Warm Thoughts on a Cold Day

Hello People, as you can see I haven’t posted anything for a week now, just been under the weather trying to stay warm and chilling away the time.

Everyone seems to be talking about the climate change and updating they status to “what a beautiful weather it is” and not the kind we experience in this part of the world very often.

So I am ready to start off with my new day with my hot cuppa and I am thankful for this moment, this moment that should not be taken for granted, each day has its good start and bad start, but most of all it’s how you look at it and what you make of it.

The best thing about today is that it not Friday that is gone and it’s not Sunday which we don’t know what it will bring – Its Saturday!! We live for the moment. We cannot run behind what had already happened and we cannot stop from what will eventually happen that lies ahead of us.

So here is the chance, to have warm coffee with old friends or make new friends. Cherish something old from the closet or refresh yourself with something new – go shopping. Decide on something that has been lingering on so far till 21st Jan… Its Saturday – plan a BBQ… snuggle and watch a movie with your kids, bake with your kids, (as for me have to teach my son – not so fun for him…) Live with this attitude and make the most of it with a crisp mind. And if you know someone you is not well, call them and ask them if they need anything or even better surprise them with a take away soup. It all counts at the end of the day and makes it worth it…

“Just one life, soon it will pass, only what’s done today will last”

Battle of Saragarhi

Ever seen the movie 300 where they have 300 Greeks fighting 10,000 Persians, well I was fascinated reading a real life story of the Battle of Saragarhi where in 1897 , 21 men of the 36th Sikh Battalion defended an army post against 10,000 Afghans and died for their duty rather than surrender. Recounting the incident the Parliament of the United Kingdom stated:

“The British, as well as the Indians, are proud of the 36th Sikh Regiments. It is no exaggeration to record that the armies which possess the valiant Sikhs cannot face defeat in war”

Link: Battle of Saragarhi

Why bother smoking?

At times seeing my close friends and generally people at work or at social gatherings smoke, it doesn’t seem all that life threating at that moment. Until recently, a bunch of us were out for dinner and one of my non-smoking friend highlighted the dangers/ threats of smoking and I just had to go back and Google the facts for myself.

I also find it very hard to imagine when I see the 10yr/ 13yr olds on the beaches, streets and even at the stores here in Kuwait, waiting to buy cigarettes and smoking away to glory… Seriously where are they parents – or what school do they go too?

It’s funny when one of my close friend smokes, the first thing she says is “it’s my first one of the day” as a sign to say that “yeah I know it’s bad for me.. But it’s only one.” Although an hour with her, and the ashtray resembles a small city with burned skyscrapers over a layer of ash. I do understand that smoking is a tough habit to break as are most addictions however everyone should understand that smoking is dangerous not only for yourself but also for others around you.

Since at times I do get tired of all this passive smoking, let’s start with some of the reasons why you as a smoker should worry about people around you:

·        The smoke that is exhaled from you contains more than 7000 chemicals, around 70 of these are known to be cancer causing. – Thank you for that!

·        The smoke comes out from the end of the lighted cigarette contains carcinogens that are in higher concentrations and in smaller particles meaning that you are a toxic wasteland that is spewing smoke that is easier for my lungs to absorb. Really? What did I ever do to you?

And if that is not enough to make you quit, let’s start with what additives are in cigarettes – As per Wikipedia, cigarettes are known to contain 599 additives, some of the more interesting ones being:

  • Formaldehyde, which is used by embalmers to preserve dead bodies
  • Toluene, which is commonly used as an ingredient in paint thinner
  • Acetone, an active ingredient in nail polish remover
  • Ammonia, which scientists have discovered lets you absorb more nicotine, keeping you hooked on smoking.

Sounds just yummy – Let’s step out and have one more, shall we?

With all the information out there, don’t you just wish people would read and understand what they are doing to themselves and also to the people around them!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_additives_in_cigarettes

 

Welcoming 2012

In less than a few hours, we will welcome 2012, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and continuously remind everyone to fill each and every day with optimism, enthusiasm and joyfulness.

It is not an easy task to make New Year resolutions and to stick by them, in fact it can be quite challenging. With our positive attitude, however we can overcome the fear of worrying about every little thing until it becomes big and boring and by then we are already disheartened. But the key is to learn from you past errors and press forward to achieving greater accomplishments.

We should all try to rise above the doubts and accept the transformation of a better self with composure and dignity. There is only one road to gathering the much needed courage to begin 2012 and that my friend is through your heart. The heart is the chaperon that guides you through the change by galvanizing your energies and engaging with all God’s creatures with as much love as possible.

We all need to positively give and receive gratitude and appreciation to everyone around us or at least try our best to acknowledge them. The more you stay within this territory, and share it through  compassionate relationships, carefree laughter, and a deep thankfulness for the life’s ways, you will glow and grow…

So, release all fear and embrace yourself!
Wishing everyone a very Happy 2012