Appreciation

APPRECIATION

(There are times when we forget to thank those who have helped us or stood by us in difficult times. This poem written in the eighties by me tries to narrate the joys of appreciating and being appreciated)

Sublime is the creation,

A dot, the aspect suave.

To the sky azure; the Creator

Coloured wondrous even the beings.

Creations of those hankering

Appreciation from the depths true.

The art of the value alone,

Sumptuous, divine its glory.

The charm of the art subtle,

Joyous to the rainbow arch

As well to the sky dome.

- written by Ranjana Kamo on 15th October, 1987.

Come December

My Garden In Full Bloom

It is time for flowers in full bloom. December to February are just the right months to rejoice in the colours of nature. Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Esters, Pansies, Sweet Williams,....., the list is too long . Nature has made use of every possible shade of all colours to bring cheer in our lives. So make use of the weekend to appreciate nature and forget all worries.

Mom Learns to Make Jewellery

My Mother's Newly Learnt Art

Mom learnt how to make jewellery in the year 2006. I will soon write the entire story in detail. She was quick to grasp the techniques and became an expert in no time.

She put up an exhibition cum sale of her hand crafted jewellery at A.G. Bell Committee's conference in NC, USA where she donated her profits to A. G. Bell.

It is interesting how it all started and the way things shaped up through that journey of jewellery making. I will post an article on this next week.

Mum's Shawl - Work in Progress

I had earlier mentioned about the sweater I knitted for my mother (Unlike Me). This is the shawl I am knitting for her now. It will take some weeks before it gets completed. Just hope my mother likes it. I have to knit a cap for my brother next. Knitting is surely a good hobby to keep oneself occupied for hours.

Real Life Comedy

Why Did You Not Do M.A.?

Padma was her name. Our maid servant, during our childhood. A dark complexioned pretty girl with smart brains!! God had not been too kind to her and had given her a life of poverty. Her parents sent her to school with the little means they had. Padma must have been in grade 3 when her teacher punished her and that was the end of Padma’s formal education.

Padma gave up school and joined her mother and elder sister in their work. They worked as part time maids in various houses in South Delhi, one of them being ours. So Padma started working for us in her teens.

She was a lively person with an enthusiastic approach towards life. She tried to pick up English words while hearing conversations amongst people. Fantastic was pronounced as “onetastic” and beautiful as “bootiful”. She knew the alphabet and the fact that A, B, C, D,…, M,….,Z was the sequence for the alphabets.

She was fortunate when it came to her marriage. She married a well read person who was very caring. He had completed one year of MA (Master of Arts) after his B.A. degree. She was happy with her married life and continued working for some years thereafter.

One day towards the last days of her tenure with us, she asked me about my qualifications. I had completed my Chartered Accountancy (C.A. for short) by then. I told her I am a C.A. She was shocked to learn that I was ONLY a CA. She questioned me, “But only CA, were you not able to do MA?” I was taken aback and was at a loss of words for a minute. It did prove her intelligence and she was so right to comment the way she did as “C” is definitely closer to “B” and “M” is at a much higher level in the alphabet pyramid!!!

Unlike Me

A Knit of Joy and A Purl of Affection

All my life I have been of the opinion that there are some things that are best not learnt as there are shops and markets to cater for them. These are knitting and sewing. Why should I try my hand on these when there are so many tailors, boutiques and showrooms around?

But some days back I was at my masiji’s (mother’s sister) house and saw her busy knitting a shawl for her daughter. I wanted to knit too. “Mum keeps knitting for us, why not I knit for her for a change,” I thought.

Well, all I know is knit and purl, that’s it. But knitting involves a lot more than a purl and a knit.

Leela masiji’s daughter said why don’t I take help from her mother and knit the sweater. Now, that seemed reasonable.

My cousins said I could surprise my mum as she is away visiting my brother. I also felt I should surprise her when she returns. But then mum and I don’t keep any secrets so I told her the very next day when I spoke to her and she was surprised. She must think I am joking.

Next day I called masiji, asked her how much wool would suffice and I made a trip to a far off market to buy wool and knitting needles.

It has been 3 weeks and my blue cardigan is nearing completion. I should be able to complete it by tomorrow and all with masiji’s help. I have been visiting her on alternate days with my proud achievements of knitted pieces of the sweater. She has been a good teacher helping me knit piece by piece – the back, front halves, sleeves, borders, neck, and now she is making the base border with crochet. I am going to knit a shawl next.

Knitting for mum has been a great experience. It is so special – like a renewed bonding with mum with a knit of joy and a purl of affection.

Managing Stress - Counselling by Kamo's Counsel Cellar

MANAGING STRESS - easier said than done would be the most common reaction to this. But we have to manage it as there is no other choice!! Stress will destroy us if not managed appropriately. I have self devised ways to overcome this mammoth killer. I will share these and hope they can help the readers fight stress in an easy way -

1. Optimism tops my list. I keep my cool and say things will work out. I keep a positive stance even in dire circumstances. I feel having faith helps conquer stress. Thats how Miracles originate!!
2. Family and Children are such a good company. I learn and relearn while playing with them and beat that monster called stress.
3. If stressed, I start redecorating the environment around me, be it home or office. A good ambience and neat surrounding relaxes me. It takes away the focus from stress.
4. Being organized and punctual helps me a lot as it does not call for last minute closures.
5. Going for a drive is a good relaxant for me.
6. Going to shop turns out the best stress buster for me.
7. Having a social circle is important. It is good to have someone you can meet and talk to. I meet or call on my family/best friend/relations/friends whenever I see stress coming at a distance.
8. Going to the temple and talking to God is important for me. I ask him to share my stress.
9. Charity / donating to the needy or for a good genuine cause brings so much positive energy in me, it is just unbelievable.
10. Just penning down my thoughts on a piece of paper or even on this blog is a good relaxant.
11. Breathing exercises help improve the blood flow and relax my tense muscles.
12. It is always good to cultivate a hobby. Hobbies bring out so much fun into the normal schedules and are good avenues to remove focus from worries and stress. Games like sudoku/word puzzles are hobbies that engross me so much making stress seem distant.
13. Daily routines like cooking / gardening /laundary also keep me involved. I avoid idleness as it can destroy the best of brains.
14. Photography gives me joy when I click scenic landscapes and my family. Then downloading and sharing them with family and friends is another source of positive thoughts.
15. Going for a walk works very well by acting as an accupressure technique and also gives a push to the metabolism. Cycling works in the same way for me though I am not regular at both these activities.
16. Music helps soothe maximum population. But for me music would mean listening to bhajans while driving else it does not help me much. Same goes for movies, they do not help me forget stress rather they rebuild it for me by showing me what I want to forget. But they are popular stress busters for majority of the people.
17. Having pets, if possible, does wonders to our lifestyle. It makes one more humane / kind and affectionate. I had a pet some years ago and learnt a lot from Tiger, my pet dog.
18. Sharing - be it food/ thoughts/ jokes/knowledge /experiences, etc. is also one of my stress relievers.