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……….