Emotions v/s Emoticons

Very few will actually 'C' the difference!

On September 19th 2015, the emoticon ':-)' turned 33 years old along with its mates ':-(' and ';-)'.  The emoticons have come along way from their original composition of simple punctuation marks to today's one click emojis.
Lets have a look at how the emoticons have made their way into our lives and also how they have substituted a major aspect of conversations: emotions.

On the 19th of September, 1982, Scott E Fahlman, a research professor at the Language Technologies Institute and Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon,composed the smiley for the first time on an online science bulletin board stating that it were to be used to imply that the sentence was a joke or to be taken lightly. He also introduced the sad face smiley.

According to Fahlman, the problem was that if someone made a sarcastic remark, a few readers would fail to get the joke, and each of them would post a lengthy diatribe in response. That would stir up more people with more responses, and soon the original thread of the discussion was buried.  In at least one case, a humorous remark was interpreted by someone as a serious safety warning.

And this problem has been around ever since conversations have gone online and probably even since written letters.


But emoticons have managed to add emotion to words where they weren't sufficient enough.

All said and done, rather all punctuated and smiled at, there is great irony in the use of the emoticon. Today people have substituted words completely with the rise of emoticons. We frame conversations sometimes with only symbols and emojis and often are understood by our peers with such ease. We can combine two or more emojis to say a sentence that otherwise cost us 5-6 words. Emojis have taken us by the hand and given us more to say with less effort.





How has this helped us though? What impact has the emoticon or the recent emojis left on the people of today. One cannot deny the fact that it has harmed communication to a certain extent. Try having a conversation with a friend you chat with on a daily basis but this time using only word
s and not emoticons and you will definitely be asked if you're alright today. Your friend will probably not be able to comprehend your emotion while saying what you said or the style in which you said it or what you meant when you said it.

This is because emoticons today have taken the place of intonation, stress, punctuation, pauses, reactions, and all the other devices that usually added flavor to the written language. The emoticons have help you express more than words can say and probably taught you to say without words.

This has its pros and cons. We can be misunderstood so often just because every persons understanding of every emoji is different. Our use of emojis in different circumstances are different. I don't even have to get started on how every emoticon could translate differently across cultures around the world.

Let us not forget to mention that the recent upgrade in emojis offer the same face in different skin colours. What do you have to say about that?

In conclusion, the emoticon may have contributed in a huge way to speedy conversations and given us expression where there was no other way to express, but lets not forget the beauty of words and the importance of them spelled correctly and completely. Emojis may speak louder than words but emojis can't say exactly what you feel the way words can.

Days of Courage

Our days of courage come by now and again.
They are the days we feel like the universe is on our side,
It's when nothing can come in the way and nothing can stop us.
Our days of courage show us what we don't generally see;
What we can do, what we can be.
They build us up from our otherwise dull days.

Our days of courage make us say the things we always wanted to.
They give us words when there otherwise existed none.
They cause us to repair broken bridges, tie up loose knots.
Our days of courage allow us to admit our love.
They give us strength to speak up and to feel bigger than we usually do.
They help us undo mistakes and sometimes redo them.

But our days of courage are our best ever
Because they bring us to our weakest and make us our strongest.
They tear us to pieces and then fix us up again.
Our days of courage find us our missing pieces and make us whole again.
Our days of courage rid us of our insecurities and bring back our dreams.

My days of courage are rare, for a frightened heart has much to conquer.
But when they come, they come like thieves in the night.
Causing me cold toes and a moment of shivers.
Until I make that brave move that changes everything.

Everything that once was, suddenly can never be

Because these courageous days break and make me.

My Parish, My Family

My friends and I spent the last three weeks working on a documentary for a competition by the Diocese Youth Center of Mumbai.

The theme of the competition is 'My Parish, My Family'. We had to portray the various cells and associations that are part of our church and how they function as a family in this documentary.

We learnt a lot while making this video, not only in movie making but also about our church and the parishioners who strive to build a community that constantly cares for one another.

Following is the video we shot, edited and are currently publicizing.
Do spare a moment to watch and don't forget to share it if you like it!

It's brighter outside

You've reached that point
Where wanting has ceased
Where needing is irrelevant
And where having is out of the question.
When you've tried and tried
To no luck at all.
When you've tried and failed and tried again
And yet you have nothing but a break and fall.

You lose all hope, you lack any motivation
Suddenly, nothing is important and everything is just a phase.
Nothing is worth the time and nothing is worth the energy.
And in these moments of utter uselessness, 

That's when you wonder what really went wrong.
How did this happen? Where have you gone?
What happened to your drive, your passion?
Where has all that charisma gone?

Have you been reduced to your own idea of helplessness?
Have you made a universe for yourself of self pity and apology.
Don't you wonder what a waste it is to go on this way?
There are two paths from here and I hope you choose life.

There's a silver lining behind the dark clouds, there's sunshine after the rain.

There's water beyond the desert and home's waiting for you after the long road.

There's relief after the pain, there's stillness after the storm.

There's life beyond yourself, it's brighter outside, get out, move on.

Monotony

There's something about monotony.

About the way we get used to something,
The way we condition ourselves to respond,
The way we schedule our lives,
There's something also about monotony that puts us off.
We all want to break it,
We want to defy it, we want to deny it,
We want to find something, maybe someone,
To disconnect us from this treacherous way of life.

You walked into my life and monotony walked out.
Everyday was a new one.
Every hour, every word, every action surprised me.
You surprised me. I surprised myself.
You got me to throw caution to the wind,
You made every moment new,
You drew me into the unknown and drew me to learn,
You got me to dance to music I've never heard before,
You got me threading on lands I've never known of before.
You threw me off a cliff and didn't tell me of how long I would fall.
And I fell faster, faster, deeper...
Only in love.

And then you left, to break the monotony of me.
And I was taken back, back to my monotonous black hole.
And now I'm falling deeper again, this time out of love...
Slowly, deeper, till no love can be felt at all.

Come back, let me love again,
Come, be my monotony.

Journey into the dark

We can travel to the ends of the earth
We can take pictures
Of the sky, the plains, the meadows,
The monuments, the mountains and the mills.
We can eat and drink the finest of them all
We walk and walk and walk till we drop,
Or we can fly a million and one miles.

But you and I can't take these steps
If we first don't scale each others lives.
Take a walk inside my heart and sit with me and look up at the stars.
Dive into my dark soul and let's light a sky lantern together.
Let me run like the blood in your veins and lets me move within your being.
Allow me to kiss your monumental heart and watch over it with awe and respect.
Let me worship the God in you, let me worship the good in you.
There's a journey we both must take together, before we touch the ends of the earth.
You in me and me in you, we have oceans to conquer and emotions to test.
You and I have places to go,
yet in stillness we must rest.
There's a life yet to come when we will travel from shore to shore.
But now, until we get onto our sailing boat,
Let me reach into you more and more.

Mr. Memory

You're a memory now,
A good one and a bad one.
Mr. memory, you should leave and go away,
Even though I make you feel like you should stay.
You know I'd be better off without you but you still hang around.
Mr. Memory, why haven't you left this town?
Don't you know better than to haunt?
Don't you have better things to do than taunt?
Mr. Memory, I'm no longer asking you,
You must go and let me be!
You're taking away my presence of mind,
You're taking me back into the past.
My present is at stake here, don't you see?
Only cause you just don't want to leave me!
Memory dear, memory, my love,
Some people go and we miss them much,
You however are lingering too long.
And it's growing impossible for me to remain strong
With or without you, I'm not gonna change.
For once, Mr. Memory, once you're gone,
I'll be lonelier and you may think it strange,
But I'll be humming a tune of a lyric-less song
I need you to go though,
I know I'll be losing a part of me,
But it's vital, its the only way,
It's the only way my past will set me free.

Meet me in the future

I want to meet you someday,
Long after we last met.
I want to see you after ages
And I want to hear the stories you have to tell.
I want to walk with you and talk with you
And tell you how I've been.
I want to know you like I didn't before,
I want to breathe you and take you in.
I want to know the places you seen
And the people you met on the way.
I want to know of the burdens you carried
Or the obstacles you faced every day.
But all this, I want to know of you,
Only after ten years or maybe nine.
For now I don't want to see you,
I don't want our paths to intertwine.
For at this moment we aren't meant to be,
But years from now, maybe you and I could be.
And it may be too late, you will have already moved on.
But I'm okay with that, if that's what's meant to be.
But if and when we meet again,
I hope we can sit and laugh
And think about the good times we've shared.
For 10 years down the line, if I do feel for you in anyway.
It will be cause you never left me nine or ten years ago on that dreadful day.
And I won't say it, I won't admit it at all.
I'm too proud to willingly take the fall.
But promise me that when we meet,
If sparks fly like they did back then,
Baby, if you still have room for me
Don't leave me ever again.

There's poetry in you

There's poetry in you
But it's like you can't read.
There's magic in your words,
But it's like you don't believe.
You're a piece of art, a work of a master.
You're a rare one, the hope after a disaster.
There's music in the way you dance,
You're a blend of war and peace at first glance.
You're the cold night and the warm day,
You're the showers that come after a warm May.
But more than anything you're so oblivious.
You don't see it, you don't care for the obvious.
There's grace in your being, there are stars in your eyes.
The moon is jealous, it's like you came to me from the skies.
Sweetheart, must you be so mesmerizing!
You're more pleasing than the sun setting or rising.
You're the sound of the waves, the lash of the tide,
You're the shelter to the homeless, to the little ones, a hide.
But darling, if only you knew,
There truly is poetry in you.

Lay it down

Lay yourself down, O tired soul
Lay yourself down to breathe
Take it in, take a deep breath
Close your eyes, this is what you need.
Lay your worries down and be light
Let your tension be drained
Let the ground work its magic
Just you close your eyes
And it will leave you, all that's tragic.
Tired soul, let it go,
Let it reach deeper beneath you,
Let it leave you for good
Brave heart, leave it be,
It will move on to where it should.
Breathe in and breath out
And let the darkness pass
Lay down but let your spirit rise
And darling, for a moment have a look at you.
You're feeble, growing weak,
You have tired yourself to the bone.
You deserve more life, more energy, more love
And you must assure yourself, these you will own.
Let not the lack of love suck the life out of you,
Let not evil minds tear your skin,
Beware of those who try to break you,
They're the ones who tie you from within.
Little girl, get up, fill yourself with hope
Your rest here is over now, there's so much you must do
So drain the lethargy and refill the adrenaline
There's lots of life ahead
Little girl, wake up, your day is waiting for you,
It's time to get out of bed.

Timeless

If you didn't own a watch,
Would you know if you're late?
Would you bother to be early?
If you didn't know the time,
Would you be able to keep it,
No matter rhythm or rhyme?
If there existed no clock,
and we didn't know what was night and day,
Would you know when you had to sleep
Would you care about it anyway?
You'd eat when you're hungry,
Wake up when you're out of sleep,
Get out of the house when you needed to,
And think endlessly ever so deep.
For you'd never be running out of time,
Never be too early or late.
You'd never bother about missing out,
Won't know the day or date.
And maybe you'd worry alot less.
Maybe you'd give more time to that which you don't.
For you won't be in a hurry for anything,
Most definitely, you wont.
Every moment would be spent at leisure
And you'd probably love whatever you do.
For nothings rushing you, no one's in a hurry,
You'd work the way you love and you hope others will too.
But that's probably the problem with all of us these days;
We have lost track of what we're doing
In the process of how long we take to do it.
We have schedules packed like travel bags.
And we don't bother to check them through.
We're always in a hurry and sometimes tend to lag.
We need a reality check, me and you.
Think a little about your entire day;
Did you use your time productively in anyway?
Or did you spend most of it procrastinating or maybe idling on your phone?
How about you give yourself some time alone?
We often say I can't make the time,
But if you didn't know the time you'd have it for sure.
Keep excuses at bay and find a way.
In a lifetime of no deadlines, you can dare to do so much more.

There's nothing you cannot be

That's all it takes,
Just one more step,
One more try and you're good to go,
One more if it doesn't work,
And yet another if you fail.
There is no stopping,
Not until the challenge is breached.
Shun those who tell you otherwise,
The topmost stair is within reach.
You never know how close you are,
Until you take the next step forward,
You don't know how sweet it tastes,
Until you're within it's sweet embrace,
And trust me, its always worth it, just you try.

Try and see, there's nothing you cannot be,
Try and be, be better, bigger, outreaching and free,
Strive to achieve, strive to be selfless,
Be more than you, be less selfish.
The more you open up your mind,
the easier it is your goals to find.
Listen and be not afraid to be heard,
Speak and speak well, let your Spirit be feared.

Stage lights

It was always her comfort zone,
her playground,
Her creative space,
The stage,
Under the lights,
The spotlight,
The silent spectators,
All eyes on her.
This was where she was always welcome,
Her once in a while,
But her every while there was worth it.
The adrenaline rushed,
when they called her name,
This was always her right hand game.
Her being was made for this, her soul always knew,
That no one could take this away from her.
Alas! no one could make the stars feel like a dance through and through.

But little did she know what lay in store
That one day the stage would choose another.
And her place will be what it was, no more.
That the spotlight would choose, like it always had a choice.
That she would have no say, she would have no voice.
And when it came, crashing down upon her,
The stars vanished and the audience didn't respond,
Her eyes fell slowly, wet and steadily upon
The new comer, the welcomed, the chosen one for the stage.
And with dignity she moved aside and let the new comer take her place.
And as she watched, the pain reduced,
for someone deserving was there to stay.
And this made it easier, this one part, the going away.

Before she knew it, she was pulled back into the light, for one last bow,
And before the curtain dropped on her, the audience stood up somehow.
They stood for two, them both, not one of them alone,
One who will begin to make this stage her home
And one who will leave with stars in her eyes,
Them, forever she will own.

Guilty Lover

Guilty lover, won't you speak now?
You took your chance, every moment you had,
To love, to promise, to commit,
To openly say you loved her.
What's happened now though?
Guilty lover, where did you have to go?
A lover driven by passion, 

Driven by one girls innocence and ability to take on the world.
You were hooked on to more than just a face, at least that's what you said.
Guilty lover,
What makes you change color?
What changed your mind so quickly?
Was she not part of your future plans?
Was she just one of those toss of the hands?
Lover, why did you leave her?
If by the heart, you said you can never be apart, 

Guilty lover, were you bogus from the start?
Run faster now and get away before she curses you in the light of day.
Criminal, impostor, a fake scared soul,
Guilt-tied lover, your mistakes will never grow old.
And they will never stay untold.
For a heart that was once broken will leave no stone unturned,
No testimony will be left unspoken,
And she will tell the world of all the pain,
Of the writhing darkness that floods her veins.
She will tell the world of one lover,
One lover driven by guilt,
One guilty lover who's crime was that he quit.
One lover who will never ever in this world, rightly fit.

You're Just a Memory

You're just a memory,
From quite a while ago.
You're just a thought now,
No matter how much I wish you were more.
You're in the past, no more a 'now',
You're gone, you're a 'goodbye',
You're like you were never mine.
You're just a memory,
Almost an imagination.
You might have been a wish,
You're probably to be missed.
But a memory deteriorates,
And time shall come to aid.
A memory stays for as long as it matters,
until it one day gradually fades.
And I'm holding on no more,
To a memory or two or maybe four.
For it's time to go,
It's time for every memory to move.
You're fading, you're losing color,
You're moving behind the wall,
Away from sight away from mind,
Soon away from my being far apart,
And one day when you're less than a memory
That day you will miss the walls of my heart.

Driving Me Mad

You're a stupid lad,
Has anyone mentioned that?
You're a coward and an ass
And a boy with no class
You're immature and lazy
Slow and a bit too crazy
You think you're all that
But you know well that you aren't
You think you're making it large
But I know what you think is the limit

And dear boy how I wish you thought bigger
How I wish you thought more open
You're a boy threading on the edge
And you're slipping and I'm afraid for your fall
And yet I can't call out to you anymore
In silence I'm screaming 'be careful'
Because you're a stupid boy walking on fire
And you hold the sand to put off the flames
But the thrill, the ride is all for your side
And the worry and fear is mine to be dear.
You're a mad one, they told me so long ago
I ran away from you like a kid from a ghost
And yet from this distance I watch from the shadows
Of ego and pride, forgetting why you were ever mine
And with each passing day you prove to be
More of an idiot, a senseless human being
And I wish and I pray that maybe some day
Il either be as mad as you and love you that way
Or that you find me lurking in the dark deep
And drop all insanity just for me.

The Ordeal of a Broken Heart

A broken heart heals with time,
For a moment it may turn blind,
To the numerous hearts that linger near,
Afraid to mingle, shadowed in fear.
A broken heart can be very unkind,
Especially if thoughts cloud the mind.
If regrets and memories flash to and fro,
You believe you were meant for something more.
But it's not that easy, not for a broken heart.
It's not something that can be fixed and brought back to the start
It's change, it's growth, it's even transformation.
Though, to fix itself, there is no obligation.
A broken heart needs it's space,
You can't ask it to run a race.
It can't run but it very well can hide,
It can stand and watch, for hours, a low tide.
It's unsettling, it's chaotic,
It's a disaster altogether,
A broken heart is a hidden ghost
Haunting from within a lover.
At night comes the eerie silence,
Followed by loud voices that hover.
And a broken heart wishes it weren't broken,
A broken heart wishes it were made whole.
This broken heart has always spoken,
To the voices in her head, the ghosts in her soul.

My Top 10 Life Principles

So here are 10 principles I live by and I'm sharing this with you because it's the reason I am emotionally content. I've had a number of friends and acquaintances come up to me and ask me so randomly, "how can you be so happy all the time?" or "Your person is so welcoming, no one can hate you, everyone wants to be around you".

So here are 10 principles I live by that probably make me such a nice person ;)

I'm not boasting, but I'm sure this will make an interesting read:

1. Don't expect anything from anyone.

This one stands true for every form of relationship you can think of. The more you expect, the more space you allow for disappointment. The solution is to not expect. That way everything is a surprise. 

2. Give all you can without expecting in return.

Keep giving all you can, give to the poor, give a listening ear, give some advice, give some time, be kind, care for your loved ones, respect nature, give back and never for once do it because you want something in return. Give with an open heart even when nothing is promised in return. 

3. You are entitled to expect respect.

found on: www.aniotaoftruth.com

Do not for once think that because you love someone, they are allowed to use you as a door mat. Your love for someone can be unconditional, but the moment he/she begins to treat you less than you truly are, start demanding respect. By demanding respect, I mean, let them know you're no one to be taken advantage of.

4. Don't depend on others, be independent.

For as long as you're dependent on others, you will never be able to find your own contentment. Of course there are exceptions to this rule but in a bigger picture. Teach yourself things, learn from everyone and everywhere, don't be afraid to ask questions now, so that you know for the future. The people you depend on for favors today will not be here forever and if they are, they probably will expect a favor in return even if they don't tell you.

5. You need to want something badly enough to actually get it.

Wanting something is different from needing something. When you need something, the want comes naturally. But when you don't need it and you want it, excessive desire will eventually lead you to work really hard to acquire it. When you want it bad enough, you will get yourself to get it!

6. Know that no one will ever share the same experience as you, even if they say they've been there. 

It is impossible for anyone to have the exact same experience as you at any point in time, any place on this earth or any state of mind. This is because every single person's thoughts are influenced by so many external and internal factors. The mind's capacity in grasping new things is different from every other mind. One's opinion on a particular subject, whether expressed or not ,will differ and it changes the whole definition of 'I've been there too'.

found on: musigh.com

7. You don't need constant company, learn to be alone once in a while.

No man can live as a island but no man died keeping quiet for 5 minutes. Learn to enjoy your own company. If you cannot be alone for 10 minutes it means you cannot leave yourself to your own thoughts. And if you can't stand yourself, how will anyone else stand you?

8. When you give it all you got, the result will  always be worth it.

Hard work never goes in vain. When you give it all you got, and by this I mean when you know for sure you've done every single thing to make it work, things will work out. And if they don't then you know for sure that what you were lacking on, was out of your hands (external factors). However, don't use that as an excuse, if you know where you went wrong and if you fix that, the next time is a sure shot success.

9. Some people will never be convinced, don't waste your energy, the truth always prevails.

It is not your duty to convince someone of a universal truth. You can say as much as you want and sound as convincing as you can and there will still be people who will choose to disagree with you. Don't waste your time on people who are not open to science and logic. At the same time, do not insult ones beliefs or ridicule one's religion. Everyone has their own opinion and they have the right to have it. You may not be able to prove yourself right all the time and that shouldn't worry you one bit. Its okay to leave an argument half way and it's even okay to admit you are wrong when you really are wrong.

10. A lot of people won't acknowledge your presence in their lives now, but they will at some point, don't be an ass to them then.

There are so many people in your life right now who will go away as time goes by. People will leave and some will come back again. Some are really close friends, some just the hi-bye type of friends. However, if any of these 'friends' need your help in the far future, do  not turn a deaf ear to them just because they weren't in touch with you for a number of years or because they forgot your birthday or something of that sort. Remember that you will be remembered for your deeds and not for your name. You will be acknowledged for your person and not for your fame.

found on: aletterwriter.com

And finally, no one owes you anything. Life is not unfair. You make the most out of what you have and learn to be content with what you own. Don't compare and don't complain. We all fight different devils each with our own capacity. You may be a drop in the ocean but even that's enough to quench someone's thirst.

If you like what you've just read, please don't forget to leave a comment or share it with your friends using any of the social network buttons you see below. Would love to know what you think!

Long Drive - Faylyn Cover

Hey guys, here's my twin and me singing Long Drive by Jason Mraz from the album 'Yes'.
Hope you like it!

Don't forget to comment and tell us what you think or hit the like button if you love it so much that it renders you speechless ;)

Oh, and don't forget to subscribe!

The Middle Man

I don't know if you have ever thought about this, but sit a while and think of the number of middle men services that have been eliminated over the past few years. Some have even been created to be eliminated (I'll get to this one later)

And I don't mean lay offs or industry declines. I'm talking about your phone offering you all the services you never thought would reach the palm of your hands. Apps!

Today, you don't need to go to a shop to recharge your phone, you don't even need to go to an ATM to withdraw money from your card and then recharge your phone. Apps allow you to do this from the comfort of your home. These apps not only let you recharge your phone using a virtual wallet, but it also lets you shop and pay your utility bills.

Found on: creativemobilebusinessapps.com.au

Food ordering apps eliminated middle men who were yet to come into existence. Imagine having a service that took your home delivery order for a restaurant, accepted the payment on behalf of them and delivered their food to you. That is exactly the service that food ordering apps are doing currently.


No more do you have to call up the restaurant and read out your order, no longer do you need to keep ringing them up to know the status of the said order.  The app lets you know how long your order will take to be delivered and also asks for feedback on food and service of the restaurant after delivery.

Payment options on the app are very convenient as you can choose to pay using any of your cards/ a virtual wallet or even through cash on delivery.

Travel Apps take traveling by public transport to another level. Now you can track where the cab that's supposed to pick you up is, leave alone assuring yourself a ride through these apps. This should teach all those taxi and rickshaw drivers who keep refusing fares a lesson.

These were just examples of apps that have entered the market today and are reaching the palms of our hands. They make life easier and quicker. At least that's what we think they do.

But lets give this whole scenario a look from another side.
What did these apps do by reaching the palm of your hands? They have further added to the de-socialization of society, if that's even a term I can use.

We gave up on calling friends up over the phone long ago, when apps like Whats app messenger, Facebook messenger, Hike etc came into the picture. We gave up on shopping trips with family and friends when Flipkart, Myntra, Amazon, Lime road, Snapdeal and Ebay came into the picture.

We gave up on our dreams of traveling to see new places and experience new cultures when Instagram and photo sharing apps of the like came into the picture. We even gave up on candid pictures the moment selfies became a trend and the front camera became a necessity.

Today, we are all in touch, yet so out of touch. We have reached a point, where we require an app to show us our potential dream house, where you require an app to order your food for you, where you require an app to talk to your friends and share great moments rather than share them in person.

found on : hosbeg.com

Today, we even have apps to help us locate new places, discouraging us from verbally inquiring with anyone for the same.

We are in touch with the word through our fingertips but out of touch with the world around us. Today birthdays, anniversaries, mothers day, fathers day, friendship day and valentines day are grander on Facebook and online shopping sites than in our homes and friend circles.

While we once wished our mom's in person, today we wish her through Facebook, we send virtual cards and virtual kisses, but do not for once consider real time interaction, even when we're sitting right with her at home.

Kids these days are playing with their phones more than with each other. Carrom, marbles, card games, cricket, football, all the sports you can think of are no longer board/outdoor games. They are Mobile/PC/Play station/DTH games.

found on : themissinformation.com

We have created apps to act as middle men where there were no middle men in the first place. These apps have eliminated middle men before they could discover the service as a job opportunity.

Today there is no human-human contact, rather, human-device-human contact. It's painful to hear of cases where there only Human-Siri contact.


Disclaimer:
I am guilty of having more than 3 games on my phone and  number of online shopping apps too. I also use a virtual wallet and a food ordering app. 
Trust me when I say, this is where one thinks they're more tech savvy, more happening, cooler, more social, but honestly, this is exactly where one begins to feel like a loner. 

Your Person

We all have that one person
The one we can count on to stay awake with us till late hours of the night
And early hours of the morning.
We all have a person who we wouldn't dare to call friend
Because every other friend is a 'friend'
But this one, she's so much more
You definitely have that person who understands without having to be told
Who knows before you can explain
Who checks on you frequently and yet never even once disrespects your privacy.
You know you have a person when she may not be around all the time
But is available whenever you need to talk
And doesn't mind this kind of rarity at all
Your person is the one who may meet you just once a month
But that once is the most meaningful meeting you've had that month.
Your person probably has shared life goals, relationship goals, home goals, travel goals with you
And when the two of you talk about the future, you're always included in hers and she in your's.
Your person is the one you fear for,
the one whose worry becomes your own,
the one whose whereabouts are important when no one else knows where she is.
Your person is the one you thank God for everyday.
Your person is the one without whom life would never have turned out so good.
She's the reason you're not suicidal.
She's the reason your great thoughts are expressed.
She's the reason you finally took up that dance class you've always wanted to attend, started writing that book you've always wanted to write, attended that vocal training you knew you always needed,
She is the kind of person you can fall back on no matter how far away you both are from each other.
She's there, always. Even when you aren't talking.
Let your person know that she's your person.
Let her also know that she didn't have to do anything special for this title.
She earned it anyway.

found on: http://slodive.com/inspiration/best-friend-pictures/ 

What's in a kiss?

They say its supposed to make your leg pop
They say its supposed to send shivers down your spine
Someone told me her 1st felt electrifying
A lot of people said it was magical
Some said their lips can never forget their first
They tell me not to rush it
They tell me to take it slow and let it take me over
They even told me that it will tell me a lot about the person
They say its beautiful
They say it's the cherry on the top of a cake
They say it makes all bad days better.
They say it makes you feel things you never thought you'd feel.
They say it sends butterflies to your tummy.
And the galaxy of stars to your eyes.
They say it takes you to heaven and brings you back to tell the tale.
They say it's like going back home after exile.
They say it's overwhelming.
They say it's like catching fire and not getting burnt.
They say it's like floating in thin air.
Some say it's like falling from a high cliff but never getting hurt.
Others say it's when you finally connect to something supernatural in this world.
Some one told me it's like being dead all this while and being brought to life with it.
Someone said it killed them.
Another said it took her breath away.
I wouldn't settle for it if it's like any of the above.
Surely, I want it to be indescribable.
Like nothing could ever compare.
Like nothing that another can experience too.
What's in a kiss? I guess I can't tell u at all. *shrugs*

Think a little more

Think a little more about the skies and the stars.
Think more about the universe if you can.
Think about what makes the earth move or maybe what moves you.
Think a little more about the vastness of the sea.
Think about a tree.
Think about its roots and how deeply they grow.
Think about something, think a little more.
Think about yourself and how far you've come.
Think about someone else and how you wish they were with you.
Think about people, think about the ones you love.
Think about what makes the truth always come through.
Think about a God, or no God at all.
Think about a small climb and maybe a great fall.
Think about stepping stones and obstacles too.
Think about the walls  that separate me and you.
Think about boundaries and also about smiles.
Think about how you can travel mile after mile.
Think about your feet and where they should take you to.
Or maybe your heart, for once it may listen to you.
Think about the air around you and what it feels like to always be touched.
Think about the hair on your skin and how it rises when you feel too much.
And how about the moon that shines night after night.
Do you think that maybe, of the dark it may share a fright?
Think about the summer and how you can cool off but the sun can't.
Think about the rain, and why it makes the peacocks dance.
Think about me will you?  Think about why I ask you to think some more.
Because this world is running out of them, I want you to think before thinkers are no more.

You make me WIN! (Write Inspire Network)

I’m blogging for #YouMakeMeWIN to honour a blogger who has influenced me and deserves to be nominated at WIN15.

The blogger I’m referring to in this post writes and inspires. She is someone I know not only as a blogger, but as a leader, a professional singer and also a good friend.

+Shona Dias  is a writer of two blogs. Both of which prove her blogger worthiness. 

Her posts on ‘Heaven meets earth’, a blog that serves to be her personal expression ground, are overflowing with her experiences with faith, her belief in God and her testimonies that never fail to inspire a reader.

One of my favorite posts on this blog has got to be Where grace abounds. Its a testimony that truly comes from the heart. Any reader can fall in love with her style of writing. What I love most about this blog is her sincerity and how open and honest she is about her faith in God. 

And trust me, you don't have to be religious to like this blog.

One of her older blogs is called Between my earphones and is a music blog. 

Shona, as I mentioned earlier is a professional singer and a choir leader. Not only does she come from a family with a rich musical background but she also considers her choir to be her extended family. I am lucky to be part of this family and know her personally. 

Through this blog, Shona, reviews new albums, music fests and also shares links to interesting reads on music. Her take on a number of albums and new releases is sought after by her numerous followers who wish she would post more often on this blog.

This multitask-er plays multiple roles day in and day out, from a daughter to a best friend to a hard working employee and a very able choir leader. With so much at hand, she still finds the time during her commute to work to post regularly to her blog. 

She inspires not only through her words but also through her life.

She as a blogger has inspired me and so many others to express with more than just words, but with real life experiences. Her blogs make it very evident that she is one who listens to and acts from her heart.

Do like her blog page on Facebook, When heaven meets earth, to stay updated with her blog posts.

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand.
No, I'm not weak,
No, I'm not falling.
And no, I'm not in love with you.
I want to hold your hand
Because life feels a little empty.
My hand is always full
Sometimes with a bag,
Most of the time with a phone
Often with too many thoughts
At times, with one too many questions
And it's been a long time since my hand has been held.
It's been a long time since my questions have been answered,
A long while since my bags and burdens have been shared.
I want to hold your hand so that life feels lighter,
So that together we balance out the world,
For no man was meant to live as an island,
No man was made to be alone.
I want to hold your hand for companionship.
I've learnt that companionship cannot come from a phone.
Give me your hand, I'll help you as you help me,
And it won't mean more than that, I promise
It won't mean more than that, you'll see.
But as much as it does mean, it will be all we need.

Who was I?

Tell me how to be,
Tell me who was I,
Tell me what I was,
Tell me what I caused,
Did I move mountains?
Did I ever save a life?
Did I make a difference?
Or did I cause someone strife?
Did I ever make the 1st move?
To myself, was I always true?
Or did I lie and break down and cry?
Or was I a proud, somewhat arrogant, shrew?
Was I unbreakable, was I unshakable?
Or would I sway like the trees in a storm?
Was I cold at heart and a mess from the start?
Or was I sensitive, loving and warm?
Could I change your mind?
Or the one that changed would always be mine?
How would you describe me?
Worthy of your description, would I be?
Tell me about me, let me know.
Tell me so that I can be her again, before it's really time to go.

Hey Mr. DJ

Hey Mr. DJ,
Not this song again,
It brings back memories that I've tried so very long to erase,
Hey Mr. DJ, have you no concern?
What's just a track to you is someone's 1st dance,

Someones best dance, someones last dance.

Someones only memory of a dance.

Mr.DJ, it's no fault of yours,

If only you knew though, that your jam

Was a moment on the dance floor with my 'once upon a time' man

And hearing this one again takes me for a ride

To a dance floor, some drinks, and a place to hide,

We took our chance, kissed while we danced,

The dance floor was ours, the song played for hours,

Mr.DJ, can't you see what you're doing to me,

Next song please, give me a new beat,

Help me find a new jam, maybe even a new man,

I can count on you if only you'd play one right.

Play one for me, play one for a new memory tonight.

Where it will end...

Where it all began,
It must now come to an end.
Trying to hard to connect the dots,
These lines turned blurred,
Often too curved.
No black or white,
Grey was the light of day,
And sick to the stomach,
Every year on this day.
For what began came to an abrupt end,
And day by passing day, there's more than a heart to mend.
Closure, acceptance, completion of a soul,
Love, for self, for another,
stories incomplete, some untold,
Where it began was sacred ground,
Never again such a place to be found.
But where it will end will be a collision
Of faith, hope, and belief,
A ground blessed by a brave heart's terrible grief,
Where it will end, will be holy ground,
One girls hate turned to acceptance of fate,
One girls pride, behind it she will hide.
For where it will end will be where debris will lay,
Debris of dreams and unspoken truths
"I wish you were here" and "I love you"
This place will be where it will all be forgotten.
Blessed with a tear and a promise to thy self.
A vow to rebuild, replenish and stop blame ill gotten.

Waiting for me in the calm

I have walked ahead of myself, left something behind

I need to slow down and take hold of myself

My mind runs faster than my words ever will

Too fast to know for sure what crosses it at all

I'm lost somewhere between too many thoughts

Too many to comprehend, too many to understand

I'm roaming in circles inside my head,

can't find the center, cant stop it from revolving

And because of this turmoil there is something that has left me

It has escaped me, found a way out

And its safe out there, untarnished

My ability to express.

It's out there waiting for the storm to calm

And on its return it will tell the world what it saw

It will tell of the pain and torture it saw in a soul

It will tell of this story like no other before

Out there, watching me spin, 

I hope that it will stop as easily as it did begin

And as it watches me patiently I long for it to come back home

And help me slow this all down

But from where it stands it urges me to face it all

For before the sun shines, every raindrop must take a fall.

The heart of the galaxy

She wore the galaxy around her,
Draped herself with the stars.
She was the night in all her splendor.
And how he wished he owned her,
How he wished morning never came,
That forever he could hold her.
But she was too great to fathom,
Too beautiful to last forever.
She wore not, her heart on her sleeve,
For fear one day, you having to leave.
She, thus, gave you the moon,
For she can't entrust her heart so soon.
Turn your eyes, lover boy to the moon come every night,
In awe of you, one day she will over come her every fright.
That if you could love the sky for the moon set apart,
You could love her, the night, and own her dark heart.
And she will trust you, boy, soon enough for sure,
And one day she will gather you in the galaxy,
you will be a sleepless night's cure.

The ground moved under me

The ground moved under me
And all hell broke loose.
Nothing was stable anymore,
Nothing was in its place.
Everything's amiss and everything's a mess.
Thee ground moved under me and all I can do is digress.

Everything moved, some in the way and some out of it.
Some changes happened for the better and some for the worse.
What a relief from always having to shift ground.
The ground moved under me,
Can't decide if this is a boon or a curse

For the 1st time I hadn't made an effort to move.
Move from where I was to where I want to go.
For the first time I let myself be directed.
The ground moved under me,
My place, my position was now corrected.

I stand still now waiting for a sign,
That my path is ready and designed
Well enough to let me move and walk along a rocky groove.
For when the ground moved under me
Debris and broken hearts were left behind
Yet under the destruction,
there is a path I must find.

Between their earphones

They walk past each other almost every day
Not a smile exchanged, not a word goes either way.
But between their ear phones, thoughts alike
Playlists so similar, it's difficult for cupid not to strike.

Their music comforts, each of them for their own reasons.
Their music brings solace through the calm and rough seasons.
But how the world wishes they heard each others tastes!
How the beat they walked to,
Ran at the same rhythm and pace!

That the lyrics they related to,
Were but words they both knew,
Placed the right way,
sentences they'd rather listen to, than say.
Little did they know, this boy and this girl,
That between their earphones, ran music of the world.

But the music that open their souls
Waited for them,
If only they open their eyes and looked up for once.
And saw each other walking past,
If only they would take a hunch

That maybe, just maybe, if you unplugged your earphones,
You might just hear music pass you by
And know in that instant that your life's song just said 'hi'.
And respond, please, to your heart's plea
To listen to each other, and of listening alone, be totally set free.

Now they listen together to the music they love,
They sing and they dance with no care in the world
For once they were strangers between their earphones
But now they are lovers of not music alone.

In an unguarded moment

Find me in an unguarded moment,
Find me when I'm me.
Talk to me when I'm sober and silent,
And you'll love me for being me.
When nothing is hidden and all walls have come down,
Listen to the words I speak
And the secrets that leave my mouth.
For when those walls rise up again
Very few know why and how,
Many more though, wish that they were that lucky
To have known me inside out.

Find me in an unguarded moment,
Where the truth is seen and not so much spoken.
Find me when my body sleeps but my soul is strongly awoken.
And in that moment gather all that you can,
Gather my thoughts and gather my tears
And if you're kind enough, take my hand.

Sit by me in my unguarded state
And secure this circle of two.
For these walls fall for the rare, the very unfortunate few.
Unfortunate now, for they bear the burden of knowing more,
More than the face, from under the surface,
The more that took so long to let go.

The Ground Reality

"No, we couldn't practice again today, we should just stop practicing on Monday mornings I guess, the ground is never ready for us, the previous night's wedding leftovers are still covering half the ground and grease and oil from all the rich food always leaves the ground smelling and dirty"

This article stems from a conversation I overheard while traveling in a train one day. A girl, in her sports jersey and shorts was returning home from her routine morning cricket practice and was grumbling over the phone to her friend who presumably asked her how her early morning training went.

Its really sad that a child must miss out on her sports training because some wedding organizer didn't know that he was using a play ground for the reception of the wedding.

It is a fact today that open playgrounds and compounds are so much more affordable and accommodating for the huge weddings we have as compared to the leading hotels in the city. It is also true that some of the best playgrounds in the city are also on numerous 'Top 5 wedding reception grounds' listings, often selected over 5 star hotels and party halls.

Let's be practical, we aren't all millionaires, but we all want a guest list of 1000+. We don't have the space indoors, so hey, 'Amchi Mumbai', lets go book some public ground for this party man!
Hello!!!! Clean up when you're done will ya?

(Image used for representation purpose only)Image source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150206/jsp/saltlake/story_1614.jsp#.VTNS1yGqqko

It's simple, if you can't respect the purpose of open grounds in the 1st place don't organize your party there. Live and let live, Party and Clean up!

It is not so much the couple to blame that a wedding reception is on a school or college ground. A number of play ground owners will vouch that its a growing business to rent out the grounds for parties. The income further helps the institution itself. Many government aided institutions will actually complain of receiving insufficient grants from the government and thus have to make arrangements to collect funds for the expenses of building maintenance and newer teaching technologies in meeting with the times. I no longer know who to hold responsible!

The recent development plans in Mumbai have an action plan of closing down a number of open spaces and play grounds through the city. Now, not only will there be fewer grounds to party at but much fewer grounds to play at. Think about it!

If you're one who's guilty of leaving a premise a mess after a party, you have no right then to say that children these days don't go out and play like we used to. It's no doubt that over the years open spaces have turned parking lots, parks have turned high rise properties, simple plots of green land have sacrificed themselves to the industrial sector.

(Image used for representation purpose only)
Image source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/clean-up-garbage-after-public-parties-musgrave-harbour-mayor-1.2721551

The bigger picture here is that, we're all out of space. We're out of recreational space.

It's time you gave it a thought. Your wedding shouldn't be about how grand and expensive you can make it out to be or how many guests you can accommodate. Keep it elegant, special, intimate and more importantly, sensitive to the environment and the public who probably use the ground for recreational purposes.

Party, but let them play!

This night's on your side

How wonderful it is when the moon orchestrates it all.
It brings the tide in and brightens up the place,
It places every star out there to such perfection,
Like a dimly lit dance floor.
It sends the lonely home, to their windows,
It bids goodnight to the young at heart,
But it brings together those who see it in someone else's eyes.
The night puts together your date,
Makes it look like it's all the work of fate.
It quietens the talkative, gives volume to the critters of the night.
Yet more is spoken between this silence,
The silence of a moon lit night.
Where two hearts may sit side by side,
slowly slipping their palms onto each others side.
And one may shiver to build the courage to speak,
to break the silence and say three words
And the other may be counting on it with all her spirit,
Hoping that they are the words rarely heard.
For how else can you thank the moon
For making this night so beautiful,
For bringing it all together to be the reason for the things you're about to say.
How else can you give back to the moon what it has given you,
But tell her,
You love her.

This night's on your side. The morning may not be.
Take courage, say it,
"You're beautiful, I love you, will you marry me?"

Picture found on Pinterest

Just a shore away

I'm a mess but I have no intention to always be one.
I'm gonna take my time with this but I know what lies beyond.
I may sound like a sinking ship,
But I'm afloat and I'm sailing onward.
There's a land waiting for me, not too far away,
And the sun shines brighter there, brighter than any land's day.
And I'm rowing quickly, directing my sail,
The winds of change are trying my patience,
But I'm an able heart in progress.
It took me so long to get on this boat,
To move at all in fact.
But now that this boat has sailed, I'm not turning back.
My hearts in the water now swimming to the shore,
Faster than me, before me it must go.
For it will find a place for me to rest,
A place that offers me nothing but the best.
And I trust my heart to lead me on,
It always has and never left me forlorn.
This sailor's going home,
home where sunrises are more than a day's dawn.
This sailor has over come more than just a passing storm.

A+ for the Asus Zenfone 2

Among the number of smartphones that have recently entered the market, the Asus Zenfone2 is one of the long awaited and yet worthily hyped phone of the season.

#CantWait4Zenfone2

The Asus Zenfone 2 boasts of a number of features and technologies that haven’t failed to impress and have, to a large extent, wowed tech gurus and phone critics all over India. While trying to determine how good a phone is or how worth the price a phone is, one must take into consideration a number of aspects and also compare it to the other phones in the market. In comparison and in individual performance, the Asus Zenfone2 has proved to be a good purchase and a very reliable one as reviewed by many over the internet.

Redefine your smartphone experience
With the Asus Zenfone 2 be sure to redefine smart phone experiences. Following are some of the features you cannot miss out on in this excellence of a phone.

1. 4GB Ram
The Asus Zenfone 2 is the world’s 1st smart phone that has a 4GB ram. This means you can multi task without having to deal with a lagging processor or a slow speed movement while switching between apps and other windows on your smart phone. This feature not only ensures multi-tasking but also speedy access to more than two open apps, simultaneously.

2. Design
The Asus Zenfone 2 has a unique design that enables one to hold it very comfortably. The back of the phone is curved so that it fits within your palm easily. Its sleek edges give a very classy look. The metal hairline detailing at the back ensures that no finger print marks are left behind on the back cover and also gives enough grip for a safe handling of the phone.

3. Camera
The camera on the Asus Zenfone 2 is built with zero shutter lag which means you can capture what so many other phones can’t. It has the industry-leading Low Light mode of capturing which enables you to get clearer pictures at night and low light situations. You can finally get rid of the pictures that were deprived of their night ambience because of old school ‘Mr. Flash’.
With a 13 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera, clicking good pictures is now child’s play.

4. Battery life
The battery is a long lasting inbuilt one that cannot be separated from the body. It charges up to 60% in about 39 minutes. Choosing the Asus Zenfone 2 will promise you more time with your phone than the time it spends connected to the charger. Now you can do so much more with a fast charging phone and a battery of 3000 mAh capacity.

5. Display
The display of the Asus Zenfone 2 is a 5.5 inch display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels. It’s bright and clear and allows for good graphics. The colors are not harsh on the eyes and are very vibrant and pleasing. It adds to the overall experience of an excellently built smart phone.

Other features include 32 GB storage, a processor of 2.3GHz and an Android 5.0 operating system.

In conclusion, the Asus Zenfone 2 can enhance your smart phone experience and take you to the future sooner than you think.

You can check more details by clicking on the following link:
http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/

The past in its place

Leave it behind,
Let it go,
Let the past be the past,
And let your present not be harassed.
When the past is in its place, the future will always seem brighter,
But be sure to leave it behind.
Let not the burden of yesterdays mistakes
Take a toll on your heart.
Blame not your heart for the words you said and the things you did.
You did what your heart felt fitting at every point in your life.
How can you hold it responsible just because it no longer feels right?
Forgive yourself for the times you put everything before your heart,
Forgive yourself for when you left your heart behind.
Allow yourself the space to feel,
To feel pain and to know it's real.
But do not stay there longer than you deserve
For pain is temporary and for you there's an abundance of joy reserved.
Move on, move out, move onward,
The future beckons, a better state of mind calls.
Stay not stagnant within trying and testing thoughts
Seek happiness, seek light, seek grace.
Trust me, it will be a battle overcome and well fought.

You're almost there

Lost somewhere between thoughts and actions,
Wandering slowly not knowing where to go,
With eyes towards the sky and feet glued to the ground,
How I wish wings would lift me higher,
Higher above this soil,
Higher above this atmosphere,
Where the air is cooler and the world rounder,
Where horizons curve and the world seems unending.
How I wish I could sit among the clouds and bless the ones I love!
How I wish I could look down and tell right from wrong,
And call out to those who walk the same way as I did,
And tell them what they should and what they shouldn't
Do as I did.
But we receive not this privilege to warn
The unlearned and the inexperienced.
For each must learn the hard way and all must walk the long way,
And someday sit among the clouds to watch the naive children of the earth,
Slowly wandering their way to the end.
Struggling not to fall and looking towards the skies for help.
But blind to the onlookers from above who wish nothing but to bless.
Someday, children, you will find your way home.
Safely, surely, soundly, keep walking, you're almost there.

Love me with Art

Bring me books,
Read to me if you like,
Write me poetry or let me write it myself 

Inspire me.
Buy me paints, more and more of it on end,
And don't forget a canvas if you can.
I don't want flowers or chocolates as such,
I don't even want you to fuss over me that much,
But bring me a journal and sketch papers, if you please,
It will mean more to me than the sight of the seas,
Bring me clay and paint brushes too,
Knives and wood, and a carving blade, will you?
Bring me earrings and I may never wear them,
Bring me beads and for you I'll string them,
Give me a camera and let me be,
I'll love you more through the lens I'll see.
Love me differently for I care not for anything else.
Love me with art and I'll love no one else.

The love of your soul

You could not have been in love,
You were too young,
Too young to know,
Too young to want to know.
You could not have been loving,
As much as you were in awe.
For you had seen none like her,
None like her to the least.

Your eyes looked for fascination,
Your heart looked for wonder,
But the soul cared not for these.
The soul yearned for love,
The soul longed and hungered

But the body is weak,
The flesh too naive,
You fell prey to the desires of this world,
To please the heart and to please the eyes,
And a soul cried out from deep inside,
"Stay away, she not the one, not your prize",

And the universe who for long kept her away,
Now decides to brighten your day.
But your hands are full with yet another.
You've missed her again, from your nose, right under.
And the soul is begging of you to stay without,
Empty your hands and be still with no doubt,

And one day she will come by and you'll be the apple of her eye,
And finally your hands will be able to hold
That beauty, that fulfillment, that love of your soul.

I'll never say...

Don't know how or where you are,
Don't know if you ' re wishing upon the same star,
Don't know if you dream about me anymore,
Or of my love for you you'll ever know.
But I had my chance and I blew it bad,
Took you for granted every moment I had.
Not realizing you could go away,
Pack your bags and choose not to stay.
I didn't think for even once,
I didn't guess, didn't take a hunch,
That I could make it that easy for you
To let go and give a damn no more,
That I would be praying every night
For you to remember that I just might
Just might, even if it's a tiny sum,
Miss you, heart beats racing like a drum.
And I lose my breath thinking you don't
Think of me the least, but you really won't.
Don't know if you'll ever return
Don't know, if like me, you'll yearn
To see a face even among a thousand few
Honey, how I wish you just knew.
I still love you.