Dexter's Story

"Hey guys!!" I'm Dexter, a 3 year old Lab. I'm beige in color and oh ya my paws are white. That is probably because my father was white in color. I live on the 21st Street in Blossom Town with my owner, master and family - Ray. Ray is the best owner any dog can have. He is caring and at the same time gives me space to bark my heart out when I want to. He doesn't mind my chasing away pigeons with my right paw. I love sleeping and I also snore at times, but Ray has never scolded me for snoring loudly. Ray and I love exercising. Both of us are very sporty. We run for an hour every morning at 6 AM. And I love running with Ray. Where do we run? Oh, there is a park near by and it's the perfect place to run and exercise.

I'm handsome, super sexy, have many fans in the park, I live a healthy and fit life and have a wonderful master who gives me yummy chicken, leafy vegetables, potatoes and rice. Occasionally I also get pampered with some ice cream from Ray!

I thought my life was perfect until one day everything changed! Life took a new turn and my perfect life felt not-so-perfect. Yes yes, I know, you must be wondering what happened that changed everything. Lily happened!

Lily had just moved into the next house with her master. I usually hate having neighbors right next to us because their loud human voices and languages that I don't understand irritate me and disturb my sleep. But this time it was different, because Lily was there.  I first saw her at her balcony, looking deeply at the aquarium her owner had just placed. Lily was a mix of white, brown and black colors - a rare combination I must say. She was small built, looked tiny but very pretty. There was something unique about her.

Now you will ask me what breed she was?  Ok, let me tell you - she was not a dog like me, but a cat! Ok, laugh if you must but the truth still remains that I fell in love with a cat! It was love at first sight for me. They say you never know when love happens and it defies all logic and turns your life upside down. Well, that is what happened to my perfect doggy life. I would sit for hours and look at her balcony in the hope that I would get to see her. And when I would, my eyes would light up. Her voice was very childlike. It wasn't rough like the other cats. There was a certain kind of innocence in her and that is what I liked about her. She was the dreamy kind, most of the time in her own world.  I can go on and on about Lily but I guess this is enough introduction about her.

One morning, my uncle Jimmy (the black lab from the next street) had come to meet me at the park  and he noticed a change in me. He asked me what the matter was and when I told him I had fallen in love with Lily, he fainted! I then had to ask Ray to get some water and sprinkle it on his face.  Once Jimmy was up, he tried to talk me out of the idea of asking Lily out. He said 'she is different from you. There is nothing common between you. How on earth can you think about her (a feline species!!)' Jimmy said he would introduce me to some awesome doggy ladies from the neighborhood.  There was a black Pomeranian called Sheela, a pug called Rixy, and I think he said about a dalmatian called Ash! But all my heart wanted was Lily. Yes, Lily my cat.

The biggest worry Jimmy had about Lily and I was our language. I mean come on, I bark and she miaws. How on earth will we communicate? How would she understand what I meant and how will I get what she says! Well, yeah Jimmy had a point - a very valid point actually. But then you know what? I told Jimmy I would learn the miaw language for Lily. Jimmy gave me a long lecture that lasted for about half an hour and when he was done, he left. I am sure he was still in shock!

After about six months, I still felt the same about Lily. I would wait to hear her voice and see her come out of her house. My taste of music changed and now I listened to dreamy and soft doggy songs. I also listened to some cat songs and enjoyed them just as much.  Her presence definitely had an effect on me. If Ray knew that I had fallen for Lily and fallen so bad, I am sure he would have understood and helped me out as I have heard that human beings also have something called inter community relationships.  But mine isn't even an inter community relationship, it is inter species!!

I was a little scared of what my family would do if they had known about Lily. She was beautiful, cute, adorable and childlike but then she was a CAT! And a dog and a cat can't fall in love! At least according to the world they can't. I am sure Lily had no clue of what I felt for her. But six months had passed and I decided to tell her about my feelings with a ring and an imported fish from the Indian Ocean. (Cats love fish, that is why.)

I took Jimmy with me to the ring shop and picked up one with a fish shaped stone. I got our names engraved on it just to personalize it more. My Indian Ocean fish had been ordered online, and it would reach me in a while.

Everything was ready and I had practiced what to say to Lily a million times in front of Jimmy until Jimmy had a headache. I was scared, a little anxious, but my heart beat very fast. I felt excitement that I had never felt before. I didn't care about anything - the other dogs, cats, our language issue, etc. I just knew I had to tell Lily.

That day Lily didn't come out from her house. I was worried, but I waited for her. Much later Jimmy came and said Lily and her family had shifted to England.

Ok, guys so that is my story. Now it's time for my daily run with Ray and Jimmy is planning to join us from now on. Bye guys!"

Brinkley Lands On Earth

It was a usual morning in India. The monsoon shower had just got over and it was starting to get sunny. A small part of the rainbow was visible in the sky. A child who was waiting for his school bus along with his mom looked at the rainbow in awe.  Dogs were sleeping near newspaper shops. Buses and auto rickshaws were honking loudly. Vegetable vendors were neatly laying the fresh vegetables down.

A spaceship was traveling far away in space. It started from the moon of Saturn and was on it's way to Mercury and back.  That morning, the spaceship happen to cross Earth and Brinkley (one of the aliens in it) was awestruck at the beauty of our planet. Shades of blue with a hint of green and white and brown! He instantly felt a deep desire to land on Earth, if just for a while. He spoke to the others and after a long discussion they said they would drop him off on Earth and let him explore. They would be back after some days. Brinkley was very happy.

After a few hours, the spaceship hit Earth's surface and Brinkley was dropped off here. Due to the fact that he belonged to an advanced alien race, he didn't have issues adjusting to Earth's atmospheric changes. He landed near Hyderabad and in a while reached old Hyderabad. He looked quite different from us, he was pale green in color, was a little shorter that human beings and had very deep eyes. While most people looked at him and passed by, no one really came to speak to him. He was excited as he was on a totally new planet but he also felt a little lost.

After he walked for a while, he reached a shop where people were sitting and eating. He saw mostly groups of people, and wondered where to sit. He spotted a boy who was sitting alone and he went to him. The boy looked a little sad and depressed. When he first saw Brinkley, he was amazed. He wasn't scared but he was very curious. Brinkley and he spoke and in some time they seemed to have become friends. Brinkley said he had a few days on our planet and he wished to enjoy himself.

The boy told him a few thing that he could think of.

1. Try the masala chai in a road side shop

2. Have pani puri from any small chat shop

3. Make a visit to a nice city like Rajasthan and sit on the camel there.

4. Sit on a gaint wheel

5. Go to an ocean that isn't crowded

6. Visit Ooty in the toy train.

Brinkley had a long list now. He knew that he would have a great time. He asked the boy to join him and both of them started off with their list.  His advanced powers meant that he could travel across cities at the speed of light. He didn't need a train or bus (how cool is that!). He took the boy along.

After his holiday on Earth, Brinkley felt like a new being. He had made a friend on Earth, seen some places, listened to the sound of the ocean waves, tried some yummy food, and also done some shopping. He bought himself a kurta and mundu.   Brinkley's spaceship came to take him back after some time. Brinkley left with a heavy heart but one that was filled with many memories.

He also took with him a huge box of pani puris for his friends in the spaceship.

Friendship .....................

"Good Friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there." This is a wonderful quote that is so true.

Most of us have many friends - they are the people we meet at school, college, office or life brings them into our life in some way. But out of these people, some of them become our true friends. They say that the best things happen when you least expect. A true friend will most likely be the person you never thought you would ever be in touch after college or work. They might be people you smiled at but never really spoke. And as life progresses, these people come back into your life and become your true friend. 

Talking a little more about true friends - 

Most of my true and close friends are those whom I had never thought I would be friends with. Most of my friendships have taken time to develop and eventually we have reached a point of 'forever friends'. 

So how do we know if someone is a true friend? 

Well, this is a tuff one! But I guess we will know. Our heart will tell us who is true and who is not. And if I have to be a little more specific, then some of the points to know are:

1. A true friend will always tell you the truth no matter how much it sucks. So, if you get a new hair cut and it looks hilarious on you, a true friend will tell it to you on the face. They won't sugar coat things. They wouldn't mind a few scoldings from you for having said the truth but no matter what they will speak the truth, 

2. They are true to you. 

A true friend will never lie to you or talk about you behind your back. They will never gossip about you. 

3. They accept you as you are.

So you might be a wierdo who loves to have chai at 12 midnight. Or you love watching romantic movies and you might even cry during one. You might want to take a late night walk in your pajamas and tees with a messy hair bun, or you are a hopeless dreamer who dreams of fairy tales and happy endings. No matter what, you are accepted just the way you are. You won't feel the pressure to change yourself just to fit in. You can be you without any worries whatsoever, and this is true friendship.

4. A very good listener and adviser.

We all have those moments when we need someone to listen to us. Someone to just listen. There are moments when we feel like talking for an hour or may be two hours. And all we need is a patient listener. Someone who not only hears us but listens to what we say. Someone who is attentive to what we are talking about and who is there through it all.  Just talking for an hour can be so relaxing and if a friend listens and advises us when we need advice then that sure is the trait of a true friend. 

5. You laugh at jokes which no one else understands.

There are times when all you need is some good laughter. And sometimes you need someone who can make you laugh and who laughs with you! 

6. Helpful people

Your true friends will always try to help you no matter what. Be it something small or big, they will be there for you!

They know the good, the bad and the ugly you. And yet they love you unconditionally. They see your flaws clearly but don't judge you. They might be people you never spoke to for a long time, but the friendship happened at it's own pace. A true friend happens unexpectedly. In fact most of the beautiful things in life happen when you don't plan or expect anything. 

So always keep your eyes open as you never know when you find a true friend!!

FREEDOM !!!!!!!!!!

Isn't it beautiful to watch a bird fly high in the blue sky? There is a certain emotion that arises in our heart when we see it. That emotion is Freedom. It makes the heart feel light and we automatically start smiling! There is immense power in freedom. It is one of the biggest gifts we can possess.

When we are free, we feel happy. We feel a sense of contentment. Our heart starts to sing. You know, the song in the heart? It doesn't really have a tune or any words, but it can be felt by the heart. I call it 'That Song'.

Life was meant to be lived freely. But in our society today, most of us have forgotten that we are free. We have so many things on our mind and in our lives, that we forget to appreciate the simple pleasure of being free.  So how can we feel free completely, if just for a moment?  According to me, it's best to start with the small things. So, if you want to take that trip, then go take it. If you  feel like learning something new, go learn it! If you want to color your hair red, go do it. Start with the small things that make you feel free, that make you feel like that bird in the sky.

There will always be people who will try to make you feel guilty for wanting to be free. The best thing - don't tell them about your plans. Just go and do what your heart tells you to. Society doesn't really need to know or judge you. There will always be uncles and aunties and unknown people who will question your freedom. They will ask you to be one among the herd. They will ask you to fit in. To be a good girl and follow rules. They will try to make you feel like something is wrong with you for being a freedom lover. But you know what? It doesn't really matter what anyone thinks. It is ultimately between You, your Heart and your Freedom. As long as you don't harm anyone, it is OK to be a Rule Breaker. And you can do it your way!

So find your FREEDOM and don't follow THEIR rules. Follow your HEART and be like that tiny bird in the sky.  And when the herd sees you on your own, doing your thing at your own pace, their hearts will also want to fly!! Their hearts will start singing as well.  And after a while, they will become birds too!! A sky full of free birds and souls!!

Them and Us

Our world consists of human beings, many species of animals and plants.  What connects all of us is that common force called 'Life'.  All of us are alive. Yes, we are. And in spite of the outer differences that we possess, the inner force that drives us to survive on earth is but the same.  

Human beings, out of all the life forms seem to have forgotten this connection. We have become so engrossed in our own life, that we have lost the connection with other forms of life. What has happened to us? Why are we in a constant state of rush, why are we forced to run the rat race, why are we made to think that we can survive by letting other forms perish?   We are so engrossed in our little stories of success, failure, promotions, relationships, etc. that we have forgotten to take care and respect Nature, plants and other animal species. 

All we see in big cities are huge buildings instead of lush green trees.  Our roads are filled with vehicles and smoke. Pigeons and other birds struggle to find a place to hide. Many species of animals have become extinct due to the shocking change we have brought about. 

The truth is that we can build a wonderful connection with plants and animals. A simple example-Adopt a plant and keep it at your home. Water it daily and spend 5-10 minutes with it each day. Try to connect to it. And in some time, you will feel a mutual connection. Plants have the ability to clear out stress and bring in harmony. So this is something you should definitely try. If you have space in your balcony, then you can make a small garden over there. Spend some time in your little garden and see the difference. You will feel fresh and happy. 

If you are an animal lover, and you stay at your home and not in a hostel, you can consider adopting a stray.  This is a big responsibility, so before getting into it, make sure you are prepared for it. If you are, then this is one of the best investments you can make in your life. A pet animal like a dog brings in unconditional love into your life. He doesn't expect much in return. All he asks for is care and affection. Animals also have tremendous healing power. They can relax you when you feel tired after a long day. Spending some time cuddling your pet is one of the best ways to rejuvenate. It is so much better than surrounding yourself with electronic devices. 

In olden days people lived in harmony with animals and plants, hence they lived healthier lives. These days, we live fragmented lives. We have pushed away all the others in our desire to move ahead. And this is costing us and no one else.  But, it is never too late to revive the connection we have with our fellow earthlings!! We might make some lasting friendships with them too! 

And trust me, it will be worth it.

Your Tribe !

We live in a big world filled with lots of people. And during the course of our life, we come across many kinds of people. Out of those who resonate with us, a select few become our tribe.  Our tribe can comprise of our family members, our friends or anyone else.

It is always nice to know your who your tribe is.  They are the ones who are there through thick and thin. They see you at your best and share your joy and happiness. They are the ones with whom you laugh, dance, make Maggi, watch a super boring movie, and do so many more things. They are the ones with whom you pluck mangoes off trees in your college, the ones with whom you go and color your hair red.

They are your people. They are your tribe. 

These are the people who don't care if you are in your pajamas and tee and your hair is a mess. They don't expect you to be at your best.  They are the ones with whom you can be YOURSELF, without the slight concern of being judged.  They are the ones you can go to, to have chai at midnight. The ones who don't get tired of listening to your never ending stories. They give you confidence when the world has taken it away from you, and tell you that you rock just the way you are.  They listen and not just pretend to hear you. They understand you even when you don't understand yourself. They are the ones who love you unconditionally for the mess that you are. These people never sugar coat things.  They are frank. They see the truth for what it is and tell it to you.  They are not people pleasers. You might not be in touch with them daily but when you speak, the connection remains.

They are your people. They are your tribe. 

These people have also seen you at your worst. While many people walk away or silently disappear from your life during the hard times, your tribe will always remain. They might be in another country or place, but they will never leave your life. They show you the silver lining when all you see are the clouds. They offer you the simplest solution when you go blank. If nothing, they just tell you that they are there.  And sometimes that is enough.  They are the ones with whom you can have the deepest conversations and not get bored.  They are the real people. They might come into your life at different times, but they are the ones who remain, long after the crowd has gone....

They are your people. They are your tribe.

Each of us has a tribe and they are the ones to be cherished....

Life !!

The journey of self discovery, of exploration, of finding our path! Well yes, that is where many of us are at our life right now. This phase of our life can be a little scary because we are pushed out of our comfort zone. Each day seems different yet the same. When we look closely, we realize that each day is showing us something about ourselves that we didn't know or were not consciously aware of - our likes, our dislikes, our interests, our priorities, our tribe or the people who resonate with us. Many things are changing in our life. Our dreams, our priorities, our circle of friends and those whom we trust, our area of interest, etc.

While this phase of our life is scary, it can also be a wonderful time if we allow it to be! No matter where you are, if you also feel like things around you are changing and that you are questioning your life and who you were previously, then some of these tips might just help you.

1. It is ok to be where you are..

Know that it is OK to be at this phase of your life. It might be a little intimidating because you are discovering and seeing life in a new light. But then, this is a beautiful change in your life and it is showing you who you truly are or truly can be! So embrace it!

2. Self Care 

When you are discovering your life path, it can get a little unsettling since you are in the middle of so much change. During this time, you should practise a lot of self care and self love! Exercise, do what you love, paint your nails, eat an ice cream, listen to some awesome music and dance your heart out. The simple pleasures of life can bring a lot of joy!

4. Many won't get it, and that is ok.

So, if you are at a place of discovery, you will feel like trying out things, learning things, starting something or leaving something. Sometimes even you won't know what your doing. And since ours is a society where if we are different, there will be those who will ridicule us or make fun of our journey. And that is ok. NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET YOU. YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF TO EVERYONE.  The right people will get it. 

5. Embrace being IMPERFECT

In our world where so much emphasis is given to being perfect (just look at the advertising industry), it can be a little intimidating to face our own imperfections that come up during a phase of self discovery. But we need to tell ourself that A REAL PERSON IS IMPERFECT. PERFECTION IS FAKE. So embrace all those imperfections :)

So to end my today's post, just remember to follow your path, your journey, and your timing in life. Don't compare yourself to a friend or family member. Everyone has a specific set of gifts and each one's life is timed differently. Go with the flow and rhythm of your own life!