About Me

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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/

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

I AM AWAKE!,,

A poem that makes me believe in my last wish. I will not give up till I accomplish it. I will fight all pains and medical conditions. Two days back, when I reached hospital, I almost fainted. My doctor believed, I would have collapsed as my blood pressure levels were 52/90 and too low sugar levels but I again sustained.

I have started with my research but before that I need to improve my fitness levels. I have to regain my mental strength and physical stamina.

Few lines of the poem....


Where The Mind Is Without Fear
Where the mind is without fear and the head is 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.


:))

Saturday, August 24, 2013

I can see..

When I landed at Delhi, my only purpose was to make things better for my loved ones. I have gone through lot of physical pain in this whole week. When I got the injection in my back (couple of hours back), sitting in the emergency room, I questioned myself, what did I get or where from here..

Things are fine for my loved ones and with this my role or struggle to paint a perfect picture in their lives ends....forever. .

I am feeling good after reuniting everyone though I know in all this, my condition has deteriorated a lot. I kept thinking and thinking - what, where, why......

I got up at 3 am and thought of my last wish. Yes, my last wish in this life and I smiled...this is my way  from here.....this will keep me alive.

But before I turn 33, I look back for the last time and I see my loved ones happy. I see my books on my Amazon profile, I can see my association with Sphoorti, I can see my paintings and I can see many more to be made...my work for Friday Gurgaon. ..my chocolates.....my swimming lessons. ...God has gifted me versatility and talent to live it.... 

When a chapter ends, it is the beginning of another chapter.......let me now experience, where it goes from here but I have to prepare myself for my last wish....I have to be strict and disciplined in life......

Thanks to everyone who read me...

;)


Thursday, August 22, 2013

Tania Luna: How a penny made me feel like a millionaire...

I am sharing a video and this is mainly to tell my readers (though we all know this fact but at times forget), the beauty of life lies in small things. The happiness of life is around small surprises and bigger challenges.The peace of mind is a gift of patience and admiration of honesty. 

People hardly smile in Delhi. When I thank a cab driver or the shopkeeper, I find them surprised. People are in a rat race of something or actually nothing.....

A video for all those who are living a life surrendered to materialistic world - 


:)

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Swim..Rain...Swim.....

My day started with a long walk in the rain. Bangalore has a weird climate..sun to rain and rain to sun....and I love to swim when it rains. Strange, a year back when we were moving to Bangalore, my only concern was swimming in an open pool in the rain. But today I learn to love to swim in an open pool in the rain. Right to say, you can only experience the reality when you face it. To get out of your own fears and inhibitions, you have to take a step out of your own comfort zones.....

This is the best gift for myself in my birthday month......

:)


Monday, August 12, 2013

Born Once;Don't Think Twice!!

My date with my 62 years old friend is actually not a date. We catch up over a cup of coffee once a week. There is so much to learn from him. From suspension of Durga Shakti Nagpal to firing at J&K border, I am updated about so many things around me. 

I met my friend after 2 months, and the very first compliment was 'Archana, you look nice with a big red bindi and your cotton saree'. My friend wears a golf cap, and sits at the nearest coffee shop in the evening. How I met him?

He slipped few months back, and I got him home. I applied pain relieving gel around his wrist and he blessed me. And, we became friends. I always address him as 'Sir'. We sit and talk about Politics, Indian economy and NSE. 

The best part about our conversation is - we do not believe in the concept of generation gap. 

Today, my friend helped me to know more about my mobile gifted to me by my husband. Both of them helped me to know all the features. My friend mailed me a list of links to read and know more about my gadget.

I wanted my old ring tone but somehow I lost it. So, till I get it back, I am going to put a new ring tone. The latest song by Piggy Chops - Exotic ft. Pitbull:)...You can view the video at this link...I love this one!
I am happy.....I am waiting for my birthday....Lot of wishes to make.............I believe in just one thing now - 'You are BORN ONCE, so DON'T THINK TWICE!!'

:)

Thursday, August 8, 2013

My Dad's Day....

Today is my father's birthday. I have made almost 125 chocolates. I kept asking my father about his feedback for my chocolates. My dad said, " the best chocolates made by the best daughter in the world."

My father might be a typical Indian husband but a very liberal father who gave me all the strength to stand and fight back my problems in my life. Fighting all the pains and still not giving up is a gift of my father to me.

I really felt lucky as I am with my father on his birthday. He turns 65 but still my father is my mentor and the most adorable man in my life.

I always believe - " A man might not be a good brother or a good husband or a good son but will always be a Great Father. "

Cheers:)


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Jamie Heywood - Many Like Me!

This post is my learning about how to be connected to patientslikeme. A portal that brings many patients suffering with a similiar medical condition under one roof (virtually). When you encounter a medical condition, you do not look for sympathy. You do not look for money or love or sex. You look for a person who understands you more than as a patient. Someone who comes and just take ten minutes to know, how you are feeling that day. You do not look for a companion but a friend, and at times you parents or husband or children or family fails to do that for you. They know you as a person, and the role you play because they cannot see beyond that. Yes, counsellors do play a vital role but sooner or later they put you on drugs or sleeping pills et al.

I have gone through 8 weeks of tough journey and at times calls from my friends or family enquiring about my condition, simply irritated me. I felt like a patient not like a fighter. One shot to another in my back, emergency rooms and demotivating diagnosis really made me feel sick. I came across this video. And it changed everything for me. Yes, I did 2500 m swimming, 2 hours workout, an hour of iyengar yoga for my medical condition, and I AM VERY POSITIVE for the whole day. I know I have pain that bothers me beyond my patience but I know there are many people in worse condition than mine. There are many who help me to strive, and not to give up. In short, I have many like me now!

My people left me or talk to me, when I get hurt physically, but there are many who talk to me not on the grounds of symapthy. And this video really helped me to connect to those who value a person as a person, not when he or she becomes a patient.

I share this link with all my friends and readers. 


To know more about Jamie Heywood - Click the below link:


This is my birthday month and I just want to make this blog a place to learn and be inspired throughout the month.

:)


Laughing Therapy....

I have completed almost 8 weeks of rest and recovery. I know my pain will stay for a while but I have changed my outlook towards life. I just want to be happy and laugh. The best technique I follow to be happy, and laugh is to watch a video daily. I pick one video and watch it. I laugh and laugh ....and laugh.....

This is one of my favourite video and I am sure it will make my readers laugh as well.....


Keep laughing.......

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Quotes on Friendship!

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY!!

Friends are more close to my heart than my family. But I forgot about today - Friendship Day until my friends called to wish. Thanks for telling me that I have people who wish me, and treat me as a friend.....:)


“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” 
― C.S. Lewis



Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” 
― Albert Camus



“It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.” 
― Friedrich Nietzsche



“The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.” 
― Bob Marley



“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” 
― William Shakespeare



“We'll be Friends Forever, won't we, Pooh?' asked Piglet.
Even longer,' Pooh answered.” 
― A.A. MilneWinnie-the-Pooh



“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” 
― C.S. LewisThe Four Loves



“What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” 
― Aristotle

Saturday, August 3, 2013

A Mirror ......

Lol...it is funny but I still remember one thing about my childhood. I used to stammer at words that you used to start with M,P, K, Q. To save myself from embarrassment, I used to break the sentences and speak in reverse order like..."ho theek" rather than "theek ho" or "hua kyun" rather than " kyun hua".

Then one fine day, I met a guy in my school. He asked me why do I speak in reverse order, and avoid to talk to people around me. I shared my feelings about being embarrassed as my family and friends used to make fun of me.

Next day, he got me a small mirror  and asked to pronounce letters where I stammer. I still stammered...but he did not make fun of me. This continued for a week to a month. I improved but still I used to stammer. I left hope but he did not .....

He helped me and stood with me for months to get me out of the fear that I will stammer again..and then after a year, I was confident of myself. One thing he kept telling me - look into the mirror and try to practice on your weaknesses to turn them into your strength. It is not about the fact you stammer but it is about the fact that you take it as your weakness. You are defeated when you take your weakness as a shortcoming rather than your strength.

This is the first part of the story. I will post why I share it on my blog. To be contd.....