The Privilege of Being Alive!

Today I had a good time in the swimming pool. As my daughter had cold, I did not bring her for practice so it was just me, and myself swimming away.  I loved the very touch of water on my body, and I am thrilled to float and swim from one end to another end of the pool.  There is no stress, no pressure, no comparison, no competition with anybody, but just being me in the pool. 

There is a feeling of joy, a feeling of happiness that comes when you bend and put your head in the deep waters and gently rise, kicking your legs, your body moves forward, you are just led by the waters and every part of your being is activated and I forget everything in those 45 minutes to 1 hour, savoring those special moments with myself.  

I do not think about my family, neither my work, nor any other commitments – I simply experience the coolness of the waters.  Being summer the swimming pool is full and I am surrounded with lots of women and children, there is so much noise, crying of small children learning to swim. 

The voice of the coach shouting and whistling, forbidding learners to keep to only 4 feet water, and there I hear giggles and laughter of young girls having fun in the pool.

It does not affect me at all, there is only silence within my heart, the joy of moving around in the pool brings in peace and appreciation for life, the very privilege to have been alive today and every day, for the privilege that I can see, hear, smell, feel, smile and laugh.  I am happy and I feel privileged.

I swim backwards  I look  at the  vast  blue sky extended so wide that I cannot trace its beginning and its end,  the tall green  beautiful trees surrounding  the pool adds to the freshness of the breeze, making the pool cool , I am filled with awe and admiration and  I feel  part of everything there.  I feel appreciation for myself – for the very privilege to have been alive every day! 

We can all be happy and experience the sense of privilege, when we become aware of ourselves, and all that we have in our life’s 

Be Blessed & Be Happy!

 

Thinking of My Mother

Today, while I was making chapattis for breakfast, my thoughts led me to my mother’s kitchen, how she made the breakfast, she was a very good cook, and an expert in making tasty dishes.  She loved to cook and serve, she would put her heart mind and soul in whatever she cooked, and the kind of energy she passed on is unforgettable.  

I have never found her tired of cooking and serving, it looked like it was a hobby for her, something that she enjoyed, and whoever visited home will have to taste what she makes, and she just needed few minutes to serve.

The thoughts about my mother made me very happy and I felt energized, that I too must learn how to make even the simplest ordinary meal into an extraordinary one.  I found she was very passionate about serving delicious meal, and in the process did her very best and it showed in the way food was served.  

Food was always on time, there was never a lack, despite so many children (nine of us) with two grandmothers – my mom’s mother, and her sister. My mother had the capacity to cook for so many and she had the perseverance to do it cheerfully.

Even when we all grew up, lived on our own, she would still love to cook try her hand on new recipes in the kitchen, I loved what my mother made, whenever I visited her even after my marriage, I would enjoy whatever she made. She would wait eagerly for me, knowing that I would come, and make some very interesting dishes, and she would even pack for me to carry back to my place.

There were times, she would make puri, chicken curry and cutlets and travel all the way to meet me at my place. There was something special in every dish she made, and I found that not only delicious, but also felt her deep love for me. She would never forget birthdays and anniversaries – as she loved celebrations! 

Today her thoughts energizes me, and I am happy to do my work with pleasant memories in my mind, I complete making chapattis, and continue with my routine, to go for a swim and reach my office on time…..  I journey in gratitude!  With this fitting quote that says “A recipe has no soul.  You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” Thomas Keller.

Be Happy !

A Break from the Routine

My daughter has been asking me, to take me out in the city as it’s her holiday, school is closed for summer.  She insisted that I take her to the Salar Jung Museum.  I have visited this museum in the city as a child and also while I worked, I had the opportunity to take some groups for sightseeing.  I was not very keen, as its summer, and extremely hot - but my daughter’s excitement was so much, that I gave in and decided to take a break from my routine.

The Salarjung Museum in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh is the third largest museum in India housing the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. It is well known throughout India for its prized collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to the 1st century. Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889–1949), spent a substantial amount of his income over thirty five years to make this priceless collection, his life's passion.

I was happy to see the Museum, there was so much to see, beautiful paintings, wall hangings, wood work, statues made of marble, and lot of exhibits in bronze, silver, porcelain cups and variety of jugs etc., photography was not allowed inside the museum, so Dorothy could not take pictures, but she was full of excitement and admiration for what she saw, and was very happy moving around the museum.

I loved the expressions on my daughter’s face, as she moved from one room to another, it was like reliving my childhood and this visit  also brought in beautiful memories of my past, I began to appreciate and felt so connected to the past. I recall my mom taking me to the museum with our cousins, and the most fascinating was to see was the clock, which was brought from England in those days by Salarjung III, it was a musical clock wherein a time keeper emerged every hour to ring the bell.

As a child I loved to watch that sight, and now seating arrangements have been made for people to sit and watch the time keeper. Another monument was the veiled Rebecca. The statue is made of marble, and the veil looks so real draped over her, it does not look like a marble. 

I took my niece Rachael along with us, and Dorothy insisted that she taste the Hyderabad’s Biryani.  Hyderabadi Biryani is a non-vegetarian dish and its main ingredients are meat, rice and spices. So we went to a popular place and enjoyed the meal.

After which, we went to beautiful monument, called the Chow-Mahalla Palace. Chow means four. And Mahal means Palace. Chow-Mahalla therefore means four palaces. This place has lovely architecture, beautiful courtyards and vintage cars; this place is very neatly kept, Dorothy was happy to take a few photographs. It was a refreshing experience for us, and I was happy to spend some time with Dorothy and Rachel.

“Monuments are the grappling-irons that bind one generation to another”. Joseph Joubert Quotes.

The whole day was meaningful  experience and I treasure the moments I spent with my daughter and niece, I am glad I visited this place, and am thankful to my daughter for motivating me, I felt a lot richer and happier in her company.

Be Happy!

Learning to Enjoy the Present!

Every time Emmanuel my son comes to my mind, I experience hurt and pain, the pain is so deep, that it would leave me crippled and paralyzed.  I find difficult to  stop my thoughts from coming into my mind, every small experience with him has been stored so carefully, that it produced a variety of emotions all the time, sometimes I smile, at times I cry, other times I am amused and at some moments I am shocked, silenced and there are also times I am quiet and I do not know what to do.

I try  to move away from these thoughts, which is not an easy task, as the thoughts keep coming and leads me further into the details of my son’s life, I make a deliberate choice, a choice to accept that  the fact that he is no more and  look at what he  has gifted me with, as he departed from my life.

I am blessed with an opportunity to have spent seven years of my life with him as his mother, learning to understand the meaning of unconditional love. His  love  was so pure, that I have never before had such an experience in my life, it has touched me to the core and has given me a new concept of understanding what true and real love is.

 I grieve even today, it hurts me even now when I write, to know that he is no more – I weep  non stop, allowing my tears to flow, to grieve and accept what has happened in my life.

Then I look at my daughter, who is dependent of me, and she is my present reality, I do not want to get so carried away with my past that I forget my present reality – so I refocus and shift my mind in order to enjoy my present.

Now whenever my mind wanders into the past, I close my eyes, take a deep breath a few times and then continue to breathe normally focusing on my breath, while I do so a few times  I am relaxed, I smile and continue my work ! and walk with faith and gratitude !

Be happy & Grateful!

A Special Mother

To the one who gave me life, I can give nothing but love, to the star so full of light, to the one sent from up above. 

To live forever and always is what I wish for you. A long life ever-lasting, for one so sacred and true. 

You are my special angel, who I always find comfort in, whether life is in a shambles, whether I lose or whether I win.

Thank you for the kindness, for everything you have done.

Thank you for the happiness, thanks for seeing me through. I remember you with love, and believe that your blessings are always upon us! 

Thank You Amma! I Love You & Miss You!

I was happy to trace some old photographs of my Mother, and it gives me great joy to post  some very memorable moments of her. I am indeed happy and very grateful for her presence in my life, she continues to inspires me and I feel so blessed to have had a mother like my mom.

Wishing all women who are mothers, a very happy mother’s day, today and always!

With Love & Gratitude

My Favourite- Psalm 139

Psalm 139 from the Bible is one of my favourite, and I love to sing this psalm.  It’s all time favourite, and I sing whenever I want to, for this psalm not only   energizes me, but I also feel very good when I sing this psalm. I had by hearted every sentence of this psalm, and am using it as an affirmation especially when I feel tired and alone in life.

I used this psalm as an  affirmation at different times in my life, when I was getting married, when I got  pregnant, and was concerned about my baby, when I took a risk to purchase a flat, and whenever I was challenged by life – this psalm always rescued me and brought me peace in my heart and in my life.

This psalm helped me even when I learnt to swim, I used to get very frightened to move towards deep waters to swim, and I came out of this fear only singing this psalm in my mind.

I have learnt to sing this psalm, and I sing it while I am riding or doing house work or just taking a walk, this psalm provides me a feeling of security, and also reminds me that I am not alone, for I am connected to the divine, and I am divinely guarded and guided. This  psalm  helps when you are anxious, worried and feel lost, its empowering when you sing and say it to yourself.

Yahweh I know you are near

Standing always at my side

You guard me from the foe

And you lead me in ways everlasting.

Lord you have searched my heart

And you know when I sit and when I stand

Your hand is upon me, protecting me from death

Keeping me from harm.

You know my heart and its ways

You who formed me before I was born

In the secret of darkness, before I saw the sun

In my mother’s womb.

Marvelous to me are your works

How profound are your thoughts my Lord,

Even if I could count them, they number as the stars

Still I find you there.

May you be empowered !