Every little drop of water counts

We celebrate world environment days. We see celebrities/ministers giving speeches on saving/loving earth. Students are given assignments to write on. But how many of us practise it? The health of our environment depends on reducing waste and
conserving resources.

Some tips that I have found are

1. Use resources wisely. While I had been in a different place where there is scarcity of water, I knew the value of water then. I could see people waiting in queues for water. They will collect water in vessels and had to depend on this for a week or so. Even with that little water available I was wondered to see beautiful flowers in the compounds. People there watered the plants with the water from kitchen
after washing the utensils.

2. Switch off lights/fans after use. If your house has windows, make proper use of the  natural light. Earlier days the very first thing we do was opening windows in the morning and feel the fresh air. Sunlight is a source of Vitamin D

3. Reduce usage of Plastic. These days most of the super markets are charging on the plastic bags. Carry an friendly bag and use it every time you go for shopping.

4. Reduce waste. I used to wait for the corporation people to collect the waste form my home and pay them. This indeed needed much effort since they come weekly once only. Someone suggested why do you need to depend on them. Yes we had little space in our compound. Proper separation of the waste is all that is needed. One of our neighbours had a cow, so collected and gave  all the left over banana peels, rice water etc to them. Left over of vegetables, onions etc dumped near the kitchen garden. Collected all the plastic covers and made it a practice to fire it later. The unwanted plastic bottles and all given away with the old newspapers. Instead of throwing out all that kitchen waste and other biodegradable waste from your house, use that in your garden.

5. Love nature by planting trees. You can start with planting curry leaf plants, green chillies,turmeric  etc. Depending on the space you have you can plant trees of your choice.

6. Reduce wastage of food. There are lot of people who still try it hard to find food even for a day. Use your fridge and make maximum use of the left-overs.

7. Keep your surroundings clean.

Each one of us can do our little in the best way we can. Give comments if you have any other ways to point out.

Give the ME time and Focus yourself

Give the ME time and Focus yourself

Who told only elder people can give advice? I had a talk with my younger brother yesterday. I had a introspection and made the decision to follow his advice. Yeah there are many things that I forgot knowingly/unknowingly these days. And these are the lessons learnt.

1. Take risks. Be bold and brave. Don't become stagnant in life. Make mistakes but learn from it and grow. Examine yourself at regular intervals.It helps you to do responsibilities with greater commitment and enjoyment

2. Be prepared. Anticipate your own needs.Plan properly and  create solutions in advance. I have decided to build good financial habit and have decided to save 10% of my earnings per month.

3. Our stress mainly is caused by living in the pain of the past or the fear of the future. Many often we forget that Life happens in the present moment. Make effort to make each moment useful.

4. Appreciate the people in your life.

5.Be open  and be ready to change. I have met many people in life. They follow their own rigid rules in life and are unhappy.

6. Look back, be proud of what you have achieved and make proper plans for the future.

7. Decide to spend quality time with yourself. Just do something that you like to do like reading, writing, gardening, meditation and enjoy your own company


I liked the ME time. It gave me  an opportunity to refocus and recharge.

Concluding with these quotes

Happiness isn’t about getting what you want all the time, it’s about loving what you have

Just remember there is someone out there that is more than happy with less than what you have.

Love what you have. Need what you want. Accept what you receive. Give what you can. Always remember, what goes around, comes around…

Quality relationships between Parent and Children

Quality relationships between Parent and Children

Parenting is a beautiful responsibility. The day you are blessed with a baby changes your life.
 Following are some tips to make this task more meaningful.

1. Allow them to grow themselves, let them be best version of themselves. Let them be strong and allow them to do something that you did not even have the guts.

2. Parents should be role models. Rather than telling him/her to learn from historical leaders, why can't parents just be living examples for them.

3. Provide them a loving atmosphere to live. Don't be overprotective and do not over pamper them. It will do only more harm to them in the future. Let them live without prejudices, fear and hatred.

4. Let them experience everything in life and learn. Is is not fair to impose  ideas, belief etc.  Let them fly on their own wings.

5. Do not solve all the problem s for them -  When your children faces an issue/problem, no need to solve. Let them think on their own, find the solution and thus be more responsible.

6. Allow them to make mistakes. It is the only way they can learn more.

7. Be patient and listen to them

Concluding with the beautiful poem
 
On Children by Kahlil Gibran

 Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

 You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Duty of children to Parents

Even after Parents give so much of love, care and attention, we hear a lot about elderly people being sent to old age homes increasing day by day. After retirements, parents will feel a sort of insecurity. Children should be able to understand their feelings. Almost all parents pray that they should not be a burden to children. Children should never forget the fact that all their  achievements in life are the result of the efforts of their parents.

1. Give respect for the feelings of the parents

2. They have sacrificed many of their feelings for children. So allow them to have a relaxed life

3. Listen to their advices. They are much more experienced than the children.

Handle criticism postively

Love criticism too - It will help you to grow

We hear Criticism in many ways,  husband criticizes  wife for the dish made, a teacher criticizes  student for their score, manager criticizing his employee for coming late, parents criticizing children for their careless attitude etc etc.

Criticism is something which nobody likes. I am no exception. The moment I hear someone criticizing me, I become upset and my mind starts finding explanations to prove myself correct. My sister, my cousins, relatives, manager many of them take their rights to criticize. Once we learn to take criticism  in the right sense , we can get benefited in many ways.

Through this we can identify weaknesses and areas of improvement.

There are certain things we can do to handle criticism effectively

1. Identity the true intention behind it. Focus on what is being criticized.

2. Criticism help us evaluate ourselves and  think. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn.

3. Evaluate the person criticizing you. They may be your genuine well wisher and trying to help you rectify your faults.

4. It helps you to be humble and  keeps you grounded, and makes you  more open to learn from others. We all learn from mistakes and even if someone point out our mistakes, be ready to rectify it and it will bring good results.

Lessons learnt - Transform our self

Lessons learnt - Transform our self

I was away from my work, my busy life. Got pretty much of exercise time for my mind.

1. I used to avoid some people with whom I feel there was difference of opinion. But then I realized there was some more qualities in them that I didn't notice. There were lessons to learn from them. Why cant we concentrate on the virtues rather than their fault. Each and every person has some unique ability. So the decision was just to learn what ever I can from the other person and ignore all of the other bad traits. Stop pointing fingers and just keep track of the negative emotions running across our mind. It is during our difficult times that we realize the value of people in our life. However busy we are we should find time to stay connected to people.


2. Decide to keep away from negative talks. Equally important is to be cautious in what you think and talk.

3. You have been allotted different responsibilities in your life. Keep improving and do all the responsibility properly.

4. Rather than watching TV, you can improve your knowledge by reading. I watched a video in which someone was telling how much time we use productively all the day. We are stressed up with the worries of past and anxieties of future. I analysed myself, yes there is plenty much that I can and should do. Use every opportunity to learn.

5. Ready to admit mistakes and forgive. This is not an easy job as said. We all make mistakes in life. Admit your mistakes if you regret for it, take responsibility for that and take remedies. Just look at the situation from the other person's perspective and think how he or she had felt.

As said " One of the keys to happiness is bad memory", Accept apologies whole-heartedly. No need to keep your life complicated by holding on grudges. Take choices that are healthy for your mind.

Think wisely and Make the best out of your life.

The true meaning of life is what you choose to make life for yourself. We need to learn some lessons to make this journey beautiful. Our parents, teachers, friends, acquaintances and even strangers teach us lessons. Do we learn, that is important.

In life we always face situations that upset us,times when our attempts fail.
We ask ‘why only me?‘, then think of  those who are worse than you. Just now you are reading this post because you are literate, you own a system. Be thankful for the friends, family you have.Happiness is a choice.Being grateful will always make you happy.

Never ever compromise on your values.

Love is a beautiful emotion.  Love freely and deeply, for being able to love is what makes life worth living.Experience life and be receptive.

Spend time with children.
It is amazing to see how they live in moments.You can learn a lot from them.

Don't be foolish by allowing others to take decisions for you. Set borders and limits. In the same way, allow others to make their own decisions.Own your choices and mistakes, and be ready for improvisation.

We find many person regret later in life. 

Reason may be many
1. Regret for not understanding love
The divorce rate increasing day by day proves it. Talk to the couple later. They will surely tell they regret for the break up. The regret  is that he/she didn’t correct  most of the signs/problems/warnings that led to it.  And they regret they should have put more effort.
2. Regret for not making wise financial decision.
3. Regret for being too busy in life and not giving the much needed attention for the family.
4. Regret of their old bad habits like smoking/drinking when they become seriously ill.

Life is full of choices, choose wisely and enjoy life.

Art of Parenting

Parenting is indeed an art. Personality and character of parent has a significant influenza on children. The most successful parents are the ones who let children believe more in themselves.

Many often parents are over protective.Protecting or caging a child prevents him from exploring the world and learning from it. Allow them to do things for themselves, to experience life. Let them believe more in themselves and handle situations on their own. They may fail sometimes but they will learn more from each experience.

Another problem is over indulgence.
Every parent wants his or her child to be successful in life by choosing an appropriate career. But does everyone gives the child to chose his path? The choices of life shouldn’t be affected by others interference. If you want to be a singer, allow them to learn singing.Allow the child to follow his/her passion and give your full support.

Since your child has the ability to take decisions, do not intrude in his/her life. Dont pressurize them with your opinions. Many often over indulgant parents create a  sense of self-centredness in children.These children are found to be  less happy and less contented. They face troubles with relationships, and have difficulty handling failures.
We see a lot of marriage breakups these days because of over interference of parents.

Spend quality time with them. Listen to each and  very thing they tell.Let them know that they can be honest with you and tell you everything frankly. When the child makes a mistake, patiently make him/her understand the mistake. Let them understand that it is perfectly okay to make mistake provided you are ready to correct it.

Often the little things we do say a lot. Children notice all the little acts of kindness we do and they learn a lot from it.

Never compare your child with others, every child is gifted with some unique qualities.
Teach your children values like compassion, empathy, honesty, respect, responsibility.