Maturity

One of my aunt's friends once gifted her a book, with the following passage written in front of it:

On Maturity

The things you learn on maturity aren't simple things like acquiring information and such. You learn not to burn energy in anxiety. You learn not to engage in self-destructive behaviour. You discover how to manage your tensions. You learn that self pity and resentment are among the most toxic of drugs.

You find that the world loves talent but rewards character. You come to understand that most people are not for you or against you, they are simply thinking of themselves.

You learn that no matter how hard you try, some people in this world are not going to love you, a lesson that is at first troubling, and then really quite relaxing.

- John Gardner

This I liked a lot when I had read it first, and now when I read it again, this made me think. What is actually maturity? Learning how to conduct yourself in society? How to talk to people and handle situations peacefully? Not only that, the last sentence is also very important. Everyone wants to be liked by people, but its not possible that every single person in the world will like someone, so that needs to be accepted. If someone cannot accept it, it doesnt allow one to stay in peace.

Another point which I feel, everyone should accept is that every single person will not approve of something you do. You will face criticism or you may hear something bad being said behind your back for something you have done. All of this cannot be taken into consideration. If you feel you are correct according to your knowledge, and the few people you know, who wont lie to you just to satisfy, are in support of you, then you should go ahead, do whatever your heart tells you. And not bother about the criticisms you hear. If you are correct, everyone will come to understand at some point of time. And if you are not? Well then you will learn a lesson, and not ever repeat it. But you cannot always hold yourself back from doing something, being afraid of "what people think". Thats the worst of all fears. Risks always have to be taken, roads less travelled by have to be traversed, else what will be the challenge in life?

Tom and Jerry

Tom and Jerry: The famous duo, the cat and the mouse, the forever enemies!! :)
I am an ardent lover of Tom and Jerry. The pair and what all they succeed in doing is hilarious. I shudder to think what would have happened if a cat and mouse like Tom and Jerry really stayed in a house. :) I heard one of my friend's saying that she had a mouse in her house which likes to eat particular brands of soaps like Glycerin soap, but not Dettol soap!!! I found that it reminds me of Jerry..Thankfully, there's no cat resembling Tom nearby.. :)
Tom and Jerru break ceilings, walls crash down around them, and the whole house gets blasted except the part where Jerry is staying, and still they survive, happily play around, and chase each other. They bring out the truth of the statement, 9 lives of the cat. And Jerry is too naughty. Even if Tom is serenely lying down, Jerry is not at peace. He doesnt feel satsified until there is a scuffle going on and he is running around with Tom behind him, ready to pounce on him, and gobble him either uncooked or roasted!! In a few of the episodes, some baby birds or elephants, and in one of the episodes, one lion comes in. The episodes with the birds are also brilliant, the baby bird keeps on talking talking talking.. :) oblivious to the danger Tom presents to him, and Jerry is hell bent on saving him!! :)
And there are a few rare episodes where Tom and Jerry are friends for a part of the time. But then again how can there be a Tom and Jerry episode without a fight and flight part in it?
As long as you keep watching, they will never get old, you will never get bored!!
Long live Tom and Jerry!!! :) :)

Isn’t there beauty in danger too???!!!

Imagine you are stranded on an island, never mind how you came there, or why you are there alone, just imagine for once. Its evening, dark clouds are looming in the sky, and there’s no shelter in sight. You are surrounded by the ocean on all sides. And as you ponder about your course of action, drops of water start falling. Within a few minutes it turns into rain lashing down on all side, the stormy wind forcing the raindrops to fall at a slant. You don’t have anything to do but just stay there, in the outpour, getting completely bedraggled.

Darkness is surrounding you now, pitch black in colour. The only sound you can hear is of the rain and thunderous waves crashing on all sides. Suddenly the whole world lights up, a streak of lightning flashes across the sky down to the horizon, you forget everything, and stare at it spellbound.. The waves reflect the light and you can see the white surf in the dark sea. The thunder comes soon after, causing you to close your ears. You stare with disbelief, is this truly the placid world you stay in? You forget any discomfort, just let the raindrops strike you, and let the beauty seep in, you may not ever have a chance to see this anymore. The gods keep playing the entire night, with you as the spectator, as if they have put this up for you and you alone. The lightning fleeing from the thunder and the mountainous waves trying to capture the fleeting lightning, becoming unsuccessful, and that increasing the rage and the force. The storm shows no sign of abating; you have forgotten to think about it. You are mesmerized by the spectacle.

The entire night passes; you have no track of the time. But suddenly you notice the force of rains has decreased, the waves have regained a bit of normalcy, and the sky is slowly lighting up, not due to lightning, but naturally. Gradually after that the rain stops, the waves die down and the clouds float aside, and the blue sky becomes visible again. The sun is already out, and the world is looking newly washed, all fresh and sparkling. The sea has regained its original blue colour, the water gently laps on all sides of the island, and all signs of the madness of the previous night have gone, as if it was never there.

Will you thank God for the magnificent spectacle or will you regret the fact that you had to face something like this?

Serenity all around.... Its your time to enjoy...

Dreamy eyes, drowsy silence all around, very peaceful… Feeling of sleep almost overtaking you… Looking all around… You see the mirror image of what you have been feeling… On almost every face… Some of them have given up the struggle and sleep has won them over… Seems to be a much known image? Welcome to our class… Welcome to any of the classes, for that matter, any class in any school or college whatsoever with a few exceptions of exceptionally good teachers…

This seems to be very strange, but yes… yawning is contagious… Now what is it about classes, that sets someone yawning… and bingo… By and by the whole class starts yawning… Here also there are a few exceptions… Some rapt eyed students sit staring at the blackboard with all their might, and nod at whatever the teacher says, understanding everything perfectly in a fraction of the second… But luckily for students and unluckily for the teachers, that’s only a minority… The teacher gets to see blank faces in whichever direction he looks… Now who knows whose fault it is? The teacher’s? Or the student’s?

But whoever’s fault it is… Does it finally matter? The serene atmosphere is still there… If you look out the window, you see a blue sky, the trees… Every day the same, but not exactly the same… They change bit by bit… And who’ll notice but the bored students of class? Birds chirping and flying… Don’t you wish you could just sprout 2 wings and fly out of the window? And fly far far away… Far from the reach of the college, the professors, the boring subjects… Just relax for some time, look around, and feel happy just to be alive… Do something you really want to do… If you feel like jumping, jump around… Lie down… Sing… Dance… Doesn’t matter… Just be yourself… I somehow have the picture of lying down in a lush green lawn as one of the most relaxing things in life… Flowers all around you, sprinkled on the grass… Birds flying… Soft sounds all around, nothing to create disharmony… All in perfect agreement… I hope at some point of time I can experience this… I have dreamt of it…

What is this about? That also seems to go on… About nothing in particular… Just like the way you feel in class… You can maybe slip out of your body and have a little trip to different places… Isn’t that actually the meaning of being physically present and mentally absent that our teachers are so fond of reminding us that we are? Isn’t it so easy to just hear and not to listen? Just to let yourself de-stress, and keep staring... thinking your own thoughts... About some book? Or movie? Or maybe about going home?? Or just nothing... Just fantasising about sleeping after the class... Whatever be it... You are welcome to do it... As long as the teacher doesn’t spot your exceptionally blank look, and ask you some question... Thus springing you back to reality... All the best for classes... :-) :-)

One beautiful birthday quote I love...

Count your garden by the flowers,
Never by the leaves that fall.
Count your days, By golden hours
Don't remember clouds at all.
Count your nights by star, Not shadows.
Count your years with smiles, Not tears.
And my friend, on this, your birthday,
Count your age by friends,Not years.

Small beauties of nature...

Most of the times, we are too busy to appreciate the small wonders thrown all around us all the time.. But if one tries to find beauty in nature, one will be surprised to see how often small things are so nice, that you want to stop for a moment to relish it..
Few days back while returning from class I stopped in my tracks, there was a small whirlwind blowing dry leaves round and round and was moving across the road. It was very small, quite easy to miss... But it was pretty..
Have you ever tried looking up at a very high tree with a blue sky as the background? It feels that the end of the tree is in the sky itself and if you climb up, you can reach the world that Jack had reached by climbing his magic bean tree. Maybe the giant still exists, waiting for Jack to come back... To punish him... With the axe in his hand.. Maybe he still plays his magic golden harp... Or was it his wife??? In my college there are three trees which make me feel like this.... I love looking up at them...
The setting sun, wherever it be... when it drops to the horizon... Round and if not red, orange.... The sky all around it glowing... I cannot mention specific colours, as I have never till now found the same colours being repeated... Every time, the sky dresses up in a new way, while the sun tells goodbye for a few hours.. Maybe this is his way of telling all of us not to miss him too much... He'll come back soon... And again in a new garment... With all sorts of colours sparkled across the sky to announce his arrival... Red, orange, golden..........
An eagle in its flight.... Gliding smoothly across the sky... With a specific purpose in mind... Maybe, maybe not... But it seems intent while flying... And very few birds fly with so smoothly as an eagle....
A rainy night... A dark cloudy sky.... Ten o clock at night.... A V formation of birds, flying by... In contrast with sky by their white colour feathers...
Lightning from behind a cloud... The whole cloud glows up... And you can see the outline of the cloud as a silver lining... Really, the silver lining of the cloud is one of the most beautiful views on earth..
The golden crescent of the moon.... waiting just for you to specify the destination.... And you will be taken to even the ends of the rainbow, if you name it just once..... The Golden Magical Boat... waiting... waiting.... does anyone know?? And meanwhile weaving magic all around her....

Look around.... Watch nature... It has a lot to offer... If only someone has the patience and eyes to notice.... And you'll be gladdened by what you see... :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

I love.....

I love balloons.... :) :) :)
I love the blue blue skies with the sparkling white clouds floating by serenely...
I love the sun peeping out from behind a black cloud and bathing the earth in its golden rays...
I love the green green leaves, more so with the sun shining on them...
I love it when it rains and the whole nature looks like newly bathed, fresh and eager, raindrops sparkling on leaves and branches...
I love the lake with its rippling waters...
I love the dewdrops on the grass sparkling like diamonds after a cold night...
I love the crescent glittering moon, looking like a boat to carry you to the ends of your imagination...
I love the shining star, to twinkle and greet you even though no one else is near you...
I love the moon, mesmerising all under her reign by casting an unearthly silver sheen on all objects...
I love the sunrising, a new day coming, with new things to come my way...
I love the high mountains, reflected on a clear blue silent lake, for ever and ever, unchanged...
I love the waterfalls, making its way, jumping down with all its happiness and enjoyment, cascading down, beckoning to you to enjoy life and be happy...
I love the waves, coming in one after the other, with the surfs, white in colour, and along with that the golden yellow beach and the sea blue waters...
I love the birds flying by, in their own unique formations, flying on and on...
I love the trees laden with red red flowers, and bright green leaves, welcoming you by bowing their branches in the wind...
I love it when the moon is seen during daytime, along with the sun...
I love to look at sunshine...
I love the river speeding by underneath from over a bridge, it seems so dangerous and exciting...
I love to smile, and be happy...
I love listening to music, in the dark....
I love thinking by myself sometimes...
I love the time spent with friends...
I love everyday, as it is a new beginning and brings unknown opportunities and unexplored avenues....
Maybe you will read this, maybe you wont...
But I loved writing this...
And I try to love everything I do.... :) :) :)
Have a lovely day...
Face it with a smile.....


Ok now, this has a history... I wrote it for About me in Orkut... And the balloons part was added as a dare from my friends... :-)