The Grin

It reminds me,
of Alice’s cat.
the cat may be all gone,
but the grin is still there!

One may say Scat!
Or even say Shoo!
But the grin won’t go away,
What to do?

I know what its like;
I live with it you see,
Even if there is hurt,
Or calamity!
The grin hangs in there
For eternity

Some people have frowns,
some are loaded with charm,
Some have sensational looks
and some have an expression of calm.
But what the good Lord blessed me with
Is a mile wide grin
That flashes out, no matter
What predicament I am in!

This verse goes out,
To all those folks
Who’ve forgotten to smile.
And for those who give me quizzical looks,
Every once in a while.

Stew

I am making stew for dinner.As I chop up carrots and potatoes,beans, cauliflower,mushrooms,tomatoes and onions,I wonder how well the veggies get along with each other. Maybe the carrot thinks its prettier than the potato, or the beans don't like the look of the mushrooms and the onions make every one cry!
As the aroma of browning onions wafts through the kitchen, I add a pinch of cinnamon to the cooking pot. Its sharp, distinctive flavourlends richness to the stew.Its the tomatoes turn now to be pureed and added to onions.As the pot bubbles, in go the veggies one by one. 'Hey don't encroach on my space', I'm so upset, no one likes me', 'Move out of my way', 'Do you need help?','I'll listen to you'; all of that and more must go on as the veggies dance around in the pot.In goes the salt, the pepper and a pinch of sugar, the spicy sweet flavours that perk up the stew.A tblsp of corn flour is added for thickening and as the pot simmers, I smile and think of my experiences with fellow veggies in this stew pot called life.

A mixed bag

Life's been a roller coaster ride of late. The emotional swings have been pretty extreme.I misplaced my cell phone in the rickshaw, on my way to work on Thursday.It was pretty heart rending as it was birthday gift and I just loved its sleek looks. I'm sure I'll have something of value to learn from the loss, though its not very clear to me now.
We got ourselves a new car, a classy silver sedan. A landmark event in our lives!
The movie boom continues.Saw 'An Unfinished Life' on saturday. Scintillating performances by Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman. It's a story of a man who is mourning the untimely death of his son and has shut himself off from all emotions. It takes the arrival of his grand daughter and and a wild bear to get him realize that he is living an unfinished life.An emotional,heartwarming story.This is definately a 'must see' movie.
Another week begins and I'm all set to take off!
Cheers!!!

I love the movies!

Its been a wonderful weekend. A bonanaza as far as movies are concerned.I managed to see three wonderful movies after a month long haitus.
The first of the three was George Clooney's 'Goodnight and Goodluck' about the emergence of Television as powerful medium in the 50's. In black and white, the movie was crisp,with wonderful performances and and hardhitting dialogues.
The movie I saw next was 'Being Cyrus'. I quite liked it because its completely different from any of the English Indian movies I've ever seen. No over the top emotions, no melodrama, it is a movie that showcases the talent of Dimple, Naseer and Boman Irani beautifully.The cottage in Panchgani where the film was set, took my breath away.Maybe i'll live in a place like that some day.
The movie I saw today was 'Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind'. I don't know if I have the words to describe what the movie did to me. It is by far one of the best movies I've ever seen. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet pull you into their lives and swirling emotions so effortlessly. Its a love story that engulfed me and makes me aware that all of us are a bundle of energy and emotions ,our lives centred around people we love and hate.
I plan to see this movie again if I can, to savor its nuances and to lose myself in it once again
Adois

I love the ocean

There is nothing in the world that can compare to a glorious sunset on the beach. I love sitting on the cooling sands and watching the orange hues melt into streaks of pink and liac, streaking the waves with their brilliant colours.The rhythmic murmur of the ocean and the cool,cool sand between my toes,the tangy sea breeze,they all come together to create the perfect backdrop for a beautiful masterpiece.
Sometimes a choppy grey, and sometimes a seductive green or a serene baby blue, the constantly changing ocean has been a source of comfort to me. Whenever I was troubled or needed to think, I'd sit on the beach watching the waves and their changing hues. I find the rhythm of the ocean very comforting. I love the ocean in all its moods. It is a blend of beauty, harmony and savagery all rolled into one. Every thing comes and goes like the waves in the ocean. Lets enjoy every moment while it lasts.

Let the music flow!

The tress are swaying ,I hear the rhythimic sound of the waves,the brook is singing her way through the pebbles and I am swaying to the music. Sometimes the tunes are joyous and it sets my feet a tapping,sometimes I hear haunting melody that has the ability to touch my heart. As the music flows I move in rhythm with the universe, celebrating life!

Taking some time out from my hectic schedule has been wonderful .I have been basking in the warmth of 'me time', cherishing every moment,re-charging myself with all the things that I like to do.
I love those quiet moments that I spend with myself. I am completely at peace and I wish that I could maintain that inner peace forever.
This quest for happiness is a little lopsided as the mind keeps moving constantly, hoping that the next thing it latches on to, will bring it lasting happiness. Change is the only permanance and the only constant is the spirit of awareness that travels with us through this journey.This quest for inner calm should move inward.
The trick is to go with the flow and not be swept away.The good and the bad, darkness and light are an integral part of our lives. To expect to be happy all the time is foolish, but I can ensure that I maintain my inner calm,specially when I'm confronting thunderclouds of negativity.After all it is these clouds that bring welcome rain.

Had a terrific time on my birthday,last week.Its the nicest feeling in the world to know how much one is loved. I am one of those who believes that love is meant to go around.People shy away from both accepting and giving. What this crazy, fast paced world of ours needs is caring, an ability to connect with one another. Love makes you vulnerable but also empowers you. What is the point in chasing after money and power if you have no one to share it with.It's upto each one of us to break down the barriers we have errected around us. These barries not only shut out love but also make one a prisoner within. Love opens you up. If one is afraid of being vulnerable then we'll never know the warmth, the joy and the freedom that love brings. Lets us live each day to the brim, with our hearts open to every experience and move to the inner music that can be heard when we tune in to love.
Cheers!

Each person is the creator of his own world. So we are all walking about in worlds of our own. The beauty is that when we meet other people,its actually one world encountering another.The larger your world the slower you become. One gets so used to carrying this world about that I cannot imagine anyone putting it down even for a second.I'm not surprized that all the burden we carry gets to us sometime or the other. Our thoughts and ideas burden us because we never ever let go of things that we've dealt with. I know that I'm going to be able to dance only if I feel light and free. I really do want to be able to dance all the time!

I like Thursdays because they signal the beginning of the weekend.Weekends are hectic with family time and chores to catch up with,but I eagerly look forward to those pockets of time where I curl up with a book oblivious to the world around me.So here's to weekends that give me time to recharge and renew for the week ahead.
Let me sign off with some of my favorite lines by Osho,
"In the presence of trouble-
and there are troubles in life-
the positive mind grows wings
but other buy crutches.
Ciao

Contentment is something that all of us are looking for.Itis a state of heart where one is at peace with oneself. Real contentment is possible only if one follows one's heart.No amount of money or status will ever give us that inner joy because they are bound by time. True joy is in giving.My inner journey has begun, but I have along way to go.

It's My Life

I've always wanted to write.Putting my thoughts into words helps me believe that I have a grip on the varied experiences I go through each day. Sometimes I have life by the scruff and sometimes it has me. Jotting down the ups and downs that come my way help keep things in perspective.

I love reading and and meditation,the snow capped mountains and the movies.

I am a traveller on the road to nowhere.....making the most of what each day brings.