Simple Pleasures to brighten your day!

A little trick I like to use to make my days much more pleasant is to find little, simple pleasures and sprinkle them throughout my day.
They’re not big things, but they each simple pleasure can translate to a great day if you use them right.
So in the morning, I might have a cup of coffee, and sip it slowly to enjoy it fully. I might read a gripping novel, and revel in the world of fiction. I might watch the sun come up, and marvel at the world.
For breakfast, I love eating hot dosas very slowly. I savor each one, closing my eyes. In the shower, I might also close my eyes, and just let the cool water run over me (I live on a tropical island, so cool water is a nice thing).
You get the idea — these are little things, and don’t really cost a thing (or not much, anyway), but they are tremendously satisfying. I’ve just described some of the things I might do to start off my day, but the possibilities are endless, and can be done throughout the day.
I thought it would be fun to compile a list of simple pleasures, to give you all some ideas of what I mean, and to spark other ideas of your own. Of course, you can probably come up with a thousand more, and it should also be noted that one person’s pleasures aren’t always pleasures for others.

1. Dosas.
2. Walking barefoot in grass.
3. Listening to good music in the car or while riding bike.
4. Taking a long, relaxing shower.
5. Coffee.
6. A good novel.
7. Popcorn and an old movie on DVD.
8. The smell of fresh-cut grass.
9. Watching the sunrise.
10. Walking on the beach.
11. A gentle morning run.
12. Yoga or stretching or meditation.
13. Watching the sunset.
14. Hugging a child tightly.
15. Good orange juice.
16. Dark chocolate.
17. Telling jokes till your sides ache.
18. A long conversation with a good friend.
19. Being lazy on a Sunday.
20. Waking to a clean house.
21. An uncluttered room.
22. Fries and a chocolate milkshake.
23. Watching a child play.
24. Fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies from coffee day.
25. Helping someone in need.
26. Making someone smile.
27. Cooking a dish for your family.
28. A nature hike.
29. Laying back and watching the stars.
30. Making a sandcastle.
31. Floating in the watertub.
32. Taking an afternoon nap.
33. Laying back and looking up at clouds.
34. Watching the ocean.
35. Getting a massage. This I do when I cut my hair.
36. Seeing your savings account grow.
37. Seeing your debt shrink.
38. Taking a hot bath.
39. Blowing bubbles.
40. A gentle breeze.
41. Playing a good game of badminton.
42. The smell of a new notebook.
43. Swinging on a swing.
44. Writing on good paper with a good pen.
45. A clear desk.
46. Fresh popped popcorn.
47. Having a picnic.
48. Homemade Biriyani.
49. Watching animals in nature.
50. Drenching in Rain and stomping the puddles.
51. An empty email inbox.
52. A fresh snow.
53. Watching a good game of cricket.
54. Dancing like you’re crazy.
55. Pillow fights with children.
56. The feeling after a good workout.
57. Checking something off your to-do list.
58. Banana split.
59. Iced green tea.
60. Watching children burst crackers on diwali time.
61. Cadbury’s chocolate.
62. Sweets distributed during birthdays.
63. Chatting nonsensical or about inventing something with a friend.
64. Writing a mail on how much you felt today to your best friend.
65. Getting scolding from parents and acting as if nothing went in your ears.

How affectionate you are!

As the pace and fullness of modern life serve to isolate us from one another, the contact we do share becomes vastly more significant. We unconsciously absorb each other's energy, adopting the temperament of those with whom we share close quarters, and find ourselves changed after the briefest encounters. Everything we do or say has the potential to affect not only the individuals we live, work, and play with but also those we've just met. Though we may never know the impact we have had or the scope of our influence, accepting and understanding that our attitudes and choices will affect others can help us remember to conduct ourselves with grace at all times. When we seek always to be friendly, helpful, and responsive, we effortlessly create an atmosphere around ourselves that is both uplifting and inspiring.

Most people rarely give thought to the effect they have had or will have on others. When we take a few moments to contemplate how our individual modes of being affect the people we spend time with each day, we come one step closer to seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. By asking ourselves whether those we encounter walk away feeling appreciated, respected, and liked, we can heighten our awareness of the effect we ultimately have. Something as simple as a smile given freely can temporarily brighten a person's entire world. Our value-driven conduct may inspire others to consider whether their own lives are reflective of their values. A word of advice can help others see life in an entirely new fashion. And small gestures of kindness can even prove to those embittered by the world that goodness still exists. By simply being ourselves, we influence other's lives in both subtle and life-altering ways.

To ensure that the effect we have is positive, we must strive to stay true to ourselves while realizing that it is the demeanor we project and not the quality of our wondrous inner landscapes that people see. Thus, as we interact with others, how we behave can be as important as who we are. If we project our passion for life, our warmth, and our tolerance in our facial features, voice, and choice of words, every person who enters our circle of influence will leave our presence feeling at peace with themselves and with us. You never know whose life you are affecting, big or small. Try to remember this as you go out into the world each day.

Be Content with what you have!

I have seen many people in lives who will not get satisfied with whatever they have. They always fret and fume on things and forget to enjoy the life for the god's gift they have given. They will do anything to attain that particular goal. This is good, everyone has to set goal in life and has to strive hard to reach that destination. But the saddest point here is, once they have reached their destination they think about the mistakes that has happened and finally forget their happiness. In the pipeline they also make people surrounding them worrier.

I went through an interesting article which discusses about the same.

Zen Lessons

Family vs. Friends

It’s Saturday afternoon and you and your friends are planning to go to the movies and then spend the night together. Just as you start to get ready, your dad reminds you it’s your aunt’s birthday party and the whole family is going out to dinner to celebrate. How can this possibly end without a huge argument?

One of the greatest sources of tension between teenagers and their families is the struggle to balance individual wants with family expectations. As you struggle to become more independent and more interested in being with your friends, your family is trying to figure out how to deal with the changes in you and your interests. Where you once spent most of your free time with your family, you may find yourself wanting to spend more of it with your friends. Parents may get their feelings hurt or feel as if they are losing control of the family during this period. And you might feel angry that so many family demands are placed on you. There are a few things you can try to make it a little easier to ease the tension.

* Make your plans in advance and ask your parents if there is anything else planned at that time.

* When something with your friends interferes with a family event, try to figure out if there is any way you could do both. In other words, could you spend a little time with each group? Or could you go to the family event and ask if next time you could choose to be with your friends? Or could you invite a friend to also join in the family event?

* Suggest something you would really like to do with your family. Sometimes parents feel better just knowing their teenager wants to spend time with them.

There are sure to be times when you won’t be happy with the outcome because you’ve either disappointed your parents or had to miss out being with your friends. You can diffuse a lot of the anger and tension if you show consideration for the feelings of your family as well as those of yourself and your friends.

Beautiful Mail which I came across.

George Carlin, comedian of the 70s and 80s whose wife recently passed away, wrote the following eloquent and appropriate piece on our times:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge , but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the
showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to your loved ones....Who cares?

George Carlin

How good your handwriting will be!

Handwriting, Is it really appreciated in electronic era? I guess not, compared to how it was earlier. After the important exams became computerized this problem wont be a nightmare for many who don't have good handwriting. But it is still a problem in board exams coz the examiners weighs based on PAPER WEIGHT and HANDWRITING. After all they don't have time to go through all the answers of our students even they very well know there will be some cooked up story in the middle if the subject is dry and is full of theory.

In school you will be given italic handwriting book and asked you to write on that everyday each page or couple of pages. This happened till my 9th grade I guess. God only knows that it is not possible to change your destiny with the handwriting at that age. But the teachers are giving a hard try to make it atleast look not very bad. So normally this assignment will be done by your brothers/ sisters/ friends/ family coz you are very busy studying ( It is basically based on how much you have created a show) and you don't have time to do all these silly stuffs. After all eventhough your writing will be something like scribbling (KOZHI KIRUKKALS).

check your handwriting: handwritinganalysis

Multitasking

Sometimes I used to say to my friends that I'm doing multitasking. Like chatting and working, listening to music and reading etc.

Recent times I have stopped that habit when I'm working. If a person asks question, I wont respond to them unless they repeat that question couple of times. This irritates them and finally they might even go to the extent of getting angry on me. When this repeatedly happened for a while, they began to understand and they started to kid me like I'm having a short term memory loss. They will repeat the incidents which were happening for a while and why they asked a question.

This is quite funny infact and as everyone will burst out laughter.

The fact is psychology attempts to say that "Multitasking is not good for your brain" See the attached links which attempts to tell that what I'm doing is correct.

CNN Article

Multitasking

Inattentiveness

Everyone was having lunch whereas I was thinking about something and I was not at all involved in that conversation. This happened many times for me and my friends even kidded me saying "I'm deaf". I didn't argue with them or even had fight with them. So searched for a remedy for this.

Found a good article though.

Inattentiveness

Absent in body, but present in spirit.
Bible, 1 Corinthians v. 3.