This song was the most searchable love song of year 2011. I just love this songJ. Kareena looks so beautiful and Salman khan looks so handsome like alwaysJ...Love the lyrics and I just want to end this day with the following link. Fall in love and just love your loveJ
About Me
- Archana Kapoor Nagpal
- Archana Kapoor Nagpal is an internationally published author of four books. She often participates in the short story competitions, and her winning stories are now part of international anthologies. She has seen her short stories, poems and Haiku published in other anthologies as well She has also been actively involved in the editing, proofreading and book designing of various anthologies. You can read more about her writing career at the below link: https://www.facebook.com/archanaknagpal/
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Video: Embracing Our Fallibility
My art teacher shared this video on her FB and told me about the same in my class with her. I watched it and this is really a video to be shared with all my readers
After watching this, I am happy that I did go wrong at many instances in my life as it gave me a reason to understand me as a person. I will not regret that someone else is responsible for my downfall or success. My failures are my assets as they took me to the venue of success. As I am responsible for my success, I am equally responsible for my failures.
This video is very much related to many of us and it needs to be shared with all of you.
This video talks about - “Most of us will do anything to avoid being wrong. But what if we're wrong about that? "Wrongologist" Kathryn Schulz makes a compelling case for not just admitting but embracing our fallibility.”
CheerioJ
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thoughtful Quotes - Happy Republic Day!
Films might run on three things – entertainment, entertainment and entertainment BUT a nation also runs only on three things – unity, unity and unityJ
I am happy that this blog gives me the platform to share that I am proud to be an Indian. Often people take me as of some other nation and the moment they say it, I get impulsive to clarify – ‘I am Indian’. I speak as good Hindi as anyone of you. Just that, I cannot read or write it. I cannot put myself into any other nationality as I love India and I am proud to be an IndianJ
The link to my previous post – Republic Day Wishes!
I read few quotes and there could be no day better than today to post.
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.
I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
- Abraham Lincon
I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
- Abraham Lincon
- J. Horace McFarland
Patriotism... is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.
- Adlai Stevenson
- Adlai Stevenson
Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it.
- George Bernard Shaw
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.
- Mark Twain
- Mark Twain
In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot
- Mark Twain
- Mark Twain
Jeorge Bush after 9/11 attack - " Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done. "
A man's feet must be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world.
- George Santayana
- George Santayana
He who loves not his country, can love nothing.
- Lord Byron
- Lord Byron
I think patriotism is like charity -- it begins at home.
- Henry James
- Henry James
Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.
- Adlai Stevenson
- Henry Ward Beecher
- George William Curtis
I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.
- Nathan Hale
- Nathan Hale
It is the love of country that has lighted and that keeps glowing the holy fire of patriotism.
- J. Horace McFarlandLove your country. Your country is the land where your parents sleep, where is spoken that language in which the chosen of your heart, blushing, whispered the first word of love; it is the home that God has given you that by striving to perfect yourselves therein you may prepare to ascend to him.
-Giuseppe Mazzini
-Giuseppe Mazzini
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Republic Day Wishes!
Our country is not only our home but a shelter that gives us liberty to live, express and act.2011 was a major year as India saw ‘Anti-corruption’ movement by Anna Hazare. We could feel the real meaning of ‘unity in diversity’. I welcome our 63rd Republic Day with a poem by Rabindranath Tagore as below:
My Country Awake by Rabindranath Tagore
Where the mind is without fear and the head held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action;
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Happy Republic Day
Proud To Be An Indian!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Satanic Verses vs. Salman Rushdie
When an author writes, he is just venting out his beliefs and feelings. It is a one man’s opinion and learning. His idea is communicated through his writings and it might interest a target of audience. But the purpose of writing is never to transform target audience into his beliefs. People read someone as they could connect to that author or like his writings. Nothing more than that!
Why am I writing this?
I have read almost all the links around ‘Satanic Verses’ by Salman Rushdie. I am trying to understand what is that content that is stopping a 65 year old author to visit Literature Festival even virtually?
I read all the links and I am just at one conclusion can one book (I agree might have hurt sentiments of particular target audience) overlook his contribution to the field of literature. Is it right to forget what all he has contributed to the field of literature as the names are not few. ‘Midnight’s Children’, ‘Shame’, ‘Nicaragua’, ‘The Ground Beneath Her Feet’, ‘Shalimar the Crown’ and many more are his opinions that were appreciated and awarded.
I am not in favour or against of all those who read him and all those who are not supporting his visit to India. But just a thought, it is a world of opinions and we cannot always write for everyone. There will be 10 writings that might be liked by people though one writing that can be criticised. But what is the ratio that matters. Literature Festival is to acknowledge all those who have given their lives to writing. An author visits a festival not just for his one book but his contribution to literature on a broader perspective.
I will certainly plan to visit it next year if things go fine in my life to know more about the Festival, personally.
It was a thought and I just blogged!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
Some lines that I read and I loved. The reference of a rose is beautifully used in these lines. Thought to blog with my wallpaper.
Juliet:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
It is right if we understand the real meaning of the above lines that name is just a reference to an identity. What makes one is not his or her name but what they are as far as their nature and traits are concerned. I will be the same even if I am addressed as ‘Archana’, ‘Archi’, ‘Archie’ ,’Archu’ and so on. What will define me is what I am as a person – good or badJ
But then we cannot deny the fact that name is our identity. It gives us an existence.
Cheerio!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Journey :Stories to Articles!
From stories to articles, I still have a long way to go. The link you see below is my first article that is published under the category ‘Inspired people development articles’. I wrote couple of stories for this site and I read few articles that prompted this thought to write an article now. This article is compilation of my homework around counselling for more than a year. I was always told by my doctor to see a counsellor to handle my pain management. To transform my negative thoughts to positive ones, he believed I need a counsellor.
My sessions with my counsellor were limited to my post operative visits only, I never thought I need someone to counsel me to handle my pain. But to be honest, I read a lot about counselling and counsellors in last one year. Those two sessions helped me to deal with my pain management and believe in myself. There are situations that demands someone to help us at certain times and that is what this article is about.
CheerioJ
Friday, January 20, 2012
My New Story – Got Published – Read the Link (Small Things Make a Big Difference)
I am happy that my editor published my new story just approving it in an hour. She wrote me with a humble message that she really liked this one and it is a beautiful story. I am posting the link here for all of you. Also the link is added to the label – ‘My Published Writings’.
This month is very lucky for me or maybe the year 2012 is going to be great as far as work is concerned. For last 2 weeks, I am busy completing my book and my paintings. I just submitted a story that I recently wrote.
BTW, I am happy to share that in this month we have crossed all the highest statistics of 2011. This is the most read month of my blog and I am expecting to cross 1000 hits. The highest till now was 929. But we have already crossed 963 for this month.
I am approaching weekend with a sigh of relief. This week was very hectic and productive. I am happy and thankful to all my readers. And yes there is one more news that I am awaiting once my editor gives me a green signal:)
Love You All!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Knee Pain - Still You Can Travel!
Click the link - http://livelifearthritisstyle.blogspot.com/2012/01/knee-pain-still-you-can-travel.html
Happiness is Happy Knees~
Happiness is Happy Knees~
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A New Label - My Wallpapers:)
Here we go with a new label - My Wallpapers:)
I will use my paintings as the background to share a quote and this is very special to me as I always wanted to make my paintings a source to spread a message:)
Finally:)...I am ready with the first one.......
I had a very tiring but a productive day. If things go well, we will have lot more to know and share here.
Good Night....I am just happy:)
Cheerio:)
I will use my paintings as the background to share a quote and this is very special to me as I always wanted to make my paintings a source to spread a message:)
Finally:)...I am ready with the first one.......
I had a very tiring but a productive day. If things go well, we will have lot more to know and share here.
Good Night....I am just happy:)
Cheerio:)
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Barbie : Bold and Bald?
But as I belong to a very simple middle class family, the cost of a Barbie was more than my school feeJ
I could never afford for myself as there was something more significant expense pending. Out of college then marriage, I lost the desire of Barbie until my friend gifted one to my daughter. I was really happy that she got it!
BUT now when I read this, I decided to get Barbie, the day she goes bald. I completely support the valuable cause behind this link as you see below:
I am glad; my parents never got me a Barbie as this is the one I would love to have with meJ...
CheerioJ
Friday, January 13, 2012
Happy Makar Sankranti, Happy Pongal, Happy Lohri, Happy Bhogali Bihu!!
Happy Makar Sankranti, Happy Pongal, Happy Lohri, Happy Bhogali Bihu!!
We have different names for the same day across India. No matter what the name represents, the purpose is to celebrate and spread happinessJ
I wish all my readers - a very Happy Makar Sankranti, Happy Pongal, Happy Lohri, Happy Bhogali Bihu!!
Let us unite on a common thought, stand together for one country as India rather than dividing it into pieces. When the name of the festival cannot change the purpose of celebration, it is a hint that India is one. Do not divide the beauty and unity of our home – IndiaJ
Enjoy!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
My Post for My Mother:
I have not been well since last night. I have so much pain that I am tired just tired maybe. I thought just to close my eyes and remember God...and meditate!!
Guruji might be able to help me. But how can I forget to blog today. It is my mom’s birthday. My mother is scheduled for a knee replacement next month and she is in immense pain. She is completely restricted to bed most of the time. I am sorry, I am crying while writing this, I am too overwhelmed maybe. I have always seen her strong and highly social, so I can realise her mindset. The worst is when I called her, she could make it from my voice that I am not well. She was worried for me though she is in much more pain. I look up to God and just ask a wish as a birthday gift for my mom –
‘I pray you get better and you come through fine after your surgery. You are an inspiration to me and will always be. I love you and will always be proud that you are my mother. I might not be a great daughter but you are world’s greatest mom. I am sure God will listen to me and I will see you running at 63 in few months from now. This is my last wish from God!’
It is true there is one thing we cannot replace is– ‘mother’. Few lines for my mom...
To My Mother by Robert Louis Stevenson
You too, my mother, read my rhymes
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.
Wishing you a great birthday!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Homework for My Readers: Contd.......
If you were lazy to look for the explication of the below poem – (click the link to my previous post), I am sharing a link that I could find best for my readers.
As I said this poem is related to my childhood, I thought to scan my explication of this poem. But then I felt that my old gold days are better if they are only with me in my diary for myself. They are like my memories of myself during my journey of life. I searched couple of links and the link below is best among them.
To make it easy, I am putting few lines from the same link.
“For Frost, this is a metaphor for life in this world. Most of existence is beyond our understanding, but on occasion, and for only a brief moment, a truth is revealed. What is seen or learned is sometimes called an insight and the moment itself is known as an epiphany. The white piece of quartz, which blurred and disappeared from view almost immediately because of the rippling water, is used by Frost to metaphorically represent an insight or truth about life. The singularity and brevity of the moment becomes a metaphor for all such moments of understanding in life. The title of the poem, then, communicates a kind of exasperation with these moments: “For Once, Then, Something,” which roughly becomes “Then, finally, I saw something and then it was gone.”
Frost saw this event as emblematic of life in general. The event was finding a well and peering into the water in order to see his reflection. The something white, perhaps a piece of quartz, becomes a metaphor for truth, or the moment of insight in life. The idea that grows seamlessly from the metaphor is that these moments are rare and frustrating. For a brief moment we think we understand one of the fundamental truths of life and then it is gone and we devolve back into our more normal state of confusion."
Buona Notte:)
Monday, January 9, 2012
Homework for my Readers - For once, then Something!
I am giving homework to my readers. If you have not read the below poem, then please read it and look for the analysis of this poem.
Deeper down in the well than where the water
Gives me back in a shining surface picture
Me myself in the summer heaven godlike
Looking out of a wreath of fern and cloud puffs.
Once, when trying with chin against a well-curb,
I discerned, as I thought, beyond the picture,
Through the picture, a something white, uncertain,
Something more of the depths--and then I lost it.
Water came to rebuke the too clear water.
One drop fell from a fern, and lo, a ripple
Shook whatever it was lay there at bottom,
Blurred it, blotted it out. What was that whiteness?
Truth? A pebble of quartz? For once, then, something.
I always tell one thing whatever you do, do it for the person you see into the mirror. That is not only your reflection but your true innerself. If you are proud to see yourself, then you have won the battle of life!
This poem is related to my childhood. I still remember my father gave me the same homework years back. I was facing a situation in life where it was difficult to essay the truth and that was the time, when my father asked me to read and find the analysis of this poem.
He asked me to do it myself so that I can learn the hidden meaning of the poem as when you work on something independently, you will never forget it!
I follow the same rule with my readers. When you get time, please look for the analysis of this poem. It has a great deep meaning that is related to our lives and I am sure it will show path to many who are confused or lost due to their respective problemsJ
For Once, Then, Something – Robert Frost
Others taught me with having knelt at well-curbs
Always wrong to the light, so never seeingDeeper down in the well than where the water
Gives me back in a shining surface picture
Me myself in the summer heaven godlike
Looking out of a wreath of fern and cloud puffs.
Once, when trying with chin against a well-curb,
I discerned, as I thought, beyond the picture,
Through the picture, a something white, uncertain,
Something more of the depths--and then I lost it.
Water came to rebuke the too clear water.
One drop fell from a fern, and lo, a ripple
Shook whatever it was lay there at bottom,
Blurred it, blotted it out. What was that whiteness?
Truth? A pebble of quartz? For once, then, something.
JJJ.......Cheerio
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Na bole tum, na main ne kuchh kaha:)
I have grown up listening these great numbers by Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, RD Burman.
I am blogging them as each song teaches us something. Where one song is about ‘Life is beautiful’, the other is about ‘unsaid love’. These are like sweet memories of my school days and college journeys. I remember moongfulli ki patti, gajak, rewari while listening all these songs that are performed by simple actors and still they left a mark on many lives of simple peopleJ
Baaton Baaton Mein - Na bole tum, na main ne kuchh kaha-
Khatta meetha - thoda hai thode ki jaroorat hai
Izzat - Choti Si Kahani
Sadma - Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le
Priyatama - Koi Roko Na
CheerioJ
Friday, January 6, 2012
Highlights 2011 – So You Think You Are Living!
When we work on something and we give 100% to it, we admire it like our baby. My blog is my baby and will always be. It keeps me alive and going!
I am bad at expressing my feelings in person but my blog is not only a way to express what I feel but also share what all we can change around. Thanks for all those who read me so far. Thanks to those who posted on my FB that you are inspired by what I write. This is the purpose of this blog to make people live better indeed much better!
There are some of the highlights of 2011 that I am sharing through this post. Highlights are mainly my best moments shared with all of you through my blog. They are my achievements with the help of all of you. I have shared my success and failures on this blog and will keep writing till God permits me!
Most Inspiring Video on my Blog
Happiest Moment – Launch of my Youtube Channel
My Favourite Post on my Blog
Most Emotional Post on my Blog
My Post as a Gift to My Readers
My Best Moment on my Blog
Link to My Art Gallery on my Blog
Link to My Published Stories on Net
Looking forward for a better year with all my readers and friends...
Thursday, January 5, 2012
‘So You Really Think You Are Living’!!
Life is one such journey that gives you most of the options. When you have more options, you are more confused. If you know what you want in life then maybe you are lucky to pick the right road and if you are like me who moves as life takes a turn then you are a risk player. But whether you love to take risks or not, life spares none, it makes us go through its ups and downs to learn to sustain and survive. After day, its night, after bad, its good and we keep going or dragging on this journey called ‘Life’.
What matters is how you travelled this journey not how quick you were to get what you wanted?
One road leads to another and so on. You meet people, you meet challenges, you meet criticisms, you meet love, you meet hatred, you meet friends, you meet enemies, you meet success, and you meet failures, on this journey of ‘Life’. The winner is the one who embrace enemies as friends. The winner or the efficient player is the one who look failures as a road to success. The winner is the one who knows that he took the wrong road but he has a hope that it will connect to the right way someday for sure. We all have taken wrong roads of life at some point of time but how we lived it, is what matters the most.
Live the way you want to live as ‘living’ is important. From where I see life, I always write it is beautiful. I wish I could have lived like many of you. For me every New Year in the calendar is one step to deterioration in my condition but still I LIVE as LIVING is important!
There is nothing more beautiful than living life and there are people who live it beautifully facing so many problems. The spirit to live matters the most. The poem below is one such poem that I love to read and just readJ
The Road Not Taken - Robert FrostTWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Just close your eyes and think – ‘So You Really Think You Are Living’
CheerioJ
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
1:10 ??
Life works around 1:10 ratio.
When we do something good to someone, we expect that we will get 10 times more. You or I or anybody, somewhere there is an expectation that if we give 1% to something good, God will give us 10% more. Strange??
Strange, as when we do good to people, we expect more indeed much more. Have you ever realised when we do something wrong/bad then also this principle is applicable. If you hurt someone once, you are hurt ten times more if we go by the 1:10 ratio.
Everything is like a globe. It comes back to us. Good or bad, it will come back to us in some or the other form.
The best part being that we always expect more when we do good but we never realise that for bad deeds also we have to pay a bigger price.
There are instances where just a word can hurt someone so badly. Words are like wings. They can take you higher if chosen rightly. They have a shelf lifeJ
Today, it was a very hectic day but somewhere I could not sleep before blogging this. I thought to pull the statistics report but maybe tomorrow.
Until then remember – If you do good, you get 10 times more. If you do bad to someone, then also you get 10 times more. Use your words like wings to fly higher and higher.
Good Night!
Sleep TightJ
Monday, January 2, 2012
Can Love Happen Twice??
What am I reading?
New Year and I started with the second book of Ravinder Singh – Can Love Happen Twice?
I read his first book a year back and somewhat I enjoyed reading him. Can Love Happen Twice is definitely an extension of his first book.
Before I started with this book, I closed my eyes and asked the same question to myself – ‘Can Love Happen Twice’?
I opened my eyes and looked around. I could feel that every moment that I spend with my better half is like falling in love again and again. You can fall in love with the same person many times.
Respect your people who love you as they make your life wonderful. If I am able to sustain today, it is just because of my life partner. His support makes me do what all I am doing. I cannot imagine my life without his support.
You can fall in love again...
Fall in love and Enjoy!
Buona Notte!
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