7 school memories that sum up the nostalgia of a magical second home

   There are few places on Earth with which we share a typical love-hate relationship. We hate it while being forced to be there every morning, only to return back home and be there once again, the next day. The discipline, routine, sincerity, ambiance and not to forget load of studies bothered us while we walked with a bag on back, day in and day out. No wonder our dear school turned into a second home since we ended up spending almost equal time as our own home sweet home. But all of this boredom magically transforms into nostalgia when we bid good-bye on the farewell day. No matter how much we hated it, we start developing feelings of love and affection after crossing the gate, never to return back again.

  We may be able to visit our school later in future, but it is not the same like carefree students with innocence on our faces and identity card badges on the neck. As soon as we depart from our school, every bit of hatred is converted into love. So much is the transformation that aspects we detested convert into laughter, emotions, tears and a longing to get back. The moment this school closes its doors for us, we realize that space was special indeed. And I am sure no other thing in the world can replace the joy of sitting on our school benches. We may continue returning to academia years and years after school, but it will never be the same again. It is only when we face the real world, do we realize that the load of homework was much better than the load of adulthood. Or better still, fear of answering our teachers was much manageable than answering our own uncertainties and challenges of so-called matured life.

  Now though you and I cannot return to this magical place as students once again, I was tempted to relive it through memories. After all, nostalgia works wonders when we can think about the beautiful memories etched in our minds. Normally, I do not advocate revisiting the past for it disturbs the action of present. But there are some things in life that deserve moments of our present. And if past is the source of your smiles right now, there is no harm in just experiencing it for a short while. Childhood and school are the best sources to get this joy at its best. It does not mean each one of us has had nothing but happy memories in school. We all do have our own share of bitter experiences or undesirable memories, while struggling to fit into the system. But the power of happy memories definitely weighs much more over the sad ones, making us forget the drama, while holding the pleasure.

 I am making an attempt to present some of the best memories through my lens. Some of these may resonate with the student in you, while few others may not. Do share your feedback and your own list too. Memories that remind you of the love-hate relationship with your second home. Memories that bring a smile, while longing you to return back, just once more. Memories that make you realize school was probably the safest, best and most loving shelter for the innocence in you. And memories that cannot be erased from your system, no matter how far you have reached from its location or how long it has been since you stepped out.

1.       Same bell-different effects

Building and curriculum may differ, facilities and teaching staff may differ, quality of education and methods of assessment may differ, but what unites almost all schools is the powerful and penetrating school bell. This same school bell sounds different at different moments due to its underlining message. Boredom of starting yet another long day of studies in the morning to an unexplained relief when the boring session ends, music of recess bell to the ultimate joy that announces “Go home, little birds. You are hereby released!” The school bell definitely rings a wonderful tune of nostalgia, deserving the first spot in memories.

2.       ‘My’ space in an otherwise alien layout

Even if we stepped in and out of the same building, same classroom and encountered the same set of people in school, there was something unsettling till we settled into our own school bench, waved hi to our desk and finally entered into some kind of sacred ‘my space’. The memory of settling into that one school bench, while making an attempt to cooperate with classmates around was one of the best memories. Though that bench would change every now and then, thanks to the new found concept of moving from first row to the last every single day of the year, there was some novel joy of being into ‘my’ place, more like ruling the kingdom from a designated throne!

3.       After all, all world’s a stage

Though the great Shakespeare used this as a monologue for his play, I take the liberty to change the reference as per context. And when I use it in my school memories, I point to the fact that we all performed in school one way or the other. Whether that meant drawing a chart and brimming with pride when displayed in classroom or forced to sing/dance for the annual day function. It could mean just reading one page from textbook yet declaring victory as though featured in a movie or participating in the school race to luckily fall into the one of the first three places. Performances in school followed a typical pattern. From reluctance to participate to slipping away from classroom for so-called ‘practice’ sessions, from finally managing to perform to laughing at the blunders, the memories are filled with joy of ‘doing’ something.

4.       About picnics and trips, excursions and outings

School picnic- I am sure even the sound of this word is enough to bring back flood of memories. Days of planning, packing, excitement and shopping for one day picnic or months of the same for school trips sum up the joy of being out with friends and creating memories. It brought everyone closer to the realities of life. And looking at our fellow classmates and teachers away from the boring walls of school into the open world only made it sweeter, stronger and memorable.

5.       They made us, they still make us and will always continue doing so

If school stands for love-hate relationship, we are also guilty of similar feelings with teachers. We loved them for their affection and patience, hated them for being strict, rude and ever demanding. We also had our list of favorite teachers who always stayed good in our eyes even if they shouted and an equal list of strict teachers who seemed to scare us even if they spoke kind words of appreciation. All of this changes as soon as we step out of school when we miss each and every one of them.  We are able to find love in their shouting and purpose in their punishments. We are able to find their affection for treating us like little kids because no one does that anymore. Interaction with our teachers formed one of the best memories in our school, after all we owe our childhood to those lovely elders in this second home. I don’t think I can express any of this if I meet my teachers today, but I can never thank them enough for whatever they have done for me; just like it is impossible to weigh love of our very own parents at home.

6.       The power back-stage

We often end up appreciating actors and actresses for a good movie, but fail to recognize the talent back stage. It happens similarly in school too where we remember teachers and friends but forget the crew back-stage. Hence my school memories also involve the wonderful team of peons, clerks, administrative staff, cleaners, helpers, watchmen, bus drivers and many more. From a favorite peon uncle who listened to our demands and granted extra favors to a rude one who always managed to catch us in some blunders, from an administrative staff who put us off as silly kids, only to respect us soon as a teacher stepped in to the sweet cleaner lady who shouted yet helped us if need be. School memories bring their love to the forefront for they were a part of the drama too.

7.       And finally to the fellow mates who pulled us through

School friends- compete, study, love, fight, tease, hit, cry, pull pranks, laugh, smile, play, oppose, argue, blame, co-operate, team up, break up, shout, forgive, write sorry letters, wish, hope, congratulate, give gifts, promise to stay in touch. I am not convinced if I have included all the possible verbs to describe the interaction with school friends. They were the fellow mates who struggled with us, just like us to get through the school years. Making some of the best memories, it is impossible to find the same level of trust, love and connection with anyone else later on. It does not mean we cannot gain new friends, but there is some unique tag that separates them from the rest of the gang. Thank you to all who accompanied me in this journey, I couldn’t and wouldn’t be able to do it alone.

  I figured I must stop somewhere or this nostalgia will easily override the word limit. In fact it is impossible to put a limit to the wonderful school life, a place that took us in as clueless innocent minds to turn us into a slightly matured troop, yet equally clueless to face the real life ahead. We long to release ourselves from the weird clutches of strict school discipline, but miss it the moment they send us away. Also, these seven memories cannot do justice to the entire experience, these are more like mere drops in the ocean of a beautiful place where I wish to go back once more, if only not as an ex-student!

To the school that made me, thanks for tolerating this little girl in uniform with bag on back, water bottle on neck and dreams in her eyes….

7 metaphors on life that say it right

  To start this post, I will need to back-up a bit. Back in school days when English was one of the least-studied subjects and grammar was the perfect tool to score maximum marks, the concept of ‘figures of speech’ seemed interesting. Though understanding difference between simile and metaphor or finding the correct type meant scratching the head, it at least appeared different. After running around in the maze of verbs, adverbs, nouns and pronouns, figures of speech meant some serious business. More like maturity of higher standards, I enjoyed figures of speech for their greater value and stronger looks.

   I apologize if all these memories make you sad with your own dreaded grammar classes, but the reason to mention them is my new-found love for one such figure of speech- ‘metaphor’. Ever since I started penning words for pleasure, income or purpose whichever suits best as per situation, I realized the joy of using metaphors. Instead of scoring marks and lifting up the overall percentage, when these metaphors seemed appropriate for practical use, I could not contain my growing interest. And while I involve them in usual writing, I am excited to dedicate a post too.

  For those of you who were confident of scoring well in essays and ignored grammar for its boredom (I salute you), let me help you a bit. As indirect means of comparison, metaphors link two unrelated aspects to each other. It enables clear description of a word/phrase by comparing it to an object/material or a well-known occurrence. And while this helps understanding, it also serves as an interesting tool for language. Think about any philosophical thoughts and chances are you will come across many interesting metaphors. In fact philosophy, arts, literature and poetry draw a lot of influence from these metaphors that make it relatable, interesting, appealing and attractive.

  When I thought about metaphors, I felt what better way than to include those on life. After all, life is a giant puzzle and everything revolves around it. Walk with me as I take you through this listicle on life metaphors. These are common ones that must have hit your ears quite often in the past. In fact I am sure you must have come across each one of them. I present seven of the metaphors that I believe say it right. A big bow of gratitude and honor to all those who created them because it surely hits the target, right on point. Courtesy to the creative artists who brought these to life.

  Do feel free to add to the list with more interesting metaphors from your end, the fun is in knowing a bit more about the mysterious hero called life.

1.       Life is a journey

Probably the most common of all, life is often described as a journey. After all, it does start with our birth, taking us to different stations, destinations, places, stages and age-groups. It shows us different realities along the way and changes quite often. No matter how well we seem to know about our life, it keeps evolving with newer realities. Also like a journey, the fun is to keep exploring and moving ahead. Sitting within our comfortable station because we feel secure is incorrect, rather experiencing and evolving is the key.

2.       Life is a roller coaster ride

Another metaphor that makes total sense, life is nothing but an adventurous roller coaster ride. Picture the tall ride with numerous twists going up, down and taking turns when we least expect. Isn’t life similar to this? One moment you are going up with happiness and pleasures, only to unexpectedly fall down. Changes in situations that lie beyond our understanding is the real punch. Roller coaster is one such unexpected adventure that does spell fun, frolic and enjoyment. Often we look at the ride and seem to prepare ourselves for the twists, but unless we experience it first-hand, it is impossible to know how it actually feels. For all those of you who proudly (or timidly) avoid such rides in theme parks, there is no escape from the real one called life.

3.       Life is a jigsaw puzzle

I enjoy this metaphor for bringing back memories of childhood. Just like a jigsaw puzzle reveals the full picture only after connecting perfect pieces into each other, our life is similar too. The puzzle is to link our events, experiences and realities. We are often confused with the flow of our life, not realizing that each one of these events will reveal a wonderful picture step by step. As far as we trust the process and believe in the final output, our inputs will definitely bring value.

4.       Life is a maze

       With our share of uncertainties and confusions, there is no other metaphor to put it more aptly. Life is indeed a maze with confusing turns while we struggle to find our way out. Blame it on situations that seem to make us go from one way to the other, but they also prompt us to think, act, find alternatives and improve. The joy is in brimming with pride when we find the right way and laughing at our silliness when we get caught, once again!

5.       Life is a movie

 I am not sure if I have heard this somewhere or creating one on my own. But, how can one deny this metaphor when our life delivers all possible kind of drama?  There is everything in it that can be turned into a typical movie. We have location, scenery, props, plot, actors, villains, story, fun, laughter, emotions, mystery with occasional sad scenes and over the top melodrama. We also seem to have surrounding music score to match our story. While some stories are more dramatic to qualify as best-thrillers, few others are just plain with a feel-good factor. But at the end I am sure, we all have some twists and turns to form a good entertainer.

6.       Life is a book

Fill the pages with happiness, beliefs, thoughts, experiences, adventures and events and what you get is a thick book of life. The quality of this book will depend on our attitude. Whether we make it colorful with experiences both good/bad, happy/sad or whether we keep it plain and boring like a notebook, the choice was, is and will remain ours.

7.       Life is a river

This is one of my favorite metaphors. How often do we hear the thoughts “Go with the flow”, “Enjoy everything and be in the moment”,” Take it slowly and steadily”, “Wait for the right time.” All these point to the reality that life is similar to a river. It comes across hard rocks and hits against unexpected blocks on the way, but the joy lies in going with the flow. It flows beautifully delivering happiness and joy, all the while serving its purpose.

 So, what’s your verdict? Do you agree with the title and count them right? Or object to them, while suggesting some new ones from your basket? Type, write and share to solve this mystery together. After all, the aim is living our life, while sharing the essence with others. 

7 effects of being buried behind books

 I was deliberating whether to insert ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ before the word ‘effects’. Because if you are a bibliophile or book lover like me, all these effects will seem brightly positive, bringing a big smile and forcing you to blurt out ‘guilty as charged’. But on the other hand if you are one of those who feel drowsy even at the thought of reading or end up sleeping while holding these books in hand, the effects may seem negative. Hence in consideration to the mixed audience, I choose to keep it neutral. Read them as positive or negative depending on your take and nod or raise your eyebrows as it fits best.

 Needless to say books are everything for the book lover in me. But I must be truthful- all of this love flourished only after I bid good-bye to the educational ones. For any school or college kids reading this, rest assured no course work books have the power to bring out a long post like this one. Unless you are a book worm - in which case, I rest my case.

 Give me a big mug of coffee, a non-fiction book (though I enjoy fiction too), one quiet corner and no one gets hurt. While buried behind the book, one may not even realize my presence - ensuring peace, silence and feeling of well-being. No wonder my husband likes it best when I am more engrossed inside the pages and less involved in discussions that may obviously end into typical husband-wife arguments. Win-win for all. But this post is not to celebrate positive effects for a person surrounded by book-lovers (like my husband), rather for the first-hand joy of entering into a wonderful maze of words.

  Books transport me to a different world that is totally novel from the one around me. While non- book lovers will take it as a sign of alienation and aloofness, it is a perfect way to be there, yet be away. They enable so many experiences that would not be possible even if we strive hard to accomplish each one down the line. I do not intend to make this an educational post discussing the rich knowledge and store of information, but will strive to depict some lovely experiences as seen by a book lover. I cannot convey all the feelings that a book delivers because those are definitely beyond the scope of my vocabulary, but I will make an attempt to introduce it as much as I can.

 Read on and do convey your feedback. To all the fellow bibliophiles- I sincerely hope to do justice to at least a tiny fraction of what you feel, but do forgive me for the lack of good words and to the non-bibliophiles- hit back with your arguments; the floor is open for discussion or war, whichever seems best.

1.       Being there, doing that

Pick any book and it seems inviting. It takes the reader into an unknown world and creates the perfect setting. It drives one to imagine, feel, experience and be there at the site of action. I am always transported to a different area that gives me an up, close and personal view of the topic. From moon exploration to the mars expedition, travel diaries to dry economics, books have the ability, power and strength to take me where the action is.

2.       All that matters is the word in sight

 Each time I pick a book, I am drawn to the present and forced to focus. It is similar to a kind of mindfulness meditation that demands every ounce of energy to the task in sight. All forms of distractions or stray thoughts seem to disappear because the words in hand need my attention. Undoubtedly, books sharpen concentration and engage everyone to the ‘here and now’.

3.       New book = new friendship

No matter what the topic is, I always feel books communicate to me as a friend. It starts with a little awkwardness where I am trying to understand the new person, progresses with excellent communication and feeling of trust when I develop a strong bond and finally takes me to the end where I am unwillingly forced to bid good-bye. I agree not every book delivers the same amount of friendship, but that is exactly how we feel in real life too. Some friends are closet to heart, while few are mere acquaintances.

4.       More reception to the outer world

Though books take me to a different place, they do not make me aloof when I return back to reality. In fact, I experience more understanding, connection and affection to the immediate surrounding. In order to differentiate the world of books and the reality of present, I experience a desire to contribute myself to the surrounding. Though books tend to instill dreams and empower imagination, all of it ceases as soon as the book is shut. The idea is to soak into whatever you are doing.

5.       A lingering positivity that lasts

Of course this depends on the topic and kind of books one chooses. You cannot expect happy thoughts after a dark mystery, but based on my preference for non-fiction, I realize books deliver a sense of happiness. These feelings of joy may not be the same every time because of diverse topics, but the effect is a novel sense of pleasure. I am more in charge of happiness and feeling of well-being than dreaming unnecessarily about something that may not be true.

6.       Knowing something about everything

Books are designed to act as storehouse of knowledge. Staying true to this purpose, they deliver nothing but pure information. While I may not be able to learn, understand, implement and reproduce every tiny bit of information, reading about varied topics introduces me to lot many things. It allows me to go to unknown territories. Like my recent introduction to the world of modern and contemporary arts has given me a sneak-peek into an otherwise distinct and unrelated field.

7.       A unique sense of ‘aha’ moment

A good book is the one that relates to you and speaks to your mind directly instead of lying around as cold facts and plain words. When I dive into such an engaging book, I encounter numerous moments of connection. The bond seems so strong prompting a quick smile, a quiet wow and an unexplainable sense of joy. Though this is a positive effect, I am worried to embarrass myself in a library or public place, while smiling alone with a book in hand.

There are many more effects but I may not be able to capture all of them through my limited understanding of written words. These are experiences that are close to heart, but miles away from appropriate and adequate expression.

Coming to the end, what is your verdict? Were these effects- positive or negative? Did they seem to connect or appear alien? And what is your take when or if you bury or pretend to be buried behind books?

5 natural wonders of the world

Growing up, I always fancied the ‘Seven wonders of the world’. It instilled a sense of awe, amazement and excitement that such magnificent structures adorn our planet. And before I even knew how to get there or what significance they hold, I was excited by the thought that wonders of the world exist. There is something wondrous and beautiful –either created naturally or crafted by skillful hands of people, making it famous around the world. To be honest, I was disappointed when they started creating a new list under the title ‘New seven wonders of the world’ because for me the list was permanent and these wonders were meant to be in it forever. I did not comprehend the need to play around with them and change the contents due to changing times. But that is the way things work. We need to move ahead with time, appreciating the new entrants, while honoring the old ones.

  Well, this post is not to talk about the wonders of the world that are created to honor architecture, natural beauty, heritage and purpose. It is to honor the natural show created by ‘nature’. I was tempted to think about natural wonders through my eyes. If given a chance to frame a list of natural wonders, what will I pick? The word ‘natural’ has a strong meaning here. I want to focus on wonders exhibited by Mother Nature. These are not enlisted to celebrate skills of man-made wonders but designed to appreciate nature at its best. I always believe natural beauty is several steps beyond our comprehension. We can create, invent, discover, upgrade, update and do everything unimaginable with passing years, but we cannot imitate the role of ‘nature’. We cannot create anything remotely close to the wonders of nature that turns a magic wand, every now and then.

  Blame it on my dreamy eyes or nature-kissed soul, I am drawn to natural beauty instantly. I am guilty of finding joy in natural wonders because they are simply beyond words. When I find myself admiring pattern of clouds or staring at colors of sunset, I realize I am smitten once again. No wonder my memory card is loaded with these pictures, while holding none of mine. Connecting with nature is said to be the best form of relaxation and meditation, healing uneasy thoughts and erasing away unnecessary bitterness. And whether or not any statistical research can prove it, my husband can definitely vouch for it. To his amazement as soon as nature draws me to stop talking and start admiring, he is surprised by the effect. I am sure he must be secretly thanking nature and its picturesque effects for keeping me silent a bit longer (every husband’s dream, after all!)

  These natural wonders are usual things that occur in nature but leave me mesmerized. You can state their occurrence, cause, and reason but there is something unexplainable that makes it wonderful. Though Science can elaborate its phenomenon perfectly, it is good to look at it with surprised eyes. Not everything needs to be explained, analyzed and understood. Some things should be left as ‘wonders’.

   I can go on and on under the pretense of introducing this topic, but I must get to the list sooner. Here are the list of natural wonders as perceived through my eyes. Do share your version and let us match to see how well we match!

1.       Pattern of clouds

  I am always amazed by the diverse pattern of clouds created in the sky. The more often I look, the more I realize there is something interesting about it. From low hanging clouds to dense thick blanket, from tiny circular cotton balls to colorful strands, there are so many patterns- just waiting to be adored and admired. Look at any time of the day and there is some distinct pattern and color enjoying its stay in the sky. Call it a desperate need to seek validation (guilty as charged), when I googled to check if there are others who admire clouds too, I came across the ‘Cloud appreciation society’. There is an entire club of people who enjoy clouds and share photographs of these wonderful members of the sky.

  Why and how clouds are formed is not the wonder because we all know it, but why do they align in a specific pattern and come across as distinct shapes is the wonder that makes me stare at it a little longer.

2.       Shape of the moon

  Let us not involve lunar cycle and make this technical and boring, but rather look at moon with romantic eyes and see if it appears as a wonder. To me the shape of moon seems an excellent phenomenon of beauty. From a thin C-shaped curve to full bright circle, moon shape and moonlight are wonders in their own regard.

3.       Shades of the ocean

  I feel guilty of describing an ocean, sea or beach using just three colors- green, blue and grey, while being awestruck by its unique shade card. As water adorns different shades at different times and at different spots from the shore to the horizon, it is nothing short of a natural wonder. Though there is valid explanation of reflection and sea-bed coloring the water, it is mesmerizing how these shades change quite often. The beauty that nothing is the same and you are greeted with a natural color every visit adds magic to the experience.

4.       Palette of leaves

  Thanks to the current season of fall, this phenomenon is more relevant and wonderful right now. We are tuned to look at green leaves and there is nothing unusual about it, but what surprises me is the changing colors from green to yellow, orange and red. Different trees wear different shades of green too. No two trees may have the exact same green shade, portraying its unity in diversity.  

5.       Sunset

  Saving the best for the last. Propose as many theories of setting sun or explain it through simple physics, yet there is something mystical about sunset. It manages to catch attention at that very moment. No wonder people travel to special sunset spots around the globe to make the most of the opportunity. More than sunrise, I am attracted towards the aura of a setting sun (though I am a morning person!). It appears as a formal declaration, announcing the end of a day, while leading towards a calm night.  What makes me wonder is the style adopted by this departing member. It makes sure to spread its royalty and force everyone to take notice. With mesmerizing shades and dramatic effects in the sky- it bids a good-bye, while asking (or rather demanding) everyone to pay attention. To me sunset appears as a well-coordinated show set in the stage of sky. Preparation lasts for few minutes, while spreading the right shade and pattern, followed by the final performance of setting sun, only to be wrapped by immense darkness.

  This concludes five natural wonders as seen through my lens. What wonders form your list?

  Do you seek wonderment in the fact that nature presents a show here and there or stick to the scientific explanation? If you pick the first option – I will be happy to find people like me. And if you pick the latter- well, more scope for posts, while I try my best to transform your opinion!

5 innovations I wish to see in my lifetime

    After some serious ideas to elevate a bad mood and few tricks to appear cute, I was not keen to jump into yet another matured domain. I realized it was time to explore some uncharted territory with weird ideas and novel concepts. We all are well acquainted with the word ‘innovation’. Something novel, new, useful and productive invention in our otherwise usual routine that changes the way we live- ‘Innovation’ has been our consistent companion since the historic times. 

  With each passing day, technology adds new and new innovations in our lifestyle, making it better, convenient, and modern all at once. Whether innovations and technology help us with convenience or spoil us with laziness is a different ball game altogether, but this post intends to celebrate the usefulness of innovations.

  The idea behind it is to explore some new innovations that sound cool. Some of these are already in the research stage, while some may also be in the production phase. Few are pure figments of my imagination and are open to the market. If some VC and entrepreneur wish to cash it out, I will be more than delighted. Also as few of these ideas sprout from the field of my imagination, I do not intend to enter into its feasibility and practicality. They sounded cool in the head and hence they made it to the list is all I can declare right at the start. The purpose is to draw fun through moments of funny imagination.

 Do not get into technical details as this dreamy little blogger mind may not be able to handle the seriousness.  All it knows is dreams and imagination power ideas. Hopefully someday these dreams may materialize and I shall break into a happy dance. To the innovations already in the pipeline, I am excited and hopeful to use it in my lifetime. To the ones never thought before, I can only sincerely wish that someone picks it up for evaluation.

  While you go through my cool list (hopefully you find it so too), feel free to add to it. What are some innovations that sound exciting and interesting to the consumer in you? If given a chance to turn your innovative ideas into production, which ones will you submit?

1.       Food uploader/downloader

  I do not know about you but this idea pops into my mind each time I look at fancy pictures of food on social media. When it comes to food pictures- I have tried everything. From ignoring the ones sent by family and friends to requesting them to send more and more, from sending them myself to just wishing to grab the plate, no matter how hard I try, I cannot ignore the tasty treats on screen. Thanks or no thanks, social media has changed the way we look at food. While looking at pictures does not solve any purpose, I can only hope it is possible to upload and download food from any part of the world to any other. I do not know how to possibly create one, but I know the result.

 You upload that tasty birthday cake and I will download it! Isn’t it simple? Or the other way round, happy? Imagine all those fancy dishes from restaurants that your friends upload and homemade meals from your mother and exotic dishes from your chef cousin will land right next to your computer. I hope this materializes in my lifetime so I can finally justify the like symbol after sampling the food.

P.S: The credit for this idea goes to my tech-savvy Dad who asked us to develop such an idea. Dad -if you are reading this, I cannot make it myself but I can definitely write about it and spread the word. I am sure some wealthy VC or tech-geek entrepreneur will do it for us or is already doing so in her/his lab garage right now.  

2.       Object copier

          We all have used photocopier (better recognized as Xerox) to create copies of our boring documents and precious college notes. But how about a 3 D copier for objects, items and materials. Love that dress your sister has? Put it inside the copier and have it! Want to read the book your friend has? Copy it. Create multiple copies of your favorite products and enjoy. I understand it will impact the retail industry but no harm in imagining. I am sure there will some way out like restrictions on the number of copies or courtesy charges to the original manufacturer.

3.       Space cruise

This idea is already out in the industry where some ambitious young entrepreneurs are going to take us out of our planet to space in few coming years. I will love to embark on such a cruise to the Moon/Mars/Jupiter/Saturn/ anywhere in space as long as it is round trip and at a reasonable cost! I will wait for reviews on tripadvisor before I book the tickets.

4.       Solar powered flying vehicles

Flying vehicles is another idea in the market already. Solar powered flying vehicles can take us from point A to B without consuming much time. It can also reduce traffic on roads. A coordinated mechanism of driverless vehicles on road and flying vehicles in sky will be the perfect solution to get rid of the dreaded red lines on our GPS. And power through sun will erase the problems of non-renewable fuels. 2 or 4 seat vehicles will also make us feel like birds. Traveling in huge air crafts does not give me that feeling yet.

5.       AI- personal shopper

If you are a shopping-lover and find happiness in retail therapy - skip this part completely. If you are like me who fails to find joy in shopping, no matter how hard you try - keep reading my dearest best buddies. AI or artificial intelligence powered personal shopper will check items in your house- grocery, clothes, home goods, footwear etc. etc., prepare the list, shop, bargain (why lose a chance to save), purchase and get you all the items right to you. I hear online shopping does exactly that, but I also want a process where it decides that I need something and figures out the list by itself. Call me lazy but shopping is not everyone’s cup of tea!

      Whether these turn out to be true or fail to reach us as consumer products, I had fun penning them down. After all, imagination is the first step. Who had imagined we could see someone while talking to them miles away or use a gadget to navigate us all around the town? Just as these are usual things in our life today, someday the above five will be too!

5 quick-fixes for bad mood

    To begin with, I sincerely hope you are never forced to use any of these ideas. Though I am pondering and penning and writing as always, I do not look forward to put you in a bad mood, just so that you can use these quick-fixes. Though we always dream of happy behavior without any bad moments, it may not turn out to be true. After all, we also dream of a perfect world with clear blue skies and rainbows, but need the rain too. 

  That one single moment of anger or sad mood can do more blunders than all the good done by an otherwise excellent personality.  Bad mood is similar to weed. It grows all around the field unattended and creates havoc much before you realize. If you do not curb it at the right moment, it can ruin your hour, day, month or worst yet, even an entire full year. No matter what reason or situation puts us in that said bad mood, the right thing is to eliminate the aura as soon as possible. Like a magic eraser, wipe away the situation quickly to prevent unnecessary disturbances for long.

  Though you may always exhibit a sound mind with perfect control of your actions and reactions, that one single moment of rage is enough to create troubles. One ill comment, one angry dialogue, one incorrect judgement and one negative remark may be enough for long episodes of sorrow and tears. I cannot speak on your behalf but I am guilty as charged to allow one wrong moment spoil the entire show. And even though ten minutes later, I magically transform into some beautiful heroine (no harm in imagining!), those few crucial moments of bad mood can turn me into a detested villain.

 We clearly understand all of this philosophy, yet why is it so difficult to keep bad mood at bay? Blame it on human nature or momentary mood swings, we tend to lose the precious robe of behavior at the last moment. When the stage is set and the lights are on, we are busy pampering an unnecessary royal mood. We fail to comprehend but bad mood does have a lot of power in its stride. It is powerful enough to spoil relationships, hurt our dear folks, create fights and lose bucket full of tears!

  Now I know in a sane world, my efforts should be directed towards preventing these momentary ill shows. I hear you parents, elders and all the matured people on this planet that I should not allow moments to influence my experiences. But till I gain that level of maturity, I need some quick-fix solutions. In a fast-paced world where we rely on hacks and fixes, I am tempted to list down some solutions when the ‘mood’ is bad.

 I do not endorse quick-fixes as the permanent solution. It does not mean we can let bad mood scribble something on the wall and wait for the fixes to wipe/hide/erase or paint over. It is just one of the several ways to handle the sorrow and eradicate it completely. Though we realize all that drama was for nothing, such level of maturity penetrates into our sound mind, only days after the show. Till then, the damage is done. So, what do you do? Before that one moment converts into days of sorrow, act on it quickly and come back to resolve it later with patience, belief and a sound mind. Attend to the reason that caused the havoc, but only after you can do so with logic, reasoning and maturity.

   Sharing my ideas for quick-fixes. These are tried and tested solutions, but I will always wait for your feedback. Feel free to agree, disagree, add, subtract, multiply, divide or praise as you please (why not openly wish for my two moments of fame!)

1.       Music ON, noise gone

Music is the best form of stress-buster and has an immense power to heal. Put on those earphones, play your favorite music and go for a long walk. Let the power of music guide you away from anger, sorrow and frustration. Though listening to music wherever you are is helpful too, walk a mile with the tune for guaranteed effect.

2.       The way to your heart is through the stomach

This is not one of the healthiest ideas, so please follow it with caution. Though bad mood generally causes over-eating, it works if you consume in moderation, just enough to erase the sorrow. Head to the kitchen– pick your favorite food item and let the taste get you out of the momentary misery. The quick-fix is to change the mood with something desirable, not to binge-eat and complain about the increased weight, the next day!

3.       Get hold of your ‘punching bag-listener’

This term is new, hence a little description. Punching bag-listener is like a new 3 a.m friend each time who can listen to your troubles without any judgement. It can be your mom, dad, spouse, sister, brother, friend, neighbor or colleague. Times like these demand talking it out but without any analysis. Speak to a person totally unrelated to the situation or else it will only add fuel to the fire where both parties increase the flames. Declare your intention before-hand and request the punching-bag listener to do ‘nothing else but listen’.  

4.       ‘Nature’ therapy to the rescue

Let Mother Nature handle your vows. She does a perfect job each time, after all she is a ‘mother’. Just look out of the window. Be lost in the spectacular sight of selfless clouds, sky, stars, mountains, birds. Click pictures of natural beauty on your phone wherever you go and browse through them at this much needed moment.

5.       Laugh it out

I agree laughter and bad mood are not even remotely related. When we are down with sorrow, laughter and comedy is the last thing on our mind. But that is the exact reason to introduce it into your situation right away. It will convert your tears to smiles. Watch a comedy series, movie or a funny video. Let the momentary boredom erase and distract you from anger.

Quick-fixes are quick for a reason. They take charge of the damage at the very instant, when it is needed the most. It may not be perfect or the most correct way of handling things, but it can at least prevent destruction. When anger and sorrow take over our mind, all we need is distraction and fresh air to deal with it later.

      What is your take? Constructive quick-fixes or destructive bucket full of tears, anger and choco-chip ice-cream?

P.S: Thank you for all the cute love in my last post. It made me blush cutely with affection for all you readers who mean so much to the wandering blogger in me.

6 ideas that can make you look cute, no matter what your age…

   ‘Babies are cute’. This is more like a universally known fact than a sweet observation. Be it any country on any part of the globe, little babies have the power to bring out a confirmed expression “How cute!” They deserve the birthright to be cute, lovely and naughty all at once because their innocence is still alive and kicking. And till the seriousness of teen or adulthood fails to reach them, they continue being adorable with their cute actions and lovely expressions. While I adore their cuteness and love to smile at a sweet face, I must admit it makes me a bit insecure. After all, bidding good-bye to those wonderful years is not easy and accepting the fact that you are not cute anymore is not easy too.

 When the harsh realities of life step in and we continue with our rather usual journey, it is impossible to expect praises of cuteness. As 'so-called' guidelines of life stress over how you do, what career you choose, how much you make and how many assets you gather, there is no room for your innocent looks or cute appeal. Except for few times that may be considered as attempts of flirting, we can no longer expect someone to comment on how cute we look or behave. Considered as rather odd, we are alarmed if someone does see us as one. I agree there is nothing wrong in growing up and vacating that department for our little buddies. But, can do we do some things that may make us look cute? What is the harm in engaging in some actions that can turn us into cute people, no matter what our age?

  When I say this, I do not mean praises of cuteness from our better-halves or partners. While they are supposed to appreciate us under the act of law, thanks to marriage or cupid attack, I want to talk about cuteness on a rather larger scale. It is just a fun thought to ponder if there are some things that can actually make us as sweet as the little baby next door. While I totally agree, there cannot be any sort of competition with these angelic sweethearts, it is just a fun-filled idea. After all, why should babies have all the cuteness? The answer being because they are so since birth, but let us see if we can borrow a little recognition our way. As humans we believe in finding solutions and solving challenges, so treat it as yet another puzzle if we can do something about this too.

  Do not consider any of these as fool-proof actions to be cute. Hence the title calls them ideas for a reason. If you follow it to the letter, yet fail to gather any appreciative expressions, do not blame me under any circumstances. I am just as inexperienced as you are so all the best. But you are more than welcome to try it out and share your experiences. 

  

Let us see if we can succeed in this rather hopeful attempt to be cute.

1.       Wear a smile – everytime, everywhere

I can vouch for this idea and give it a thumbs-up for working out always. No matter how young, old, smart, not-smart, silly, awkward or dumb you feel (like I do!), smiling works out in every situation. There is something sweet about smiles that make you appear cute most of the times. And it works as the best ice-breaker even amidst strangers, so smile often and move an inch closer to sweetness. And if you are to believe the scientific research about smiles and moods, they say it does radiate some glow through happy molecules. Well, science or no science, wearing a smile can make us cute, so why stop doing it? Give your stern face a break and leave aside your worries, while you smile. Problems will find your address one way or the other than why not greet it with a smile too? May be it melts away with your cuteness, you never know!

2.       Do some things out of your comfort zone

Before you discard this for making you look stupid or silly instead of cute, hear out the benefits of doing so within limits. Unless you end up dressing silly or acting weird in public, there are some chances that it may make you cute. Picture your grandparents typing on a laptop or your dad sporting a cool graphic t-shirt. Imagine your mom sending some cool emojis in your cooler lingo or your otherwise stern relatives dancing to some tunes. In each of these situations, stepping out of comfort zone to do something silly can actually make one cute. Staying within the so-called limits of our acceptable personality make us predictable boring individuals. Think of things that you don’t do usually and try it out once in a while. Wear something different, play like a kid, loosen up your adult face and just laugh/dance/jump/rejoice away from your usual.

3.       Be considerate and kind - take care of others like you do for yourself

I am sure each one of you are kind, considerate and helpful, not with an aim to be cute but as expected responsibilities of a good human being. But if such a good behavior makes you look cute, why not do it consciously every single time and increase the cuteness quotient? Holding door for others, greeting people, cooking meals for loved ones, making them laugh, listening to them no matter how tired, appreciating people for their efforts, participating in their plans and showing enthusiasm are just some of the ways to get there.

4.       Complain less, enjoy more

We don’t realize this but complaining turns into an unavoidable habit. Something, somewhere will always be wrong/incorrect/unjust and unfair. None of us have perfect lives packed in perfect gift boxes with a perfectly tied bow on top. When everyone is dealing through something undesirable, yet unavoidable, why complain and make ourselves look sad? One of the best ways to be cute is to look at life with a happier outlook. It is okay to fail, there is nothing embarrassing or shameful in making attempts for the ‘n’th time and nothing wrong in working at your own pace.  But learn to enjoy more and be light towards life, if it does not make you successful, it will at least make you cute.

5.       Laugh at yourself

Nothing is cuter than accepting yourself the way you are and laughing at everything that life gives you. When we laugh at our silliness, goof-ups and blunders, it shows our soft side. Be sensitive to the fact that we can be wrong too. Accept everything with open arms and stop pretending things are always under control. Admit your errors cutely, accept failures and bounce back again to reality.

6.       Admire simple things

Stop to observe the pattern of clouds, admire sunset, express love to your daily work, sing your favorite song as you do your usual chores and admire simple things. It does make you look cute when you submit yourself to the beauty of simplicity.

Suggest some more ideas from your end or try these out and provide a feedback. And at the end, if you still turn out to look sillier than cuter – take a deep breath, say ‘I feel cute from within’ three times and abort all further attempts from this idea list. I cannot afford negative publicity before I gain enough positive ones!