GOODBYE 2010

GOODBYE 2010   

I was watching on CNN and BBC, the grand celebrations for New Year with lighting and fireworks in places like New York, London, Australia, Beijing, Dubai and many more. It was quite a visual treat, absolutely thrilling! My husband and I went for a New Year party and the entire crowd was zealously celebrating and everyone was so excited.

The beautiful celebrations to welcome 2011 or even a simple get together to usher in 2011, symbolifies the hope for a prosperous and better year. People excitedly make resolutions, all aimed towards a positive change in  life. While that is happening, how many people actually think of the good things, blessings and the exiciting times they’ve had in 2010 and in the years prior to that? In eveyone's life, there definitely would have been great moments and experiences, despite certain  desolate moments or trying times. Change is the only permanent thing about life. Over the years, a lot of things change like  our thoughts, our views, our circumstances, relationship with people,  fate and even our personality to an extent.

The laws of the universe do not keep us bereaving in the period of loss for long. Struggles and perseverance is followed by realization of dreams and miracles that surprise us beyond measure. Something good always happens after every loss or trying times. The mysteries of life takes its course leading us with its invisible hands for us to learn, change what we can and  accept what we cannot, giving us the great gift of resilience. Its important to be grateful and appreciate all the good that comes your way.   

I read somewhere, that if you would  make a list of all your positive traits  of  what your family or friends like about you, you come to appreciate all the good things about yourself.  When you make a list of negative traits which you are aware deep inside,  (for example, if you are  snappy or irritable, impatient,  short tempered or have a food addiction or procrastinate,  so on..), you have every opportunity to change with the power of your will. And yes you certainly can!  If you make a list of your gifts and talents, you would be encouraged to pursue your hobby you once enjoyed all over again. Or if you have yearned to learn some new hobby, self imposed restricting factors like age or lack of time,  need not stand in way. Go for it!

When you wake up, decide to think and feel positive. Be cheerful, it doesnot take a great effort to smile. Don’t be judgemental about people or hold grudges. Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

A friend of mine discussed with me her personal experience of making peace. As I reflected on it, I realized, how important it is to make peace with people around us and to find peace within us. The best gifts you can give your children is your time, your emotional support, education and values and life skills. These will empower them for life. 

Thankyou 2010 and for the years before that, for the bountiful blessings and  valuable lessons, and the wonderful family and friends. To think good and do good is truly a celebration of life. And its hard not to want to spread that. While those of those who make resolutions but find it a little difficult to stick by a new resolution after a week or so, well, no problem, you can always start all over gain the 'next day' armed with stronger intent.

May the New Year bring everyone peace, happiness and prosperity and touch their lives with miracles they pray for. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BUY WHAT IS NECESSARY

Everyone has their favourite grocery shopping place and I am no exception. I enjoy shopping in ‘Geant Hypermarket’ more than any other place, as I love the huge variety of colourful fresh fruits and vegetables they have. Everytime I go there, I am always tempted to buy more than really what I need when its only myself and my husband that I need to cook for.


Being a lover of fruits and vegetables and Geant being bit far away from where we live, I end up buying more than what we require and I tell myself, well, they’ll keep fresh in my fridge. I do this though I am surrounded by little grocery shops all around me where I live in such close proximity. One of the items I make sure I purchase from Geant is mint leaves. The fragrance of fresh mint is awesome. It can soothe, calm and uplift the moods. My husband enjoys black tea with mint. I also make mint chutney, a filling my husband and I enjoy in a brown bread sandwich with sliced cucumbers. This sandwich is a sure energy and mood booster, I promise. This may sound ‘yuck’ to those who can’t stand the smell or taste of mint. Well, prepared in the right way, it is very healthy and tasty herb. Yoghurt mixed with freshly ground mint paste with a bit of salt, is absolutely refreshing in the summer. Another delicious recipe that uses mint is Haryali chicken tikka (green chicken tikka). Wow my mouth waters already!


On Saturday afternoon I went to Geant. I was carefully selecting my mint and to my disappointment, due to the heavy rush, and perhaps a lot of people already having purchased little bunches of mint leaves, there really weren’t much mint leaves remaining for me to select. I picked 2 tiny bunches of mint when a middle aged man, tall and lean, with thick black rimmed glasses with thick lens, interrupted me and said, ‘Here, take these. They are more fresh’. He gave me from his plastic bag, two small bunches of mint, quite fresh and green, and to top it all, smelling fantastic. Just the kind I would require. I was a bit confused. Didn’t this man need for himself. . He probably picked his requirement, much before I did. As if he read my mind he said, ‘Well, I have enough for myself. Here, you can have them’. I took the mint from him and thanked him and as soon as he turned around, I went back looking at the slightly withered mint in the rack, searching for any good ones.

Out of nowhere, this man pops up again and tells me ‘ No, don’t take anymore. The ones you are looking at are not good. The ones I gave you are good. And please, don’t take more than WHAT IS NECESSARY!’. You should never buy anything that you really don’t need. Only buy what is NECESSARY. I froze for a moment. I said, ‘Okay’ and smiled. And the man smiled and left. This statement left me thinking. Each time we go out for shopping or even just window shopping, how many times do we spend money and buy things we really don’t need, be it food, clothes, accessories, anything. Its difficult to control the urge to buy due to marketing, attractive offers, free gifts on purchase, discounts, even the display of products can be tantalizing enough to make temptation soar. But in the midst of all that chaios in the mind during shopping, its always nice to remind ourselves, to buy just ‘WHAT IS NECESSARY’.