thoughts – soul n spirit

WHERE TO STOP?

Yesterday my blogger friend told me that in her country one cannot construct where one wants to and today I am reminded of her statement as soon as I saw today’s prompt.

These were her words, “Where we live there are certain areas that must be left to agriculture. You cannot build where you want to. So much space must be left for farmers. Switzerland is a small country and you must be careful what you do with the land you have.,”

I wish that was possible in our country too. Not that we don’t have rules and laws but implementation is a kind of hypothetical term when you have abnormal population growth. Over 1.21 billion people need house and government has it’s own constraints therefore corruption rise and people tend to construct illegal colonies. The problem cannot be dealt effectively in absence of will and a strong mechanism to fight against it.

Illegal housing in India consists of huts or shanties built on land not owned by the residents (i.e., squatting) and illegal buildings constructed on land not owned by the builders or developers. Although illegal buildings may afford some basic services, such as electricity, in general illegal housing does not provide services that afford for healthy, safe environments.

The pictures above is a common sight of any big or small city. I wish there would have been sustainable development. It hurts when you see these cramped houses build without any blue print or proper planning where once used to be fertile fields full of yield. Even the hills did not remain untouched and they are bleeding due to reckless deforestation in the name of tourism and employment generation. Recently I went to one of the most beautiful hill station and was shocked to see the rapid construction going on there. It was no more that lush green valley of flowers, surrounded with tall pine and Deodar trees and waterfalls. This is what the landscape looked like.

Wish what my friend told me the other day is possible here too. For that we have to first control the population explosion. I would love to see long agricultural belts and evergreen forests in future too to maintain the ecological balance on the earth.

ECHOES OF NATURE AND PAST

I still hear the echo of water. It could be heard from a distance too while I was desperately waiting to get the first glimpse of the massive, voluminous waterfall. It was like a marvel of nature and the only source of sound in this silent, lush green valley. Breathtaking view which echoes in my memory forever.

The other picture is of a old Mughal Fort where the echo from the glorious past can be heard even today. The intricate workmanship, the architecture, the feel, the royal ambience makes you call those kings from the past and you definitely hear the echo of their footsteps.

Hope you would like my perception on today’s prompt.

VIBE AND VIGOR

I have left little in me for sure. Since last month I have literally utilized my strength and stamina in packing and then opening huge trunks and boxes and not to forget the furniture, skillfully packed by “Movers and Packers”.

Therefore when I saw the prompt I was in no mood to discuss it any further that how vigorously I set up, organised my nest and how tired I was until last week though we explored the city, watched movies, hit the food joints and attended our dining in party and musical fest all along it.

I am sort of settled now, enjoying my stay in a palatial house. while I’m typing I faintly remember a picture of a leopard, clicked by one of my acquaintances, a wildlife photographer, Mr.Chandrashekhar. I guess it can very well define Vigor.

There is something more to discuss on Vigor. How about sharing something known as smart textiles for well-being. Today I read an article, published in the Finnish magazine “Tekstiililehti” written by Kristi Kuusk which featured — amongst others — the Vibe-ing and Vigour projects. What about allowing the garments or textiles take care of us? Just think about it that a gentle tap on a shoulder given by a garment rather than an app reminding us to straighten our backs?

The article was published by The Finnish Textile Technology Association (STTL Association), which is a community for the technical professionals in the Finnish textile, clothing and footwear industry. The article takes a service perspective on several issues surrounding the topic wellbeing.

Vibe -ing is a self care tool in a form of garment which invites body to feel,move and heal through the vibration therapy.

Vigour is a product service system that enables geriatric patients, their families and their physiotherapists to gain more insight into the exercise and progress into rehabilitation process. images-16

Smart textiles combine traditional textile canvas with electronic and digital materials, and hold the properties of both – the soft skin friendly fabric and the dynamic data components. The combination of textiles and technology opens up opportunities for societal sustainability and wellbeing. Those go beyond the product-oriented sustainability aspects for textile items and are moving towards service-oriented thinking.

Smart garments offer care and support to workers.I don’t know how much comfortable or reliable these are but it’s good to see people thinking on these lines. I wouldn’t mind to gift a vigor cardigan for sure. That’s all on Vigor by me today. Good night.

BRICK WALKWAY

I missed the prompt yesterday so I decided to read other responses rather than writing a late response. After reading few of my blogger friends’ responses I realized that how hard it is to spot those old bricks around us. This motivated me to grab my camera and click a picture of bricks. Really it wasn’t that easy to find bricks near or around my home. Then I decided to move further and reached the sport complex. Yes, this was what I wanted and the brick walkway was right in front of me. I frequently come here for gym and other recreational activities. Here is the picture of the place that I frequent every morning which is synonymous with Health, Recreation and Rejuvenation.

Buddies Forever

My both the sons are my best buddies.Who else? They make me laugh like crazy, they wipe my tears, give me immense joy and moreover share their fears and secrets with me.

They both never dissappoint me when it comes to have fun. I feel young in their company. Tarun pampers them both whereas I do the dirty stuff of lecturing and putting restrictions in the name of grooming them. Does it make any difference to them?

Times have changed. What was right for us might be outdated for them. Our food, music, fashion, values and even social behavior used to be so different from the present generation stuff. Now you can’t behave like parents with your grown ups. If you dictate terms they will go away. But then why should we do it anyway?

They want to be treated as independent individuals and I have observed one thing, pardon me if I am wrong, that the present generation is smarter and has ability to take practical decisions. We were emotional fools, they aren’t. They know the power of money and spend selfishly ( I mean mostly on them). They start saving at early age and very good at financial management.

I had started working when I was eighteen. Today when I look back I wonder what have I done with all that money I earned over the years? Only collected articrafts, house items, clothes, shoes, jewelry or in other words “junk”. No solid saving for old age. No, I am not cribbing nor I regret because I was doing what I felt right. Perhaps I never earned so much. I am learning from my buddy, my son who has shared some fantastic investment ideas.

All said and done my sons give immense happiness to us. Tarun is my soulmate but my brats are real buddies who are there for me always.

WEALTHY IS HEALTHY

Many years ago there was a man who was gifted crystal clear voluminous brooks, waterfalls and pristine lakes to quench his thirst, fresh air to breathe and fruit laden trees to take care of his hunger but he was not satisfied then. He wanted to progress in life, he moved ahead and kept on doing what he thought was right..,…industries were born, machines and technology made him high headed.

There came a day when he found himself developed and successful but to his surprise he was left with only man made kingdom.

Where were streams? Lakes and ponds?

Where were the trees? Air was also not smelling the same. Alas! He found himself searching for organic and farm fresh food among the vast ocean of chemically grown shit.

Although he had satisfied his thirst of success but how to satisfy the biological thirst which could be only fulfilled by water..,..

To his horror water had become commodity now.That too an expensive one. Not many people could afford safe drinking water in the world.

Slowly he walked ahead and bought few mineral bottles from a grocery shop. He proudly said,”Thank God, I have money. I will always remain healthy as long as I drink this water.”
A hungry boy, almost resembling a skeleton, wearing rags was watching him silently. With great effort he asked him, “I have left with no money to buy mineral water,can you please help me?”

The arrogant man replied, “There are no free lunches in the world. Do I look like a fool, working day and night to earn money? Get up you lazy bum and do something worthwhile. See you have to pay price for water here. ”

The boy kept on wondering if God was a fool. Why he gave us everything free when he could earn so much, eh? Probably he underestimated his own creation’s abilities.

FACE OF SWEAT AND TOIL

I may be old and tired but not broken
You need not empathise, just respect meI nurtured you till now, protect meI may not lost in the crowd, acknowledge meI am selflessly guarding you, trust meI work to stand on my own, support me I am tired of school life, pamper meI am laughing but not necessarily happy, understand me Face