I must confess I am no foodie,never carried any food fixation so far. Never craved too much for any particular food. Perhaps an occasional sweet treat was all I indulged in. Much to my surprise today I see a generation of food lovers around me who perhaps are growing in numbers as write this .Many of my friends bake amazing treats, some love watching food videos and others chocolate.
Children today are spoilt by choices more than ever before . And with the media at their fingertips most are happy to order and eat whatever food they want by the click of a finger through apps.
Food to me was to nourish my body and keep me healthy. As I grew up I realized even more the value of eating nutritious clean and healthy fresh food and at the right time.
Concepts of eating, then and now has drastically changed. People are ready to eat convenience foods.at the touch of a button. Many want food delivered without the hassles of preparation.
No one has interest in conversations much. With a food of their choice delivered to them wherever they are, and a mobile phone in their hands convenience has reached a new high.
Family dinners were a place where all used to connect with each other … Now they are quieter affairs with every one glued to their phones and television.
In fact the concept of eating together is slowly vanishing. Most people eat watching a movie on Netflix or a sport on television.
Today life moves at a much faster pace where time is a precious commodity. Changing times calls for major alterations and adjustments in lifestyle choices.
In knowing to strike a mid point where both the palate and the plate gets a healthy makeover says much about the necessity for change in today’s times.
True happiness is an inside job and what is felt within reflects on the outside.
So what is important is that one develops and sustaining a good relationship with food in life, rather than abusing the body with too much or too less of it.
For it is after all matter of food and food matters much.
Cage not the heart of those who dream of the yonder Beyond the clouds over the hills Their spirit seeks to wander. Across the horizon, their soul belongs
Seek not to hold them For they are way ahead of you already Too swift are their thoughts Too far away are their hearts Too distant are you from them already
Not for them, the mundane chores Not for them, the worldly spoils Not for them, the earthly desires Not for them the meaningless wants
Seek not to find common ground For they have moved on way back in time Neither in dreams or in dare Can there be a parallel Seek not, as your paths are not meant to cross. Let them go, as it is meant to be.
Sharing this is very poignant piece of writing that I came across. Although it is truly touching it does leave us with a valuable learning on living life…
Do care to read.
ONE BEDROOM FLAT…
Written by an Indian Engineer.
A Bitter Reality
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Engineering and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true.
Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.
I wanted to do something more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald’s and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I went through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.
In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbours to look after them, we returned to USA.
My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing.
After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn’t get any holidays and thus could not go to India … The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rites the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.
After couple more years passed away, much to my children’s dislike and my wife’s joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA…
My children refused to stay in India… So I returned to USA with my family.
Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA… I decided that had enough and wound-up everything and returned to India… I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.
Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.
Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this?
My father, even after staying in India,had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.
Looking out from the window I see my childhood and the beautiful moments that I missed. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbours again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them.
But the question still remains ‘was all this worth it?’
I am still searching for an answer!
START THINKING
IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM???
LIFE IS BEYOND THIS …. .DON’T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE ..
LEAD YOUR LIFE HAPPILY WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AROUND.
Enjoy it with your near and dear ones
Money does not make you happy,
love of parents, children and all close to us does.
“So much pressure in today’s world to succeed at all costs, to attain materialistic desires, somewhere loses its way and all seems to go back the start.
Gratefulness is a gift of realization of the infinite.
It is an attitude worth cultivating
It is a a breakthrough towards transcendence
It is the ability to change the difficult to bearable.
It is a positive step in the transition
It is a sensing of faith trust and belief
It is a relief from hatred.
It is a pause to allow the hurt to heal.
It is a inner transformation.
It is a breathe in awareness
It is a creator of infinite abundance.
It is a move from the heart.
It is an awareness of potential flow
It is an acceptance of the almighty
It is a conscious awakening of the heart
It is an expression in thankfulness.
When you sense a saddened heart
Say I am going to share some care.
When you meet indifference & antipathy
Say I am going to spread goodwill in empathy.
When you encounter a dull day
Say I am going to make it joyous
When you are faced with despair
Say I am still hopeful of change.
When you are feeling lost in a maze
Say I am going to find out a way
For there is always a way out
Keep your cheer about you
Know you are enough for you
And you will begin to light the way
Just by the way you are.
And because you truly can!
