Petals!

We are all caught in a rut.  Crazy busy. Sometimes, we forget to breathe or taste what is on our plate.  We check e-mails on our phones as we eat. We forget to laugh when our loved ones share a joke and we forget to smile.  We are too busy to smile. [ READ: Work, Love and Play like the Danes ] Been there, done that.  Here are the little things that I am doing for myself to change this: 1.  Breathe in, breathe out mindfully Have you noticed how your breath changes when you are nervous or angry or upset about something? Watch your breath because it is closely aligned with your mind-body well being. That's the key to good health and happiness. The more you breathe in and breathe out mindfully, the happier you will feel.  [Do READ:  Five Easy Ways to BOOST Your Confidence ] You will feel light all day. And when worry comes your way, make this your mantra - breathe in light, breathe ...

Hard to believe that Amar Akbar Antony is Nadirshah's directorial debut.  Like a seasoned director, Nadirshah brings together the most popular 'poster boys' of Malayalam cinema - Prithviraj, Jayasurya  and Indrajith  - in a well-paced interesting comedy thriller. I liked the scene where the guys get drunk and they talk about how women are 'heartless' and men are all 'hearts.' Their versions of heartbreaks gives you a different dimension to how men feel about heartbreaks and break-ups.  And yes, Nadirshah pulls it off almost effortlessly, getting many nuances right, especially in music and cinematography.  'Amar, Akbar, Antony' movie review: Tapping into actors' talent Director Nadirshah has also tapped into remarkable talent while portraying and bringing out the best in 'side characters' especially KPAC Lalitha, Srinda Ashab, Baby Meenakshi and Kalabhavan Shajohn whose performance was both touching and impressive as Jaday...

  My 9 year old son and I have a "secret" bed time routine.  Before he goes to sleep every night, I tell him a story.  But wait, I don't simply tell a story. During dinner, I build up some excitement and give him a clue here and there to keep him guessing about the stories I am going to tell him.  Sometimes, I tell him two stories and a third one, if he hasn't slept by then.  He loves mythological stories, especially of Arjuna and Pradyumna. Devarishi Narada has also become a recent favourite. When he wakes up the next day, he loves to discuss those stories.  You can imagine how that delights me. Signing off now but I'd love to know about the routine you have in your life that makes moments more memorable. Do write in. 

I was always curious about Army wives.  You see, I had heard stories. Whispers and rumors, more like.  But I had no clue that Army wives had a strict dress code. No showing skin, legs. That kind of thing. And the golden rule is - Hierarchy rules! Never ever say 'No' to a request by your husband's superior's wife.  When I mentioned this to my always-logical-and-practical husband, he scoffed, " That cannot be true. Its just your imagination. You are talking about the Indian Army, for god's sake. Not some kitty club."  Well, after I read Aditi Mathur Kumar’s novel "Soldier and Spice," I knew it wasn't my imagination at all!  What to look forward to while reading Soldier and Spice  Soldier and Spice is a full-of-life book. It keeps you informed about the life of Army wives in India.  When you finish reading the book, you will be wonder, "Is all of this (examples: the memsaab part and men standing up ...

Do you often worry about things going wrong? [Do read: What's the best spiritual lesson you learned from dealing with anguish? ] Throughout the years when I had the opportunity to observe Swami (my Guru), there is one remarkable trait that I saw in Him.  No matter what the situation is, Swami is always in harmony and absolutely free from worry.  Swami often says, "Worry is a waste of time and waste of time is waste of life." [Do read: How to find the peace within you when your plans go for a toss! ]                                                 [Image: Unsplash] A year ago, I saw a video of Swami visiting Delhi, Rishikesh and other places when he was in his early 20s - at a time when the world around probably looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and criticism. There was also a special musical programme where Swami  addressed ...

Life is pretty short. So, just do what you love. Do what makes you happy.  There's nothing like it! Tell me: What makes you happy? 

Some movies flop at the box office and often I find myself wondering why.  I read an old interview in Vanitha magazine about Malayalam film directors analyzing their movies that flopped.  Director Kamal talked about how 'Azhakiya Ravanan' flopped at the box office and reasoned that it had a futuristic vision that Malayalis probably were not ready for at that time. He mentions specifically about the heroine depicted as having submitted herself to the anti-hero and then being accepted by 'the hero.'  I disagree with Kamal's statement - that may not have been the sole reason for the movie becoming a flop.  Padmarajan's movie 'Nammuku paarkaan mundiri thoppukal' depicted the heroine being raped by her step father and the hero carries her away - literally and cinematically - off her feet. Even today, the average Malayali loves that film.  The same goes for the unconventional character of the main female protagonist  'Clara' in yet another ...