Tag: time

Posted in Family and Society, Photography Art, poetry, Random Thoughts

Charm of Being Real

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

On one of the rare days when I got a couple of hours free towards the evening, with no pending domestic tasks and kids put to bed; it was the perfect time to browse through the social networking pages. On seeing pictures of the photo album posted my college girlfriend and her family to the Museum of Illusions (Doha), I had a pretty good couple of laughs. As the two kids had a picture of their smaller than them and minuscule parents, there was a bit of scare (as discovered during the retelling) when their parents had disappeared as an after-effect of the illusion. Besides the scare; considering the rush of visitors and fun moments, they all had an eventful day, candid moments captured as well as laughing memories to treasure.

Source:https://vk.com/slideshowarts
Source:https://vk.com/slideshowarts
Source:https://vk.com/slideshowarts

Fast-forwarding to “real life” our life too holds various shades of ourselves. Illusions as some say, or the “different faces” as few call it. These are the cloaks one adorns on going through different matters of the day. While some may be echo our true selves, others hold the socially acceptable selves or the “deemed right faces”.

Through all these illusions and motions, one must never lose their own self. While one tries to conform to the socially acceptable norms and standards, losing own self may result in an illusion of sorts that one may never be able to figure out later. If that ever happens so, the chaos caused would be a difficult (but not impossible) conundrum to figure out. Be yourself, for each of us have our own prints of various kinds to leave behind in the world that we visit.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” Bernard M. Baruch

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Source:https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments

Be Yourself
by Ellen Bailey
Why would you want to be someone else
When you could be better by being yourself
Why pretend to be someone you are not
When you have something they haven’t got

Cheating yourself of the life you have to live
Deprives others of that only which you can give
You have much more to offer by being just you
Than walking around in someone else’s shoes

Trying to live the life of another is a mistake
It is a masquerade; nothing more than a fake
Be yourself and let your qualities show through
Others will love you more for being just you

Remember that God loves you just as you are
To Him you are already a bright shining star
Family and friends will love you more too
If you spent more time practicing just being you

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Source:https://vk.com/public138314547
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Source:https://vk.com/public138314547
Posted in Personal Musings, Photography Art, Reflections, Stories Around the World

Seasons, Phases and Shades

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

“I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I’m going to believe that the best does.” Anne of Green Gables

While attending the biennial workshop held as a part of the company policy on updating their employees, many of us signed up mainly for the chance to visit another interesting place. In fact the venue itself was one of the appealing factors of this time’s workshop. Based on the recommendations of the previous city visitors (though it was three years old) we had decided to visit the local famous haunts. To our surprise, while most tourist places had stayed on(or even updated), some of the local popular places like the delis, square gardens as well as city walks had changed quite significantly.

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Source:https://vk.com/public138314547
Source:https://vk.com/public138314547

While the entire week went in a whirlwind of various sessions, trips to the local areas, experimenting with new dishes; our experiences were a little different from the previous accounts we were told. Though our experiences were different, it was a lovely stay for the season we were in.

“Even seasonal situations can bring with them lessons that last a lifetime. If the love doesn’t last, it prepares you for the one that will.” Mandy Hale

Each of our days brings in a lot of scenes, flavours and experiences. Our own experiences may be seen in a different light by others. While one may have a good memory, the others may share a not so good or sad memory. To pass judgement too quickly based on a single happening would be to deprive oneself of the whole picture.

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Source:https://vk.com/englisharoundtheworld
Source:https://vk.com/englisharoundtheworld

Each event or person has their own phases. While one phase mayn’t turn out to be well, it doesn’t mean that it is a lost cause. Instead give it some time, for then one would discover that things weren’t so bad but an interesting experience  seen so in the due course of time.

The Seasons of Life 
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.
The second son said no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfilment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season in the tree’s life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are – and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life – can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don’t judge a life by one difficult season. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

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Posted in Family and Society, Life, poetry, Reflections

Of Throwbacks and Reversions

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

When the local community centre had sent out a notice asking for a donation of old clothes, books, toys, sheets and other commodities, there was a sudden spring cleaning mode. While packing up the clothes especially those of the infant style (some which weren’t worn much, others which they have outgrown), memories and tiny incidents associated with them would come to the forefront. Eventual what became a simple “pack and donate” activity took up the whole of the next three days.

“Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.” Oscar Wilde

All of us carry our own bag of moments. This bag contains all the good ones as well as the bad ones. Some may have been sweet, poignant, filled with happiness and joy, while others bring back hurt and sorrow.

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Source:https://vk.com/comeshome
Source:https://vk.com/comeshome

Delving into the bag, some of them we ought to scatter to the wind, while others we ought to bring them to the forefront occasionally. Either way memories are a precious thing, bringing a glimmer of light on the dark days, reminding one of the numerous blessings and gratitude in life. Learning to cherish them as well as let some of them go are both equally important. Each memorable experience defines us in one small way or the other. Let those reminders be those of the pleasant happy ones, for life is too short to dwell on the sad ones. Cherish the sweet happy moments but learn to revisit and not dwell in them alone. One can always reexamine the past, but living for the present now is what brings hope, warmth and happiness for the future.

“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.” L.M. Montgomery

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

Sweet Memories
By Charlotte Anselmo

In quiet times I often sit
And find my mind adrift
To another place, another time
And oh! My spirits lift!

I see your happy, smiling face,
And that twinkle in your eye.
I hear you sing your favorite song
And I laugh…and then I cry.

Inside my heart Sweet Memories
Stay with me each day
I cherish, and I cling to them
For I miss you in every way.

Each thing I see…
Each thing I do, brings you close to me
For everything upon this earth
Brings Sweet Memories of you.

I imagine our reunion
Some day at heaven’s gate
It fills my heart with happiness…
But for now, I’ll have to wait.

Until my life upon this earth
And my work here is complete
Sweet Memories will keep me
Until at last again we meet.

https://vk.com/comeshome
https://vk.com/comeshome
https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments
https://vk.com/comeshome
https://vk.com/thesemagicmoments
Posted in Daily, Family and Society, poetry, Random Thoughts

Paint it Silver

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

hile pursuing his studies in law, my cousin had lost his two friends to a freak accident, courtesy of drunk driving. Ten years down the lane, with a promising career and family he was on a happy track in life. Unfortunately taking the temperamental nature of time and fate, he had been the unintended victim of another drunk driving collision in the routine evening hours. By providence, he had gotten away with a fracture, bruises and abrasions; yet the damage cost was substantial. It is in those stark moments that one realizes how fragile life is.

“There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well.” Nicholas Sparks

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Source:https://vk.com/comeshome
Source:https://vk.com/comeshome

When things are really looking up for some of us, there may be a sudden boom and crash. The sequence of negative events may leave a drastic impact and can result in a downward spiral. It is in those falls, that one must learn to recoup and brace oneself to minimize the damaging sudden impact. In those depressing moments, one must learn to paint their own silver lining.

As the darkness ebbs away, the light of the silver will shine through for the better days. Just by squaring our shoulders and facing the difficult days with a strong, courage, stubborn will and strength will pave way for an inner warmth. Whether “the better tomorrows” may be in near vicinity or not, one may never know. Yet what one can do, would be to brighten their own dark days and bring out an inner smile for the day.

“It’s being here now that’s important. There’s no past and there’s no future. Time is a very misleading thing. All there is ever, is the now. We can gain experience from the past, but we can’t relive it; and we can hope for the future, but we don’t know if there is one.” George Harrison

Source:https://vk.com/comeshome
Source:https://vk.com/comeshome
Source:https://vk.com/comeshome

The Vow

No matter how deep the sadness or wide the pain,
I vow to live for a brighter day will come again.

No matter how many mistakes I’ve made in the past,
I vow to live and in the future avoid them, surefooted and fast.

No matter how many tragedies beyond my control take place,
I vow to live and stay my course within this race.

No matter how poor or rich I may ever be,
I vow to live and aspire to search for the dignity in simplicity.

No matter how much a lover may pierce the inner core of my heart,
I vow to live for like spring I’ll get a new start.

No matter how isolated and alone I may feel,
I vow to live and do something for someone else to heal.

No matter how hopeless my situation my appear,
I vow to live and reflect until my viewpoint is clear.

No matter what happens in this life – good or bad
I vow to live, do my best, and just for living – be glad.

– By Malcolm O. Varner

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Source:https://vk.com/slideshowarts
Posted in Life, Personal Musings, poetry, Reflections

Balance in the Wind

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

“ You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” Cayla Mills

Juggling through home and professional life is never easy, especially with family, kids and pets. In most situations, if the two adults and kids do their bit of the share, things fall into line. Yet what happens when the children are too small or physically challenged or here are not two, but only one pair of adult hands. Initially one may be able to tackle the situation, but later, one may feel quite defeated. This was experienced by a close friend of mine, with her husband transferred to another project for two weeks, a toddler with a cast (courtesy of a misjudged jump), one child sick with chickenpox and a deadline project on her work front. Like these, many similar situation may be experienced by us at certain points in our lifetime.

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Source:https://vk.com/public75290000
Source:https://vk.com/public75290000

During those initial parts of the difficult days, it may be mentally and physically possible to cover all aspects alone. But when the going gets more tough, taking a step back and moving ahead may help things work out in the long run. While circumstances may get more trying, cribbing would never help. Instead deal with what ever is possible, as for the rest get help or prioritize the more important aspects at that point or course of time. Remember that the trees survive through the cold of winter as well, the hot rays of summer and the cold winds laced with thunderstorms of autumn. Though they may lose their leaves, flowers and branches; they still stand tall with their roots going deep. As the start of spring rejuvenates them, thy grow back. Likewise we too need to go deep into the roots of support system of friends, family and neighbourhood (we all have them for no one is an island), the tough times will gradually fade and life gets back to the normal (if not the same) footing.

“ Life is, at times, tough. And all we need to do is to prove that we are tougher than it.” Sanhita Baruah

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

The Oak Tree

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You’ll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you
I’m stronger than I ever knew

– Johnny Ray Ryder Jr

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Posted in Daily, Family and Society, poetry, Reflections

Change of Play

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

With the sun slowly shining through the cold winds and drizzling rain, the ground slowly breaks forth as new shoots spring to life. As the daylight hours slowly lengthen, the little feet scamper around in the courtyard and the garden. Leaving aside the numerous indoor toys, the bicycle and even the bright coloured remote controlled terrain toys vehicles, these little feet and hands found the fun and happiness in playing with twigs and building a tower with sticks and pebbles. As the household chores got done on an early evening, the yard play brought back memories of the simple days of the yesteryear.

“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” Alan Cohen

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

As one catches up with the fast paced modernism of today, with the methodology of work as well as projects get more complex, so does the hours of relaxation. From the busy office or work schedule of around eight to twelve hours (more or less in certain scenarios), the unwinding takes a complex route at times, like indulging in the favourite video-games, Netflix shows, movie reruns or even catching up on the social networks. Minus the gadgets or a power outage, the “leisure hours” go “ka-boom”. What has happened to the simple joys of spending “quality time” with family and friends, or just a little quiet time with the self to rejuvenate, recuperate and recharge.

“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” Alan Watts

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

One can’ escape the modernism of the world as the years mature from childhood to adult years. As the list of responsibilities, dreams, ambitions and goals grow, get prioritized or re-prioritized, the purpose would be to infuse a little of “gentle play” in the work as well as to recharge after the strenuous hours. We all have only one life to lead, that one is inherently aware of. Too much of focus of any one arena will result in the loss of another. The “play of life” has to be done in a gentle manner with the amount of “work”, “fun”, “relationships”, “relaxation” and the like to be done in healthy balanced or proportionate doses. One doesn’t need to get too fanciful, just the simple things in life in the right amounts would help in experiencing the gifts and blessings of life.

Playthings

Child, how happy you are sitting in the dust, playing with a broken twig all the morning.
I smile at your play with that little bit of a broken twig.
I am busy with my accounts, adding up figures by the hour.
Perhaps you glance at me and think, “What a stupid game to spoil your morning with!”
Child, I have forgotten the art of being absorbed in sticks and mud-pies.
I seek out costly playthings, and gather lumps of gold and silver.
With whatever you find you create your glad games, I spend both my time and my strength over things I never can obtain.
In my frail canoe I struggle to cross the sea of desire, and forget that I too am playing a game.

– Rabindranath Tagore

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

Unwind the Hours

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

Approaching the driveway after a long day of work, the feeling of coming back home brought to rest the chaotic thoughts of work from the mind. Nursing my evening cup of Joe, the dusk hours were for reflecting back on the scenes of the day. The morning rush, traffic commute, pending assignments and projects, minor altercations in the office and then household chores lined up like a set of cardboard boxes, sealed and waiting to be opened; one does wonder if these schedules are worth their hustle and bustle. Some days one feels like a ragged doll, desperately needing a quiet place to rest or even get a wash and unwind. Yet the complete rest never happens, for the clock keeps on ticking by. The million dollar question is would I give anything to change this all. While on some occasions, it may be a bit, on others it may be nothing. For all the inner wish to rant and rave, I wouldn’t like a major change in the current situation. Despite all the “minor downs”, there is an underlying feeling of contentment running through. The latter is what keeps the sanity intact.

“No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories.” Haruki Murakami

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Source:https://vk.com/jpgpictures
Source:https://vk.com/jpgpictures

For all the “downs” that time takes us through, overcoming them and getting out of the trench is what makes up the glow of memories. That glow gives one the drive to fight through the current scenario of depressed thoughts. Being human, one will never be eternally in the ‘happy go-lucky go” mode. There are bound to be flashes of sudden self-doubt, morbid thoughts and fear of the unknown.

“No matter how many plans you make or how much in control you are, life is always winging it.” Carroll Bryant

Yet through all this, it is the memories of finding oneself out of the intermittent wrong turns and choices of life, that gives the courage to go through the present mess, whether it may be made daily or an occasional mishap. As time moves on, there are somethings in life like the comfort of family, the work camaraderie, the circle of close friends and family; that we hope would never be lost.

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Source:https://vk.com/neverbbetter
Source:https://vk.com/neverbbetter

Some decisions or choices may be the wrong ones, but moving on through the mess and learning from them, is what makes the treasured moments. As the hours unwind and the day comes to a close, what one needs is to find that spark of happiness and let the feeling of contentment and peace grow within.

As the Day Goes
by Jennifer Johnson

Choices and wrong turns are made,
as the day goes and the sun fades.
People are loved and hearts are broken,
as the day goes and words are spoken.
Smiles and frowns are shown on faces,
as the day goes and children play in open spaces.
Happiness and sadness are felt by all,
as the day goes and night falls.
Tears of joy and tears of pain are shed,
as the day goes and all are in bed.

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