Okay. You can feel yourself doing it. That little self-sabotaging monster is between your ears, muttering about all the things you haven’t done and all the things you can’t do. But you know what? You don’t have to listen to it. You have a choice to ignore it and have a better day. Often our […]
via Either You Run the Day or the Day Runs You – Jim Rohn — The Seeds 4 Life
The Human Library is a place where real people are on loan to readers.
On the way to the venue, I saw a girl alight from an Uber who was severely deformed in the face. I wondered what would have caused the deformity and how she would cope with it on a daily basis. Poisoned by prejudices I carried , I could not walk up to her and initiate a conversation.
I was lucky to see her as a Human Book a little later. Having a conversation with her, I learnt that she was a Antaeus. She met with a near fatal accident that ruined her looks and caused severe facial deformities. Even after 27 surgeries, she shares her story with a smile
The next Human book that I had an interaction with was a lady who is a cancer survivor. Her husband walked out on her with the fear of contracting cancer from her when she was diagnosed with 3rd stage breast cancer. She shared her tales of how she not only won her 13 yr battle with cancer.
She also broke all the stereotypes that the society had built for her and as a single mother raised a challenged child.
I had till that day stereotyped men as strong and supportive but not as victims.I met a man who was a victim of Domestic abuse. He shared his story of the abuses he was subjected to and how he tried committing suicide several times and has survived. He has set up a help group for abused men.
Nothing is what it seems. I left with a widened perspective on different social groups in our society.
I experienced that the Human Library is a framework the reading experience transforms itself when it becomes a two-way conversation, where readers can ask questions and the book comes to life with intangible emotions. No book can ever give you the kind of learning experience that you get from interacting with people who have gone through so much and survived to tell their tales
Its time that we learn to put our phones down and shed the selfieitis syndrome. Let us learn to talk to the person who is next to us be it a bus stop or in a Uber sharing a ride. I strongly believe that stories and atoms make up the world.
We have all been thru’ valentines’ day this week. I am sure all of you here have a story of your own to share about this. I have mine too. I preferred cash over a rose that cost 150.
Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, has its Origin as a Western Christian feast day honouring martyred saints named Valentinus. It is celebrated annually on February 14 as a significant cultural and religious feast day. It is not a public holiday in any country.
The custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts originated in the UK.
In Norfolk, a character called ‘Jack’ Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person. The enigmatic Mr or Mrs Valentine disappears into thin air after knocking at the door and dropping off their gifts. It is unclear when this mystery figure first emerged but children are as likely as adults to receive a visit. This is the only surviving Norfolk ritual,
With concentrated marketing effort, Valentine’s Day is recognised now as a commercial celebration of romance and romantic love. Valentine’s Day celebrations did not catch on in India until around 1992. It was spread due to dedicated programs in commercial TV and radio channels, love letter competitions and the explosion of the valentine card industry. This has caused a sharp change in how people display their affection in public.
Love – Love encompasses a variety of different emotional and mental states, typically strong and positive. It can be ranging from the deepest interpersonal affection to the simplest of pleasures.
Conquer – Conquering is to overcome and take control of a place or people by force. This is synonymous with triumph, overpower or overthrow, subdue or subjugate
I see Love conquers all as an oxymoron. Oxymoron is two words used together that have exactly the opposite meanings.
The recent movie Padmavath was about love conquering all …. at what cost!
In fact, in a few cases Love is not able to conquer minor personality differences between a couple.
In a lot of cases, Love is not able to handle financial stress a couple may have in their relationship.
In majority of cases, Love cannot do anything if a couple is unable to communicate with each other properly.
And in almost all the cases, Love is not enough to help someone overlook the betrayal that comes with infidelity.
I haven’t experienced any of these personally. Do I thank Love for that ?
I have been loved, and loved unconditionally.
I have been loved profoundly and insanely for everything I am and not what I can or cannot offer the person who loves me back.
Can love be given or can it be earned ? Can love find you or can you achieve love?
I believe that love is one and all of these.
It cannot be confined. It can’t be faked.
It can however be given and shared. It can be contagious at times.
When you stumble upon it, you need to grab it and enjoy it.
Love is like a hug and a kiss, you need to share it to enjoy it.
Love is not restrictive to people. It can also be for things, places and experiences.
We experience it in everyday life but more often than not seem not to notice it.
I noticed love in the form of gratitude for my domestic help this morning when she came earlier than usual especially when there was a pile of dishes.
I fell head over heals in love with Dhruva, my 3 year old nephew when he explored the adventure of a sleepover with me a few weeks ago.
I have experienced love from my mother-in-law When I was sick and in bed, she was treating me with solicitude, bringing me cups of tea, and handing me tissues all day.
As important as where Love comes from, it is equally important where it goes and who you share it with.
The sun radiating its reflection on the still water. Natures many treasures captured by an iphone7 with no filters and no editing.
I share this post with The Daily Post´s weekly Photography Challenge:Reflecting and Weekend Reflections
This photo was clicked on an iPhone 6 camera with no filters and has not been edited.
It was clicked during an early morning walk beside a lake, blanketed in sunrise and soaking up all the positive energy from the sun. The sun has the power to heal and the burn. The sun casts its spell on everything and there is no hiding.
I see the shadows here telling a story – the story of a young girl and boy, enjoying each other’s company and running along the side of a lake. They had to stop in their tracks as the stray dog decided to cross their path. They stopped to enjoy the sunrise and decided to take a pic.
The interpretation of these shadows are infinite. How would you interpret this play of shadows?
I share this post with The Daily Post´s weekly Photography Challenge:Reflecting and Weekend Reflections
