Friday, 16 November 2012

Woofing Tales

It turns out this week has been a week of the fluffy kind. Before you get your imaginations running, I mean nothing vulgar. I refer to the the furry creatures with cute little paws and wet noses. Figured it out yet?

This evening when coming home I saw a dog across the road running around in an empty patch of land with a shoe in his mouth. Now if I didn't see excitement, happiness, and extreme jubilation in it, I honestly don't know what is! I didn't get to see the face, but from what I could see, I knew there was that joy one gets in being able to do something spontaneous and super crazy! I couldn't help but smile.

The other day, while I was walking to catch my daily mode of transport, another one of these fluffy little things followed me. I don't know what prompted it or why it did so, but it did. It stopped after a while, guess it got bored of me just walking without doing something exciting or giving it something. But I know this much, it made eye contact with me for the brief moment I passed. There was some message. Then again, I could be crazy.

Did I mention about the wee little one down our road. I got an earful from my father when I sad I wanted to ring home a puppy that evening. Guess he wasn't too happy about having to look after another when I wasn't home. To this date I remember when I first saw him. He was probably not more than two months old and walking in the dead center of the road and vehicles were trying to find their way around him. I wanted to run and bring it to safety, but only at the risk of getting knocked down. As I stopped and watched for a break in the traffic for me to intervene in this otherwise death story, it managed to safely cross the road. The reason I mention this is because starting this week, I have seen this puppy every morning. And without a doubt, he is looking extremely adorable, with his ears standing super straight and his cute little face! When I saw him on Monday I was elated that I saw him that I almost got knocked down by a vehicle. Looks like vehicles seem to be the theme between this pup and me. And now, I look forward to my morning walks because I get a brief sighting of this little brownie.

After all these happy stories, I've a not so happy story as well. It turns out, my doggy was having high fever and I wasn't aware of it. I feel really bad until the Vet pointed it out. He was limping about the house and there I was, trying to see if he has thorn in his paw. Apparently limping is a sign of their weakness due to the fever. That is how they show they are sick  unless of course there is a fracture or a thorn is actually stuck. A small note to keep in mind, a dog's temperature can be noted by checking their ears as that's the most sensitive and accurate indication of its body heat.

I am sure there was another doggy tale I wanted to write about, but can't seem to work my brain to remember. Oh well! I will sure update this post should I remember it.

Woof woof!

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

A Compliment, Insult or Constructive Criticism?

How would you react, if someone told you, you were different. Or that you have changed? In a positive way.
 
Would you take it as a compliment, an insult or just consider it as constructive criticism? Something to this end appeared on a friend's Facebook status this evening, and it got me thinking. How would you look at this?
 
So here's how I see it.

I think...
 
Maybe it's a compliment.

Maybe it's to help you recognise, the path you've taken. To value the beat up roads you had to trod on, to come to where you are today. To show you that those muddy roads have indeed done you well.
 
Maybe it's to show you the immensity of your decisions, the beauty in the person you've become. To show you that choices you made, have moulded you in to being the wonderful person you are today, so that you can live with no regrets. To help you value yourself.

Maybe it is to help you realise the person you have become. The strong and courageous person that you are today, that stands tall, regardless of what awaits to bring you down.

Maybe it's to help you value your journey. The obstacles you've overcome and the joys you have won. To help you value your experiences. It may be to make you a humble being.  

Who knows what people see in you?

Maybe they see strength in being able to persevere your dark days.

Maybe they see a role model in being able to meet the challenges.

Maybe they are proud of you, for walking the path your heart dictates.

Yes, all of this does matter. But what matters the most is that you perceive yourself in a positive way to give yourself confidence and to do the right thing when demanded.

I think how you view yourself matters more, than what other view of you.

Monday, 3 September 2012

The 24th Year of My Life

I know this will sound strange, jotting down one specific year of my life. But I realised that this one year, has been different in many ways and that it has been unique; in a way.

I remember going to sleep with a million calls from around the world [I kid you not]! I was in Kegalle when my birthday dawned and this is where the uniqueness of this year begins. I was in Kegalle, for the Training For Trusteeship [TFT] residential workshop. I had risen early that day, because as per the day's agenda, we were supposed to go see the sunrise. To date, I don't know how many actually did see the sunrise, but I can still clearly remember the wonderful scenery I saw that day. This could've been a sign that my year was going to be fresh each day and that I would have brighter days ahead! I can still remember the wonderful surprise the TFT organising committee threw for me at almost the last hour, catching me by complete surprise! [You guys did indeed surprise me & I am very thankful for that!] I guess the ice cream that night symbolised the sweetness my year would bring.

Sweet isn't really what I could say this year was for me. Bitter-sweet is more the term. I had many ups and downs, and the downs were some times a little too dangerously low for a person to handle. But looking back, I have realised that these 'down' moments have changed me completely, and that I view life in a different light.

If there's something I am really happy about my 24th, then it the fact that I got the chance to spend more time with nature, breaking away from the rat races of busy person's life! I guess I have learned how to look up at the clouds and disappear in to the land beyond [created in my head] or sit with the wind blowing in my face and being absorbed by it. I have mastered the art of walking through leech infested Sinharaja and not fainting, to being able to handle a few of them indeed crawling on me! [Special thanks to my de-leeching team for tolerating my screeches and paranoid moments, when the leech-going got too tough!] I have come to appreciate nature more this year, and I see that I have acquired a green eye thanks to all the nature lovers and environmentalists around me.

I have come to realise as much as stone people may view me to be, I still love my hugs! I have also come to not have a care in the world about what the 'mean' people would have to say, because, they won't have anything better to say! So if you're one of those people who's there to bring me down, know that I will not go down without a big fight!

I must admit that this year has had me thinking a lot. A lot in to the future as to what I want to do with the rest of my life and where I want to go. I must say, I have been fortunate enough to sway the way I would have never thought I would and be engaged in the work I am currently doing, because I would not have it any other way!

This year has taught me a few things about my friends and I now know who I can count on to be there for me. To the others, you will be a friend, but fear not, I shall not depend on you nor shall I put you in such a situation to embarrass you.

As life makes you walk a stray some times and walk a few miles, I have realised what in my life I have left behind that I miss. I miss the dramatic action that comes in momentarily in-acting another person's life to forgetting the worries of life and immersing myself in music and dance. I know I can only make it a part of my life from now, to make it more melodious and colourful, and it will not play a major role any more. I have learned to prioritise big time.

This year comes to an end, in a few hours as I write this. But ironically, the last significant memory of this year will again be TFT and that being the one which most recently concluded in Anuradhapura. I realised that change and volunteering/helping out will always play a major part in my life, no matter where I go. I am glad for the few shades I got darker, because I was able to have an amazing time, during the brief three days I spent.

I wish to give a big shout out to all that have stuck with me during this year, even when I wasn't the most easy person to get along with. For those who encouraged me and got me to where I am today. Last but not least, I want to apologise to anyone I may have unintentionally hurt along my way this year. I am really sorry.

So cheers to my 24th year of life and hoping to have an eventful 25th or as I am told a quarter century [some believe I will live to see a 100!]

Thank you!

Moods of Change

Who knew you had moods?
Changing ever so often,
Within a few seconds.
Spontaneous,
Unpredictable.

You showed me with your moods,
Blues, greys, yellows, reds and oranges
Who knew you would change,
Have many feelings to show?

I had not a say,
No option.
You changed, like the clouds in the sky,
Like the setting sun.

Ultimate Bliss

Peace,
Is when the clouds form above me,
Alive with bright yellows, oranges & red,
While I sit on a tank's bunt,
With the wind blowing.
Blowing, strong enough to sweep me off my feet,
To the distant rainbows yonder.

Freedom, is when the calf runs around the meadow,
Unaware of any dangers that await,
Lurking in the bushes at the edge.

Bliss is when I know,
Sitting there with the wind in my hair,
There are no worries,
Besides rooting my feet as such
That I don't blow away.