What do I want from Life?

An exam would be so much simpler to crack if you knew the questions and its answers beforehand. But, then what's the point and fun in writing a known question paper. Would there be any fun in looking forward to something and testing your IQ or putting to test all those hours of hardwork that you had put in to prepare for the exam?

The inexplicable question about, “What do I want from life?” is something similar. Paulo Coelho in his book, “The Alchemist” says , “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” But that something is really “Something difficult” to find.

Years pass by and one fails to realize what he or she wants from his life. As kids our expectations were different and as we grew up the expectations increased. Our entire life passes by in fulfilling our deepest expectations and our desires or the reason for our living takes a backseat. One fine day we wake up and realize that life has been such a drab. Have I wasted my entire life?

Knowing what you really want, can be an enormous task. It can be straining and can leave you depressed. However, the immense satisfaction that you achieve when you have found this out is indecipherable.

Do not expect to get introduced to your desires in a day or two. It is a long process.

1.   Get acquainted with yourself:

You are the owner of yourself and no one but you know your deepest desires and secrets. You are the only person who has control over your life. Take time to get acquainted with yourself. Have a dialogue with yourself and ask questions. That’s the best way to stay connected with yourself.

2.   Likes and dislikes:

There are things that you may like and there are things that may want to avoid. It is always good to be around things and people that you like and stay away from things that disappoint you. It’s the best way to retain positivity in your life.

3.   Reason for your happiness:

After knowing your likes and dislikes, you need to distinguish between the likes that give you happiness. And when I say happiness, I do not mean the temporary one. It’s the one that’s permanent, the one that you feel from within, the one that can drool over your emotions and leave you satisfied and accomplished.

4.   Sustain:

Once you know what makes you happy, you are never far from realizing what you really want from life. And once, you know what that is, sustain it, cherish it and let it grow.

It took me 22 years to realize what I wanted from life, I wanted to write because writing gave me happiness and peace and now I want to sustain it, dwell in it and cherish it for a lifetime.

Does that make it easier for you to determine what you want from life?

Let me know.


Linking this post to Answer A Question – Rediscovering Your Blogging Groove Day 2

9 tips for a better travel

Lately, travelling excites me. Well, whom does it not? Ever since, I was a kid, I have always loved visiting new places, learning new cultures and meeting new people. Travelling is all about making memories all over the world. As Anita Desai says, "Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow". If you have planned a travel once in your life, there is a taste that you get addicted to. It's a healthy drug that gushes into your senses and cannot leave till you have visited every corner of the world. 

I do not believe in paying extra money for a tour package where some agency tells me about how I should travel and the places I should visit. For me, travel begins right from the day I start thinking about it to the booking of the places to stay as well preparing my own itinerary. My 10 days honeymoon trip to Italy was an excellent experience of how I managed and planned my travel. 

I have been waiting to share my plan from a long time. So here I am giving you few tips for a better travel.

1. Plan ahead: Planning your travel 4 to 5 months earlier not only saves you a  huge    

    amount of money but gives you ample amount of time to relax and plan for an amazing travel. You     can get fabulous offers on your flight tickets and offers from websites like Booking and Hotels for     your stay. 

2. Make a list of places: Websites like Tripadvisor and Cox and Kings 

    provide you with readymade travel itineraries. You can pick up any of them and start making a list     of all the places you wish to see. 

3. Do not crumple: While making a list of the places to visit in a particular city     

   that you are travelling to, do not crumple your travel. You do not have to visit every place that    

   Tom, Dick or Harry visited. Pick up the places that interest you. Have a look at the pictures of such 

   places on  Google and then make a choice. It’s always good to spend your money and time in    

   places that I interest you than wasting your time in visiting a place that makes you feel sad. 

4. Get to know your choices:If you are interested in art then make a list of the museums that you cannot miss in a particular place that you are visiting. Keep a checklist of all the historic places of interest. If you are a person who loves adventure, then add that to your checklist. You choice  

 is something that is very important. 

5. Dial a friend: It’s always good to call up a friend who has visited that place earlier. He/she can give you some insights that you can never find even on the internet. 

6. Know the culture: There is a famous saying which goes like this, “When in Rome do as Romans do”. It’s always good to have a brief overview about the culture and some ideas about the place you are visiting. You never know when it could come handy. 

7. Know what you pay: There are websites that provide you the cost of common items like Milk, water, bread, alcohol or a sumptuous meal. It’s always good to have a look at it rather than be cheated. 

8. Manage your time: While preparing your itinerary always keep track of the amount of time you are going to spend at every place. Make a timetable and try your best to follow it.

9. Last but not the least: The last Item in the checklist is to keep your money at different places. For example, separate your money and keep some in your wallet, some in your bag and some in a secret pocket in your dress. This comes handy especially when you are in an international travel where access to that currency is difficult. 

The 9 tips mentioned above are tested and verified. You can blindly follow them and I bet you will have the travel of your lifetime. 

Let me know If I could add anything more to this list and also your feedback!

Linking the post to Write a List – Rediscovering Your Blogging Groove Day 1

# Friday Fictioneers - Let the light in

PHOTO PROMPT Copyright-Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

The last time they met was at the farewell party in college, the day he had performed with his band, "Rock-crashers". 

It had been years since she had met the heartthrob of her college.

Sara had loved Ben secretly but never had she gathered the courage to speak to him about the deepest feelings of her heart. 

After 5 years, she had seen him outside the coffee shop and followed him to his studio. It was in tatters. 

She pulled the curtains and let the light come in. She was determined to fill his life with the same brightness.

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This is a 100 word fiction written for the Friday Fictioneers brought about by Rochelle Wisoff- Click here to read the prompt and here to read the other entries in the link-up.

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The Unreal wishlist

I wish that I was swallowed by a whirlwind and at the other end land into the era of Cinderella. 

I wish that time ran at my pace; The sun rose with me and set with me.

I wish my dreams were fulfilled by striking the magic lamp and asking Genie to work is ways.

I wish I had free tickets to travel around the world, to touch the highest peak and sink into the deepest oceans. 

I wish I never grew old and never be worried about wrinkles. 

I wish finger licking dishes hung on trees and I never had to bother about what I had to make for dinner. 

I wish I woke up every morning in the lap of plush meadows and went to bed watching the sun die down by the beach. 

I wish....

I wish..........

I wish..................

I heard the crow's caw from my window and realised how my early morning meditation was disturbed.  

Do you have an Unreal Wishlist? I am sure all of us do have. Do share it with me in the comments below. 

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I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to write as frequently as I can.

I host the 10/10 Tuesdays prompt with Deepika. Do visit here

10/10 Tuesday Prompt #1

After I had announced about the Tuesday Prompts yesterday on my blog, I went on to think what my first prompt would be. I thought of starting it off in a simple way. The first prompt for 10/10 Tuesdays is,

"Close to my heart"

There may be a million things that may be close to your heart. From the pillow in your home to the coffee mug at your office desk. What more? Open your blogs and begin to pen down just 10 sentences with 10 words each. 

Do not forget to add a link to this prompt in your blog. 

For the rules visit here: Tuesday Prompts

Put on your thinking hats and write from your heart. Add your posts in the linky below this post. 

Happy Writing!!

This prompt will be co-hosted by me and Deepika Muralidharan, my friend from College who happens to be an avid blogger too. Check out her blog here.

An InLinkz Link-up

The Peace-d place !! #Happy

Yesterday was Sunday and the best part of it was that I spent it in the city I love the most, "Pune". It's where my parents live and also the place where I lived most of my life in. 

There is such a nostalgic feeling when I go to this city. I feel warm. I feel subtle. I feel complete right from the time I step my foot into the city. There is an aura that engulfs me and brings back all the memories.

But there is something more beautiful about this place. It's the home where I grew up. Specifically, the BALCONY. The hall in our house has an attached balcony and this is that one place that has actually seen me grow over the years.

It has seen me cry, it has seen me shout in happiness and it has seen me stand quietly and ponder. There have been times I have stood there doing nothing at all.

I remember sleeping in the balcony with my brother as a kid during the summer seasons. It was mesmerizing to watch the stars twinkling above. 

Whenever my relatives were home, we would play Antakshari(Sing song game) while sitting in the balcony.

There were times I would walk up and down in my balcony before my exams. It has seen my memorizing just days before the semesters. I have seen the sun go down literally everyday by standing here.  There has never been the need to go to a hill station to watch the sunset.

When I was completing my very first novella (Which is due to be published soon), this was my shelter during the early mornings and the late nights. It was my secluded place that had so much of positivity in it.

It was at this very place where I had spoken to my husband over the phone for the very first time. Our conversation had last for around 90 minutes. To this day, this has been a mystery.

Even today, whenever I go home, this is that place that defines “Peace” for me. Whenever, I visit my parents, I stand in the balcony for some time. It rejuvenates me and energizes me.

Which is that one place where you find solace and peace? I would love to know. 

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I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to write as frequently as I can.

There is something new coming up on my blog. It's going to start from tomorrow. Why not have a look at what it is? Here is the link

#Five sentence Fiction - Hunger for Power !!

A five sentence fiction inspired by the prompt

"Hunger"

Lillie McFerrin Writes

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The headlines flashed in a prominent news channel with a breaking news about the death of the promising Chief Minister of the state.

The fraternity was in a shock as their dearest to-be Chief Minister was found dead in his apartment in Virar.

With all hopes shattered, the people stood helpless outside his house to bid him farewell and have a last look at their chivalrous leader.

A tall man with a black moustache that ran from one cheek to the other stepped out of his official vehicle and walked towards the lifeless body.

As he bowed to pay his respect, he flashed an iniquitous smile and whispered in his ears, "Thank you for leaving, my plan never fails".

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I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to write as frequently as I can.

Haider - Movie review #A must watch!!

Vishal Bhradwaj's Haider is the journey of a youth in an unabated search for his father who according to the Kashmiris has "Disappeared”. Disappearance in Kashmir means being caught by the Indian Army under charges of helping militants and taken to camps where they are torturously beaten and most of the times killed.

The movie is set in 1995 in Kashmir and is an adaptation of the Shakespearean Hamlet. The era in which the movie is set is that time when Kashmir was engulfed in terrorism and politics. Vishal Bharadwaj has done a fantastic job in using this as the milieu for his Haider.

The movie begins with Haider’s father who is a doctor by profession, operating on a militant. Tabu his wife is shown as a scared and vulnerable woman who is also a melodramatic mother. The next morning the Indian army officials are shown outside Haider’s home and in the course of interrogation, they arrest Haider’s father and bombing his house to kill the hidden militants. Haider returns from Aligarh where he was forcefully sent by his mother to keep him away from being influenced by the militants. He becomes a poet, a passion that he shared with his father. Shraddha Kapoor, Haider’s love interest, suits very well for her role and is not used only for the song, dance and skin show sequences in the movie. For a change, the heroine’s role is pivotal and takes a strong turn in the movie. Haider who stands strong while watching his house that is burned down to ashes becomes devastated when he witnesses his mother getting cozy with her brother-in law (Haider’s uncle). Hell breaks loose when Haider realizes that his Uncle and his mother were behind the conspiracy of the disappearance of his father.

Irrfan Khan’s comic role brings life to the dark movie exactly when it is very much needed. The sequence and the timing of shots and event has been very well placed leaving the viewer not bored even for a single minute. Every shot makes you want to know what happens next. The camera angles in the entire movie are generally close shots which make the movie to appear intense and deeply stirring.

The costumes used in the movie and the editing are just perfect. The movie takes you from your respective cities to the state of Kashmir. You can very well breathe in Kashmir while watching the movie. It takes you back in time to the era where Kashmiris were slaughtered. You feel sorry for them even though you wouldn’t have been to that place nor had friends hailing from there. It connects to you at a personal level and leaves you hurt and in pain by the end of the movie.  

The choice of characters has been excellent. Shahid Kapoor has proved his mettle with this movie. He proves that he much more than the roles he has played in other movies like R.. Rajkumar and Phata Poster Nikala Hero. They say that Hamlet is one of the most difficult characters in History. The sequence where Shahid acts as a lunatic is a must watch. 

Shraddha Kapoor who seems to be a promising actor with every movie is a lawful daughter and a crazy lover. Tabu as always steals the show with her intense acting skills. She is shown as a two faced woman who is caught between the love of her son and her search for peace and romance. Kay Kay Menon perfectly adds to the ensemble by acting as the occultist uncle whose revenge is what Haider thirsts for. Even the smallest of the smallest roles if played with perfection. The gravedigging scene displays dark humour and the scene where a woman searching for her son shows his photograph and Haider shows his Father’s in return tickles a drop of tear from you eye.

I personally loved the screenplay of the song Bismil and the entire act that is depicted. Being a lover of musical plays I was drawn to it.

We have always perceived Kashmir as a white snow clad place with an effervescent scenic beauty. Vishal shows Kashmir as red-snow clad state. The movie sticks to the original work of Shakespeare by including the context and adapting it to the plight of the Kashmiris.

Courtesy Google Images

The only flaw was the length of the movie which can still be overlooked.

Lastly, Vishal Bharadwaj’s Haider is the story of how terrorism is a vicious circle. It is the story of strong emotions and relationships in a lust driven society where the ultimate thing that human wants is peace and his journey in finding it. He completes his trilogy of Shakespearean plays with Haider which I found was the best among the earlier ones. 

If you are someone who wishes to watch a movie for entertainment alone then this is not your cup of tea. But you can surely give it a try and start falling in love with such kind of movies. If the title of the storyline does not convince you then at least use the characterization as an excuse to watch this movie. However, do not miss out on it at any cost. It is that once is a lifetime movie where everything just falls in so perfectly and touches your heart.

It does deserve your time and in return it will give you a feeling of having watched such an amazing and brilliantly made movie.

P.S: The people in the theatre where I watched the movie in, got up and applauded after the movie was over. 

Dream Forlorn #Sonnet

Did you know that the Sonnet is a poetic form that originated in Italy?

It is derived from the Italian word, "Sonetto".

All of us must have heard of the Shakespearean Sonnet. A sonnet is a fourteen lined Poem that follows a strict Rhyme Scheme. The Italian Sonnets followed a different rhyme scheme, while the Shakespearean Sonnet followed another.

I tried my hands on the Italian Sonnet rhyme scheme which is a-b-b-a-a-b-b-a-c-d-e-c-d-e.

Intense, the emotions I wish to subdue (a)

Imagining a world so calm and serene (b)*

I lay in the pasture, wide and green (b)*

Immersed in a daydream, world I bid adieu (a)

Innate my desires, Ah the mind too shrew (a)

Incognito I wander in my kingdom like a queen (b)*

Indifferent of the sphere, nowhere to be seen (b)*

In this time, the soul yearns to be born anew (a)

Infatuated I walk, into that garden so dense (c)**

Incessantly with no rest, driven by instinct (d)***

Into the wild, am I lost with no retreat (e)****

Instantly, courage I gather, covering my pretense (c)**

Infected with sweat, Illusions become extinct, (d)***

Inherently awakened, the morning I greet (e)****

I went through a website called  DailyPost, where they provide 365 writing prompts in an ebook format. You can download it from here.

The prompt for October 1st is - 

Fearful symmetry 

Pick a letter, any letter. Now, write a story, poem, or post in which every line starts with that letter.

I have written a Sonnet in which every line begins with the letter "I".

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I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to write as frequently as I can.

The Dandiya time #Navratri

India is considered to be a land of varied cultures, traditions, religions and heritage. Every Indian takes pride in stating that we that live in a country that respects everyone’s sentiments. Muslims,  Hindus, Christians,  Parsis, Jews,  Buddhists are alike and we live in apartments where one neighbor would be of a different religion and the other of another. Inspite of being a Christian, I light Diyas(lamps) outside my home every Diwali. For me Diwali is a festival of lights. I love the way every house is decorated with lamps on every nook and corner.

The reason why I began writing about the unity is diversity was because of a recent festival I participated in, last Saturday. It was my Mom’s birthday on Friday and invariantly I just needed a reason to go to my mother’s place in Pune. Mumbai(Where I live in) is just a 3 and a half hour drive to Pune which makes it all the more easier. My Husband and I drove down on Friday night to spend the evening with my mother and make her feel special.

She had informed me of a Dandiya Night that was supposed to be hosted in our society for which she had been practicing since a week. I was excited as it had been years since I had played Dandiya.

Dressed in my best attire, I joined the platoon that was dressed in bright coloured ghagra cholis. 

The show lasted for around two and a half hours and by the end of it I was exhausted. There were prizes for different age groups and those who were best dressed and danced the best were awarded. It was a public gathering and all of them were equally elated.

As I went back to sleep that day with soared feet, I thought of the evening. The way the festival had brought together people of different age groups under one single roof was marvelous. It was just another break from the monotonous life that we live in. Such kind of social gatherings and events attract people and this is something that keeps our country united. I felt proud. Isn't it great how people join hands to celebrate festivals? 

My Mom and Me.
 Copyright +Cynthia Vincent 

As for me, as the dandiya season is about to get over, I can’t wait for it to arrive next year.

I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to myself to write as frequently as I can.

#Five sentence Fiction - Commotion & Confusion!!

A five sentence fiction inspired by the prompt

"Confusion"

Lillie McFerrin Writes

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Hither and tither, it flew around creating a ruckus.

I jumped high and low, from sofa to chair.

I wished I had wings like it and shrunk in size to get inside every hole and pillar.

In confusion, I screamed pulling down every corner of the house.

After a long struggle, I managed to spring and catch it tight; it wriggled in my hands, the MOTH that was little and tiny.

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I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to myself to write as frequently as I can.

Last night in Venice ....#When I met a stranger.

Venice, one of the most romantic cities in the world and surprises you with every step you take. You will find yourself locked in a maze of similar looking streets and bridges. There are no traffic signals in this city and no automobiles as well. To talk about this fascinating city would require an entire blog post. But there was something else that has made Venice special for us. There was another incident that sunk in so deeply and will always be in our memories for years to come.

Copyright +Cynthia Vincent 

On the last night of our honeymoon to Italy, my husband and I had planned to attend a live Orchestra which is considered to be a shame if not witnessed while it Venice. We booked our tickets in the morning and after our visit to the great St. Mark's Cathedral and Doge's palace we walked to the place where the orchestra was supposed to be conducted. There was a huge queue standing outside since the gates hadn't opened yet. We joined to queue and waited for around 10 minutes. After a while, we found a couple standing in front of us who requested us to click a photo of theirs. I was busy in a phone call and my husband did the honours of clicking a picture. 

They thanked us and began a conversation by asking us where were we from. We told them that we were from India and we got to know that they were from the USA. They told us that they were touring Europe and it had been around three weeks since they were out of home. On telling them that we were on our honeymoon we got to know that John and Joanna were married for 6 years. We were surprised as it contradicted the assumption we have of Americans that they do not have long-term relationships. Thanks to the hollywood superhits that brief us on this subject n-number of times. 

Copyright +Cynthia Vincent 

The gates for the Orchestra had opened and we took our seats. For the first time, we had witnessed a live orchestra of 7 violinists. The Orchestra lasted for an hour and a half and left us swaying to its tune for even longer.

 As we began to leave the hall, John and Joanna came up to us and asked us if we wished to join them for dinner. We were overwhelmed. I always had a fetish to meet new people and get to know about them. Maybe it's the writer instinct in me that makes me inquisitive and curious. We walked into a small restaurant on  Campo Manin. 

We ordered food and since it was the finals of the Fifa world cup that day we were excited to hear the news as well. We talked about the different cultures we were brought up in. I realized that Joanna came from a very close knit family and both of them valued the relationships they shared with their parents. We found that our upbringing was nothing different. They spoke about how difficult the first year of their marriage was and advised us on making it an effort to work out the differences in married life that may arise after a period of time. 

Joanna spoke about her love for bollywood movies and how much she loved watching the dances on bollywood numbers. We told them about Mumbai and asked them to visit us soon. 

We spent an hour and a half talking and finally got up to leave as we had to catch the flight back to India the next day. As for them, they were heading towards Rome. On the way back to India, I realised that there was no other better way to end our honeymoon. We met a couple hail from a place (where we thought relationships are taken for granted) living together for so long and making it an effort to live in harmony. They were the best example for a newly married couple like us. Ever since we are back, there have been times when things may not have been the way it should be between my husband and me, but in those times I remember our friends John and Joanna and the example they set before us. 

Copyright @Cynthia Vincent

It's true that many a times we meet strangers to whom we are reluctant to open up, but when they become a part of our lives, they become so special. I still continue to message Joanna over facebook and we still continue to share our experiences. 

Wishing them the best in life always!! Love you guys and thank you so much for asking us to click your picture on the last evening in Venice. 

Copyright +Cynthia Vincent 

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Red, Blue, Green, Yellow…. Shoot em’ all!! #Friday Fictioneers

“The red one, dad”, my son squeaked, bringing back all the memories that flooded deep within.

It had been a year since dad had left us and gone.

He had seen me become a father.

Today as I stand near the shooting balloons game on the beach, I think of him again.

PHOTO credits Copyright – Marie Gail Stratford

All the Saturday evenings that I spent playing this game with him flash before me.

It takes me to the day before he died. He had caught me drinking in depression. 

A promise he took from me and breathed his last. The balloons looked similar to stacked bottles. 

This is a 100 word fiction written for the Friday Fictioneers brought about by Rochelle Wisoff- Click here to read the prompt and here to read the other entries in the link-up.

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I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to write as frequently as I can.

Winter Bucket List!!

With the rainy season just passing by and leaving us with a few spells here and there it's time to welcome the season that brings with it serenity and tenderness. It's time to welcome Winter!!!

Winter has always been one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. There is a kind of feeling where emotions outplay you. It is that time of year where you find yourself luring into romantic sounds, you find yourself squeezing inside think blankets, when your mornings are nothing but a silent quarrel between you and your alarm clock and it is also that time of the year when the climate lets you fall in love with itself.

Winter always reminds me of Christmas. The carol singing, the crib decoration, Santa Clause, Stockings, gifts etc.

Following my fellow blogger Nabanita, I landed up on the link up activity on Fall Bucket List. Since, Winter is my favorite season I planned to put up my Winter Bucket List:

1. South Mumbai: I moved into Mumbai a couple of months back after my marriage and since then I havent had the time to explore south Bombay. I did visit Marine drive and Delhi Darbar :) but I wish to walk and explore the entire South Bombay on one weekend.

2. Cook from my heart: As I said in one of my previous posts, I never enjoyed cooking before my marriage, but now I do trying out stuff on weekends when I have time. So this is up on my list. I will try new recipes and ofcourse put it up on my blog too soon :)

3. Adapt in my new office: With marriage, there has been a lot of change that has come around in my life. One of which is I landed up working in a huge organization where I still haven't found proper friends and it is sickening to go to such a place everyday. I am going to try and make new friends and stop cribbing about this.

4. Fitness: Fitness is something that I have given up owing to the lack of time which supposedly is something I shouldn't be using as an excuse. I am planning to get back to working out as much as I can and planning to get back in shape.

5. Creating a small Garden: It has been on my checklist to create a small garden in my balcony with tiny pots where I can sit and enjoy the evenings by sipping a cup of hot Coffee in Winter. I hope to get that started soon.

6: Write and Write: Now that I have made it a point to write as much as I can, I wish to continue this with passion and determination.

There goes my list, Now if you have yours, why don't you put it up on your blog or drop them down in the comments section? Who knows it may motivate you to have a great Winter.....

I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to myself to write as frequently as I can.