YOUR ATTITUDE DEFINES WHO YOU ARE!

Attitude is the often ‘spoken and heard’ word today,

What exactly is an attitude, I wondered aloud one day?

An attitude is ‘the way a person thinks and behaves’,

At least this is what the dictionary meaning conveys!

We come across, attitudes of so many different kinds,

They are a reflection of what goes on in human minds.

Whether an attitude is right or wrong, it’s hard to define,

And between two perceptions, there can be a fine line!

It is sad to see people carrying a ‘high and mighty’ attitude,

And always making it a point to be generally, nasty and rude.

In contrast, some others strive to be calm, poised and polite,

And they automatically,respect and love, from others invite!

Those, who are ever judging others, fail to judge themselves,

As they are actually emotionally upset with their own selves,

Those, who with every word and action spell and spill humour,

Often hide their pain and anguish, under their calm demeanour!

There is a ‘never mind’ attitude and a ‘devil may care’ attitude,

One that is ‘forever apologetic’ and one ‘without any gratitude’!

‘I am the best’ attitude is often found among not the very best,

And ‘I am good for nothing’ is drawing sympathy from the rest!

Yet, individual perception of attitudes, when kept aside,

The kind of person one is, attitude can help others decide.

The right attitudes are sure to take you a long way in life,

And the wrong attitude can add to your misery and strife!

 It is true that humility does not come easily to a lot of people,

But when acquired, it does make the attitude softer and subtle.

Let us change our attitude to one, more pleasant and profound,

And make peace with our own selves and with others around!

I was one of the privileged few who had the opportunity of studying in St.Mary’s Convent, Allahabad...a school with stuff that dreams are made of....making me everything that I am today...coming second only to the upbringing my parents gave me...giving me memories that would last a lifetime,,.this poem is dedicated to all my sisters and school mates, specially Manjula Shetty with whom I have always been in touch since 45 years,,,

I am sure they all would identify with this poem.

Memories of my school...the stuff that dreams are made of...

My school, an unforgettable experience, I don’t mind repeating at any cost,

In an almost fairytale setting, with a campus so huge, one could get lost.

The unique combination of antique and modern edifices thrown together,

And winding corridors, adorned with gothic pillars, boldly defying weather.

The gigantic, dome shaped gymnasiums, standing proud and well equipped,

For many decades, by thousands of children, to be ransacked and frisked.

The beautiful drive-in bringing in animated schoolmates every fine morning,

And sending them off to their homes after a memorable day, in the evening.

Each day was a day of learning not just academics but lessons of life itself,

That would make each one of us a better person, absolutely sure of oneself.

The discipline and the drive, the bonding and the building of special relations,

Were the characteristic features that set my school apart from many millions.

Sports was so beautifully integrated and highlighted in the education process,

It groomed my personality and persona with a confidence, I till date possess.

Needlework could not have been imparted, with more finesse and perfection,

Helping me become creative and able to handle with ease, my ‘home section’.

Art was taught with so much passion and patience, it was simply loved by me,

Enhancing my creativity to an extent, that an artist was soon born within me.

The auditorium with the grand piano on the stage created an ethereal ambience,

And music played such a special role in my school life, I still feel its resonance,

Sister Elizabeth singing soulfully and playing the piano with her magical fingers,

Made me adore her songs and I soon found a place among really good singers.

Moral Science developed in me a very healthy conscience and the right values,

And the love and caring environment, would certainly drive away all the blues.

Language skills were painstakingly developed, by passionate teachers, very able,

And inculcating in me good reading habits, through a treasure of books available.

If the English language was taught by listening, speaking and writing correctly,

The national language Hindi and ancient Sanskrit were also taught compulsorily.

There were a lot of opportunities for exhibiting my talents during various concerts,

Exhibitions, competitions, the Sports and Annual Days, which were major events.

Above all the sisters that tiptoed around the campus with composure and calm,

Created an aura of spirituality and security ensuring that there can be no harm.

The most vivid memories are the visits to the chapel, kneeling down in reverence,

And Reverend mother on rounds, her dachshund close on heels, her looks intense.

The environment of the school had on me, a very profound and penetrating effect,

Shaping me into one, with integrity and the ability to deeply reflect and introspect.

Among all those who have studied in this convent, there is really a strong connection,

No matter how far and wide they have spread, and which field they may have chosen.

They are still strongly attracted to each other, almost like opposite poles of a magnet,

Thanks to face book and twitter which have helped many of us reunite and reconnect.

I was indeed fortunate to be part of such a school, which today, is really rare to find,

And I am proud to be a part of a truly great learning experience, only one of its kind!

EVERY DROP COUNTS

 Every drop of water ,adds up to make many a mighty ocean and sea,

Creating huge waves, infusing our body and mind with boundless energy.

Every drop of the golden Sun, adds up to form the expansive daylight,

Lighting and warming up the earth, making it look so beautiful and bright.

Every drop of air, adds up to create the divine life force flowing constantly,

Moving in and out of innumerable living beings, sustaining lives incessantly.

Every drop of fertile soil, adds up to make the glorious and generous earth,

Producing food for the populations over generations, without any dearth.

Every drop of nectar adds up into a swirling and surging sea of sweetness,

Attracting swarms of bees to the blushing blooms through their fragrance.  

Every drop of matter, adds up to create on the globe, the vast environment,

 Enabling huge ecosystems to thrive and coexist by becoming interdependent.

Every living cell, adds up to form , a really mammoth variety of living creatures,

By producing off springs, generation after generation, with diverse features.

Every drop of blood, adds up to form a powerful, pulsating, perpetual flow,

Gushing inside a living body, giving it the energy boost and the radiant glow.

Every drop of grey matter, adds up to create a colossal network of neurons,

 Stimulating and triggering the brain to control all the thoughts and actions.

Every drop of love, adds up to create a universal bond bringing people closer,

Giving meaning to relationships and existence, winning hearts over and over.

  

The bygone era of letter writing

Where has the golden era of ‘letter writing’ disappeared,

When letters were lovingly penned down, read and heard?

Where has the magic of exchanging letters, just vanished ,

When love and care, was through letters, communicated?

Letters were the precious little gifts for many generations,

To exchange good and bad news, and sharing our emotions.

From a letter to your loved one to a letter to a dear friend,

The joy of sending and receiving letters, had simply no end.

The love letters, popular among all, the young and the old,

The letters sharing the darkest of secrets, never to be told .

Letters speaking of exciting journeys and adventures galore,

Letters transcending boundaries, barriers and many a shore.

Abraham Lincoln’s famous letter, sent to his son’s headmaster,

Inspired millions in the past and will continue to do so, ever after .

Letters to Indira Gandhi sent by her father Nehru, from the prison,

Make interesting reading till date, for every Indian daughter risen.

The cell phone was a great invention and so was the computer,

But sadly they restricted letter writing to facebook and twitter.

Today it is a task to be accomplished only during the examination,

Or reduced to either that of writing an application or a resignation.

Those who have exchanged intimate letters with friends and family,

Have for long treasured them and preserved them ever so carefully.

The eternal charm of penning and posting letters cannot be described,

The bygone era of letter writing needs to be revoked and revived.

   

The musings of an adorable pug

This poem was penned down by me last year,I have added two more paras today, based on my experiences with my adorable pug in the past few months and wish to share it again! It would require a patient reading but believe me, it would be absolutely  worth it,specially for those, known to this adorable pug and all other animal lovers!

 I am the special one! I am the special one!

There is no other one like me under the sun!

I do not remember when I was actually born,

But I do remember feeling so lost and forlorn,

As, one fine day, when I was barely 45 days old,

I would have to travel up to Borivali, I was  told.

Curled up snugly in a green basket, I wondered,

Where was I being taken and simply shuddered,

Thinking, what was in store for me in the future,

And prepared myself for an amazing adventure.

When my basket cover was opened in the pet shop,

I jumped out in a jiffy with a quick jump, skip and hop.

 I ignored the screaming and gaping of few strangers,

And braced myself for the probable lurking dangers.

To my utter surprise, a girl picked me and kissed me,

And three other persons looked lovingly at poor me.

You bet, I felt wanted and welcomed by this family,

So soon I was on my way to my new abode happily.

In the car ride to my home, I was very curious indeed,

If my new home would have, the love and care I need .

When I entered my new home, it was love at first sight,

Within few minutes of entering inside,I lost all my fright,

I broke into a run from one end of the house to the other,

I was glad to make my family break into a hearty laughter.

From then on it was a happy journey of knowing my family,

And the new environment and also other dogs in the vicinity.

My family loved to show me off to other men and women,

But I liked most, being admired and petted by the children.

Soon enough I became known as quite a famous personality,

As I got to meet more and more people in my new locality .

A bit more about my family and with them, my relationship,

How I grew with them and struck with them a great kinship.

My papa, a bit scared of me, would try avoiding me initially,

He, later on went on to become my best friend surprisingly.

My mother, loved me and took me to school every single day,

She called me 'educated' and in her cabin would let me stay.

My brother, had to leave, the very next day, for his work city,

But I sniffed him enough to know that he is a pet lover and witty.

My sister, the main reason I joined this family, simply adored me,

She fed me, bathed me and in all possible ways, pampered me.

Talking of bath, reminds me of my naughty and mischievous ways,

Which gave my family members, several fun filled and happy days.

I loved to dodge after my bath and give my sister and mom a chase,

And believe me they used to love it when I curled up for a mad race.

My special tactics were, tricking papa into taking me for an extra walk,

And being able to communicate every possible thing without a talk.

My love for raw mangoes and ripe chikoos, took me for an extra round,

And that brought all the kids and even the watchmen in the compound.

Here, I would like to share a secret with one and all about myself today,

I always did an extra prank only because it kept my family happy and gay.

There were many other family members I met over the years,

Aunts and Uncles, from India and Canada, many nears and dears.

My favourite one was an adorable sister, her chubby cheeks all red

Coming all the way from Canada, she brought for me my lovely bed.

But my most unforgettable journey in the four years that I have lived,

Was the first ever flight and stay in the city where my brother resided.

And when he got married, I could not hold my excitement, in the least,

Merrily I met many more family members and joined in the gala feast .

When I met my bhabhi, she was too shy and literally scared of me,

But now she loves me too and wants to own another pug like me.

That was about my family but there are lot many other people too,

Who have loved me and took care of me and of course they still do.

A family of four, that took me over a few times and simply loves me,

And the maid and the driver who take turns to look after me, you see.

Once on friendship day the kids made me blush and bloat with pride,

When around my neck, colourful friendship bands they lovingly tied.

People, who meet me once or twice, are not able to forget me easily,

They keep asking about my well being, to which I swirl my tail merrily.

I consider myself lucky to be showered with so much love and care,

Yes, thank God, I am the special one, I can with modest pride declare!

Of late, through my sickness and sadness, I have had a realization,

That special ones too have to go through many a trial and tribulation.

We dogs, take away the pain and suffering,even negativity and stress,

Of family members ,friends and strangers in exchange of positiveness.

And we pugs have a history  of having lived in the Tibetian Monastries,

And have a deep understanding of Spirituality and life's 'Many Mysteries'.

These special qualities made me vulnerable and gave me sickness and pain,

But it saddens me to see my nears and dears , worry and cry for me in vain.

Their sincere prayers have done wonders and kept me alive all this while,

For which, I would easily do anything more, to make them happy and smile.

I want them and all others to know and realize this fact,once and for all, 

That to lead a selfless life and suffer for the sake of others,is not easy at all.

In the bargain,we tend to attract sickness and pain from all those around us,

And we do this, without complaining or taking credit and bare minimum fuss.

We cannot speak but we understand more than what is,'said and explained',

We believe in serving faithfully, without bothering about what we have gained.

We sure have a shorter life span and lesser privileges than the human beings,

But we still consider ourselves as specially blessed and fortunate living beings.

And since I belong to this wonderful species, so sensitive and full of spirituality,

I am indeed very special and so proud of my 'blessed life and unique identity'!

GOD BLESS ALL THE DOGS AND PETS THAT ARE SO 

ADORABLE AND BRING SO MUCH MORE LOVE AND

 MEANING INTO OUR LIVES!

       

Datta Aunty

Dear Datta  Aunty

Datta aunty ,we remember you as being tall and dignified,

And in the true sense, being beauty and grace personified.

We will really miss and cherish your warm, enigmatic smile,

For very many days to come and for a really long, long while.

You and Uncle really made, such a delightful couple together,

Memories of you both hand in hand, shall remain with us forever.

We will miss you for a lot many days and a lot many seasons,

But we will specially miss you on some very special occasions.

Celebrating Navratri with ‘sare bolo jai mata di’ in your voice,

Will certainly be missed but we really do not have any choice.

Whenever we celebrate Karvachauth, we will miss you presence,

And also on Ganesh Chaturthi , we shall surely feel your absence.

But we are sure you are watching us from the stars and beyond,

As with so many of us in Ekta Woods, you shared a special bond.

We are grateful to you for showering on us, so many  blessings.   

We pray to God that your soul may forever rest in eternal bliss.

 A VICTIM OR A PERPETRATOR ?

Exploitation and Victimization very much exist and may go up to any level,

 It could be of either kind, mental or physical and personal or professional.

Power and position are often known to turn people into fierce competitors,

And those far below in the hierarchy, probably end up becoming sufferers.

Exploitation often stems from a deep rooted human trait of discrimination,

And that of having insecurity, thereby soon turning into a compelling obsession.

Obsession possibly, eventually drives an exploiter to becoming a perpetrator,

And he soon starts victimizing others, thinking himself to be far more superior.

Another interesting facet of the relation between the victim and the perpetrator,

Is a very subtle dividing line between the two, acting as a thin band or separator.

And this factor, very subtle indeed, is interestingly that of an individual perception,

So irrespective of what appears to be, it may be just the reverse of the actual situation.

A victim could be the actual perpetrator and the victimizer the one who is the victim,

The equation between the two is so subtle, that chances of others finding out are dim.

The mind games that people play are of an incomprehensible and complex nature,

For all those who are outside the scenario of that of the victim and the perpetrator.

What makes all the difference to the actual reality of this wicked game is perception,

Often the cleverer one of the two, ends up giving it an altogether different dimension.

Confused? Well it is a complicated situation, understood only through your experiences,

Purely depending on how long or how deep you have been in either of these influences.

My appeal to all the perpetrators, disguising themselves as victims, playing with emotions,

Is to stop playing these dangerous games and be open and forthright about all the relations.

You may succeed and fool the entire world but your own conscience you can never evade,

For ‘ how  well you have lived your life’ is what matters and not ‘how well you have played’