The Silver Lining of My Dark Cloud

#TalesOf2015

“I’m sharing my #TalesOf2015 with BlogAdda.” As it was a prompt from BlogAdda which made me see the silver lining of my dark cloud that was 2015.

The prompt was to share our personal tales of 2015 and end it on a positive note so we could  start 2016, and inspire others also to, with a bright and right attitude.

I've never felt this low towards the end of the Georgian calendar since the Tsunami of 2004 which hit major part of South Asia.

Like all the other years even this year was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, perceptions and prospects, but I suppose the lows hit me a bit more sharply this year and their impending fear plus resulting hurt overrode a large part of the joy the highs gave.

Maybe it was because I've waited long (years) for few things to happen, and now I've lost hope for some of the precious ones, and lost all desire in few of the others. This year even brought to light the fact that what precious little I have in my life, that make my world, are brittle like a dream and my deepest fears are not that improbable too.

I don't want to dwell on their chances or impact as I'm not ready to face any of them yet, and BlogAdda too wished us to look at the brighter side of our year that departs. And for this prompt I'll ever be grateful to this forum because it made me see how bright and beautiful my silver lining actually is.

The biggest gifts of my life have always been my friends. I've met such wonderful people from so many walks of life from the world over in my life, and so many of them have become such dear friends to me that I cannot imagine my life without them. I even began this year with a series of guest posts featuring some of my best friends I made last year- Elly Stornebrink, Judy Yaron, Cindy Ackley, Huma Masood, and Sophie Bowns (though I very regretfully couldn't post the latter two awesome people's due to a major technical cliche).

This year blessed me with the friendship of few more such wonderful personas:
Anna Geller, is an amazing spiritual healer, motivationalist, entrepreneur, and a young lady with a pure and loving heart.

Emilia Previdi, who is an awesome fanfiction author, a hardworking woman and a dedicated wife and mother. Her wisdom and love are a true treasure.

Jeanneclaire Probst, is a celebrated author and beautiful poet, and a person who is so full of love and encouragement that every gesture from her are like antidotes against gloom and negativity.

Ophelia Elise West, is a person who is a natural silver lining seeker. She sees only the good and bright things of every situation, and spreads warmth and cheer around her like sunshine. She is a member of OneWish foundation, daughter of Jeanneclaire Probst, and the definition of inspiration.

Also this year I learnt to improve my writing and tailoring skills, became part of an amazing Facebook forum for she-preneurs Granny's Girls- GYM, learnt few new cuisines and touched new depths of my faith.

So, What Do I Take From 2015? What Did I Learn?

I take with me a renewed sense of self sufficiency that keeps me going despite all odds. I take with me the realization that The Almighty never abandons those who truly believe in him, and the assurance that no matter how low I feel, or lost I become I have friends who are only a click away and always there to embrace me in their warmth of love, wisdom and friendship.

I learnt that it is foolery to invest too much hope in life and dreams. Both are brittle in nature and hurt when their crash. Go with the tide and salvage what you can.

Pragmatism, Wisdom and Confidence are true treasures. Never rely completely on your mind nor your heart. Both are fickle implements and tend to behave with partiality. It's these three treasures that will help you gladiate through life.

Looking at the silver lining helps to clear the cobwebs in your mind and see things in a brighter and lighter light.

Happy 2016 to all!

Worth The Effort

I shall always remember 2014 as a very eventful year. For so many things (good and not so good) happened at once during the past year. It practically passed like a whirlwind, took me by a storm and transformed me into an entire new being. On the whole, I'm grateful to The Almighty for everything and carry no regrets, grudges or anything as such.

But one event that repeated itself twice, and honestly took even me by surprise, was rather pleasant in itself, and left me with gifts of a lifetime.

The event: Tapping my inner potentials.

Why so surprised?
Because on both the instances I did not have the least idea that I was capable of such feats.

The first of it occured around mid-year, one morning as I was discussing a point with Amrit Sinha, a wonderful author, poet, and friend of mine. He is amazing in creating english haiku, and I still wonder as to how or what made him so confident that even I had the talent. I had not even thought about it, and he asserted he could clearly see it in my writings.

Nonetheless, his confidence in me, and the challenge of writing haiku in itself, had me give it an earnest attempt. I did make mistakes, and he was also so good as to correct and guide me.

But what do you think! It was 'love at first attempt' for me. I may not be so good for now, but it's become my passion and one day even I may be awesome at it.

Here's a new haiku I made:

New Beginnings

a new dawn beckons
all those asleep, lone, and lost;
it's new year, my friend

(You can read the other haiku's I have written, by following the link "haiku" in the label section of this post.)

The second such instance happened to me just as 2014 was wrapping up.

The end of old year, also means the end of the season's holiday for kids. My 4 year old nephew too was no exception. Studying in lower kindergarten, he too had his lot of pending homework to complete, get ready to don the uniform and go back to school once back home. Being more as his friend and playmate, I felt it my moral duty to sit with him and help him complete the lot.

Now, as neither he nor my sister would let me write in his book, I sat with a book and pencil of my own, and competing with him to finish his hindi lessons by racing each other to self-set milestones of three times or four times the letter. Thus adding a bit of fun along the way.

And just like that, out of the blue this idea struck me as to why not try doing it with my right hand. As most of you ,my friends and who have read my Blog "The predicaments of being a left-handed", know I'm a left-hander, it was quite a herculean task for me. This is how it turned out:

(You can see the difference in both hand's writing by the wavering in the later written units.)

I was ecstatic with this discovery, and when I questioned my own mirth over it, the answer was prompt and clear in my mind:

"It is because I'm not abandoning my natural talent. I shall always pride myself as being a left-hander. But ambidexterity is a rare gift, and when I have the potential, why not master it!"

As of this day, I can write different languages, do simple chores, colour and draw designs with my right hand moderately.