Beauty Product For a Social Cause

For every writer, writing is like a challenge to experiment his skills and look beyond his or her genre.

It has been two years of my life that I have been writing inspirational content. I started from blog to websites, from online publications to magazines. The surprising factor was my first book and now journey to write the second one.

Every step towards writing was learning in itself. But the best thing that really made me feel proud was when an entrepreneur for a beauty care company approached me to write a small Product Portfolio for them.

It was a challenge in itself as the idea was to write or formulate content as a part of product portfolio with a social cause – raising funds for ‘parentless children’. I could very well relate to the thought as I am associated with ‘Sphoorti Foundation’.

I completed this in an hour’s time and when I read the content at their FB page, it was a feeling of relief.

This is an addition to my label, ‘Golden Moments as a Writer’. My readers can click the below link to read around the same. This was written just for the social cause to join hands to raise funds for ‘Parentless Children’.

http://www.facebook.com/HerbalHeaven

Happy Weekend!

HAPPY WORLD HEART DAY - CTRL+ALT+DEL!!

If you have given your heart someone (or if you are in love) then this is a day to take care of your heart J

It is World Heart Day, 2012 and let us dedicate this post to few tips that can help you to keep your healthy and fit.

I started following few tips that really made a difference to my outlook towards life and keeps me happy all the time.

I share these tips on my blog as a contribution to World Heart Day, 2012.

Stop Reacting to situations in life. Always act than react. Acting in the right manner to situations will give you solutions to handle them. Reacting is a key to worsen the worst situation.

Stop Ranting. Carry a big smile on your face even when you feel that nothing could be worse than this in your life. A single moment of anger gives immense pressure on your heart and mind. A calm mind is a way to happy heart J

Spread a message of love. Hug people who hate you. Embrace those who called you names. Kiss those who ignored you. This is the best lesson to spread the message of love. ‘Love is in the air’ is about spreading the message of love. A happy heart is a lovable heart.

Walk out of confrontations. If ignoring a situation or a person can give you happiness then nothing should be more important to you. Learn to walk out of confrontations as it will not benefit you or your heart in the long run. Placido, a simple word to remember, whenever you encounter a confrontation in life whether at work or home J

Accept the fact, ‘Nobody is perfect’. There is nobody in the world with a perfect life. Stop living and comparing your lives with others around you. This tends to confuse your heart which leads to blockage of arteries J. Live your life ‘King size’. You are the ‘King’ or ‘Queen’ of your ‘Life’.

Read a lot. Reading gives you insight to many true facts about life and living. Make sure you read one quote of an author on daily basis and try to inculcate that quote in your day in any of the ways. Try it till you make it.

Eat right. Eat everything that can make you feel happy but do not binge. Avoid emotional eating. Remember, if you are happy, you are not stressed and you will not feel craving for the wrong food termed as ‘Emotional Eating’. Happiness is a key to right diet and right diet is a key to healthy heart.

Exercise regularly. 45 minute of walk or 21 sun salutations or an hour of swimming, choice is all yours. But do exercise to keep yourself fit.

Quit smoking. A big ‘No’ to smoking and this should be your pledge on this day.

But these all tips are useful when you realize that your heart is important to you.

Just 3 keys to enjoy Life : CTRL+ALT+DEL.

1. Control yourself

2. Look for Alternative solutions

3. Delete the situation which gives you tension…!!

HAPPY WORLD HEART DAY!

Quotes by Audre Lorde

There are times when you think about past and relate to your present. If things would have been in your favour, life would have been better, indeed much better. I was reading some meaningful quotes by Audre Lorde that I thought to blog for my readers. At times, few lines can change your day, the way you think and want to live your lifeJ

Quotes by Audre Lorde

If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.   

I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.

When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak

I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. 

The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.  

I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We've been taught that silence would save us, but it won't.  

Each time you love, love as deeply as if it were forever.  

There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt. 

Only by learning to live in harmony with your contradictions can you keep it all afloat. 

Art is not living. It is the use of living. 

In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction. 

Life is very short and what we have to do must be done in the now. 

Wishing all my readers a 'Happy Life'.....Keep Smiling:)............

International Book Week???

I saw a message on my FB timeline around International Book Week. I am not excited to know, as for any reader, reading is like meditation that you do on daily basis. For me, to read few quotes or few pages of an inspirational book is like cleansing my system and thought process.

I have completed reading a book that I bought a month back and it was like a ‘Transformational Journey’ for me. When I write ‘Transformational Journey’, I mean transforming my negative thoughts into positive thoughts and reading really helps me.

As a writer, I followed the same technique to keep my style simple and easy to understand for my readers. Observing a real-life incident and making a semi-fictional story around the same with a message to deliver around living with a positive mind.

Any book is worth reading when you can understand what the writer wants to convey and how to connect to a writer’s thought process. Any book is interesting when you read it for a purpose and learn from it. I do not like to carry a dictionary while reading a book. I prefer simple language with a deeper meaning. I stop where I think I am losing the track of following the author.

When I wrote my first book ’14 Pearls of Inspiration’, the idea was to make every reader of any age group of any community or country connect to the message, being delivered. I kept my 65 year old mother in my mind who studied English when India was not a hub of international schools. I wanted to cater to all age groups and all kinds of literacy levels. It was not about writing fanciful language but writing simple language for my readers to understand.

My only message for International Book Week is to write ‘simple’ and ‘meaningful’ books. Reading authors whom you can really understand and enjoy reading.

Happy Daughter’s Day 2012

I have blogged four posts around ‘Daughter’s Day, 2012’in this week. If you missed reading them, please click to enjoy the same. I wish all my readers who are proud daughters a very ‘Happy Daughter’s Day’. I wish all lucky moms who have daughters, a very ‘Happy Daughter’s Day’ as well.

http://doyouthinkyouareliving.blogspot.in/2012/09/celebrating-daughters-week-on-my-blog.html

http://doyouthinkyouareliving.blogspot.in/2012/09/om-sri-ganeshaya-namaha.html

http://doyouthinkyouareliving.blogspot.in/2012/09/saiyaara-daughters-day-special.html

http://doyouthinkyouareliving.blogspot.in/2012/09/let-her-born-say-no-to-female-foeticide.html

Happy Daughter’s Day 2012J

Let HER BORN: Say NO to Female Foeticide

I fight with my parents and I fight for my parents. Both the tasks make me feel like a real daughter. Though, my family was not very happy when I was born. I was the second girl child and I faced that discrimination throughout my life. BUT my parents never supported this thought and gave me the best they could afford in their means. I am proud to be their daughter and will always be.

I am sharing a link to an article. I want my readers to read it. Sex determination of your child before the child birth is illegal. Still many families get into it to abort the girl child. It is sin and height of insanity. You are challenging ‘gift of God’. Bring the girl child into the world and she will fill your world with all the happiness and life. If you support 'Female Foeticide' then it is time to tell you 'wake up, its morning'. I was flabbergasted after reading this link(:.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/satyamev-jayate-aamir-khan-female-foeticide/1/187581.html

I have read couple of good poems that I am sharing here in this postJ.

Mother and Daughter Love - Valentine White

Mother and daughter love can be so fun...
A mother should love her daughter at all time
A mother have connection with her daughter
A daughter should love there mother with in and with out
A daughter should talk to her about anything with each other
A mother and daughter should love each other
That what some people call mother and daughter love..... 

DAUGHTER BY DR. RAM SHARMA

The affection of a father is, daughter,
Sweet melody of a song is, daughter,
Live dream of every passionis, daughter,
A unique gift of universe is, daughter
Dear of dearest face is, daughter,
Don`t pluck these flowers,
Let them blossom

Father And Daughter - Justin Gildow

Father and daughter spend some quiet time together in the living room
Shining through the curtain is the sun
And outside is the glorious afternoon

Father reads to his daughter the poetry she loves
Father and daughter enjoy each other's company
Father takes his daughter by the hand
As they take a walk outside

Father cares for his daughter
And always wishes the very best to happen for her 

Love, Daughter, Forever - Irene Santiago

A DAUGHTER IS SPECIAL
A DAUGHTER IS DEAR
A PRECIOUS GIFT FROM ABOVE
A DAUGHTER IS A TREASURE
TO FOREVER HOLD NEAR AND LOVE 

Love you daughterJ

'Saiyaara' - Daughter's Day Special

Click the link to see what is new on my Art Blog for ‘Daughter’s Day’ before you read this post. The painting at the link is a reason to relate with this post. I saw a painting and inspired by the beauty of nature, I decided to reproduce the same. I thought what would I name this painting and I could only think of a word from Urdu language – ‘Saiyaara’ (means ‘Planet’).

http://archanaartgallery.blogspot.in/2012/09/saiyaara-daughters-day-special.html

“A desire arises in the mind. It is satisfied immediately another comes. In the interval which separates two desires a perfect calm reigns in the mind. It is at this moment freed from all thought, love or hate. Complete peace equally reigns between two mental waves.”

Dense clouds hiding the sunset and stormy sea with high tides hitting the shore is a rare combination of nature. I want to use this painting to blog a post for the coming ‘Daughter’s Day’, 23^rd September, 2012.

A quote –

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” --Robert Henri.

Planet ‘Earth’ is our home and we are just given one life to live. As a girl or woman in India, our own home has become the most unsafe place to live.

It stops us from coming forward or chasing our dreams as we are always reminded about the society and social obligations. My friend wanted to learn ‘MMA’ but she was not given a chance as making/cooking food is more requisite criteria to get a better groom than learning Mixed Martial Arts. 

Carrying your maiden name as part of your changed name (post marriage) is a big fight for some women in India. I felt that most of the time like charity begins at home, my fight to live my liberty as a woman started from my home as a daughter and a daughter-in-law.

But I did not give up as I am given one life and I want to live it at my terms and conditions. I respect my family's sentiments as a daughter and daughter-in-law but I respect my wishes as a human being too. I wanted to study ‘Literature’ being a science student and I fought with my parents to do so. In 1998, I was told to fund my education myself when I was hardly 18 years old and that is not so easy being in India. I took it as a challenge and started working while I was doing my graduation and further studies. 

My day used to start at 6:30 AM and end at 10 PM and I used to save every single penny to pay my fees.

I have no regrets as that decision taught me many good things about life and to understand my abilities as a person. I was financially independent at a younger age that made me understand the value of ‘money’ and respect for my ‘job’. I must say, it was a good decision as I started early so I retired early due to my medical condition BUT I lived the way I wanted to live, study and work. I was in control of my decision and I listened to my heart.  I have no regrets today as if I am able to write a book or these blogs, it is because of my decision to study, ‘Literature’.

Follow your dreams. Listen to your heart. Have good control over your mind. But being a daughter or daughter-in-law, DO NOT STOP following your dreams just because what would society think. People will judge irrespective of all the contributions you make being a daughter or daughter-in-law. Respect them but do not Expect from them. You have to prove yourself that starts from your home.

I travelled a tough journey from being addressed as ‘Archana Kapoor’ to ‘Archana Kapoor Nagpal’. In my community, women are not supposed to carry their maiden name as a part of their changed name but I DID IT!

At the end, Archana mattersJ to me more than anything else. My achievements brought both ‘Kapoor’ and ‘Nagpal’ into limelight. But it was not known 7 years back so my fight was not an easy one. But if you think you can dream then you should have the courage to chase it and make it!

Be a proud daughter and a prouder daughter-in-lawJ. I am sure sooner or later your decision will bring fame to your families as well.

Love to all the daughters!

OM SRI GANESHAYA NAMAHA

Let us welcome Lord Ganesha with this post and I wish all my readers a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi. Few days are left to celebrate 'Daughter's Day' and I wish all daughters around me a happy life and prosperous career.

Jai Ganapati Sadguna Sadan,
Kavivar Badan Kripaal,
Vighna Haran Mangal Karan,
Jai Jai Girijaalaal

Jai Jai Jai Ganapati Ganaraaju,
Mangal Bharana Karana Shubha Kaajuu,
Jai Gajbadan Sadan Sukhdaata,
Vishva Vinaayaka Buddhi Vidhaataa

VakraTunda Shuchi Shunda Suhaavana,
Tilaka Tripunda bhaal Man Bhaavan,
Raajata Mani Muktana ura maala,
Swarna Mukuta Shira Nayana Vishaalaa

Pustak Paani Kuthaar Trishuulam,
Modaka Bhoga Sugandhit Phuulam,
Sundara Piitaambar Tana Saajit,
Charana Paadukaa Muni Man Raajit

Dhani Shiva Suvan Shadaanana Bhraataa,
Gaurii Lalan Vishva-Vikhyaata,
Riddhi Siddhi Tav Chanvar Sudhaare,
Mooshaka Vaahan Sohat Dvaare

Kahaun Janma Shubh Kathaa Tumhari,
Ati Shuchi Paavan Mangalkaarii,
Ek Samay Giriraaj Kumaarii,
Putra Hetu Tapa Kiinhaa Bhaarii

Bhayo Yagya Jaba Poorana Anupaa,
Taba Pahunchyo Tuma Dhari Dvija Rupaa,
Atithi Jaani Kay Gaurii Sukhaarii,
Bahu Vidhi Sevaa Karii Tumhaarii

Ati Prasanna Hvai Tum Vara Diinhaa,
Maatu Putra Hit Jo Tap Kiinhaa,
Milhii Putra Tuhi, Buddhi Vishaala,
Binaa Garbha Dhaarana Yahi Kaalaa

Gananaayaka Guna Gyaan Nidhaanaa,
Puujita Pratham Roop Bhagavaanaa,
Asa Kehi Antardhyaana Roop Hvai,
Palanaa Par Baalak Svaroop Hvai

BaniShishuRudanJabahiTum Thaanaa,
Lakhi Mukh Sukh Nahin Gauri Samaanaa,
Sakal Magan Sukha Mangal Gaavahin,
Nabha Te Suran Suman Varshaavahin

Shambhu Umaa Bahudaan Lutaavahin,
Sura Munijana Suta Dekhan Aavahin,
Lakhi Ati Aanand Mangal Saajaa,
Dekhan Bhii Aaye Shani Raajaa

Nija Avaguna Gani Shani Man Maahiin,
Baalak Dekhan Chaahat Naahiin,
Girijaa Kachhu Man Bheda Badhaayo,
Utsava Mora Na Shani Tuhi Bhaayo

Kahana Lage Shani Man Sakuchaai,
Kaa Karihau Shishu Mohi Dikhayii,
Nahin Vishvaasa Umaa Ura Bhayauu,
Shani Son Baalak Dekhan Kahyau

Padatahin Shani Drigakona Prakaashaa,
Baalak Sira Udi Gayo Aakaashaa,
Girajaa Girii Vikala Hvai Dharanii,
So Dukha Dashaa Gayo Nahin Varanii

Haahaakaara Machyo Kailaashaa,
Shani Kiinhon Lakhi Suta Ko Naashaa,
Turat Garuda Chadhi Vishnu Sidhaaye,
Kaati Chakra So GajaShira Laaye

Baalak Ke Dhada Uupar Dhaarayo,
Praana Mantra Padhi Shankar Daarayo,
Naama’Ganesha’ShambhuTabaKiinhe,
Pratham Poojya Buddhi Nidhi Vara Diinhe

Buddhi Pariikshaa Jab Shiva Kiinhaa,
Prithvii Kar Pradakshinaa Liinhaa,
Chale Shadaanana Bharami Bhulaai,
Rache Baithii Tum Buddhi Upaai

Charana Maatu-Pitu Ke Dhara Liinhen,
Tinake Saat Pradakshina Kiinhen
Dhani Ganesha Kahi Shiva Hiye Harashyo,
Nabha Te Suran Suman Bahu Barse

Tumharii Mahima Buddhi Badaai,
Shesha Sahasa Mukha Sake Na Gaai,
Main Mati Heen Maliina Dukhaarii,
Karahun Kaun Vidhi Vinaya Tumhaarii

Bhajata ‘Raamsundara’ Prabhudaasaa,
Jaga Prayaaga Kakraa Durvaasaa,
Ab Prabhu Dayaa Deena Par Keejai,
Apnii Bhakti Shakti Kuchha Deejai

ll Dohaa ll

Shrii Ganesha Yeh Chaalisaa, Paatha Karre Dhara Dhyaan l
Nita Nav Mangala Graha Base, Lahe Jagat Sanmaana ll
Sambandh Apna Sahasra Dash, Rishi panchamii dinesha l
Poorana Chaalisaa Bhayo, Mangala Moorti Ganesha ll

Celebrating ‘Daughter’s Week’ on my Blog!!

Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven. - Henry Ward Beecher quotes

This week is dedicated to celebration of ‘Daughter’s Day’ that is celebrated in different parts of the world on the fourth Sunday of September month.

23rd September 2012 is the Daughter’s Day and I would love to post content around parent-daughter relationship.

My first post is dedicated to my daughter, Sanjana. I have always kept my daughter as the most unrevealed part of my life as she is a sponsored child. But yes, I would be very proud to write few quotes that express my emotions and love for my daughter in my very first post of ‘Celebration of Daughter’s Week’ on my blog. Indeed, I dedicate this post to my all daughters at Sphoorti, Hyderabad (www.sphoorti.org).

From daughter to be a sponsored mother of a daughter was not an easy journey but I still believe that the best role God gave me was to be a daughter and to sponsor a daughter.

In 2009, when I got a chance to sponsor a child, my heart and mind always wanted a ‘girl child’. It was a cautious decision to sponsor a girl child as I have seen many instances where there had been discrimination in my family on the basis of being a girl child. It was a step to promote the thought that not being a biological mother is not an end and to sponsor a girl child was a reaction to action of ‘discrimination’, among siblings on the basis of gender.

A small message through this post is to promote the idea to sponsor or adopt a ‘girl child’. It is a myth that daughters do not carry their generations forward. It is only in your mind being a part of an Indian community. Think out of the box. Think of some of the legendary women who not only brought fame to India but also to their families.

Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter.  In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.  - Joseph Addison

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.  - John Gregory Brown

Love Your Daughters!!

Happy Monday:)

My husband is miles away but there is one e-mail that connects me to his thoughts.

His one e-mail that tells my heart that he remembers me and thinks of my medical condition. An e-mail to make me feel inspired and connect to the thought of this blog – ‘So You Think You Are Living’.

Below are few quotes that my husband sent me as an e-mail and I am very happy to post them on my blog to begin a new week with few lines of inspiration.

People who change after change, may survive. People who change with the change, will succeed. People who cause the change, will lead….

Success is like your own shadow. If you try to catch it you will never succeed. Ignore it and it will follow you…

When You Were Born, You Cried And The World Rejoiced, Live Your Life In Such A Way So That When You Die The World Cries And You Rejoice…

Good relationships are like needles of a clock, They only meet for sometime but always stay connected …

Fight with your strength not with other’s weakness because, True Success lies in your efforts , not in other’s defeat…

A meaningful silence is always better than meaningless words…

Two people don’t have to think the exact same way in order to be compatible; they just have to realize and respect that different isn’t wrong, it’s just different…

It’s easier to understand someone, Even more easier to misunderstand someone, But most toughest job is to understand that you misunderstood someone…

In race between cat and mouse, the mouse mostly wins, Because the cat runs for its food while  the mouse runs for its life. Purpose is more important than Need…

HAPPY MONDAY!

Poems For My Friends!

When to the session of sweet silent thought

I summon up remembrance of things past,

I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,

And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:

Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,

When to the session of sweet silent thought

I summon up remembrance of things past,

I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,

And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:

Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,

For precious friends hid in death¹s dateless night,

And weep afresh love's long since cancelled woe,

And moan the expense of many a vanish¹d sight:

Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,

And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er

The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,

Which I new pay as if not paid before.

But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,

All losses are restored and sorrows end.

By William Shakespeare

I shot an arrow into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For, so swiftly it flew, the sight

Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For who has sight so keen and strong,

That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak

I found the arrow, still unbroke;

And the song, from beginning to end,

I found again in the heart of a friend

By H. W. Longfellow

Feeling So Good!!

I have been a big fan of Bryant McGill. I have read his work and follow his blog. But the surprising fact was when I saw a link to one of my post listed on his blog along with many other links.

I am happy to see and find my little post as a part of his list of search on particular poems.  I am sharing the link here from his blog where you can search for my post with the option, ‘Archana Kapoor Nagpal’.

This is a big thing for me!

http://bryantmcgill.com/wiki/poetry/robert_frost/for_once_then_something

Good Night!

Courage by Robert William Service

Tomorrow is my first yoga class and it has been 7 years, I have not been a part of yoga classes. I practice at home with all I learned in 2005. But with the time available with me, I thought to move to next level of yoga as an exercise.

A poem for my readers. I liked it and thought to post for all of you:)

Today I opened wide my eyes,
And stared with wonder and surprise,
To see beneath November skies
An apple blossom peer;
Upon a branch as bleak as night
It gleamed exultant on my sight,
A fairy beacon burning bright
Of hope and cheer.

"Alas!" said I, "poor foolish thing,
Have you mistaken this for Spring?
Behold, the thrush has taken wing,
And Winter's near."
Serene it seemed to lift its head:
"The Winter's wrath I do not dread,
Because I am," it proudly said,
"A Pioneer.

"Some apple blossom must be first,
With beauty's urgency to burst
Into a world for joy athirst,
And so I dare;
And I shall see what none shall see -
December skies gloom over me,
And mock them with my April glee,
And fearless fare.

"And I shall hear what none shall hear -
The hardy robin piping clear,
The Storm King gallop dark and drear
Across the sky;
And I shall know what none shall know -
The silent kisses of the snow,
The Christmas candles' silver glow,
Before I die.

"Then from your frost-gemmed window pane
One morning you will look in vain,
My smile of delicate disdain
No more to see;
But though I pass before my time,
And perish in the grale and grime,
Maybe you'll have a little rhyme
To spare for me."

Good Night!