Romantic Friday Post - Romantic Picnic

This week's challenge at Romantic Friday Writers is "Romantic Picnic" - to be written in 400 words or less.

This is my first post for this challenge.

We sat outside on the verandah of the Loaded Hog. He was so excited. "I've finally found the girl of my dreams" he said, his brown eyes lighting up and a big grin on his face. I could see the joy in his heart written all over his face.

His words pierced my heart and I felt the sadness wash over me. I wanted to be the girl of his dreams. But we were only friends and I should've expected that one day he would eventually find her. "Oh" I said, "who is she?"

"Can't tell you right now" he said with a twinkle in his eye.  "But I want to do something really special for her. So what would be a perfect date?" he asked.

"Why don't you ask her?" I said, my enthusiasm fading fast. "I want it to be a surprise and a date to remember" he answered.

"She must be very special" I teased, trying to conceal my breaking heart. "Oh yes, one very special lady. So c'mon help me here." he coaxed sweetly.

And so I told him.

I spent a long and restless night. I really liked him so much. And now my world was crumbling.

"Meet me on Saturday 10am at Chicago on the Wharf" came the text from him the next morning.

He was waiting there, his dark brown hair gently blowing in the wind. He might be in love with someone else, but today he was here with me and I was going to enjoy each moment with him.

We hugged. Then he took my hand and led me to the waiting helicopter.  The ride was spectacular and the scenery just took my breath away.  I was like a kid, wide eyed and excited and I completely missed the fact that the gorgeous man sitting next to me watched only me.

Boomrock was amazing. A table for two set with the finest cutlery and a picnic hamper under a colourful shamiana.  We ate our chicken sandwiches, fruit salad and chocolate mousse, chuckling with the irony of the fine cutlery and simple meal. But this was perfect.

And then the strains of Besame Mucho floated by. He took my hand and we danced slowly. "You're my special lady" he said quietly and the smile on my face reflected the joy in my heart.

It was my perfect date!


Word count 396  NCCO

Have a lovely day and check out the other entries here




Also linking to Blogging For Fun's prompt  A reason to smile

Warm Regards

BFF - You are beautiful

Over the last few days, I have read many uplifting posts on faith and reverence for God, no matter in what form we all worship Him.

So carrying on in that strain I thought I would try and explain from my perspective a very simple Eastern concept, the "Namaste" and why this concept is so beautiful and deep.

The Namaste is widely used in Eastern culture but I also find it adopted in the West too.  Often we use it without truly understanding its significance.

Namaste is taken from the Sanskrit words "nama" = bow and "te" = to you.

It's literal meaning is "I bow to you" and is usually accompanied by the joining of hands in front of the heart chakra and a slight bow of the head. The joining of hands signifies the joining of two souls or the joining of the Divine spark that exists within us all.

For me, the Namaste shows heartfelt reverence for the Divine soul that resides in the person that I am greeting.

And having acknowledged that Divinity within each one, how can you not be beautiful?

On a personal note, I truly understood the meaning of the Namaste when my father passed away. My last Namaste to him as my dad on earth. I've always been close to him but I truly felt that Divine connection then.

Namaste to all of you - you are all beautiful.

Warm Regards


Linking to Blogging for fun's prompt "You are Beautiful" - They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but beauty is measured in more than just a person's appearance. It's also measured through their actions, their thoughts, their words and what's in their hearts. Everyone and everything is beautiful in their own way. We would love to hear about what you think is beautiful or how you enjoy seeing beauty expressed. 

 

UBC 24 - What I Stand For

Post 24 for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is Blogging For Fun's prompt "What do you stand for?"


I'm going to interpret that as my beliefs and paint a picture through some quotes that I love ...

Go with the flow, be Zen and let it go ~ mine 

There are more things in Heaven and Earth Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy ~ William Shakespeare

When you want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you achieve it ~ Paulo Coelho

Some Dan Millman quotes: 

Life has three rules: Paradox, Humour, and Change

- Paradox:  Life is a mystery, don't wast time trying to figure it out

- Humour:  Keep a sense of humour, especially about yourself. It is a strength beyond all measure

- Change:   Know that nothing ever stays the same

The time is now, the place is here. Stay in the present. You can do nothing to change the past, and the future will never come exactly as you plan or hope for.

Life comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable. Sometimes, out of nowhere, Spirit lands a left hook that really shakes us up; we get slammed into the ropes, knocked to the canvas. Hard times provide opportunities that don’t come around when life is comfortable.

And some tweets I have collected that I thought were worth considering.

 Every season has a reason. Trust in the Divine order of your journey

 Enjoy life’s detours, they often provide life’s greatest memories

 When I let go of what’s not to be, I clear a path for good stuff to find me

 Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

I also believe in karma, the law of attraction and that life balances itself out - we experience ups and downs and that having a positive attitude in difficult times, makes the journey of life a little bit easier.

Have a happy, easy day.


Warm Regards

UBC 23 - Focus on this - Hidden

Post 23 for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is Blogging For Fun's Focus on this prompt of Hidden

Last August we had some very unusual weather across New Zealand and the first time ever we had snowfall down to sea level.

So here are some pictures taken of and in the snow ...

My driveway, hidden by the snow  and  the grass in my backyard also hidden by the snow.

It was a cold day today in Welly and I'm praying tomorrow will be a warm day. So wishing you all a warm sunny day wherever you are.


Warm Regards

UBC 19 - Focus on this - Delicious

Post 19 for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is Blogging for fun's Focus on this prompt - Delicious

This is taken from my other blog - Photos are Fun

I love Indian food and here is my favourite

Dahi Batata Puri (yoghurt, potatoes, puri) - Indian fast food. But just delicious.

Warm Regards

UBC 8 - BFF - Here I Go Again

Ever do something once and swear you'll never do it again....yet you somehow always do? 
Whether it's eating an entire pint of ice cream, quitting smoking, keeping weight off, contacting that person you swore you would never speak to again, fall in love, or buy those shoes you just KNOW you don't really need but get them anyway.....we always manage to break some promises we make to ourselves.

"Here I Go Again" is the prompt this week at Blogging for Fun and this is post 8 for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

So here I go again ...

Giving "donation" to the gym -
       Once I lose the momentum, it's hard to get back into the routine. Recently I sprained my back
       and had to stop "gymming" for at least 2 weeks. I really need to re-start the routine again. So hard
       to get back into it in Winter. It's so dark after work and once I'm home, I don't really want to step
       out again.

Buying bags / purses -
       I love bags / purses. If I step into a bag shop, I just have to buy one. I love shopping for bags
       in India. Each time I visit, I tell myself I won't be buying any, but it's just so much fun to shop
       there. I've now lost count of how many I have.

Eating cashew nuts -
       I love cashew nuts and if I could be disciplined enough to eat just a few each day, I'd be okay.
       But once I open a packet, I can't stop. Each week I tell myself, this is the last week I'm going
       to have them but never keep to that promise. Will have to meditate on that one.


I do believe though that life is meant to be joyful, and if my "here I go again" gives me pleasure and isn't too hard on my wallet, then I am okay to go with it.

On the other hand, 2 of my "here I go agains" would benefit me health-wise if I stopped doing them so I guess I should make an effort there.

Enjoy your day.

Warm Regards

UBC 7 - BFF - Focus on this - A day at the Beach

I usually post my "Focus on this" pictures on my other blog Photos are Fun.

But as I've joined the Ultimate Blogging Challenge, for the month of July I'll be posting these here instead.

This week's prompt is "A day at the beach".  This picture was taken at Oriental Bay, Wellington, New Zealand.

Have a "sunshiney" day.

Warm Regards

UBC 6 - BFF - Hopes and Fears

Post 6 for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is taken from Blogging For Fun prompt this week - Hopes and Fears.

Hopes

I came across this quote on twitter today:

Follow your bliss and the Universe will open doors for you where there were only walls

                                                                                                           ~ Joseph Campbell

There are so many interpretations of "follow your bliss". I read many blogs that gave me a diverse perspective of it - some even wrote that following your bliss is not without hardship and pain and others interpreted as living your dream, and yet others, living your life purpose.

There is of course no right or wrong interpretation, but none of these seemed right for me.

To follow your bliss with pain just did not sit with me as the very definition of bliss is "great joy" and joy, in my view,  cannot be painful. I also think that it's more than just living your dream. And living your life purpose is just so subjective - what is my life purpose, the reason for my existence, what I have come on earth to do or achieve? And how will I know if I am following my bliss?


A couple of days ago I was walking to the bus stop and had to go back home as I had forgotten something. Although the bus-stop isn't too far from my house, it is downhill and the bus was due in a few minutes. Buses here are usually on time so I had to run like the wind. I am reasonably fit and walking uphill at a sensible pace is achievable but running uphill is another thing altogether. Yet, I ran like the wind. At one point I almost felt like an invisible hand lifted me and flew me home, it was so effortless. That for me is "being in the zone".

And similarly, "following your bliss" for me is when you are "in the zone". When life flows effortlessly, when things come easily and when everything you do and everywhere you go, you feel the joy in your heart. When the work you do brings joy to others and when it doesn't feel like work.

So I hope that I will always follow my bliss, that when those doors open, I recognise them and step through them with joy.

And whichever way you define your bliss, I hope that you will follow it too.

Fears

My first reaction to "fear" was that one should never live in fear as this detracts from following your bliss.  But sometimes fear is good - when it protects you from harm.  So what detracts from a great life is to live it in constant fear.

And since I prefer to follow my bliss, I will not dwell on fear for long.


Wish you all a blissful day.


Warm Regards

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UBC 2 - BFF - Independence Day

Independence Day for me is August 15, India's Independence Day. So this post is a month and a half early.

India gained Independence from British rule on August 15 1947 and on January 26 1950 India declared herself a republic.

Now that I live in New Zealand, Independence day is nothing more than an acknowledgement of the day.


But back at school, a full day of celebrations was held to commemorate India's independence. Usually this was the school day before Independence day.

Each class put up a production around the Independence theme. My class always seemed to have a sangeet (song) theme and we sang patriotic songs. I remember one year we all lined up on stage in our Indian costumes on 3 levels and simulated the Indian flag. I was in the middle row so I wore white.

One of the songs we sang was "Chhodo kal ki baatein" (stop talking of yesterday)

Enjoy this video of the song and scenes of my beloved India.


Youtube - Chhodo kal ki baatein

Translation - not perfect but close enough.

Stop talking about  yesterday
Yesterday is old news
In the new age we will write together a new story
We Indians

Today we have broken old chains

Why look at the destination we have left behind

Today the world has reached at the door of the moon

We have also made a connection with the new world

It is new blood, new desires, now we have new youth

We Indians

We have many more Taj Mahal's to build

And many caves (Ajanta) to adorn

Many seas to conquer

Many mountains to climb

It is new blood, new desires, now we have new youth

We Indians

Let us make hard work our motto

Let us make our hands our God

This earth of the Lord Rama and this land of Gautam (Buddha)

Let’s make an India sweeter than even dreams

It is new blood, new desires, now we have new youth

We Indians

Every little thing is a pearl, raise your eyes and look

In the dirt is gold, extend your hands and look

Our Ganges river is gold, the Yamuna silver

If you want you can grow rice even on rocks

It is new blood, new desires, now we have new youth

We Indians

Stop talking about what happened  yesterday

Yesterday is old news

In the new age we will write together a new story

We Indians

Linking to:
BFF 207 - Independence Day
Ultimate Blog Challenge


Warm Regards

  

Dance with me

Oh no, I was late for an important meeting. I gathered up my notebook and my papers, grabbed my handbag and ran. Running in high-heels is an art form that I haven't quite mastered yet so I know I should've slowed down.

Around the corner I went and then crashed into a human wall. My papers went flying everywhere. I quietly muttered "So sorry" and heard the same come back at me.  He gathered up the papers and handed them to me. I looked up with a "Thank you" about to leave my lips when my eyes met his and I froze. I know that face I thought, I know those eyes. But how could I? I had never seen him before. He smiled and walked on.

The meeting was so boring, I couldn't wait to get out. Each face I looked at morphed into his. "Concentrate," I told myself, but my mind started to wander and I suddenly found my thoughts drifting back to 39 years ago ...

My first high school dance was coming up. There was so much excitement everywhere. I was a shy, quiet girl, chubby, awkward and timid. I wanted to go but I didn't want to be the one who no one danced with. Tickets were selling fast and I still hadn't bought mine.

We were lining up for assembly, supervised by school prefects. Each class had 2 allocated. They were both standing near me. All was quiet, then I heard the dreaded, "Suzy, I hope you bought a ticket 'cos I've sold all of mine." Relief, tickets were sold out, I had an excuse not to go. I shook my head. "Oh, he'll be sad if you don't come," she said, looking at him cheekily. I glanced at him quickly and caught his eye. "I've kept one for you," he said quietly. Then a ticket shot out at me. How could I refuse? I took it slowly and muttered that I would pay for it the next day. He wouldn't take the money.

We were all lined up in the school hall, nervous 13 year olds, excited and scared. I hid behind the girls in my class hoping no one would see me. And then I saw him, making his way towards us. I slowly inched behind the pillar praying, "Not me, please not me". He wove his way through the throng of my classmates and then he stood in front of me. "Would you like to dance with me?" he asked softly.

My heart was beating so fast. We danced quietly, not a word was said. And then a slow number came on. We stood looking at each other for a few minutes. I had no idea what to do. Did he want me to stay or did he want me to go? Questions went around and around in my head and then my little 13 year old brain panicked. So I turned and walked off the dance floor. He never asked me again. I watched him dance with one girl after another and I felt the sadness wash over me.

The meeting was finally over. I walked back to my desk and saw the message light flashing on my phone. One missed call was the message showing on the screen. I checked the missed calls and saw his name come up. I looked at it for what seemed an eternity and then I picked up the receiver. I pressed the message button. "Enter your password," came the command. Tap tap tap tap, I entered the password. My heart was beating wildly. "You have one message, press 1 to hear your message," the voice said again. My finger hovered over the number 1 and then slowly I pressed it. "Hello," said a deep quiet voice, "Would you like to dance with me?".

It's Saturday morning and I'm having breakfast out on my patio. The sun is shining, the skies are blue and the hills look so serene. My cup of tea in hand, I savour every sip as I watch him read the paper. Now and then he reads out a snippet that makes me laugh. I love the sound of his voice. My thoughts drift once again to that day in high school and a smile creeps over my face.

He puts the paper down, and looks at me with those beautiful, warm eyes. I'm sure he can read my thoughts. He stands up, walks to my side and takes my hand. "Would you like to dance with me," he says, with a twinkle in his eye.


Warm Regards


Linking to:

GBE2 = High School

BFF = Full Circle

Sandra's Writing Workshop Blog Hop = Write in the close first person

BFF - Thank You

The topic some weeks ago at Blogging For Fun was "Thank You".

But today it came up as the first post on my Facebook news feed with this description:

"Is there a person (dead, alive or fiction) who changed your life in any way (good, bad or ugly) who you would like to thank? Let's hear it"

So the person who popped into my mind was my dear Grandmother. The Universe is trying to get a message through to me as the prompt for the Thursday Challenge this week was also "Mother, Grandmother etc".

For those who also read my Photos are Fun blog: the post there describes in general, her life story. In this post I bring in the personal aspects of my relationship with her and little anecdotes of our life together that I cherish.

So here is my Thank You to my grandmother who was an awesome human being and a light-filled soul.

My fondest memory is of her sitting with all her grandchildren gathered around her at the table, telling us stories of the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the great epic tales of India. stories of Rama, Krishna, and Buddha. (I learned all my Indian scriptures from her). She told us stories of her childhood and of the Quit India movement when India was under British rule. She was an amazing story-teller and she kept us riveted.

She loved playing scrabble and my grandfather and I would spend many hours playing scrabble with her.  She taught me how to play Rummy and Teen-Do-Paanch (a card game played by 3 players) and we often played together.

She always celebrated our Indian birthdays. The Indian calendar is based on the lunar calendar so she calculated our birthdays on the phase of the moon at the time of our birth. (Incidentally every 19 years our Indian and Solar calendar birth dates align).

And Diwali was a grand celebration in our house. As she was the eldest in the family (among her brothers and sisters), everyone congregated at our place to celebrate the festival.  Family was so important to her. She was the glue that kept us all together. She loved her step mother (her mother died when she was in her early teens) with all her heart and her half brothers and sisters were just as dear to her as her real ones. That love was reciprocated by them to her. Even today all of us who are part of her extended family, are just as close.

She loved everyone unconditionally and she taught us the same.  I love India (the country of my birth) but there is one aspect of it that makes me infinitely sad and that is the caste system there. I think we may have been one of the very few households in India where no caste system prevailed. In her eyes all human beings were equal and all were warmly welcomed into our home and respected. She instilled that into all of her family and I am eternally grateful that she was such an evolved soul.

My grandfather was her soulmate. He loved her with all his heart and soul. Looking back, I now re-call, she always sat at the head of the table. He had a great love of life too and they both complemented each other perfectly. I was only 8 years old when he passed away but this I remember vividly. I always sat to her left and he sat to her right opposite me. And at mealtimes he would sing "J is a Goddess. She is a Goddess of Goddesses".  I think he summed it up beautifully.

Her love for all living things translated into her lifework. She dedicated her life to humanitarian work particularly to the upliftment of underprivileged women and children in India. Only in the last 2 months of her life (she died at the age of 90), did she eventually stop working. And in the last 5 years of her life, after 2 major heart attacks, did she stop travelling to villages in Gujarat where the bulk of her work was. She always travelled by train in third class as she felt that this was the heart of India.

And she fought for women's rights in India. The anti-dowry bill, the adoption of children bill,  bills for women's rights to divorce and the suspension of immoral traffic in women are her legacy to the women of India. (She was a member of the Lok Sabha, the house of commons, in the first Indian parliament after Independence and introduced these bills).

I think she sowed the seeds of humanitarian aid work into my soul for that is what I dream to do.

I am so honoured, privileged and thankful to be part of her family and heritage.  I try to live by her example - of kindness, compassion, gentleness, love and humility.

Thank You Dadima (Grandmother in the Indian language) - you are forever in my heart.

my Dadima (Grandmother) and me circa 1962

Thank you all my lovely readers for allowing me to share a little snippet of my life with you and thank you BFF for this prompt.

I wish you all an awesome day.


Warm Regards

An Opportunity to tell my story about blogging and friends

Do you believe in Synchronicity?

Well here's a classic example - three unrelated topics that will make the perfect post together.

Opportunity from  The Writers Post


Telling My Story from Blogging for Fun

Blogging and Friends from Living with Food Allergies and Celiac Disease and Bongo and Me




So here is my post, an opportunity to tell my story about blogging and friends.

An Opportunity Arises
I've always wanted to write. When I was in school, my teacher thought I was a pretty poor writer, and because of that I never tried hard at it. But years later, the web presented the perfect opportunity for creative expression. So here I am ... writing, blogging. How cool is that.


Blogging - My Story
I started blogging 2 years ago when a workmate asked me to join in a "30 days of me" challenge.

I had never blogged before so I made this a private blog and invited family and friends to join me in my 30 day journey. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to keep blogging when that was completed. Still private 'cos I wasn't comfortable in a public space.

Then a year ago, I was between jobs and a sense of panic overcame me. And one day I suddenly had an urge to write in the public arena. It was scary. But I went with the feeling and trusted that the Universe knows what I must do. And so I started and I write as I am guided by it (the Universe).

I know over the year my style of blogging has changed and I've experimented with different posts.
I've enjoyed writing each one but I think the ones I've had the most fun with are my haiku posts. In the last 5 months, I've also felt a shift in my perspective of life and my blog now reflects that - being positive, hopeful, joyful and loving, enjoying life and having fun. I hope you feel it too.

I have two blogs, this one, where I write and my Photos are Fun blog, where I post pictures from my travels. My photo blog is dedicated to my late father whose love of photography I share.

Friends 
Long before the days of the Internet, friends were "made" through social interactions - in school, at University, at work, through our friends and relatives. Friends come and go but some of them stick around with you for the long haul. These are my lovely school / university friends that I still love and cherish and feel an inexplicable bond with. When we meet, the years simply melt away.

And then I had my pen-friends or pen-pals. Much like the internet, these were friends you wrote to (via pen and paper, the old fashioned way) from around the world and shared a friendship with. I had about 100 pen-pals much to my father's dismay as postage was not cheap back then in India. But this was perfect for me. A chance to "write" and not requiring a face to face interaction, a chance to just be myself. (I was a shy quiet kid).

I still keep in touch with 4 of my pen-pals. We've been friends for nearly 40 years. And I've had the pleasure of meeting two of them. What a thrill that was!

In 1988 I moved to New Zealand and have made some lovely friends here. And then a year ago when I took up blogging, I have linked up with so many wonderful people, all of you my lovely virtual friends.

So my friends are all over the world. Each one brings a new dimension to my life. Some uplift me with fun and laughter, others nourish my spiritual needs and others provide a sympathetic ear and support when I need it. But above all I feel the love, virtual or real, it's always there.

Thank you my wonderful friends. This world of mine is a happier, lovelier place because you are in it.

Sending you all a virtual hug and tons of love.

Warm Regards

   

Blogging for Fun - Patience

P = Patience pays great dividends. Good things come to those who wait. In India we have a saying
      that roughly translates to "the fruits of patience are sweet".

A = Patience does not mean we stop and stand still. Act while you wait. Carry on living as counting
       the hours, minutes and days won't bring it to you any faster.

T = Patience has no concept of time. Things will happen when they are meant to.

I = Patience is at odds with instantaneous. We want everything to occur now. Sometimes this is
     not a good thing. Patience gives us time to think and be sure or make tweaks.

E = Patience is a test of endurance. We often give up and fall back into old patterns or abandon
      the road we're on because it takes too long. Most times the "gift" is just around the corner if
      only we had the patience to take the next turn.

N = Patience can be learned by taking a lesson from nature. The caterpillar must rest in it's cocoon
       for a period of time until it is ready to emerge as a butterfly. Transformations take time.

C = Patience teaches us to have courage. Courage to walk alone while we wait for love to arrive or
      to endure hardship while we search for a job.

E = Patience is a cultivated virtue, it is learned over the course of time through experience. It is
       probably one of the hardest to master.

Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy. ~ Saadi

Warm Regards

BFF - My Eyes Adored You

I know I've neglected my blogging yet again but the last few days I've spent some time thinking about this and why my enthusiasm for blogging was waning.

And then I had an aha moment ... I need to blog with gratitude, to look at the positive aspects of life, to blog in a way that raises my energetic vibrations and keeps the abundance flowing.  Without these my heart wasn't truly in it.

So starting off on this one ... a great topic to kick start the new blogging routine.

"My eyes adored you,
 Though I never laid a hand on you
 My eyes adored you"

I am so grateful for the lovely men who came into my life and thankful for those yet to come (special friends and one lovely life-soulmate). And even though some were just friends (but very special friends) and others that went further than that but eventually ended, there was always something about these men that at some point in time touched my soul.

So what was it about them that I loved ...

D = Kind, sweet, intelligent, soft spoken and polite, responsible and smart and ever so cute. I loved the sound of his voice.

G = Sweet and so much fun to be with.  He had a gorgeous smile, a twinkle in his eye and he was always happy. I always felt "taken care of" when he was around.

S = Nice eyes.

N = Classy and well mannered.

R = Sweet, interesting, intelligent, smart and athletic. I loved the way he walked.

V = Smart, intelligent, sweet, soft spoken, witty and a great sense of humour.

I am so lucky. At some point in time, and in their own way, each one of these men made me feel like a million bucks.


One of my favourite love quotes is ...

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul ~ Judy Garland

But my eyes are yet to adore that man.


In the meantime, enjoy the song by Frankie Valli


Youtube - My Eyes Adored You


Have an awesome day.

Warm Regards

Confrontation, Love Song, Energy

Confrontation takes up a lot of energy but this is energy that drains not uplifts.

It is human nature to prove ourselves right, to make a point when we believe that we've been wronged. And then we channel all our energies into activities that drain us. No wonder we are stressed and depressed.

Why not channel energies into things that make our spirits soar - think love instead.  When we come from a place of love we look at life with a sense of peace and acceptance. Love is joyful and uplifts.

Buddha said, "In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins - not through strength but through persistence". The stream does not confront with anger. It flows quietly and gently around the rock and moves on in it's path with confidence. Nature is truly a great teacher. Let go and move on. If you must persist, persist with love.

Mother Teresa said, "Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing". So why confront in anger? Change angry confrontation into a smile and act from a place of love. Give a gift to someone. Let life be like a Love Song - exciting, joyful and fulfilling.

This one sums up (for me) that exhilarating feeling that comes from love.


Youtube-LoveStory

I hope you enjoyed one of my favourite Love songs.

Sending you all a virtual smile and wishing you all love, light and peace.

Warm Regards

Prompts from
GBE2 = Confrontation
The Writer's Post = Energy
Blogging for Fun = Love Song

A jumble of many themes or Blogger's Choice.

The last few weeks have been pretty hectic job hunting and hence my blog has been a little neglected.

There have been some great prompts at Blogging for Fun,  GBE2 and The Writers Post  - Gratitude, Solitude, Jane's tale, Interview and Blogger's choice.

So here is my post - a jumble of all these themes or Blogger's Choice.

I believe that Gratitude is a key ingredient in having a joyful, abundant and fulfilling life. So first and foremost I would like to thank this wonderful Universe for bringing an awesome job to me after so many months of searching for one.

I have enjoyed these months (most of the time), doing all the things I wanted to do and just enjoying time with my family, R&R, but there have been days when I've felt low, when the future seemed quite bleak. I was starting to feel quite worried about my finances so it's such a relief.

I am so grateful for the offer that came through last week. Thank You to the Universe and everyone involved in this process.

Isn't it weird, that when you are destined for something, things just flow and they arrive so easily in your life.

In the last 3 months I have been to several interviews.

One was just awful. The interviewers were so confrontational - no interviewing skills there. They tend to forget that the candidate is also assessing them and their organisation. They weren't very good ambassadors for their company.

One went really well but eventually went nowhere. The interviewer didn't even get back to me (*shakes head*). I got the feeling I was their back-up option in case their internal recruitment went awry. Would be nice to have some honesty there. I spent many sleepless nights over this one as I really wanted this role. The project was so interesting. But I guess there was something better lined up for me. (I am still waiting for an answer on this one - too late for them now).

Another interview was great - a nice easy flow but I lost out on a coin toss to someone else. Obviously I wasn't meant to be there.

And then finally, the interviews that were just perfect. I really enjoyed both (for the same job) and I knew as soon as I walked out of there that an offer would come. It's a great offer and I really liked the person I will be working with.

Does this line up with what I want to do (see my post on Work)?  I don't know, all I know is that I had this feeling I had to apply and then things moved so fast - within a week I had 2 interviews and a job offer.

So I will go with the flow and see where it takes me. For now I am so thankful and excited. This will be a fun job.

In the months of R&R I often spent time in solitude, reflecting on my past jobs and what I really wanted. And it's quite uncanny how many blog posts and emails I read regarding meditation for abundance, setting of clear intentions, being open to possibilities, clearing blocks to abundance and manifesting.

So I did them all and actually strangely enough about 10 days ago I got to a place of "okay I've done it all, I feel great and I'm ready for that abundance to start pouring in".

Wow - I am astounded but also very grateful and thankful to all these people. They were, I guess, messengers showing me the way to and preparing me for the next step in my journey. Thank You all.

And now onto Jane's story ... where does she come into this?

Some days ago, Jane got badly cut on her face and had stitches to close up the gash. So how did this happen? Here's the "Tale" ....

Jane has this unexplainable connection to me. Unfortunately every unpleasant emotion that I go through (like anger), Jane goes through as well. And I always forget that whenever I practise my karate and punch and kick those imaginary heads, it's poor Jane that feels the impact - quite significantly.

So in those interviews that upset and frustrated me, out came the imaginary punching bag that had "those" faces on them and when I started punching them in earnest, Jane in her faraway land put her hand to her face and felt the blood pour out of the big gash. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Lucky a nice friend rushed Jane to the ER to get it checked and attended to.

Sorry Jane. Next time I'll say a prayer that an invisible shield (used in the days of Star Trek and Star Wars) magically appears before your face. Take Care Jane. Get well soon. Love and hugs to you.


Warm Regards



Prompts from:

The Writers Post - Bloggers Choice, Interview

Blogging for Fun - Gratitude, Solitude

GBE2 - Jane's Tale 

    

GBE2 - Do-Over

"Do-Over" is this week's prompt at GBE2.

"Do-Over"? Oh no another one of those brain-numbing topics. And then suddenly the thoughts started flowing. It's the most perfect prompt ... of course I use a lot of poetic license on the words "Do-Over" but as there are no rules I can pretty much interpret this anyway I want.

I had so wanted to do the prompts for "Accidents" and "Serendipity" - long gone topics at  The Writers Post and Blogging For Fun, but the "Do-Over" now gives me a chance to write my post on these topics. A kind of "Do-Over".

So onto Serendipity and Accident ....

Serendipity means a "Happy Accident" or "making a fortunate discovery by Accident" or "an Accident that leads to a fortunate event".

I love the word Serendipity - something very appealing about it. I also think Serendipity and Synchrodestiny (a term coined by Deepak Chopra meaning "coincidences that have a purpose") are related.

There are innumerable moments in our life that we disregard as coincidence, chance or accidents.  Yet, these may be the very moments that line up an amazing future or are messages for us to heed or just moments that lead to great joy.

One such moment occurred in late 1999 or early 2000 - I forget exactly when. I was surfing the Internet and searching for something (again I forget what) when I accidentally came across a website that registered educational institutions and ex-students.

Curiosity prevailed, so I registered and accessed my class page. And here I found a dear friend I had not met or even been in touch with since the school days - 25 years ago.

I finally emailed him after a few days of procrastinating and have never regretted that fateful email. We met at the class re-union a few months later - an event I never would've have known about had I not emailed him. Not only that, a great friendship was re-kindled not just with him but with so many other classmates. I am so glad I was surfing that day.

And that Serendipitous encounter led to another "Do-Over" ...

December of 2010, 2 lovely friends (including my friend I found accidentally while surfing) and I went off to visit our school again. What a thrill going back to school and especially to our Standard 9 (Grade 9) classroom - the last time the 3 of us were together. Std 9 also holds some amazing memories and I think was my best year in school. Here's a picture of our Std 9 classroom as it stands today - back to front and the blackboard replaced by a whiteboard were about the only changes we could see.

Some years ago the school had a "Do-Over" as well.  And while they were renovating the school, they found this little hidden Chapel.  Unfortunately the door was locked so couldn't go inside. But how awesome to find this in the "Do-Over".

Not all "Do-Overs" are successful or turn out the way you intend them to. Here's one - additions and changes to the newer wing of the school. I didn't like that - it closed up the quadrangle. It was so much brighter and airier in our days. And the classrooms as we knew them are all gone and replaced. The memories remain but the physical evidence of those days are now gone.

There are of course no accidents in life - we are all connected - and all events in our life are inter-linked though they may look separate and unrelated. The serendipitous moments in life are events that are part of our synchronised destiny (Synchrodestiny).

I love Serendipity and I loved the movie too. So enjoy a scene from it.


Serendipity - Youtube


Wishing you all many Serendipitous moments, "Accidents" that put a smile on your face.

Thanks GBE2 for the opportunity to "Do-Over" these topics.

Warm Regards