Savour That !

A new posts with some newly learnt lessons. And a thanks to Manu Bhai for sharing the joke, I have added the 2nd half of the joke, the answer piece..... Hope you find value in the lesson and humor in the joke, or lesson in the joke and humor in the lesson, either way I will feel useful :)

What if it is bitter? The child asked. So-what! if it is? The father replied with a wink. I don’t know dad, but why did you answer my question with a question? Father laughed at that and said, okay, here is the answer. If it is bitter then you will have tasted something bitter, and that might not be a very bad thing at all. Who knows, maybe you like that taste. Why would I like bitter? He asked again. How would you know if you have never tasted it? The father replied.

The whole conversation was about trying a new vegetable, that the father (and grownups like me who were eves dropping for no apparent reason) knew, has a bitter taste.

And as many culinary experts will tell you, the father continued; the fun in eating is about enjoying all tastes including bitter and sour. Only sweet can get too boring. Even if you love eating sweet, it is when you eat savory, spicy, sour and bitter only then you can truly appreciate the sweet. How right that man was.

I looked at the father and son duo and smiled. A life lesson wrapped in an innocent father-son discussion about food. Another reason why I like train journeys.

Life, like taste buds is better entertained when a variety of tastes are experienced, even the bitter. Too much of any one taste without others in the mix make it monotonous and boring. So, raising a toast to a life full of a variety of tastes and savoring all those with grace and gratitude!!!

Joke: “God you are awesome, and I am not questioning your judgement, but still was it really too difficult to put the seeds of a watermelon in the middle just like you did for cantaloupe? And God says, I know I am awesome and that is why I did not arrange the cantaloupe seeds in the same design as watermelon’s, remember I could do that too? Divine Wink!!!!

क्या कहूं?

Reading news about the in human even lower than satanic level incident in Kathua, Like many others I felt anger, disgust and helplessness. On top of that seeing how some people, in person or on newspaper comments and blogs are supporting the perpetrators in the name of religion or caste.... I, as millions others may not be able to do much ..but  I am praying that our kids somehow still grow up in a better world...and with that prayer and a feeling of shame and helplessness, I am sharing 2 lines...for those who have the audacity of raising the caste or religion flag on this....

(उन्होंने पूछा )

सनातनी थी या आर्यसमाजी?

गुरुग्रन्थ साहिब वाली, या फिर....नमाज़ी ?

मैंने चाहा कुछ कहूँ 

उनको आईना दिखाने को, 

पर लफ्ज़ रुक गए 

दिमाग जम गया, ज़बान सिल गयी.... 

बेबस होंठो से बस इतना कह पाया 

बच्ची थी जनाब ....

जिसके दूध के दांत भी शायद अभी गिरने थे |

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/across-india-horror-turns-to-outrage-at-gang-rape-and-murder-of-8-year-old-kathua-girl/articleshow/63738747.cms?&utm_source=Articleshow&utm_medium=Organic&utm_campaign=Related_Stories 

चवन्नी जमा अठन्नी खर्च

In the middle of days, took a pause and just spent a few moments with life and below is a quick balance sheet.....


चवन्नी जमा अठन्नी खर्च

ज़िन्दगी एक रुपइया कुल 

चवन्नी जमा, अठन्नी खर्च 

बाकी कही इधर उधर धर के भूले हैं 

कुछ सिक्के शिकवों के नीचे 

कुछ बेकार ही डर के पीछे 

कुछ ख्वाब ख्याल में खोये 

बाकी याद नहीं कहाँ छूटे  हैं 

कुछ कमा कर, कुछ गवा कर 

कुछ जोड़ा, और कुछ गुमा कर 

नुक्सान-नफा कहाँ समझाएं 

बही नहीं, जो खाता  मिलाएं 

एक कच्ची फहरिस्त की धुंदली सी याद  

उसमें कुछ हिसाब, मैली स्याही के दाग सा 

वो हिसाब भी जमा-घटा कर के भूले हैं

ज़िन्दगी एक रुपइया कुल 

चवन्नी जमा अठन्नी खर्च 

बाकी कही इधर उधर धर के भूले हैं

A 5th Serving from the back of my notebook

This is 5^th post in similar lines. Like last few this one too has  many random thoughts from all over the place. Some of these became dearer to the heart than others. But in a special way this 5^th serving is unique as it has a bonus. All the past ones had the words that I had written but this one has a bonus quote that I have not written but passed to me from someone …some one extra special… saved best for the last 😊

I can oppose your opinion without having to oppose you. And you can do the same.

If only I could give right words to what my eyes show to my mind, I could be a great story teller. 

When the sun is setting the shadows grow a lot taller than the actual things

If the birds had not broken the law of gravity, they would have never soared the skies

Never break the law of gravity till you have unwavering faith in the strength of your own wings

Having made the philosopher's stone, the alchemist always loses interest in converting metal to gold

A democracy where one can not ask questions is worst form of dictatorship

You must be your own Servant if you truly want to be your own Master

A child is considered born only after the chord is cut

Having no one else to depend upon can be worst limitation or highest level of freedom based on how one thinks

Everyone has just one obligation that is to oneself, everything else is an extension of that

Every revolution that changed the world, started with a thought that was ignored by the mainstream

Real value of water is best known to parched lips

If I cannot respect your silence, I should not be worthy of your words either

A hammer and a chisel is all you need to cut your way through a mountain, provided you have the right amount of determination

Mostly when I am teaching about life to my kids, is the only time I am truly learning it

After a big argument when you are more concerned about just having a conversation with her than proving your point is the moment where love truly lives

After an exhausting day at work, when your child asks, “Do you need something Papa?” All the stress vanishes and all the needs seem fulfilled, and in that moment love truly lives

And Now for the Bonus -  "A good student can learn from a good teacher but a good teacher always learns from a good student." A quote By Shanuak Dogra

Below are the links for old lists.... 

http://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2013/03/back-of-my-notebook.html

http://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2014/10/morefrom-back-of-my-notebook.html

http://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2017/03/3rd-serving-from-back-of-my-notebook.html

http://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2017/12/4th-serving-from-back-of-my-notebook.html

  

जीवन उत्सव

Life is a celebration, one need not always have the lights and the music and dance. As long as heart can enjoy the small pleasure that this miracle called life can bring, the festival of life is on and is worth celebrating. Some celebratory acts of mine in few lines below

कुल्हड़ में चाय पीता हूँ 

नुक्कड़ से चाट मंगाता हूँ 

जीवन उत्सव कभी कभी 

ऐसे भी मनाता हूँ 

ख़ुशी चाशनी जलेबी की 

दुःख मिर्ची के सालन सा 

समोसे पकोड़े से चटपटे पल 

यादों की चटनी संग खाता हूँ 

जीवन उत्सव कभी कभी 

ऐसे भी मनाता हूँ 

चाय की चुस्कियों सी 

दोस्तों की मीठी गुनगुनी  बातें  सुनता हूँ, 

नमकपारे - मठरी से किस्से साँझा कर 

महफ़िल-ए-शाम सजाता हूँ 

जीवन उत्सव कभी कभी 

ऐसे भी मनाता हूँ 

बातों का शौक, खाने का स्वाद 

या खाने का शौक, बातों का स्वाद 

पहेली यह भली,पहेली ही सही 

इसे सुलझाए बिना बस 

इसका भी मज़ा उड़ाता हूँ 

जीवन उत्सव कभी कभी 

ऐसे भी मनाता हूँ 

Those who know me well, will know what I mean 😃

याद -तरंगें

Have you ever been in a random discussion with friends or family, have you noticed how memories start flooding in when some old reference is made, this is a request to all to keep on stirring that pool so that memories keep on beautifying the days.......

याद -तरंगें

यादों के ठहरे पानी में 

इक बात का कंकर फेंको तो 

लहरें सी बन जाती हैं 

कितनी बातें, कितनी यादें 

इक दूजे के पीछे पीछे 

इक दूजे से बंधी बंधी 

भागी सी चलती ही आती हैं | 

मन का सरोवर जितना गहरा,

उतना ही ठहरा होता है 

लाखों तरंगें उस में ही कहीं 

इक कंकर की आस लिये 

युगों युगंतर  बैठी रहती 

सतह के नीचे, बिन साँस लिये 

बस एक कंकर आवारा कहीं से 

आ जाये तो उनका प्राण बने 

घंटो तक यादों का, बातों का सामान बने 

ऐ दोस्त क्यों चुप बैठे हो ?

बस एक  कंकर  उछाल दो 

कोई इक बात शुरू करो 

किसी लम्हे की मिसाल दो 

और फिर देखो वो कई यादें 

बंधी सी चली आएँगी 

उस भूले दिन की भूली बातें 

फिर ताज़ा हो जाएँगी 

2017- A Quick Mémoire

It is coming to an end in a few minutes and all I can say is, “What a Year!!!”

Truly, in so many ways 2017 was different from almost any year in my life. So many things that I had done in this year, were either rare or never done in the past.

I had traveled more than ever in 2017, 2 trips to India and then a lot of domestic travel, in the US (and in India during my two visits). Using all modes available from air planes to train to bus to taxi to tuk-tuk to uber and more. And yes, I also rode a bike just last week, the big deal was that I had not done that in more than 20 years. While on the topic of travel and transport, also ended up buying a new car this year, and saying adios to the 1st car I had purchased 16 years ago(A very emotional goodbye honestly)

I am not big time into gadgets but for one reason or the other I ended up buying 6 computers and 4 cell phones this year (of course not all for me only). Usually past years had seen any where from none to two total devices brought. In fact, 2 of the 4 phones were bought just today, the last day of the year. Was compelled by reasons out side direct control to buy (read as an almost dying phone)

On another major front, I had changed a job in 2017, something that I last did in 2001. Seems like almost a past life when I had switched a job before this year.

Above are just a few examples of what 2017 had been like.

There had been many bitter sweet moments through out the year. Fear and triumph playing hide and seek. Scare and joy following each other at close distance. Relations were built and re-built this year. Stories being told, re-told and many new stories conceived throughout the past twelve months. Having lend a helping hand to friends needing one a few times and getting a hundred helping hands when I needed one. This and a lot more.

The sum total of last 12 months have been a Year Well Lived. I have done some good and some bad, have received love, appreciation and blessings from many and have disappointed some as well. But before the new year starts, I want to humbly thank everyone for the love and support and blessings throughout the year. Some of what I may not even have been worthy of. And to those that I disappointed, I sincerely want to extend an honest apology. If I have wronged you in any way, I can assure you that it was not intentional. And I promise to those who blessed me and to those whom I disappointed and also to my self that I will continue on my quest to become a better person in the year to come and always.

The new day, the new year is about to start, the slate is going to be clean again, the 12-month cycle is resetting and so I vow to write a better story than the past.

The blessings from the heavens will stay with you through out the year. The sun shining tomorrow will bring the promise of a renewed life. And if it rains then it will cleanse every splotch of the past and if it snows it will blanket everything with the purity of itself. One way or the other the new year is going to be great, as great as you want it to be and more.

As for me before I close this note, a special thanks to my family here in the house with me and there, thousands of miles away, and thanks to all the friends. This year has been truly remarkable because you all had been holding my hand no matter what. Life stays blessed with all of you there.

So New year, bring it on! We are ready for more stories, more blessings, more fun, more success, more collaborations, more togetherness and more Life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!