Life – Page 17 – Sugar And Spice… Among Other Things

Daily, Family and Society, Life, poetry, Stories Around the World, Work

Stay On through the Storm

Posted on September 26, 2019May 30, 2019 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“The phoenix must burn to emerge.” Janet Fitch

During the recent economy crisis few years ago, many employees were laid off, forced to look into new or different income options. Organizations and companies were forced to overhaul and find alternative measures to stay afloat with a basic profit as well as meet the expenditure and salaried pay roll. On the whole it was a messy time. Some lost, some gained, many survived. Few years from then on, a chance meeting with few of the friends of those days, saw some settled in a much better environment now as compared to then; while others have just survived. The enlightening thought was that they had tried but never gave up.

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” Michael Jordan

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

All of us have had our own ups and downs in life. While it’s easier to pack up bags and leave the responsibility of life in the hands of the other or the state, especially when children and family are concerned; it mayn’t be the right solution or wise decision to make. Staying on and trying again makes all the difference.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.” J. K. Rowling

Every successful person has their own set of failures. On the surface, it may seem that one has it all, but the reality may be something totally different. Life is all about handling the twists and turns. Straight roads are nevr fun while going for long drives. Instead curvy roads have always something to look out for around the bend, which may be the beginning of a brand new start. Chase the dreams, strive to be the best at what one engages in whether by choice or necessity and stay grounded in reality with the vision ahead. As the mind contemplates, it may be easier to step back, but no ship ever explores new lands by always staying docked.

“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” Abraham Maslow

📷Gerson Verkerk_original_instagram_3gK7f6y9kzk

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Stick To It
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill.
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man.
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup.
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

Author Unknown

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Source:https://vk.com/englisharoundtheworld

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Family and Society, Life, Personal Musings, Stories Around the World, Work

To Explore the Sky

Posted on September 25, 2019May 29, 2019 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” Confucius

During the annual regional inter school cultural festival, one of the eagerly awaited events was the “prose recital” contest. One of the new entries in the middle school level was none other than my niece who made her first debut this year. Although she loves poetry and was selected through the school competition, this entry was an impromptu choice. Given her innate manner of being on the quiet side, her entry was in response to the challenge of being labelled as a mouse by her classmates. When the call was made for the participants at school level, she had enrolled her name. Whether it was for avoiding the labeling or improving her confidence onstage, this opportunity had opened the door to her hidden talent at declamation.

“We’ll never know our full potential unless we push ourselves to find it.” Travis Rice

Source:https://vk.com/slideshowarts

Reflecting back on the entire episode, one finds themselves in similar situations across the various stages of life. Whether it is the professional, academics, family or personal life; we are limited by the lines we set internally in our minds. For the introvert who may have a hidden talent at playing music or the extrovert who is the life of a party may be an excellent writer. While the former has to acquire the confidence to face the crowd; the latter fears the label of “nerd”. Living in their insecurities, their hidden gifts may be wasted over time. These are just two of the many scenarios that one may be able to recollect, feel or relate to.

“Find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.” Deepak Chopra

Source:https://vk.com/slideshowarts

Choosing to break the set mould and soar high is no simple feat. Barriers are there at each and every level. Be it lack of time, innate fears, insecurities, the diatribe of words around oneself, criticism, comments or snide remarks; they all come as we move on and ahead. Yet as long as one believes themselves and knows their true talent, keeping the inner flame alive and strong; the rest all are just flies to be swatted, avoided or ignored. No one can stop the person who really wants to explore their talent. Confidence and courage will come along the way, when the innate self-belief and assurance stays strong. If not for the latter, the eagle would never learnt to soar high. Be oneself, find oneself and test their own limits to know own potential. Don’t fit yourself in the label made by others. Find your own niche and grow the hidden potential. Take courage and fly.

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Source:https://vk.com/monahos

A man found an eagle’s egg and put it in a nest of a barnyard hen. The eagle hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All his life, the eagle did what the barnyard chicks did, thinking he was a barnyard chicken. He scratched the earth for worms and insects. He clucked and cackled. And he thrashed his wings and flew a few feet in the air. Years passed and the eagle grew very old. One day he saw a magnificent bird above him in the cloudless sky. It glided in graceful majesty among powerful wind currents, with scarcely a beat of its strong, golden wings. The old eagle looked up in awe. ‘Who’s that?’ he asked. ‘That’s the eagle, the king of the birds,’ said his neighbour. ‘He belongs to the sky. We belong to the earth – we’re chickens.’ So the eagle lived and died a chicken, for that is what he thought he was.
(Author unknown) (African American folktale)

What would have happened if the running eaglet decided to fly to sit on the coop rafters? What would have happened if the eagle was taken out of it’s surroundings and given a chance to fly ? What would have happened if the eagle tried to mid flap in it’s adult life and found the courage to try and see the effect, instead of listening to the remarks around it ?

“Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.” Richard Bach

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Source:https://vk.com/englisharoundtheworld

Photo by C. Stone on Pexels.com

Christian, Family and Society, Life, Personal Musings, Random Thoughts

From the Past, To the Present

Posted on September 22, 2019June 22, 2019 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3

Driving back to my ex-workplace, courtesy of a regional seminar to attend; there was a sense of wonder at how things have shaped over the past few months. On the first outlook, any change from the comfortable zone always involves a trepidation of whether the choice made, is the right one or not. Besides the fear of the loss of the routine, the loss of control on the outcome is what discourages any movement out of the comfort zone. The unfortunate part about opportunity is that, one will never know it till they try.

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:9-10

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

In those moment of doubt and fear, the best options is put our trust in the Lord. As one prays and gives their best efforts, the rest things will fall in line. Like seasons that change, live will move forward. Before any life changing decisions, one does list the pros and cons. Yet at times, it mayn’t be enough. If one steps and sees that things weren’t in the right place, don’t stop but continue the efforts. With prayer and grit, eventually things will fall into place. For His Love and His Mercy is true and endures forever.

“For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.” Psalm 63:7

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

I Told You
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I told you the winter would go, love,
I told you the winter would go.
That he’d flee in shame when the south wind came,
And you smiled when I told you so.
You said the blustering fellow
Would never yield to a breeze,
That his cold, icy breath had frozen to death
The flowers, and birds, and trees.

And I told you the snow would melt, love,
In the passionate glance o’ the sun;
And the leaves o’ the trees, and the flowers and bees,
Would come back again, one by one.
That the great, gray clouds would vanish,
And the sky turn tender and blue;
And the sweet birds would sing, and talk of the spring,
And, love, it has all come true.

I told you that sorrow would fade, love,
And you would forget half your pain;
That the sweet bird of song would waken ere long,
And sing in your bosom again;
That hope would creep out of the shadows,
And back to its nest in your heart,
And gladness would come, and find its old home,
And that sorrow at length would depart.

I told you that grief seldom killed, love,
Though the heart might seem dead for awhile,
But the world is so bright, and so full of warm light
That ‘twould waken at length, in its smile.
Ah, love! was I not a true prophet?
There’s a sweet happy smile on your face;
Your sadness has flown – the snow-drift is gone,
And the buttercups bloom in its place.

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Daily, Life, Random Thoughts, Stories Around the World, Work

Find the Lighter Side

Posted on September 20, 2019May 29, 2019 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.” Frank A. Clark

Time was running to the final minutes at the end of the shift, as one was rushing to complete the daily plans or work scheduled for the day. With barely few minuted left, imagine a quick pop up messages or call, resulting in the loss of those precious minutes. Consequently by the time the “urgent call or task” ends, the daily work scheduled is still yet to be completed.

Amidst all the melee’ there is one person that occasionally arises from the entire crowd, who asks the most obvious question; like the listener who asks the speaker at the end of the story, who was “X” where the latter was the central character all along. On some days, the question might irritate the running mood; on other days it lightens the load and provides a much needed stress breaker. Such questioners may arise on purpose to diffuse the stress of the crowd. Those times, when taken in the right spirit and manner, can provide a heavy dose of hearty humour.

“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.” Bill Cosby

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Finding the lighter side of life is a necessity for survival in today’s world. While one may be bogged down by the lists of to-do’s or must-have’s; finding humour on cloudy days may provide the gap for the scarce sun rays to shine through. After all, life is a never ending game. Learning to not forfeit but being a sporty loser as well as a gracious winner is what makes the days, moments and seconds count.

“A sense of humor… is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.” Hugh Sidey

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

A barber Shop was filled with customers when a little boy walks into the shop. Looking at the little boy, the barber whispers to his customer, “This is the most foolish kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you.” The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, “Which do you want, son?” The boy takes the quarters and leaves. “What did I tell you?” said the barber. “That kid never learns!” the barber said laughing. Later, when the customer leaves the shop, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store.
“Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?” asked the man. The boy licked his favorite ice-cream and replied,“Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over.”

“A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It’s jolted by every pebble on the road.” Henry Ward Beecher

Source:https://vk.com/englisharoundtheworld

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Source:https://vk.com/englisharoundtheworld

Daily, Life, Personal Musings, poetry, Work

Sustain, Build and Create

Posted on September 19, 2019May 28, 2019 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of like is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give.” William Arthur Ward

One of the most dreaded encounters is when meeting the “do-you-what-they-are-doing” acquaintances especially from the junior high network or the college group, that one selectively chooses to keep in touch with. Although one desperately tries to avoid it, inadvertently tidbits of information from the long chat are floating around in the head. What stays the longest are those achievements of the then perceived adversaries of junior high or college, whom internally longs one to put them to shame in the various aspects like career, achievements, accolades or life in general. Yet sometimes one realizes that they themselves are stuck in the drifts of life, floating in the middle.

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”Joshua J. Marine

Source:https://vk.com/slideshowarts

In those “drifting moments” when one realizes that their dreams, aspirations and desires in life are nowhere near the achievement mark; know that as long as the will stays firm, time will help you find a way through the hassles. Many a time, dreams are put on hold, not because of lack of trying but because certain other priorities come first. To expound further, the single mother puts their inner dream of writing a book but instead holds two jobs to make ends meet, the father who puts his “start up business ideas” on the wait-list as earning a steady income for the family is more important for now, or the teenager who longs to study law but for lack of tuition fee ends up doing another course altogether. There may be many instance of similar events when what one really wants to do takes a backseat to what one has to do for the present.

“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.” Robert Louis Stevenson

Source:https://vk.com/slideshowarts

Despite the dreams being put on hold, not letting them go is of utmost importance. Each one of us have been given a gift at doing something par excellence. No matter what form of art, talent or skill it may be; to not try and engage them in any manner at any point of time in one’s life is unforgivable. Not letting go of our dreams is essential. Over time, slowly build on them side by side; nurture them and let it grow gradually. Eventually it will prosper at the right time. As the refrain always goes, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” While comparing with those around oneself, never lose heart. Every masterpiece is made in it’s own time. Grow the dream over time, one by one and finally one will reach there.

Take one dream
Dream it in detail.
Put it into your own hands.
See its final outcome clearly in your mind.
Then mix it with a little effort and add a generous portion of ambition.
Stir briskly with confidence until the mixture becomes clear, the doubt separated from the resolution.
Then bake at an even temperature in a moderate mind until the dream rises and is firm to the touch.
Decorate with individuality.
Cut into generous portions and serve with justifiable pride.
Approached in this manner, life is a piece of cake.
-Bryce Courtenay

Source: https://vk.com/comeshome

Source: https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Source: https://vk.com/comeshome

Christian, Family and Society, Life, Personal Musings

“They still Smile”…

Posted on September 15, 2019August 20, 2019 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)

Meeting these little smiles on a Saturday afternoon ( as a part of the weekend voluntary community service) taught me a lot about life, His Grace and happiness. Attached to the hospital, along with the regular hospitalized patients, in association with the local NGO, there was a small home set up for the cancer patients ranging from the elderly and the few enrolled children, meant for their regular chemotherapy and minor hospitalizations. The purpose was to avoid them being cross infected by the general population. Spending an afternoon with them teaches one about the real essence and gifts of life.

Source:https://vk.com/public75290000

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:16-17)

Despite the pain of the disease and the load of chemotherapy, the smile on their faces especially the little ones, never wavers. For them, the disease is indeed a part of their life but it doesn’t rule them. From engaging in their activities of school lessons, music and learning new skills of art and the like; their days aren’t lost in cribbing about their state of affairs, finding fault with life and God. Instead the spirit of resilience is seen in their approach to life. In comparison, it shames one when thinking about the usual grumbling at own lives, at the workplace or even within.

Source:https://vk.com/public138314547

Source:https://vk.com/we_live_a

Interacting with the caregivers too, one learns a lot from their quiet acceptance to the strength that radiates from within. On seeing the suffering and the pain of their wards, along with the lost years of life can result in any parent or guardian being depressed, loosing hope in His Faith and dwelling in the negativity. Yet they face all those, come out from the bouts of depressing thoughts and conquer the storm within; so that their children can have their happy moments in life. While certain things may never change, the way we live in the present matters the most. No one ever knows the entirety of His Plan, but what one does know is that His Hope, His Grace and His Love is sufficient to survive in the world of the present.

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” (Isaiah 58:8-9)

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Source:https://vk.com/monahos

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Daily, Life, Personal Musings, Quotes, Random Thoughts, Reflections

Remove by their Root

Posted on September 12, 2019May 25, 2019 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it.” Dogen

Working on the patch of garden with my little toddler was fun time. Although those little hands were busy with the spade to loosen out the mud; the major fun lay in the activity of pulling out the unwanted weeds, popping up in amidst the patch of chrysanthemums. Initially their stalks used to only come off. Later on he had painstakingly ensured that the entire weed, along with its’ roots was collectively removed. As long as the thrill of getting his hands muddied wasn’t negated, he enjoyed the fun time in the little flower bed. The surprising part about weds is that, one doesn’t water or nurture them; yet they still come up.

https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

“Pull them out by their roots.”

As the weeding process was going on, one can’t help look into the personal weeds in our lives. Whether those weeds be as false influences, challenges, setbacks, wrong beliefs, negative people, biased criticism and so on, the list is always endless. There is always something cropping up in our lives at the wrong time and unwanted places bringing about the negative energy and slowing down one’s own potential. At each stage of one’s life, they occur in different forms.

“ You cannot expect to live a positive life if you hang with negative people.” Joel Osteen

Letting the crop of weeds grow and multiply out of sheer laziness, lack of prioritizing or neglecting them without foreseeing the future damage, would result in an increased load of work and trouble in the not too distant future. On the other hand, when timely dealt with, these weeds would be nothing more than a difficult situation easily conquered.

“Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power.” Shirley MacLaine

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

On dealing with the negative aspects that one encounters in life, is to the to the root of the problem and deal with them one by one. Eventually the unwanted weeds may be regrouped into something more beautiful or removed to make way for the better surroundings to shine. The only caution is to pull out the negativeness in it’s entirety. Else just as one believes them to be removed, they would crop up with double the strength later on, being a nuisance more then than now. As each crop of problems arise, solving and settling them from their root level help us come out of the situation soon; giving fresh courage, experience and hope to face the next crop of trouble or negativeness as they come fresh again.

“As time goes by, you seem to weed out the things that were making your life hard.” Tom Petty

Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments