I'll Be There For You! =)

"The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares." - Henri Nouwen

Friendship is a word that carries love, happiness, peace, understanding and many others as it's synonyms. Friendship, one must always guard. It has the power to unshackle hearts from misery, truly. It is the key that unlocks all things lovely. It is a note that creates beautiful music. It sings songs of loyalty. It is the anchor to our worries. And it's magical. =)

Friendship gives you the freedom to be yourself and Rumi's words explain it so well, "With friends you grow wings." Indeed, we wish to soar, we wish to fly when we have a friend by our side. We laugh with all our heart, we live without the fear of being judged. We fight, we shout. But we also grow. Grow into a human, with a strong essence, because, "A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down." - Arnold H. Glasow
It is the beauty of giving without expecting. Agreed, human nature is such that it has to fight hard the urge to get, and that is alright, for Friendship means a little give, a little take. It means to never take for granted what others do for us, for it will only be understood as abuse, and rightly so. There's so much to this lovely bond, it's ups and downs, it's sugar and spice. Here is an ode to amitie =)

When you're weary, feeling small,

when tears are in your eyes,

I will dry them all.

I'm on your side,

oh, when times get rough,

and friends just can't be found,

like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

When you're down and out,

when you're on the street,

when evening falls so hard, I will comfort you.

I'll take your part,

oh, when darkness comes,

and pain is all around,

like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.

Sail on silver girl, sail on by,

your time has come to shine,

all your dreams are on their way,

see how they shine.

Oh, if you need a friend,

I'm sailing right behind.

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.

- Simon & Garfunkel

It's amazing how simple words make a profound point, like William Shakespeare did, "A friend in need, is a friend indeed." I could go on and on quoting great personalities with their wisdom, at the risk of never ending this post =)

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light - Helen Keller

The Name Is 'Happy'! =)

Coke's tagline reads, "Open Happiness". And the myriad of things they came up with to make any one happy, says it all =)

It's a good word to hear, feel, and say out loud. A common misconception that does the rounds is, that happy people don't have problems. Wrong! They have just about the same problems as "regular" people do (even more, sometimes) except that they don't exhibit it. This lot of happy people is so, because they choose to be happy. They choose to deal with problems without moping about them. They choose to make the most of what they have. And these qualities are definitely worth admiring. They seem so easy, but in reality it is rather difficult to smile when you have a mountain of problems!

Truly speaking, happiness is a state of mind, that I recently discovered. Yes, recently, and it's anything but simple to keep your mind away from thoughts that easily douse it. It takes a lot of mental energy. The key lies in not giving up. To ward off unpleasant thoughts is a task. To keep your chin up at these times, can prove to be very difficult. But, in all of this, I chose to look over all of that. Took me quite a while, but I succeeded in doing so. I'm 'happy' that I did =)

I won't say that it's an overnight miracle. It's perseverance. Persevere and we shall be happy. Not just with what we have or don't, but with all that isn't even ours. It's being happy for others. Being happy for the goodness in other people's lives. Being happy for the neighbour with a new car. Being happy for the new day you wake up to. Yasmin Mogahed, a freelance writer and international speaker, in many of her lectures has stressed on the concept of  happiness. She says, "The secret to happiness is to never make it dependent on that which can be taken away." And I think she's right when it comes to our love and happiness for materialistic objects. True happiness comes from being happy for your fellows.

At times, expectations fail us too. We go out to share good news with everyone, and sadly only a handful seem to be truly happy and mean us well. Expectations are mere stones on your path to happiness, never treat them as obstacles. It's just a matter of going over them than fearing them. Choose to make life simple, by choosing to be happy. Happiness will always be an option, and no, that doesn't mean we 'tra la la' away. It simply means that we took the route of life that makes it, if not all, then marginally better =)
In all, happiness comes from within, from our actions.

"If you want to be happy, be." - Leo Tolstoy

What We Could Learn From Christopher Robin.

Christopher Robin: "Pooh Bear. What if someday there came a tomorrow when we were apart?"
Pooh: "As long as we're apart together, we shall certainly be free."
CR: "Yes, yes, of course. But if, if we weren't together... if I were somewhere else?"
P: "Oh, but you really couldn't be, as I would be quite lost without you. Who would I call on those days when I'm just not strong enough or brave enough?"
CR: "Well, actually..."
P: "And who would I ask for advice when I didn't know which way to turn?"
CR: "Pooh, we..."
P: "We... we simply wouldn't be."
CR: Oh, Pooh. If ever there's a tomorrow when we're not together, there's something you must remember."
P: And what might that be, Christopher Robin?"
CR: "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
P: "Oh, that's easy. We're braver than a bee, and, uh, longer than a tree, and taller than a goose... or, uh, was that a moose?"
CR: "No, silly, old bear! You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is even if we're apart, I'll always be with you. I'll always be with you. I'll always be with you."

This post, although familiar, compels me to share it, again. This dialogue always manages to tug at my heart-strings and certainly does teach a thing or two. And my! How beautifully it twines friendship, loyalty and togetherness, all in knots of warmth. Such words of wisdom by Christopher Robin...

It's amazing how children always manage to astound us with their innocence. You see, as adults, we often lose sight of the small things (which usually are the defining moments in any relationship), unintentionally though. Like keeping up a relationship. As hard as it may be at times, one must learn to accept each other's shortcomings. Why do we so easily let go of them, especially that matter, when we work so hard to build bonds? Why don't we strive to strengthen them? Just because, it's "complicated"! No, nothing is complicated till we make it! Agreed, circumstances sometimes don't churn out the way we would like them to. But, that doesn't mean we stop sorting out the issues. Why do we cease to love what once upon a time was dear to us? It's alright to make mistakes and it's absolutely alright to forgive too. It's alright to learn from those younger, because learning, as we say, is a two-way road. It's alright to disagree, but it's even better if we make things up. Ties that are worth making the effort for, shouldn't be left unattended, assuming that they will heal with time. Those very ties are the ones fighting for. Fighting, to make them work. And even if some seem unworthy, it's alright to try once, because that would ascertain things.
Another astounding fact, which comes from 'Pooh's Little Instruction Book; inspired by A. A. Milne, is,"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." A highly unique perspective, I must say =)

"Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live." - Marcus Aurelius

V is Very, Very Extraordinary! =)

We read about the lives of 'the rich & famous', and a nagging thought plays it's part and BOOM! We're instantly in self doubt! A tweet here, a post there, a picture with the Dalai Lama! That does it!

We mustn't ever give away the opportunity to do something exceptional and think that it doesn't hold much meaning, like smiling at people. Agreed, that does make us look a wee bit goofy, but you get what I mean.

Let me share something that I came across some years ago, which further elucidates the point, hopefully. People are often unreasonable and self-centered, forgive them anyway. If we are honest, people may cheat us, be honest anyway. What we spend years to build, someone could destroy overnight, build anyway. The good you do today, most people will forget tomorrow, do good anyway. You see, in the final analysis it's between you and Him. It never was about you and them anyway. Now, that is truly extraordinary!

The idea is to never underestimate our everyday lives. It's to take a chance and be that source of inspiration. Why not be that change? Why not embrace the attitude to bring that change? Why not simply, be? It's to do ordinary things and yet be extraordinary. An act of kindness does the trick! A greeting here, a hand-shake there, has the makings of an extraordinary day. The act of doing good is the key to being extraordinary.

All in all, never treat small gestures as regular. It's to"Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you off the chance to be extraordinary." in words of Uta Hagen. She sure said it! =)

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." - Helen Keller

Of Dreams and Dreams...

This post isn't about any remarkable or path-breaking life experiences. It's merely about what happens around and how those things shape you or even un-shape, and how dreams offer a ray of hope. Oh, for common knowledge, dreams come in all shapes and sizes =)

Often, we're told of what we do, we are doing or have done. And, in all of that, it is natural for people to decide, for us, our thoughts. Even though they wouldn't know them, they would still claim to. Okay, given.
Now, why do people, as a matter of fact, assume that our mental state defines our personality, temporarily? Could it be because we don't talk about the things that bother us? Or could it be because we fear not being understood? In most cases, the latter is true.

Since, a mass falls into the 'not understood' category, we tend to come down to mystical solutions, a world of self-etched stories, fantasies, dreaming comfortable and easy! And that is alright, because, it sets us free. Our dreams set us free from misery, worry, failure, all things negative. And, what is so wrong with being 'out of reach' when it doesn't hurt to dream. It's how Robin Williams said, "But only in their dreams can men be truly free. 'Twas always thus, and always thus will be." We don't take this road to belittle, hurt, disrespect or dispute anyone. We take this road to rediscover what is lost in us. Of the person we were, of the person we have become. To overcome our flaws, to build, what we so easily wreck. To nurture positives, to define who we are. To aspire, to achieve. To give strength, to foster hope. We take this road to dream, and to wish the best out of everything. And even when things are bleak and go against us, we turn out the lights, whisper our prayers, with a warm glow in our hearts, dream anew.
Because, it's what dreamers love to do...

"Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost