Life's Little Instructions - Part I

I received this in my email today. Its reminded me of a lot of things that I had pushed to the back of my mind, in the rush and hum-drum of daily routine... and instead of forwarding it, I'm posting it here, for all to read and enjoy, and to gently remind our lost minds of the little things that make a difference...

Life's Little Instruction Manual:

Have a firm handshake.

Look people in the eye.

Sing in the shower.

Own a great stereo system.

If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.

Keep secrets.

Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday .

Always accept an outstretched hand.

Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.

Whistle.

Avoid sarcastic remarks.

Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 per cent of all your happiness or misery.

Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.

Lend only those books you never care to see again.

Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.

When playing games with children, let them win .

Give people a second chance, but not a third .

Be romantic.

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.

Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.

Be a good loser.

Be a good winner.

Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.

When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.

Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.

Keep it simple.

Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.

Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.

Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets

Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.

Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.

Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.

Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes.

Wait for Part II of Life's Little Instruction Manual.

Share any tips for living a full life, that you might have discovered.

I'm Ranting

Its official. After months of deciding to focus on only the good, I'm ranting.

Counting your blessings is good. And venting steam makes it easier... Nothing like a good old bitchy rant, to get the load off your chest, I say. Clears the way for the good things in life.

So do go read my rant at Rant Factory. It's Soumitra's blog, and he's been uncharacteristically kind by adding me as a member of his blog. Of course, after I informed him that I'd posted my first rant, he said he'd go check if it's good enough to be allowed to remain. I hastily did a Ctrl+ A and a Ctrl+C, while throwing back some not so nice remarks at him. My post has remained, but whether that's because it's 'good enough', or because my threats worked, is anyone's guess...

Maybe you could tell? Go check out Rant Factory...

Kiss

On Manjiri's request



Kissing earth,
...Sun beyond my reach...
I've fallen...




I'll try to do better next time..

Loyalty Bonus?

This is an actual conversation that happened between me and a sales rep who called me up, trying to sell a credit card.

Me: Hello

Sales Rep: Is this Miss Rashmi?

Me: Yes.

SR: Hello Ma'm. I'm calling from Standard Chartered Bank. Can take a few minutes of your
time?

Me: Is this about some credit card?

SR: Yes Ma'm. Actually, we're offering you a...

Me: (cutting in) I had a Stan C card earlier, but I returned it because I got some really bad service. I don't want another Standard Chartered card.

SR: Hmmpphh! We're not even going to give you a credit card! Standard Chartered is a good company! Thank you and good bye!

Click.

My jaw literally dropped. I've touched new lows with this conversation...

I only hope, for the poor girl's sake that the call was not recorded. But I wonder - would Stan C offer her a loyalty bonus?

Beemar

Unke dekhe se jo aa jaatee hai muNh par raunaq
Woh samajhte haiN ke beemaar ka haal achcha hai


A sher by Ghalib that I recently read and fell in love with...

Medicine, anyone?

Gloom is an infectious disease, deadlier than cheer.

I need a doctor.

The Candle

I watch the candle flicker. I like looking at the cheerful flame, burning so happily. It is one of those ordinary candles I bought at the supermarket for power failures such as todays. It’s the last one left and I’ve placed it in the middle of the room in the hope that it will give light to the entire room.

It’s a bright flame, but rather small. Come to think of it, it does look like its trying too hard to live up to my expectations. The small centre table is brightly lit up, but everywhere else in the room, murky shadows lurk. As the little flame sways with the breeze, the shadows take on grotesque forms and I watch them fascinated. For a few moments, I managed to forget my little candle and remain transfixed to the eerie dance that is going on, on the wall. One moment, there are monsters in a devilish dance, the next instant, they have been replaced by the sea and its waves.

As the shadows grow longer, I turn back to look at my lonely light. It’s more than half gone now. The wick is much longer and so is the flame. With tiny sputtering noises, it burn brighter than before. It seems to be burning with its entire might, with all it’s got and is fast getting shorter. The shorter it gets, the brighter gets the flame, almost as if the candle is making a last pitch at banishing the shadows from the corners.

How does it feel to be standing up all alone and fighting, I wonder? To be surrounded by monsters that are advancing even as you fight? When the candle glows brighter, the shadows decrease somewhat, but I think it knows the demons are only biding their time. Consumed by its own passion, the brave little thing fights harder, even when it’s fast nearing its end. The demons are secretly amused, I think, by the little candle’s desperate determination and tease it, sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating. The candle just burns on.

There’s less than a quarter left now and I somehow can’t bear the thought of watching the flame die slowly. Leaning forward, I snuff out my own flame and watch the darkness close in...

Happy Birthday...

...to me!

Yes, it's my birthday today. Yes, I've turned another year older. 25, to be precise... So that means, I've already lived more than a quarter of my life! Ouch!

So what is it that makes me want this day to be magical? Its just another day, isn't it? What's the big deal about having lived for one more year? Or is it about having survived one more year? What difference does it make anyway, whether its 14th March, or 15th march or 16th march?

I don't really know. But there's something... something that makes me expect something extraordinary today. For no reason other than that its my birthday today.

Every year, I wonder what is going to happen on my birthday. I wait for it almost like a ten year old does. Will there be any surprises? Will I get any special treats? Will someone send me flowers? Will there be a party? I scarcely admit all of this to myself, but I know I wait for something magical to happen every year. Something that will make me feel like a princess (sic)!

Of course, as the years pass, and I see more and more birthdays, my expectations go lower and lower... but my hopes don't. Only my way of admitting those hopes changes. Earlier, I'd honestly hope for a surprise party, or a gift that I'd waited for a long time, or a home delivered bouquet of flowers... anything - anything out of the ordinary. Now, I tell myself not to. But of course, I still do! And when nothing as big as what I'd want happens, somewhere inside I feel like a complete idiot for having waited so eagerly.

The whole things is quite idiotic, of course. By any standards, I always have a good birthday. I'm usually at home with my parents, or with close friends. There's generally a small party, and of course there are gifts.. and those who are not with me call me up. And like every year, that is how it was today also. It's been a good day.

But I'm still waiting.... maybe next year...?

Drawn..

A white winged beauty
soars, swoops low, drawn in madness
to rippling mirrors





I wish I had a camera when I saw this....

Silent Birth

quiet shadows beckon
the heart hears a silent call
a thought is born...


Ummm... are we allowed to use active tenses in a haiku? I keep feeling that these lines don't have the feel of a haiku... any suggestions, anybody?