Lighting up the Hearts

Hello friends, I wish health, happiness and prosperity, for you all, on the after eve of Diwali. As far as Indians are concerned, this festival of light, needs no introduction. However for those who have no idea about one of the most important festival of India, I must tell them that on Diwali each and every Hindu homes are thoroughly cleaned, decorated with colourful fairy lights, rangolis and diyas (earthen lamps). People welcome Lord Ram’s arrival back to his capital Ayodhya along with his wife Sita and the entourage after spending fourteen years in exile.

 

 He also killed the demon king of Lanka, Ravana, who had arrogantly dared to abduct Sita, to make her his wife. After a fierce battle, the latter was decimated by the former, which we celebrate as Dussehra, twenty days prior to it.

Rangoli at our doorstep

 

Diwali is mainly celebrated as victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The cleanliness and light are symbolic of dispelling the darkness and gloom residing in the corners of the hearts of people. We also worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesa, the deity siblings, for wealth and prosperity. In Bengal Goddess Kali, the fierce form of Goddess Durga is also worshipped during the auspicious moonless night of Diwali.

 

Friends, one thing associated with Diwali, which is quite hazardous and harmful to environment, that is bursting of firecrackers in every household. I own that the fireworks provide a rush of adrenalin and excitement to the revellers, but there were countless instances of people getting injured playing literally with fire, crackers that is. The toxic fumes releasing into the atmosphere, used to engulf all the cities and towns of India, spreading a blanket of smog for days, afterwards. Thankfully not anymore.

 

Due to raised awareness towards environment protection, strict vigilance on the part of administration the practise has currently come down to a great extent. Some green crackers do come up in the market which is said to be environment friendly.

 

Un-fortunately in other part of the world, live bombs are still being dropped to destroy the infrastructure and kill innocent people. A forecast of a bleak winter, when a large part of humanity might have to withstand chilly condition without proper heating system could become a harsh reality.

 

Let’s pray that good sense prevails and the mindless war comes to a stop. Wishing peace and prosperity all across the world, I fold my today’s edition. See you again with another of my post. Do keep reading and stay connected.

Adieu for now.

Cover photo : Lakshmi -Ganesha Pooja at our home.

 

 

Taking up the commands!

What gives you direction in life?

Either you run the day or the day runs you. — Jim Rohn

The above quote has literally given directions to my life several times. It’s really very important that we should take control of our lives and lead it on our own terms. Otherwise, we would be compelled to be led by the circumstances surrounding us.

A little bit of proactivity on our part can do wonders for us. As you might all be aware, that not many years ago, at this time, we were completely bogged down by the Covid virus. So utterly dispirited and disheartened that it took me almost a year to recover mentally as well as physically. I had, in fact became became a nervous wreck.

Then I realised that I had to take commands of the course of my life instead of drifting over. Then, came an opportunity of job interview of a teacher in the month of September 2021. To take up job at 48! I was very much apprehensive.

I began instilling courage within me at right earnest. My family also helped to boost my faith in my own capabilities. The days passed, and I became more and more convinced that I should take up the job.

By mid-March, the next year, a call came from the school that I have to join school for a week to attend the grooming session, within two days. I was recruited!

The process of aclimatising ourselves to the school setting before the start of the actual session began. Though fast approaching the age of fifty, I was feeling excited like a fresh appointee of 25! I was all ready to run the day instead of getting run over by it.

Then came the real interaction with the students from the start of April. My instant rapport with them was so satisfying that it felt like I had made the right decision. Though I am constantly pushing the boundaries of my physical abilities, running from one class to another, maintaining logbook, completing lesson plans, setting question papers for the upcoming exams, attending meetings and workshops, still it all felt worth it.

We should take the command of the days of our lives or let the reins  slip out and regret it afterward. If the conviction and faith on ourselves are there , we can proceed with the toughest of decisions.

Taming the Wild Horse

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

Either you run the day or the day runs you.  – Jim Rohn

 Life is like a wild horse. Either you tame it as you wish, or it will stroll around aimlessly or run haywire.

It’s imperative that you put on a bridle over it and concentrate on keeping a strong grip over its rein. Life will, then, take the right course and might reach the destination you have set for it.

You have to take charge of the proceedings decisively and move ahead to get what you have set for yourself to achieve in life.

Being the commander rather than waiting to be led in life should always be the preferable choice

Take on challenges in life courageously. There should be no regret that if we have tried hard enough, it might have made us successful.

Life is waiting for you. Embrace it. Be the leader!

Sharing and Caring

What topics do you like to discuss?

Caring just a little about our loved ones and making them feel special by small gestures on our part make life beautiful.

A little effort to share all the happiness and trouble one might be facing at the time does wonders if we pause to care.

Looking at the expressions and gauging the state of mind of a dear one and then devising  ways to solve the problems, if any, is a very important part of sharing and caring.

Sometimes, a little intervention is necessary to peek into the lives of persons close to you. Talking and discussing lessen the burden people carry in their heart.

Let’s make our lives less stressful.

Playing straight cut

Describe one positive change you have made in your life.

In each and every step of your life, somebody out there would intend to take advantage of you. If you are mellow and compliant in nature, then there is every chance that you will feel used as I previously did.

I have learned the lesson the hard way after making a fool of myself of running errands for other people.

Some people feel smug and their right to order others to do the job assigned to them. If you just nod your head in  acquiescence, you are stuck.

In my case, they will just remark how guileless I am and then pile up their work on me. Now, I have found ways to bypass those undue requests.

It’s better to play a straight cut than beating around the bush due to the inability to say no on the first place.

Now people have got the message and think twice before trifling with me. I found my peace of mind back.

A Sense of Belonging

How would you improve your community?

From the beginning of life, evolution is the inherent nature of living beings. The theory of natural selection emphasizes that the ones who have a better ability to fight and skills to struggle for existence have a better chance of survival.

As for living in a community, the skills for peaceful co-inhabitation are very important.  The constant squabbling and the feeling of animosity weaken a community.

If we think from a larger perspective, all living beings on this planet belong to a single community. The welfare of each and every one can make it ideal.

Just a little care and compassion for other members can make any community stronger. Helping out people in distress and standing up unitedly against the wrongs committed by the perpetrators can flush out the evils from society.

If we see any person from the community suddenly veering towards the wrong path, we can at least give it a try to correct them without infringing on their privacy.

A little bit of counseling sometimes does wonders.  

Caring, sharing, accommodating, and non undue-interferrance should be followed to improve the community we belong to. We have to create a sense of belonging so that nobody is left out alone and lonely.

Adapting in the New World

How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?

When I looked through the window during the early stages of the pandemic, a deserted road, an eerie silence used to feel me up with acute desolation and terror. A fear of invisible but living ghost particles lurking all around.

What a mighty microscopic organism it was!! The Covid-19 extended its powerful reign all across the world in a matter of months. The mankind was devastated, reeling under its ominous spell.

Television was replete with the vision of numerous bodybags. The health care soldiers were waging the war relentlessly, putting their lives under risk. Many of them succumbed on the line of duty. The fatigue and pain of being quarantined from their loved ones were forcefully left aside. Had to fight and defeat the enemy, no matter what.

Waves after waves, the tsunami was never looking to relent. Scientists were desperately working on vaccines, the time constraint notwithstanding.

Me and husband got it during the second wave. It was the nightmare we couldn’t forget. One day, he returned from the bank feeling feverish. In no time, I was also infected. Got hospitalized. The cases were suddenly turning to worse.

My husband had to be put into ICU.  My children and I were scared to death whenever the mobile rang. We were eating and sleeping like robots.

The God, Almighty, showed His immense kindness and the prayers of the loved ones bore fruit. He was gradually but surely became successful in exorcising the menace with the help of diligently working medical fraternity.

We might have come out of the deathly clutch, but are we safe? I thought that after the pandemic, the world would unitedly work towards making the Earth safer and more sustainable planet to live.

Instead, the insane war mongering in so many parts of the world is really a pathetic sight to behold.

The health care sector is waging another war, but this time, the ghostly particles are relegated to obscurity.

The man is hellbent to wipe out its own kind. People are getting adapted to live with the devastation along with the onslaught of searing summers in general due to global warming.

To be worthwhile

What’s something most people don’t understand?

In this materialistic world, most people are all busy working hard and earning more. Money and physical comfort are very important. But if we go on worrying to have more, then when shall we learn to be happy with whatever we have?

If we are contented, it will bring happiness and peace.

Life is precious. Live it to the fullest. We should learn to utilize our lifetime to do something meaningful, too.

If we can bring a smile to the people and try to make the world around us beautiful and genial, it would be worthwhile.

A little words of assurance and small deeds to comfort bring a lot of positivity and hope.

Road to the Destination

How has technology changed your job?

When a layman or rather a lay woman is asked to sit in a cockpit and fly the plain, what would be the consequence? Certainly not very hard to imagine!

Handling computer technology is not very different to me than flying a plane! When I took the job of a teacher at a fairly later stage of my life, I had no idea that I had to contend with operating a computer and other modes of information technology.

My children, especially my son, are quite proficient in computers as they are functioning in it from a very young age. But I used to stear clear from learning even the basic procedure, leave alone the standard one, despite the gentle reminders from them to get acquainted  with it.

My erstwhile homemaker self had never obliged. Rest assured that I was never likely to confront them in my life. But you can’t be too sure of anything!

By a stroke of luck, I got the chance to become a teacher. As a fresh appointee, the ignorance of computer applications made me disconcerted while negotiating online mode of teaching (at the time of pandemic), preparing Excell sheets, question papers, and result cards.

I stumbled, took the help of my children and  colleagues, got up, proceeded, and then fumbled again. Some of my younger workmates used to sneer, even exchanged looks, ridculing my sloppy efforts.

Instead of getting bogged down by the adversities, I was determined to establish a working relationship with my bane! Slowly and steadily, I began befriending the stranger.

The patience of children and perseverance of mine had ultimately begun to bear fruits. I can’t boast to have become a master in computer technology, yet I have learned enough to get on with my assignments seamlessly without taking much help from others.

People who had doubts about my abilities were forced to sit up and take notice of my newfound skill and confidence.

When you start walking through the unknown lane, move ahead fearlessly. You might be lost and get confounded, but moving ahead resolutely, the path gradually becomes familiar, and one day, it might lead to the destination you were always looking for!

The writer within!

What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?

Sometimes, we know a person, yet an inherent part of their persona remains hidden to our knowledge. When it is subsequently revealed, we start seeing them in different light.

Suppose you know a reticent person, then one day learn that he or she is a very good singer or dancer or having any special skill. The unssuming one suddenly becomes fascinating, awesome!

As far as my skills are concerned, most of the people of my acquaintance do not know that I write blogs. Few people who know or happen to read my blog are just plain indifferent.

I am quite contented that I can connect with my blogger friends through WordPress. It gives a great satisfaction to me when you read, like them, and leave a comment.

Right from my adolescent days, a hidden wish  lying unattended in the corner of my heart is to become a published writer. I’m quite aware of the fact that it requires a lot of rigorous hard work, patience, and perseverance on my part.

Writing and connecting with you gives me a lot of happiness. So, for now, touching the publish button in Jetpack is enough to pacify the writing urge within me.

I would very much like to know your feedback. Feel elated whenever you care to drop one!

The Beacon of Light

Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

In this era where the so-called social media influencers are increasingly directing our lifestyle, it has become imperative to keep our counsel to our own self.

Instead of getting swayed  by the  people, looking to further their own selfish agenda, we must look for the real teachers.

The great teacher is the one who shows us the  proper way to proceed in life and points out the right direction when it has turned to the wrong bend.

For me, the most influential teacher is my mother in law, who is more than ninety years old. She has fought all the battles in life courageously and has amassed a lifetime of wisdom.

I consider her as my true teacher upon whom I can always rely. I genuinely value her affection, guidance, and friendship for life.

After losing my own mother more than a decade ago, she had never let me feel the void. I can talk to her and take advice in any matter, and she always readily tells me the right course of action.

As the old age is taking hold of her, still she strive to keep herself mentally and physically fit. Though she has to  spend most of her time in bed, the zest for life is still kindled inside her. I still draw inspiration from her.

Whenever we go to meet her, we always entreat her to stay among us for as long as she can. Because she is indeed the beacon, showing us the correct way forward.

When I put her frail hands into mine and looked into her eyes, teardrops started rolling through my eyes and said, ” How could I let you go, mother!”

I am not born to her yet don’t know why I feel a connection, a unique attachment linking her soul to mine.

Remaining silent, she told in a low but firm voice,” It’s your affection, which is keeping  me from going away.” and it is true.