“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
I am grateful for time spent gazing at the sky.
I am grateful for the meal prepared by my kids.
I am grateful for the mango lassi prepared by my husband on the day when I was fasting.
I am grateful for lots of photo opportunities.
Happy Thanksgiving and happy exploring:
1. Good movies : Jumanji , I am Pretty ,
2. Good Reads : Vinegar Girl – Anne Tyler
“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.”
My daughter pulled me towards the window and showed me the blazing sun. It looked as if it was on fire , orangish yellow with bright rays engulfing the entire sky.
To her thats the golden hour when you get amazing pictures. Whatever the reason maybe the fact that the sky , the moon and the sun can still influence the younger generation and give them a reason to look upwards is endearing, nurturing perhaps even freeing just for a few moments from the ever looming spell of social media and its addictive powers.
It made me happy that she gazed upwards but more than that it delighted me to have a shared memory.
Happy exploring:
1. Why Religion – Elaine Pagels
2. Gretchen Rubins blogpost : https://gretchenrubin.com/2018/11/30-tips-happier
” It takes an endless amount of history to make even a little tradition. ” – Henry James
Its Diwali one of the favorite and most celebrated Hindu festival. Its spiritual significance symbolizes victory of light over darkness , knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.
Diwali literally means a row of lights. Everyone celebrates in their own special way. For some its about parties , dressing up , new clothes great food and grandiosity. For some its just another tradition to keep up with. Yet there are a few who are passionate about the deeper meaning of all five days of Diwali.
First day (Dhanteras) is the day of fortune , wellbeing and prosperity. Second day (Naraka Chaturdasi) is day of knowledge. Third day is a day of light when fireworks are lit and goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Fourth day ( New year) represents new beginnings. Fifth day (Bhaubeez) is for the love between siblings.
Whether it is the external light or our inner light to me its more of devotion an offering to the divine for all the good things in life. Making the Faral (goodies) , creating rangolis, lighting diyas is just an expression of the many ways we rejoice this auspicious occasion.
Happy exploring:
1. Good movie – Milk
2. Good read: Small great things – Jodi Picoult
Like the colors of the beautiful flowers , what if a magical evening becomes colorful too like a rainbow.
Thats exactly how our Saturday turned out to be when we were invited for dinner at a friends place. A get together with women in colorful sarees , a house with fragrant flowers , a kitchen with vibrant aromas , splashy scented candles , glossy hued drinks is all that it takes to lift up your spirits.
Eye catching moments of friendship and laughter are vivid and heartwarming that tell our story. Friends who open up their hearts and homes for others are precious and rare.
“Sunset is still my favorite color and rainbow is second. ” – Mattie Stepanek
Inspiring weekly links:
1. Gajar Halwa: https://www.thekitchn.com/carrot-halwa-211251
2. Good reads : Clock Dance – Anne Tyler
“Yoga is not about touching your toes , its about what you learn on the way down.”
I was little stressed out this week with multiple tasks on hand. Work related deadlines, events at kids school, a party to be hosted on the weekend , traditional festivities during the week kept me busy , preoccupied and a bit off balance.
Thats when I heard my yoga instructor say “Find your Dhristi” . Perhaps that was a signal to turn my attention inward and find ways to counter balance the speed of life.
Metaphorically my drishti sometimes leads me to find pleasure in the sizzling of the food that I am cooking , the colors of the unfinished painting on the canvas, the perfect cartwheel that my daughter just performed in our living room.
Yes we all have hectic schedules but we still can filter out the noise and let our eyes linger on those fleeting moments of beauty within.
“But slow down
Won’t you stay here a minute more
I know you wanna walk through the door.”
Happy exploring and weekly links:
1. Vedanta – Swami Sarvapriyananda :https://youtu.be/goNIy6RDfX8
“Practice and all will come.”
This weekend I went for Navratri celebration. Its a festival that honors Goddess Durga and one of the ritual commonly seen during this time of the year is a traditional folk dance called ‘Garba’ performed as a form of devotion.
This dance is also called sword dance because its performed with sticks which represent the sword of the deity. Whats so special about this dance is not only its synergy but the composition of steps, the flare of the colorful ghagras ( traditional dress) , the music and the aura gives it a quality unlike any other dance.
It seems as though dance is just a means to transcend our day to day struggles and an opportunity to be absorbed in the moment that not only does it bring joy and merriment but divine Bhakti (devotion) and unity.
Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like the dew on the tip of a leaf. – Rabindranath Tagore
Happy exploring and weekly links:
1. Zunka Bhakar :https://youtu.be/hmQULAzslzc
2. Good books : We love you Charlie Freeman – Kaitlyn Greenidge
“The chaos doesn’t end , you kinda’ just become the calm.” – Nikki Rowe
Kids have so much to do nowadays , they are not only bombarded with lots of homework but also have to do well in studies, sports, music for a well rounded personality or so we think. The other day my daughter came home with a headache . I asked her to take a nap, so that she would feel better.
She said she is hungry and wants some real food. So I made her a soup and to my surprise after some time she comes down and tells me she is already feeling better ” Mommy’s food is like medicine.”
Food which is such a simple pleasure is so much hyped today with labels like diets , calories , body image that we forget its real purpose of healing and balancing body and mind . Food is symbolic of love where words are inadequate.
Food we love thee
I wonder why all the hype
When its natures greatest gift to mankind
Absolutely free
Inspiring weekly links:
1. Dr Kim Williams :https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/06/advice-from-a-vegan-cardiologist/
2. Marathi movie Gulabjaam: https://www.google.com/amp/m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/marathi/movie-reviews/gulabjaam/amp_movie_review/62948854.cms
My daughter was telling her sister to walk with purpose when she was trailing behind perhaps little exhausted. In its literal meaning it was a gesture to speed up so that she doesn’t get left behind on our hiking trail.
Figuratively we are all walking with purpose in our so called structured lives. But what if I detour and take a different path , what if I slow down to smell the roses, watch the clouds pass by , follow the birds as long as I can see them , touch the leaves to feel the dew drops , I am still walking perhaps with a subtle purpose of just experiencing and receiving far more than I seek.
Walk with beauty
Walk with purpose
Walk anyways
Steps splashing before receding
Happy exploring:
1. Apple pickle https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015226-indian-fresh-apple-pickle
2.Good reads: 8 limbs of yoga:https://chopra.com/articles/what-are-the-8-limbs-of-yoga
One weekend in the woods with nature away from the busyness of everyday life ..yes you guessed right camping but not really more of glamping ..bits of everything …a little bit of glamour , some comfort , tiny kitchen , barbecue , clear sky, escapism with adventure recreation.
Nurture yourself
With nature
To find your self
Happy exploring:
My kids love boba tea. Its for them that I usually make this beverage at home. The black boba at the bottom are chewy , sticky , soft and gives a texture to this drink which is almost unearthly and yet it blends in the tea like they are meant to be together.
Somehow I am attracted to any type of tea. I love the chai , green tea and perhaps even boba tea.
Come let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.
Poetry I like
Sentiments I render
A chest of tea blends the twosome I behold
Happy exploring:
1. Great read: The zookeepers wife
2. Movies: Gifted , Peter Rabbit
3. Food : Joy of baking – date and walnut bread
deepaligawade 