Random thoughts #Mondaymusings

 

handlettering 

instagram.com/texturedexpressions

Hey, I have something to say. Have you ever found yourself asking, “My intentions were good, then where did I go wrong? Why can’t people understand me?”There was a time when I used to ask myself this question, a lot.  All I could think of it was that I write,I express.  People understand, and grasp as per their understanding. Situations are not the same for everyone. When we value people, we start believing that others value us the same. Often it drives us insane. A little expectation is obvious when we love and trust, but we can’t depend on others for our happiness. Listen, we cannot and should not take anyone, or anything for granted.

How I wish, I could tell some people,” Love yourself enough to live your own life. Stop comparing your life with others. You have no idea of their struggles. You are breathing. You are alive. When you are living your own life, with acceptance, you are at peace. Take care of your health. Stay mindful, and make healthy choices”.

-payal

1/10/2020

linked to  #Mondaymusings at everydaygyaan

Grace #MondayMusings

It's a rainy day today. Parijaat blossoms are scattered all over on the sacred path. It feels like walking amidst nature on a blessed morning, into the greens of the heart where fresh perspectives emerge, and fills our life with joy.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. With a calm mind, I go within, contemplate, and relax into my being. Clarity seeps in naturally, and the way lights up. My footsteps lead to my destination, by God's grace, where I am standing in the here and now.

I am writing on my blog after a long time. Thanks for staying connected. Linking to everydaygyaan. 

Origin

We grew up

listening to the story

of its' origin.

“How did you get here?”

With a heavy heart,

I asked that part of

the old building

that stood on the other side,

demolished.

It had seen the family tree

 spreading its’ branches,                          

and deep roots that

grew and created

 it’s world within.

Quietly, it said

“Everything changes,

with changing times.

I was just a structure

of bricks and cement

that came to life

with love and care.

I’ll tell you a secret,

The beauty lies in the

deep rooted relationships.

Take care, and nurture them.

for the roots are embedded

deep in DNA.

No matter how far or near,

as long as hearts are connected

the heritage of memories

and stories of origin,

shall forever stay with you.”

~~payal~~

I'm linking with #MondayMusings and OctPoWriMo

Memories connect #MondayMusings

Krishnakamal, Panchgani, 2014

 

I wonder how one memory brings in another, and we dive deep in the pool of thoughts. Often we call it contemplation. While remembering a friend of mine in Dehradun, whom I couldn’t meet this time, I remembered a flower in her garden, Krishnakamal.

 I remember how I got fascinated by the charm of this flower when I saw it for the first time in Panchgani, in 2014. It was raining that day.

 I had a picture that I clicked then, so I started looking out for the picture of this flower in my saved photographs.

While looking at this flower, all of a sudden memories took me to the day when randomly I had picked up a book in the central library sometime during these days, way back in 2012.  Jayadev’s “Geet Govind.” I remember that strange awkward feeling of restlessness that had engulfed me when I read the first stanza of the book, strange sense of longing and belonging prevailed. I could feel the pain! That place was too sacred, and I was all in tears and literally shivering.

 I closed the book, and couldn’t stand it anymore. I left the book there in the library, and left with my husband.

 All of a sudden I came back to my senses, and now I dwell in the land where words reside. I am wondering how a moment brought in so many memories reminding me of the book that I started to read but was unable to finish.

Clarity reside in our own minds. Stay aware, stay present and stay connected.

~~payal~~

 

#MondayMusings

Change #MondayMusings

Gurgaon, 2016

 

I try to keep my life simple with less drama and more learning.

Change, it’s the only constant and it’s reliable. Be it in life, in the places we inhabit, our thoughts, the patterns created, or in the way we interact! I allow changes in my life though they are challenging. Slight changes can make great differences.

 I reflect back at my life, and find many situations where I felt the need to change. Sometimes, we need to stay strong, wipe the dust, clear the haze, erase the negativity, ignore a bit, and move on with faith.

Change involves risks, and taking risks has become a habit. It has always been beneficial in one way or the other. Change for the good is always welcome.

~~payal~~
MondayMusings

innocence

Udaipur, 2012

windy afternoon.
raining silent memories
rusted strings of swing
:
rusted strings of swing
imagination ripens
clouds form the castles
:
clouds form the castles
enveloped with innocence
windy afternoon

~~payal~~


I was going through some old photographs, and found this. Wondering how fast kids grow up, and it's a blessing to watch them grow with a loving heart.

As I  write this my heart goes to my friend’s six months old son who is going through some painful procedures  in the hospital.  I just hope he gets well soon.


MondayMusings
haikuhorizons
haikumyheart
 WW#127
 

Just write

 

Wars make me sad

Be it of any kind.

So write about those lives

That moved on with hope.

 

There must have been such souls

That suffered a lot

But dealt with pain.

The song of the martyrs

The true warriors.

There must have been a few.

 

Write about those mothers       

Who sent their children

To the war fronts

And knew they’ll never come back.

 

Somewhere,

Everyday a thought,

A word,

Or a deed

Drops like a nuclear bomb

And some graves are built.

Everyday!

Write about those poignant tales.

There is so much to write.

 

And yes,

In the end

Don’t forget to write about

Those peacemakers

Who loved life more

But embraced death.

~~payal~~

#MondayMusings

A short trip #MondayMusings

Saharanpur,2016

There is some kind of satisfaction that I get whenever I visit Saharanpur, my hometown. Last week, it was a long weekend, and we decided to visit my parents and my inlaws. Time just flies by when we are with them. 

Also this time, my husband and I thought of meeting a very good friend of mine from my school days who by chance was in the city at that time.

We were meeting after four years. The moment he saw me, he asked, “How are you? How is your health?” I don’t know why these questions surprised me. Somehow I felt good that my friend is genuinely concerned.  I guess, except my close family rarely people ask me this now. I realized how much these questions matter. Sometimes, such questions bring our attention to ourselves, especially during the times when we are dealing with some issues.

How wonderful it feels when nothing changes between friends, no matter wherever we are in our life. With some old friends time and distance doesn't matter. Just that we get involved in deeper and reflective conversations. We three had a great time together.

I am grateful for all the lovely people in my life. No matter wherever I go, my roots shall keep me grounded.

-payal

Linking it to #MondayMusings

 

Control #MondayMusings

 

A leaf swayed

With due reverence

And tried to touch

The wind’s soul

Obsessed was the wind

That pushed it away

It had a fear

Of being controlled.

Fear of being controlled often keeps people away from living in the moment, and experiencing happiness. Let love flow freely...to you...and through you.

~~payal~~

Linking it with #MondayMusings

Choose wisely #MondayMusings

Gurgaon

We close our eyes to some situations, because it’s an easy choice- to avoid, than to face the situation and stay with our truth.

Last week brought in some mixed up emotions. Unnecessary stress, and dealing with it was quite exhausting. Along with it, came some experiences, and realizations. Most of all I learnt how important it is to speak our truth.

Sometimes we are caught up in the tight grip of negativity, and it squeezes our strength that we fail to see the situation as it is.We give all our power to that single negative thought, that might not be true, or we might have been repeating it for so long, that it becomes our truth.  If we keep thinking , sweet essence of the situation, is lost, and no one else but we ourselves are responsible for it.

We can’t expect everyone to understand us, but we can just do our bit, and instead of getting trapped in the blame game, we can choose to let go of the negative energy in the moment.

Many problems can be solved just by talking. Keeping within never helps. Learning can come through anyone. My husband often says,” If you will keep something within you for a long time, it will make you weak. Speak it out."

We can choose to create a heaven, or a hell for ourselves.

Quite surprisingly, today morning, I received a lovely mail from my sweet friend, Sr. Soraya with lots of inspiring thoughts. It reaffirmed my belief in myself.

Sharing a part of it.

Be a blessing for everyone that you meet

Forgive the ones that have hurt you and

Leave everything you can’t solve yourself in the

 Hands of God

Thoughts, must be

“Pure and Positive”,

Then life will always be

“Meaningful & Beautiful.”

With these positive thoughts I rest my pen here for now. Linking it to #MondayMusings

~~payal~~

Pauses and reflections

Gurgaon, 2015

 

This morning, I had a lot to write about, but then I started to procrastinate, slowly all my thoughts vanished in thin air. I feel, I’m in the middle of the sea, and I don’t know how to swim across.

Ah! Now I’m at the mercy of my words, sitting here just thinking where they will lead me. Do I really care? Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. But yes, I know, there is nothing to worry. I will reach somewhere.

Maybe, they will take me to the shore, or they will drown me, or who knows if I will be left plainly surprised in the end.

What do I write about? I wonder, and many confusing stories start building up inside my head. I try to simplify. The more I try, the more I fail. I don’t give up. As a result, slowly I get involved, and become a part of it all.

Ah! This age is catching up, and mood swings are common. We all go through this phase. Some speak up, some quietly fight with it.

Sighing, and wondering, here I am, again, sitting and counting syllables in words.

~~payal~~

#MondayMusings

Be the change #MondayMusings




Bought this keyring from Sabarmati Ashram,Ahmedabad last year.

 

Sometimes, life brings certain people in front of us with whom we always think we won’t be comfortable talking to. I'm glad, I've stayed out of my comfort zone for a long time, and now, I feel comfortable out there.

We can change a situation by changing our perspective, and if we can’t, we can always step out of the situation, and become an observer.  If we connect that situation with the person we start hating the person instead of the situation. That person and the situation becomes inseperable , and then there is nothing we can change about it. It only leads to bitterness. We can’t keep on blaming people for whatever reason. At certain point of time, we have to forgive, and let go.

Last week was quite tough for me. A cousin of mine had come down from U.S. for sometime. All of my cousins here had decided to get together at my place. My husband was not in town, and I was a bit nervous. He kept on reassuring me that everything will go well.  I’m glad, we all had a great time together, remembering the good old days.

~~payal~~

#MondayMusings

Dear Diary #MondayMusings

Gurgaon, 2015

Dear Diary,

As I saw you, many memories of yesteryears stirred within. How I wished to write a diary once, but there was a fear, always! What if, someone reads it? (Ofcourse, I know, most of us feel like this.) Afterall, we don’t want to tell everything to everyone.

..and then came a time when I met you. I started sharing my everyday life spilling ink on rough pages. Slowly, you became my habit.

I always felt you, talking to me.

With time I realized, that you were done with my talks, the pages got over, and you became a reflection of my early years.

You know me as I am. Being true to you, was being true to myself. You were my only companion, my best friend. Do you remember, I always said, past is best forgotten? I believe in it still.

I met you again, today, with new pages.  With a lock this time. Do you know, some locks are too easy to open?  Look at yourself. You know it well, but we humans live in this complicated world, and deny simple things. Wish I had some secrets to share. Oh yes, I have lessons that I have learnt. I shall share them with you. One by one.

 Time flies. People change, and habits too, but somethings, I still believe, never change. Our perception changes, and we start looking at things differently.

I know diaries don’t have feelings. We make the pages alive with our stories. It’s we who get attached to them.

~~payal~~

 

P.S. To be true, I never felt the need of maintaining a diary. Eversince, I started writing poems, I have used my diary for poetry writing. Thank you, Deepti. Your gift inspired this post.  I shall use this diary as an art journal. 

#MondayMusings

wings



Gouache on paper, Gurgaon, 2015

Life might not seem to be easy at times, but it’s simple for sure.

I remember, once I was doing dry brush painting, and went wrong somewhere. My teacher said, “there is a possibility of making it right as long as the paper is intact.”

I feel, it applies to life too. As long as we are alive, we can make our lives better. There is always a possibility of making things right. As the colours we choose blend on the sheet to make a piece of art ; with positive strokes, and vibrant colours of peace and joy, we can choose to paint our life.

 

 Life becomes easy

in ordinary moments

silent reflections.

:

silent reflections

in winged imagination

it's winter again

:

it's winter again

balancing my energies

present is perfect

 ~~payal~~

#Mondaymusings



Abstraction #MondayMusings

Goa,2015

Abstraction opens up the possibilities for interpretation. Everytime, a new meaning emerges, some hidden treasures are found, some secrets are revealed, some moments are realized.

 

A few days back, my husband and I stopped at a restaurant on our way to Mussoorie. We saw a lady sitting there with all her painting tools amidst the beauty of the hills. I couldn’t stop myself and wanted to have a word with her. I am glad, I did!

We talked about painting, and how it helps us to understand ourselves and the situations.

She was doing figurative art, and also showed me her abstract work. I told her that I do abstract painting, and I wish I could do figurative art too.

She was a painting teacher and had left the job. As an owner of that restaurant, she invited me to sit with her and paint next time whenever I go to Doon. She says, she’ll get a company. Also, she’ll teach me to draw portraits in a way that I’ll be able to paint just about anything.

Sounds interesting! We exchanged our numbers. Just five minutes of conversation, at a place I never expected, and we are no more strangers.

~~payal~~

 

Today I am co-hosting #MondayMusings with Corinne.
Join us by writing a #MondayMusings post on your blog. Just share your thoughts with us – happy, sad, philosophical, ‘silly’ even. Use the hashtag #MondayMusings and then add your link here. Do remember to visit the other blogs linked here and begin by reading the #MondayMusings on Write Tribe. We would love to read your thoughts.
 

An InLinkz Link-up

What's up? #MondayMusings

Pune,2015

“Where were you? I wanted to tell you something!”  One of my school days friend said to me as soon as I logged in to my whatsapp account almost after a week. 

“You could have called me or sent one sms. Why were you waiting for me to come online?” I simply asked. ( I often call people and send sms still..)

“ Thanks for reminding. I forgot that was an option.” 

Similar conversation happened after around half an hour with another old friend.

Most of us have actually forgotten that initially phones were used to make a call. Talking to close friends without any fear of being judged always relieved us of stress.  

If we are concerned, or if we need help, instead of just checking online status, we can simply send one sms or give a call. Life can be that simple.

We are technologically connected to more people these days, but are we really talking?

~~payal~~

#MondayMusings

Reflection

It was raining incessantly. Peeling layers of piled up emotions that were hiding in unattended corners of my heart , joining letters, forming  words, connecting to my feelings, with utmost sincerity, I started writing my heart out in bits and pieces. Some words made sense, some didn’t.

Digging deep, crossing all the barriers, I discovered a city within.

..and then faint voice reached my ears, those who value their ego more, silently let them go. I strangely ignored with all my capacity, till I reached a point, where words got exhausted....so was I.... Was anyone listening?  Ignorance was never bliss to me.

100 words on Saturday

#Monday musings

 

 

#MondayMusings:The Significant Anthology

Gurgaon, 2015

Some days are exceptionally beautiful.

So happy to receive my contributor’s copy of “The Significant Anthology.” Thanks to Dr. Koshy, Reena Prasad and other team members of RS who made it happen. A very special thanks to my friend Sunita. I am feeling wonderful as my poem “Words” share space in this prestigious anthology along with other beautiful souls.

One of its kind, featuring 176 writers’ works from all over the world, it is a beautiful collection of poetry, prose, and drama. The proceeds of the book go to Autism Help Village.

I have purchased  another copy of this book from amazon.  I wish to gift it to my friend, Sr. Soraya, who works in an old age home in Goa. She’s already excited!

Read its amazing review by Michele Baron here

The book is available on Amazon

Linking it to #Monday Musings

 

Slow down

oil pastels on paper

 

Create with passion,

Pour in your love,

Slow down

For there is no rush.

Slowly get aware

of the various shades

That looks like moments

We perceive differently.

Like all your feelings

The colours shall blend

With one another

And smudge

all uneven surfaces

while erasing the negativity

and making it even.

Today,

 I picked up

 a box of oil pastels,

opened it,

and the colours were inviting

the forgotten artist in me

 to draw and paint.

I had no words to write.

 Clueless,

I write a letter

to myself.

~~payal~~

WW#69

I am a write tribe pro-blogger
Write Tribe #Monday Musings