Why do we often feel: The bygone days to be worth remembering?

People like remembering the past as a summary of the worth cherishing events that can bring love and laughter in a person's life. Rarely do people like remembering those hurtful moments that has passed on them as they can be causers to let the bruises open and let them bleed again. When the best moments of the past are brought out in present lives, it opens a fresh stream of life into a person's life though trials and tribulations keeps haunting him each day in his daily challenges.

Feels like the present void can also be overcome by bringing in the best reminiscences of the past. Do you at times feel that you have changed for the better or the worse at your present? How do you feel you can correct yourself? The answer lies in yourself. The cure is 'YOU'. You know it best how to bring life flow in you again.

The elements of both good and bad were in oneself ever since we first opened our eyes to this world. Events both remembering and hurtful are important. Though you have turned to worse at your present, the good in you and the good events can add life to you to be the cure and the change to a better being. Events that caused hurt are rather to be taken cautiously as a lesson never to bring them back again. Its rather best to keep them buried with the past. Bringing them back will be opening a Pandora's box.

Self evaluation of many will reveal that they really have changed a lot. If they have changed for a good cause then there is no turning back. Otherwise, we have to reflect and relate to our past to identify and bring back the good in us related to those happy moments. Everything is subjected to change but always be cautious in adopting the change, else that could unleash hell into oneself.  

I'm of the personal notion that the craving for unblemished happiness in oneself leads people towards this quest to bring back the best bygone days into their lives and be like old again, pristine and without blemish.

A little prayer....regaining strength through faith

 Prayer is our cry of joy and petitions to the almighty God that creates a healing within ourselves. Many a times, we feel that we aren’t qualified for the healing ministry of Christ but I tell you your little prayer can heal those little bruises and support you in regaining the lost strength.

Faith is all what we need to cast away that fear of uncertainty that looms over oneself.  In Mark 11:23-25 Jesus further instructs to forgive when we pray "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Transformation in life through faith comes when we give more of ourselves and accepting Him with an open heart. Our life is almost met with trials and tribulations wherein we seek happiness or confide blame to the things or people around us. There are parasites in our life, such as obsessions and addictions, and we are feeding them. They tend to grow into us and sap our energy, causing meaninglessness to our lives.

Prayer bridges that gap and heals those wounds that life has brought forth with it. The mistakes and choices that detour us from God are not to be taken lightly. But failure is seldom fatal and few decisions are final. The moment we veer off on our own from that eternal source, it’s never too late for your return back to your God because he is already contemplating for your return. Through the ‘Parable of the Prodigal Son’, Jesus tells us that even if we go far away from His Heavenly Father, He is so compassionate that He will receive us with open hands when we contemplate our return to Him. Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing. Remember, a little prayer with a penitent heart heals you!

'Our heart is restless until it rests in you,' Saint Augustine's saying in the beginning of his Confessions, seems to describe this process of passing through loneliness, through darkness, through death, and coming to repose in life and light and love with prayer. “A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace” – Mother Teresa. Prayer in itself is a sacrifice as we undergo every soft pleasure that this mortal world provides. Haven’t you noticed that everything in this world gets destroyed in one way or the other? For the living, it’s their soul that will live eternally.

A prayer in silence that is accompanied by fasting is of great strength. When you are drawn towards sin, never lose heart but pray each moment of that temptation for that dark hour to pass and get yourself out of the weakness. Through prayer find in you rest for your restless souls. The body maybe sick and in profound pain, the soul may be at ease in God. When you lose your inner soul, you lose yourself. The writing in the chapter of Mark 8:36 is apt which says “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

My TRavelogue - Dubai, UAE

DUBAI - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

DUBAI, one of the seven emirates is a modern city of skyscrappers claiming to have either the tallest or the largest masterpieces built through modern technology. A port city transformed into a financial services and tourism hub after the discovery of oil !!!

Dubai seemed to be more liberal than the rest of Middle East and has a huge volume of immigrant workers both skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled from countries like India, Pakistan, Phillipines and neighbouring Middle Eastern countries.

The places to visit would be the Jumeirah beach where the iconic sail shaped hotel and the Jumeirah beach hotel are in close visiblity. An evening by the Madinat Jumeirah or a desert safari is worth an experience. The Wild Wadi Water Park is not to be missed. Believe me...its a good place to shop as well. There is the Mall of Emirates, Dubai Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall well connected by the metro rail. No one would miss Dubai Duty Free too!

If you are bit sportive, you could explore the artificial underwater world in Palm Atlantic and should pay a visit to see the Palm Jumeirah. Don't miss out the tallest skyscrapper in the world - The Burj Khalifa.

If you love the yellow metal, then its a place to shop...probably you could visit the Gold Souk!

Must see city....clean..safe to travel!

Motivating oneself towards that giant leap!

I sat upon to think on what stems up motivation, and in reverberation, found that it’s your silence inside that brings forth this wonder miracle. Motivated from inside and the battle for perfection waged against yourself leads to victory, motivation that gathered fire in you due to your circumstances dies out long before its lit as fuel for it is not you. Be the fuel for the miracle of motivation to set in and the lamp will never turn off.

Today, it’s very common is all walks of life that when motivation runs low, the lot of individuals are sorted out and given a tiring classroom lecture that turn their eyes heavy and the numbers found dozing off significant. Even though some amongst the lot get a booster but that seems to be momentary! Take for instance, the Israeli army has many rabbis called ‘military rabbis’ who are assigned to keep the country’s military motivation and morale high. Similarly, one of India’s neighbouring countries has religious warriors called ‘Mujahedeen’ fighting alongside armed forces, trained in religious schools in both faith and fighting without a reason.  

Inner motivation is gained through patience and enduring faith in oneself rather than from the lectures of psychologists or religious pundits. Always having a positive attitude helps, hope to wake up in the midst of a new dawn; let every morning be a new day and a new learning experience. Look around in silence; observe everything from a tiny bit of earth to the giant creations of both mother earth and mankind. I sometimes marvel at the beautiful writings of bygone writers whether it be poetry or prose, perfection was in it; solely because they held a close communion with their substance and surroundings. They were fresh and empty to accommodate thoughts that flew into them as they have emptied themselves to have that learning experiences each day that brought in forth marvellous creations that still we people read or learn as part of either our curriculum or in the interest of literature.

When some makes a mockery of you, listen and observe him in silence with the least of provocation and you will find him to be a greater clown than he did think you were! Eckhart Tolle in his book ‘stillness speaks” tells in silence you will find a new life in everything. Your tongue is your tiny devil in you, it lets out both sweet words and sarcasm, it provokes - use it diligently...few words of wisdom are numbered more than a heap of sarcasm. Keep one controlled for your inner lamp to light and I’m sure you will never run out of fuel! Dont wait for others to motivate you; rather motivate yourselves! Ignite that fire and you’ll see the change!

My TRaveLogue - Shillong, India

SHILLONG - THE SCOTLAND OF THE EAST



Shillong situated in the North Eastern part of India, is the capital of Meghalaya which is home to three tribes - the Khasis, the Garos and the Jaintias. Shillong is blessed with a rich picturesque landscape and natural surroundings with a beautiful hills, valleys, numerous waterfalls, wet caves and name it - its the place where one could be in close communion with nature. The late Prime Minister of India has rightly named it the 'Abode of Clouds'. This part of the Indian state got exposed to the western world long before the rest of India as is seen in people's way of living and the numerous churches and world class education institutions all across the city.

The two and half hours of drive through the winding roads from Guwahati, Assam leads to this beautiful city. Called Ward's lake in memory of Sir William Ward, then Chief Commissioner of Assam who caused its construction is one of the main attractions of this city, among others include the Elephant Falls, Sweet Falls, Cathedral Church of Mary Help of Christians, Barapani, Lady Hydari Park, Crinoline Falls, Spread Eagle Falls and Shillong Peak to name a few. The vanguards of higher education in this region who set the stage for quality education within the reach of the common man are the St. Anthony's College, St. Edmunds College and the Lady Keane College. These insitutions truly lived to their purpose - education as a service for the common folks and not a profitability instrument as is considered today.

A must see city....natural in itself...!