Preeti Shenoy's Blog, page 50

May you have lillies in your life. (blog marathon post 20)

Lillies that bloomed in my garden. I had planted them last year. They lay dormant, barely letting their presence felt. There were no flowers at all for a year. Just a few straggly leaves. Our of sheer laziness to do anything I let it be. I watered it like all other plants, lavishing extra care on roses, chrysanthemums and other pretty flowers which vied with each other for my attention, while the lily stood quietly in the background.
And when she bloomed every other flower paled in comparison.

Sometimes life is like that. You might think that all your efforts are going unrecognised, unrewarded.
And suddenly you get something that you never expected.

May you have a lot of lillies in your life.
And may they bloom when you need it the most.
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Buy my books: http://is.gd/preetibooks

http://preetishenoy.com/

Make yoga your friend! (blog marathon post 19)

There are yoga images being hurled at you from every possible corner. And if you own a cell phone, chances are you received a message from the Government of India, asking you to practise yoga and telling you it's benefits. (Nice touch! I must say I was impressed)

I have blogged about my tryst with yoga.
here is the link:
http://blog.preetishenoy.com/2015/05/a-note-on-my-tryst-with-ashtanga-yoga.html

Do read it.

And here is a video where a practitioner  explains why Ashtanga is repetitive and why it is important.
What you see in the video are exactly the asansas I do each morning.




The philosophy that he  in the above video truly appeals to me and I endorse it completely.
It's about 8 minutes long---and worth a watch, and worth thinking about.
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Buy my books: http://is.gd/preetibookshttp://preetishenoy.com/

A different kind of a day (Blog marathon post 18)

So I had my first ad-shoot! I can't tell you details just as yet, but you will soon know when the ad is out.
I had a script to memorise, and it was long and repetitive. Facing, lights, camera and 'Rolling' ---all of it now is so familiar after hours and hours of shooting.

It was such a different experience --fun for a while.  Exciting? Sure.
But any day, I am happier, sitting on my bed, alone with my thoughts and laptop, writing away, rather than giving take after take on camera, and looking good all the time :)
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Check out my books:  http://is.gd/preetibookshttp://preetishenoy.com/

A small conversation on writing. (blog marathon post 17)

A friend and I were talking last evening. My friend asked what I was working on. I have just finished writing my 7th book! (yes, it feels euphoric to be able to say that--it will be out later this year).


She was very happy for me when I told her so.  Then she asked me 'Preeti, don't you ever feel exhausted from all the writing you do?'
'No,' I replied,'In fact it rejuvenates me'.

She thought about it for a bit and then said, it is probably inherent. Even though she is a writer herself, she said she cannot write as much as I do.

I told her that I cannot imagine a life without writing. I write every single day.
I cannot imagine life without writing.

To me writing is the air I breathe. Without it, i would cease to exist.
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If you like my posts, you will live my books: http://is.gd/preetibookshttp://preetishenoy.com/

A hindi verse for you. (Blog marathon post 16)

जो बीत गई सो बात गई
जीवन में एक सितारा था
माना वह बेहद प्यारा था
वह डूब गया तो डूब गया
अम्बर के आनन को देखो
कितने इसके तारे टूटे
कितने इसके प्यारे छूटे
जो छूट गए फिर कहाँ मिले
पर बोलो टूटे तारों पर
कब अम्बर शोक मनाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई 

        ----Harivansh Rai Bacchan

The above words are one of the best pieces of poetry and philosophy I have ever come across. My non-hindi speaking friends will have to excuse (or use google translate)

These powerful lines reminded me of what my dad used to say to me in my mother tongue , the literal translation of which is 'If you die today, tomorrow two'.
What it means is 'If you die today, today is 1st day of your death, tomorrow is second day, day-after is third day and so on'. It means that you should never look back--exactly the same sentiment expressed in the poetry above.

So if a terrible tragedy has occurred with you, lament over it but only for a brief while. Once you are done feeling sad, forge ahead and move on.

What matters is not what was or what will be, but this present moment, where you can focus on all the joys that you have. The fact that you are breathing itself is a cause to be grateful for. Think about it.

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If you like my posts, you will love my books:
http://is.gd/preetibooks
http://preetishenoy.com/

My morning routine (blog marathon post 15)

So the writing prompt for today at NaBloPoMo is 'Tell us about your morning routine'.
Since I liked the prompt, thought I would follow it. They have different prompts every day--but you can follow them only if you want--else you are free to write anything, as long as you post every day.

So--to answer the prompt--If I were to be totally honest, I detest routines. Detest, abhor, dislike,loathe. I think routine is anathema to creativity. Or at least that is my excuse---and i can get away with it as I would like to believe I am fairly creative :)

But one thing that I do try and follow is my yoga. I start the day with Ashtanga yoga about which I have blogged before.
After that, I read the newspaper on some days and on some days I simply don't. I organise/cook breakfast (almost always traditional south Indian) and spend some time in my organic terrace garden.

Then I write for a bit---then I hit the gym.

On the days that I don't do yoga in the morning, I walk for about an hour. On some days I do yoga in the afternoon. Sometimes I have deadlines that I have to meet for my newspaper column. On some days, there is some brilliant idea that strikes me and I sit down to write it. Some days, I just waste time on Facebook, accepting friend requests from people I don't even know.

Some days I wallow in self pity and feel sorry for myself. Some days I revel in the praise that readers send.

Today I got a particularly sweet poem from a reader..It made my day! But on some days, the very same gushing praise would annoy me and I would ask Satish why in the world do people act like I am something special and why do they gush like this? ( He is used to my ways by now .)

On some days, I would decide to watch a movie in the morning because I felt like it. On some days I would just read a book as it was too engrossing to put away.

Each day is different for me.
What about you? Do you like routine and order? Is each day the same? What do you do?

If you tell me, I am listening.
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Buy my books:http://is.gd/preetibookshttp://preetishenoy.com/

Fresh starts (blog marathon post 14)

 
The Sunrise from my terrace. There is something magical about the early morning hour. The promise of a new beginning. The fact that no matter what has happened upto now, a fresh day beckons.

You can change your life, starting this very instant, if you want to. You have to identify the habits that erode away your time. You will have to find those things that give your heart joy.

And then you have to decide  that starting today, you won't look back.
Only beyond.

The future holds many promises.
It is upto YOU and You alone to claim them.

Make yourself a promise---that you will be one percent better than the individual you were yesterday.
Then stick to that promise.
 No matter how hard it is. Carry it out.

And do it again.
It is the only life you have.
So go ahead and make a fresh start.
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  buy my books: http://is.gd/preetibooks


http://preetishenoy.com/

Some important things (Blog marathon post 13)

Found the above visual on Facebook and it led me to check out the website (click on pic to be taken to it) and I discovered that it has some pretty amazing stuff. Little things in life which matter such a lot, yet which we brush aside in our quest for bigger cars, bigger homes, more space.

What about the space in our hearts?

That is so important. It is important to let go of the ego and tell someone how much they mean to you, if they do.
Yet, it is also important to recognise when to walk away from a relationship which isn't helping you grow.

It is important to hold on to some things and have patience.
But then it is equally important to turn you back and shut the door on things that prevent you from being the best you can be.

It is important to have great friends.
But it is equally important to spend time with yourself, in quiet solitude, enjoying your own company.

It is important to give in.
It is also important to not give up.

And if you have figured it all out, you have conquered life.

I know haven't. I revel in it's imperfections.
Grateful to have everything I do.
Happy to be able to  touch lives with my words.
Gratefulfor all that I have received.

and I think that is important too.
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if you like my posts you will definitely like my books:http://is.gd/preetibookshttp://preetishenoy.com/

When words dry up. A poem (Blog marathon post 12)

When words dry up
And response stops
When love becomes a trickle
And the reaching out drops

When what once came easy
Now becomes a strain
And the heart yearns for familiarity
But there is only uncharted pain

When are you okay, yes I am
 Becomes a measured reply
And it turns as fake as it can get
But  you are clueless why

When walking away is hard
And so is staying on
But you need to

And you are torn

Stick to your decision, walk away
Be strong , this shall pass like a season
 And once it finally ends, remember
It happens for a reason
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Buy my book 'It happens for a reason' at a great price

© 2015 Preeti Shenoy
 For more poems click here. Some poems have already appeared in print. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.http://preetishenoy.com/

Gift from my garden. (blog marathon post 11)

Today's post--2 photos which speak for themselves.


Isn't this amazing? It's the first time I am growing capsicum.

 And the first time I am growing white pumpkin too :)

I am one happy, proud urban farmer :)

You can check out my post on growing your own vegetables here.

See you tomorrow. Until then, be cheerful and grateful for all that is going right in your life right now.
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 buy my books: http://is.gd/preetibookshttp://preetishenoy.com/