bph: 2026

HowAreYouReally

I wanted to name this post as "How are you?", but when I looked back, I realized that I have another post with the same name.

https://my-happy-notes.blogspot.com/2020/09/how-are-you.html

The question "How are you?" carries so much weightage in my opinion. In my last post I had written how this one sentence can be a powerful tool if we use it correctly.

Now this post is about my shock at how this sentence itself is disappearing from the world. 'How are you?', 'What is happening in your life?' etc are sentences used to check on the well being of another person. But I hardly see people using them these days. And even when used, it is a formality. This shocks me a bit because it is such a natural thing to inquire about the other person and to check how they are doing. Well, the emphasis is so much on how me and my family are doing that we ignore anyone outside the radar, forgetting the fact that every being forms this world.

Shouldn't we need to wake up and show a bit more care towards others?

I know the theory about wearing the oxygen mask first before helping others with the mask. But I have started feeling that if we can at least point others towards the oxygen mask, our mask will also be taken care of.

Here's to a world filled with more empathy and care towards others.

A butterfly spreads immense joy amongst others by just being

The same with flowers

Welcoming others

Sharing coffee

The joy of being with family

How are you? I am good
What are you up to? Just the usual
Is everything ok? Hmmm
..............

That was just a generic example of how our conversations can continue if one is genuinely interested. Most of the time, it stops at I am good, if someone has asked the question how are you. Most of the time we will not be able to help or do anything, as it is each one's individual journey. But just the expression of care, can be a motivator/strength giver/a listening machine/venting outlet for the other person.

Keep trying, keep asking, keep calling, keep caring 😊

A Smile

I am wondering if I should just let the pictures do the talk in this post 😁

The first picture represents the mood of the post -

Honestly with all the ups and downs in life, the only thing that works to live a content life is to just smile, laugh and relish every single blessing we have. We all agree that no matter how bad a situation is, there are things to be grateful for. But to be grateful for the smallest of things is the hardest as our mind always wants to look at that one thing which is not working. And these so-called small things we want to dismiss off are the ones that give us immense joy if we pay attention to them.

In most of the yoga classes, the instructor asks us to smile and do the asana even if it is forced. The reason being, a simple small smile is that powerful. It is the easiest and the MOST powerful weapon we possess. But we forget to use it. Smiling at neighbors, smiling at colleagues, smiling at people whom we see everyday.....

I honestly feel great when I see a genuine smile. And I love smiling at others. I am surrounded by children most of the time and as a result get to experience pure smiles throughout the day.

Let us use this powerful tool freely and see what it does to us.

The sky smiling and wishing me Good Morning 🌞

The Cadamba tree bearing flowers and fruits - their way of smiling at us

When I am served with this after work - ☕🍰😀

Smiles all over my dress

The flower blooming the same day as I wear a matching dress

😍

Always brings a smile on my face before entering the house

Coffee with a book in a coffee shop = a confirmed smile

Coffee with my favourite people
= a 1000000 watt smile

Never has this view stopped me from grinning

And there are always special bonuses like these

BLISS

Free

We have heard the phrase, "Whatever is ours will come to us at the RIGHT TIME" and also "When the student is ready the teacher arrives". And the teacher necessarily need not be in the form of a teacher tag, but any human being (or a situation) who says something (through which) we need to hear/learn.

My exercising cycle has been going through a crazy 'peak and valley' cycle for at least a year. Just like the joy of climbing the top of a peak, I feel great when the cycle is at its peak. The times when it hits the bottom of the valley is a rough phase for me. I have tried various things, but nothing has stuck for long. During the holidays was when I hit the bottom most point in the valley, but this time I didn't feel any pressure or guilt at not doing anything. And it felt great.

Beginning of this month I was ready to start climbing the peak again. And a class option appeared on its own. I have been part of this since the last few weeks and am loving it. Similar incidents have happened many times in the past. When I let things happen on its own, when I have not tried to go looking for something, when I have stopped trying to control, the thing I have wanted has happened, at its own pace and time.

This morning when I was doing my practice, I realized this and made me wonder how life would be if I let everything in my life, every aspect of my life, happen (or not happen) on its own terms. I needed the reminder and I hope I am able to let things come to me, rather than chasing anything.

Not at all perfect - neither the asana nor the photo
But I love this for various reasons 😊

Happy International Yoga Day

I never learnt to put rangoli even though my mom used to put everyday!
Started only a couple of years ago 😇

Going with the flow

Moments that can be taken for granted!
Rain + tea with a book
Can it get better than this?

Happy Father's Day

Simple and Silly

I feel like writing now, after having a lovely day. It was a simple normal day - waking up early, getting ready, going to work, coming back home, meeting a dear friend, attending a class, going out for dinner with friends.

I have started using the 'kiss' philosophy lately and want to continue for the rest of my life!

KEEP IT SIMPLE and SILLY!

Life can be simple if we let it be - let things be exactly the way they are, accept things exactly the way they are instead of fighting it, or analyzing it.

And please, let us not take life soooooooooo seriously. Just the word serious feels so heavy to me now!

I remember telling a friend today how each day teaches us new things. It could be through various people, situations, things or just anything. We just have to keep our ears, eyes and mind open to learn.

I learnt something beautiful from all the people I met today and I am glad to be aware of that.

Here's to keeping our lives light, simple and silly, and finding joy in being simple and silly 😁

Open

The need for recognition is what causes most problems - read this in a book and it has stayed with me ever since. It is soo true whether we agree to it or not as the human mind seeks approval from others most of the time.

While our heart jumps with joy at recognition (it could be just a single word like 'wow' from another person), what does our heart say about showering recognition on others?

I don't want to write much about this as it is a thought for each one of us to ponder over.

I honestly feel that the quality of our life depends on the extent of our need for recognition from others AND how generous we are in showering recognition on others and feeling happy for others.

The reason for this post is I came across a person recently who praises others wholeheartedly. I find this amazing as very few people feel genuinely happy for others.

Maybe only a person who is very confident and content can shower appreciation on others and feel joy with others.

OPEN, Confident, Content, Joyful
Oblivious to recognition
Just being

The thrill of hitting 100

Oh, the joy when the speedometer hits the 100 mark when you are driving for the first time in your car on a highway!

Millions of people do it without giving it a single thought. But the 3 hours I was on the road, I was truly in the moment. Of course there was a lot of fear like always in me. And after all these years I have come to realize that the only way to get rid of the fear is to be with that fear and see what happens. And everytime, the fear has disappeared after doing the thing that I was afraid of.

Just being with the fear doesn't help much, but actually doing it makes it disappear.

Today is the last day of my summer break and I am happy to say that it was one of the best breaks! Of course every break is a great one! But this feels more special simply because I did a lot of things I was very apprehensive to do.

- Starting from my solo trek - though it was not at all a solo trek, I am calling it solo as it fits many criteria of a solo journey 😂😁

- swimming with my kids

- not reaching out to people and pestering them to meet (this is on the list because I crave for company, and used to keep asking friends/family to meet)

- cycling after many years (though for a very short time)

- staying home and not doing anything

- waking up late and taking a lot of siestas

- and driving a slightly bigger car on small roads and highway

Ok, wrapping up the holidays and am ready for the new academic year at work 😊