World No Tobacco Day – 31st May, 2012

I posted around World No Tobacco Day in 2011 as well. There is not much changed around me but one thing that I have quit smoking and it is a great feeling within meJ

I will not write an essay but just a question to all my readers – what is that you can contribute to World No Tobacco Day – 31^st May, 2012?

If you eat well, sleep on time but smoke even a single cigarette, your all efforts are wasted. Think before you lit the one todayJ. Don’t Quit it for a day but foreverJ

Your Health is Your Asset!

Weave a New Blanket!

Finally, I welcome Bangalore. My friend used to say ‘The day you get new mobile number in the city you stay, you should welcome that place’. I got my new number and I welcome Bangalore.

Before I blog, my sincere thanks to all the friends for sending lovely messages on receipt of my new mobile number. I felt CHARGED!!

Last few days were like a boat in no water. I was quite negative about my stay and was just LOST!

My neighbour uncle told me something that touched my heart. He said so convincingly, “Hyderabad is like a blanket that you should wear BUT start weaving a new blanket of Bangalore. Wear memories of Hyderabad but weave new memories now”.

After his words, I stopped crying and got back to my home. I closed my eyes and thought of Guruji. I realised for some while, I got into an Emotional mode. Maybe, I forgot, E for Emotions has no place in my life. If I get emotional, I will feel my disability J

I decided to complete the decor of my home and get back to my workouts and work. Trust me, it all worked, as I was POSITIVE. It is rightly said, ‘it is all in the mind not heart’.

I am convinced and positive that life needs to move. We cannot stay like stable water of a pond.

I kicked a new chapter and I hope it is as interesting as HyderabadJ

CheerioJ

What's new?

I updated my art blog. Click to view - http://archanaartgallery.blogspot.com/2012/05/inspiration-for-me.html

Mother To Son by Langston Hughes

Mother’s Day, a day, I could not blog due to relocation commitments. But I read something that took my heart for a whileJ

I blog it, to share a feeling that ‘Mother is the best gift of nature’ and ‘To be a mother is the best gift to nature’.

For my mother and all the proud mothers, I met in the journey of my lifeJ

Mother To Son by Langston Hughes • 89 poems - Langston Hughes • 89 poemsby Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Just hug your mother and tell her how special you feel to be her daughter or son. There is no better or bigger gift than thisJ

Buona NotteJ

A Video - It Touched Me!!

I reached Bangalore and almost settled. I love this city and there are many things to share but I start the new life in a new city with a message and learning for all IndiansJ

I started working, when I was hardly 15 and I always thought – Every work/job is noble. The biggest asset of any job is education. I value money because I earned the hardest wayJ

I was watching DID (Dance India Dance) and the audition of this little child made me feel that still many of our children are deprived of education. Please watch this video and take a pledge that we have to educate each child of India. As I blogged, in one of my post – EDUCATE THEM RATHER THAN HIRE THEM!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOumnkULoxI

Hats off to Sumit for his dedication and to his teacher who is training without charging any fees. We need more people like him!

GTG, Cheerio:)

Farewell Gift: Launch of My Art Blog - Galerie d'art d'Archana

To read my Farewell Message, click here : Farewell Message

This is the happiest moment of my life. It feels so good when you launch a blog as a gift to all the people who have been part of your journey for last 7 years. I am launching this blog as a Farewell Gift.

I have uploaded my first independent painting and the same as inspirational wallpaper.  Click the link to view my blog and the first two posts –

Galerie d'art d'Archana (Archana Art Gallery)

I have chosen a French name for my blog as when I think of art, I think of FranceJ

I will not  remove the following two labels from this blog ‘So You Think You Are Living’ but will have nothing to contribute as you can see them on my Art Blog soonJ

·         My Art Gallery
·         My Wallpapers

Best Wishes n God BlessesJ

Farewell Message: Good Bye Hyderabad :)

Before my readers, read this post, I know I have to gift my readers from Hyderabad, a Farewell Gift. I am working on it so wait a bit. The day I reach Bangalore, you can see your gift here on my blog.J

"You never leave someone behind, you take a part of them with you and leave a part of yourself behind."

I always wrote on my blog, any journey or relation in life should end with a 'Good-bye' and the word 'Good' really matters. I read the above and I could not think of a better beginning of my Farewell MessageJ

I am thoughtless and very emotional when I blog my Farewell Message to all my readers from Hyderabad. It is like from where to start and where to end. There are so many happy moments that I have spent in these 7 years.

The longest duration of my stay in India, is in Hyderabad. People wonder why a Punjabi girl takes so much interest in Telegana talks. They wonder why someone who should cherish paneer and dal makhani lives 5 days on sambar and vada. Why she loves to flaunt flowers on hair rather than diamonds on her fingers. The answer is I am Indian and the feel to be real Indian came to me in Hyderabad. I have seen the worst to best moments in this city. From a newlywed to a sponsored mother, my 7 years journey is full of love, happiness, struggle and learning.

From job to being jobless to a Freelancer, from mobile to partially immobile, from struggle to less struggle, from surgeries to doctors, from content management analyst to swimming coach to an artist, from emotions to realities, all BELONGS TO HYDERABAD!

From Sphoorti to my daughter, from tear to laugh, from real to virtual, from loneliness to crowd, all BELONGS TO HYDERABAD.

"Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends."

Hyderabad has given me so much that I cannot dedicate just a post for this contribution. It made me a completely different Archana. It showed me those doors that I could not have ever searched, if would have been somewhere elseJ. I thought to make a slide deck of my pictures of 7 years of journey but I realised it is like 198 pictures that I shortlistedJ, so a post is all time better to convey my thanks to all of you.

Thanks to my neighbours, my housekeeping people, my friends, Deloitte peers and last not the least my 92 kids at Sphoorti. A special thanks to my doctors and physiotherapists for making my life so easy and toughJ

Wishing You All A Very Great Life and Loads of Love

Will Miss Hyderabad(:....I am actually crying...GOSH!

"It's the emptiest and yet the fullest of all human messages: Good-bye."

Luna: Love Needs No Language!!

My students gave me a very nice card that has a letter ‘G’ on it. I asked why ‘G’? The answer was prompt for your grace and graceful swimming. It was a touchy momentJ

My bird is suffering from Twisted Toe Paralysis. Luna is my favourite and I share a different bonding with her. My apartment owner gifted us Luna, almost 3 months back. She was not provided the necessary vitamin drops in the first three months by them. Hence, she landed to twisted toe paralysis. I was sceptical in taking her with us as we will be driving and I felt that we should not be the reason of her early demise. My friend offered help and inclination to keep her. We gave Luna to her but the moment I entered home, I was like something is missing. We have kept her in a separate cage to prevent her from being hit as she cannot fly. From one toe to another, she is struggling with herself.

I called my friend and asked her to give Luna back to me. She is back with us. No matter, how long she lives but she is my baby, my child and my responsibility. I felt so cheap and inhuman while giving her to someone else. If tomorrow my people behave the same with me, how will I feel?

The moment Luna came home, I touched her and she clasped my finger. I broke down. I felt to chirp and say ‘Baby, I am sorry’. She is sleeping and I am watching her after every hour - to feed her with food and water, to make her take little shower, to make her sit in the balcony and watch sky.

I realised something that love has an unspoken language. It needs no language to show love and concern. Luna is Love for me. She tells me that ‘love’ is what has kept her alive for last ten days. Strange, still people broke off and move on, leaving their loved ones, behind. Can’t they listen to the unspoken language of love? If not, then it is not LOVE!!

I wish Luna gets what is the best for her but I am with her till the END!

1 idli, 1 vada and 1 cup of filter coffee:)

My friend asked me what would I like to have for dinner?

My answer remains the same for all invitations – 1 idli, 1 vada and 1 cup of filter coffee.

This is the ideal combination for me and there is nothing in the world that can satisfy me better than thisJ. I tried Pongal last night and it was really amazing!!

I always felt that South Indian food is something that made me stay in southern part of India. But now, I completely believe in this. The warmth with which small Tiffin centres serve you the meals make you visit them more often.

My favourite place is a small Udipi tiffin corner next to Gacchibowli X Roads (http://www.mojostreet.com/places/Udipi-Upahar-Tiffins-Gachibowli-Hyderabad-276), the crowd is mainly PGs staying around in that area. To sip a coffee while sitting in the outskirts with no notions around what you are wearing gives you a complete comfortJ

You get into your Capri and a chiffon top; sit at the pavement with a plate in your hand that serves – 1 idli, 1 vada and 1 cup of filter coffeeJ.

I visit this place so often that the Tiffin guys recognise me and they know my criteria of coffee – very little milk and ½ spoon of sugar.

Simple things can give you happiness what money cannot buy. The peace and comfort I get here is far more than sitting at a star rated hotel among pieces of papers around you:)

I will miss this place and the freedom to eat and be what you are. If any of my reader visits Hyderabad, try it out!

CheerioJ

'Sinnovolle Bilder' (Purposeful Images) - Respect Public Property

Can you see a tampered button in this picture?

I saw a tampered elevator button that could affect the accessibility of elevators for old people and those who have medical reasons and are not allowed to climb stairs.

It raised a question in my mind – why do we tamper Public Property. A click to bring it to your notice that we all should ‘Respect Public Property’ as it might not be mandate for you to take an elevator or stairs but it makes a difference for many others.

This is added to the Web album at :

https://picasaweb.google.com/108980877216677105725/SinnovolleBilderPurposefulPictures#5738669322730441362

or can be viewed on the right side of my blog window as animated deck labeled - 'Sinnovolle Bilder or Purposeful Images'.

My Cabbie's Message For Us: Realize Your Dreams:)

I love people who teach me something about life. No matter the Call Center Executive at a Cab Office, my housekeeping lady or the cabbie that drops me homeJ. I LOVE ALL OF THEM. Life for me is just loving and loving people who live with high spirits and right attitudeJ. They give me positive vibes.

It is a strange thing when you board a cab and the driver asks you about the book in your hand. I am reading ‘The Alchemist’, these days. There is something about the book that keeps you bound to read. The basic but the biggest thought – Realize Your Dreams.

The cabbie was quite affluent in English and the way he inquired about the book, I took time to relate everything. Before, I could utter something, he said, “Wow, you are reading, ‘The Alchemist’. It is a nice book by Paulo Coelho.”

My eyeballs were rotating like a pendulum, listening to his Americanised accent. I have never met such a cabbie in last two years in Hyderabad. A nice ironed, linen lemon shirt with a black trouser and hair all set with a gel. There was nothing not to notice him. Indeed, I actually noticed him. His voice was like droplets of water and each word was like a musical note.

I felt to listen and just listen to him, when I realised he asked me a question, a same question for the third time, “Where is your drop, ma’am?”

I answered him followed by my question, “Why do you drive a cab, when you can do something better than this. I mean, I appreciate your communication skills, client handling and your presentation of yourself. It seems, this is not your only work.”

He took a look at me and smiled. He shrugged saying, “I am like one of you. I work for a call center at night catering to US outbound calls and I drive a cab in the day. I lost my father when I was 12 and life was like a tough journey for me with 3 younger sisters. I had to fund my education as well. So, beggars are not choosers and I decided to do two jobs to support and sustain myself. It is true; I hardly get time to sleep, maybe just 4 hours a day. But life demands and I have to serve. BTW, this book is about realizing your dreams. If you take challenges of life as dreams, your tough journey is like a smooth road to your goals.”

I was speechless and thoughtless. I was trying to figure out, is he happy or making me feel better by explaining handle challenges as your dreams. Whatever, it was a pleasure meeting an industrious, young gentleman who funds his education and supports his family. He has no time to sleep but he gave me a good reason to be happy and sleep well, tonight.

With due respect to him, I post a saying –

Life in itself is an empty canvas, it becomes whatsoever you paint on it. You can paint misery, you can paint bliss. This freedom is your glory.

~Osho, Indian Spiritual Teacher

This blog is about living. I want my readers should live the way I wanted or I want but could not. But the cabbie and the above saying gave my infinite reasons to live and live to the fullest. I will paint my canvas of life with all the colours possible in this lifetime. Just close and think for once in context to this post – ‘So You Think You Are Living’..;!!

Buona Notte!

Rab Ka Shukrana!!

I have been quite unwell since last two days and I was just feeling low (:

On my way to home from hospital, I heard this new song. It is really very sweet and relaxing. I liked the lyrics and loved the song.

So, if you want to dedicate to it your love of life, just share this post link and love your loveJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydc42G7Uno4

I thank God for everything – good or bad, HE made me learn a lot in this lifetimeJ

Good Night!!

Poems: Happy May Day!

I got an email with these poems for May Day. I blog them for my readersJ

A May-Day Madrigal by Robert Fuller Murray

The sun shines fair on Tweedside, the river flowing bright,
Your heart is full of pleasure, your eyes are full of light,
Your cheeks are like the morning, your pearls are like the dew,
Or morning and her dew-drops are like your pearls and you.

Because you are a princess, a princess of the land,
You will not turn your lightsome eyes a moment where I stand,
A poor unnoticed poet, a-making of his rhymes;
But I have found a mistress, more fair a thousand times.

`Tis May, the elfish maiden, the daughter of the Spring,
Upon whose birthday morning the birds delight to sing.
They would not sing one note for you, if you should so command,
Although you are a princess, a princess of the land.

May-Baskets by Evaleen Stein

Let us take our baskets early
To the meadows green,
While the wild-flowers still are pearly
With the dewdrops' sheen.

Fill them full of blossoms rosy,
Violets and gay
Cowslips, every pretty posy
Welcoming the May.

Then our lovely loads we'll carry
Down the village street,
On each door, with laughter merry,
Hang a basket sweet.

Hey-a-day-day! It is spring now,
Lazy folks, awake!
See the pretty things we bring now
For the May-day's sake!

CheerioJ