An Irresistible Love Towards Chocolates...

I’ve always been a choco freak right from my childhood days till date. And the weirdest thing about that is, am unable to control the immense love I have for chocolates though being warned now and then about the fat consequences and diabetes threats. So, today I was thinking that this wonderful lover of mine, chocs, must get a place in my blog too along with my other favourites.

 My acquaintance with chocolates started when I was a kid. It was almost a kinda stressbuster tool for my parents at that time to stop me from crying or getting irritated over petty things. The moment any chocolate comes before my eyes, thats it! All other things and the whole world would seem to be empty except the chocolate (be it dairy milk or five star at that time) with its attractive wrap, my mouth would start excreting its salivary glands in a huge manner and a heavy sigh of relief would come for my parents thus escaping from my torture. Then, my attachment towards chocolates became even closer when my dad started going to Europe thus coming back packed up with lots and lots of Swiss chocolates of different varieties. OMG! I still remember me waiting for my dad’s return just to heap up the chocolates and store them in the refrigerator and eat them for weeks. Yes, its not just tasting them, I would literally eat them, like its one of my mandatory meal for one time..........and that was the time I got the name in my home as “Our Choco stealer”. However efforts they take to hide the chocolates from me, they’ll be in vain as my eyes would easily detect the location of my lover chocolates and start relishing them.

Then, during my teenage and college days, these chocolates were my main weight deduction tools. Yes, ppl easily started finding when my dad was in town and when he was not, seeing my physical appearance. To be more precise, whenever my dad goes abroad and returns back with my chocolates, my unstoppable relationship with chocs will make be bulge atleast a couple of pounds from which all my folks easily figure out that my dad’s back at home. Whatever people around me say, even today, many of my close mates know how to get any favour from me. Yes...just buy me a bundle of my favourite chocolate...its as simple as that! J

Wanna know why these chocolates have become my intimate lovers? Here comes my answer for that. The color, wowww...the chocolate browny tempting color, next the texture, which simply slips off inside my mouth gushing out a delicious taste thus triggering my taste buds, and above all, it makes me forget the world and everything around me. Whenever am in stress, be it me or my parents, buy some chocs for me and I eat and eat till I forget my sorrow. May sound so stupid but it really works out for me and may be thats the close bonding between me and my chocolatyyyyyyyy! Some of my favourite chocolates are Ferraro Rocher, Dairy milk silk and many more which I can’t even remember the names. Moreover, anything made of chocolate, be it biscuits or cakes or pudding or any recipes, makes my taste buds yearn for them. And now recently, Nutella which is used as a breakfast option with bread or dosas, I just eat it separately for my own pleasure....Sounds too much crazy uh? Yup...thats why I’ve called it as “An irresistible Love”

One of the main reasons I quote to all around me who used to ridicule me of eating too much chocolates is, Chocolate is good for health, its good for heart, which I read in an article. This phrase of mine made many ppl who argued with me for intaking chocos to keep silent. And so, I thought now too, I should remind people of the good points about my ever-favourites chocolates!

It turns out that chocolate—especially dark chocolate—reduces body mass, prevents blood clots, improves numeracy, may prevent cancer, and doesn’t ruin your complexion.

1.    Chocolate decreases stroke risk

2.    Chocolate reduces the likelihood of a heart attack

3.    Chocolate protects against blood inflammation

4.    Chocolate helps with math

5.    Chocolate may prevent cancer

6.    Chocolate reduces the risk of diabetes

7.    Chocolate is good for your skin

8.    Chocolate can control coughs

9.    Chocolate improves blood flow

10.  Chocolate strengthens your brain

11.  Chocolate makes you live longer

Wanna know in detail? Just click this link below.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/28/11-reasons-chocolate-is-good-for-your-health.html

So, that’s what I wished to share with everyone who reads my blogs. And the main reason for sharing this post today is, yes, again that’s a chocolaty reason! :P Am waiting for my dad’s arrival from abroad which ultimately made me think about the chocolates and triggered me to write this post. You know what? As I started to write this post, I’ve gone a couple of times to taste my favorite Nutella…..Sounds crazy? Yup….again I say, Irresistable Love ;)

On-Stage…..With-Mike

Its after a very longgg gap that today I’ve sat with my mind tuned up for blogging. The sweet thing tat am gonna share with you all today is about the good vibrations going on in between me and the ‘microphone’ since childhood. You all may be wondering about what am blabbering….of course, its something related to blabbering publicly ;-) (hope my clue’s enough for you to figure out my main topic of blabbering…….oooops…….conversation today!)

As I was going through many of my snaps since nursery days till-date, something struck off ma mind which I thought of sharing with all readers of my blog post. My close accompaniment with the stage and the mike started during my Kinder Garden classes as I started to sing rhymes and participating in all kinds of stage competitions like singing, dance, rhymes, elocution and the like. 

When you get up on to the stage, facing a huge crowd of audience seated, everyone’s eyes set up on you alone, am sure that your hands start shivering, pulse rate increases, tongue starts rolling back, sweat glands start activated, etc etc…….On the whole, we would feel a mini heart convulsion taking place on the inside making us feel as if we’re standing as the Main Commander of the Third World War battle field. Hope it’s the same with everyone of us! :P

So, all these same reactions occurred for me too whenever I used to get up on to the stage for delivering a stage performance, especially a solo one. There have also been times when I have messed up my prepared item on the stage because of the so called ‘stage fear’ that each and everyone who enters into the dais encounter. But, however embarrassing experiences I had on the stage, I went on and on, never giving up, because of which, today, getting on to the dais and presenting anything even unplanned on the spot, doesn't seem to me as a big deal. My personal history of facing a big mountain has been transformed into a cloudy smoke, literally…..But how?

Here are some itty-bitty tips I’d like to give to those who go for a stage appearance and present their pre-planned presentation without any phobia (tips based upon my own experience…stage experts, kindly forgive me if am wrong).

v  As the old saying goes like this: “Practice makes a man perfect”, whatever stage act you've been preformed to do, ‘preparation’ is the key word. In other words, till the day comes, you gotta put in your maximum efforts and design and mould yourselves for the stage act. But on the day, keeping your cool side strong is the simple secret.

v  Only till the previous day should be all your paintings and patch works and battles and struggles and rehearsals and…and…phewwwwwwwwww…all blah blah blah………….or the preparations. But, let such readiness activities be your maximum best to the core, which will automatically rekindle your spirits and enlighten your confidence levels that you’ll be the shining star of the day before the spectators.

v  On the particular day of your stage appearance, your only focus should be on your public etiquette and overall personality. Deviate your entire attention on the dress you’re gonna wear, your kind of grooming (apt to the situation), and most importantly, the way you’re gonna carry yourself on the podium.

v  Never even think of the moment when you’ll go to the stage or get discouraged by seeing others speaking or singing or whatever activities they’re into. Your mind should be fully self-centered thinking that you’re a star who’s gonna step onto the dais and ready to do something casually which was already pre-planned. Too much of stressing yourself into the speech or song you’re gonna present will surely spoil your attitude and performance at the last moment. Rather than imagining as if you’re going to recite something which was already memorized by you, just feel every line of what you’re going to present before the audience, just like how you’ll share your view with your friends. Think that you’re talking straightly to them rather than elaborating your thoughts to a highly standard level like you are going to give a bigggggggggg speech or something else.

v  This is a piece of statement which I remember hearing from my dad when I was a kid and was preparing to go to an elocution competition. He encouraged me saying “Dear, just simply think all of them sitting in front of you as fools and you’re the only one who’s intelligent and the master of the day and start speaking with full of confidence, devoid of any stammering or showing your doubtful face. Even if you forget a line, take a quick leap into the next sentence that comes into your mind without any change in expression.” And that’s it! This is something like a mantra that I followed from that day onward  which really worked out too. Face the audience, look into their eyes, never mind of any disturbances, just think of yourself as the star of the day, smile, and its as simple as that! No more will any stage appearance seem difficult for if you start practicing and preparing your mind too in this way. 

Today, it’s by the immense Grace of God that, starting from school days continuing towards college days and even till-date, be it anywhere or any event, am given the wonderful opportunity of hosting (Master of Ceremony) the function or leading the worship or sermon in church or giving an intro or speech or even a spot calling for a stage presentation. And I've received many honors and praises after I come outta the stage from all age groups which always give me a feeling of great satisfaction and pleasure. Since I’ve always noticed many of my friends frame out many kinds of questions to me like , “How are you able to do this Jeni? Have you taken any special training or course to present in a stage without any fear or hesitation? Don’t you have any stage phobia?” etc etc…..I thought this post of mine could be a useful one for many of the readers who have small difficulties in getting on to the podium with the mike and have a straight face-to-face encounter with the people seated around.

Whatever it is, by all means, all I can say is, the main reason for me shining on-stage…with-mike is, firstly, the talent showered by the Almighty and secondly, my dear parents who always make sure that the talent gets exposed in the right angle by imparting me a good education and training needed to mould me in the best possible way. Am always thankful to them for that……….

TRUST – On WHOM is BETTER?????

Today I got an urge to share about my favorite verse from the Bible which is also deemed to be the central verse of the living Holy Book (Bible). Straight away stating the word of God, it says,

It is BETTER to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”(Psalm 118:8)

I have experienced the faultless truth in this verse many many times in my life. As a matter of fact, many take the internal reality of truth present in this word of God in a wrong way. They think that one has to put his or her trust only in God and not believe any human in this world thus isolating them or looking at all around them in a doubtful manner. This is an utter mistake!!!!! In this scripture reference, Psalmist doesn’t at all mean in this way.  

Then what does it mean? If you look deep into the intricate meaning depicted through this verse of just 14 words, it simply gives an answer for the question, “On whom is it better to put your trust? Whom can you rely on for your future? For your guidance? For a blessed life? Etc etc….. For all these questions, the best answer is that it is better to trust in the Lord than to put your confidence in mortal man. 

You may ask “why? Why? I have wonderful friends, relatives, parents, siblings, well-wishers and the like who will assist me in all paths of my life; on whom I can place my full trust for they think for my goodness”. But I answer “Why not?” Just turn back into your life…Rewind it once and see how many times have you been ditched by man (whoever it may be) at hard times? At times when you really needed their help?” Didn’t you get even one incident as such? Yes…that’s what I mean to say…It is always BETTER…this word’s meaning can be taken in numerous ways like wiser, good, that is, the best choice to go for placing your trust is God and not man.

Mortal man and this earthly world are always changing and not constant. There is always a famous saying we say “Change is the only thing that doesn’t change on earth.” Yes….so which is better to put your trust and hopes? In Changing human community or THE UNCHANGING LIVING GOD? Most of the times we put our hopes on the creatures rather than their Creator? Don’t we? 

And the impact of putting our confidence in God rather than man will be nothing but ETERNAL BLESSINGS. May be we won’t be able to taste the fruitful blessings soon, but, when we wait upon the Lord in everything, surely we’ll get the sumptuous bounty which will be worth the wait.
 
 I went through the following Scripture references in connection with Psalm 118:8.

• Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! (Psalm 40:4) 
• Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:5-7)
• Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms; for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:5-7)
• Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. (Psalm 62:8-9)

So, dear reader, now it’s your chance to decide on whom to put your trust.

This song is a sweet song which always makes me relish my Creator’s character and once I sang this song for leading the worship in my Church which turned out to be a great outpour of blessing. Enjoy and be blessed folks!!!!!

  

THE EXEMPLARY ‘AWESOME TWOSOME’!

Who could have guessed
When you began married life
How entwined you'd become
As husband and wife.
After 25 years 
You still say "I Love You"
In many different ways.
May Silver remind you,
You share a special happiness
Life gives to very few.

Yes…This special silver wedding anniversary wish is for none other than my dearest mom and dad who celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary just one week back on March 2^nd. As planned perfectly, me and my brother gave them a surprise celebration and made them feel honoured and special on that day to the maximum extent we could do it. But, I felt, this celebration, this moment….that they have come to their life means so much beyond than just the blashes and blasts we had on that day….I felt that I should really cherish this couple who have been a role-model for me by leading a wonderful and jubilant matrimonial life. And this post, I whole-heartedly dedicate to this admirable couple whom I have adored a lot in my life.

Rather than going on telling about the life they had or both of their personal traits or blabbering something like that, I wish to share something very sensible and useful for all including me which will be helpful for our lives also. There are innumerable characteristic traits they possess which can portray themselves as the best husband and wife. As far as I have observed them all these 25 years, there are lessons they have taught me in how to carry on a successful marriage life and here are those virtuous qualities like priceless pearls which every couple should practice in their life for a great-going everlasting marriage life.

  

·        The first and the foremost basic thing is MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE AND SATISFACTION of your spouse with your whole heart and soul. Liking and loving your partner for whom or what he/she is very important in living together for the whole life. Only when this basic satisfaction is got with your soul mate, you can move on with the other elements needed to build up your life.

·        This is a common saying that most newly married couples would hear as an elderly advice: “A family that prays together stays together”. Though it may sound absurd for individuals who are atheists, the others must surely stick on to the truth that PRAYER will be a principal element triggering the happiness and joy and peace of your family life together. Only when the two newly wedded ones give their marital life into the Hands of the Almighty with oneness of mind and Spirit, the real peace will hover in their homes.

·        Now, the core part of the wedded life comes which is the sharing of true love. OK, now here comes the confusion….What is trueee love? Yes, instead of simply telling plainly true love, pure love, divine love, etc, its better to say it clearly in terms of practical actions what it really means and how it will be shown in deeds. TRANSPARENCY, FAITHFULNESS, UNDERSTANDING, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, CARE, AFFECTION, CRISIS MANAGEMENT (financial), HELPFULNESS, UNDIVIDED PROTECTION, TRUST and above all GIVING YOUR FULL LOVE AND SUPPORT to your partner are the exposed deeds of the so-called true love. When these psychological intimacies are perfectly handled between the two, the physical intimacy they have will be a free gift of love life filled with gaiety.

·        RIGHTFUL WAY OF COMMUNICATION between any couples will pave a smooth way for the successful running of the marriage life. Openness with your partner is important because unless you communicate, they can’t know what’s in your mind as he or she is not a mind-reader or a person with extraordinary mind-reading capabilities. And the communication between the two should be sensible with the right tone of voice avoiding the sharing of unnecessary stupid things which will rot a relationship. Tongue-handling in a wise way is very important, especially for women to handle their husbands.

·        Giving FREEDOM for your spouse in every way possible is very significant in the tight bonding of a husband-wife relationship. Pushing hard your own tastes or opinions into your partner’s mind and compelling them to execute it will never work in any progressive way, instead, on the opposite. So, a sense of reasonable amount of freedom and equality should prevail between both partners always as it will increase the freeness and love and trust for each other as years pass on.

·        A main thing to focus on is the AVOIDANCE OF THIRD PERSONS into your love life. Going and sharing your personal family problems or things about your partner to your friends or colleagues at office will gradually serve to be a destroyer of your trust for each other in the bond you have established through marriage. Whatever be the matter, big or small, the best way to solve it is by sitting and talking within two of you and coming out tension free.

·        Finally, in your significant role as a husband or wife in the family, SAY ‘BYE BYE’ TO EGO and that’s it…….! All problems can be handled and ended within the four walls of your room. After all, life is too short to make it complicated! Angers will fly away where there’s too much of love and it’s as simple as that.

So, these are some of the greatest attributes I have noticed in my parents which I feel are the factors that have made them drive joyfully in their 25 years of blissful marriage journey ride. I really salute this Exemplary ‘Awesome Twosome’ and pray and wish them more blessed years of happiness and togetherness forever……………………

 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

 ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ LOVE NEVER FAILS.

Experience and get Exalted………..!

We all know that experiences always make us into wise persons in the world which increases the capability of analyzing and making out things very easily. I often hear the saying, “Experience is the best teacher” which, of course, I feel is 100% true in everyone’s life. And when I was pondering over the topic or a matter on which I can write my next blog post, a very special and close person to my heart suggested me to write something about the experiences I had in my life and what I learnt from them…I mean…the three best experiences. Rather than writing about the three best experiences in life, I felt why not to write something related about experiences itself and how they help us grow mentally in this journey of our life.

So, what exactly does the word ‘Experience’ mean? In simple words, we all know it’s just the knowledge that we have gained through practice or by learning certain things. Generally we value people by their experience, be it in any walks of life like work, studies, family or social life, in everything we give priority to experienced persons for carrying out a specific task or for seeking suggestion regarding a problem which requires a solution. Well….now how do we gain this experience or is it just only the good experiences which elevates us or it includes the bad experiences too?

When this question arose in my mind, I had a recap about my life and just thought over how the experiences (good as well as bad) I’ve gained in my life helped me in some way or the other and what are the lessons they’ve taught me in molding myself into a better individual in the family as well as society. Yes……right from the time I started learning A B C till the education I received today MBA………every experience gained through education has been a gift to increase my intellectual knowledge and use it in various different forms for my profession and so it is in each and every different fields of this temporary and adventurous life that we’ve been gifted by God on this earth.

The main domain of experience that has to be taken into account is not the good experiences but of course, the bad experiences, which are in reality the ones which are going to gain you the biggest and greatest wisdom. Yes…..when I was thinking deeply over the positive as well as negative experiences that I had gone through my life so far, and when looking at the present, the greatest achievements that I’ve got in my life are undoubtedly the result of the bad experiences that I had and the lessons that they taught me which helped me to mould myself and to aggrandize the standard of my life.

Yes my friends, the truth I realized recently and I wish to share with all of you is, when we go through bad times in our life, we all hate it and lament whatever we want. But, the bad experiences are the ones which will last for a aphoristic timespan but will surely just elevate you to some great heights with all of its lessons and valuable teaching about what really life is! Just look at any big or great leader or a person who has gained a mountainous fame all over the world……… all their life before that would be a real mess with a collection of innumerable bad trials and tribulations. All I wanted to declare through this post of mine is that, whatever you go through your life, everything is going to take you somewhere God already planned for a great future for you, because you are born for and with a purpose. And here especially I wanted to stress on the fact about the so-called ‘bad’ experiences in life for which you get depressed and start rebuking God, that they are actually the real elevators of your life. So, my final word is simply, “Experience and get exalted!!!” J

"If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances seem to be."

2011 - A MIRACULOUS YEAR FOR ME :) :) :D

Waaaaaa....Finally am so thankful and grateful to God as He has been with me throughout this year and brought me here till the end with his abounding Grace and Mercy. One more day to survive in this year 2011 and get into the awaiting beautiful new year 2012 and I wonder what all gifts God has wrapped inside His arms to present me in the coming year too...... :)

Last year I remember the same time I have written a post about the miserable year 2010 for me and about how am entering into this year 2011 with so many hopes and wishes. And today am gonna share with all of you about what I feel about this year 2011....To start with simple words, my entire idea and gist of this year can be summed up just with a single word 'MIRACLE'...Yes my friends, it was a wholesome package of 365-days miracle..............

I started this year with prayers and praises in God's presence. And God gave me a wonderful promise this year from 2Corinthians 9:8 which says that,

"And God can give you MORE BLESSINGS THAN YOU NEED. Then you will always have plenty of everything - enough to give to every good work."

And when I received this promise, I started the year with great confidence and faith which, today has driven me somewhere great that I'm sitting now with a smile typing all these words with immense gratefulness to my Creator. 

In whatever phase of my life you take, be it educational or professional or personal or spiritual, God has blessed me in each and every domain of my life more than I expected or anybody else in this world anticipated. There were of course times when I had to face trials which drove me to a state of fear and depression. But, amidst all those storms, His mighty Hand was with me which strengthened me and raised me up softly to great heights. He was telling me,

"I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, "Don't be afraid. I will help you" (Isaiah 41:13)

which made me strong and able to do everything by His might and accomplish great things this year everywhere and in everything. 

To quote all verses He gave me and to specifically say all the miracles and blessings that He bestowed on me, this one post is insufficient and so I just wanna share to you a simple message or lesson that I learnt this year which will be surely useful for you too. Dear reader, life is not same all the time. There will be ups and downs, good as well as bad times. But during all times, don't ever lose your hope because of your situation or the people's discouraging words. Be of good courage and always put your trust and faith in God praising Him and honoring Him for everything and in all times. It will be be difficult of course, but try to practise this and then you'll start experiencing peace and miracles in your life. 

"It was good for me to suffer so I would learn your demands." Psalm 119:71

Remember always that If God is with us, nobody can defeat us.....Have a wonderful year ahead!
WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.....GOD BLESS YOU ALL! 

The longggggggg Journey where Blogging has taken me............

Its been almost more than a year that I started blogging which I came to know today seeing my first post which was on September 3rd, 2010. Its amazing that I've written almost 38 posts within a year, that too, each and every posts depicting some kind of intuition which arose within me. But, what I was thinking today was what made me suddenly to come into this blogging activity and am just gonna share with all of you how far this blogging has taken me into my life...............................

Basically, am a technologist and neither a poetess nor an English literature student to come into writing. But, the truth is that I always had that burning passion for writing as I had a good mastery over the language and got that expressive kind of character which is very much essential for an impressive writing. The fact is that I didn't get the time or opportunity to sit and share my thoughts with everyone through writing. It was last year that unexpectedly I got the opportunity or to say it more precisely, got the circumstance which led me to start writing a personal blog of mine. I was almost pushed to the situation of being at home for some time and a very best friend of me who knows very well about my caliber and God-gifted talents motivated me to start writing a blog as a result of which I started just like that playfully to pass my time.

 But to my surprise, this pleasurable pastime activity has taken me somewhere now to the extent of having writing as my part-time career yielding money for me. Yes, in a nutshell, there were many people who went through my blog and appreciated and encouraged me a lot. Furthermore, I also got a job as a content writer in a company which added more fertilizer for the growth of my talent. I started shining wherever I went because of my writing skills where people urged me to write some content for their business or organization or for many other purposes. And even further, now I've started earning on my own because of my writing skills which have almost now totally transformed my career of a software profession into a full-time web content entrepreneur.

And now its time for me to thank all those who adored me, motivated me and who were by my side to support me in all that I did which is the main reason for my present status today. Above all, I thank God that finally He executed His plan for my life so beautifully and surprisingly. Because a person like me who’s in a totally different career coming into this stream is something very odd and absurd but which can happen only for a genuine reason like God’s will.

Philippians 2:13 “It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (NIV)