Give so you make someone glad
Give so you light up a face that is sad
Give,fill your heart with compassion
Give ,make a humane connection.

Give,make this world look good
Give money,give time, give food
Give so your soul smiles wide
Give ,bring a smile to the lips that cried

Give because god gave you so much
Give ,bless the hearts that you touch
Give,let humanity bloom
Give ,wipe away all gloom

Give,so you never see someone who has less
Give,so we never see a life in a mess
Give because the lord chose you to
Give…..You are amongst the fortunate few.

Give so you live……Not a life that is long but a life that is complete.

The sky at dawn, a hope, a beginning

The breeze, the sun and the birds singing

A new day so pure, untouched and clean

A new page, a new start, new hopes seen

The sun rises up and above

Filling one and all with light and love

As we begin to write another story, to learn and to teach

And push ourselves to the best we can reach

Life happens, it never stops

Morning into afternoon and afternoon to evening it hops

Smile or frown, swim or drown

Life happens it never stops.

So thank God for each second, each moment, each breath

The mornings we enjoy, the sun and the sweat

Thank God for each lovely day

Words of gratitude to praise his way

Write to him, say you love his creations

The gift of life, with love its emotion

Mornings.. They only say a thing

Never mind the worries, fly to the sky.. Spread your wing!

There is a magical place on this planet. It recharges your body, rejuvenates your soul and enlightens your senses , bringing you back to your roots and bringing back that smile on your face, long forgotten under the burden of life as an adult responsible and accountable for whatever you do.

Where is this place ?You may ask.Is it a holiday destination or a scenic spot?

No, it isn’t a holiday destination.

It is the place where you first lived as a child..Where you were born. Where you took your first steps .It is the place where you cried regretting the start of life at school .It is the place where you felt taken care of ,like the little bird nestled comfortably in its nest away from the dangers and insecurities of the outside world.

Your place of birth.

Your home.For many of us that place may no longer look like it used to..It may have put on a new face, the surroundings may be different from what they used to be ,but that magical spot on this earth still stays…And the moment you set foot on this magical terrain ,memories of your childhood come gushing down from your brain to your heart filling the insides of you with a sense of belonging..Like Mother Earth just waiting there with open arms to comfort her child who was far away .Dealing with life, learning ,getting hurt,sometimes feeling alone and traumatised by the harshness of what life has to offer.

Visit your place of birth whenever you can. However far you may be. Make it a point. Do not cut yourself from its love and magic. It is a place where the trees and the streams, the birds and the bushes ,the sky and the air around….All know you .They seem to be happy to see you . They look like they were a part of your journey growing up..

And just spending sometime amongst them brings back the assurance that life is good.No matter where we live there is a place on this planet that is ours and forever will be.

I leave today to be with my family ,my children,my husband to a faraway land . But i am filled with gratitude for having being able to spend a wonderful fortnight in my magical place on earth….My place of birth…My home.

The messy floor, the dirty dishes

The curtains, the sheets and the covers

Can wait till its their cleaning session

‘Coz i need a vacation!!

No matter how expensive the tickets seem

and “we will soon be full”, the hotels scream

I can’t wait to get to the beaches and sand

Can’t wait to land into such mystic land.

Sunglasses, beach wear and the spectacular hat

Fancy slippers,the camera and my fluffy cat

they beg me , they haunt my dreams

They need a vacation too.. it seems!!

So why think twice when you need a break

Pack your bags for almighty’s sake

Live a life full of zest and passion..

For our minds to function……..We all need a vacation!!!!!!

I am writing after a long time today.Not because I ran out of topics ,but because I was pressed for time and the pen seemed such a distant friend suddenly.

I moved to a whole new country.Leaving behind friends,parents,my home,the places I loved and also leaving behind memories of the country I was born and brought up in.However impeccably you plan your life and arrange events in your life to be the way you want them to be ,life never fails to surprise you.We all have a certain mindset about how tomorrow will turn out to be.You know for sure certain things are going to happen and day will unfold as it is supposed to .

I was prepared to move.I was happy and I relentlessly packed my belongings,my books,my entire life to fit into the meagre amount of baggage allowance I was allowed by the airline.Like an obedient child of life I packed my joys, my sorrows,my doubts and worries amidst memories of yesteryears. It was tough.Though with all your will you are keen on the new beginning it is the comfort of the city ,the town where you grew up which refuses to let go .As the day neared ,I thought about the life I lived and the life that was about to begin.

And then I looked up at the sky and said to myself ,this sky is one.Under this very sky we dwell as one whole world divided by boundaries and territories.So what if it was a different country I would live in.It would still be under this very sky….It was a bizarre attempt at consoling myself that I would be fine.That I would adapt soon to the new way of life awaiting me. Nevertheless we know from the age of Neanderthals that humans are excellent examples when it comes to adapting.We blend in.We move on.

The essence of life is moving ahead.Though in our minds we are rooted to the place we were born,where we lived as a child,we hold the hands of life and stroll along wherever she takes us wherever we belong,wherever our destiny is.

Now here I am in a complete new environment,new people and new experiences coming my way.I tell myself each day ,you have seen something new today,learnt to speak the language of the land though very little..It is a start….It motivates you..It gives you an assurance saying you shall soon be one among them.It is not long before you see this new place as your own and then begins a whole new world of new memories you make here ..till its time to move again.

Dedicated to all of you who have migrated from your countries of birth to a whole new world.There may be more journeys still left to encounter…It only means you are moving forward and thats all that matters because in life there should be no regrets and no looking back……..

Relationships..Our need to survive.A Connection that grows deeper or fades away as the years go by.How much do we value our relationships.How much is our social well-being dependant on our relationships with family, friends and the community in general.

Most important of all relationships is the relationship between two people in love.

Love.what is love?Is it something that deserves a place in our lives where each day is a struggle to survive and prove ourselves..

When you are in love it is a wonderful feeling.A feeling of being complete.Every individual walking this planet craves for love,craves for being accepted and for the attention that says you are special.Many of us experience walking in paradise when the relationship between two individuals is healthy , positive and beneficial towards each other’s mental well-being.

But what happens when such a relationship hits rocky shores.Reason may be lack of trust,failure to understand each other’s strengths,concentrating on each other’s weaknesses and bringing them up too often and above all EGO.Are these two individuals struggling on their personal front able to perform their very best in respective work areas.Many a times not really..There is a constant need among us to belong.Thus someone who finds little or no love at home pushes himself or herself into being a workaholic so that they experience a sense of belonging towards work if not towards someone they love.

For those who are emotionally sensitive and value relationships more than anything,it may be devastating.They may not be able to corelate things at work and stay aloof when among family and friends.

Ninety percent of problems in a relationship arise due to misunderstandings and assumptions about each other.Ten percent fail due to non compatibility.

So how do we help prevent a relationship from going kaput whereby the two in love, secretly in their hearts hope to see a solution and want togetherness.

It is simple.Yet can be difficult to implement.For once let go of your ego and give in.Open yourself up to the most important person in your life and express your feelings and your fears.Convey to your partner the satisfaction you enjoy when you are being loved and cared for.

Love reciprocates love.

It is an emotion so pure,it struggles to surface from under the dust of ego.It may be painful to forget the negativity that was between the two,step ahead and say sorry.. Nevertheless just do it. And then watch the power of love being unleashed.

People survived the worst case scenarios at the camps of Auschwitz during the Holocaust just because they never gave up on hope of seeing their loved one again.

People have conquered the impossible just because their loved one believed they could.

People have recovered from incurable diseases just because they saw themselves growing old and holding hands with the one they loved.

Such is the power of love and relationships.They are like the sunshine which helps life grow.They are like the rain that soothes the ground.They are like the mountains that sheild us from the harsh cold winds.

Relationship is something our life is woven around.A loved one is the axis around whom our life revolves.until we die…And hope to be loved again wherever we are destined to be born.

So in this fast paced world ,as you finish a day at your workplace pick up flowers or may be a dessert to say how sweet your loved one has been to you.. Reciprocate the love.

Because this is the only one emotion that shall stay on forever,long after you and me exit this planet.

Happy Valentine’s week to you all and may you find Love,stay in Love and keep falling in Love..Because falling in Love is truly rising to the wonderful and content filled days of your life!!!!!

Life is about giving back to this world in your own small way as long as you have your time here.Therefore each of us is destined to be someone.. a doctor,an engineer ,a businessman ,a businesswoman,a teacher ,a speaker ,a technician,a plumber and the list goes on.Each of them have their own way of giving back to the society we live in.Some in form of services and some in form of developing others to be better human beings.

I had decided early out of high school that I would be a flight attendant.Though it had been an attractive career choice for decades,it still remained difficult for many to fit into the shoes of a flight attendant..That made the profession even more sought after..At the same time there were many who detested my choice saying I wanted to be a flight attendant  only to enjoy the wild glamorous world of aviation and in the bargain tarnish my image of being a good ,simple and sweet  girl in the neighborhood.

I was aghast at how many assumptions and impressions were carved on peoples’ minds regarding flying as a career.They only looked at it as wearing short skirts ,bright lipstick and honey trapping the pilots in order to enjoy life that revolved around Rolex,Louis Vuitton and Versace..

No one ever gave it a thought that flying is a great way to give back to the society….Yeah ,u may ask…And how is that?In what way?

When I chose flying it wasn’t because I would get to wear a dazzling uniform , bright make up and look good.It was because I always thought I could share kindness,care and humility with the people I would fly.Also i wasn’t attracted by the destinations i would fly to.I always put my rest first whenever I flew long haul, although seeing almost every country in the world is one of the many priceless perks of flying.

I had always been a quiet,shy and a closed individual at heart.I would always think that people are making an impression about me as I am talking to them.So i wouldn’t say much and choose to be shut.That way they would only know me on the outside and never judge me as a person..I was petrified of being judged ,of being labelled as dumb or boring or just an average  kid or anything of that sort.

Flying gave me an opportunity to open myself to people without the fear of being judged.You just had those few minutes or may be those few hours on a long haul to connect to someone and then never see them again..But these few moments of courteous and genuine conversation created a positive aura around you and the guest .It was such a wonderful feeling that I could make a connection with a complete stranger, make him comfortable, get to know him or her a little and converse about how life treated us in our own ways..It did break the ice but most importantly it made me feel confident,valued, grateful and content.

When guests board your aircraft and you are standing at the door greeting them ,it is easy to notice that every mind climbing up the step ladder or the aerobridge is preoccupied with something.Someone on a vacation is hoping all goes well,someone on a business trip is mentally rehearsing his or her presentation,an old parent flying to see their child is already thinking how much he or she will be missing them once they have to fly back…..There are endless thoughts that I can list here.Each of them carry a psychological baggage which is much heavier than the one in their hands.

In your role as a flight attendant you have the power to ease their psychological baggage during the few hours of flight and in the bargain get to know them a little better.Sure  sometimes many of these small conversations result into lifelong friendships and even sometimes a very special bond between you two…But mostly it is just a healthy conversation that you and the guest enjoy and the latter feels much lighter and relaxed when he alights the plane a while later.

Flying gave me many  such opportunities and endless wonderful conversations .Some with normal people like you and me,some with famous celebrities (and it surprised me to know how they faced problems similar to ours in their daily lives),some with very old citizens who could paint their canvas called life so beautifully and also some guests who were ill and but had not given up on life .
What you give back to the society as a flight attendant is this tender touch of emotion and a heartfelt concern towards the people you fly with.It is magical how they respond when they see that motherly care in your eyes and submit themselves to you like a child wanting more from his mother.

I had a guest tell me once that he never spoke so much at length or so openly to anyone in his life before and that in those few minutes his perspective of life had changed.He said to me “you have a positive aura around you which I can feel when we are speaking.”I did not quiet understand what that means but I was wondering how lonely can people be..He was living alone all his life away from his busy parents and he always felt that void ,so could never make friends or could never speak his mind out to anyone.He just went on with life like it was a formality.

Conversations on flight can begin over anything.Over food,over the temperature,over the reason for travel and then  when things take off from there ,you get to know how different people live their lives differently . If you are able to share their joys and sorrows and also talk about your struggles and achievements, it is a wonderful human touch that you are leaving on his or her mind which will go a long way ,thus making you feel happy and connected..After all ,stranger or friend we all belong to one race called the human race and we all go through our lives wanting support ,love and a hand to hold.

Today I am not flying anymore and I miss my passion more than words can say but I am so filled with gratitude for the millions of words exchanged , the petit conversations and the magical memories i made along with my guests..They became my extended family …And the aircraft my second home…

Truly with flying you give  so much to this society.You share smiles,warmth and help people find comfort speaking to a complete stranger and it is astonishing how someone could open up to you, which he or she wouldn’t if you met him or her on the streets or in a park ,just jogging besides you.

Fly…

Fly like the bird no worries,no why

Fly ,spread your wings ,don’t be shy

Fly,through the clouds ,through the endless sky

Fly….Just fly…….Just fly….Just fly!

I thought I’d make friends with life

So I asked her to introduce herself,

What did she do? ,How did she look?

And did she come with a rulebook?

I said to life,”will you always be my friend?”

She looked dazed with  pale look on her face

She said she would love to be good to me

But then,how would I learn and be strong,said she.

I said to life,”Be a friend and walk along.”

She said,”I am always there in your sorrow and song”

I pleaded to life,”Why must you be rough?”

She replied,”Dont fret it dear,life is tough.”

Life said its upto us how we look at her

With  smile and hope or with a mind full of fear ,

She said she is a journey with ups and downs

Milestones we conquer and sometimes shaky grounds.

Life said she is a teacher,she lets you choose,

Whether you follow the rules or let yourself loose

Life says nothing ,she only passes by

As you lie in the woods ,wondering why.

I recently happened to have an addiction to a TV show that aired sometime ago on American television.Yes…Desperate Housewives.

All my years when i was a working woman,i neither had the time nor the inclination to be on social media or see television or visit the theatre or anything related .Simply because it was just home and work for me.I had no time or the strength to follow episode after episode of a TV show or even go watch a movie.

So now when i was desperate enough as a housewife ,i came across this show on a video subscription i paid for.And before i knew i was hooked on to it .Speaking psychologically,there is so much to learn from these women.Though all of them are not perfect as women,each of them has something that is a part of us.Every character has a trait that is our trait too and when it shows up we are like ,”Ohh!i feel the same way.this is me.”

So today i want to pen down certain life lessons learnt from these lovely ladies that we must incorporate into our lives too.

Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo:———–Lynette’s traits: a mother of 5, a full time mom,a loving wife,a control freak and a lady who likes raising her kids to be responsible adults.What i learn from Lynette is ,as mothers we may sometimes take our children for granted,sometimes we may be able to do nothing about the decisions they take and sometimes we may just need to nod our heads and listen to them.As a mom,a wife ,a daughter in law you become a punching bag of sorts for everybody’s emotions and no matter how much of a talk you want to give to your kids ,husband or your in laws ,they may not always be interested.On the contrary as you try to correct and control them ,they erupt like the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii leaving you all burnt and disgusted.So to other desperate housewives you may seem like you are in control , but deep inside you know things are way too haphazard when it comes to family.And that is alright!! Yes it is!None of us are perfect you see!

Teri Hatcher as Susan Delphino:——————Susan’s traits:sexy ,a romantic at heart,a doting mother,a loving wife and also a go getter.When i see Susan i like her never give up attitude.whether it is a financial crunch or a woman trying to steal her man she will go to any limits to save her family and keep it together.It is not easy when your man is the center of attraction for another woman.It is never an easy affair.Here the trust between you and your man proves to be an electric fence around him that no other woman can trespass.Also what I learn from Susan is when you need to provide a helping hand to run your family ,you do what it takes.It may turn out to be a risky job sometimes and not all jobs offer you security and peace of mind , nevertheless they bring in the money.(however please do not read ‘ANY JOB’here ..Only those jobs that keep your dignity and character intact.and yes, always keep your partner in the loop about what you are up to).Susan also taught me that home is where the heart is.It is only in your home that you feel in place and at peace.

Marcia Gross as Bree Van de kam:————-Bree’s traits: hardworking,a bit self centered,a businesswoman,smart,practical and also a loving mother to her children.Not to forget Bree has always been the little girl on the inside although the numbers may add to her age on the outside.Talking about it ,don’t we all love being the girl we were at 16?Ohh yes we do!Nobody likes being old and acting their age no matter how much their bodies ask them to.We love to look younger,dress younger and feel younger.And that’s how it should be…Age should just be a number to define your time on this planet since you inhabitated it.Talking about being practical, we need to be practical whilst dealing with people whom we come across.You have got to say a no when you feel like saying it and a yes should always be reserved for circumstances that make you happy.You need to feel important from within.You got to be self centered to a limit and value yourself..Or else ,no one else will .

Eva Longoria Parker as Gabriel Solis:—————–Gabby’s traits:she loves her girls,still misses her modelling career,selfish but only for the sake of her family’s interest, hyperactive about raising her children right and a truly helpful friend whenever you need her.when you are born a girl I think the word sacrifice comes attached with the umbilical cord.You may not sacrifice anything all your childhood even when you are a young girl.You may make your career choices,you live your best life and splurge the money you earn on yourself.All this until you fall in love and now one more person is a priority in addition to your own self.So for this love,you sacrifice.Sacrifice your career,move to another town, city or country leaving your family behind,you cook though the thought of kitchen and the heat in there irks you.Yet you do all this…For love.And you may not always be appreciated.You may be questioned about how you raise your children,how you prioritize,how much more time you spend on yourself than your family and how criminal that is.

Not everyone may step into your shoes and see what it feels like .But they are forever at your door with a basket full of freshly baked advice.What i like about Gabriel is she is proud of who she is,proud of her choices,proud of her girls and she does not let anybody let her change that belief.She misses her career once in a while but then she is filled with gratitude when she looks at her family smiling and happy together.When i see Gabriel ,i see myself missing my job,the person I loved to be but yes I also think to myself, tonight I am in bed with my kids by my side and I don’t have to put on make up and rush for a midnight flight across the Atlantic..Sometimes life takes ,sometimes life gives.

I have been learning all my life from people around me and their takes on life.Every single detail on how they deal with circumstances provide me with an insight and a solution.What else do you call life? It is the sum total of people you meet ,experiences you gain and lessons you learn.

So I am sure each of you find a little part of you in these women and yes if you still haven’t come across them,take a look !!!