SOULspace

His favourite place is by my side. Peeping over my shoulders, peering from a gap betwixt my arms. How much? What next? What do I add now? Amma, Amma, Amma… Questions and queries are fired at me. Yes. He is my little helper! The kitchen is where he likes to be… with me. Giving me a helping hand whether I want it or not! He pulls up a stool and places it right where I need to stand near the stove! “Can we place this to the left a bit?” I ask politely. “Ammmmma…I can’t see then” he whines. I roll my eyes in exasperation, as I try to move the furniture to a spot mutually agreeable by us! Then the instructions start. You have to tell me what you want. I will bring it for you is his reasonable request. Which I promptly forget as I reach out for this or that. Not that my kitchen is so large I can’t just put my hand out or up, and get it for myself. But I must heed the little boss. Cut up with me, he upbraids me. “I want to get it for you, I want to get it for you” he repeat...

I was browsing for some stories about Karthigai, and found a very nice blog. Unfortunately I cant seem to leave comments on blogs which have disabled author verification. Can anyone tell me why and what I must do for that? Here is the link Here is another blog, that shares the story of Karthigai So to my understanding the general consensus is that Shiva took the form of a fire column, in order to show Brahma and Vishnu that God is limitless. Ok... Here is my question... Then Why do Vaishnavaites( followers of the Protector God/ Vishnu) celebrate this event as well? This is purely an academic question and does not reflect my religious or spiritual standing. I want to know the stories that Vaishnavaites are telling. All I know is that Shaivites and Vaishnavites light the lamp on 2 different days, and the first is called Annamalai Deepam and the second is Vishnu Deepam. If any body has a link/ story please do tell. Interestingly this festival is not only unique to Tamilnadu...

Weekends are my favouritest!! 1) Most Saturday's Husband is at home;). Though children go to school, I love to have that extra person at home...told you I am a people's person. 2) I schedule most of my story telling on weekends...that's when most children are free you see 3) We eat out at least once, its become a norm now. 4) Its the time I plan all creative, fun, out of the house things. 5) I clean the house. I don't know why I do this. Not that I work a full job on week days but I tend to keep my big cleaning for weekends, a habit I have from when I needed extra help and that would be available, I guess, only over the weekend! 6)Catch up with family. All long distance calls! 7) Make that new dish I've been wanting to for some time! Of course I tend to skip this when we eat that meal out! 8)Read the newspaper in a leisurely way. A lot of exchange of articles happen, as I point out what interests me and He points out his. Usually there is a pattern h...

Here are some more words that I carry with me... Very few thoughts spring from self produced data, much less self produced preferences. The mind is filled with reactive thought- thoughts that spring from the experience of others. For example ( he says, and I love this) is our root thought about money. That it is bad ( it's great to have money, how can you not benefit from it?!). So we run around and lie to ourself and tell yourself we don't like money which becomes rooted in our thoughts.Which in turn prevents us from honestly reaching for it. From early childhood I remember these words echoed in my ears and the negativity associated with money. Frankly money is not the root of any problem it is only how we use it that can cause problems. Unfortunately these very thoughts about money makes it difficult for me to turn into an entrepreneur and I have to deal with many internal issues when it comes to charging clients/people for my sessions. You see; we are raised thinkin...

Conversations.... Never do anything in a relationship out of a sense of obligation. Do whatever you do out of a sense of the glorious opportunity your relationship affords you to decide, and to be, Who You really Are. Can you feel the impact of these words? When we don a martyr role, or for that matter victim role, we are constantly telling ourselves we have no choice. But we do. We have a choice to Be, to Do and to Say, and in the saying being Understood. The reality in this is changing the want to a have. Take what you want from the world, don't leave it at a wanting, Have it! Thought- word- deed . You create a thought, express it and follow it up in action. Oh! How difficult this appears to be for me! Most of the time I have a thought, and I cant find the words to express it let alone follow it through with an action. Now the author says this is not the only way to do things. Another way is to commit the act, then say the words that you want to have new thoughts ab...

Ok, I've never done a book review before. Only shared my stories and thoughts. A book review you would or could point out is also a story, but, with the undiluted author in it. I am a questioner and most of my learning happens when I question, discuss, argue, express, debate, discuss. Yet I can clam up if I find my co-debater is not interested, has no opinion or is just not that type. That's when I go look for a book. I don't go much for self help books. There is a bit of a hypocrite in me. Its not that books don't have answers for me. Not at all, in fact as I have mentioned before I go to books for a lot of my inner wranglings. Yet I find it difficult to pick up a book under the "self help" category and stick through with it. Men are from Mars was one, Monk who sold his Ferrari (I did go back to this book recently and actually read it, back to back). That makes me understand myself and my reading habits: a) The books I read or I stick with is grea...

Children's Day The best time for storytellers! I got super busy doing back to back telling sessions for kids. Sunday and Monday were packed with 3 story sessions and a workshop! Telling a story where there is no defined space is a little tough. I feel a little vulnerable as I cannot guess or get a feel of who is watching me. Other wise it was great telling at the Bangalore Book Fair for Pratham books.The story was a lovely one about a Himalayan Bear called Bhabhloo Bear's Adventure. Check out the write up on the Pratham Blog My other super session was at an orphanage for which I was invited/sponsored by a friend who runs a library. Kannada not being my language for telling, I was not so sure, but my friend had done her homework well and it turned out the children could understand English very well. The children have switched to English medium just last year but I can tell you their understanding was excellent. It was a story called Mohini and Bhasmasura. A wonderful ta...

It was PTA time and my daughter had prepared me well. I know that Spellings and Handwriting are her nemesis. I keep telling myself, I need to work on her spellings. ...well...not done anything about that actively yet! I land up at school and march into her class. All the parents too are seated at the desks waiting like school children for their report card! I take my seat like a good Mom and start chatting with a fellow parent and friend. The usual cribs and complaints are exchanged and I wait expectantly to be called for (my) report card! Yes! My number is called, and I hop, leap and jump to take the report. A's and A+ flash at me. I smile and shake my head indulgently at the spellings and handwriting column. That is when the teacher points out a section of the card that needs to be filled out. A box that asks for strengths and achievements. Achievements; hmm...I contemplate on that. Children nowadays are Mini Achievers. Awards, Certificates, Prizes. Is that how I ...