a mirror. I asked her ‘Why?’

 She said, ‘I read your blog. This mirror will reflect the new Archana, so whenever you drag backwards, look at this, to move forward’.

This is the best gift of this year as it has a meaning and a concern from someone who just knows me for last five classes. I respect my all gifts and keep them always with me. So, Boxing Day for me is a day of distributing boxes of gifts in the form of love, humanity and respect. These three gifts are the best for any occasion or relation in lifeJ

I had a great Christmas. I felt this was the best after 2004. From Lasagne to Jalebi, from drinks to dance, it was complete fun. I could not meet my daughter though. I have plans of meeting her on 1^st January, 2012. I am yet to shop for kids and make the beginning of 2012 as a special day for all of us. The best part is my parents would be here and they would get to meet my daughter for the first time in these 2 yearsJ.

Valerio sends me a special animated card with his clipping and an email that is the best gift for a sister like me. And I wait for this day to see that two line email in my inbox.

And the best part of this Boxing Day is that I got a gift of promise that this summer if my condition stays stable, I am going to Canada (to meet my family) and then will head to VegasJ

Whether I go or not but the way this gift is wrapped under the words of promise makes this Boxing Day very special for me. And if I go then I will give a big kiss to Santaji.....Un Bacio EnormeJ....

CheerioJ

Buon Natale - Merry Christmas..Tanti Auguri!!!

Buon Natale – Tanti AuguriJ

In English it means ‘Merry Christmas’ – Best WishesJ

I wish all the lovely people gifted by Jesus – Merry Christmas.

Christmas is incomplete, if we miss to pray and share what Jesus has gifted us, a small word but the biggest asset of humanity – LOVE!

I am posting a Christmas Prayer written by one of my favourite novelist/poet, Robert Louis Stevenson. Let us start our day with this prayer to acknowledge Jesus for his love and blessings.

A Christmas Prayer

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

My Christmas gift for my readers –

“LOVE for ALL, HATRED for NONE” – Live your life on this note and you will find immense love around yourself!

Merry Christmas to ALL!

ty.
To every child, A good example.
To yourself, Respect.
Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas party at the South Danbury Church

I am posting a poem for your Christmas Party by Donald Hall. I always liked this poem as when I read each word, I can visualise the sameJ. Maybe, I can connect to the poet and the thought of Christmas through this poemJ

Christmas party at the South Danbury Church (Donald Hall)

December twenty-first
we gather at the white Church festooned
red and green, the tree flashing
green-red lights beside the altar.
After the children of Sunday School
recite Scripture, sing songs,
and scrape out solos,
they retire to dress for the finale,
to perform the pageant
again: Mary and Joseph kneeling
cradleside, Three Kings,
shepherds and shepherdesses. Their garments
are bathrobes with mothholes,
cut down from the Church's ancestors.
Standing short and long,
they stare in all directions for mothers,
sisters and brothers,
giggling and waving in recognition,
and at the South Danbury
Church, a moment before Santa
arrives with her ho-hos
and bags of popcorn, in the half-dark
of whole silence, God
enters the world as a newborn again.

Good Day!

Ek Main Aur Ek Santa:)

Ek Main Aur EkK tu...Tera Peche Peche Main...Mera Aaga Aaga tu...lol...(Santa is busy reading my list)...lol

I dedicate the below link to the song to SantaJ.Please, I am after you Santa with my list of wishes. Enjoy this song and just be Talli this Xmas....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ92X1sA2jA&feature=relmfu

Ok, here I go!!

1.)    I want to go VegasJ...Yes, I really want to go!!

2.)    ipad2

What...nothing more is coming to my mind...I guess my list is done.

Come on guys, prepare your list, it is so much fun. You never know, it might come trueJ

I wish Santa makes all your dreams and wishes come trueJ...

 I really need to rush for tomorrow’s preparations and decoration stuff. Love You All!

CheerioJ

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells....la..la...lala.........:)

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells....la..la...lala.........:)

Today, I had a day of complete rest. I was busy painting and just painting but I am satisfied that I did something that is going to help someone in the long run. My hands are tied so I cannot mention how the day started but I am happy someone reached her home safeJ

Post lunch – I was busy painting and I am almost done with itJ

I was going through my last year Xmas album and how I started my day with kids at Sphoorti. I share something that many of you will agree. When kids are around you feel so energetic, I feel as if I have no problem, no knee pain, no GERD etc. The world looks so colourful. I was going through some pictures when I realised we sang ‘Jingle Bells....’ and kids got so excited....

So I thought to post lyrics of Jingle Bells on my blog for the chubby, bubbly, cutie kids....:)

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh yeah

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

CheerioJ

Santa in the Manger: Gift To God!

All of us are waiting for Santa to come and give us whatever we will ask Santa?

What does your heart desires? Well, if I ask my heart, the answer is ‘Nothing’ or maybe I am sure Santa cannot give me whatever I will ask for myself, like every Christmas...(:....

Have you ever noticed the real reason of Christmas is ‘Jesus’ and rather than gifting God something, we wait and ask for ourselves. We wait for Santa to get us what we desireJ

So I stay with a thought let us do something different this time. Ask for something for those you do not know. Ask for something that is not yours. Ask selflessly this time. Let us make an effort to prove that ‘He’ did the right thing by creating ‘Us’. Let us gift God something this time.

I ask what the word ‘Om’ means for everyone – eternal peace and universal love. May Santa get this for everyone on this planet, ‘Earth’.

I was given a handout by my friend, Vishal (who is no more with me). He lost the battle of life in April, 2007. But his handout is still with me as his memory and I remember he gave this to me on Christmas in the year 2006 at Deloitte. I am posting this poem here and this is quite related to what I have shared above. Written by Barb Cash - "Santa in the Manger" . The first four lines of the poem is an idea how Barb Cash relates to the real reason for Christmas!

We got a card the other day
A Christmas one, in fact,
But it really was the strangest thing
And showed such little tact.

For laying in the manger
Was Santa, big as life,
Surrounded by some little elves
And Rudolph and his wife.

There was so much excitement
That the shepherd’s saw the glow
Of Rudolph’s bright and shining nose
Reflected on the snow.

So in they rushed to see him
Followed by the wise men three,
Who came not bearing any gifts—
Just some stockings and a tree.

They gathered round about him
To sing praises to his name;
A song about Saint Nicholas
And how he came to fame.

Then they handed him the lists they’d made
Of, oh, so many toys
That they were sure they would receive
For being such good boys.

And sure enough he chuckled,
While reaching in his bag,
And placed in all their outstretched hands
A gift that bore a tag.

And on that tag was printed
A simple verse that read,
“Even though it’s Jesus’ birthday,
Please take this gift instead.”

Then I realized they really did
Know Who this day was for
Though by every indication
They had just chosen to ignore.

And Jesus looked upon this scene,
His eyes so filled with pain—
They said this year’d be different
But they’d forgotten Him again. 

Gudnite:)

Christmas Trees!!

Christmas Month and what else we need at the end of the year. I bought a Christmas tree for our home and I was copying some content from the web to understand how to decorate the same. It is not an easy job for me as I have done this beforeJ. But never give up...I will try and my husband is very sure, I will mess it upJ

I read a very nice poem and I would love to post it on my blog. It is written by Robert Frost, one of the most famous English poets, who has written numerous poems and portrayed a realistic life in his poems. The Christmas Trees is one such famous poem. Read it and I am sure you will love this one!

Tired for the day...Buona NotteJ

Christmas Trees

The city had withdrawn into itself
And left at last the country to the country;
When between whirls of snow not come to lie
And whirls of foliage not yet laid, there drove
A stranger to our yard, who looked the city,
Yet did in country fashion in that there
He sat and waited till he drew us out
A-buttoning coats to ask him who he was.
He proved to be the city come again
To look for something it had left behind
And could not do without and keep its Christmas.
He asked if I would sell my Christmas trees;
My woods--the young fir balsams like a place
Where houses all are churches and have spires.
I hadn't thought of them as Christmas Trees.
I doubt if I was tempted for a moment
To sell them off their feet to go in cars
And leave the slope behind the house all bare,

Where the sun shines now no warmer than the moon.
I'd hate to have them know it if I was.
Yet more I'd hate to hold my trees except
As others hold theirs or refuse for them,
Beyond the time of profitable growth,
The trial by market everything must come to.
I dallied so much with the thought of selling.
Then whether from mistaken courtesy
And fear of seeming short of speech, or whether
From hope of hearing good of what was mine,
I said, "There aren't enough to be worth while."
"I could soon tell how many they would cut,
You let me look them over."

"You could look.
But don't expect I'm going to let you have them."
Pasture they spring in, some in clumps too close
That lop each other of boughs, but not a few
Quite solitary and having equal boughs
All round and round. The latter he nodded "Yes" to,
Or paused to say beneath some lovelier one,
With a buyer's moderation, "That would do."
I thought so too, but wasn't there to say so.
We climbed the pasture on the south, crossed over,
And came down on the north.
He said, "A thousand."

"A thousand Christmas trees!--at what a piece?"

He felt some need of softening that to me:

"A thousand trees would come to thirty dollars."

Then I was certain I had never meant
To let him have them. Never show surprise!
But thirty dollars seemed so small beside
The extent of pasture I should strip, three cents
(For that was all they figured out apiece),
Three cents so small beside the dollar friends
I should be writing to within the hour
Would pay in cities for good trees like those,
Regular vestry-trees whole Sunday Schools
Could hang enough on to pick off enough.
A thousand Christmas trees I didn't know I had!
Worth three cents more to give away than sell,
As may be shown by a simple calculation.
Too bad I couldn't lay one in a letter.
I can't help wishing I could send you one,
In wishing you herewith a Merry Christmas.

Poinsettias for My Home :)

Christmas has always been my favourite festival. Reason, eh??

I am attracted by colour ‘red’. When I look at the shops, malls, articles and different things all in red, I just feel so positive and energetic. No wonders, who all have visited my home, they know my decor is my bend towards red with decent colour combinations.

I make sure that I click each and every moment of pre-Christmas shopping. I have to make it a day where there is everything red around me. One thing that I missed for the last 7 years being in India was real or fake Christmas flowers – Poinsettia.

Those who have been to places where Christmas is celebrated as the main festival must be aware that poinsettia is a flower that is a must for Christmas Eve. Your decorations and celebrations are incomplete if poinsettia is missing. It has its own beauty and visibility on that day.

I still remember my Christmas days in Italy around Vatican, Via Veneto and why I mention only this via though whole of Rome used to be decorated like an Indian Bride?

Via Veneto was always decorated in a specific way that distinguishes it from the rest. After roaming all the places around Christmas, my last visit used to be Via Veneto. You can see hanging lights in the shape of Poinsettia flower from one end of the road to another.

I am lucky this year as I could find hand crafted Poinsettia flowers at couple of malls. Without giving a thought, I picked a bunch for my home. They are gracefully settled in a red vase as you can see in the picture below. My Santa Claus cap and my red dress is ready for Christmas. I clicked few pictures of Christmas preparations in Hyderabad. I am posting them on my blog to make it much more colourful for all of us, this festive season!

Do get Poinsettias for you home!

CheerioJ

Do You Quit???

Life is not perfect for anyone of us. There are times we decide to quit or walk out of a relationship or place etc. We all have imperfect lives and that is the beauty of life. You feel to live more as you have some challenge or target to achieve or overcome any obstacle. Perfection lies in being imperfect!

I share a small experience with all of you. I have appeared for 8 interviews in my professional life. I cleared 6 of them and was rejected in the rest two. The only difference in my rejection and selection was my thought process. The interviews that I successfully cleared were with a positive attitude and mindset that ‘I will be selected’. The rest were outcome of my negative thought that I failed to clear.

Mind is the only driving force. You can do it if you think you can do it!

The author of below poem is unknown but his poem is a great inspiration for those who decide to quit or get dragged towards ‘negativity’. Everytime I read this poem, I ask myself “So You Think You Are Living”...Guess???

Let us start our weekend and the coming week with a positive note - ‘facing the challenges and overcoming obstacles of life’ as I always say ‘Life is so beautiful, live it and love it’.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

CheerioJ

Happy Birthday My Dear Sister:)

Life is so strange for me. I surely believe if God takes away one thing he has a reason as he wants us to give something better indeed the best. I met Sheena after 16 years and today we are like much more than sisters. We share everything under the sun and above the ground. I have posted a lot on my blog but today I will just introduce someone who inspires me a lot. I love you my God given sister and I wish you a very ‘Happy Birthday’, Sheena!

I am posting a poem for you on your birthday just to tell how special you are for me. I am always with you no matter what!

So loads of love and tonnes of blessings for my sister on her birthday. Thanks for making me laugh so much on today’s call. I dedicate this poem to my sister and if my readers also share such a wonderful bond with their sister then you can reshare!

The Woman I call sister by Marissa Gertmenian

The woman I call sister
Is someone who is there
The woman I call sister
Is someone who always cares.

The woman I call sister
Can make me smile when times are blue
The woman I call sister
Is someone very true.

The woman I call sister
By choice, is my best of friend
The woman I call sister
Will be there till the end

The woman I call sister
Is the blessing from God above
The woman I call sister
Is the sister that I'll always love.

Thanks for being in my lifeJ

Happy Birthday SweetieJ

First Anniversary of 'So You Think You Are Living' - A Year Old Now:)

One complete year of blogging...wow it is my one year baby blog nowJ.

A year was not easy and I am honest when I write that the lady you read on your laptops accessing her through chrome or IE is not a very optimistic person in her own life. A year was like a sea for me, high tides to low tides and vice versaJ

You read me so many times but very few know that the lady who writes to inspire others have gone through suicidal tendency so many times in a year. She had pain and she thought to quit(:. There were days which were so colourful but she could not see the colours.

There were days in this year, when I looked at a wall like a furniture but then something brought me to my laptop to write and just write. It is true, I write to inspire myself. To be happy, make others happy.

I owe my thanks to all those 7000+ readers who read me through this blog globally. If I am today I am because of all of you – those who know me and many those who just read me through this blog!

I owe my thanks to my husband who gave me this idea to write what I feel as he knows I am too bad at expressing in personJ. I owe my thanks to my FB friends and many other friends who loved what I wrote. I owe my thanks to all my web editors who published my work to keep me going!

I owe my thanks to my critics who motivated me to write better. Behind every successful person there is an honest critic. So I love my critics equally. You gave me a reason to benchmark my own performance. I owe my thanks to my parents who understood that I am not born to be an engineer and who laughs it off now that I did the right thing by jumping the walls of my engineering entrance venuesJ

I owe my thanks to my daughter and all the kids of NGO who encouraged me to write.

I owe my thanks to my family (mainly my friends), I met and they joined me as my family. I owe my thanks to all those who supported me through my painful knee journey of a year. I sustained two surgeries and I am able to bear my present condition as all of you are there with me. Wishing everyone a very Happy First Anniversary of our blog – ‘So You Think You Are Living’...

We have more milestones to cover and looking forward for a better improved year ahead with all my readers.

I will be launching ‘My Art Gallery’ label soon and what kept me blogging even after so many failures in a year are few words as a part of this poem ‘Success by Robert William Service’

It is, I wonder, Happiness?

It is not wealth, it is not fame,
Nor rank, nor power nor honoured name.
It is not triumph in the Arts -
Best-selling books or leading parts.
It is not plaudits of the crowd,
The flame of flags, processions proud.
The panegyrics of the Press
are but the mirage of Success.
You may have all of them, my friend,
Yet be a failure in the end.

I've know proud Presidents of banks
Who've fought their way up from the ranks,
And party leaders of renown
Who played as boys in Shantytown.
Strong, self-made men, yet seek to trace
Benignity in any face;
Grim purpose, mastery maybe,
Yet never sweet serenity;
Never contentment, thoughts that bless -
That mellow joy I deem Success.

The haply seek some humble hearth,
Quite poor in goods yet rich in mirth,
And see a man of common clay
Watching his little ones at play;
A laughing fellow full of cheer,
Health, strength and faith that mocks at fear;
Who for his happiness relies
On joys he lights in other eyes;
He loves his home and envies none. . . .
Who happier beneath the sun?

Aye, though he walk in lowly ways,
Shining Success has crowned his days.

CheerioJ

What am I reading these days? Promise is a Promise

What am I reading these days?

Colours...lol

I have painted every possible article I could...lolJ

Tomorrow, I will upload some pictures of what all I have painted and will start a new label ‘My Art Gallery’ on this blog with completing one year with all of youJ

But if I get time to login and upload. So I am trying to reserve some time for thatJ

Other than hours of painting, I am busy reading two books. While sitting in my auto or waiting for someone to pick me, I spend my time by reading the following two books-

Revolution 2020 by Chetan Bhagat – A cute love story and I always liked Chetan BhagatJ

A Promise is a Promise by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer – This book I bought last evening and I am almost done with 45 pages. This book is about an unbelievable story of a mother’s unconditional love and what it can teach us. I could not stop reading it for an hour at Crosswords when I decided that I need this for my home libraryJ

Finally, I suggest my readers to pick a copy of ‘Promise is a Promise’ and read it. For this month my pick from my library for my readers is this book!

Words have a life. When you say a word you leave many in hopes or anger or satisfaction depending upon what word you ‘used’. Think before you speak. I always try to tell my mind, the way we treat others is the way we want them to treat us. If you humiliate others, this the way you want them to treat you...think!!

Love people and you will only get love backJ and even if you don’t get love, you will not regret later as you did your best by loving and just loving!

Buona NotteJ

Be the Best of Whatever You Are!

In life we usually compare ourselves to other people. It is pretty natural that there needs to be competition to surviveJ

But when you compare yourself with others always make sure that you are just a spectator of their success to benchmark your life but you do not know what kind of journey they had to reach where you see them today!

The competition is difficult when you have to compete with yourself. It is rightly said, you cannot create an army against yourselfJ

It is not important to be what others are but very vital to be what you can be. Body is made up of atoms that make a molecule and then a compound. If you cannot be a compound then do not hesitate to be an atom. What matters is that be the best of whatever you are!

Two days from now, I will complete a year of blogging and we will celebrate the First Anniversary of this blog. This poem is a contribution to the concept – ‘So You Think You Are Living’. I loved this poem ‘Be the best of whatever you are’ by ‘Douglas Malloch’

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill
Be a scrub in the valley--but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway some happier make;
If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass--
But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,
There's something for all of us here.
There's big work to do and there's lesser to do,
And the task we must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can't be the sun be a star;
It isn't by size that you win or you fail--
Be the best of whatever you are!

CheerioJ