Sunday, December 21, 2014

Life is what you make of it

Here is an interesting story, which somebody had posted on the Facebook. As you read it you will realise that indeed life is what we make of it. Our perspective towards life solely depends on how we take  various life’s events and how we look at them. The story goes as follows:
The dirty laundry
A young couple moved into a new neighbourhood.
The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman watches her neighbour hang the washed laundry outside.
“The laundry is not very clean”, she said,” she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.
Every time her neighbour would hang her washed clothes to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About a month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: Look! She has learnt how to wash correctly. I wonder, who taught her this?”
The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows”
And so it is with life. What we see when we are watching others, depends on the purity of windows through which we look.

Our life is a creation of our minds. 

Monday, December 15, 2014

Is the empty house really without any inhabitants?

What happens when a couple shifts in their own house, a dream they had cherished since long. After much sweat and hard work, when they have finally accumulated the money to buy the house of their dreams, the much awaited day finally arrives and they shift in the new house. The first few days pass wonderfully, but then something starts going wrong. There is no definite proof behind the mishaps which occur, but the string of events which keep happening sometimes make you wonder if there is something in the house which is responsible for all the mishappenings. When you apply your brains you realize that this could not be possible. How can there be more unseen occupants in the house? It is not possible that the house could be haunted. Ghosts and their alikes do not exist in reality......
What could be the possible explanation behind this?
What do you think?

Have you ever faced such a situation in your life?

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Faith begins when all reasoning ends

Life is very complicated. It is full of complicated questions. One must not get upset if one cannot find answers to these questions because when one tends to find the answers to these questions, life changes questions. In such complex situations, people can survive only if they have unconditional faith. It could be unconditional faith on God, or a particular person, or someone they love and trust the most.

In my book, a couple’s unconditional trust on one another despite the whole world being against them helps in saving them in face of an adversity..


    Can you think of someone upon whom you have developed unconditional support, even in situations where the faith has to extend beyond all the realms of reasoning...?  

Sunday, November 23, 2014

The dilemma remains

What do you do when realize that someone about whom you deeply care is heading towards self-destruction? You also realize that they continue to head towards self-destruction despite your best efforts to stop them.
When you really love someone or care about them deeply, there are instances when you might not support their thoughts and actions. At those times you might be really sure that your near and dear ones are about to get into deep trouble with their actions, but there is little you can do about it. Things further get worse when other people around you also don’t support you.
Have you ever encountered such a situation?
What do you do in such situations?
Would you let the person whom you love head towards self-destruction or would you take control of the situation despite all odds?

My answer: I would choose the latter. However to go against the whole world just for the sake of the person whom you trust or love the most, you need to have complete faith on the other person and his/her relationship with you.

Faith means taking the first step even when you cannot see the stairs  

Monday, November 17, 2014

Who is controlling your mind?

In continuation with my previous post 
Can somebody else/something else control your thoughts? The female protagonist in my forthcoming novel feels that her mind and thoughts are being controlled by an external agency. What could that external agency be?
  • Could it be a supernatural power (God, demons, spirits or some kind of magic)?
  • Could it be extraterrestrial life? 
  • Does extraterrestrial life exist in reality? Even though humans have always speculated the occurrence of ET, till date there has been no direct evidence regarding its occurrence.
  •  If no one has ever seen aliens, how can the female protagonist in my novel see them so clearly and vividly describe their exact appearance too?
  • Why is it that only she can see them and no one else can?

·        Okay, even if one believes that the aliens do exist, why would they come to earth, just to control thoughts of only a single person? Would they be able to survive in the earth’s environment? How will they communicate? Would they be able to understand our language?
·        There are numerous such questions which may come in one’s mind.
  

                                      If aliens do exist, do they look like this? 

To be honest if a third person whom I am not close to tells me that his/her thoughts are being controlled by someone/something else; I would not believe them and may not even give this a second thought. However, if someone close to me, someone whom I care about and I deeply trust mentions the same thing, I probably would try to convince them once that nothing like this exists. However, if still they keep persisting about the same, I might get deeply concerned. That does not imply that I would start believing in the existence of supernatural power or the aliens. I do strongly believe in The Almighty, but not all in the existence of demons, spirits or any kind of magic. I might start believing in the existence of extraterrestrial life, if someday scientists are able to present some concrete evidence. Till that time how should a person react to such a situation?


What would you do, if faced with a similar dilemma?

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

what's in a name?


The above-picture illustrates the exact type of woman who would be the protagonist of my forthcoming book, “The Turbulent Mind".
How important are the names of the main characters in a novel? The story in my forthcoming novel, the turbulent mind” is focussed around a woman.
What do you think should be her name?
Should it be something common such as Kate, Mary, Susan or Ann
Or should it be something unique such as Jaimee, Casie, Kaity, or Shyla
Or should it be something something entirely different, something which you can contemplate
I think I would like to go with either Casie or Jaimee.
What would you suggest?

Monday, November 10, 2014

Controlling the turbulence

It is important for one’s mind to be free of all turbulence to be able to think properly. The person himself/herself can take steps to negate turbulent thoughts. Some such steps include:
·        Creating a vacuum: Taking out one’s turbulent thoughts and putting them in one corner to create an empty space. The created vacuum would suck in positive thoughts.
·        Replacement: Replacing the negative thoughts with positive ones
·        Nullifying: Erasing the negative thoughts from one’s mind.

Taking any of these steps may prove difficult because in most cases the person might be unaware of their turbulent thoughts. Also initiations of any of these steps require a great degree of self-control. In these cases, the family and friends play an important role in helping the person get rid of his negative thought process.   All this requires a great deal of patience and perseverance

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Turbulent mind: a cause of stress

It is important for everybody to control the turbulent thoughts in their mind, because as previously mentioned our lives are governed entirely by the thoughts going on in our minds. Turbulent mind can be a significant cause of stress to the persons themselves as well as those around them. Not only does the stress result in psychological distress, it can also result in several medical disorders such as hypertension, heart diseases, gastric ulcerations, etc. Meditation is an excellent method for distressing and removing turbulent thoughts from one’s mind.
What kind of turbulent thoughts have you ever encountered? What steps do you take to get rid of them?

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Balancing one's life



Best way of calming turbulent mind is to maintain a balance not only in one’s mind, but also in one’s life. The only way to control the violent waves creating ripples lies in the hands of the person himself or herself. My next book illustrates how the female protagonist controls the turbulent thoughts arising in her mind by taking control of her mind and balancing her life and thoughts.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Can somebody else/ something else control your thoughts?

Is it possible that our actions are being controlled by someone else, or something else. Have you ever felt that whatever actions you are doing are being controlled by an external body / agency? Sometimes we ourselves are not sure why we are doing a particular task or saying a particular thing, it appears that we are just a machine. Somebody else has a control over us and is putting actions and thoughts in our mind and words in our mouth.
This question has come in my mind because this is how I am contemplating the storyline of my next novel  which I presently intend to title as "the turbulent mind". The female protagonist feels that her mind and thoughts are being controlled by an external agency.
Any comments about the story line? Do you like it or not or do ýou find the idea ridiculous?

This has sometimes happened with me when I have said something, but later realised that this was not something which I had been thinking about or what I wanted to say. 
Has anyone ever felt similarly?

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Benefits of writing

This article highlights an interesting benefit of writing. This extra-added advantage further enhances my passion to continue writing. 

What are your thoughts regarding the benefits of writing?

Monday, September 22, 2014

Calming a restless mind


Though the human mind can become extremely turbulent at times, ìt is the responsibility of the person himself or herself to keep it under control. It is just not the person himself or herself, but those around them whose role assume an equal importance. 
The central idea of my next book is similar. It is not a book based on philosophy or sermons, but a sweet fictional story illustrating how the support and love from your near and dear ones can help you move out of the most difficult situations in life as well. 

Friday, September 19, 2014

Turbulent Mind

Human brain is the most versatile creations of nature. Life is just a mind game. How you perceive something and how you react to a particular situation all lies in the human mind. Nature has played it's own unique role in designing the human brain. The ways in which the human mind can react or think are uncountable.  The possibilities are endless. ...
Where there is an option of positive thoughts, the negative ones are likely to creep in by default.
Another interesting thing about human mind is its power of imagination. Sometimes the power of imagination can cross all boundaries of natural and supernatural world

I want to make this the idea behind my next fiction novel any thoughts related to this?
Please let me know....

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Happiness is in sharing


The existence of happiness is immaterial without the concept of sharing. Sharing includes sharing of joy and happiness sharing is like a fragrance which spreads and makes its appearance felt.
GOD Has designed nature to share everything by default. Had it not been for the sun to share its rays, origin of life in any form would not be possible.
Rivers and lakes share their water with various forms of life helping them to survive. Similarly the air around us infuses oxygen in the surroundings helping them breathe. Flowers share their fragrance.

Above all, writers share their feelings with others. Nothing can bringer a writer more joy than the fact that the work they have written is read. 
What are your ideas?
What gives you the greatest pleasure as a writer or a reader?

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Life is about recreating oneself

How you live life depends on how you create it or rather recreate it.  The best way of creating life is developing a passion. One can recreate their life in their own way by craving to do something you enjoy. Initially, you may or may not be good at it. However, if you seriously and consistently follow your passion over a period of time, you are bound to be successful.  Doing something which you love doing can keep you happy and relaxed. In fact, the word recreation also comes from recreate.

Reading and writing are two excellent ways of recreating yourself. Writing is an excellent way of letting your feelings flow out, whether it is love, fear, hatred... anger Anything. Even if you are a lonely soul, if you keep writing, you shall never feel alone.  It acts as a good stress buster. The various benefits of reading are illustrated below.

What about you? How would you like recreating yourself?

Thursday, August 21, 2014

The glass can be half-filled or half empty


What do you see in the above picture, is the glass half-filled or half empty?
The answer to this question depicts on how you take life? Do you see the
positive side or the negative side of things. Are you are trouble maker or a trouble shooter?
A lot of your thinking process reflects the fact, whether you would see the glass half-filled or half empty. There are many people who will always try to see faults in everything and will create obstruction to the smooth flow of things. On the other hand, there are some people who would make you feel at ease and make your life move on as smoothly as a stream of water. Them may not be their friends, but you would like their company. When you are with them, you may enjoy their company.  
On the other hand, there are people who may be actually your friends but you may not really enjoy their company, not at the heart at least.  You may laugh and smile from the outside, but you may not be at peace with yourself. Such people may everything really difficult for you.
Which one of this category do you fall into?

Unfortunately, very few people I have come across in life see the glass as being half full rather than seeing it as half empty.
How about you?

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

What keeps you alive?

Life is not just about living. It is about feeling alive.
What keeps you alive?
There is no single answer to this question. Different things can keep different people alive.  Some people feel alive by spending time with their families, some people may feel alive by listening to music, dancing or playing with their pets... The list is endless...
To know of the thing which keeps you alive close your eyes for a second and think of what keeps you alive. Take note of the first thing which comes up. When I begin to think of the thing which keeps me alive, the first thing which comes in my mind is writing. Yes... Writing is something which keeps me alive and makes me happy.
Now think of what keeps you alive….

Follow it all your life to keep yourself happy. 

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Expecting the Unexpected

If you live life normally, you are bound to get normal results. Unexpected results occur when one undertakes unexpected endeavours. Getting unexpected results is similar to gambling; it is about taking the risks. The greater the amount of risk one takes, greater his/her passion towards work.  This is likely to translate into greater probability of success. Only people who do something unusual are likely to be unusually sucessful. Most people want to live a normal lrun- in - the mill life. However if you want to reach the skies, you need to do something unusual.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Another Review

Attached here is another review
Thanks everyone for their unconditional support.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Feeling Close to Nature

Just as I sit around, thinking about the topic of my new blog post, I looked around myself and found beautiful creations of nature which are simple yet so beautiful. I found my inspiration to write from these beautiful natural objects. I have attached some of the photographs below:   
That is an empty light bulb with a money plant growing out of it.




Saturday, July 26, 2014

Another testimonial

Here is a snapshot of another review, given by Mrs Radhikha Balasubramanium, an avid reader and reviewer from Pachim Vihar, New Delhi. This review, though not as detailed and elaborate as the previous one, nonetheless does add to the credibility of my book.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Where the mind is without fear: beautiful lyrics

I came across this beautiful poem by Shri Rabindra Nath Tagore, which I had read in my childhood days. That time I was too small to gather its meaning, but now when I read it over and over again, I realize the beauty and depth of its lyrics.
I feel that India can become best country of the world if the citizens become a little more patriotic. If you go and live in any other country in this world, you would be best considered as a foreign citizen. But your own country is your motherland. Here you would always feel safe and at home.

All of us together only can help make our country as per Tagore’s beautiful poem. 






Saturday, July 19, 2014

Nothing can be more rewarding

Nothing can be truly more rewarding than a wonderful detailed review of the book one has written. Shri BM Sarin (Ex MD Damodar Cement and Slabs) has given a detailed line-by-line and page-by page review of “joy living”. He has organized his thoughts and feelings in such a way they it has completely changed the interpretation of my book and given a whole new meaning to it. Attached below is the complete review:

Here are the cropped enlarged views of the same




Thanks very much............

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Perfect conditions for writing

I often wonder if any writer can find a perfect situation for writing. I often dream of a perfect situation,  wherein I am comfortably sitting in front of a beautiful  water fall, with the crystal-clear water flowing steady over the steep rocks, making a soft rustling sound, with small  minute wet water droplets falling on my face and the light blue colored icy-cold water flowing over my feet. Cool fresh breeze making its way past my hair hitting directly over my face causing my hair to fall softly over my eyes. Beautiful fragrance of wild flowers filling the air and fluttering of colourful butterflies mixed with chirping of birds. I tell you, nature is the most beautiful thing, I have seen or experienced in life.
Nothing can be more inspiring for writers than to sit midst the nature’s beauty, carefree, without a line of stress or tension over the face and their mind fully engrossed in the characters of their book and carefully planning their lives and their next moves.   
As far as I am concerned, I have never been able to find such idealistic conditions. Most of the times, I am planning the plot of my story while traveling to and back from office, with my mind already preoccupied with numerous worries and office tension and my phone continuously ringing. Sometimes I am typing my blog entries on my smartphone while traveling. At times, when I am unable to sleep during the night, I start planning the characters and story line of my book.


I really hope that someday in my life, I may be able to write under perfect conditions.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Biggest solace for the writer

Writing a book requires a lot of hard work, patience and persistence. Everything appears worthwhile when you see someone reading it. I really hope that my writings stir someone's mind, touch somebody's heart and change someone's life even if it is for a short while. 



Yippee, my book is being read...................!

Presently the people reading the book are known to me, but over the time…..I hope this grows and people completely unknown to me also enjoy my book. 
That would be the greatest solace for me.....   

Saturday, July 5, 2014

How writers communicate?

It is said that men communicate with one another by insulting each other, but they do not really mean it.
Women communicate with each other by complementing each other, and they also do not mean it either.

Writers communicate through their words and they may or may not mean every bit of it. A writer’s work is likely to touch a reader’s heart only if it has been honestly written.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Writer’s Block

When I was young and had not thought about writing a book, I used to often wonder about why do authors often have a writer’s block.

I think now I am facing a similar situation. Being a writer it becomes inevitable that I write about diseases and treatment. That is what I guess is the difference between writing the medical books and fiction books. Medical books just comprise of facts and figures. There is little scope for incorporating any creativity or imagination. Fiction books on the other hand are just an epitome of imagination. I think that is the difficult part….to think of the plot, the characters, their names and their behaviour. For the time you are writing, you are sort of living the story yourself… imaging the story line, the flow of events, the beginning and the end.
Anybody else had to juggle between writing two different types of scripts?

Sunday, June 29, 2014

What are books?

This is what my brother had to say about what are books:
“Books are a printed or written material of pages bond together; cover neatly designed and carved out. This leads the reader into a known unknown territory of self-astonishment, self-belief, happiness, sadness, regret, amazement and self-respect or none. Books are ageless, selfless, teach endlessly and are loved and hated endlessly.”
−Anant Saxena

That is my brother, Attu

Friday, June 27, 2014

What is in one’s mind?

This reminds me of some funny pictures which I saw in my college time. I did a search on google and was able to obtain more-or-less replica images. I have attached these images below:  
This is the image of male brain.

and this is the image of female brain.

What do I write about?

Now that I know I want to write, the next question which comes in my mind is what do I write abou? As Nitish had rightly commented on my previous post, what a writer writes is a mirror image of him or herself. It reflects the person’s characters. If you are honest with yourself, that honesty would reflect in your writings. If something has been honestly written, it is always likely to touch the reader’s mind. 

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Why do I write

Recently I read a group discussion on some writing forum, asking the question, “why do you write?”
It made me ponder over, and I asked myself, Why do I write?
Funny question, but at the same time very valid one…..
I had never thought about that

I think the only reason I write is because I want to write and there is something within me which encourages me to write. 

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Count your blessings

This Saturday evening, as I looked towards the sky, I realised the beauty of nature. It amazes me think just how beautifully the sky can transform itself into a beautiful riot of colors. The sky was an amalgam of orange and yellow with a dash of pink. In between were interspersed bold strokes of indigo. I think it would rain soon.
I hoped it did…..A much needed respite in this hot scorching Delhi heat.



Soon I could feel the wet drops of rain falling on my head, hand and palms. Yes it was raining. As I looked at the falling drops of rain around me, it made me happy. It also let me think of a childhood prayer I learnt at school, titled “count your blessings name them one by one”. I googled the term and located the YouTube link with the lyrics of the entire hymn. It is attached here 




This prayer holds a lot of significance in my life. When faced with a tough time, I listen to this song. All my doubts fly and I am ready to carry afresh. 

Friday, June 20, 2014

Never stop day dreaming

Dreaming with your eyes closed is bound to make you fall asleep. However, dreaming with your eyes open is likely to give am impetus to your creativity and imagination. When you are dreaming with your eyes open you are likely to think something creative and out of the box.  This creative imagination will help you stand apart from the crowd. If you dream big, you shall probably make it big one day. If you dream of getting the moon, there are high chances that one day you might at least acquire one of the stars. Dreaming is likely to give you a vision in life. Having a vision is important for achieving your dream.
"If you can dream it, you can do it." (And before you can do it, you've got to dream it!)

−Walt Disney

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

"Joy of living is the celebration of being alive"

“Joy of living is the celebration of being alive”, I had first learnt this phrase at school in one of my English textbooks (I don’t remember the exact class). Since that time, this quote had become an integral part of my life. In fact, the first fiction novel, “joy of living” has also been inspired from this quote.

Motivated by this priceless quote of Dr Christiaan Barnard, the first cardiac surgeon to perform successful human-to-human heart transplant, Joy of Living is a love story where the lovers face a misfortune. An inspirational story, it tracks the determination, fight, and the fierce desire of the female protagonist to rebound after she loses everything she had once valued the most, except her hope. 

This hope gives her incredible courage and she gradually picks up the pieces to complete the picture yet again to realize her true passion in life. The message of the story is, “The best way to live life is to celebrate it with whatever one has and not grieve over what one does not have or what life has taken away.” 
Here are a few of my favorite snap shots from the book: