Grateful By Ketaki S. Vaidya

            I will always be grateful to my teacher For the advice that changed my life He told me to always ask questions for questions are rare and empty solutions are rife.   A question opens a door To limitless possibilities Possibility to understand and answer all the longings.   Without a question The teacher is not challenged Without a question A student will not be engaged   Asking a question Will resolve deep mysteries Who am I and what the world is about which has been existing since centuries.   What is my purpose Why do I exist The answer lies in a question If you really persist.   Try asking how I can help Instead of complaining To your surprise The answer might be fulfilling.   Do not forget to ask what the lesson is. When in a situation happy or sad An answer will teach a lesson The difficulties are not all bad.   Where is my attention? ...

 A very happy birthday and many more to come  From a little mama’s baby A clingy, picky eater You have grown into a wise teen Smart, kind and sweeter You are strong willed  A Hard working teen With the determination and perseverance  Which for this age is rarely seen You fight with me often  But I know you also deeply care You show the courage to stand tall Even when the life doesn’t seem fair Assertive and polite, strong and kind Your balance makes me proud  You rarely brag your plans to others But your actions speak loud Don’t get very excited  I am praising you just for a day But I will always be there for you till my last breath  This promise will always stay

Where all the conflicts end And the duality dissolves  Where all the noise calms down The chaos rests in peace  At that serene place I am yours. All my demands sink  in the depth of your eyes All my complaints Disappear In the curves of your smile All my anxiety melts  In the embrace of your arms All my questions are silenced  When our lips are locked Good or bad  Nothing seems to matter Right or wrong  The questions do not bother Where my material identity ends It blends in yours At that beautiful place  I am all yours. 

 As a little girl, she always looked for a companion and safety in her family. She was very close to her mother and brother. They also loved her a lot and reciprocated all the feelings she showed. At times she got sad though because her mom seemed distant and busy in her own world. The girl understood that mom had her own problems to deal with and brother had to go his way to pursue his life's dreams and ambitions. The girl many times felt lonely, but she knew that she was loved by her family.  She soon found solace in friendship. She found many friends and a whole new world of opportunities to explore. As a teenager, she found her best friend. He was funny, always cared for her and loved her as if he was her brother. She felt happiness and a sense of belonging with him. They shared the deepest secrets, happiest moments and worst times together. She was surprised when he started feeling distant when he found his girlfriend. The teenager was happy for her friend but felt alone ...

 Can you hear, can you see?  The time is running away. There is still much to do  Still much to say  But the time is running away. I spent it a lot in unnecessary fear Spent it always on those who I called dear Now it all feels in vein and feels like a play Since the time is running away.  So now I want to do what really matters to me  Let go all the inhibitions and set myself free I want to be with you and listen to What our hearts say Because the time is running away I know life is always busy But can we just take it easy? Can you walk with me Until I reach my final day? See the time is running away I want to hear and speak What feels  the best Spent a lot to find you Now let me spend on you the rest Because whatever is secondary  The death will take it away Just see just hear the time is running away 

 There are thousand reasons to cry but find that one hope and pray wipe those tears, hold your head up and don't forget to smile every day.  Lay down low the storm will pass the sun will shine its first golden ray just show up and give your best don't stop to smile every day You have been brave, you deserve the best No matter what they say Keep your calm, walk with patience have faith and smile every day  Life is a journey do not stop No matter how lonely is the way Remember the tiny hearts are watching Look at them with a smile every day. 

 I took my first breath barely opened my eyes and in my mother's safe lap far from feeling grateful I felt entitled for all the attention for all the comfort.  I walked my first step spoke my first word and inside my parent's home far from feeling grateful I felt entitled to all the love all the facilities.  I entered the world of academics read my first word recited the first song and in my tiny school  far from feeling grateful I felt entitled to all the praise all the acknowledgements.  I had my first crush explored the world of career possibilities and in my small community far from feeling grateful I felt entitled for all the romance all the good luck.  I had my first down fall endured the pain of disappointment and in my tiny mind  far from feeling grateful I felt entitled to all the fairness all the sympathy.  I live my life everyday in my miniature home being a part of my little community surviving on the small earth which is a part of the...

 She was born free curious and vulnerable absorbing the surroundings with every passing breathe Suddenly she started perceiving all the standards of the society forming her ideas rigid looking at black and white missing out the colors She suddenly perceived  the idea of imperfection Then she started hiding herself walking alone in the alley worried to be seen scared to be heard stopping to live fully feeling ashamed mostly closing her eyes to the light And then there she met her all happy and free wearing her heart on her sleeve flaunting her blemishes  she looked so beautiful with all her scars illuminating in her contagious smile Now the girl in the alley  remembers her core she dances in the rain like no one is watching she talks with confidence she walks her talk leaves inhibitions behind worrying less and loving more crying and laughing with open heart because now, she knows  it doesn't take a perfect person to live larger than life she is a part of that al...

  You Deserve It                                                        Category: Leap for joy Open the windows and let the wind in Roll up the curtains so that the sunshine can be seen Don't be afraid of the storm, it was yesterday's tale Embrace today's day, you deserve it very well. Smell the flowers, dance bare feet on the grass catch the happy moment or else it surely will pass Don't let the memories of yesterday cloud your happiness dance like no one is watching, your joy is not anyone's business To be happy is a choice so chose it bold and clear Leap for the joy, there is no need to feel fear. 

  Look Before You Leap Look before you leap because not every terrain is smooth the grass is always greener on other side but it is not always the truth.  Leap of faith might sound fancy but the idea of a perfect place might be only in your mind you might have met many nice people  but not every friend is kind Follow your heart  Is a great advice to take but let the brain guide the journey and let it judge what is real and what's fake Life brings many opportunities  which one to take is our call A single moment of a wrong choice can take it away all So look before you leap because not all falls are easy pick your path wisely instead of doing anything crazy

 दिवसभर खेळून  तुझ्यासोबत हितगुज करून  घरी परतणे मागे कधीचे विसरलो  सखे आपण फार लवकर मोठ्या झालो  आगीनगाडी वा मोटारगाडी  दूर जाताना भीती कशाची  आईच्या मांडीवर निर्धास्त झोपून  प्रवास करणे मागे ठेऊन आलो  सखे आपण फार लवकर मोठ्या झालो  देवळामधल्या आरत्या, गाणी  कीर्तनकार बुवांची कहाणी  हातावरचा प्रसाद फस्त करणे  भोळ्या गप्पा, बालिश भक्ती  देवळामध्येच विसरून आलो  सखे आपण फार लवकर मोठ्या झालो  खोटे, लटके रुसवे फुगवे  छोट्या छोट्या गमती जमती  साध्या पण प्रेमळ भेटवस्तू  छोट्या छोट्या गोष्टींमधला  मोठा आनंद हरवून आलो  सखे आपण फार लवकर मोठ्या झालो  सरल्या मागे घटना जरी  माझी एक मी तिथेच राहाते  विसरलेल्या बालपणाला  आठवण काढून दुरून पहाते  एक तुकडा माझ्या मधला  शेवटी ह्याचाच बनला आहे  मागे सरता सरत नाही तो  सखे जरी आज आपण मोठ्या झालो 

 How many lessons  How many tests  How much learning is remaining dear life?  Half time is passed in finding identity, half is passed in strife. When I was flying carefree  You taught me to stay on the ground When I tried walking in line with discipline you taught me that freedom is profound I know you are teaching me balance but this is causing me lose my mind your lessons of peace are too harsh and peace itself is difficult to find Every job has some age to retire but you are keeping me busy can you please give me a vacation? Can you please be a little bit easy? 

 You and me Me and you I thought it's a perfect world. World with no secrets world full of love my perfect home.  What else does one need?  What else does one miss?  It is a complete whole!  But then life taught me how immature I was! You and I are never enough! There are always lots of desires. egos, pains, ambitions and ideas If you and me were that complete then why do we live in the world of hatred! If you and me were that perfect  then why the world has wars happening? You and me making a complete world, is a stupid, dreamy concept! You and I were never enough. in fact, it's a hurdle between so many wishes! 

 You are the one I trust so quickly  not related by blood but you are my family you are the supportive pillar for first day of school with you it is always fun to act like a fool with you I first talked about boys you are the relation not forced but it's my choice without you the work place will not be fun you make the walks easy when there is blazing Sun you are my support group while going through depression with you I can be myself without worrying about impression you walk with me while I am pursuing my passion scriptures say you can understand almighty with right association No matter in what age or stage of my life I am going through I will always be grateful to have a friend like you

  When everything around looks scary and dark The hope stays alive even with one spark With the beginning of the spark soon the light starts beaming It happens only for those who never stop dreaming.   No matter how much crippled you feel for now You might fly one day, you will never know how Then you will spread your wings without any fright Only if you dream now about that flight   Tough time passes, tough people survive When the right time comes, your dream will help you revive What is the mind without dream and imagination! Unleash it now from the shackles of suffocation!   For power lies with those who dream big things With big dreams in eyes, dare to ride big swings Huge changes in the world start with small act It is manifested by the dreamers, isn’t it a fact?    

 When something is observed by senses perceived by the brain,   felt by the heart  is significant enough  to appeal to the soul then the soul find a way  to express it instantly and the poetry is born that day.  It is as subtle as the dew on petals. Sometimes heavy enough to weigh on one's conscience. It is as naive as a teenage love and matured enough to empathize with someone's pain It's simple enough  to win a child's heart and complicated to  cause a political history It takes you to the world of fantasy It voices the naked reality Its a beautiful search of the creator helping souls to connect with the universe and when it is fearless and honest it beholds the power to change the world! 

 साऱ्या भिंती आधाराच्या हळू हळू कोसळून पडताना  बाळगलेली सारी मूल्ये निकामी, पोकळ निघताना  भल्या बुऱ्याची निष्फळ स्वप्ने डोळ्यांपुढून  विरताना  धागे कच्च्या विश्वासाचे विणीतून अलगद उसवताना  जवळ राहा तू जसा सारथी जवळ राहिला पार्थाचा  शांत समुद्री जहाज नेता अचानक वादळ कोसळले  दीपस्तंभाच्या आशेचे बुरुजही नकळत ढासळले  भावनांच्या काळ्या लाटांमध्ये चंद्रबिंबहि विरघळले  काळोख्या ह्या भयाण राती मन कार्पण्य दोषे बावरले  जवळ राहा तू जसे ध्रुवाचे मन होते विश्वासे प्रकाशले नाही भक्ती, विश्वासही हलका, ज्ञानही नाही कसलेही  भयग्रत ह्या मनात माझ्या  आशाही नावापुरती राहिलेली  धावधावूनी दहा दिशांना धमकहि थोडीच उरलेली  सरत्या निसटत्या वयासोबती दिवास्वप्नेही सरलेली  जवळ राहा तू तरीही जैसी प्रीत राधेची न विसरलेली  जवळ राहा तू जरी सारे विरून जाईल धुक्यामध्ये  शब्दही विरतील, देहभान अन मनही विरेल  काळामध्ये 

 Where the earth meets the sky where the hopes fly very high meet me there where life is always fair where the universe takes our care meet me there where the sky is bright and blue where my conscience feels light and true meet me there where love is the only language spoken where trust and hearts are never broken meet me there whenever I have felt scared and sad whenever the life has felt really very bad you have walked with me whenever I had the lonely feeling whenever my heart needed the most healing you have walked with me In the darkest of the hour, you have always been my north star but for once can i leave this pain very very far? where feelings and people are handled with care Is it possible for me ever to meet you there? 

 If you think about it it's really all about you from the very first breath till the very last one you come and go with yourself and not with anything or anyone you neither see anything here nor you hear anything there you see in your brain with eyes and brain hears with your ears whatever might be happening outside you feel it inside your heart all the thoughts and ideas are from within that make you look so smart so, when you are so busy with the life outside why don't you pause for a while? take a moment to look inside and greet yourself with a smile stop for a moment and practice self-care while running the rat race treat yourself fair You know what and where you are No matter what the others say so, ask all the bothersome questions to yourself by the end of the day. This whole wide world you have felt it within you The answer to "what's the whole purpose?" you will find inside too. 

भारतातले तो आणि ती  तो करायचा नोकरी  आणि घरात राबवायची ती  त्याच्या मागे बाहेरचे व्याप  आणि घरच्या उस्तवाऱ्या  काढायची ती  स्वयंपाक पाणी ,  घराची स्वच्छता,  मुला-मोठ्यांचे आजार, सण, पाहुणे  मुलांचे अभ्यास  परीक्षा आणि हट्ट  सुट्टीची तयारी  एवढी तिची कामं  त्याला त्रास नको म्हणून  हातात सारं आणून ठेवायची  काही कमी पडलं  तर वेळ मारून न्यायाची  आता तीही बाहेर जाते  नोकरी तीही करते  घराचं अजूनही बघते  आपल्यासाठीही जगते.  त्याने थोडी मदत केली  कि सगळे त्याचं केवढं कौतुक करतात! आठवड्यातून एक दिवस  चहा केला तर किती स्तुती करतात ! घरात बाहेर  सारं सांभाळून  ती नेटनेटकी राहते  मुलांच्या पीटीए ला फॉर्मल  आणि दिवाळीला नववारी नेसते  "फराळ विकतचा आणला"  म्हणून असते कधी तक्रार  तर " बाहेरच्या पुराणपोळीला हिच्या हाताची चव नाही" म्हणून मिळते कधी प्रोत्साहन  बाहेरच्या जगातल्या शर्यतीत  बरीच बरोबरी गाठली आहे  घरातल्या प्रवासात मात्र  विस...