Belle of the Ball

"The party seems to be boring for you!?!" Rob asked Carol as he found her standing by the porch.
"Oh no! Not at all, I'm absolutely fine"
"I can read it through your eyes hun". 
"Why do you always feel embarrassed?" Someone from the crowd shouts "Hey Rob, can you come over".
"Try to stay good and enjoy the time before we leave soon".  Rob tried to make her feel good as he walked away to meet his colleagues. Rob kept himself busy meeting people but he kept glancing at Carol only to realize how much uncomfortable she was feeling even to carry a fake smile.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as we gather here for the grand success of our company and celebrate the effort we've put in and the number of lamps burned to fulfill our dreams; I would like to congratulate one and all for this phase." Rob proposes a toast and grabs everyone's attention.
"Also, I would like everyone to know about someone special in my life that's been my motivation, strength and the walk of my life; my wife Carol. She's been with me for almost 45 years now, taking care of me, shouting at me, smothering me with all the love she has and yet she never crumbles to smile.
Carol, your angelic eyes always smile at me and confix the drive of our life, your sweetness trickles my soul, your beauty sums up the unsearchable and secret aims of our life. Often as I walk through the house, I look in your eyes the enlightening dream, a delightful life and the illusional heaven in our life. I remember the first time I saw you in senior high prom; I thanked God for sending my gift - the most alluring girl I had ever seen. You were an angel in disguise carrying a white dress, pink rose and a near perfect smile that faded in my eyes. Your fair soul is the only pure thing in this entire world. It always felt like a dream afar but you're the beauty that completes my dream. I'll always cherish the love of our life."

 You are my Belle of the Ball

The Power of Silence

The Power of Silence - even for the will for it - has been destroyed by an inner emptiness that demands to be filled with hustle and emotions that, though superficial, keep emptiness at bay. A variety of noises and titillating emotions create the mirage of living and feeling great. The practice of silence educates us, helping us to understand what quietness is and its inestimable value in restoring the health, both of our feelings and our thoughts.

Every thought created is a form of energy producing its own charge, positive or negative. In silence we step inside and connect to our original quality of peace, and we stabilize ourselves in the thought of that original peace. As we step back, we observe our intentions, motives and responses to other people and situations. In order to improve a response and how we relate to others and events, we need the discernment to see both what we are doing and what needs to be changed. This charge of original peace releases us from the stress and fear. Then, slowly, we begin to feel good.

Peace is to unplug, disconnect from the many plugs that absorb our energy: Problems, Worry, Pleasing, Fear and Stress. To be released quickly from all these debilitating plug points, we need to become introspective, patient and quiet. This revitalizes our thoughts.

Tu Mera Hero...

As a kid when we used to fight over small matters and reach the doorstep after being beaten up by someone; an optimist inside us would maintain the outlook that it’s the time for a different way of thinking. Dad gives you a sight of anger and humiliation, a look that hits you with evaluating self “Why do you always get beaten up and cry like a girl?” Your elder sibling stands up to you and is ready to increase the tiny point of energy in you “Don’t worry, next time we see him, both of us will hit him real hard”. As a mother, she wipes your tears and cleans the wound with her saree and gives you a cold shoulder for not taking care of yourself and scolds the parents for not taking care of their child.  

When the entire scenario gets over, your grandparents come by you and take your friend and you out. Stick in one hand, other holding yours and buys you chocolates/ice cream/soft drink of your choice. He pleases you with all wonders of the world and let go of a recurring block, pain or sorrow. They make sure you become friends again, envisage solutions, create bridges and rather than fighting an obstacle, simply dissolve it. Your grandparents are the best surgeons who specialize in removing those things that make us feel bad; because unlike others he doesn’t remove by cutting out, but by dissolving the matter. The anesthesia of love and trust in their gentle hands overcomes our fear. In his words “Do not let the germs of fear and pain come back and restart the process otherwise you’ll be infected and sick again”.  They make sure that something in you keeps coming back, irrespective of the person or situation that triggers the reaction. You might feel unappreciated or misused or resentful but it’s about recognizing that everything, good or bad, begins with the self. 

You feel great knowing that you aren’t judged or labeled weak or lazy or a no-hoper or strange. When you see yourself through your Grandparents eyes, you see your future as very bright, your present as the most valuable opportunity and your past as the greatest learning. From the viewpoint of eternity all is as it should be. There are no regrets, only the inspiration to change for the better – your potential is unlimited.