Heart Notes

Insomnia

2011-02-16T22:41:00.000+05:30

I've been often seeing facebook status updates where I come across the word "insomnia" or rather people use different ways to describe insomnia. Some say that they are awake at dawn whereas some quote it as trying hard to get some sleep. My eyes spotted a vision which really made me write after such a long time!

It was a lovely Valentine night when my hubby took me to dine at a restuarant. We parked our car and walked towards the entrance. Near to the doorsteps there was a tiny pavement. A small boy was eating some left overs he got as alms due to mercy of someone from the hotel. He was enjoying his food as if he was having a three course meal. He was shabbily clad and appeared untidy, however he cared for nothing and was happily eating.

Once we were done with dinner, we stepped out of the restaurant and I saw the same kid sleeping on the pavement. For a moment this sight shook me. I realized that how often we lament over things we are greedy about. How many sleepless nights would have passed by in our life for things which we thought we the biggest hurdle as far our circumstances were concerned. The endless fights, enmity, tensions and stress and all other hardships which we think to be the burdens in our world are absolutely nothing when compared to the life of underprivileged people.

The boy never did not have a luxurious quilt, neither a foam mattress so he that he could sleep cozily. All he had was a rough ground to sleep on! How blessed are we when we are privileged to enjoy much richness, despite of these we weep for our materialistic desires.

Those of who have insomnia can try thinking out of the box about the poor and needy and I'm sure you can goodbye to insomnia...:)

Move ahead

2010-04-21T05:33:00.000+05:30

Life has to move on no matter what happens with you at each phase. There's no point in being gloomy and aloof when life's struck with a hard blow!

Be optimistic always and look around to grab the opportunities that would bring success in your life. Weeping over and doing nothing will render you to be pessimistic.

If you wanna achieve heights in life, work hard towards you goal, be positive and think positively always!! Think right and be happy.

Tale of two frogs

2009-10-27T05:58:00.000+05:30

Sometimes, when I feel blue I remember the tale of two frogs which my Russian friend once told me. It seems that there's a fable in Russia about two frogs. Concisely, two frogs falls into a bucket of milk. One among them gave up easily and faced death, whilst the other kept trying over and over and soon when the milk turned to cheese it jumped out of the bucket. Phew!!!

May be the story might sound a bed time one. However, don't you think the story has some deeper meaning in it? The moral of the story is that “keep trying” against all odds and hurdles in life to achieve victory. Like the frog in the story, even we should fight endlessly against the odds in our life. Once we fail to attain what we've been looking for, do not stop, keep trying so that in one way or the other you will succeed in life.

Life is not always a bed of roses. Often thorns pricks us and it hurts badly. Should we give up because it pains? I would say NO, never. It's your will power and perseverance that helps you overcome obstacles in life.

I recollect a quote now,“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”

Keep your eyes open, think wisely and be bold to face anything in life. Ain't that the right spirit?

Waiting for the Day......

2009-10-18T14:55:00.000+05:30

Everyone has hopes in life like waking up to see a better day. Likewise, even I have one. At this moment I recollect a movie dialog where one character says to the other, "Everything has its own time to happen”. Well, I think that's true.

How much ever we struggle to get the things we want in life, we may fail at times. It's our struggle and the determination that keeps us going in life. The hope that we will achieve what we aim.

Writing this post, even I visualize a better future, a day I would celebrate in life. The day after which I would have sound sleep in nights, my worries and tensions would all be gone.

The day may or may not come. I cannot stop dreaming about it. Its the thought that keeps me going, that makes me strong. I'm waiting for the 'D' day like the chrysalis waiting for the moment to be a beautiful butterfly and like the eggs waiting to be hatched. The day they would come out of the shell and live around freely.

Do you yearn for a day like that?

For relationships to grow......

2009-10-03T22:46:00.006+05:30

Last Wednesday, I was waiting outside an office, to meet the person with whom I had an appointment. Being so impatient, I was searching for something interesting to read. Turning towards my right, my eyes caught on a wall hanging. I read the lines carefully in it and decided to write it down whenever I get some free time.

Today, I'm lonely in my room and I'm recollecting those golden words I read the other day. I thought I'll share those beautiful and provocative thoughts to my readers. I'm going to scribble some points which will help in growing relationships at our workplace.

We are like a coin. Now why a COIN? It's just that we all have our positive and negative sides in us. Some exhibit more of negativity while some the opposite. The hanging on the wall said:

Try this and you can make your work place a paradise.

1. Avoid ego and superiority complex.

2. Avoid loose talks and carrying tales.

3. Be diplomatic and learn to compromise.

4. Avoid adamant arguments and leave narrow mindedness.

5. Avoid over expectation so that you will not be hurt when things doesn't turn up the way you expected.

6. Do not talk about things without knowing whether it is necessary for the listener to know about it.

7. Do not believe things, which you hear, until and unless they are true.

8. Do not try to blow up silly things and make problems out of it.

9. Be flexible and lessen your stubbornness.

10. Talk to the person whom you misunderstood and clarify the matter with them.

Ahem, ahem aren’t they too long? Well I know it is. All of a sudden, you cannot start behaving like this. Let's stick on to these points and gradually enforce them in our lives. I know it will surely make a difference.

What do you think?

Secret to Happiness

2009-09-20T20:20:00.007+05:30

One day after a stressed out shift, I decided to take a drive to my favorite coffee shop. Gazing through the window of the car, my eyes caught a glimpse of a destitute and scanty clad man. I believe he was insane. There was a Trash bin on the pavement and he was inspecting it deeply stooping towards its inner side. He was pulling out the garbage and was gulping the left over of food found in it.

For a moment, I was shocked to see the ghastly plight of that man. I wondered the whole day long, why is it that the curse of poverty has stricken some human beings on earth. Why is it that no human has the power to eradicate poverty?

The terrible thought brooded over all day long. Contemplating over it the whole night, I dozed being weary at dawn.

The next day, I was conversing with a friend of mine in US. He said, "Oh Remya, I'm all sad and depressed". His girl friend ditched him a day ago and he feels heart broken. Being sumptuous, he was yelling out that he was aloof and devoid of love and care. I consoled him to the best as I can.

Abrupt lightning of thoughts ran through my mind. Vision of the destitute man struck like a hard blow. Its time, I wake up and make my friend realize that he should no more be sad. .

I asked him three questions:
1. Are you naked?
2. Can't you afford meals three times a day?
3. Do you have a shelter to protect yourselves from heat and rain?.

"I'm wearing the best outfit which commoners can't afford", that was his answer for my first question. As of for your second and third question, "Yes I can afford to eat anything I want and I live in a spacious condo". "Why do you ask such irrelevant questions to me now?” he was fretting and fuming over my words.

I said, "Calm down and relax dear". I wanted you to realize that how God is taking care of you so well. He asked, "But how?" “Listen”, I said in a subtle tone, "Can't you afford to have the best clothes, best cuisines and best abode?” "Do you have any sickness/diseases tormenting you?” "Don't you travel around in a luxury car?”

Whenever you are sad, think of those classes of people who are impoverished, under privileged and fighting with their sickness to live a healthy life. Think think and think of those people begging on streets to eat a meal for the day, the ones laboring in scorching heat and chilling winter to earn their daily bread, ones sleeping in parks and on pavements since they don't own a shelter to rest their head.

Gasping a sigh of relief, my friend said, "You helped me the best way to overcome such hard time I had. I feel so HAPPY now. Thanks Remya!!!". Yes, this is true and what I have written is applicable for all those human beings sad for silly reasons.

My secret to "HAPPINESS" is that I think of people who are suffering, destitute and poverty-stricken, whenever I feel sad. In a jiffy, I will be happy because, I am so grateful to GOD for giving me everything I want in life and keeping me alive, safe and secure in this cruel world. Try to help the poor, needy, be compassionate to the weary and over burdened fellow human beings in this world so that for every virtue of yours, you will receive abundant blessings from GOD and will feel the real happiness.

Ritu - Seasons...

2009-09-11T18:33:00.034+05:30

I watched a good movie today - "Ritu". It means "Seasons" in my mother tongue. Astonshingly picturized, narrating the evilness of human being, loose morality of the female gender and showcasing each facets of life of an IT professional.

A story of three friends, who has been the shelter for each other for 17 long years; sharing the burden of life, living life for each other to the fullest until destiny plays the villanious role in their happy going life. Two guys(Sarath and Sunny) and a girl(Varsha) grew up together; the trio spent most of their life at their favorite spot - the banks of a river. They dreamt about future, played around in the evenings, shared their joys and sorrows equally, played pranks on each other. Lil did they knew that life would give them a hard blow!!!

In spite of chasing their dreams, they emerged to be Software Professionals. Two(Sunny and Varsha) among them fled to the metro city of India. The third(Sarath) reluctantly, flew to Silicon Valley to stay along with Brother-in-law.

Seasons changed, time flew in a jiffy, modern technologies aided them to keep in touch. Fastened by the glory of metro sexuals, pubs and facilities which lacked in their hometown, Sunny and Varsha were hesitant to rejoin their beloved pal Sarath upon his return. Owing to loneliness of life and missing up the essence of real friendship, the duo drove along the filty path of modern life. Sarath wanted his buddies to work with him, build up their own empire and chase their forgotten dreams.

Disinclined, Sunny and Varsha leaves the metro city and joins their buddy at their homeland. Shyama Prasad, the director of the movie has done a good job in taking time to realize the crooked aspects which vandalizes the evergreen bond among the trio. I'm not surprised in seeing the same things on screen which I witness in my daily life being an IT professional. The pitholes, backstabbing and bitching, the plots, conspiracy to ditch you and attaining heights, being deceptive are something which I haven't experienced!!.

I loved the movie cause it shows the real nature of how people swindles you smiling at your face and butchers you wholly. The movie makes you realize its time to clean up the weeds in your life and pursue your dreams leaving behind the tricksters who abandoned you.
The climax of the movie is too beautiful cause it really shows how people change with the seasons!!!

Why did I let you go?

2009-08-27T04:37:00.005+05:30

Have you ever loved someone truly, madly and deeply that it hurts so much to have him/ her leave you and go? Majority of the human beings would have gulped this bitter pain at least once in their life.

The sweetness of love is immeasurable, so is its incurable bitterness. Love is sharing, talking, spending time together, faithfulness, and looking forward in the same direction in life. This post is about a true lover, who crucified all his feelings to keep his lover happy.

For he walked away in silence, watching her from a distant land, feeling the rhythm of her heart beat in every second of life. All emotions that blossomed up in his heart buried deep down in a grave when she tore his bosom it into pieces. She crushed it cruelly with her life’s reality.

They met during their good old days and their secret desire was to spend life together. He had to flee to an unknown land for quite long years. Lost in touch fully with each other, they walked away in different paths of their life. Every night on a star lit sky, he would see her face smiling at him. Her fragrance and charismatic appearance haunted him all through out the nooks and corners he gazed.

The extremity of hurdles in his life made him weary and fragile. Yet, the only element that kept him moving was her smiling face. Miles apart, her sigh and chuckle constantly echoed in his ears. Far beyond his reach, her heart was filled with same emotions and hidden desires longing to meet him. At the opposite pole of the earth, she waited patiently over years to embrace him and hoped he would hold her hands in life forever. They never ever opened up fearing a vague uncertainty. He knew she loved only him and was it no different for her too. The duo was skeptical of their families’ approval to their relationship.

Seasons changed, years rolled by, at the peak of his insanity in love, he decided to visit his homeland. The hopes of seeing her, holding her hands and walking down the lanes of their street, kissing her gently and whispering the three little words; he has treasured all through out his life only for her, made him excited. He toiled hard and earned enough pennies to conquer the love of his life.

She walked down the lane for their secret encounter. Keeping strides and like a captive, she hurried to the spot of their encounter. He was all set to propose her, when she tore his heart like a vampire thirsty of blood, speared down his body with the cruelest fact that “She is someone’s WIFE!!!!!!!!!”! and asked him to walk away from her. She feared that it would hurt many, if she ever listened only to her heart. Her only question was “Why didn’t you confess your love before?”. She spoke in a gentle tone, “My body is no more your temple, despite my heart and soul being with you.” She continued, “I live for the sake of keeping many happy, I’m just a carcass who dances to the whims and fancies of my destiny. I’m already dead and it’s too late for a resurrection.” Tears rolled down her eyes as she spoke these words. He could have easily grabbed her from the stranger’s life that he had known as her husband. They chose to depart, hoping to meet somewhere in a world beyond eternity.

Yearned over her fate, listening to her entire story, he kissed her goodbye forever in life. Hearts and souls entwined with the delicate string of love, he chose to sacrifice his love for the sake of her spouse and family. He blindly believes, that "There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go."

He knew a brusque welcome greeted his unexpected return. Every moment, his conscious beseech “Why did I let you go?”

What will you do if you were in his place? Please post your answers as comments under this post.

The song is ended, but the melody lingers on

2009-08-09T06:06:00.012+05:30

I was busy cooking some noodles and eggs for my dinner, suddenly I heard my door bell ringing. It was just

less than ten minutes, Liya reached our apartment. Until then I was all alone in the 10th floor playing with my

new love Open Suse(its a Linux distro).

Liya opened the door and I heard the sound of excitement and happiness from her. I rushed to the living and did the same when I saw the guest! It was none other than our dearest friend Chacks(real name Shobha Chacko). A friend close to my heart and one who knows the value of friendship.

Traveling back two years from now, five girls joined the new training Batch(Software Engineers) in our Office. It was Linta, Liya, Sonya, Shobha and myself. We enjoyed a lot during our initial days of training, strengthened the bond of friendship as days passed by.

As days rolled over, each one of us started moving in their own ways, making new friends at office, hanging around with them and living our own lives. Yet, all 5 of us cared and loved for each other. Our meetings and hanging around at places lessened. However, we never missed to gather and celebrate our Birthdays, and spend time once in a blue moon.

Chacks, finally decided that its time for her to hop on to a new area. She resigned from her job as a Software Engineer and got admission in B-School for pursuing management studies. She is now happy with her new life and she came to meet the remaining four of us today evening. Unfortunately, only Liya and I were there.

We exchanged pleasantries and had good time together talking about her new life and the emptiness we feel without her. However, due to time constraints, she had to leave soon. All those love and care we had for two years are gone again by the wind. Who knows what's in store for us tomorrow??

I wonder how life is. We were born at different places, yet our destiny decides our relationships. How hard we try to fasten its grip, time loosens the grip and we are ripped apart.

This is true for all human beings. We meet new people in different stages of life, we cement an unbreakable bond with them and try to keep them close to ourselves. However, destiny tears us apart playing its own game with us. It's hard to swallow the pain of loosing a friend, the pain of hearing the word “GOODBYE” from your loved ones.

Once a close friend of mine told me, “Its easy to say goodbye, to meet again is the difficult task”. There are many colleagues and friends of mine who has left me, settled in far away lands, some reach out to me even now, some never cares. For those who doesn't have time to care I would say the song is ended, but the melody lingers on...forever and ever in me......May be the day you hear the melody, I wouldn't be there to be your song.

Life is a sum of all your choices

2009-07-26T12:04:00.005+05:30

"A miser, unwilling to spend his money, fails to utilize his wealth properly. His mind is occupied by nothing but only one thought-how to preserve his wealth. To ensure the safety of his wealth, he spends most of his time worrying about the means to guard it. Thus,he becomes lethargic."

If you are a "MISER", you may leave this page, if not go ahead read the full story and do something for a noble cause. Don't we all take good care of ourselves, take care of our loved ones, hang around in pubs and discos, spend money lavishly for satisfying our greed and materialistic needs?
How many of us has ever visited the sick and underprivileged? When, you ask this to your inner self, can you shout at me that you've at least spend your time and put some efforts for a noble cause?

For those who wish to do something now, go ahead read this and decide.

I feel proud to work for the charity association of my company. As, a part of taking up new venture for our group, I paid visit to a patient's home, who is fighting for his life due to kidney failure. He has both his kidneys damaged over 50%.

Balakrishnan, aged 56 has been self employed in Chennai, South India. He worked all his life, to support his family and educate his children. Due to the negligence he paid to his health, he often suffered from chronic diseases. He often thought this way "If I spend my meager income for my health, how will my family eat their daily bread?".

At a particular stage in life, his health turned out be a villain. When, he regained his consciousness, the reality was too bitter for him to accept. The bitter truth was that both his kidneys were damaged to the extremity. Somehow, he left Chennai and reached home traveling in the General Compartment of the train. For all Indians, who has traveled by train in General Compartment knows its terrible condition.

The journey back to his home was 14 hours in train. Way back, he had to travel standing rather than siting just because he couldn't afford to get a ticket in First Class in the fully packed crowd of fellow passengers. While in train, some good-hearted people offered their seats, however, the cruel ones never felt pity for him.

I happened to know about this patient through a friend of mine. My friend and Balakrishnan's son are colleagues. Something in me was forcing me to do something for this person. I still don't know what was that. May be I'm philanthropist, or may be sympathy after hearing about this. Any how, I let our association know about this and finally I decided to pay visit to Balakrishnan's house.

It was around 5:45 p.m on July 21st 2009 I reached his home accompanied by his elder son and my friend. I was astounded on seeing the house, it could hardly be called a house. Built on a small piece of land in the remote area of Thrissur(South India), was this house painted in blue having very old stoned tiled roof. I entered the inside of this, was astonished even more seeing the plight of this patient and how its interior looked. I felt the world revolving around me seeing the poorly furnished house. It hardly had a living, a bed room, kitchen and common bathroom. Other than some bulbs glowing in the house, I couldn't see any other electronic gadgets in the house.

Can you imagine yourselves in a place like this? A life without TV, refrigerator, washing machines, dish washers and luxury commodities?? I was seeing such a house, the terrible sight of the people staying inside, all these for the first time in my life. I did not know what to do, should I cry, should I stay dumbstruck? I somehow regained my consciousness and consoled my mind.

I sat on the plastic chair, I was offered. I did not express my astonishment to them. Balakrishnan, came to see me out of the room he was resting. My heart crumbled on seeing him. He was grey haired, short and lean. A man on whose face I could see despair, dejection, anxiety,fear and uncertainty. With a feeble voice, he spoke to me about his miseries in life, his sufferings and destiny.
I gathered strength in my heart and listened to all what he spoke. Oh what a pity! he cannot sit for long as his legs will start swelling and cannot lie down in bed as he gets swelling inside his stomach. Not more than 3 glasses of water can be consumed a day. He can hardly have meal once in a day. His respiratory system is also affected and he often gets trouble with breathing. If he walks few steps, he would start panting and face difficulty in breathing. In spite of all these, he still has to take a bus early morning to go for his dialysis.

Don't panic if you come to know the income on which his family survives monthly. It just Rs. 5,500(Nearly 100 USD). How many of you can survive with this money a month? This family of four(he along with his wife and two sons), lives on this meager income his elder son earns.

This family is in debt as Balakrishnan needs around Rs. 12,000(~250 USD) for his dialysis per month. His doctor says, he needs to have a kidney transplant done which would cost Rs. 4,00,000(~8,500 USD) if a donor is available else, Rs. 7,00,000(~14,500 USD) without a donor. Do you think he can get that done ever in his life????

He is surviving due to mercy of so many people, the people who lend his son money for his dialysis. Do you think you have a heart that lets you donate at least 1% of your monthly income, 1% of money you spend on luxuries, shopping around and spending money with your friends on drinks and discos? Do you think that your little contribution can save the life of this human being?
If you ever feel like donating some money out of your riches to this poor and helpless person, donate some pennies to the account set for him.

The details of the account are as follows:
************************************
Account Holder Name: Bilumon V B
BANK - SBT , Branch - Thrissur main branch
ACCOUNT NUMBER - 57047348521
************************************

Remember, "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."