Reflections 2013

It was 4.25 a.m, and I woke up all of a sudden with no fight with my mind. I was very clear that it was Monday morning and I had to wake up early to prepare breakfast before my husband leaves to work.

I quickly then washed my face and prepared the bed tea, following  then with the preparation of breakfast! My husband asked me if I was feeling sleepy as it was very cold…I firmly said no no. I got to spend practice few exercises and then read books once I finish my work. It was surprising for me to see the firm thought coming out from me.

Soon after my husband left I walked into my room to get myself ready for doing some exercises, when I stumbled upon myself in the mirror. I looked slimmer. I was confused if had lost some weight or it was just a false imagination. Whatever I did smile feeling slimmer reflection in the mirror…

I went on with my first exercise. Since I resumed my exercise after a gap of 1 week I thought it might be hard for me to bend and stretch my muscles. But no, to my surprise, my first exercise of bending was smoother and better than before! OK ..this pulled my spirits up and I went ahead with 2,3 and 4…all running smoother and nicer!

Then came the meditation part when I was really trying to listen to my mind…Trying it from a long time I always used to get distracted with n number of thoughts…but today it looked as if my mind was whispering its thoughts to me slowly and I patiently heard them…..

May be because as soon as I woke up I was trying to figure out if it was Dec 30 or 31st ….It was the reflections of my good and bad moments of this year that I was seeing as I my mind reflected it to me…..and further down I try to take the positive learning's with me to the next year!

I learnt a lot reading the spiritual articles from "Speaking Tree" Saturday editions from Times of India. Cutting few interesting articles from the paper and saving them for future reads kept me occupied with some beautiful thoughts. It strengthened my attitude for I am more understanding and positive this year! I have no complaints to God, yet I pray to him daily, deriving a source of satisfaction and courage from my few minutes of conversation with the almighty!

Thanks to one of my friends for sharing some interesting videos about the achievements of abnormal people around. I understood how spoilt I am being normal and left with so many choices with me. I had so many choices for everything and anything that my focus was lost!

Since that realization, I tried to lessen my choices and stay focused. Outcome, I did complete few online courses end of this year and used my time in a much valuable manner. I am happy to feel little knowledgeable with myself than I was before.

I also learnt about Perseverance during this period of learning with the MOOCs(Massive Open Online Courses). Their weekly deadline for viewing every video lecture and attempting the quizzes + assignments, credits, kept me hooked to the course and learn what I wanted.  I learnt to manage my time better, finding some free time to pursue what I liked and work sincerely to accomplish my goals.

Thanks to my husband who supported me in pursuing what I wanted and also lend an ear every evening to listen to my learning/development experience with the courses. Thanks to my brother,sister-in-law,friends, cousins for reviewing my assignments before submissions.

Thanks to another friend of mine who just over a chat on the phone made me realize how important is it to warm up the body early in the morning as important it is to brush our teeth or eat. Since then I tried to follow a 15 minutes schedule to stretch and energize my muscles and then I got to realize the value  pressure in any work.Initially it was hard for me to push myself to exercise everyday as my target was higher! I felt like a burden to wake up thinking I have to exercise (which is painful at the starting).

I corrected myself lowering the target and then the pressure on the same. I set my schedule for 3 days in a week with exercise and by chance if I had dozed off, I used to pat myself and say it is OK no big deal, I will do it tomorrow. With smaller targets, I got more success and much more energy and motivation aggravated in leading to bigger success.I learnt the importance of continuity too.Now its over several months, I do not wake up with a regret or burden….I practice regularly my exercise regime and I feel more fit than before…maybe results of this continuous effort that I looked slimmer in the mirror J

Following my exercise I spent the next few mins with a cup of coffee glancing through the news paper at my terrace. The column “How I start my day” in Sunday’s Life edition from Times of India helped me learn some good ways of benefiting from the early morning times and outcome, compared to last year there are very few days this year when I have really slept like hell , waking up very late and feeling lost with time!This also got me the chance of rejoicing the joy of fresh mornings. I went for regular walks in my township admiring the kitchen garden in front of every house, greeting the flowers, vegetables and the Sun.

Last but not least, thanks to my mother for tracking me time to time and helping me learn how to stay organized, be systematic and perfect in anything and everything you do. Planning well in advance about my days' activities, staying focused helped me avoid wasting time thinking what to do everyday! and  so on every time I get a compliment from my friends who visit my house be it for my culinary skills or for the ambiance of our house, I owe all the credits to my mom. No doubt, following her advises and path I feel a better homemaker this year than before!!

Winding up with what l I heard from my mind, when I see this is going to be my 100th post in this blog of “Crazy Lazy Mind to Effective Mind”, I feel yes maybe over this span of 5 years crazy mind has learnt at least a bit now to be effective.

Thanks to my team lead who motivated me to get started with blogging in 2007 and I really feel happy to publish my 100th post today.

Happy New Year!!

Cheers,

Akshatha

Few seconds with the Almighty

Waking up early in the morning, staying in the bed calm for few mins, feeling the silence, then following it up with few stretches, short walk etc get me ready for the day all with highly motivating positive energy.

After my shower, I generally pray God for couple of mins. At times I feel I am chanting some spiritual mantras just as a regular habit,or at times feel like greeting God and at times I feel I am talking to God (be it one-way,yet soothing to me as I can just pour down all my unlimited worries). I never really bothered or even attempted to see if I could hear back his responses...

However, guess the almighty has been firm in making me hear his responses this week.Thanks to Times Of India news paper(www.speakingtree.in Saturday publication) who disguised as a messenger and brought to me his voices... 

{Source: http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/a-conversation-with-god }

and here I try to save this chat for being able to share with my friends and also to not to lose this indispensable chat with God.

I did have few seconds listening to God finally when he taught me how to live life... Not sure if he whispered the same responses to you too....here is what I also heard :)

God : Hello. Did you call me?

Me : Called you? No. Who is this?

...

God : This is GOD. I heard your prayers.

Me : I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something.

God : What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Me : Don’t know. But I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic. It’s rush hour all the time.

God : Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me : Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

God : Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me : Why are we then constantly unhappy?

God : Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your

habit. That’s why you are not happy.

Me : But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

God : Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me : But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty…

God : Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me : If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?

God : Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer.

With that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.

Me : You mean to say such experience is useful?

God : Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me : But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can’t we be free from problems?

God : PROBLEMS are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons to Enhance Mental Strength.

Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Me : Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading…

God : If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken.

Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

Me : Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?

God : Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying

than knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.

Me : In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

God : Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

Me : What surprises you about people?

God : When they suffer they ask, “why me?” When they prosper, they never ask “Why me?” Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but

few want to be on the side of the truth.

Me : How can I get the best out of life?

God : Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Me : One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

God : There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Me : Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to start the New Day with a new sense of inspiration.

God : Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don’t believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve, not a

problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live..

Thank you God, for messaging me your replies via speakingtree.in!

Cheers,

Akshatha

For me it's my mom's things

If you tell somebody 100 times something at least once it will get into their head.
Not necessarily 100 times :), just that it means many times… or if many tell you some stuff at least one persons' would be heard and followed…and yes for me it's my mom's stuff…whose many such useful tips which were once boring have helped me to lead a better life… Below are few such useful lessons or tips  shared by mom with me here and there during our tea times, or the times we cooked together or over the telecon and so on….


Today when I look back the way I have organized things lending earg to my mom's tips , I feel so good and thankful to her…. Though many have shared with me such useful stuffs, for me it's my mom's things that have paved way to settle down better with my life ….


Here goes the collection of few such tips, which might sound silly while reading, but works wonders when followed when it strikes at your heart to lend a ear to try them….


1. Wake up early and go for morning walk at least 30 mins daily
2. Soak Almonds and Fenugreek seeds at night and have them early morning empty stomach the next day, very good for health


One another such tip from my Father-in-law..


3. Drink warm water early morning empty stomach daily, even when you travel somewhere . This helps your body to be more resistant towards any infection due to any change in the environment or water.


4. Light lamps and pray God early during the day and worship Goddess Tulsi before 12 noon and along with that do Suryanamaskar

5. Similarly evening time pray God and light lamp for Tulsi before it darkens


Now since I have placed my Tulsi at the balcony, there is often wind blowing there and my diya used to turn off very soon :( ….my struggle continued with many mud lamps that come with a cover and protect the lamp from blowing away. But still my mud lamps broke often, and I ended buying lamps months after months….now my mom put a full stop for this struggle..


6. I replaced the mud lamp with a beautiful metal lamp and simply covered it with a netted stainless steel spoon stand…now my lamp glows very beautifully for long...


Following these tips have always given me positive  energy and is keeping me more peaceful and happier, now going ahead with the culinary tips


7. While making Dosa:  Use a bowl of water mixed with oil for spraying on the dosa pan before spreading the batter, this eases out removing the dosa from the pan and also help reducing oil content in the dosa

8. Drink milk and have fruits after dinner daily

9. While making maida dosa : if you are living in a hot climate then grind the urad dhal batter early in the evening and keep in the fridge, next day morning mix maida and have  it. This prevents the batter from having sour taste.


Dry chapathi although has no fat in it and good for fitness, often becomes hard if not consumed immediately after preparing. Also sometimes the wheat could add more heat to the body and therefore this tip  helps us with usage of less fat and making fluffy chapathis


10. Prepare the dough soft with warm water and little milk. Then after you roll them into small balls, flatten them first to a smaller circle, make such 4 or 5 small bases, now grease a spoon or two of fat into two of the bases, place one upon the other and spread the fat to other small bases.
Now take a knife and cut a line from the centre of the base and then roll into a new ball. Now flatten this to a bigger thin base and fry the same on the pan without any fat. The Chapthi will come out fluffy and stay softer for long. Adding little ghee or fat to the base is helpful in maintaining the body heat.


11. Upon cooking , try to wash the rims around the gas burners every alternate day or so. This helps you in keeping your Gas stove very clean. Since you would clean regularly, the rim surface would be less oily or with less stains and  so washing your gas stove or keeping in clean and tidy will not be a burden anymore.


12. Sweep your house daily and mop it at least once in a week.  Adding to this from my aunt, it is good to mop the house on Fridays or Tuesdays.

13. One from my Mother-in-law, for ladies, it is good to have head bath on Thursdays or Tuesdays and not on Saturdays.. Seems this would keep us away from difficulties and worries…


So far this much….shall keep adding more as and when they strike me…. Hope this helps the readers too…


Cheers,
Akshatha

Time Saved is Time Earned too......

Back in the mood to share some of my thoughts that derive out of my experiences I have something to pen down today….

As we all have heard about the popular phrase…"A Penny Saved in a penny earned" I must admit that "Time Saved is Time Earned too"…

Might be the crazy lazy mind is in a mood to enjoy the philosophical quotes today for when I wanted to share my tiny experience or learning one other Tamil quote struck my mind that I could relate my experience…

Veetai Katti paar, Kalyanathai seithu paar …. Meaning to learn about any challenge first do it self and then speak…. Ie.. "It is only when you build a house on your own or host a marriage event on your own, do you then realize about the nitty gritty of it"

As was the case with me today…I too have heard lot lot lot times from my parents asking to wake up early in the morning and start a bright day…although thoughtfully I knew that was right, never realized the real benefit as I was really lazy to wake up early unless it was necessary…

And then the aftermath of waking up late…end up rushing in all the work you do to catch up with time and keep cribbing that no time left , no time left to relax or do something interesting….in my case I landed in a horrible day every time I woke up late …

With my routine of cooking and cleaning , or rather mainly focused at the household chores, made my work monotonous and irritating with no time being left for relaxing or doing something interesting…

Everyday I used to wake up late, first start with hurriedly sweeping the entire house, I could not afford to skip it as my mind though lazy was habituated to some good practices taught by my mom, then make breakfast, wash utensils, cook lunch, wash utensils, clean, refresh, cook dinner and clean up the kitchen again, so on then finally to bed….uff..I used to think..what life is this what am I doing and then cribbing self within , lay stressed and earn nothing other than depression…

Finally after several attempts to change myself, this crazy lazy mind saw a very bright morning today….It was a tough battle, however I was determined and thanks to my eyes for they co-operated as well and I was awake earlier that the sun ;) ..he was just rising laying around his golden rays…

What a beauty…. I Swept the house with ease and peace…had time for a cup of tea…then the breakfast…had time to glance through the news  paper or relax for a while…

Surfed through the web for interesting recipes…wonder…delicious lunch got ready well in advance…early lunch and now so much of time earned to do what I like….how amazing is that? …

Little  time saved  out of my sleep earned me much more time than expected and rewarded me too with  a bright day...

Hence I  was smiling within thinking.."Time Saved is Time Earned" and I really had to experience it self to get the crux of the philosophy hidden within…

Cheers,

Akshatha

Happy Women's day - Note of thanks to all the woMen who have touched my life

After several oscillations in mind whether to write or not, I sit here to type this note....

It is international women's day today and I am receiving so many wishes on my wall and via emails...however I thought I should take a little time today and try to log my thanks and respect to all the women who have been great inspirations for me...

Today we live in smart era and sure we young ladies feel special receiving so many wishes on the web, but what about the others, who have no access to such...  I think best way i could make them feel good is just call them personally and wish,

But the reason I write here is for my satisfaction, just emptying my thoughts to feel nicer :) as I may not be successful in pouring out everything over the telecon...

My mom - who has been so patient in bringing me up and teaching me the virtues of life and carving me what I am today

My Mave (aunt) - who showers so much love and taught me how to respect elders

My Pacchi - being a role model for teaching me how to respect and reach a man's heart

My Dance teacher - For showing me how bold and powerful a woman should be and ofcourse teaching me move my legs and express beautifully every feeling

My appekka (grandma) - bringing me close to the divine space..by narrating devotional stories all the while :) and filling my mind with spiritual power 

My amit mami - for teaching me the art of hospitality

My Motherinlaw - Guiding me towards being a successful wife not by ordering but through her acts...

My mami- in law - yet again guiding me how to be the Boss of a house and manage everything well

My Chikkama - in law - how to flow selfless love and win every ones heart!!

and to my friends - who have shown me how to be dashing and dynamic stars

I think, than me, it is a day for my mom, aunt , grandma , teacher to feel really special...I agree I have been a special daughter, good friend and a successful women at work, however the real phase of womanhood starts now and I must learn from these great women and move ahead in life!!

Sure it is Women's day, however, I am with the opinion or as I see that men are part of woMEN and feel that behind every woman's success, there stands a man within, we could reciprocate their love and respect shown on us,on this special day of ours by saying a simple thanks with a smile!! That would be more joyous!

Thanks to my Father, Brother and my husband who are equally reponsible for what I am today....

ah...I feel relaaaaaxed now after letting out my thoughts..

Cheers,

Akshatha