In Search of Misery

Lot of advice these days 

to dwell on the positive 

yet, many just can't  do it

busy as they are chasing miseries! 

Always on the look out for 'slights' 

real or imaginary, from someone or the other 

believing the whole world 

has ganged up to insult them!  

No wonder, all this 

given the injurious mental food

stark negativity, consumed day after day 

from social media and other media 

like the Indian TV mega serials 

where family members are plotting, spewing venom 

itching to see the downfall of their own! 

Discontinuing this habitual search for misery

keeping away from negative serials, people, movies 

perhaps an important way forward, to turn the tide

But then do you want a change? or are you secretly

happy with the familiar, habitual miserable self?

content playing victim, having someone to blame,

find fault with for all your miseries....   

I recited the poem during the Kavyakaumudi International Multi lingual poet's online meet in April 2023.

Starting the New Year on a Right, Bright Note : Wisdom Snippets

 

These lines of inspiration and wisdom are from the Documovie "Mission: Joy - Finding Happiness in troubled times" featuring the spiritual giants, His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 

• You will be able to take hassle free decisions in life on asking the question "Am I on the side of justice or am I on the side of injustice?" 
• Smiling and laughing always is itself a positive message to the world.
• 'Reframing' is a new opportunity to learn. Bitter experiences in life can be transmuted to "How can I spread compassion and love?"
• "Kindness" or doing for others enables connecting with others and the joy from it stays for longer periods. It causes changes in the gene profile in blood, develops stronger immune system and better health.
• Help others, make more friends by trusting. Instead of "Foolish selfishness" practice "Wise selfishness":  Taking care of other's well being is the best way to fulfill one's  own need for happy, joyful life.
• Suffering is an opportunity that tests you.Some suffering may be necessary for developing compassion.
• Well being is a skill that can be nurtured. Meditation, like brushing your teeth should become part of daily routine. Take time for prayer; for quiet.
• Warm heartedness of the inner spirit enables you to deal with despair and hopelessness. Give comfort and courage to one in a state of hopelessness, encouraging him/her to draw from the inner spirit. 
•  There are lot of positive and good things in the world and not just the negative, bad things focused on by the media.
• The negative emotions like anger, envy destroys your mind and then your health. Acknowledge it and distance from it. 
• People who say "Forgiveness is a sign of weakness" have not tried it. 
• "At 80 years , I consider myself a student, learning everyday." 

When My Alarm didn't ring this morning

This post is written in response to Blogchatter Bloghop prompt for the week 6-12th December 2022

Alarm didn't ring this morning 

Was late for B'fast 

Rude to son, signing progress report

dashed to office, missed sunrise meet

Pulled up by boss, returned to chair sour faced

scolded a junior, impatient with a visitor

A day that continued in same strain

a day best forgotten from dawn to dusk

All because, the alarm didn't ring!

NB: This post is in response to Blogchatter's #bloghop prompt: www.theblogchatter.com    

New Year resolutions

 The prompt of Blogchatter under their Bloghop series for the week 29th November- December 5th 2022 was "Are resolutions still valid?"

Any use of new year resolutions? 

are resolutions still valid you ask? 

wait a minute, what has period to do with it? 

It is as valid or as invalid as it used to be!  

People laugh, poke fun , have a cheshire smile on face 

say, new year resolutions are meant to be broken  

yet resolutions help you till such time they are broken! 

true for some it's 6 to 8 months, for others just a week or month 

yet how will you know your resolve, your  willpower 

if you haven't tested  or started in the first place? 

So go ahead make resolutions, monitor them

give them a chance- better still, have them at any time of year

when passion, drive seems to be  at its peak 

share with a friend, spouse, soulmate

who will support, cajole, reprimand

anything it takes  to see you succeed!  

After all, "The journey of a thousand miles 

begins with one step"!  

NB: 1)  The quote at the end is that of the great Chinese philosopher Lao Tsu 

        2)   This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop www.theblogchatter.com    

Three Things that Immediately Uplift Me

Blogchatter under their Bloghop series  gave this prompt to write on for the week November 23- 30th 2022.  I pondered over the topic. Almost all of us need 'uplifting' these days. What with economic pressures caused by the pandemic, relationship issues, pressure generated by the social media to prove that "You are good enough"  and the pressure to be updated or the fear of missing out (FOMO).. We all have our own ways of 'uplifting ourselves". For some it may be shopping while for others it may be going to the movies. Of course, one man's food can be another 's poison as we are all unique. Some solutions can themselves cause problems later on, like binge eating of chocolates or ice cream to beat the blues. 

I asked myself "What is it that uplifts me?" The first thing that came to mind was music. I enjoy listening to songs as also singing them. The very activity guarantees a raising of my spirits. I particulary enjoy the genre of "Melodies" though it is fun to listen to various typs of music in many languages. Unlike the present crop of feature films, in the Indian movies of yore we had songs depicting various emotions in the life of the protagonists be it romance, friendship, sadness or hope. We had music having both Indian classical/semi classical and western flavour. It is to the older songs that I looked to mostly to 'uplift' me immediately. 

A walk in the park or amidst nature is another sure fire way for me to change states. Movement has been known to have benefits and scientifically proven to release mood enhancing hormones. Add to it the various sights on the way and you find that you feel good already. Unlike as in a gym where you "Work out" for keeping fit, a walk doesn't seem like 'work' but a pleasant activity that brings a feeling of well being. Some people do it with a few friends to obtain the added advantages of socialization. 

At one time watching movies used to 'uplift' me. These days, however one finds the plots very predictable. Most of them have a lot of violence and one would think 'normal life'  is about crime and criminals all around you. This is when I discovered the Russian movies (dubbed in English) on you tube. They have a lot of dramatic moments, with rural life depicted quite often and a 'feel good ' end  in most movies. They remind me of our own movies of  fifties, sixties and early seventies when the heroine had meaty roles too. We also get to see older characters like a grandfater or grandmother more often.  So there it is, these days I look to Russian movies to 'uplift' me. 

Although only three things have been sought in the prompt, other things that uplift me include watching videos or listening to podcasts on spiritual/ New age / NDE (Near death experience) subjects  as also practising EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) a tapping thechnique that involves tapping on specific meridian points on one's body.

I enjoyed writing on this week's prompt as it gave me an opportunity to share with my readers  tips that work for me,  we all need to have in our armour small customized things suitable to our individual needs to keep us uplifted in a world that is becoming increasingly challenging. 

• NB: This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop www.theblogchatter.com    

Career Politicians

At one time, people embraced politics

for social work, social service

solely to serve, improve the lot 

of the common masses... 

Cut to today and you have career politicians

for whom, it's another way of making a living

a means to become rich and famous 

as for service- What's that ? they seem to ask  

Ask a politician what he's done, 10 years in power 

and he evades, dodges question with remark

"opponants are a bunch of crooks!" 

if you persist and ask " But sir, in what way have you served?" 

pat comes reply " Remember the other fellow

is not from 'our' community!" 

At one time, long long ago 

people embraced politics

with a wish, a  will to serve....

Citizens of Tomorrow

Bright eyes, a trace of a smile on the lips

hands on his chin sits this youngster 

a future citizen of our country! 

What can we do to ensure

his smile doesn't turn into a frown 

to ensure that his smile gets bigger

and bigger to become a hearty laughter?  

What can we do to ensure

that his future is full of possibilities

with opportunities to learn, grow 

attain a safe, sound,  abundant life?  

As Governments are busy with other priorities

We, the  citizens of today 

need to come out of slumber

take initiative, to ensure a bright future 

for those who can take our nation forward

the citizens of tomorrow! 

NB:  This poem was composed  for an  Exhibition on Photography Poesia organized jointly by Akashar Art" and World Pictorial Poetry & Art Forum(C). The poet was required to write on any one of the twenty photos presented by distinguished poet and cofee table book specialist Mr Sethi Kishan Chand.