“BE SELECTIVE WITH YOUR BATTLES, SOMETIMES PEACE IS BETTER THAN BEING RIGHT. “

We are not satisfied to be right, unless we can prove others to be wrong. We humans believe in rationalizing that we are RIGHT. It is thoroughly ineffective if we don’t prove that the person in front of us is wrong.

The obstinacy of human nature presents itself as being right and this sense of being right is not confirmed until and unless one does not demonstrate that one’s opponent is wrong. It contributes negative energy and spoils a relationship. But have we ever noticed how much have we lost in this argument of domination, we have proved ourselves “right”….that’s fine, perfectly a win-win situation but what damage we have done is beyond repair.

Firstly, when we argue with somebody we are definitely not at peace. Our mind works at it’s highest pace to bring out arguments that are in favour of your statement….Scientifically speaking I don’t know the speed of our thoughts gushing in and out. I can imagine, it is like an overstuffed cafetaria where the order of the customer has to be served with the best satisfaction of the customers. Poor brain!!!🤯….😄😄😄

Secondly, your image gets ruined believe it or not, it is true. See from the other side of the coin. People start avoiding you, nobody likes a bossy behaviour. So my dear friends, “sometimes peace is better than being right”.

Peace is a big entity. Dropping your arms before anybody does not mean you have lost, you have accepted the situation instead you don’t want more ugly situations, you want things to move smoothly. Proving yourself right doesn’t mean you have won a situation. It happens seldomly but in a broader sense it creates negativism, stress, lack of satisfaction and unhappiness.

So stay positive! Stay at peace!!😌😇

I have been nominated by my fellow blogger Rupali S Banerjee from Reflections of life. Thank you so much Rupali for nominating me for this award. Rupali’s blogs are tremendous and insightful. She writes very eloquently and her interesting posts keep me hooked. She has her own unique way with words, with which one can easily connect. I would highly recommend her blog. I am once again truly humbled and grateful to Rupali for nominating me for this award.

RULES

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.

2. Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.

3. Nominate 11 new bloggers to recieved the award and write them 11 new questions.

4. List the rules and display “Sunshine blogger Award” in your post/on your blog.

5. Notify nominees about it by commenting on one of their blogposts.

QUESTIONS ASKED BY RUPALI S. BANERJEE

1. Which book influenced you the most?

“Becoming” Michelle Obama. It is the memoir of a young girl who tried, hoped and succeeded and became one of the most powerful woman of this era. It’s a wonderful book! It gives out the message that one has to make genuine efforts towards ones goal. The book is the sincere, self written, witty and candid blend of Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama’s life inside and outside the white house.

2. Favourite quote?

Maya Angelou’s,”Open your eyes to the beauty around you, open your mind to the wonders of life, open your heart to those who love you and always be true to yourself.”

3. What is next on your bucket list?

Ah!…It’s a long list. I want to give more time to my paintings. Secondly, few more hours to my yoga session.

4. What is the one interesting thing about you that people don’t know?

I’m a foodie😋.

5. If you had one super power what would you pick and why?

Well negativity leads to downfall as it derails one’s growth, so I would like to pull out negativity out of people. One should be optimistic and progressive

6. Life lesson learnt :

Life is beautiful, feel it’s beauty. Life becomes more beautiful when we realise the simple fact that we will never live the same moment again. Live every moment, let yourself flow with the stream of life effortlessly, feel it’s coolness, it’s smoothness and the soothing effect, it’s calmness and then only one will realize how things become easy. I read somewhere, “mind is like water. When it is turbulent it is difficult to see in it. When it’s calm eveything becomes clear.”

7. All time favourite movie?

Oh…..I have a long list🤩but I have a liking for science fiction,”Avatar(2009)”is my all time favourite.

8. Favourite colour:

All shades of pastels.

9. Your biggest aim/dream?

To live a signifiant life. For me life isn’t about being affluent, popular, highly educated or perfect. It’s about being humble, being strong and being able to share ourselves and above all touch the lives of others.

10. What really makes you angry?

Frankly speaking nothing……but at times a selfish heart and fake persona annoys me

11. What are your goals for your blog?

To share my thoughts on a larger platform and contribute my part to the society.

My Questions

1. How do you define success?

2. What is your strategy in a crisis?

3. The craziest thing that you have ever done for somebody?

4. A historical personality that you admire and why?

5. What is your comfort food?

6. The book and the author that you appreciate the most and why?

7. The last movie that you saw and what did you like about it?

8. One advice you’d give to your 15 year old self?

9. What has life taught you in the last 10 years?

10. One trait that you took from your parents and want your children to inherit?

11. If you’d write a thank you note to your parents, what would you write in it?

I Nominate :

1. Ameet Kothari

2. Thebookcollector32

3. Observationblogger

4. Positivesideofcoin – Anjali

5. Dhanya Sharma

6. RTW- Roxy

7. SMILE – Mercury Twin

8. Alondra Quintero

9. Shrutika Srivastava

10. Reena Saxena

11. Michael Ogazie

I once again would like to thank Rupali for nominating me. All the very Best and Happy blogging!

With lots of love and warm regards.

Dr. Neetika Lal Rai

The ending words of the “Ode to the West Wind” by P.B.Shelley reminds us the fact that hope never dies. As in the cycle of seasons there are harsh and lifeless days of winter…..followed by the blossoming days of spring full of life. Similarly in the cycle of destiny sufferings are followed by happiness, the bitter and the frigid days of adversity are restored with sweet and smiling days of cheerfulness.

However dark the night, the first beam of sunlight will destroy all darkness…..The darker the night, the brighter the day. One should patiently let the time pass and wait for better times to return.

Face the situations courageously and bear them with strength of mind and heart.

Our all actions and behaviour are propelled and ruled by our mind. Every prayer intends for intellectual illumination.

Veda says,Oh God, our thought aright – pure, righteous thoughts are the basis of a virtuous life.

Keep your thoughts refined, pure and positive…..so would be your life!

(Maharani Gayatri Devi with Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II.

Image source: A Princess Remembers, The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur.)

She was named Ayesha by her mother, Princess May by her loving aides who took care of her and Maharani Gayatri Devi, the Queen of Jaipur by her destiny.

She was the third queen consort of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur. She was the princess of Cooch Behar in Bengal and her mother Indira Raje was the daughter of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III belonging to the Gaekwad dynasty of Marathas.

She was an excellent equistrienne, avid polo player, a true sportsman, crusader of fashion, a visionary leader with a tender heart, combined with sophistication and refined tastefulness. From a caring princess who peeped into the lives of the woodland palace aides and improved their lives by her own effort to a people’s princess who ruled their hearts….That was Maharani Gayatri Devi!

For the fifth time I read the book titled, ” A Princess Remembers, The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur ” by Santha Rama Rau and the Maharani herself. It’s a mesmerising account of a legendary lady. Everytime I read I travel with her from woodlands, her Cooch Behar palace to dutiful life in Jaipur’s Rambagh Palace and finally to Mooti Doongri….from their cheerful vacations in England to a beautiful life, full of sweet, nostalgic moments, long drives to captivating sounds of the rustling of silk and twinkling of the anklets……to profoundly remembering her life with Maharaja, whom she lovingly called Jai.

In my memories I fondly remember getting the first glimpse of the Maharani of Jaipur, Gayatri Devi when I was a small kid studying in class II, somewhere in early 80s at the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girl’s Public School, Jaipur. She was a fair, feminine built, tall figure with quite sharp features, clad in a light turquoise french chiffon saree with a white pearl necklace. Her impeccable style which she inherited from her mother Maharani Indira Raje, who herself was a fashion icon of her time and the first to bring french chiffon sarees in India, specially customised for herself.

Then came the moment when Her Royal Highness entered with the principal Ms. Lilian G. Luter. It was the efforts of Ms. Cherian, our class teacher that the class greeted her with utter perfection and discipline. She was more like a loving mother than a princess. She greeted the kids in a very encouraging manner……even our dreaded class teacher Ms. Cherian who barely smiled, on that day…..met Her Highness cheerfully and respectfully…..it greatly surprised we little tiny tods! On that day, each and every person in the school was ensnared by the charisma of Maharani Gayatri Devi……that was the charm of The Royal Highness.

From my tender, innocent years till today as a strong headed, opinionated lady, if somebody asks me about my inspiration, my mind doesn’t thinks twice before answering , “Maharani Gayatri Devi “. She was an unconventional, and had a larger than life personality, who charmed everyone whoever came in contact with her. Her elegance, her poise, her vivacious nature, her strong headedness and her boundless ideology towards life and society are timeless and classic.

Source of facts : A Princess Remembers, The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur by Santha Rama Rau and Maharani Gayatri Devi.

What is happiness?….Is it something that comes from outside or from within. Well…..it’s a tricky question. Anything that gives us pleasure gives us happiness either it is a flower or meeting someone we love.

But sometimes this warmth is a bit dim or an artificial smile is accompanied with it. It is because we don’t feel that happiness from within…..our heart and mind are filled with certain thoughts that prevent us from imbibing happiness.

Years back when I was growing as a teen. I had come across a line in Reader’s Digest, “Happiness comes from within, it is not served in a plate, it is you who has to feel it.” One should find solace and happiness in small things. Happiness is scattered all around you, you have to discover it yourself. We don’t need expensive pleasure filled holidays, a quiet, long drive with your loved ones can energise you for months. Beautiful and expensive gifts won’t give you pleasure that you are searching for, rather few heartfelt words are enough for this virtue called happiness. Money can’t buy happiness. Sometimes smaller things can do wonders than the bigger ones. Some will say that your cheerful attitude is over reactive but feeling happy on small things is your choice…your outlook…afterall happiness is very contagious…believe me my friends…Today they criticize you for being too merry but tomorrow they’ll follow you.

Give this catchphrase a try, “Happiness is not served in a plate, you have to discover it yourself.”

So,beautiful people!!!

Enjoy every moment of life and respect it!!

After a long hectic week, it was a lazy sunday morning. I woke up and the first thing in my mind was to be with my lovely buddies, my foliages.

As I stepped out and began to walk on the dew drenched path of my garden…..I could feel the cool, tender breeze, the netted sunrays danced to the melodious choir of the birds. There was mist all around.

Although we have beautiful flowering plants like lillies, roses, pansies, hibiscus, marigolds etc, there are ravishing palms as well and above all my favourite bouganvillas. But my beloved spot in the garden is my bonsai corner. As it is the spring time my bouganvillas are blossoming with pretty flowers of myriad hues, it looks as if it is a palette of an artist.

I wanted to spend some time with my foliages and felt each and every sapling had been missing me all the week and are now rejoiced to have me back.

I was spraying water on my creepers and to my beautiful surprise, a group of tiny little garden birds came with their melodious symphony….. they were flying here and there…..it looked as if they wanted to drench themselves in the fine droplets of my garden pipe. At the spur of the moment a child like mischief erupted in me, my garden pipe began following the birds, it eventually turned into a game of “catch-me-if-you-can”. One second they were on the creepers, the other second they were on the leaves and in a blink of an eye they were under the flowers hiding themselves. At times they came as bold warriors challenging me….the other second they flew away chirping.

Ah!…what an enthralling game we had. I was totally rejuvenated by this delightful experience. The garden full of flowers and plants filled me with unbridled optimism in which I forgot every bit of my bitterness. It gave me a fresh lease of life.

Mother earth gives us the message that there is more to life than all this materialism in this world. When you are surrounded with these living beings your mind and soul are filled with calmness and solace. You are in your own world…..each foliage has its own tale to tell. They give you contentment, happiness and some beautiful thoughts to imagine.

These feelings of mine remind me of William Wordsworth’s poem “Daffodils”, particularly the ending lines, ” for oft, when on my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.”

So beautiful people, Enjoy this journey called life and its each and every creation!!

Hello beautiful people!!

𝓘 recently came across Mozamil’s quote which says to do three things in life once. One of them is ‘have a child’. From a beautiful bundle of joy that is placed in your arms for the first time to a potential person who holds you gently and you are filled with pride and contentment , that’s your fruit of upbringing.

𝓐 child needs only two things……to be loved and to be given ample of innovative opportunities so that he or she can grow up to be confident, solicitous, dignified human beings. In this process of development as a parent one should keep in mind that there should not be any competitive environment either with their siblings or parents, as this may harness their free voicing. Whatever we put inside or make the child learn he or she will definitely reflect it.

𝓨our children are the extensions of yourself, that’s true…..but when these li’l souls are ready to set off on their journey give them the message that your expectations towards them would never come in their way. Assure them that you’ll be always there when things go erroneous. As parents we are always there to act as an anchor to them.

𝐉ust relish deep down, each and every opportunity to spectate the unravelling of your child’s journey into a virtuous human being.

Enjoy parenting!!!🙂

Hello beautiful people!

So glad and excited to be a part of this new journey. I can feel the jitters running down my spine, there’s a feeling of nervousness coupled with excitment…..it’s similar to that feeling that I encountered years back when I stepped in my class for the first time. I had to make new friends,conquer unknown obstacles and a new world awaited for me…..

For years, my life had been really monotonous dedicated to my dear ones. A few days back I came across William Blake’s poem “A Grain of Sand”. It was a beautiful poem. It was so deep, it’s impact was indelible. For the first time in so many years I began to look at my life from a different perspective……something inside me got awakened. Are we in this world just to do our duties? Are we contributing our bit to this society? No, its not just the physical actions which contribute , it is our thoughts, our beliefs, our ideas, our passions which contribute to the society as well. To live a beautiful and meaningful life its essential to look up to the sky to have a higher perspective , with feet grounded in the soil full of motivation, optimism, creativity and fearlessness. I believe that we are not in this world rather this world is within us.

One should aspire to be a giver, a giver of optimism, a giver of good vibes and a giver of strength….

So let’s begin the journey!…..

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton