Thank You 2024 For Precious Lessons

Amazing how 2024 sped by! In the blink of an eye, it feels like New Year 2025 is around the corner - and yes, it is! A year that made me cry, laugh, sparkle with joy and experience the deepest lows of despair - oh 2024 - what a rollercoaster year!

1. Time is precious - don't waste it. Spend time with your loved ones. Learn new things. Or more importantly, intensify your sadhana through meditation.

2. There are no permanent friends in any relationship - the earlier we focus on our inner serenity and detach from toxic relationships, the better.

3. There will always be people who choose to misunderstand how you communicate - that's not your problem.

4. Whether it is among family members or friends, a relationship built on accusations and grudges will never work - walk out.

5. Relationships are about how you make others feel and vice-versa. If someone is continuously targeting you and disrespectful, remove yourself from there.

6. Life is short. You don't know what happens the next moment.

7. Don't wait till another day to apologise for your mistakes or to say you love someone - do it now - the future is tricky!

8. Those who treat you like dirt and act as though only their choices in life matter - steer clear from their narrow thinking and judgmental bias. Detach yourself.

9. Help others as much as you can. Expect nothing from anyone. If you've read the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the message is clear: Trust in God.

10. Life is precious and fleeting. Prioritise what makes you happy.

Why not rise out of 2024 with inspiring thoughts?

How to Build New Habits in 2025

It could be as simple as waking up at sunrise, journaling, sky gazing and taking at least 2-3 hours off the Internet to simply enjoy one's own solitude, even if it means zoning out of continuous pings or notifications?

"In solitude, a dialogue always arises, because even in solitude, there are always two," Hannah Avendt observes.

How About Waking Up Early and Digital Detox

Not easy - I am sure - especially if your work schedule keeps you glued to your smartphone, not to mention other online distractions including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and many more.

The point is you deserve some time to enjoy clear thinking and nurture peaceful zone within.

If it means switching off from social media for 2-3 hours daily, it's a good habit to start in the New Year.

Structure your time in an impactful way and review it daily.

Go for a jog.

Take a brisk walk.

Gaze at the sky, feel the warmth and enjoy being briefly in sync with Nature.

Read a book. Check out Japanese fiction - it's my current favourite!

Join the Listening Room and experience stillness and mindfulness.

Write poetry or get started with journaling. Listen to soulful music.

Learn something new. You may have more fun!

Tell yourself, "I'll live the focused life, because it's the best kind there is," as Winifred Gallagher observes in 'Rapt'.

I look back with gratitude to the year 2024 for teaching me precious lessons.

Wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2025

Lastly, do read these posts:

Mothers: Some Are Strong At The Broken Places

There's No Woman in the Moon

Lost Someone You LOVED?Amazing Story of Peddabottu

Comments

Most LOVED Posts

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are auspicious for lighting at home. On Fridays, it is considered auspicious to use ghee in a silver lamp. When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. Is it ok to light diyas at night? Yes, you can light diyas at night. How to light diya in front of house? Clean the area in the front of your home, decorate with a hand drawn rangoli or traditional kolam or swastik using rice powder or any organic materials. This is symbolic of inviting Goddess Mahalakshmi to enter your home. Then, place the diya on the right side of your entrance and make sure the lamp is fille...

Why chant Ramayana during the month of Karkidakam

For Keralites across the world who follow the Malayalam calendar, today marks the beginning of the month of Karkidakam. This month, which, decades ago, was known and slightly feared for its torrential rains and negative impact on the health, wealth and well being of Kerala's rural community. [Read: Power of Hanuman's Bhakti ] Why chant Ramayana during Karkidakam To ward off the negative energy unleashed by Nature and its possible repercussions on one's family's overall well being, the wise elders introduced the timeless tradition of every family reading the Ramayana as an oral, spiritual tradition. Thus, it goes without saying that for Keralites who embrace these traditions, the act of reading the Ramayana is as much a spiritual cleansing as it is a kind of tradition they can pass on to bond with their loved family members, particularly children. [READ: Why Malayalis Light The Nilavilakku] In the Ramayana, there is no 'preaching of principles' but yo...

Does something bad happen if the diya goes off?

Is it bad if a diya goes off? This is a frequently asked question among people who light the evening lamp or diya regularly in their puja room. Cultivating the attitude 'Everything is Divine Prasad', which embodies Prasada Bhakti , is a good way to minimise negative thoughts with regard to one's way of worship. When we light the lamp in our homes, imagine you are sending out divine love to the world. When you burn the incense stick, imagine you are burning away all negative karma within each family member and offering it before your Ishta Devata. [READ: How To Light Deepam at Home and Why Malayalis Light Nilavilaku ] [Image by Sachin Yadav @ Pixabay] What Happens When A Diya Goes Off? Many consider it as a 'bad omen'. For a devotee who worships Ishta Devata, everything represents Divine Gra...

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences. [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste. You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being bor...

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? How to properly light a diya? Should diya face god or us? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. The lamp or the diya always faced the deity or Ishta Devata. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. [ Let's Connect on Facebook ] As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes whi...

Petals!

Search This Blog