tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11876085952913244562024-03-14T01:03:11.096-07:00Tall DreamsAuthor of 'The Blue Phoenix'.
Poetry is my passion.
Reading is love.
Books are life.Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.comBlogger640125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-48468770982408010582022-02-04T21:32:00.002-08:002022-02-07T07:17:48.152-08:00Book Review of 'Stubborn Scars' by Tanvi Sinha<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A heart-rending tale. Tanvi beautifully captures the bond between a mother and daughter, while retaining the nuances of pain and suspense. </div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The twists happen at the right time and keep us turning the pages. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A must-read - a mother's story of loss and gain, pleasure and pain.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-22570071677309481032021-10-05T05:01:00.001-07:002021-10-05T09:03:05.696-07:00Book Review of 'Finding a Measure of Her' by Akshobhya<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21_rEFp7FQekIvnwfrh6gt-Lh2O2THeO91u4y4WjxPUa9LeZelQe_S5IdB0cB1YiX4HE6bOZzJAPk8ij0wqqKNUIco4v4J_NZw6ibA4PRj8r9M2BH_5DYRW-zgxcIMOhvFhyPk-5arILl/s4160/IMG_20211005_172654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21_rEFp7FQekIvnwfrh6gt-Lh2O2THeO91u4y4WjxPUa9LeZelQe_S5IdB0cB1YiX4HE6bOZzJAPk8ij0wqqKNUIco4v4J_NZw6ibA4PRj8r9M2BH_5DYRW-zgxcIMOhvFhyPk-5arILl/w240-h320/IMG_20211005_172654.jpg" width="240"></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br>This is a
different book from those I’ve read in a long time. The blurb had already suggested that
it would be so, and I picked it up because it promised a woman-centric story and an
intriguing one at that. I was not disappointed on either counts. The story is
refreshingly new, unlike the usual run-of-the-mill ones that we get to read.
Also, I liked to read a story set in Bangalore, with mentions of some favourite
streets of the city scape.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The story
does not begin with the protagonist Nyasa, though, until a while into the book
because the setting is explained in great detail – The Udbhavana society. It is
a learning experience for readers who may not be aware of the lifestyles of the
uber rich of society. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
teenagers seem to have nothing better to do in life than shop in hyper
expensive showrooms or worse, light up cigarettes and guzzle booze every hour
of the day. The depiction of the inner world, reminiscent of inside information is such that one has to keep reminding oneself that
these characters are underage teenagers, blowing up parents’ moolah and not
seasoned adults, who earn what they spend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The lesbian
scenes are no different from any lovemaking between a heterosexual couple in
love, except that the dominant teenager Suganya is all but sixteen, however, she is
shown to possess the wooing confidence and sexual prowess of a middle-aged adult and then some. The submissive protagonist Nyasa being older than her partner adds on to the premise - the tendency of money-power and social status playing as much a role in the equation, as love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
contrasting divide between the sections of society is showcased with finesse.
Education which is a boon and requirement for the middle classes to improve
their lives is only another hassle to be endured as a namesake for the rich.
The natural tendency of the rich to exploit those who are less privileged as an
entitlement of merely being born into wealth, brings out the helpless
submission of the latter to the ministrations of the providers. This is well
documented in the storyline at regular intervals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Also, the step mother’s sudden turn of heart in the second half may be a little
unconvincing, but highly endearing. It is interesting how characters that have potential to turn grey
at any point, end up shining beyond the expectations of the reader.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Overall, a
different read with a varied approach towards the quirks and foibles of
society, while reinforcing the goodness of human character. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Did you find my review useful? Do follow my blog for more</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Happy reading, readers. </span></span></p>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-83696584247897873412021-08-02T07:44:00.005-07:002021-08-03T03:21:44.552-07:00Book Review of Atomic Habits by James Clear<p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXQP6SMunCXDqabqFq6Zyp3cZZCuMZddapXVuukwpx-MzzkpUOKdjfQMgM91ACplOjf63ep4XhXj186hkSQozFDpEXJ4yo783GOKW6uIr9CMtd-W50tXn0moNQOBYveK1J1-jQiAWntAi/s2048/IMG_20210802_195649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1959" data-original-width="2048" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXQP6SMunCXDqabqFq6Zyp3cZZCuMZddapXVuukwpx-MzzkpUOKdjfQMgM91ACplOjf63ep4XhXj186hkSQozFDpEXJ4yo783GOKW6uIr9CMtd-W50tXn0moNQOBYveK1J1-jQiAWntAi/w400-h383/IMG_20210802_195649.jpg" width="400"></a></span></div><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is one of the few non-fiction books that held my attention from the
beginning to the end. I picked it up earlier than I normally would have,
because the book was a birthday gift from a dear friend who I shall call G, and
came with a high recommendation. Secondly, the blurb was compelling enough to
make me skim through the pages and crave for more.</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The title of the book is explained right at the beginning, building on
the tag line – Tiny (atomic) changes Remarkable Results – small but powerful
habits that succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The structure of the book is conducive to building up the theory step by
step, going from a compelling introduction, to the fundamentals and then the
four laws to build the said Atomic habits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A Personal Connect<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What I found compelling was the personal connect I felt with some of the
top goals mentioned in the book, namely – writing and weight management. Seemed
as if the author knew the exact challenges that I faced in life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out G knows me better than I figured my
own self.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The most important take away for me was the realization offered in the
book – Boredom is the main cause of breaking a good habit. How true that is! We
go to the gym regularly, or write regularly, but what we actually fight against
is not laziness, but the boredom of doing the same stuff over and over again,
and sustaining it over a long period of time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All the chapters have examples that are exemplary and on-dot. The
instances themselves are highly motivating and compelling in their conviction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I now share the learnings that I deem the best from each chapter.
Readers who need to comprehend the quotes better and read more such gems will
have to read the book. If there are crucial details missing in any of the
related stories I mention, it is deliberate – to avoid spoilers for one thing and
also to get readers curious enough to read it themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Learnings<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Habits are the
compound interest of self-improvement.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Chapter One is ‘<i>The Introduction</i>’ establishes a personal
connection right from the word go. Starting off with an unbelievable story that
hooks readers with the heroic resilience of the author, is the first winner in
the book. It establishes the success of the methodologies that Clear proposes
in the forthcoming pages. The story is followed by the Fundamentals that put
forth the whole theory of Atomic habits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The plateau of latent potential, with the valley of disappointment, is a
convincing premise. It tallies with what I have experienced in my own weight
loss endeavors, especially when I broke through the said plateau ( in terms of
actual figures of breaking a weight loss plateau, as well as the psychological
one) </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you want
better results, forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The system of continuous improvements is based on survivorship, building
on the premise of a system of Atomic habits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Chapter Two ‘<i>How your habits shape your identity</i>’, includes the
three levels of behaviour change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Outcomes are
about what you get. Processes are about what you do.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Outcome-based habits versus Identity-based habits makes a lot of sense,
especially when it is connected to building habits that last. Making a good
habit a part of the identity is a convincing argument presented by the author. The
three levels – Outcome change, process change and identity change are useful
premises to upgrade and expand better identities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A type of person who <i>wants</i> this versus a type of person who <i>is</i>
this – forms the core of establishing the right identity of pride, for oneself.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Walking through life in a cognitive slumber, as the author puts it,
becomes a norm of attachment of a person’s identity. Sliding into mental
grooves and accepting them as facts causes untold damage to our growth. This
hits hard because most of us have been conditioned to accept ourselves the way
we are made to believe, mostly through others’ perceptions. This is reinforced
through the group versus personal identity crises we all encounter in our
society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Shifting the focus from going backward from results by being <b><i>consistent
and reliable</i></b> to create an identity-based habit building, is a workable
plan offered by Clear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Chapter Three, ‘<i>How to build better habits in three simple steps</i>’,
begins with an interesting puzzle box experiment by Psychologist Edward
Thorndike with cats. This is connected to how the brain builds habits that last.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Habits are
mental shortcuts learned through experience.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Habits do not
restrict freedom They create it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">The four-step Habit Loop process – the Cue, Craving, Response and Reward
seems like a powerful tool to identify and build good habits.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cravings – motivational force behind habits – and the response which
delivers the reward are excellent follow ups to understand how the brain is a
reward detector, as Clear expresses the idea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Make the cue invisible, the craving unattractive, the response difficult
and reward unsatisfying – to break a bad habit. The opposite works for every
good habit to sustain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 380.5pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Make the
behaviour change obvious, attractive, easy and satisfying to build better
habits.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">These four laws are
further elaborated in the forthcoming chapters. Chapters 4-7 are for the
elaboration of the <b><i>First law: Make it obvious</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Chapter Four uses
excellent examples to show us how a conscious awareness of behavioural change,
based on implementation intentions, leads to automation of habits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Setting behaviours
goals with <i>time and location</i> is a doable premise to get things done. The
Habit stacking process as a simple plan to overhaul the habits, by pairing an
existing habit with a new one – leading to a cycle of behavioural dominoes – is
explained well by the author.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We have heard the
importance of motivation innumerable times from various sources. So, when th e
title of <b><i>Chapter Five: Motivation is overrated, environment often mattes
more </i></b>-<b><i> </i></b>claims the opposite, one sits up and pays
attention. Making the cue a part of the environment, by altering it for
increased positivity is touted to be the key to achieve the required
environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Secondly, the role of
the context and its power to build new habits is an important reality check for
most people. Avoid mixing contexts to mix habits, by making the context the cue
is crucial awareness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 7: The Secret
to Self Control </span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">begins
with a compelling story of heroin addiction of American soldiers in Vietnam. An
environment devoid of triggers is pointed out as the key to reduce bad
behaviour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
people with the best self-control are the ones who need to use it the least.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The premise of
Cue-induced wanting is not new to us. Making the cue <i>invisible </i>rather
than obvious is the most effective way to break an undesirable habit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Chapters 8-10
elaborate the <b><i>Second Law: Make it attractive<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Chapter 8: How
to make a habit </b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>irresistible</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">, </b><span style="font-family: verdana;">I totally loved the examples of birds used by
James Clear in the book.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The adult Herring
Gulls experiment is fascinating, so is the one involving geese. Identifying the
bliss point of food to create a dynamic contrast (a combination of sensations)
that makes certain foods addictive to the brain.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The paragraphs on
Dopamine induced feedback loop is fascinating as well, because the behaviour of
mice is predictably so. The role of dopamine in identifying a want versus a
like is compelling. The best part of the chapter is where ‘temptation bundling’
as the author calls it is used to make habits attractive. The idea of clubbing
exercise with binge watching Netflix (movies, in my case) is something that had
occurred to me multiple times, though I never took the step to bring it to
fruition. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 9: Role of
family and friends in shaping your habits</span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> is something that most of us are
already aware of. What’s new is the example illustrated in the chapter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A
genius is not born, but educated and trained.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
culture we live in determines which behaviours are attractive to us.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The Polgar sisters who became chess
wizards is a classic example that illustrates this idea. Clear proposes the
idea of Imitating the close, the many and the powerful to prove the seductive
pull of social norms. The best culture is where the desired behaviour is normal
behaviour, that overpowers the desire of the individual.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The culture of
imitating the many is explained well with the social conformity experiment of
cards by Solomon Asch. The tendency to go with the crowd, even when the
contrary is before their own eyes, is an eye-opener of the power society wields
over us.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 10: How to
find and fix the causes of your bad habits</span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> focusses on how to reprogram our
brains to enjoy habits that are hard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Every
behaviour has a surface level craving and a deeper underlying motive.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Example for exercise:
Its time to build endurance and get fast (benefits of running, instead of ‘to
run’). It talks about specific rituals that put us in the right mindset to do a
required task. Clear advises us to reframe the associations/predictions we have
with the bad habits to rid ourselves of them and vice versa for the good
habits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Chapters 11-13 explain
the<b><i> Third Law : Make it easy<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 11: Walk
slowly but never backward </span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">begins with yet another story, a highly compelling one,
at that. The results of the photography experiment – quality versus quantity -
seems surprising at first but is only a reflection of classic human behaviour.
The importance of quantity to achieve quality is highlighted with finesse. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Habits
form based on frequency, not time.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
most effective form of learning is practice, not planning.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Forming a new habit by crossing the
habit line (activating neural circuits associated with them) is illustrated
well. How many does it take to form a new habit? Not how long, but how many –
is the crux of the discussion.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 12: The Law
of least effort</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">
starts with a highly fascinating piece of information that shows the connection
between human behaviour and the shape of continents across the world. And this
is showcased thorough the spread of agriculture across the world.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It makes absolute
sense, because it taps on to a basic nature of humans –that which requires the
least effort is the most motivating.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Making your habits
easy to reduce effort seems easy, although we must agree that not all activities
we want to do fall under this category. Practice environment design’ is what
the author suggests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Habits are easier to build when they
fit into the flow of your life</span></i></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Reducing the friction
</span></i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">is
what Clear calls the process. The example of Japanese ‘lean production’ with
addition by subtraction methodology is interesting. Subtraction of wasted
effort makes a lot of sense.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Create
an environment where doing the right thing is as easy as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Priming the environment
for future use</span></i><span style="text-align: justify;">
i</span><span style="text-align: justify;">s thus a useful plan of action.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 13: How to
stop procrastinating by using the two-minute rule </span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">begins with yet
another story of how making something a routine reduces the effort of thinking
about it. It works on the principle that it is easier to continue doing
something than doing something new or different.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When
you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">40-50% of our actions
are determined by habit, on any given day. Thus the importance of <i>decisive
moments, that set options available to the future self</i> are established in
the chapter. The options that follow the first choice, determine how the next
few hours go by.mThe first two minutes become a <i>ritual </i>for a larger
consistency.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 14: How to make
good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible </span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">begins with how Victor
Hugo wrote the famous The Hunchback of Notre Dame in the 1830s.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A commitment device
is a choice you make in the present that controls your actions in the future.
Automating a habit and never thinking about it again seems like a good way to
get things done.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I like the way Clear equates
social media to mental candy that he removed to create an environment of
inevitability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chapters 15-17
enunciate the </span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Fourth Law: Make it satisfying</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 15: The
Cardinal rule of behaviour change </span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">charts the course of an American public
health worker who shifts to Karachi and tackles the extreme unsanitary
conditions there. Making people adopt handwashing through innovative methods
works wonders in improving the health conditions of the children. The example
of Wrigley revolutionising chewing gum is also an interesting tale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The mismatch between
immediate and delayed rewards hits home, elaborating the premise of .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
Human brain did not evolve for life in a delayed-return environment.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The tendency of<i>
time inconsistency </i>where the brain tends to prioritize the current moment
makes us realize why we procrastinate good habits and imbibe bad ones faster. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What
is immediately rewarded is repeated. </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What is immediately punished is avoided.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thus the importance
of short-term rewards to keep us motivated and reinforce our identity is a
useful hack to tackle this tendency.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 16: How to
stick with good habits everyday </span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">elaborates a simple technique called the
Paper Clip strategy that made a huge difference to the exponential growth of a
sales rep. Moving the chosen ‘clip’ from one place to another establishes a routine
that is simple, yet effective.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The most interesting
story is that of Benjamin Franklin, who noted down thirteen positive attributes
every single day, when he was twenty. The habit tracker has worked wonders for
Jerry Seinfeld, the comedian too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Making the habit
tracking an obvious, attractive and satisfying process is the key. Example:
Keeping a food log when we want to lose weight. The author also includes a
passage on how to recover quickly from a missed good habit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Never
Miss Twice. Lost days hurt you more than successful days help you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Avoiding
a 33% loss is just as valuable as achieving a 50 % again.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Also knowing when to track
a habit and when not to, is elaborated well. Our tendency to overvalue numbers
and undervalue ephemeral, soft or difficult to quantify undermine the importance
of our progress, if any. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Just
because you can measure something doesn’t mean it’s the most important thing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">An example is where the
author points out that Non-Scale victories can be effective for weight loss.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 17: How an
accountability partner can change everything </span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">reinforces the buddy partnership methods
that we have heard of, to get difficult things done.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">If
the failure is painful, it gets fixed.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
strength of punishment must match the relative strength of the behaviour you
are trying to correct. To be healthy, the cost of laziness must be greater than
the cost of exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Knowing
that someone else is watching you can be a powerful motivator.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Essentially, Clear
says that a mere slap on the wrist may not work to change bad behaviour. He proposes
the Habit Contract – accountability to someone, tackle this issue. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Chapters 18-20
discuss some <b>Advanced tactics: How to go from being merely good to being
truly great<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Chapter 18: The truth
about Talent (when genes matter and when they don’t)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is the chapter
that I found most realistic, practical and on-dot. Analysing the suitability of
a passion in accordance with what our genes have provided us with makes more
sense when Clear clarifies with the comparative study of Olympic Gold medal
winner athletes: Michael Phelps the swimmer and Hicham El Guerrouj, the runner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The height factor
with the difference of seven inches between the two, and the length of their
torsos is perfect for their chosen sports. Clear elaborates the concept of
biological determinism to show the influence of genes on behaviour.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
secret to maximizing your odds of success is t choose the right field of
competition.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Genes
do not determine your destiny. They determine your areas of opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Next, the author explains
how one can determine the best opportunity based on personality, which is a
result of gene clusters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I found the passage
on neuroticism interesting. All people possess this personality trait at
varying degrees. Higher the neuroticism, the more the sensitivity to negative
cues, and vice versa. The takeaway is based on this premise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Build
habits that work for your personality.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Choose
the habit that best suits you, not the one that is most popular.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Choose
habits that align with your natural abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Naturally, the next step is to find what works for the individual personality
to stay motivated and yield success. This is easier said than done. The author
acknowledges this. Trial and error is impossible in one lifetime. So, he
proposes the <i>explore/exploit trade-off</i> as a solution to the conundrum. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Try out many possibilities, research a broad range of ideas and cast a
wide net, says the author. He insists that it works 80-90% of the time, leaving
10-20% scope for more exploration. The example of Google using a similar
strategy resulting in creation of Gmail and Adwords is a classic one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A combination of what feels like fun, makes us lose track of time, gives
greater returns and comes naturally to us is the option that must be chosen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Specialisation is a
powerful way to overcome the accident of bad genetics.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Transform the environment
to work in your favour and work hard on what comes easy to you. <b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 19: The
Goldilocks Rule: How to stay motivated in life and work </span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">begins with the story
of a little boy who walks into Disneyland and end sup creating magic. Steve
Martin’s rags to riches story is a thing of legends.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I found the
Goldilocks zone close to the truth. Challenges that lie at the perimeter of our
ability, on the edge of current abilities work best for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Maximum
motivation occurs when facing a challenge of just manageable difficulty.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Boredom
is the greatest villain on the quest for self-improvement.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The elite weightlifting
coach who tells Clear that at some point it comes down to who can handle the
boredom of lifting the same stuff over and over and over are the successful
ones in addition to genes, luck and talent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
greatest threat to success is not failure but boredom.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Professionals
stick to the schedule, amateurs let life get in the way.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Clear points out the
importance of novelty, with variable rewards, in the routine to spike dopamine
and memory recall. The ability to keep going makes all the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Chapter 20: The
downside of creating good habits </span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">warns those with good habits not to fall into
traps of mindless repetition, that allows mistakes to slide. Pay attention to
little errors that occur because of becoming habituated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Do not reinforce
current habits, improve them. To remain conscious of performance over time, is what
the author cautions us about. Refine and improve (fine-tune) when it becomes
automatic and comfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Habits
+ deliberate practice= Mastery<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Ensure
that you reach new levels of performance until higher range of skills are internalized.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">To do this, one needs
to review habits and make required adjustments. The example of the Lakers at the
NBA is a good reinforcement of the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRXz48HRovT9AkomJ-c4cJbkG0iFxtuM-rg_OMW9kl6JKPCe-PTx54C8mRSRVIviv7fgPDIYDiSgsiqjwlt7LoM5MrLK49vtPrgd6MPn-g6Ok-yA4kGuA4dmt6r26GIh6bn0P5Ot0Nwkq/s4160/IMG_20210802_195917426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRXz48HRovT9AkomJ-c4cJbkG0iFxtuM-rg_OMW9kl6JKPCe-PTx54C8mRSRVIviv7fgPDIYDiSgsiqjwlt7LoM5MrLK49vtPrgd6MPn-g6Ok-yA4kGuA4dmt6r26GIh6bn0P5Ot0Nwkq/w300-h400/IMG_20210802_195917426.jpg" width="300"></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Avoid making one
single aspect of your identity an overwhelming portion of who you are. Keep your
identity small and adapt to challenges - flexible, not brittle.</span></span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A
lack of self-awareness is poison. Reflection and review is the antidote.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Essentially, the
author warns us against locking ourselves into previous patterns of thinking and
acting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The <b>Conclusion </b>offers
secrets to results that last, tarting with Sorites paradox – a Greek parable.
The effect of one small action -the atomic habit – is reinforced here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Success is not a goal
to reach or a finish line to cross. It is a system to improve, an endless
process to refine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Tiny
Changes. Remarkable results<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The book concludes thus,
with the main tagline. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Conclusion of review<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is by far the
best self-help non fiction that I have read till now. I could not put it down,
even after I finished it. Which is why this review is almost a booklet in
itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Also, we live in an
age where we are inundated with advice from all quarters. Most advice revolves
around what Not to do, offering no alternatives about what needs to be done
instead. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This book is different
in that respect. It is a unique combination of compelling real-life examples,
awareness of how things are, realization of where we are wrong and how to go
about setting it right<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Having said that, no
self-help book is worth its salt if we, the readers do not take up the
initiative to help ourselves with all the guidelines. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the book, but also try to imbibe the
learning at least to some degree. I will try to, hope you do too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And if you found this
piece beneficial, do share it wherever you deem useful, and follow my blog for
more. Happy reading, readers!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>***</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-67100257748641526472021-07-28T05:06:00.003-07:002021-07-28T05:06:44.171-07:00Quiet Feelings : A Poem<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUEf9aAA_i9kVhpIcHu18nryg3t5Nz5BNtDwB-jPMgmUwA9pn28ip_GczfCSWVB9V1xYv7ZNofWxeonPXP2_XvJZ5O1ghyWjtqi3v9xl9latvGtSqmSZdvnyqIUT-xiFYDxFEs4rIYIqm/s1077/IMG_20210728_121808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1077" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUEf9aAA_i9kVhpIcHu18nryg3t5Nz5BNtDwB-jPMgmUwA9pn28ip_GczfCSWVB9V1xYv7ZNofWxeonPXP2_XvJZ5O1ghyWjtqi3v9xl9latvGtSqmSZdvnyqIUT-xiFYDxFEs4rIYIqm/s320/IMG_20210728_121808.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Images & stories
of you, I behold
in my eyes
I breathe in,
& imbue, while
exhaling poetry
for all we have
between us are
sincere words, for now
quiet feelings wait
in windswept
moments of time.
</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">***</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo:Pinterest</i></span></span></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-27745239161539585972021-07-28T05:03:00.004-07:002021-07-28T05:06:58.656-07:00Half A Face : A Poem<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij24GAzH4TVF-qTyFRd06nvFvkrE1DERcJNvI_XXkjM2DB7yWSVI4OKi5_eVFhsO2xXhX1XjIxvJPR7xS5jApx6ueUC2to0KWz24DM90Za9lNqNMtHdQo_c3K3_2t4w69RwgzYV4pcr-u5/s3264/IMG_20210718_135623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij24GAzH4TVF-qTyFRd06nvFvkrE1DERcJNvI_XXkjM2DB7yWSVI4OKi5_eVFhsO2xXhX1XjIxvJPR7xS5jApx6ueUC2to0KWz24DM90Za9lNqNMtHdQo_c3K3_2t4w69RwgzYV4pcr-u5/s320/IMG_20210718_135623.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">#Covid19 taught us how
to reduce the breathless pace
Masks & sanitizers now
govern & rule the place
Let throwbacks take a bow,
or memories vanish with no trace
Succumb to trends, that allow
the display of only half a face.</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">***</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-46336563027763047562021-07-28T05:00:00.002-07:002021-07-28T05:07:09.172-07:00Beauty : A Quote<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc4A7EGy7RJMAMvU1tw_zwuXOIWPL80gwTgc1bVeSmbUn_ifIX-qGq4To6LeMo7R_ijzGcbqaWxfInyVEDck8ZJ4prh7xywNFFU0kH-bL2jIwBSfjhfR-xV03vHmeOVgK5vXxoJBH5GPA/s1350/E6XxBfeVoAEFDjA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc4A7EGy7RJMAMvU1tw_zwuXOIWPL80gwTgc1bVeSmbUn_ifIX-qGq4To6LeMo7R_ijzGcbqaWxfInyVEDck8ZJ4prh7xywNFFU0kH-bL2jIwBSfjhfR-xV03vHmeOVgK5vXxoJBH5GPA/s320/E6XxBfeVoAEFDjA.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Anything that soothes </span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">tired eyes </span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">and brightens </span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">the heart </span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">is called beauty.
</span></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><br /><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4_lXyB8FY2QJ6FG09vBXpV-MJelZZfvIyDFfLb7AQBYp1RPG8Gz8ILKSLIbVYWmiX_cwWCbrZNMrNvyOH6STVGV2QU2oWG-WJI_r_tzUdio8J-9pBrz93qw6VAADkLEkrDo62DDt-3zX/s1350/E6XxDb_VcAAl7VN.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4_lXyB8FY2QJ6FG09vBXpV-MJelZZfvIyDFfLb7AQBYp1RPG8Gz8ILKSLIbVYWmiX_cwWCbrZNMrNvyOH6STVGV2QU2oWG-WJI_r_tzUdio8J-9pBrz93qw6VAADkLEkrDo62DDt-3zX/s320/E6XxDb_VcAAl7VN.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; white-space: pre-wrap;">#zephryrlilies</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; white-space: pre-wrap;">#flowers</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; white-space: pre-wrap;">#beauty</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; white-space: pre-wrap;">#beautiful</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">#nature</span></span></p><p><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Photo: Chethana Ramesh</i></span></span></p>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-46503426560529523582021-07-19T06:23:00.005-07:002021-07-19T06:26:31.202-07:00Book Review of 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5xBB_qX0scuwO5bT0O9aT2CRZtnHpgHoi0B7KUzzZP6AlYOBeJZ3XcGi0wIsGD49N0tUjRO44F6wPwboCpibQ-NcQXjlAAVjIzbwDoyh1KSf_93P7ZHQnhc-qPfKan0aBb8DKMaIeLQ7/s1280/IMG_20210719_184751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5xBB_qX0scuwO5bT0O9aT2CRZtnHpgHoi0B7KUzzZP6AlYOBeJZ3XcGi0wIsGD49N0tUjRO44F6wPwboCpibQ-NcQXjlAAVjIzbwDoyh1KSf_93P7ZHQnhc-qPfKan0aBb8DKMaIeLQ7/w180-h320/IMG_20210719_184751.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'A boy who doesn’t stand up for himself </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything'.</i></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>- Baba, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have been
saving this read since a long time. My last book by Hosseini was the famed, deep,
disturbing read: A Thousand Splendid Suns. The story and even some powerful
scenes have stayed etched in my mind despite the passage of more than half a
decade of reading it. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I knew that 'The
Kite Runner' would be a similar read: powerful and impactful.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Characters<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There are
few characters, well defined and memorable. Amir and Hassan are the friends, who
are handed different statuses in society by a cruel twist of fate. Baba’s character
evolves continually, even after his death. Sohrab, the child throws light on
multiple cruelties meted out to children by the Taliban.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The other characters such as Hassan's father Ali are crucial to the build up of the tale. Amir's wife Soraya and uncle Rahim Khan, assume more importance as the story
builds up with the turn of the pages, especially in the second half. The cruel character of Assef returns to offer an element of more shock and surprise, towards the climax.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Storyline</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Set in
Afghanistan during the initial days before the country was plundered and
ravaged by the Taliban, with a shift to America, the story brings out the contrast
in the lives in the two countries, and its effect on the people. The latter
part is rich in atmosphere, where the damage caused by the Taliban rule is showcased
in a highly impactful manner. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">However,
the story is about the deliberate disruption of friendship of a lifetime by a
mind that is insecure, envious and cowardly. It is about unquestioned loyalty
amidst betrayal and hurt. And then, it is about seeking redemption, while
paying a price for acquiring it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thereby,
the story is a bildungsroman, narrated by the protagonist Amir, charts his growth through his childhood
to manhood amid a lot of honest soul-searching and courage. Strong symbolism
plays a constant role in adding layers to the characterization and
story-telling - the main one being the kites.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Themes</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Friendship,
jealousy and redemption are the main themes. Other important themes such as religion, parental relationships, racism, casteism, romance, love, trauma and childhood rape add potent nuances
to the storyline. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A powerful novel, that juxtaposes history with human psychology, a must
read. I rate it 4.7 out of 5. Pick it up only if you are able to read it in as
less sittings as possible, because it won’t let you go until the last page is
turned.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">If you found my review useful, do follow my blog for more. Happy
reading, readers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">***<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-78030239895222685382021-07-14T11:35:00.002-07:002021-07-19T06:03:32.087-07:00Scarred Beauties : A Quote<p></p><div class="css-1dbjc4n" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; align-items: stretch; background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; z-index: 0;"><div aria-labelledby="id__8kffqzfnpc3 id__xx5bciml1g" class="css-1dbjc4n" id="id__mf036i4qrq" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1ets6dv r-1867qdf r-1phboty r-rs99b7 r-1s2bzr4 r-1ny4l3l r-1udh08x r-o7ynqc r-6416eg" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid rgb(207, 217, 222); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 12px 0px 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline-style: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, box-shadow; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1adg3ll r-1udh08x" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div class="css-1dbjc4n" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; align-items: stretch; background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1s2bzr4" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 12px 0px 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-901oao r-18jsvk2 r-1qd0xha r-1blvdjr r-16dba41 r-vrz42v r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" id="id__g0exgvmr7v4" lang="en" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font: 400 23px / 28px -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7Om_2kla1Kcl0qX1CyxOyqQspgQ3MhBXKl4gKMnvXVqcdl1CiZ0oiXqs5s2u-QJSobAGJyVDA1S-5KplLLMRj4ZZC0jIzVg9gvBFB0uHKiPyoBPs9mUo_tUPSPztcjnjrmCjakrew-CC/s680/E5qAtaWVIAAQLXw.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7Om_2kla1Kcl0qX1CyxOyqQspgQ3MhBXKl4gKMnvXVqcdl1CiZ0oiXqs5s2u-QJSobAGJyVDA1S-5KplLLMRj4ZZC0jIzVg9gvBFB0uHKiPyoBPs9mUo_tUPSPztcjnjrmCjakrew-CC/s320/E5qAtaWVIAAQLXw.jpeg" /></a></div><br />...and the laughing blooms</span><span style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: inherit;">taught me that a few visible scars only add on to the charm. </span></div><div class="css-901oao r-18jsvk2 r-1qd0xha r-1blvdjr r-16dba41 r-vrz42v r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" id="id__g0exgvmr7v4" lang="en" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font: 400 23px / 28px -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;">
</span><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; flex-direction: row;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLinDR2zQ5-HtLhhPDwBvdi2x8j0ctYuzO5Knw6EPaR5JPIvYf6Z7BgZCcNqrhhei4xwceQ4Qk-Jzs_NsxJvLz1S7jNQCGUSbef8sNNRlHc3M2I00HcCIjJuXe2KbGSx6SS4mU9OJSRkW4/s680/E5qAyCuUcAIFJ7w.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLinDR2zQ5-HtLhhPDwBvdi2x8j0ctYuzO5Knw6EPaR5JPIvYf6Z7BgZCcNqrhhei4xwceQ4Qk-Jzs_NsxJvLz1S7jNQCGUSbef8sNNRlHc3M2I00HcCIjJuXe2KbGSx6SS4mU9OJSRkW4/s320/E5qAyCuUcAIFJ7w.jpeg" /></a></div><br />#ipomoea</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;"> </span><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; flex-direction: row;">#NaturePhotography</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;"> </span><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; flex-direction: row;">#BejucoBlanco</span></div></div></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-62551847908805401802021-07-14T11:30:00.003-07:002021-07-19T06:03:44.645-07:00I Paint : A Poem<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaR59Bc8lze5vU0iyVLopcWWRHELuw-lASORRwTuApiR3kIQ9sUXDITF_G70e6KI6drQ-zLbI60JKaaoQyvbFuWhg9w29zl918hLdkgNXP1MI4Mb5inm8KtnJp7GNK0n1SBCDkiOO5Mce/s553/00e23a5bd6fa72610c4e8fe42baaed04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="442" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaR59Bc8lze5vU0iyVLopcWWRHELuw-lASORRwTuApiR3kIQ9sUXDITF_G70e6KI6drQ-zLbI60JKaaoQyvbFuWhg9w29zl918hLdkgNXP1MI4Mb5inm8KtnJp7GNK0n1SBCDkiOO5Mce/w160-h200/00e23a5bd6fa72610c4e8fe42baaed04.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div>Enamoured</div>by your words
I engulf myself
in painting
stories of your soul.
</span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-30318266008327214622021-07-14T11:28:00.004-07:002021-07-28T05:08:26.705-07:00Void Walker : A Poem<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0Yg7PiXpFiWg8xVyMWlOA5UKAzYV9tfclxa8SnRDo7UAa9TcWugarksffp800aQIg19TbM-EmLxHM9znjv5mfiZ2ibZZoe_cr0ABNCQesDpllrUs1zC_In4DYlM8TX6OsiuCEa0lRnml/s900/E6MgO3iVUAA4CDr.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0Yg7PiXpFiWg8xVyMWlOA5UKAzYV9tfclxa8SnRDo7UAa9TcWugarksffp800aQIg19TbM-EmLxHM9znjv5mfiZ2ibZZoe_cr0ABNCQesDpllrUs1zC_In4DYlM8TX6OsiuCEa0lRnml/w300-h400/E6MgO3iVUAA4CDr.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>A half hidden path </span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>to hazy city of dreams
beckons & entices </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Me, </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">a void walker </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">selfish eyes </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">seek solace </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">while undressing poetry</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">with lilting sparks </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">of orphic melodies</span></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">***</span></span></p><div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Photo: Chethana Ramesh</span></span></div><div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Location: Kudremukha</span></span></div></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-22490692385377619022021-07-14T11:24:00.007-07:002021-07-14T11:24:45.313-07:00He, my Love : A Poem<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0JJxdgfuN13fs1XnrW_sFeqIrQbMYvuQulBv7t6gmXZwodQtch9V0HHEjUaLwtiE8_D2mPqSaoBtHoWtsOJwaBxDfUsnlgWWt9i_UqRrIFklME1gbv1KfjGry2jWUYl9GYTCJ3y3sl35/s680/E6RevNWUcAIX4gD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="529" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0JJxdgfuN13fs1XnrW_sFeqIrQbMYvuQulBv7t6gmXZwodQtch9V0HHEjUaLwtiE8_D2mPqSaoBtHoWtsOJwaBxDfUsnlgWWt9i_UqRrIFklME1gbv1KfjGry2jWUYl9GYTCJ3y3sl35/s320/E6RevNWUcAIX4gD.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">His words
ignite my mind
undressing poetry</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
His voice
fires my nerves
in orphic melody
His drawl
teases my senses
in orgasmic symphony
</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bBbpzrEcSYf6yy0iwa3ssM0zgkeDm0-MwKdi3NvFJT3snLbm9tk8cGpx5a5KtXEbhPhUv9CMWUyjI2honPpjWUX5Ni3Z3Qc9DhtNse3iABupRdatbpeoMdFn5JhZAXEV0ymawUsnPZus/s392/E6RevANVEAIC9ss.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bBbpzrEcSYf6yy0iwa3ssM0zgkeDm0-MwKdi3NvFJT3snLbm9tk8cGpx5a5KtXEbhPhUv9CMWUyjI2honPpjWUX5Ni3Z3Qc9DhtNse3iABupRdatbpeoMdFn5JhZAXEV0ymawUsnPZus/s320/E6RevANVEAIC9ss.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">His presence
unleashes cosmic colors
in aphrodisiac rhapsody
He, my love
my glee
& blissful destiny
</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">***</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>images: pinterest</i></span></span></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-38051481721149813622021-07-05T10:43:00.004-07:002021-07-11T07:24:39.704-07:00Book Review of 'Guns and Yellow Roses – Essays on the Kargil War'<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><i><span lang="EN-US"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KaNNdko4Z-bxmZWfjS_Tdu2o0kbzSOFmPjLYXVfZXemj46t4EruyVTTxGuP93g1K_lGP6HOl6kWNTuo9o7aZRJ-BCSI8TeN2wpQKUl7F7S75715v4_5Cxs5v7zWbtxujQsp-2uTLPCxL/s4160/IMG_20210705_165610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KaNNdko4Z-bxmZWfjS_Tdu2o0kbzSOFmPjLYXVfZXemj46t4EruyVTTxGuP93g1K_lGP6HOl6kWNTuo9o7aZRJ-BCSI8TeN2wpQKUl7F7S75715v4_5Cxs5v7zWbtxujQsp-2uTLPCxL/w300-h400/IMG_20210705_165610.jpg" width="300"></a></i></div><i><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What
does the jawan get out of this?</span></span></i></div></i><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Tell me
what does the jawan get? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">You get
your story, <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">we get
our quotes in the newspapers, <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">what
does the poor jawan get?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he dies, he stops getting <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">even
the pittance he earns as salary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– Brigade Major Rajeev Srivastava,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Journeys without maps, Sankarshan Thakur<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This anthology is a first of this
genre for me. Being a fiction buff, I rarely read non-fiction unless the topic
in question is compelling enough to hold my attention. And Kargil definitely
qualifies as compelling, and then some. I took a far longer time to finish this
book because some paragraphs just do not allow readers to go ahead after
reading – rather demand an insightful imbibement or reflection. I admit that I
may have missed many insinuations that ought to have been picked up but will
only reveal themselves in repeated readings, perhaps in the third or fourth attempts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">‘Guns and Yellow roses, Essays on
the Kargil war’ is just what it claims. The anthology of ten essays, penned by
eminent journalists and writers, covers a wide horizon of versions of what
happened at Kargil during those crucial days. What I found interesting were the
varied perceptions that either matched or clashed between different groups –
the people of Kashmir, the political honchos and the Indian army. Also, the
powers that be, political or otherwise, who weave their influence into the happenings of the countries
involved, while at war or at peace, is showcased with no holds barred. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Also, the photographs included in
each of the pieces add a wholesome feel to the comprehension of the topics
discussed by the authors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Essays<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The first piece by Sankarshan Thakur
is heartrending. ‘Journeys without Maps’ traces the beauty of the landscape that morphs into a warzone, and thus gives the book its title. The
changing scenarios and the interviews within the army camps make for an
engrossing read. The plight of foot-soldiers who perhaps become scapegoats to
the whims or lapses of those in power, cuts into the sensitive readers’ psyche.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Although all the tales have their
own impact, ‘It Was Not Our War’ by Muzamil Jaleel is compelling in the
questions it raises. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">‘The people of Kargil bore the worst </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">and most direct brunt of the border conflict. </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Pakistan shelled their homes </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">and
drove them off their lands. </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">India failed to provide shelter for them </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">and
ignored warnings of the coming invasion’<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The author delves into the reasons
for support or resentment towards both the countries, by the local populace of
Kashmir. The struggles of refugees are iterated well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Kargil war was fought, won and
lost…</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But in Kashmir, both sides seem to have lost’<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Rahul Bedi’s piece ‘A Dismal
Failure’ showcases the inability of the over-complacent Indian officials to
take the obvious threat seriously until it had aggravated to grim levels is an
eye-opener.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">‘The responsibility of the higher
command </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">is not to lead men into battle </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">but to make accurate assessments </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">and to
act on them professionally.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The essay by Bharat Bhushan namely 'In the Enemy Country' was captivating as well. The journalist echoes the words
of the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba and the conflict with the then PM of Pakistan,
Nawaz Shariff. The scenes of the Lashkar rally in lslamabad gives readers
goosebumps. The processes of internationalization of the Kashmir issue and the
misinformation of the press is explained well in the essay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">However, the last one which is Suketu
Mehta’s piece, ‘A Fatal Love’, seems grossly out of place, almost an
afterthought addition that need not have been there. Yes, love conquers borders
and is all encompassing, but the book on the whole is a narrative on the war
aspects of the conflict situation in Kargil. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Hence the inclusion of the theme of Mehta's essay – a
contemplation of <i>Bhai Bhai</i> brotherhood or blossoming of love between couples of the two countries, a la-Refugee Bollywood movie style - is akin
to forcibly sticking a rose at the end of an ambush rifle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Highly unapologetic, concise and
with no remorse, the book presents the inside stories as they are. There is a
lot for clueless civilians to learn from this book. One conclusion that can definitely
be drawn at the end of it is that the said issues are inconclusive – there is
no single right or wrong answer to the problems that plague the region. The book leaves
the reader somewhat frustrated, given that the lack of clear-cut solutions is
distinct, despite all the analyses and contemplation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Did you find my review useful? Follow my blog for more. Happy reading, readers! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p><br><p></p>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-17667807054792783862021-07-05T10:27:00.001-07:002021-07-05T10:51:55.785-07:00Book Review of 'Year of the Tiger' by Stephen Swartz<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvXibYZrfA4MmTQOf4olqwJ5G8ip_VEcHw4dg7g3zeLB-khyphenhyphenJPZhyom35W8Raz5MVbygjU4aVT_nOwCuGe4uIvgD-xpLM9tJ4Qb58y1KQcUXkaa6aBfVchEklK4bLYahpMruA8Q9_PUGt/s1600/1625507171422463-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvXibYZrfA4MmTQOf4olqwJ5G8ip_VEcHw4dg7g3zeLB-khyphenhyphenJPZhyom35W8Raz5MVbygjU4aVT_nOwCuGe4uIvgD-xpLM9tJ4Qb58y1KQcUXkaa6aBfVchEklK4bLYahpMruA8Q9_PUGt/w338-h400/1625507171422463-0.png" width="338" />
</a>
</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This is by
far the best book of this author. I had saved it for last because I knew that
the book is set in India and the plot seemed intriguing in the blurb. I
absolutely enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Indian jungle, old temples and
crowded marketplaces as perceived by the characters.</div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I believe
that humans are absolutely the worst things to happen to this planet. Reading
this story seemed like a reiteration of the same theory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It starts
off as a simple story of a disturbed man in an asylum, with an understanding
nurse who assists him in ways far beyond her duties. His narrow escape from a
murder attempt and the consequent chase across half the world is just one facet
of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The other
dimension is the one which adds a surreal thrill to the plot. The simultaneous
flashes of a tiger living his life in Bengal projected into Karl’s mind make
him go more insane. The result is Karl and Althea ending up chasing the tiger
across the landscape of India. Add to this the crazed murderer baying for his
blood, plus a narcissistic hunter baying for the tiger’s blood and we have the
perfect recipe for an unusual thriller.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The theme
of magical realism has been used to heighten the effect of the conservation of
wildlife to the plot and add a surreal twist to the tale. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Tiger
is the most endearing character of them all. And Swartz brings out the real
danger of extinction of the striped mammal in a classic characterization that
delves into the mind of the tiger himself. The portrayal of love between the
tiger and his beloved mate is convincing, endearing , adorable and
heart-wrenching.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What I
found most interesting was the depiction of the man-eater as harmless, if left alone.
It is highly convincing as well, especially since the prevalent theory of
man-eaters being irreversibly harmful to humans has sanctioned the slaughter of
beasts perceived as dangerous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">If the
objective of the author was to showcase the character of man for what he is –
in all his cruelty, sadism, foolishness and arrogance of false entitlement over
the earth – he has succeeded with aplomb. And the human characters fighting to
kill one another even as the tigers wait to attack them is a classic showcase
of man in all his shameful way of existence.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Overall, an
entertaining read. I rate it 4.8 out of 5. Extra points are for the
juxtaposition of two seemingly different themes with smooth finesse. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Did you
enjoy my review? Do follow my blog to find more reviews, and for poetry, quotes
and nature photography too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">***</span></div></span>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-73086030450360112512021-07-04T07:52:00.013-07:002021-07-05T10:23:31.130-07:00Soldier : A Poem<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzQeXE0XtD48jVSzaE_0Y69kHPVaOpdX-yT6434l8qRAZasxo37yDwXvPbF-r_n8rg2Hsoaf53pKtDnl_r55D4Pl0bL51_abJojAYQbgJsgQ6mfk4WUvHMYlOCo9pRGYcA0VOaO5WZsYK/s366/IMG_20210624_114650.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzQeXE0XtD48jVSzaE_0Y69kHPVaOpdX-yT6434l8qRAZasxo37yDwXvPbF-r_n8rg2Hsoaf53pKtDnl_r55D4Pl0bL51_abJojAYQbgJsgQ6mfk4WUvHMYlOCo9pRGYcA0VOaO5WZsYK/s320/IMG_20210624_114650.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">faceless, he is </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">just another rank </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">amid the millions </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">in service registry</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">voiceless, he lives </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">until his battle cries </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">strike thunderous terror
into hearts of his enemy
</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagSx2zRJ8Vz0iOIs2oAnUo9bN7aMKm0uI_BabF0-KTKcp5TmkYhMKd_w_-uZjzQSsRRUTMcdqL2p7olmgvEOREn11D76_ED7rYcceMBaaAqgEBO-jHSzuUwcnCNtm8roB3_R7SzSoMP7P/s631/E4oIwzfVUAYiwTO.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagSx2zRJ8Vz0iOIs2oAnUo9bN7aMKm0uI_BabF0-KTKcp5TmkYhMKd_w_-uZjzQSsRRUTMcdqL2p7olmgvEOREn11D76_ED7rYcceMBaaAqgEBO-jHSzuUwcnCNtm8roB3_R7SzSoMP7P/s320/E4oIwzfVUAYiwTO.jpeg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">relentless, he fights </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">until his lifeblood drains </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">with his last breath </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">in undisclosed bravery</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">nameless, he buries </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">trillions of untold stories
unsung, undone years </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">into abysses of history
</span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>***</i></span></span></p><p><i>images: pinterest</i></p><div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-81637154490761438032021-07-04T07:48:00.006-07:002021-07-05T10:53:42.697-07:00Worthwhile : A Quote<p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa0KrjaciRbZ3i-bO_G8RugGB2U6nI2LaJ4pJWntu_gKc7q-2uiALv7dXfHii0EWaUi3ktlLDaX5KZTtqTCH3IPJQHzEteuejShpV14dgir6PcLrjuE_NPnOBrium7-K5UOSyx7FwRNIF/s4160/IMG_20210619_163136.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa0KrjaciRbZ3i-bO_G8RugGB2U6nI2LaJ4pJWntu_gKc7q-2uiALv7dXfHii0EWaUi3ktlLDaX5KZTtqTCH3IPJQHzEteuejShpV14dgir6PcLrjuE_NPnOBrium7-K5UOSyx7FwRNIF/w400-h300/IMG_20210619_163136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Your life is </span><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">worthwhile,</span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">even if you think </span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">that you add </span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">only a little value </span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">to the world </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">around you. </span></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCDObzswI1YnIbGiAHjBZfcwH3tSU7MyKJA7iPoZozgm2koJuGlpUaq4uzoyBrvvLFPngtWzSOBYCLnAAvKZMMJm7-KgNY4Tf7odCW91wYsNnOnjgrgjwdLTJifQGBQic5FBb5C74vyZd/s4160/IMG_20210627_074632.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCDObzswI1YnIbGiAHjBZfcwH3tSU7MyKJA7iPoZozgm2koJuGlpUaq4uzoyBrvvLFPngtWzSOBYCLnAAvKZMMJm7-KgNY4Tf7odCW91wYsNnOnjgrgjwdLTJifQGBQic5FBb5C74vyZd/w300-h400/IMG_20210627_074632.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">#Oleander Blooms</span><p></p>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-88525121140532544852021-07-04T07:42:00.005-07:002021-07-05T10:57:36.925-07:00Trimurtis : A Quote<span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 23px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYDSmx9ODY3mb6ZGGei6mJE2p5v-fWh8tJzNIeWJNwhSulTFF_qgaPfmyqST6A7KZ6efDaxfmdMWog2urRjM2B9lgECQJ_fVa1I8DpgmFEB4Qk0N0JkH95gB5Bwk0Zg5tnaoXZssMSk8Y/s900/E47ir5wUYAAdsW-.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYDSmx9ODY3mb6ZGGei6mJE2p5v-fWh8tJzNIeWJNwhSulTFF_qgaPfmyqST6A7KZ6efDaxfmdMWog2urRjM2B9lgECQJ_fVa1I8DpgmFEB4Qk0N0JkH95gB5Bwk0Zg5tnaoXZssMSk8Y/s320/E47ir5wUYAAdsW-.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 23px;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When the Sun wishes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">a Good morning to </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">the Trimurtis.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Mornings are times </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">when we are reminded </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">to be grateful that we are alive - </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">to wake up, smell the flowers </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">and live another blessed day.</span></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">
</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 23px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 23px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">***</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 23px;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-75451467103723685862021-07-04T07:39:00.003-07:002021-07-05T10:56:24.570-07:00Living Between Rainbows: A Poem<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qJP2wT5ynT9yQFbXv1-7wh0NIb3YrKwKXgn-sdLOaObNJY3xm4EN09GQaAY1cOdycVxLJGrT3GJvGmdWvNKwyr9n-v5BprGLX3r5RWfxMnG6VPV3D_T-MTvJpNJljGcqb56bmKwoJPjc/s570/IMG_20210628_123720.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="570" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qJP2wT5ynT9yQFbXv1-7wh0NIb3YrKwKXgn-sdLOaObNJY3xm4EN09GQaAY1cOdycVxLJGrT3GJvGmdWvNKwyr9n-v5BprGLX3r5RWfxMnG6VPV3D_T-MTvJpNJljGcqb56bmKwoJPjc/w320-h306/IMG_20210628_123720.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Living between rainbows
you painted in my skies </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">I find smiles in weary woes
& laughter in teary sighs </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Living between tomorrows
you penned into my life </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">I find solace, despite sorrows </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">in chapters of solemn strife.</span></span></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">***</span></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></p><div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>image:pinterest</i></span></span></div></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-41517228798552584262021-07-04T07:36:00.007-07:002021-07-04T07:36:49.522-07:00Living Again: A Poem<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWl_pbf07Zacab0IeOvm3ytjHvKAQdqRNOrW48r0OXLaDCY3Msjx_NqhLfDW_j6mRHw483flpfkhoxZTFMUqmAN-Aov2a4NhXCO-4YQUM2U6qnA9rLeAbxMb5dvQ5fg6ZRRkQBePQY3o8/s649/IMG_20210627_131752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="649" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWl_pbf07Zacab0IeOvm3ytjHvKAQdqRNOrW48r0OXLaDCY3Msjx_NqhLfDW_j6mRHw483flpfkhoxZTFMUqmAN-Aov2a4NhXCO-4YQUM2U6qnA9rLeAbxMb5dvQ5fg6ZRRkQBePQY3o8/s320/IMG_20210627_131752.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>living between rainbows
has made me blind
no reality blues
or hilly horizons to find
living without sorrows
no clouds or rain
mere vibgyor hues
no feelings or pain
living without tomorrows
no learning to gain
let me pay my dues
with monochromes again. </span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: verdana; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">***</span></div><p><i>image:pinterest</i></p></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-33365557334147063272021-07-04T07:33:00.008-07:002021-07-04T07:33:51.598-07:00Verve : A Poem<div class="css-1dbjc4n" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1s2bzr4" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 12px 0px 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-901oao r-18jsvk2 r-1qd0xha r-1blvdjr r-16dba41 r-vrz42v r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" id="id__7wrsu18yfgg" lang="en" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H8Ix4oVNcAASEnFP4ze22X5Aq0Zg5k6x14eqP2jjCDS2ZG2DE27eL-6muGBxb20luLgZLzr4tQ6pAPxr6AiLZqeZ8eiLop9uVay1rBihMc3_AwePCfu9jnoAbDmyBINe0PL9Gjl4DTGi/s470/IMG_20210628_153638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H8Ix4oVNcAASEnFP4ze22X5Aq0Zg5k6x14eqP2jjCDS2ZG2DE27eL-6muGBxb20luLgZLzr4tQ6pAPxr6AiLZqeZ8eiLop9uVay1rBihMc3_AwePCfu9jnoAbDmyBINe0PL9Gjl4DTGi/s320/IMG_20210628_153638.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Enjoy her fat & curvy
till you possibly can
your gal's gone crazy
to lose 'em one by one
Here a twist There a turn
weights & belts tussle
Watch her work See her burn
your gal's buildin' muscle
Toned firm verve
lifts to match her man
let your lips curve
in pride: That's My woman!</span></span></div><div class="css-901oao r-18jsvk2 r-1qd0xha r-1blvdjr r-16dba41 r-vrz42v r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" id="id__7wrsu18yfgg" lang="en" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="css-901oao r-18jsvk2 r-1qd0xha r-1blvdjr r-16dba41 r-vrz42v r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" id="id__7wrsu18yfgg" lang="en" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">***</span></span></div></div></div><div class="css-1dbjc4n" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div aria-labelledby="id__h7mw5xd6fx id__obfn3u1xqhj" class="css-1dbjc4n" id="id__52mo8flv72m" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1ets6dv r-1867qdf r-1phboty r-rs99b7 r-1s2bzr4 r-1ny4l3l r-1udh08x r-o7ynqc r-6416eg" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid rgb(207, 217, 222); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 12px 0px 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline-style: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, box-shadow; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-1dbjc4n r-1loqt21 r-1ny4l3l" href="https://twitter.com/Tall_Dreams/status/1409453865846542342/photo/1" role="link" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; z-index: 0;"><div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1adg3ll r-1udh08x" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: stretch; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"></div></a></div></div></div></div></div><p><i>image:pinterest</i> </p>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-50847488368237681922021-07-04T07:30:00.000-07:002021-07-04T07:30:01.695-07:00Breathe : A Quote<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_OidVty8WhY6gu9P3OHfKNtiDV1gsXYm2zz94qX9ZJjnOSQRaBJgksd4MWhtdC-al8s0_1CgC0MkXeDQJLCD_AG4rSDnEMMdoUNYBrhzcNea3gC7F_72fie2JMeNP0r3ogofHHYWxG8f/s4160/IMG_20210703_054926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_OidVty8WhY6gu9P3OHfKNtiDV1gsXYm2zz94qX9ZJjnOSQRaBJgksd4MWhtdC-al8s0_1CgC0MkXeDQJLCD_AG4rSDnEMMdoUNYBrhzcNea3gC7F_72fie2JMeNP0r3ogofHHYWxG8f/w400-h300/IMG_20210703_054926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enjoy each new day </span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">each morning </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">- new opportunities, </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">new learnings beckon. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Breathe deeply, live fully.
</span></span><p> </p></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-58652572951077430132021-07-04T07:27:00.003-07:002021-07-04T07:27:18.670-07:00Sorcery : A Poem<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CIT1tLDgMpc91UqaR5UeDOjmbegyZXPCO4V5xpLHFXf5A9p1Jm9Dm7OjjblKlcqYvUti92g-80mq3evXYiQ1hkwhoFMLlUsNAi0ixGfkY00MakXlEjdSKcJqN8dxgEGFwZfp1eHCvRQp/s640/IMG_20210629_151939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CIT1tLDgMpc91UqaR5UeDOjmbegyZXPCO4V5xpLHFXf5A9p1Jm9Dm7OjjblKlcqYvUti92g-80mq3evXYiQ1hkwhoFMLlUsNAi0ixGfkY00MakXlEjdSKcJqN8dxgEGFwZfp1eHCvRQp/s320/IMG_20210629_151939.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And I dance,
to soulful melody
no one else
can hear
what is this skillful sorcery?
And I prance
in memory
of magical music
of just your voice
Why do I glow in such glee?
In a trance
of a recharged zombie
I rejoice & replay
wisdom of your words </span></span><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">what have you done to me? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">***</span></span></p><p><i>image:pinterest</i></p>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-32698824441201333982021-07-04T07:24:00.004-07:002021-07-04T07:24:40.362-07:00Find Your Tribe: A Quote<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VJb9JjlAvkaZfmw1RFgXBpm1m6HpSxfGXmmaqAJe21vBo_PA6X2x4ISeEegkEqtXf9knh7Xm85wMDAJoTcCyXDl6E-iRNBdi787e0SXLK5enf64ljm80naftrV4LqFOYBk-Be6Vw5TkH/s680/E4spPtzVIAU_BtS.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VJb9JjlAvkaZfmw1RFgXBpm1m6HpSxfGXmmaqAJe21vBo_PA6X2x4ISeEegkEqtXf9knh7Xm85wMDAJoTcCyXDl6E-iRNBdi787e0SXLK5enf64ljm80naftrV4LqFOYBk-Be6Vw5TkH/w300-h400/E4spPtzVIAU_BtS.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Find your tribe </span></span><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">and stick to them. </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are the </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">support system</span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">in your life. </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Be there for them,</span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">when they need you. </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseShHuctz044A3t_hikYRWJZVyrjLjjzmjYA5dHduCNyuKjBWOZr5INa9UHK93bMuE5wXpRh9CJ0eZihyphenhyphenyTwTIg2WCUDrzwMoLpmQOYXv6mp40_oCvMt1xTUMwjPUprrfG1_pLv7Mlqwp/s680/E4spSJ5VgAATaxr.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseShHuctz044A3t_hikYRWJZVyrjLjjzmjYA5dHduCNyuKjBWOZr5INa9UHK93bMuE5wXpRh9CJ0eZihyphenhyphenyTwTIg2WCUDrzwMoLpmQOYXv6mp40_oCvMt1xTUMwjPUprrfG1_pLv7Mlqwp/w300-h400/E4spSJ5VgAATaxr.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Life is too short </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">to waste with those </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">who don't vibe </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">with who you are </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">and what you give </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">to the world.
</span></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1n1174f r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlumbagoAuriculata?src=hashtag_click" role="link" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b95e0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: inherit;">#PlumbagoAuriculata</a></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span> </span></p></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-7081694316146675722021-07-04T07:17:00.007-07:002021-07-04T07:17:39.538-07:00Wild : A Quote<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMRRSAAtr_xiNEj76SqNfU0kc0HMELA1pjY4v-kEZsOBkz8Do_ktX7_5JlzuXxzjXBI6WNIPCMzkddmdDZEw2krFPigg7MuPkziTaFV4Mt818uVQNjnSszuympe-Rt03ztoGkmYNrakFI/s4160/IMG_20210625_082932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMRRSAAtr_xiNEj76SqNfU0kc0HMELA1pjY4v-kEZsOBkz8Do_ktX7_5JlzuXxzjXBI6WNIPCMzkddmdDZEw2krFPigg7MuPkziTaFV4Mt818uVQNjnSszuympe-Rt03ztoGkmYNrakFI/s320/IMG_20210625_082932.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The best thing </span></span><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">about being wild </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">is that </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">there is beauty </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">blooming </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">in the unlikeliest </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">of places.
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmT3ap65iIqE3DiiEXaeChzUU7GndIgAOn_jkUM4cuURVN9rUAnX77gOJ8Krk59Gxq7T-FWCOJzlsvZw_5agzjMWyBfoi6gzER_bREtuPk1NvUlLNMK2ivcji0wyv0nPBhHpTiaEUVGzW/s4160/IMG_20210625_083727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmT3ap65iIqE3DiiEXaeChzUU7GndIgAOn_jkUM4cuURVN9rUAnX77gOJ8Krk59Gxq7T-FWCOJzlsvZw_5agzjMWyBfoi6gzER_bREtuPk1NvUlLNMK2ivcji0wyv0nPBhHpTiaEUVGzW/s320/IMG_20210625_083727.jpg" /></a></div><br />The worst thing </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">about being wild </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">is that very few </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">notice or </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">appreciate it, </span></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">for what it's worth.
</span></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">#ThunbergiaFragrans </span></p></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-7381629920680029052021-07-04T07:13:00.004-07:002021-07-04T07:20:05.701-07:00Meet Me There : A Poem<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnMIGpaSzQJQW-L_t226DEA21nO0paf1Kbh6OdP1sHqhTLIDmTs1w-XgOM9pF2gZA1PINVXsh70lAvkl1dBb5apOlE0vOud03tzHqbVc1c6O44Y5bSxjTpiGaR3UkGwrVgoEk-xc9SeGk/s298/IMG_20210624_080339.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnMIGpaSzQJQW-L_t226DEA21nO0paf1Kbh6OdP1sHqhTLIDmTs1w-XgOM9pF2gZA1PINVXsh70lAvkl1dBb5apOlE0vOud03tzHqbVc1c6O44Y5bSxjTpiGaR3UkGwrVgoEk-xc9SeGk/s0/IMG_20210624_080339.jpg" /></a></div>meet me there
where summer breeze
caresses tingling skin
& sound of water
teases our ears
where wildest beauty
beckons in pastures
of lushness
under stunning clouds
& divinity soothes
in starlit skies
where undone years
are dispelled
by only a moment
breathing
by your side </span></span><div><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoNaHSqJpWD92yI_VjgVhjV27xYbrERoGEi_y7pJTiM4Peq3ou081CPavPe70wYWc1Gv3txoPlHYxTna0T0rvJNpYoD5QCf3ZIZUfVcPRcU8vEgamJoLokOPQJARyoPnqbTNAUx28POPB/s536/IMG_20210624_081616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoNaHSqJpWD92yI_VjgVhjV27xYbrERoGEi_y7pJTiM4Peq3ou081CPavPe70wYWc1Gv3txoPlHYxTna0T0rvJNpYoD5QCf3ZIZUfVcPRcU8vEgamJoLokOPQJARyoPnqbTNAUx28POPB/s320/IMG_20210624_081616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>where it rains
without warning
or preamble
& drenching together
is a spontaneous joy
where ample chances
arise to steal
the thundering
of yet another wet kiss
where we burn & freeze
while dancing with
the danger
they call love
meet me there
</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: verdana; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">***</span></div><p><i>images:pinterest</i></p></div></div>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187608595291324456.post-34137906519303450542021-07-04T07:10:00.005-07:002021-07-04T07:10:49.740-07:00Bowers of Healing: A Quote<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jUs3Uyua_BpUsehhVg9fS1MYInA000VKS4RI-ngnlbVws1zepBBppc43zjKqwEObwE_ck60C1jAfLTKohkjzYx6wD5_saOzI3zoEZSwaErhRO5nI_hyphenhyphenv-oVzcNcuLYIC9iRS3TakeXIh/s4160/IMG_20210622_075254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jUs3Uyua_BpUsehhVg9fS1MYInA000VKS4RI-ngnlbVws1zepBBppc43zjKqwEObwE_ck60C1jAfLTKohkjzYx6wD5_saOzI3zoEZSwaErhRO5nI_hyphenhyphenv-oVzcNcuLYIC9iRS3TakeXIh/s320/IMG_20210622_075254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />There are always bowers of healing available in abundance in the world, for those who have the eyes to look for them.
</span></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPts3sS6-ldCIdnu4efzNLYkUEeHvIhj-zxBrT8qzTLPZn7XMDdbZFtwEy31awBIUecLujdD6e2DTJ98yVSPbNlqN51IEHXvgwZHPXmBWre-QUP9MrCHANZenE0L9AjRA9Uedq3wrTd3gC/s4160/IMG_20210622_075026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPts3sS6-ldCIdnu4efzNLYkUEeHvIhj-zxBrT8qzTLPZn7XMDdbZFtwEy31awBIUecLujdD6e2DTJ98yVSPbNlqN51IEHXvgwZHPXmBWre-QUP9MrCHANZenE0L9AjRA9Uedq3wrTd3gC/s320/IMG_20210622_075026.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />#PandoreaJasminoides<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">or</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #0f1419; flex-direction: row; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">#bowerplant</span> </span></p>Chethana Rameshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18165541516668811678noreply@blogger.com0