EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR THE BEST

When something good happens to us after adversity or even while facing adversities, people tend to advise ‘Don’t worry everything happens for the best’.

Many many, years ago, a young boy was sent to boarding school called Sherwood College in Nainital. He participated in a drama that won him a trophy for his role. The young boy enjoyed acting very much. The following year, he was in a drama again and he was certain that he was acting his role well and looked forward eagerly to winning another trophy. Two days before the event, he contracted measles and sadly could not  participate in the drama. This made him feel awful, sad and depressed. He was hospitalized in the hospital within the boarding school premises.

His father came to visit him and spend time by his bedside talking to him and giving him company. His father was aware how much the young boy wanted to participate and how passionate he was of acting. His father told the young boy, ‘If you wish for something and you get it, its good but if you wish for something and then you don’t get it, that’s even more good’. The young boy didn’t understand what his father meant or why the father spoke that way.

The young boy grew up to be India’s most famous, charismatic  and reputed actor and a very powerful person. He has  won numerous best awards for various roles in Indian Cinema. He has also won the Padmashri and Padmabhushan  and many other foreign titles and  awards. He is Amitabh Bachchan. And it was his father Harivansh Bachchan who gave him the advice. Amitabh Bachchan shared this real life story to Idea Star Singer Season 5 contestants during his recent visit to Trivandrum .  He concluded that, what his father meant to say was ‘if something happens as per your wish, yes, its good, but when you wish for something, and it does not happen, its even more good just means, that is when God’s wish is taking place, which would be even more ‘good’ or better.

Come to think of it, when the young fourteen year old Amitabh Bachchan was lying sad and depressed on his hospital bed unable to act in the drama due to measles, God had a bigger plan for him, he became the greatest actor in Indian Cinema.

After his talk, I remembered the early 70’s when Amitabh Bachchan with his ordinary looks yet powerful and captivating acting, was a rising movie star. He was dedicated and absolutely passionate about acting.  People loved to see him on the silver screen and his dialogue rendering had an impact on the audience.

When you put in your best and keep faith, everything happens for the best!



Amitabh Bachchan in the 70's



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’.

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT

The other day I was talking to a close friend of mine. As we chatted, she asked me if I think of my childhood in Kuwait with my parents. And like travelling in a time machine, my memories took me on an instant journey to my childhood with my parents. I found myself saying, ‘Yes, I always remember and cherish the times I had with my parents and I miss them’. My friend ofcourse knew my parents are no more. This came about as we were discussing parenthood, raising children and family ties.

Yesterday, after I was done with cooking lunch, I switched on the television and on my screen was Gopinath Muthukad who was narrating a story. He is a well known magician, runs the ‘Magic Academy’ in Trivandrum which has created a huge interest in the science of magic among the public. He has travelled all over India spreading message of peace through magic. He has conducted Magic conventions and workshops that involved Magicians from all over the world. Having attended two of his shows in Trivandrum, I must say, his magic shows are thoroughly entertaining and always a wonder to watch. He is one of the judges on Munch Star Singer Junior, a musical reality show for children, shown on Asia Net (Malayalam channel and Middle east) where young children’s singing talent is showcased. In every episode Gopinath Muthukad not only mesmerizes the audience with magic that carries a social or motivational message, but he also tells the young contestants a short story with a profound meaning, that not only children, but adults too can reflect upon.

The story he narrated goes like this. During a fair (mela), a child tells the father, ‘I want icecream’. Father says, ‘Okay, I will get you that later’. Then the child sees a doll on display and the child says, ‘I want this doll’. Father says, ‘I will get you that later’. Then the child notices a giant wheel. The child says, ‘I want to go on the giant wheel’. Father says, ‘Okay, we will go on that later’. The child was quite disappointed as her father did not fulfill her wishes. As they walked amidst the crowd, the child got separated from the father and she started to cry. A man in the crowd saw this child crying, he picked her up and inorder to pacify the inconsolable child, he said, ‘Shall I get you an icecream?’, The child cried and said, ‘No, I want my father’. The man showed her a doll and asked, ‘Would you like to have this doll?, to which she cried and replied, ‘No I want my father’. Look at that, said the man, ‘Giant Wheel’. ‘Would you like to go on that?’ ‘No’ cried the child, “I want my father’.

I suppose everyone knows by now, what the story tries to tell us. All our materialistic desires which when unfulfilled, usually cause us misery. However, all this becomes so immaterial and does not remotely come close to the importance of the presence and closeness of our loved ones. Its only in the absence of the ones you love dearly, you realize how very important they are.

Though a meaningful story, I wondered if the father and daughter in the story got reunited. Hmmm….

NAVARATHRI

As I look forward to Navarathri that commences on Friday 8th Ocotber, I thought of writing this blog. Navarathri (nine nights) connotes worship of mother goddess in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati for nine days and nights to commemorate the mythological belief of annihilation of the demon Mahishasura who had accrued vast power that even Gods would have been unable to defeat him . Goddess Durga was created by the combined engeries and powers of Lord Brahma, Vishu and Shiva to rid the demon to restore peace and prosperity. Goddess Durga fought for nine days and nights and upon vanquishing the demon, acquired the name Mahishasuramardini (vanquisher of Mahisha).

During Navarathri, , the festival of nine nights is observed with great devotion, and fervour all over India, each state in India following their own special and grand ways of observing it. Devotees pour into the temples and mandals were prayers, poojas (special rituals), songs and dances are conducted everyday. One the first three days, Goddess Durga is invoked to destroy our vices and defects. On the second day, Goddess Lakshmi is invoked for wealth of spirituality. On the third day, Goddess Saraswati is invoked for knowledge and wisdom. The 10th day is celebrated as Vijaydashmi in South India and Dussherra in North India, the day Goddess came out victorious after annihilating the demon. The spiritual verses of ‘Devi Mahathmyam’ (Glorification of the Goddess) is chanted in South India during the nine days.

In reality, the vanquishing of the demon and subsequent victory is attributed to the ongoing war within and without us. When we examine ourselves, we are in constant war with the good and bad attitudes, thoughts and beliefs within us, therefore, bringing us to enjoy or suffer the consequence of the actions based on these. Moreover, man’s ability to cause pain and suffering to others is also not an unknown fact. We are also influenced by the good and bad that happens around us that makes us take decisions and actions that affect our lives and values and relationships.

Navarathri is not just a festival but has a huge significance and reminds us to look within ourselves. This is a time to tap into the powerful strength and positive energy from the Universe and invoke the power within us to bring within us a change, to fight the wrong and false attitudes we harbour, to fight our weaknesses, obsessions, addictions, to fight against injustice and a time to re-evaluate how we act in our daily lives, how we live our lives and affect the lives of those around us, are we kind, helpful and caring to one another, or are we drowning in our self centeredness?. Are we positively productive, do we influence others in a negative or positive way? Do we fight injustice or unrighteouness ? Navrathri is a time for instrospection and reflection, to turn inwards for answers, an opportunity to bring a change within ourselves and around us. A time to identify our negative traits and qualities and vanquish them , allowing love, peace and healthy attitudes to flow into our lives spreading it around in our journey of life.

Though I am writing this blog from Kuwait, I shall talk about the Navarathri experience in Trivandrum, which I had the great fortune to be a part of during my last four years of stay there . The whole city witnessess the majestic procession where the idol of Saraswati Devi is brought from Padmanabhapuram Palace along with idols of Velayudha Perumal (Subramaniam), silver horse from Velimala, and Munnutinanga from Sucheendram are brought to the city on caparisoned elephants. Saraswati Devi is kept in the Navarathri Mandapam adjacent to the Padmanabhaswami temple. Velayudha and the silver horse proceeds to Aryashala temple and Munnuttinaga to Chenhtitta temple, quite close by to one another. They remain for worship here for 10 days and on the 12th day, returned to their respective abodes again in a grand procession.

Hindus flock to the three premises for a divine view of the three idols. I used to visit the three places, including the Navarathri mandapam which had a huge queue on the outside waiting to enter the premises. The heat from the sun was not a bother, if it were sunny. Neither did the rains matter if it rained. Inside the premises in the day time, children danced and sang and gave performances in front of the diety to seek blessings to excel in those art forms. Simultaneously, huge number of people would queue in the inside, devoid of any commotion to reach their turn for a glimpse of Devi. A sight and feeling too divine to describe for me. One must go there to experience the bliss. In the evenings, Navarathri concerts are held in the Navarathri Mandapam adjacent to the Padmanabhaswamy temple. This lasts for 9 evenings. A total of nine Navarathri krithis dedicated to Mother Goddess Devi, composed by Maharaja Swati Tirunal are sung over nine evenings. The Navarathri concert is a beautiful event that should not be missed as eminent musicians including Prince Rama Varma, enthrall the audience with their soulful rendering . The concert begins at 6pm and ends at 8.30pm. The Navarathri mandapam is decorated beautifully with a number of beautiful lamps, green plantains, artistically put up along with green plaintain leaves, fragrant colourful flowers, lime, incense, all adorn the mandapam which is such a soulful delight. The ambience is spectacular, that guarantees every devotee a divine and unforgettable experience. The dress code to visit the Mandapam would be mundu for men and boys, saree or set mundu for ladies and long skirt and blouse for young girls.

I used to enjoy my visit to Aryashala and Chenthitta temples during Navarathri for yet another beautiful experience. Various temples all over Trivandrum, will have special prayers and poojas, music and dance rendering throughout Navarathri. On last two days school and college children keep their books for pooja to be blessed with wisdom. These can be kept in one’s own house near one’s personal shrine or in the temples. Books are blessed and returned on 10th day called Vijayadeshmi. Little girls and boys under the age of three are initiated into ‘writing in plate of rice’ by elders or eminent scholars and literary persons all over Kerala. A visit to Attukal Devi temple is also a must.

Needless to say, NAVARATHRI is a powerful, inspiring and divine experience, one should not miss. Even if you are away from India, you can still invoke the divine Goddess in your home. Beautiful songs, prayers and hymns are available on Mother Goddess on the internet, one can download and listen to.

Mookambika temple in Kollur is yet another great temple in Karnataka worth visiting during Navarathri to witness the grand Navarathri celebrations there. As I conclude, I am reminded by the first line of a beautiful bhajan my beloved friend with the most melodious voice and great faith in Goddess Mookambika used to sing, that goes 'Shakti De, Bhakti De Durga Maata'. Translated it means, Give me strength, give me faith oh Mother Durga!

This blog is a tribute to Mother Goddess Devi, my wonderful family, friends and my readers.

HAPPY NAVARATHRI

OPPORTUNITIES

My interactions with a young lady who invariably by default misses out on opportunties that come her way, resulted in this blog. She is a vibrant girl endowed with pleasant qualities, who is a tad shy and a little held back to notice and pursue opportunities that come her way, for fear of perhaps not being worthy of an opportunity or could it be fear of realizing an opportunity, as opposed to actually craving for an opportunity. A lot of people feel this way and miss out on opportunties, that they later wish had grabbed.


Observations can be from a physical perspective, you observe people, places and things around you. Observations can also be from an emotional, spiritual and intellectual level. You are able to ‘sense’ the mood of a person at an emotional level. You are able to sense what is required of you and take decisions at an intellectual level. Observations made at an emotional and spiritual level can actually make you identify opportunities. Its like a treasure hunt game. A group of kids are given hints and clues to find a treasure that is hidden and following the clues and overcoming small hurdles, a child wins the treasure. I used to love ‘observing’ my daughter’s friends play this game during a get together, when she was at school. The game was indeed an opportunity to win a prize. The clues and hints were directions to reach that prize. There would be hurdles to meet but it didn’t matter to them. The kids would be so very enthusiastic in making discoveries related to the clues and become more and more excited when they were closer to the treasure.


Opportunities come in disguises. Sometimes they are hidden. They come in form of clues and subtle directions and hints. It could be in the form of an article you read that motivates you to make a wise choice, or an inspirational message that would enable you to work on a difficult relationship, or something a friend suggested that would change your life in ways you never imagined, perhaps an advertisement for a better job you apply for that could give you a career you wished for, or to join a class to improve your artistic or technical skill, perhaps some social service to serve the needy or an opportunity to travel and visit a place you wanted. It could be well, anything, that you actually want to positively attract into your life. If you silence all your negative emotions, self pitying attitude, you are attracting energies that make you conscious of so many opportunities that come your way.

Opportunties and hurdles are the two sides of the same coin. Whenever there is an opportunity, hurdles and setbacks are bound to arise alongside, in unpredictable ways that demotivates you from realizing your opportunity. What if you always knew you there were two paths to a destination, a muddy path and a path with full of stones. You rather balance and walk on the stones than to walk through a muddy path and let mud splash on your shoes and clothes. Muddy paths prevent you from taking the path, thinking ‘Oh I can’t tread that way’. Thats like saying nevermind, forget the opportunity. I’ll see next time. If you were to focus on the opportunity, then there is definitely a stony path, you can cross and certainly reach your destination. Fearlessly grab the opportunity. There is always a way, for those who believe, who don’t want to give up. Its your attitude how you decide to handle and deal with what comes your way.

Who said life was easy? But nothing is impossible for person who looks for blessings that come in guise of opportunties. I think my friend is slowly deciding to take the stony road….

ASSUMPTIONS

Isn't it funny how we are motivated to assume certain things, only later to feel silly or suprised even to know the assumption about someone or something or a situation was totally baseless.

Three weeks ago, the white mother cat who permanently resides in the building where I stay, her good health maintained with sufficient food from the garbage containers surprised us with a new introduction - a small white kitten, her very own baby. She guarded the kitten with her life, sneering at anyone who came near her. She made the first floor a semi-permanent abode for herself and her baby. The looked lovely together. We grew visually fond of the kitten, well emotionally too! Sometimes the kitten was left on its own and the mother would go in search for food to return to the baby. A week ago, I made a ball with crumpled newspaper and threw it towards the kitten who played with it all day delightfully. It was fun watching the little one in action totally occupied with playing with the ball with its paws. At the end of the day, it was tired and slept for a long time. The next day, the white cat was there, but no kitten and it meowed away each time it saw us, much to mine, my husband's and my concern. We felt sorry for the mother cat and wondered about the kitten. I felt the cat was asking for our help or intervention.

We suspected of foul play. Maybe a tom cat might have eaten the kitten. Maybe the caretaker of the building got rid of the kitten to avoid cat litter on every floor. As we speculated with more possibilities, our curiosity and concern couldn't be contained. My husband enquired with the caretaker who assured us the mother and baby were in the front wing, much to our surprise. Then why was the white cat crying on our floor all alone and where was the baby? My son went into the next wing and found the mother and baby on the first floor there and returned to us to share the good news. Then who was this white cat on our floor that was wailing? Upon careful observation, it was another white cat, whose face and size was different from the mother cat with the kitten. It probably was meowing away each time it saw us, with its tail lifted to 90 degrees, demanding attention and a possible acceptance. Just an over friendly cat who wanted some food. It was a territorial arrangement. When this new cat has made our wing its home, the mother cat and its baby made the next wing their home.

A simple true story to highlight the numerous assumptions we tend to make in our life about people, situations and in my case even animals! Whenever we assume, we are actually gathering mentally all the physical evidence, various possibilities, reflecting on past experiences and even input from friends and family. Infact we are subconciously being cautious. We do tend to think of the worst before we come to a decision. Most of our apprehensions and assumptions are due to our inner fears and a reluctance to patiently find out the truth.

Sometimes assumption can prove true when it stems from inner gut feeling. Its natural to assume especially if you are constantly habituated to do so, but don't advertise your assumptions with friends and family especially if you are not sure or your assumptions are baseless. Assumptions can become a platform to catapult to rumours. When a new employee joins a company, people make their own assumptions about that person before getting to know the person well. In Kerala, people make horrible assumptions of divorced women. When a child is naughty or an older child is being difficult, its assumed his friends are having a bad influence on the child. When we are introduced to a new friend, we make our own assumptions about that person. Assumptions can attribute to ruining someone's reputation, cost someone's job, cause conflicts in relationships and even spread unrest and even panic. How terrible!

We should never make an important decision and judgement listening to other's assumptions, unless you are sure what they are saying has substantial evidence or reason. Common sense, patience and an open mind coupled with some investigation and research and introspection can throw light on the truth you didn't know.

Next time, think - if its an assumption or truly an intuition being guided by an inner voice. Either way, you will come to know.

EATING RIGHT FOR GOOD HEALTH

The other day I happened to watch a programme in which a doctor was speaking on certain simple things one can do to be healthy. I don't know the name of the programme. I just came across it while clicking away from one channel to another.

An interesting thing he said was people who consume non-veg take in quite a quantity of meat, fish, chicken etc. in a week. Actually a person need only take a maximum of 700 gms of meat, fish, chicken in a week and not more. We are not built to consume and digest large quantities of meat. Meat items can produce cancer causing agents when cooked at high temperatures such as frying, baking, barbecueing. It is also said that meat consumed everday, upon digestion can create cancer causing agents. Make it a point to have lots of vegetables and fruits in your daily diet. They do you a whole lot of good. If you are worried about your protein intake, legumes and dals and mushrooms are a good source. Consuming wheat and brown rice not only gives you the energy from carbohydrates but gives you the fibre as well. The most easily available fruits like apple, banana and orange in your daily diet will pep you up and give you vital nutrients as well. The green leafy vegetables are definite must in your diet. Fried foods are best avoided. Milk and yoghurt are excellent sources of protein. You can choose to consume skim milk and low fat yoghurt if you want to avoid the fat content in it.

It is pleasurable to consume food that is 'tasty'. But before you cook at home, buy food or order food in a restaurant or invite guests over, be caring towards yourself, family and friends, and choose to prepare/consume food that is rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and which is low in fat and sugar. If you have healthy and low calorie meal, you can actually feel energised and alert and comfortable whereas if you were to consume a high calore meal, high in fat and sugar, you end up feeling sluggish and sleepy and your mind would be in no condition to perform its optimum.

Stay away from processed, ready to heat and eat foods, foods with additives and preservations, packeted juices, chips and soft drinks.

A change in lifestyle and food choices can alter your health to a large extent, with an exercise regimen of atleast two hours per week, be it walking or a combination of cardio, yoga and aerobics, whatever you please. To kick start your day, have a good breakfast.

Eat right and feel good, feel healthy!

PINEAPPLE ORANGE BANANA SMOOTHIE

I love smoothies. There is choice of adding yoghurt when you make smoothies. Now the one I am going to share doesnot require yoghurt so that you can enjoy the natural flavours of pineapple, orange and banana. It's so simple that you can even entrust this job to a 10 year old, ofcourse preferably under your supervision as it requires using a blender.

PINEAPPLE ORANGE BANANA SMOOTHIE

Ingredients for 2 glasses:
- 3 slices of pineapple (1/2 inch thick) choppped
- juice of 1 orange
- little sugar for taste (dieters can avoid sugar)
- 1 ripe banana (Morris in Kerala and Chiquita in Gulf)
- half a glass of milk
- 1 cardamon
- 1/4 tsp vanilla essence (optional)

Blend pineapple pieces using half cup to 3/4 cup water, adding juice of 1 orange and little sugar. Blend well. Check for sweetness and adjust as per your wish. I add very little sugar. It should be thick. Keep the liquid aside. Put the peeled and diced banana, milk, cardamon seeds and vanilla essence and blend well. Take a tall glass and pour the banana and milk that was blended, half way up the glass and pour pineapple-orange blend on the top of this to reach almost up to the top. Don't be in a rush. Find a comfortable place to relax and enjoy every sip of your smoothie.

THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE

I came across a nice quote the other day, 'The happiest people donot necessarily have the best of all. They simply appreciate what they find on their way'.

Interesting huh? And yes, how true, if you were to just ponder a little more... A lot of times, it is believed that if we bought a new gadget or a new outfit or expensive car or built your dream house, it would give you the much anticipated happiness. One gets used to material things. And you are after for more. You now own this gadget and the excitement and thrill you felt on the first and second day doesnot exist after a few months. Infact, you come to hear and see of better and more sophisticated and affordable gadgets in the market. And lo! wish you waited and bought this new one. A new outfit, something you wear a few times and it just becomes an addition in your existing wardrobe and you are on the look out for a better looking outfit that could define you amidst a crowd. You spend a huge amount of money on building this dream mansion or house and if you don't have a pleasant or compatible relationship with the members of the household, whats the point in living in this beautiful house, which is not really a home due to all the conflicts.

If the prospect of the chase after material objects became less of a concern and if one's energies were concentrated in the simple things in life, its certain one would feel lighter and more happier. If time is taken to just observe and appreciate all your blessings, to pay importance to your loved ones and give them your time, and support, appreciate your morning tea or coffee, the food on the table, to speak gently and kindly, to do one good deed for someone everday, to talk to your parents, your spouse, your children and spend quality time with them, will give immense joy.
Making time to meet up with your friends which your busy schedule prevents you from. All this will give immense happiness. Happiness that material objects cannot give.

It shouldn't matter if your neighbour or cousin has a better car, or better furniture or earns a bigger salary or their children get higher grades in class. Does it bother when you look at the perfect physique of your favourite actor or even your friend or colleague and it disappoints you that your physique is no where near that? You can water your own grass and keep it green. Maybe you have a smaller car or use the public transport system, furniture thats 10 years old. Well so what? Maybe your child is not brilliant in maths or his marks are in the 60's. But does that cause a lot of unhappiness? Then you should see physically handicapped people who perhaps can never climb a bus or drive a car, people who live in homes with hardly any furniture, people who are displaced in war torn areas who live in tents, children who are austistic or mentally retarded who can never go to a regular school. Eating right and exercising maynot give you a perfect figure like you see of models in magazines, but it sure will keep you healthy. A person suffering from cancer or Aids wouldn't be interested in physical beauty, he or she would only be praying and wishing hard to recover miraculously from the illness.

Appreciate all the little good that come in the way. Living simple and being grateful for all the blessings and not bitter and depressed about what you don't have in life, can contribute to the experience of happiness in a way that would change your life for the better.