The gratifying deep gratitude for Life.

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."Marcel Proust.

The two words "Thank you" does not complete an act of gratitude unless it comes from the core of your heart, they are just a beginning or an assurance that there is more to it than just the words. A reminder that words are not all, an action follows. Gratitude is shown in many ways - through affection, a note or a card with true words of appreciation, kind remembrances and a bond forever. Above all it is a gesture by being present and available to the one whom you owe your gratitude.

Your journey through life makes you realize that there are few people, the ones that came into your life to make you what you are, with a selfless and mutual presence, to instill hope and inspire in a big way. It makes you grateful for the simple things in life. The smallest blessing makes you feel grateful in a big way. You are truly and greatly indebted to some that you start understanding the true meaning of gratitude and love them wholeheartedly.

Thankfulness is fulfilled only when it comes out of you in its full sense and meaning. A sense of gratitude to all those who have touched you with age, mellowness, warmth, cheer, strength, care, affection, support, and inspirational hope. Online you like and appreciate without a second thought, as though that is life's vital keys even those that you hardly know, but when it comes to expressing the same in your offline lives, most never find the right keys nor the right words.

A heart full of gratitude is a content heart, a  heart that longs for a simple of life. As John Henry Jowett quotes, "Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin and an antiseptic." It opens a door to simplicity, to an experience of fulfillment in the little things of life that mean a lot, least bothering that they don't have everything, still content and valuing all those tangible and intangible things money cannot buy. Finding joy in the little blessings.

I owe my gratitude to all those I came across in my journey of life. But I am forever indebted to a few very close ones who came into my life as blessings, those who have always seen the most vulnerable and the strongest me, and known me for who I am. No words of appreciation could ever be enough to talk of my gratitude to these few. I have a lot to be grateful to my family and all my doctors who supported me and still support me in my battle of life, as I believe that everyday I wake up and breathe is a day of victory for me. I owe my life to the Almighty who gives me the strength and courage to face the unending challenges in my journey of life.

I am ever grateful to the nature surrounding me, every little entity of nature for awakening in me that which I thought I could never be. For the little joys in my solitude, making me the expressive self that I was once and becoming my lifeboat. The daily rendezvous with spectacular sunsets and love for nature in its full sense and meaning. For making me realize that there is a beauty in gratitude that moves your heart and soul beyond words; for restoring that rare and special connect to everything in nature that was a love from childhood.

I do owe a lot to a very few special people in my life, for all they have done during my battle with life. Some for the inspiration, that tiny sparks, the drilling for my slowing brain, the picture analysis , the words of love, appreciation and encouragement; a purpose and dream to live for and look forward to that mean a lot to me. I am ever grateful to cancer for making me what and who I am today. 

The adages of life that make a cliche.

" You are as young as you fee. If you begin to feel the warmth of the soul, there will be a youthfulness in you that no one will be able to take away from you." John O'Donohue.

"You are as young as you feel", an often quoted one, which makes me think of life in reality. As you age gracefully, you think of this more often and wonder about it. Another one is " Young at heart", which is just a feeling of how you are. These often make me think of its relevance to reality of life. It is true that the soul never ages,  if you  can still feel a warmth  in your soul, then you are as young as ever, though physically you age gracefully.

At the enchanting lake forest, to see the waterfall, it was a descending of two hundred steps down. I was determined to reach there, though I knew of my health conditions. It was a test of my fortitude and conditions physically. I slowly climbed down to see the waterfall, though the water was scanty, enjoying the beauty of the hills,  trees and the tiny wild flowers that grew around. Climbing down the steps was not a big task. But as I started climbing up I realized that I was getting tired and breathless. The determination in me was stronger than the tiredness. So I decided to climb up slowly, taking a few minutes rest after a few steps. My perseverance took me to the top against all odds and the feeling of triumph was something that was worth all the pains I endured.

One may ask if it was worth the risk, I would say with a beaming smile that it was worth the effort. It was for me a lifeline, a test for my mind, heart and body. It was important for me to do it and a booster to my courage, strength and confidence. It was a self introspection of my ability to confront pain, uncertainty and danger, to gain physical confidence in life. Many may laugh at it, but my journey of life made me do it, to achieve that confidence against all odds.  And I realized with a little pain that it is all in the mind, but also depends on the wear and tear of your body.

Aging is sometimes accompanied by negative health side effects of  a disease in a fighting body. No anti aging cliches, adages or quotes talks of the real story of what it is to grow older, aging gracefully with wisdom, maturity, new learning and experience, but I would say it is beautiful irrespective of everything  and definitely not anti anything in life. It has brought me that which is unexpected and beautiful. You can combat everything, though for some it is a crisis. The challenge lies in having the courage to change what you can, accept what cannot be changed and wisdom to know the difference.

Aging gracefully is to find a balance between the acceptance of the inevitable and doing what you can to remain healthy. Relax and enjoy all that you wanted to do and could not in the rat race of life. Find joy in the little things and blessings. It is a reflection of your journey from childhood, youth and adulthood, to be strong in illness and loneliness; to be as majestic as the sunset.  I would  finally reiterate that you are not as young as you feel, but as young as the wear and tear of your body. Yes it is true that the soul never ages or dies.

The sparkling beauty in the jewels of nature.

I love the little things, one hardly pay any attention to, something new and beautiful about the tiny things that is considered ordinary by many. I love the raindrops because they are very refreshing and rejuvenating. They are tiny entities of beauty that are clean, pure and make you feel one with nature. Raindrops are like jewels gifted by nature. A raindrop can be seen in many ways. Raindrops falling on the face is pure ecstasy. They bring a fresh lease of life, reflecting everything around like a tiny mirror and in spite of their vulnerability  to even a gentle shake, they never ever cease to inspire me. The raindrops are pristine  reflections of life itself.

The raindrops are magical and inspiring, like precious jewels that disappear in a flicker or linger on creating the most beautiful ornaments on the trees.  It is a magical experience to just roam around watching the raindrops on every leaf tip and flower, nature's way of hanging ornaments on trees. When the sun comes out, it  sparkles on millions of raindrops, making it seem like millions of diamonds and glitter like gems in the night, reflecting the light around.

You are truly blessed if you can see the beauty of the raindrops, they way they hit, roll off or hang on. Each raindrop on trees, leaves, flowers, blade of grass,  seem to tell a story. They are tiny entities of nature that remind you of the beauty of life. They are the most beautiful gifts of nature.Raindrops, falling down from the clouds in its brief journey, gives trillion reflections of the core of life, turning into a puddle and reflect the world around intricately and delicately focusing on all that is around it.

Every raindrop has music in it, dancing to the rhythm of the wind. It gives life to everything and creates different sounds and music as they fall on various things. As it falls and hangs on to the leaves of a tree it seems to whisper, dance and make ripples in the puddle. Life too is just like being a raindrop, knowing it is just fine having ups and downs; continuing it's journey as it stretches and breathes. "A 'Raindrop' like 'Life'  in all its beauty, clears its obstacles, struggles and makes it's way slowly to its final destination, inspiring, giving hope and joy. "

A raindrop is like a drifting soul, its life temporary and unpredictable, not knowing where it will land but still happily going on joined by many like reflecting mirrors bringing beauty, joy and hope. Life is ever changing like the falling raindrop,  sometimes it lasts forever and then suddenly it disappears.  It soothes as it falls, some love them while some hate them, but it falls irrespective of everything and heals the soul. It is an ever searching soul. These raindrops make memories that pave way to beautiful sunshine of a tomorrow. The plummeting raindrops gleefully dance into a rhythm of motion like lost souls and splash to the ground. A zillion drops move as if in trance of the rhythmic dance, few miss the beat and drop, splashing to the ground to form puddles.

It is such a beautiful and awe inspiring feeling  of life to feel a raindrop on your fingertip, a bubble reflecting life, giving hope that challenges don't linger on and that life keeps shifting. It has no control over where it falls or the patterns it makes, but a tiny raindrop brings life and hope to many. It is more than just hope, it is a promise of a rainbow in life. The unique sounds it makes and the reflections of the world upside down is a miraculous effect of life lulled into a sense of completion. The raindrops glistening on the trees, the palette of the beautiful sky preparing to make a breathtaking rainbow and the thrilling twitter of the drenched birds as they celebrate life is  an awe inspiring sight for me, watching yet another facet of the beauty of nature. It soothes and heals the pain in my body and soul.

Raindrops fall onto trees,
Speak for itself,
Reflect the world around,
And hang on its journey.

Listen to the raindrops sing,
In solitude of nature,
Simply unwind,
To traverse around.

Raindrops on the tip of tiny leaves,
Catches the sun's rays,
Shines like  diamonds,
Though fickle its life is.

A gentle breeze  playfully shakes the leaf,
It lets go off the leaf,
Down it splashes into a puddle,
To become one with the whole.

Like a Wild Flower in wilderness.

A real flower lover, has a special place for wild flowers. They are beautiful, colorful and fragrant too. The range of color, tone and shapes in wild flowers is really breathtaking. Quite often you see the quote, " May your life be like a wild flower growing freely in beauty and joy of each day." I have often wondered about the real essence of this quote. Lately realized its value in its full sense. Wild flowers grow in any environment, unlike the other flowers they can survive through anything.

"Little by little, it becomes at lot," is my belief, and a wild flower teaches you just that. You can grow like a wild flower, just enjoying the little joys, irrespective of whatever your environment is, in any conditions on your own. These wild flowers fascinate and amaze me;  I pick them up from the streets where they grow wildly, put them in my pots, just to see the tiny flowers bloom in them and that gives me immense joy. 

The wild flowers are aesthetic and some of them have medicinal value. You never understand nor appreciate them, though they grow right under your nose.  They say that wild flowers are the jewels of the land. There are many of these wild flowers that have a lot of significance. The baby's breath talks of ever lasting love and innocence.  Flowers like Periwinkle signify fond memories. The beautiful Forget-me-knots stand for true love and memories. A wild flower garden  can depict  a "Garden of true love" or a " Garden of memories".  

A wild flower is one that grows without being intentionally planted. The meadows are full of beautiful wild flowers. I find wild flowers special because they are  naturally vibrant, subtle and unusual. They are beneficial as they attract the most beautiful butterflies, bees and birds. These wild flowers  are very beneficial and naturally adapt themselves to difficult  situations in order to survive.
I learnt from them to adapt to the difficult situations of life so that I can survive, just being me.

Flowers that grow naturally in the wild are nature's gift. They are patient and delicate in their beauty, more than just pretty, a natural habitat for birds, butterflies and insects with an abundant supply of nectar; some are medicinal, some edible and filter pollutants . The wildflowers enhance your garden with their beauty by adding a palette of colors, are able to survive without any help and it brings  a learning experience  along with the changing look of the garden.

Bloom like wild flowers,
Smiling like the radiant sun,
Creeping into my heart,
To brighten life's path.

I stroll the gravel road,
Where they grow,
Planted by magic,
With a childish frolic.

The blossoms flourish,
In mud and strife,
Dancing in glee,
When the wind blows.

The enchanting mist,
Making them lost in wilderness,
A warmth in the soul,
With something so simple and beautiful.

I feel the wild flowers,
Filling a beauty in me,
To burst into life,
Though my body is scarred. 

The Bountiful Trees.

Trees are good metaphors for life and man, the roots being the most vital and crucial, though underground, they perish without them.  As a  silent teacher, a tree has so much to share and teach, so when you walk among trees, if your observe, open your heart and mind, to understand  the ways of life. It gives you lessons of staying grounded and focused, awareness of the self, acceptance of environment; understanding and going through adversities of life, consciously appreciating the wonders of life, strength and the innate ability of self, and finally to be yourself. When you are in doubt or feeling lonely or lost, a walk enjoying nature,  can help connect to yourself and find solace. 

A tree helps us evolve and exist, with priceless truths of how to go through adversities of life, and yet stay calm, patient, flexible,  face difficulties with courage and strength; endure pain and loneliness, keep your steps firmly, rise steadily and wisely to a positive life. A tree is a standing example of humble beginnings and  growing even when  left alone with limited means, teaching that nothing can defeat you, if you don't crumble under troubled times, but gather enthusiasm from adversities. Never to let extremities of life win over you and never ever give up in life. To have a heart like trees and be ever grateful to those who helped you selflessly in life, to enjoy the moments of life, to be  strong and deep-rooted,  strength of roots and values; never let negativity hover around and uproot, that problems and difficulties are an inevitable part of life, but that should not make you steal the happiness of the moment.

The beautiful and breathtaking clicks of Asha and Arun, makes me observe its minute details and delve into the depths of those two photographs.  Some photographs touch you very deeply, making you visualize it and experience it.  Both  clicks  have a lot of similarities, like the archway of trees, where one has a railway track, the other a path. Both pictures are standing testimony of nature and how life coexists in a world of diversities and adversities. For a man, one is a road and the other is a railway track; both leading to a path of beautiful life. A traveler finds it soothing and a solace to travel on a path silhouetted with trees on both sides. 

 The landscape of a natural arch of trees is breathtaking and a sign of exuberance in life. It pleases and tantalizes the core of your life, and watching them through the seasons gives you lessons of the changing seasons of life. It takes you from the comforts of your home...out into the openness of the unknown through the security of the tunnel where bright life and growth awaits. They give shade of life and brightness of positive light depicting that life is a mixture of joy and sorrow. The tunnel gives you the shade in your adversities, to walk through to a bright life that is beautiful and awe inspiring.

A railway track in the middle of an arch of  beautiful trees is breathtaking, with unprecedented curves that brings hope  and a promise of an awe inspiring way ahead. The archway of the lush green trees inspires every traveler to look for a renewed hope at their destination. Sometimes it is a corridor of trees that greet the weary traveler, midst the mundane activities and rat race of life,   evoking a new sense of life. The mystical magic of trees and its natural reserves motivates with its immense enduring strength. Among all the mystical qualities of a tree, the most meaningful and thought provoking one  is the 'The Tree of Life' significance that allure you the most. There is nothing like an archway of  trees, with gorgeous and fragrant blossoms to fill you with energy of life. They promise abundance and the  potential of every season of life, a rare connect to life that is a powerful visual reminder of the energies you are inviting to your world.

Nature is a natural archway to life, an archway formed by stupendous trees add beauty,  serenity and a positive approach to it. It is an elegant archway forming a tunnel and opening out to bright light showing the complexity and simplicity of life. Trees are amazing, fascinating and selfless in giving. The lush green canopy of trees is a sign of life and regeneration. They are a symbol of growth, wisdom,  bounty and strength. They remind you that you are loved unconditionally and you are capable of doing beyond your imagination.

Trees fascinate and amaze me; I  find a rare and special connect and find solace just watching the trees around me.  They are everywhere, yet you tend to just look past them, without a second glance, not appreciating its beauty and benefits. They are life giving gifts of nature. They wrap themselves around adversities to find light and reach the skies.  For me a walk through an archway of trees, amazes me and I find a soulful, calm existence of life; listening to its silence as well as music.

A special thanks to Asha  and Arun for bringing out this note, by sending me the above photographs that reminded me about the value of trees in life. 

The Aesthetic Peacock Dance.

The excellent and exquisite peacock dance reflects in it, the respect for beauty,  honesty and peace. It loves overcast skies and rains, which makes it dance in explicit beauty.  A peacock has a very vital role in music, dance, art and literature. It has its own place  in folklore and there are many tales woven round peacocks. It is considered a beautiful, majestic and graceful bird with charming colors; a peacock is a symbol of vision, hope, watchfulness, royalty and guidance; famous for its display of its fanned feathers, dazzling plumage to attract and impress its mate. Its spreading of feathers is a vital part of its complex dance, strutting, quaking and fanning its train. The beautiful long feathers growing from the bird's back forms its ornamental train.

The peacock is one of the most beautiful birds and its beauty is legendary. The national bird of India is stunningly beautiful with its neck color and attractive markings on its tail. The beautiful plumage is an inspiration. They have a breathtakingly beautiful plumage with  vibrant iridescent marks and a spectrum of different colors in it. It has a beautiful crest that looks like a crown on its head giving it a regal appearance. They are usually seen with a harem of peahens around. Its tail is a tuft of brown feathers, but the train in the middle is often mistaken for its tail. It is believed that the peahen chooses its mate on the quality of its train. The peacock uses its huge fan like tail or train to dance and attract the peahen. It also dances when clouds gather in the sky and it is about to rain. The  dance of the peacock is significantly used in poems and works of different art forms.

In the enchanting Lake Forest, near the lake in a small park, I happened to witness the peacock dance with all its significance. The peahen spends very little time to gaze at the peacock, when it fans the  gorgeous plumage and struts around. They were busy pecking on the ground. The sparkling courtship dance of the peacock is a beautiful experience of how it woos and lures the peahen; and its celebration. Its dance is breathtakingly beautiful. The dexterity of the peacock in using its long and beautiful plumage in its dance, with its  graceful movement with its claws,  is very difficult to describe in words. It is great seeing a peacock with its colorful fan plumage, but it is different to see it dance in all its significance,  in the picturesque beauty of nature, the sky with heavy clouds about to burst and pour.

The   rain clouds that indicate the arrival of rain, tempts the peacock to dance and rejoice with its spread out plumage,   as a part of its courtship.  Peacock is a symbol of integrity and the beauty shown in its true colors. It is a sign of new breath in  life, that rejuvenates. Being one with nature and the experience of a peacock dancing is memorable. There are things in life that touch you somewhere, very deeply inside, that streams colors in your journey of life.  When dark clouds gather and the peacocks opening their brilliant plumage,it  is a beautiful sight to behold. When it rains, you want to sing and dance forgetting everything else in gay abandon. Watching a beautiful peacock dance with its lusciously brilliant plumage open is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sights, it is Nature's beautiful painting with peacocks  dancing.

Enchanting Lake Forest.

"Nature has been for me, for as long as I remember, a source of solace,  inspiration, adventure and delight;  a home, a teacher, a companion." Lorraine Anderson

Yercaud, The Lake Forest a mist-clad, hill station  refreshes, rejuvenates, heals and delights your very being and everything about it touches something deep inside your soul. As you go up, the breathtaking views enthrall you, with the hair pin bends and on some of them you can get a stunning view of the twists above and below too. As you climb up it is amazing to see the sun and mist play hide and seek; clouds playing mischief with a touch and go game;  everything around you embrace to make a complete, beautiful painting in your heart and soul.

The morning chill breeze, mysterious mist, gorgeous hills, canopy of the forest, the rains and the sea of lights at night does make the place an enchanting - Jewel of the south. The chill breeze flows in through your nose and rejuvenates your heart, soul, mind and body. The damp, cool, crispy wind and rains hits you and awakens you to a fantastic, breathtaking view of your surroundings. The flowers and butterflies, take you through an enchanting journey of life, reminding you of the beauty of life, its meaning and mysteries. You see a butterfly kiss each flower, and the flowers dance in the gentle breeze that joins them.

The Lake Forest is such a place where you realize the meaning of the poem,
"Count your garden by the flowers,
Never the leaves that fall."
Even the fallen leaves and flowers make a tapestry of carpet with the fragrance of it still lingering in the air. Each flower and the butterflies hovering around is a sight to behold and one that is awe inspiring. The tall trees with silvery leaves, the peppers climbing the trees with its green and red corns, making the mystic chilly hilly panoramic view,  breathtaking and beautiful.

The mist-laden hills and the valley below, is a magical landscape of unparalleled natural beauty and freshness. The undulating hills bathed in a bluish green hue, the clouds bending down to hug the hills, lush valley and forest drenched in the sunshine, veils of mist that roam aimlessly,   the fresh air, many moods of the hills and a faint fragrance of the flowers is a panorama of immense scenic beauty. The hills caressed by a blanket of mist, the mysterious mist steals silently in,  hides the landscape in its mysterious cloak,  then  clears suddenly to find yourself in an enchanted place, contradicting itself the way it conceals and reveals. The mist swathes and discloses the beauty of the hills.

An enchanting and picturesque misty soul station, with  the  scintillating  lake surrounded with flowers and garden. The lovely placid lake that entices you to take a boat ride and drink in the beauty around it. The birds just glide through in the wind and the valleys from the hill top is amazing to watch. Even in the heavy rainfall,   sun amazingly outshines the rains in its full splendorous, beauty leaving the beholder gaze in open mouthed admiration at the rare sight of rain and the setting sun. The cluster of rocks, the valley, forests from the different view points is breathtakingly beautiful, with the cool wind whistling in your ears. The panoramic view of the plains and the bends in the ghats seen through the top of the trees leave you in a state of pure bliss.

The bird's eye view of the lake, the valley and the forest is beautiful and at night the whole place looks like an enchanted place with a sea of lights and the night sky glittering with the winking twinkling stars. You get the most mesmerizing view as night falls and Salem lights up at the foot of the hill, like it is a sea of lights or a glittering sea of stars fallen from the sky.  Sometimes the mist engulfs everything in its mysterious cloak, and the spooky breeze chills your spine.

The mountains get enveloped with clouds and you can see nothing but mist, and the mist hugging you, enhances the experience, especially when you love hills and mist. The Lake Forest refreshes and rejuvenates you, all you need to do is relax and inhale the fresh mountain misty air; you feel your heart and soul dancing to the music of the enchanting valley.

"The enchanting Lake Forest beckons me,
Where nature whispers sweet nothings,
Where the clouds touch your heart,
Where the sky  tempts you to soar high,
Where the depths of the valley invite,
Where the lush greenery of  canopy in forest lures,
Where the sea of lights glitter like gems,
Where  stupendous sunsets outshine rains,
Where mist hides you in its magic cloak,
Where peacocks dance with all its significance,
Where the hills are bathed in twilight light,
Where the chill breeze whistles and caress you,
Where the scintillating lake allures you to drink in, its beauty,
Where  rustle of  leaves stir up your mind,
Where majestic silver oak trees standing tall evoke,
Where birds just glide in the wind,
Where butterflies flutter in magic of 'the moment,'
Where fragrance of the beautiful flowers enthrall,
Where rains drench to quench your soul."