Category: Daily

Posted in Daily, Family and Society, Life, Personal Musings, Reflections

“Adiago” Melody in Us

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

As the festive days are approaching, the preparations for the community centre celebrations were underway. Among the various events was the musical performance of “water adiago” planned as a slow music made with glasses filled with water. Observing the rehearsals, things though look simple at surface require an infinite care about the details. As the various participants had made sure that their glasses are at the right levels ( some were marked) and the musical notes were being coordinated; the realization that this event has a lot of little but very significant things relevant to the daily life, as the philosophical mind puts things into perspective.

“A vessel is formed from a lump of clay with care, however, it is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful.” Laozi

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Source:https://handsonaswegrow.com/make-music-water-experiment/

Each one of us are a lot like those glasses of water with the potential to make music from what lies within us. No matter at what level one may find the water to be, when the right instrument and tap is used, the music that is made has the power to make one stop and listen. But as long as the glass stays empty, unless it gets filled to the level, the sound made made be the loudest but coarse and of no meaning, beauty or tune.

“As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish.” Demosthenes

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On some days, one makes the right music. On other days, the right tones are struck later on when one learns to stay silent and observe the music around them. There would be few occasions when one has to empty out the glass and refill it again. There would also be times when one has to remove or add a little more water till the right note is made by the same spoon with the water at the right level. To know and perceive that there has to a change for the right note; time, patience and willingness has to be there. Which ever way one looks at it for beautiful notes to be heard, repeated corrections and alterations are necessary. While this may happen only after immense efforts, the beguiling melody is worth the pain.

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“Just for today, allow yourself to embrace all that you are every moment. Know that you are a vessel of light. Allow yourself to release all doubts about your ability, the mistakes of the past, the fear of the future.” Iyanla Vanzant

Posted in Daily, Life, Quotes, Reflections, Work

The “Nailing” Point

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“Diz ſagent uns die wîſen, ein nagel behalt ein îſen, ein îſen ein ros, ein ros ein man, ein man ein burc, der ſtrîten kan.“
– (c. 1230 Freidank Bescheidenheit)
(Middle High German (positively formulated):”The wise tell us that a nail keeps a shoe, a shoe a horse, a horse a man, a man a castle, that can fight.”)

With a hoard of activities being planned for Christmas, little wonder then that unless prioritization is done, no task will reach their finish point. In hindsight, one realizes that despite the prioritization, necessary things are left undone. Which highlights, what may be necessary mayn’t be important then but pays a heavy price later on.

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The trip to the family roots, attending the recital, cheering at the junior league match, quick rush to the doctors’ for the routine physical checks, following the prescribed or set medication, servicing the four wheeler on time, drawing the building plans with an eye on the future possibilities are all just few of the many instances wherein “what is necessary to be done” is foregone for “the mood of that time”, botched up planning or deeming the “necessary as trivial”.

Over time, one goes through many situations wherein the failure to contemplate the various possibilities or correct the then perceived as minor defects, may eventually lead to a more grave sequence of events with appalling outcome. The root problems lies in the indifference to what is the necessity than what is simply the other important task at that point of time. True that availability and possibility for the necessary task may seem slight then, but that balance of scales is always a relative concept. At times, when the fingers are burnt, the consequence will then be felt as terrible and priceless.

“Neglect breeds mischief…” Benjamin Franklin

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Hindsight is indeed unsettling, for once these chains of defaults and causalities are tended to, going back to the normal way may be difficult. But as they always say turning to the right path at some point may be better than going on the same, reparative steps have to be taken as soon as the errors have been realized. For a stitch in time o save nine, knowing that the “stitch” is necessary isn’t just enough but getting down and doing it is more important. No matter how small they may seem, it is the simple things that matter quite a bit. And these are the few, but pertinent facts that one discerns as the years mature.

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost,
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost,
For want of a horse, the rider was lost,
For want of a rider, the message was lost,
For want of a message, the battle was lost,
For want of a battle, the war was lost,
For want of a war, the kingdom was lost,
For want of a nail, the world was lost
‘The Want of a Nail”
– T. Rundgren
Warner Chappell N.A., Ltd., 1989
(“Rundgren” Variation)

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Posted in Daily, Food, Photography Art, Uncategorized

Tea with a Difference

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Catching up with the extended family cousins who have been seriously bitten by the “travel bug” leads to often enlightening conversations and interesting accounts. In the course of discussion was their recent rove into the Tibetan lands. Asides the details of their stay and visits, what caught the curiosity of yours truly was their tea culture.

“When tea becomes ritual, it takes its place at the heart of our ability to see greatness in small things. Where is beauty to be found? In great things that, like everything else, are doomed to die, or in small things that aspire to nothing, yet know how to set a jewel of infinity in a single moment?” Muriel Barbery (author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog)

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Interestingly the Tibetan tea culture primarily includes the butter tea and the sweet milk tea. Other varieties include the Pu’er Tea, green tea, milk tea and boiled black teas. The most favoured tea is the butter tea, known as po cha (Tibetan, Wylie: bod ja, “Tibetan tea”) or cha süma ( Eastern Tibet, Wylie: ja srub ma, “churned tea”) or suyóu chá (Mandarin Chinese) or gur gur (Ladakhi language). Made from tea leaves, yak butter, water, and salt in the traditional way, wherein the butter, milk and salt are added to the brewed tea. Although the variation today is to use the butter made from cow’s milk based on the latter’s wider availability and lower cost.Had by itself or used as an accompaniment for eating tsampa by pouring onto it or dipping the tsampa into it and mixing well.

The quality of the butter tea is enhanced by boiling the tea leaves to achieve a dark brown colour (takes almost half a day) or turns black (steep the tea leaves). One method involves skimmed the dark brown tea, pouring into a cylinder filled with fresh yak butter and salt and then the whole mix is shaken. The resulting thick liquid is then poured into tea pots or jars. Another method is to add salt to the steeped black tea, stirring the mix through the horse air (or reed) colander into the wooden butter churn with a large lump of butter then added to it. Then it is churned (or rapid stirring in wooden bowl) till the proper consistency of the tea is achieved and then transferred to copper pots kept warmed on a brazier. Modern day alternatives include tea bags, butter and blender.

Source:https://www.tibettravel.org/tibetan-local-customs/tibetan-tea-culture.html\
Source:https://www.tibettravel.org/tibetan-local-customs/tibetan-tea-culture.html\
Source:https://www.tibettravel.org/tibetan-local-customs/tibetan-tea-culture.html\

Like the detailed preparation of butter tea, the Tibetan tea drinking culture has many rules. As per their custom, butter tea is drunk in separate sips. After each sip, the host refills the bowl to the brim. As a rule the guest never drains his bowl, instead it is to be constantly topped up. If the guest doesn’t wish to drink, the best thing to do is leave the tea untouched until the time comes to leave and then drain the bowl. This signifies the observance of etiquette, without any offense to the host. Another set of rules to follow is when one is invited to a house for tea. The host will first pour some highland barley wine. The guest must dip his finger in the wine and flick some away, which is done so three times to represent respect for the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Then the cup will be refilled two more times and on the last time it must be emptied or the host will be insulted. After this the host will present a gift of butter tea to the guest, who will accept it without touching the rim of the bowl. The guest will then pour a glass for himself, and must finish the glass or be seen as rude.

Not just limited to drinking but also serving butter tea has it’s own special set of tea-ware. From special porcelain cups to wooden bowls set with gold, silver or copper, or made from these metals as well jade, the Tibetan tea-ware is an art by itself. Interestingly like Tibet, most of the East Asian countries have their own special tea customs, so much so that the tea culture of each country has a rich and varied history behind it. That for tea connoisseurs is the beauty of tea, in itself and being a part of rich vibrant cultures, their customs and traditions, lending the subtle depth and significance to the art and concept of tea.

“The first cup moistens the throat;
The second shatters all feelings of solitude;
The third cleans the digestion, and brings to mind the wisdom of 5,000 volumes;
The fourth induces perspiration, evaporating all of life’s trials and tribulations;
With the fifth cup, body sharpens, crisp;
And the sixth cup is the first on the road to enlightenment;
The seventh cup sits steaming – it needn’t be drunk, as from head to feet one rises to the abode of the immortals.”
–Lu Tong, 9th century

Source:https://www.tibettravel.org/tibetan-tea/
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Posted in Christian, Daily, Life

“Our Father…”

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever; he will always protect us.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

With the season of Christmas coming near, the church was busy with the choir, Christmas play, carols and related Christmas activities. From paper chains to setting up of the Christmas tree, preparations were being made and each one was allotted their fair share of work. With the weekdays and the weekend having the practice scheduled accordingly, each session was closed by the prayer “Our Father”. For each event practice, it was the younger members of that set that had closed the prayer with “Our Father”.

Source:https://vk.com/monahos
Source:https://vk.com/monahos
Source:https://vk.com/monahos

One of the first prayers taught by the Lord Himself, this prayer carries a wealth of meaning. The grace of the Lord, His Will, the art of forgiveness, the price and fall of temptation, receiving the daily bread and above all, living the Christian Way are all spoken of in the prayer that the Lord Himself taught us. With the season of giving and Christmas-time starting off in full swing, let not the worldly glamour and needs take over the principles and teachings of the prayer “Our Father”, as taught in the Christian Life.

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PRAYER “OUR FATHER”

Prayer “Our Father” pray more often,
Each word has its own special weight,
And there is no prayer deeper, cleaner, sweeter,
Than this, who came to us from heaven.

Behind the door locked, in solitude,
Under the branches of your fig tree,
Pray for this drink of pleasure,
Understanding the meaning of what was said in it.

In this prayer one can learn
Everything that there is law and grace:
As the name of the Lord is holy,
As the will of God to give a place in the heart.

And how to forgive, to receive forgiveness,
How to have daily bread on the table.
How to save oneself from temptations,
As a name to exalt the Father in praise.

“For Yours is the Kingdom, Strength, Glory!” –
Isn’t it so beautiful ?!
And this belongs to us rightfully.
These are the words of the Master, Christ.

Prayer “Our Father” pray more often.
Each word has its own special weight.
And there is no prayer deeper, higher, sweeter
than this, which came to us from heaven.

Anna Velk

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Posted in Daily, Family and Society, Personal Musings, poetry, Random Thoughts

Let Bygones be Bygones

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” Lauren Destefano

Although the first week of the last month of the year has started, the world around me still echoes a bit of the autumn; with the splash of colours, cold winds and rains still adorning the landscape. As the trees reach their near bare point and the faded colours slowly come down in numbers, the end of autumn echoes the inner part of letting go.

“You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have.” Jim Rohn

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Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments
Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

All of us have our own set of circumstances. Amidst them, each one of us have felt the good, the bad, the difficult, the trying and the anxious parts of life. While good memories bring a sense of warmth, contentment and nostalgia; there are those memories which have them but are tinged with regrets, poignancy and a certain amount of remorse. Each one of us have had “those moments”. Sometimes on a later date, they may echo the regret and the sadness, other times they bring to heart the joy and happiness of those days.

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As one goes through the remembrances of those negative parts, one must not forget that one was lucky to experience them all. No one is guaranteed happiness. One has to make the best of the worst, better their days and learn from the regrets. Just as autumn shows us the antithesis of spring, one needs the “downs”, not just to learn from them but to appreciate the “ups” as well.

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” Stanley Horowitz

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Autumn

The thistledown’s flying, though the winds are all still,
On the green grass now lying, now mounting the hill,
The spring from the fountain now boils like a pot;
Through stones past the counting it bubbles red-hot.

The ground parched and cracked is like overbaked bread,
The greensward all wracked is, bents dried up and dead.
The fallow fields glitter like water indeed,
And gossamers twitter, flung from weed unto weed.

Hill-tops like hot iron glitter bright in the sun,
And the rivers we’re eying burn to gold as they run;
Burning hot is the ground, liquid gold is the air;
Whoever looks round sees Eternity there.
-John Clare

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Posted in Daily, Family and Society, Life, Quotes, Random Thoughts

Of Roses and Thorns

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

An unexpected meeting with a friend of the previous workplace at the hospital, had lead to a short chat over a cup of tea. While enlisting the difficulties she had encountered on the home front and professional front, she had a lot to brood over and take over a negative vibe. Surprisingly her attitude and outlook was more of hopeful, than what would mine have been, if I were in her shoes. Facing life daily with a husband who has been bedridden (victim of a drunk driving accident), diagnosed with SLE, holding temporary jobs with children still in school are just few of the problems that were tackled. While holding the fort with an optimistic outlook outlook is difficult, the fact that she and many more like do it, is what gives a new meaning to positive approach in life.

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“People who are too optimistic seem annoying. This is an unfortunate misinterpretation of what an optimist really is.

An optimist is neither naive, nor blind to the facts, nor in denial of grim reality. An optimist believes in the optimal usage of all options available, no matter how limited. As such, an optimist always sees the big picture. How else to keep track of all that’s out there? An optimist is simply a proactive realist.

An idealist focuses only on the best aspects of all things (sometimes in detriment to reality); an optimist strives to find an effective solution. A pessimist sees limited or no choices in dark times; an optimist makes choices.

When bobbing for apples, an idealist endlessly reaches for the best apple, a pessimist settles for the first one within reach, while an optimist drains the barrel, fishes out all the apples and makes pie.
Annoying? Yes. But, oh-so tasty!”
-Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

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Making sense of optimism is never easy from another point of view. One of the aspects of keeping an optimistic outlook to life is to find an approach which encompasses an effective way out of the problems. For those who can do it in a subtle manner, while at the same time not fail to appreciate the gifts of life and its beauty are the true teachers of “optimism”. As taught and drilled into the mind, from a very young age, life isn’t a bed of roses. But what one must remember at all accounts is that, for every thorn along the way, the final destination holds a rose. While there mayn’t be a bed of roses for everyone, nothing stops one from rising above the thorns, appreciating the beauty and fragrance of the roses; for such is life.

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Posted in Daily, Life, Personal Musings, poetry, Reflections

“Gains” by the Storm

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

No pain. No gain.

The saying as above, has been drummed into us from childhood and carried over to the adult lives. While the early days may have left us wallowing to it’s reality, while those peers from the rich, social backgrounds get “everything easy” as the rest slogs it out, adult life brings out the saying in its true form. As the years mature, one gives their best shot and bear the fruit of it in due immediate course of time never comes along. What happens to one, when despite all the pain, gain is absent ?

“It is only in sorrow bad weather masters us; in joy we face the storm and defy it.”  Amelia Barr

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Those times, when all the pains seem fruitless and drain us of the mental hope, one needs to keep their inner flame going. Gathering courage to master the raging storm isn’t easy, but once we pull it out from within; surviving the storm would be the gain from the pain. On those days or times, when the pain hasn’t borne fruit; knowing and redefining the “gain” is what keeps the hope going. Though the immediate gain mayn’t be what is as perceived; handling the storm and crossing it is, at times, the biggest gain of all.

“You can be in the storm, but don’t let the storm get in you.” Joel Osteen

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Storms
Margie DeMerell

There will be storms, child
There will be storms
And with each tempest
You will seem to stand alone
Against cruel winds

But with time, the rage and fury
Shall subside
And when the sky clears
You will find yourself
Clinging to someone
You would have never known
But for storms.

“Dig deep & pull the roots of confidence from the ground of your being, standing firm in the raging storm until sunlight blossoms inside you.” Curtis Tyrone Jones

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