UBC Jul 31 - Don't Quit Now

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 31

Don't quit now. Success may be just a step away.

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Often success seems so far away that we think of quitting. But success may be just around the corner, just a step away. So don't quit.

And that's what I kept telling myself throughout this challenge. I'm glad I kept going even though it wasn't easy.

I picked a difficult theme - daily thoughts, because these had to be written each day not scheduled in advance. But though it was a grind, I did enjoy the theme.

So here I am Day 31. Yay!  Congratulations to all who made it to this day and thanks to everyone who dropped by and left a comment or just read my posts.

So when you set your sights on something, keep going, don't quit. You don't need to be the best, you just need to finish.

Enjoy your day.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 30 - Moderation

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 30

All things in moderation

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Now this is a message I myself should heed. I've done too many daily challenges this year and it has taken a toll on me.

The day just gets too long with work and blogging daily. There's just too many things to pack into one day. I've also neglected my other blogs, unable to respond to comments on my posts, done very little reading on other blogs, neglected self care, slightly sleep deprived, all of which does not make me happy at all.

So yes, all things in moderation. I think I'm done with the daily challenges for the year (because once I start I can't quit) and next year perhaps I'll do just one or two.

Happy blogging everyone.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 29 - Go With The Flow

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 29

Don't force things, go with the flow

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So today I stared hard and racked my brains to come up with my daily thought. Absolutely nothing came to mind. I was about to flag it and post a song when suddenly the words for today's thought emerged.

How apt. While I was forcing the issue, the words stayed away and just as I stopped forcing the words to appear, they came right into my head.

Don't force things. If what you are trying to force isn't happening, either it's not meant to happen or you're trying too hard. Drop it and just go with the flow.

Wishing you a day when the flow brings it all to you.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 28 - Indulgence

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 28

Now and then a little indulgence is therapeutic

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This afternoon I went for my usual lunchtime walk and then turned into one of the department stores to do some window shopping,

There was a big sale on all items so of course temptation set in and having promised myself that I would only window shop, I walked out with a bit of indulgence in a bag! I bought my favourite perfume Elizabeth Arden's Red Door.  Did I feel guilty? Heck no. Retail therapy rocks!

Now and then a little indulgence is therapeutic - shopping, eating, taking a break from exercising - are all wonderful indulgences and necessary for our well being. Body, mind and soul also need some rest and recreation.

I'm pretty good at curbing shopping indulgences but eating and blobbing out are my favourite indulgences. Applying the 80-20 rule, approximately 1 week a month should be spent on indulgences (my view only). That just makes it easier to stick to all those difficult things like eating sensibly, exercising etc if you only have to do that for 3 weeks of the month. Works for me anyway.

So share your favourite indulgence and your favourite perfume too.

Happy whatever makes you smile.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 27 - Five Days of Gratitude

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 27

Gratitude makes you focus on the positive things in your life

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The 5 days of gratitude is currently doing the rounds on facebook. And I was tagged by Sulekha, Swathi and Gayatri. Thank you all  for thinking of me.

So here's a round up of my 5 days

Day 1 - July 21
1. So thankful that finally my blood tests were normal after almost a year of constant checking. So relieved. Thank you God.
2. Thankful for heating on a very cold day.
3. Nice to see so many different birds flock to my garden today.

Day 2 - July 22
1. Thankful for peace in my part of the world.
2. Thankful that my family is healthy, safe and warm.
3. Thankful for good food and clean water.

Day3 - July 23
1. Thankful my mum is feeling better - she tore the ligaments of her knee a few weeks ago
2. Grateful to my son for taking my mum for her treatment before heading off to Uni so I didn't have to take a day off.
3. Grateful for time on the bus to do some reading.

Day 4 - July 24
1. I got to visit the Supreme Court today as a special tour from work. It's an awesome building. So thrilled.
2, Grateful for kind friends who go out of their way to help even when they aren't feeling too well. God Bless them.
3. Grateful for a sunny day. Even though it was very cold, at least the sun was shining.

Day 5 - July 25
1. Thankful to everyone who has liked my facebook page Suzy's Ilation I reached 200 likes today
2. Thankful for yummy cake that my manager brought to work today and for yummy yum char my mom bought for me today.
3. Thankful for music that brings me joy and for those who post on facebook so we can enjoy music that we don't have in our music collection

Enjoy your day.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 26 - Silver Lining

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 26

Every cloud has a silver lining

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If we look back at all the significant difficult events in our life we will find that they were catalysts for change.

These events have eventually led to a healthier lifestyle, or have placed us on a spiritual path or given us great opportunities to further our career or lined us up for our life's work or given us a glimpse of the Divine.

Health scares have led me to make changes that has led to eating healthy and exercising regularly.

Redundancies have led me to progress significantly in my career.

Relationship losses have placed me on the spiritual path.

And catastrophic accidents have given me a glimpse of the Divine.

When difficult times come your way, know that they are catalysts for change and that the hard times don't last forever.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

When the cloud enters your life, I pray that you find that silver lining.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 25 - Acceptance

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 25

Accept that some things cannot be changed

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Just like the shore accepts the ebb and flow of the tide, just like day follows the night, just like both the sun and rain are needed for life to flourish, there are some things that cannot be changed and need to be accepted.

Some years ago I attended a Stephen Covey course based on his book The 7 Habits of Highly Successful people.  One of the things that is etched in my brain is the circle of influence. In essence we can control our actions and not the actions of others and where we've earned some goodwill, we can influence to some degree.

And as it is way past my bedtime, I accept that I cannot turn back time and that it is time to sleep and hence I need to call it a day.

Goodnight folks.


Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 24 - Success Is Uniquely Defined

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 24

Success is defined uniquely by each person. Strive to attain yours not someone else's.

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Each individual uniquely defines success. There is no one standard benchmark for all human beings.

We have all come into this world with our individual purpose. Trying to achieve success as defined by another individual is a sure way to fail.

Set your own benchmark for success and then strive to achieve it rather than trying to achieve someone else's.

This Gujarati song written by the poet Narsinh Mehta (1414 – 1481) (Mahatma Gandhi's favourite hymn) sums up success for me very nicely.

Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je        One who is a Vaishnav (true devotee of God)
Peed paraayi jaane re                         Knows the pain of others
Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye      Helps those who are in misery
Man abhimaan na aane re                Without letting pride enter his mind
     
Sakal lok maan sahune vande        Tolerates and praises the entire world
Nindaa na kare keni re                        Does not censure anyone
Vaach kaachh man nishchal raakhe     Keeps his/her words, actions, thoughts pure
Dhan-dhan janani teni re                   The mother of such a one is blessed

Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi          Sees all equally, has renounced greed & avarice
Par-stree jene maat re                        Respects women as he respects his own mother
Jivha thaki asatya na bole                 Never speaks a false word
Par-dhan nav jhaale haath re           Never touches the wealth of others

Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene            Does not succumb to worldly attachments
Dridh vairaagya jena man maan re    And is detached from worldly pleasures
Ram naam shoon taali re laagi           Is intoxicated by the name of God (Shri Ram)
Sakal tirath tena tan maan re             All holy sites of pilgrimage are embodied
                                                                          within him/her

Van-lobhi ne kapat-rahit chhe           Who has no greed and deceit
Kaam-krodh nivaarya re                       Who has renounced lust and anger
Bhane Narsaiyyo tenu darshan karta    The poet Narsi would like to see such a one
Kul ekoter taarya re                                By whose virtue, his/her entire lineage
                                                                          attains salvation
     
Youtube - Vaishnav jan to

This song always reminds me of my dad and my paternal grandmother. This was their life. I was privileged to have known two amazing souls and I miss them both.

Wish you success in all you do - however you define it.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 23 - Crossing Bridges

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 23

Don't cross a bridge till you reach it

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A lot of times we worry for no reason at all. Our minds go into overdrive and we start to imagine all kinds of scenarios. All the what ifs start to rear their ugly heads. In reality a lot of times, the scenarios that we conjure up in our minds are truly imagination and nothing else.

I am guilty of that too. But I keep reminding myself that there is no point in crossing a bridge that I haven't reached yet as I may never reach that bridge, or if I do reach it, I really don't know what kind of bridge it may turn out to be. In fact it might be a really easy bridge to cross

Don't cross a bridge till you reach it. Save yourself from needless worry and fear.

Enjoy your day.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 22 - Collective Consciousness

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 22

Collective Consciousness is powerful

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We live in turbulent times. In the last few years natural disasters of a catastrophic nature have occurred all over the world along with man made disasters like the tragic shooting down of MH17.

TV News and newspapers highlight disaster stories, facebook posts focus on the terrible things going on.

If you believe in the law of attraction and that thoughts create, I can't help thinking that perhaps a little shift in our thoughts may bring about a shift in the world.

Collective consciousness is powerful and perhaps if all of us were to focus on the wonder and goodness in this world, we may be able to collectively make a more positive change.

Perhaps there is a greater plan in each disaster. Perhaps those wonderful souls on MH17 sacrificed their lives to show us all the futility of war. Let not their deaths be in vain.

Please join me in praying for peace here on Earth and for departed souls.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 21 - Perspective

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 21

Change your perspective

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Have you been in a situation where you were either going round in circles with no end in sight or travelling down a road that seemed to take you nowhere, or come to a dead end, or in an anxious or upsetting situation?

That's a good time to step back and change your perspective.

Sometime ago my son came home in despair. The presentation of his group came under great criticism and he was afraid he was going to fail. He had also challenged his tutors and they got more critical because of that so eventually he stayed quiet and simply listened. 

My instinct was to of course panic a bit and then give him a earful for not putting in enough effort and for challenging the tutors. But that would have been completely futile and de-motivating.

Besides, the results weren't out, he had put in a lot of effort despite being quite sick, feedback is always quite subjective and actually he was obviously confident about his work. 

He had also learned a few lessons - not to depend on others, that it was okay to challenge but also to back off when things were not moving in the right direction.

So instead we put this project to bed and focussed on the next one. In the end, he didn't fail that project and he did well enough in the next one to get a very good final grade. 

If things are not going the way you intend it to go, change your perspective. You may find the answers lie in another direction.

May you find all answers today.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 20 - The Vision

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 20

Don't ignore the vision that is planted in your brain.

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Often we see in our mind's eye a vision of something - maybe a house, or a job, travel, people. Sometimes these visions are planted in our dreams, sometimes during a meditation session, sometimes by something someone says or something you read, or just an opportunity that is thrown your way.

And when that vision recurs or resonates deeply with us, then we should explore that vision for it may be clues to our destiny. That's my belief anyway.

All my blogs Someday Somewhere (this blog),  Photos are Fun,  and Reflections of my soul (my poems) began with a vision that was planted in my brain.

The temple in the sky (the picture in this post) with its uncanny resemblance to the Dwarkadheesh Temple in Gujarat, India,  is another vision that's been planted in my brain. I have yet to explore what that means.

Don't ignore the vision that is planted in your brain for you never know where that vision may lead.

This thought was inspired by the song Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel

Happy dreaming, happy visions.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 19 - Small changes

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 19

Small changes can make big improvements.

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Have you ever gone full swing into making dramatic changes - like a full on exercise regime or a crash diet - only to find that it is simply not sustainable?

Making big changes suddenly and quickly can in some cases end up being harmful and if you're like me, simply cannot be sustained as a lifestyle change.

But little changes can eventually lead to big improvements.

So last week I started to make little changes in my diet and exercise regime:

• Added another 5 minutes of exercise to my morning routine

• Added 5 minutes of yoga breathing 

• Climbed stairs at work once a day - did a lot of stair climbing in India as there were no lifts where I lived. Didn't realise it then but I guess it was a nice workout.

• Cut out the morning snack and replaced it with some roast veges and a piece of fruit

The little changes weren't hard to make and hardly noticeable, yet I feel a whole lot better. Eventually these changes will become everyday routine and the big improvements will be visible.

For now, I'm happy with these.

Small changes can make big improvements. If you are overwhelmed with big changes, make small ones.

If you've been reading my posts I had mentioned that I had ordered my juicer (NutriBullet extractor) which has now arrived. I tried it today and it was awesome. Adding that to my small changes too.

Have a super weekend.

Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 18 - Life Is Short

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 18

Life is short, don't take it or anything else for granted.

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Today's post is in memory of all those who perished in the tragic crash of Malaysian Airlines. May their souls be at peace.

Life is short and so unpredictable, don't take it for granted and don't take anything particularly people for granted.

The distant hills in my picture remind me of the impermanent nature of things. I only see them on an absolutely clear day and that is rare. Yet whenever I do it's always a thrill.

Today I reflect in silence on many blessings in my life and I am grateful for life itself.

Wishing you a whole lot of love today and always.

Warm Regards


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