Whether you like it or not - weather can forecast your day!

         Amidst reports about snow storm on the east coast of the country, rains on the west, chilling winter back home and diverse experiences all around the globe, I sensed the birth of my next blog topic! Influencing every single aspect of our daily life, weather can decide whether we work or relax, sit or run, travel or stay grounded and enjoy or complain. A significant factor contributing to the course of our routine, weather has lot of unnoticed power indeed. Casting its spell on our activities, appetite, mood and wishes, weather certainly plays a significant role.

     Though weather is often referred in partnership with its twin 'climate', it differs due to its temporary effects that last for a short while. While climate speaks about the usual, expected behavior, pertaining to a particular region for a long time; weather enjoys the privilege of uncertainty. Known for its momentary conduct, temporary impact, fast changing influences and uncertain twists and turns, weather has the power to dictate noticeable effects . 

    From bright and sunny days that pump energy into our system to dark, cloudy and rainy mornings filled with laziness; from chilling winter tempting us to sleep a little more to scorching heat of summer increasing our thirst, changing course of weather changes a lot more than we ever think about.

       

       Weather and seasons influence the occurrence of several events and festivals. Holding age-old significance in our traditions and customs, celebration of such festivals revolve around the changing course of weather. Besides, weather has been instrumental in designing academic calendars since numerous years now. Depending on the local weather conditions of a particular region or country, schools, colleges and institutions determine the schedule of semesters and vacations. With an impact on overall productivity of human resources and machines, besides influencing the agricultural produce along with flora and fauna, weather can certainly contribute a large share in the developmental story of a region.

              As weather chooses to touch our mood, emotions, thoughts and feelings, it can change the way we feel. While predicting the course of our daily activities, weather bags a significant role for itself. Though bad weather conditions can spoil our plans for an outdoor trip, it can also provide perfect excuse to skip that much needed jog or walk! By working on our taste buds, stomach and mind, weather gives way to suitable recipes that can function in coordination. From hot, spicy food to reduce the chills to frozen delights to cool the heat, weather seems to enforce its menu card on us!

        Separated by huge distance of several miles, weather changes its shades along different towns,cities, countries, regions and continents. With contrast conditions all over the globe, weather surely has lots to do. Exploring local weather of a particular location, while experiencing global diversity around the world can create wonderful memories for the wandering tourist in us. 

      Providing insights into the lifestyle, occupation, cuisine and clothing of local population, we realize the strong influence of weather over every aspect of living. Though school subject of ‘Geography’ strove hard to teach us about different weather conditions, we can appreciate its meaning only after a live encounter.

     Pondering a little further, I was tempted to associate various weather conditions with their matching factors that matter.

1.       Rains –  freshness, new beginning, novelties, hopes for fulfillment of dreams

2.       Bright, shining sun – motivation to start a new adventure, energy and enthusiasm to get-going,belief to convert the impossible into possible.

3.       Chilling cold – laziness, desire to stay still and calm, scope for introspection and deep thinking.

4.       Snow – forced halt in routine course, wonderful opportunity to enjoy the nature

      While weather offers such interesting experiences, it can even create havoc with its undesirable and destructive variations. Disturbance to our mother nature is the first step that invites uncertainties and sows such seeds of trouble. Taking care of surrounding and environment can be our end of contribution towards a balanced outcome.

  

     So, whether you enjoy the weather or wait for it to change, whether you celebrate its diverse shades or pray for a monotonous course, the weather shall continue its game forever. While daily weather forecasts are our only means to devise plans, the weather seems to predict our future well in advance. Planning its next moves with care and caution, the weather certainly knows it all!

Finally, how is the weather at your end today?

What is new about the New Year?

 

      While this post may appear as a late entry with respect to its topic, it is hard to believe that January has pushed us ahead by 20 days, already! While rejoicing under the happiness of a new start and manipulating resolutions in light of practicality, we realize that there is nothing new about the New Year now. Beginning on a high-energy level, proceeding at an average pace and finally moving along like the one before, every passing year repeats its course of story. Unable to process this change instantly, while our mind confuses old digits of the year with the new ones, these mistakes mark the true start of a new journey.

     An opportunity to commence a new phase, a chance to experience novel adventures – New Year opens the door to interesting ideas. Though we continue our routine course of work within the same environment, surrounded by the same set of people, start of a New Year illuminates our mind with new rays of light. While dealing with the daily share of troubles, insecurities, failures and problems, arrival of New Year introduces positive changes into our schedule. Though we march ahead with the support of old resources and continue fulfillment of similar past responsibilities, one single change in the digit appears to create wonders!

     By changing our old perspectives towards several aspects, New Year inspires us towards new experiments and newer adventures. With this, as the trend of resolution takes birth during the start of every year, the real purpose of its occurrence is to motivate and encourage. Forcing us to contemplate about our failures, errors, mistakes and shortcomings, a new start hopes to create a newer self.

     New Year resolutions are well known for changing their shades and colors, even before one can register this transition. Following a particular pattern along fixed time frames, the rise and fall of resolutions appear totally interesting. Assuming bright, energetic colors during last few days of the old year, shining with maximum glow during first ten days of the New Year and losing its shade by the end of first month, resolutions undergo great changes indeed! As they fade away to a discolored appearance, novel excuses and interesting reasons replace them instantly.

       Holding diverse opinions about these resolutions, each one choose to work differently. While some believe in its power and follow it religiously right till the end (though not sure about the strength of such a group!), many enjoy the fun that follows. Making strong statements and firm decisions only to be replaced with constructive reasoning is surely not an easy task! Besides, some choose to make this resolution as part of a forced activity, while few others express strong opposition. Though each one of us may follow different schools of thought, the real purpose aims towards arrival of positive changes and departure of negative ones.

   Returning back to the question of this title, what is new about a New Year? While I scribble down my top 10 answers to this query, hunt for your own set as well!

1.       New ideas, new suggestions, new advice and new experiences – New Year is about trying out something different.

2.       Initial months are marked with the excitement of a new habit or new change in the routine lifestyle, though how long it stays true depends on our convenience, determination, dedication and interest.

3.       The determination to give up old bad habits or incorrect routes of any task shine brighter in the New Year.

  

4.       Positive approach to convert failures into success take birth during the start of a new chapter.

5.       New Year instill hopes, wishes, dreams and goals in our system as we look forward to the new beginning.

  

6.       As moments of the previous year convert into memories during the new one, several additions are registered into our memory files.

7.       A strong will to make the year memorable and interesting as compared to the previous one marks the course of a New Year.

8.       Increased digit of age may be one of the undesirable gifts of the New Year!

9.       Excitement of accepting new challenges as New Year forces us to climb one step on the ladder of life.

10.    Lastly, new calendars, new holidays, new weekends and new vacation plans are the happy new factors of a New Year!

      So, while newness of a New Year fades within few days of the first month; its experiences, encounters, adventures and activities continue to be new all through the year. As each day is a novel challenge in the reality show called ‘LIFE’, answers to what is new shall change along the passing time!

P.S: What is your resolution for the New Year? Hope you stay focused from its first month to the last! 

     

In happiness and sorrow, in excitement and boredom - the last station called ‘TEARS’

       

     Moving along the journey of feelings and emotions, as we reach at the last leg of this express, a perfect blend of diverse experiences will greet us at the arrival. A form that fits into every occasion, an expression that suits every situation, an act that displays every message, a source that conveys every emotion – the last station of our journey shall bring us closer to the wonder called ‘tears.’

      Though associated with sorrow and defeat, tears have a lot more in store than we generally think about. While pondering about the significance of this destination and justifying its inclusion in the express, I realized that tears perform an array of versatile roles. From sadness of a loss to joy of achievement, from excitement of unexpected happiness to lonely moments filled with boredom, from disappointment of defeat to enthusiasm of meeting loved ones; tears seem to perform perfect jobs in every domain. An experience that takes us closer to the thoughts of our mind, tears are able to convey those feelings, whenever and whenever words fall short.

     Depicting the true picture of our emotions, tears prompt us towards thinking and understanding. While tears of sorrow are undesirable and tears of defeat involve us into unnecessary engagements, wiping them forever can take us one step closer to peace. Though reason of its occurrence or moment of its arrival is not under our control, erasing wetness of tears soaked in essence of failures can radiate enthusiasm and freshness. By motivating about a new start or pushing us towards the next launch, elimination of tears turn out to be the first stepping stone.

      While tears born out of sorrow need quick removal, presence of loved ones accelerates this process. Benefiting from the strength of their support and trust, one can replace such tears with smiles. Tears due to re-connection with our own people far and wide or tears of separation during departure express several emotions in a single act. By taking us towards true feelings, these tears are able to portray our love, affection, care and concern.

     With diverse shades to the nature and behavior of humans, tears mean different things for different people. While some believe in its strength as a form of expression, some resort to it as an unproved solution for every trouble. Though tears may not offer any benefits, they comes across as means of clearance. 

     

     By enabling free-flowing movement of inner emotions, it prevents accumulation of stress and disappointment. Though stereotypical attitude dominates the theme of our society, it is necessary to respect emotions of every individual. As a means to display thoughts and feelings, each one can resort to the warmth of tears.

       Unexpected happy surprises and most desired moments of victory commence the happy stream of tears! Radiating joy of achievement, these tears represent the true colors of success. When tears of pride make home within a parent’s heart, the joy of success increases by several folds.

      Let us look at the diverse meanings of these tears under different situations.

1.       Happiness – During moments of joy, these tears stand for excitement, energy, enthusiasm,  satisfaction.

2.       Sorrow – expression of pain, disappointment, hurt, guilt.

3.       Surprise- representation of unexpected events, undesired or desired moments of shock.

4.       Affection – feelings of love, care, trust and support for loved ones

5.       Separation- moments of loneliness, boredom, sadness of being far away.

6.       Retrospection – revisit to past memories, remembrance of happy and sad moments.

7.       Achievement – end product of hard work, trophy of perseverance, dedication, devotion, determination.

     Such is the magic of tears. Making place for themselves under every situation, tears find a way to influence our thoughts. As an unavoidable occurrence, yet essential emotion, when tears enter and exit our lives, we realize the true meaning of being alive.

     With this as we end the journey on train of feelings, I hope you all had a wonderful experience. As tears form an essential component of farewell, there could not be any more apt topic to conclude this course. Drafted with an aim to provide a platform to my thoughts, these posts have taken me closer towards the joy of writing.

     While I continue to blog about variety of experiences and randomness of life, wish you all ‘HAPPY READING’!  

Live, love, like - Seventh station: LAUGHTER

      

     With loads of energy for a new beginning and lots of hope for a new start, as we welcome a new year in our lives, there is so much to look forward to. Learning from mistakes of the past year and wishing for a brighter future, life ensures continuous supply of memories and moments. Though we cannot expect a complete smooth and nonstop drive on expressway of life, we can definitely seek happiness and pleasure in every single halt.

    Offering us an opportunity to stop and think, New Year does a great job of refilling our journey. With this, as we come closer to the last few stations of our ride, a visit to the land of ‘LAUGHTER’ shall be a perfect start to our next course of 365 days.

    This visit shall prompt us with guidelines for a new beginning. Soaking each one in a pool of joy, laughter is essential for a light heart and lighter mind. An act that celebrates our existence, laughter echoes our emotions in wonderful ways. 

   

    Sight of happy faces and sound of pure laughter are the perfect evidences of a delightful life. Laughter connects people together – bringing joy in their conversations and enthusiasm in those interactions. A script with no words and song with no lyrics, laughter is just a perfect mode of expression.

     While exercising our facial muscles, laughter forces us to look at the lighter side of things. After all, every single aspect in life does not demand serious review or every little factor is not meant for critical analysis. Laughter is a means for celebrating those special moments and creating fun-filled memories. It bridges the gap between people, offering an opportunity to forget differences and demonstrate togetherness. Ability to spread laughter is nothing less than a talent, as it inspires others to drop their sorrows and find happiness around. As a contagious phenomenon that spreads quickly, joy of laughter is certainly too difficult to contain!

    Only laughter at the right moment for the right occasion can radiate joy and happiness. If born out of mockery or insult to others, it can yield nothing except broken hearts and damaged trust. Laughter motivates us to enjoy the course of routine, with hope for excitement and wish for betterment.

     Some moments of laughter stay memorable forever. Depicting special relations and involving wonderful people, joy delivered by these instances can never be put down into words. As a memory to be safeguarded always, remembrance of its sound and sight brighten up our present immediately.

     I have made a small attempt to frame such moments into words, but will love to read your own version in the comments!

©       Laughter of a new born baby– decorated with innocence and originating from a little, pure heart, we wait for this laughter with bated breath, only to be surprised with its soft sound. While experiencing joy from this act, we wonder what initiated the happy response from the little bundle.

©       Laughter of a toddler – filled with joy of being surrounded with own people and enjoying attention from those around, this laughter celebrates experiences of the child. As words are yet to enter into the script, laughter is their perfect way for a happy consent.

©       Laughter over a family joke-  A story that makes no sense to an outsider, but offers hilarious memories to the insider,  jokes born within the scope of a family create the loudest sound. Bringing members together, this laughter is a signature of togetherness and family harmony.

©       Laughter at a reunion- Revisiting beautiful memories of the past, reunion with friends from childhood, school, college end up into endless moments of laughter. As each one comes up with funny incidences from the past, more laughter and few words are all that one can expect from these sessions.

©       Laughter as a therapy- Creating moments of happiness in someone’s life, laughter is a perfect way to elevate mood and erase sorrow. Little attempts to bring laughter can lighten one’s life for hopes of a better tomorrow.

 Such is the beauty of laughter. Away from routine occurrences, their special entries are more exciting. Load yourself with lots of laughter and benefit from this tax-free activity!