Most of us keep hankering about the happiness we always find so elusive. This conceptual work shows that the light of happiness we seek outside actually lies inside us. True joy cannot be found in any other thing except self.
Medium- Camlin Gold 171 acrylic, FC metallic color pencils and white gel pen on black card paper.
A
dashing cousin once confessed that his love for bikes and racing had surpassed
his love for any other thing in the world. He got a peculiar kick by speeding
his motorcycle on dimly lit Delhi roads late at nights with his biker gang.
More than three fourths of his salary went into maintenance and accessories for
this passion. I said that this was his dope. Another friend of mine enjoys
watching movies and all of her time goes in browsing through IMDB and watching
them like a sincere student, sometimes up to three in a row. This is her dope.
We all have our own dopes. The word ‘dope’ that immediately reminds us someone
high on drugs lying upturned in the middle of the road, actually is derived from
the word ‘dopamine’ a chemical secreted by human brain that induces the feeling
of happiness and bliss. My neighbor’s dope is gardening. Even when she is sick
herself, I can spot her tending to her plants like they were infants, crying
for her. To be happy, we just need to spot something that can give us innate
happiness, an inextinguishable source of bliss. So, what’s your dope?
The
recent spurt in the graph of biopics in Indian cinema points towards a few
things. Firstly, it is evident that fame and popularity scores over content and
work. That is why notorious Charles Shobhraj can boast of a biopic made upon
his wayward life and not Kailash Sathyarthi or such people who have put delinquent
and painful lives back to track, who have gathered pieces together to make many
a life worth living again. The recent biopic made in Hollywood upon the great
Indian mathematician Ramanujan indicates how short sighted we have become when
it comes to choosing subjects for this genre. Secondly, it is as if we have run
out of new ideas, and people’s lives, no matter how banal they have been, are being
turned into money grosser movies. I do not think some celebs whose lives have
been captured on the wide screen deserve that much. No one has yet bothered to
make a biopic on Hockey Wizard Dhyan Chand who impressed even Hitler first with
his game and then with his loyalty towards his country. The next biopic, I read
somewhere, is going to be on Late Kamala Das, the great Indian writer, and
Vidya Balan is going to portray her feminist and enigmatic life. This is fine;
she can motivate many women but still, there have been celebs who clearly did
not deserve even a short docu-drama. We need to think and be more creative with
story lines and plots and yes, music as well.
I
have noticed that for most people, esp girls, being rude and sarcastic means
being modern. They have this deep rooted perception that not asking or replying
politely, throwing weight around, snubbing acquaintances and loudly conversing
in English with modern slangs thrown liberally is a clear recipe to become attractive,
desirable and ‘hot’. It is a stupidity, a sheer one I dare say. No one can look
lovely with an acerbic tongue and useless attitude that has roots nowhere in concrete.
Attitude means having a spine and confidence to stand up for one self, the
maturity to draw the line between friendliness and harassment, the courtesy and
gravity to accept one’s mistakes. However, every other girl (even school going
ones) is throwing dollops of attitude without even realizing how idiotic and insolent
it makes her appear to others.
What
shows the inner happiness of someone? It is not fancy clothes, high-end
accessories but it is one simple thing and that is flawless skin. Hair and skin
are two most basic parameters of health and well being of a person. No amount
of make-up can substitute the glow that comes when skin is clear of problems like
excess oil, pimples and blackheads. Unfortunately, in these times when
pollution is setting new records each day and stress is taking its toll even in
children, it is hard to maintain a glowing skin. We use a number of cosmetics
but mostly, the end result is cipher because they are all full of chemicals. We
need to go back to our wonderful roots and find something that can give us a
natural boost. Certain herbs like turmeric are boon for the skin and this has
been known for centuries. Face-washes and creams having such natural things
only should be applied.
Apart
from using a natural face-cream and face-wash, there are certain other tips that you can
follow to keep to keep that enviable glow-
1.Go
Natural- Use Ayurveda based skin products as these contain many
herbs that have no side effects even in the long run unlike synthetic cosmetics.
Even after decades, they help maintain a firm and supple skin.
2.No
Touching- It is a common habit but can cause acne breakout and
blackheads. Constantly touching the face can be unhealthy for the skin hygiene.
3.Separate
Towel- Most people use the same towel for the whole body
but one should use a separate towel for facial skin as it is many times more
soft and prone to break-outs.
4.The
Wash Effect- It is a tricky thing because too much
washing can strip the skin of oils and too little will cause dirt to accumulate
deep inside the pores. So, after a few hours, one should wash skin with either
plain water or a herbal face-wash.
5.No
Soap-
They are very alkaline and should be avoided on face.
6.Cold
Water- Even in winters, one should prefer cold water for
washing the face as warm water can cause fine lines and wrinkles to appear.
7.Less
Cosmetics- Wearing makeup day in and day out not only looks
somewhat silly but is also very harmful for the skin. Also, one must not over
indulge in cosmetic products and also, all makeup should be removed before
going to bed.
8.Soft
Scrubbing- It must be done to exfoliate the skin and remove
dead cells that block pores. This can be done with herbal or home-made scrubs
as well.
These
are some simple skin care tips that do not cost anything and as they say,
precaution is far better than cure. Skin is the biggest and most visible part
of our body and if treated carefully, it can make heads turn in awe!
I agree to ensure (to the best of my abilities and circumstances)
that this blog post remains accessible in an un-altered state for a minimum of
one year.
I
have always believed that an imbalanced life is what makes one unhappy and
sullen. Finding and also maintaining a balance between work and play is the
key. This balance is required in everything we have and do like our homes and
social circle.
What
makes me happy is a small tea party with friends. I love to call my friends
over to my place or go over to theirs and enjoy simple tea with local snacks
like samosas, pakoras and bread rolls. The playful banter and chit-chat
gives us immense pleasure that can never be found in a fine formal dinner at
some high-profile 5-star. The personal bonding makes life worth looking forward
to. We often go for walks and crack jokes with each other. Two of my friends
have pets. The dogs are just so awesome and I love cuddling them and now they
too have become a part of our chai-party group! Animals have always
acquired a special place in my heart and I love playing with them. Little
squirrels and birds and cats as well amuse me no end and their careful and alert
expressions make me giggle and smile all the way.
The
biggest joys lie in smallest of emotions and things. After working from morning
to evening six days a week, I get a free Sunday that I lovingly call my
‘indulgence day’. I often stay at home and read my favorite books or write
something. Decorating home also makes me happy. I think for one’s happiness
these two things are must- good friends and good books!
A
moment spent in the lap of nature, and by nature I do not mean lush green hills
high in some fancy hill station but your own garden or any well maintained park,
moment spent in the company of a friend or self makes the day! We do not need a
reason to celebrate if one is happy and feels rooted and balanced from inside;
after all, happiness is like Musk- it is very well inside us and we do not have
to run here and there for it. It is more of a state of mind. A small tea party,
an hour spent cuddling my neighbor’s pet dog (I do not own one), spending time caring for my kitchen garden and gorging on
homemade snacks are enough to make me feel huge celebrations and festivals can
sometimes seem unnecessary compared to the moment that is still there and full
dripping with joy!!
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I have always believed that
biggest of joys lie in smallest of things and thus for me things like an
unexpected email or a call from a cousin/friend, the chirping of birds are all
worth looking forward to. What is life sans happiness? Life then becomes a long
day, scorching and dull. Small joys are like patches of cool shade. Happiness
to me means a state where you feel light as a cloud and completely at home with
your body and soul, where no rush or nervousness gets hold of you and you stay
in a blissful state of mind. Even if only for some time, this state is a must
for a healthy life.
I am an animal lover to the core! I adore cute beings like kittens, puppies, birds, squirrels, cows esp calves and
derive immense joy by cuddling and stroking them. Even by just watching their
antics from a distance is enough for me to spend the whole day in a light mood.
Every morning before breakfast, I keep some peanuts and rice in the veranda for birds and squirrels along with some water and when they come jumping there with
alert eyes, I feel so happy! Taking long walks in noiseless and natural areas
too gives me much happiness. Walking has always been cathartic for me and if
accompanied by a friend or a nice acquaintance, it becomes doubly enjoyable.
Slow and steady walking gives one much time to muse upon things that are often
ignored in the hustle-bustle of the routine life.
I believe happiness cannot reach
your soul till it is shared. The best way to cure one’s own wound is to stitch others’.
Expensive things have limited happiness quotient but all the things that are
vague like smiles, sharing, spending time together, cracking jokes, walks and
careless banter seem far more precious and memorable in the long run. Small
acts of charity, if done regularly, can make you a far more positive person and
it is a tried and proven fact. Relieving someone of mental or physical trauma
is the real meaning of happiness and we do not need a formal set up or a structure
for that. I try to keep helping as much I comfortably can and happiness fills
my heart to the brim when I see something positive coming out of these little mundane
efforts.
Another simple thing that makes
me happy is feasting on‘gol-gappas’! I can have them all the time, all
day. I have tried all the permutations and combination of this snack and can
call myself a ‘gol-gappa’ aficionado! A simple plate of this awesome
snack seems far tastier than some high sounding cheesy pizza. I have a thing
for Indian snack for they are are so damn effective in letting go
of all the stress!
Happiness is not a destination;
it is the very journey one needs to enjoy. Finding joy in simple things like a
child’s clever answer, an old person’s blessings or a joke shared with pals is
what brings real sunshine and color into our lives.
Check out how Coca-Cola can make
you smile and add a cheer to your life-cokeurl.com/96jnc.
I agree to ensure (to the best of myabilities and circumstances) that this blog post remains accessible in an un-altered state for a minimum of one year.
What’s
Your Dope?
The
recent spurt in the graph of biopics in Indian cinema points towards a few
things. Firstly, it is evident that fame and popularity scores over content and
work. That is why notorious Charles Shobhraj can boast of a biopic made upon
his wayward life and not Kailash Sathyarthi or such people who have put delinquent
and painful lives back to track, who have gathered pieces together to make many
a life worth living again. The recent biopic made in Hollywood upon the great
Indian mathematician Ramanujan indicates how short sighted we have become when
it comes to choosing subjects for this genre. Secondly, it is as if we have run
out of new ideas, and people’s lives, no matter how banal they have been, are being
turned into money grosser movies. I do not think some celebs whose lives have
been captured on the wide screen deserve that much. No one has yet bothered to
make a biopic on Hockey Wizard Dhyan Chand who impressed even Hitler first with
his game and then with his loyalty towards his country. The next biopic, I read
somewhere, is going to be on Late Kamala Das, the great Indian writer, and
Vidya Balan is going to portray her feminist and enigmatic life. This is fine;
she can motivate many women but still, there have been celebs who clearly did
not deserve even a short docu-drama. We need to think and be more creative with
story lines and plots and yes, music as well.
