Fire?!

"The power of imagination makes us infinite." - John Muir

True story: It was a really hot, humid night and we decided to finally turn on the air conditioning downstairs. For the 7 people we had at home, there were quite a few fans/air conditioners on; therefore, we knew we were risking it because the power goes out frequently in July. Fifteen minutes later, everyone is sound asleep and I'm about to fall asleep when lo and behold, the power does go out. I wake up to find out where the power is on so I could adjust where I'm sleeping and stay cool during the night, but Mom wakes up when she realizes that everything shut down. So together, we attempt to fix it but can't. By this time, Dad wakes up as well and goes to adjust some things. I went to unplug the air conditioner and realized how ridiculously hot the plug had gotten. I showed Dad, but he insisted that we turn it all back on again because it was just way too hot. So of course, within the next 15 minutes, everyone falls back asleep and I just sat there thinking about what I would do in case there was a fire. (Trust me, I had it all planned out. I knew how I'd get everyone out of the house, how I'd put the fire out, etc.) I FINALLY fell asleep (woohoo! Those of you that know me well know that this is a big deal, hah.). An hour later, I wake up to Dad shouting "I smell smoke, there's a fire!" (Remember: I had not mentioned my fear of a fire to anyone; I had just been thinking about it all.) As soon as my eyes opened, I felt extremely hot and the air felt hot and smokey. We all jumped up and ran to do what we knew we should in order to protect our home and family...but in reality, there was no fire. Until we realized that there was nothing, Dad and I felt heat and smelled smoke. And until we were 100% sure that there was no fire, we weren't able to cool down. 

Okay so besides the fact that I was afraid Dad would do something dumb to protect us and end up hurting himself and the fact that there really was nothing...I sat there for hours afterwards realizing some crazy things! But before I do that, let me just tell you what had happened: Dad and I had both been dreaming (nightmaring?) about a fire and that's what caused us to feel the way we did and smell what we did. 

So what does all of the above mean? Think about it for a second before scrolling down. Here's something that my help: why did we feel warm? Why did we smell smoke? Why were we prepared to save everything the second we woke up? 

Mental power. You've probably heard so often about our mental strength, right? But how often do we actually use our mental strength to achieve something in life? For example: if you want to eat healthy and you see a cookie, do you eat it? Probably. If you want to read 15 minutes every day but someone asks you to go to the movies spontaneously late at night, do you go? Probably. You can probably think of a million things you want to do but don't really do...think about your resolutions, goals, etc. Ughhh...it's so frustrating, isn't it?!


So HOW can we use our mental strength and achieve something? I think we first have to realize how powerful it really is. If we don't have full faith in our mental strength, then we can't use it. Right? Have faith in it and then start using it for small tasks. Exercise it, just as you know you have to exercise your willpower. It all goes hand in hand: willpower, determination, mental strength, the desire for change.

This is a simple post that serves as a reminder to look at situations more carefully and take a lesson out of them. From this small incident, I realized how much more I need to utilize my mental strength. It is one of God's greatest gifts, and I just take it for granted (kinda like I do with almost everything else). But it's time to change. With baby steps, I shall change.

Will you?

So long. <3

True Love? It Can't Be.

"There’s something inside me that makes me pay attention to every little thing about you. I just want you to be happy."

You could say the silliest thing, and I'll remember it.

You could make the lamest joke, and I'll laugh.

You could say the meanest thing, and I'll brush it off. 

You could look awful in a picture, and I'll think you look amazing.

You could sing and have a terrible voice, but I'll love it.

You could cry in front of me, and I wouldn't think any less of you.

You could suck at dancing, and I'll think you're so graceful.

You could be terrible at sports, and I'll still be your number 1 fan.

You could bring home ugly flowers, and I'd put them in a vase and water them every day.

You could bring home the worst card for me, and I'd hold on to it forever.

You could continue talking forever, and it'd be like music to my hears.

You could suck at playing an instrument, but I'd love to listen to you all day.

You could be awful at cooking, but I'd find every thing you make delicious.

You could put on the worst outfits, but I'd find them so perfect.

You could smile the most crooked smile ever, but I'd think it's so beautiful.

Gosh, you could do anything negative and I'd see it in a positive light.

Is this what you call true love?

But if we aren't meant to be together, then there's someone else out there for me...and you.

And if this isn't true love, then what is it?

Why does it hurt so much?

I know that I have the potential to do great things.

I have the potential to the change the world.

I have the potential to make a difference.

But I am selfishly willing to give it up just to be with you.

What is this?

Why is this so?

What am I feeling?

You and I won't end up together.

I know that.

But I still hope every day...

And I still hurt all the time.

But no matter what, I wish you the best.

You go find that girl for you.

And you show her off to me...

And you know what?

I'll be so happy for you.

I'll be hurting. But I'll be happy.

But in case you care to know: I'll be okay.

I'll find someone that cares for me.

I'll find the guy that's perfect for me.
Or rather, he'll find me.

A guy that doesn't mind my flaws.

So don't you worry about breaking my heart [more]...

Because someone's on his way to mend it.

So long <3

P.S. This is not a copy and paste.

Manners You Should Teach Your Kids!

"Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them."


I know that a lot of my things have come from other sources lately, but I want to share them with you all so badly so here's another 'copy & paste'! I may have random notes in red :)


Manner #1
When asking for something, say "Please." If they don't say it, they don't deserve what they're asking for. Trust me, I've refused to give younger cousins things if they can't say please. You might not teach them a life long lesson, but you'll show their parents the importance of saying please.
Manner #2
When receiving something, say "Thank you."
Manner #3
Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking. This is definitely true but there's a fine line...if the child is young enough, then you shouldn't continue your conversation for too long. Definitely let them learn to wait, but allow them to say "excuse me" in between a conversation.
Manner #4
If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation. I guess that says it right here :p
Manner #5
When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later. Yeah but I still think kids should learn to explore and take risks. They're supposed to do crazy things so we can learn on their own. Once they cross certain lines, we should step in.
Manner #6 The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults. I wouldn't teach my child to keep it between his friends because then they could easily start talking about other kids.
Manner #7 Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.
Manner #8 When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are. I totally agree. I understand some kids are shy but I mean come on! At least say hi!
Manner #9
When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.
Manner #10 Knock on closed doors -- and wait to see if there's a response -- before entering.
Manner #11 When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.
Manner #12 Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect. Agreed. Even if I love to save paper, I think it means a lot more if a thank you note is handwritten.
Manner #13 Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant. Ummm...or just don't use foul language at all. How young are the kids we're talking about right now?? On a side note, I saw this Dad cursing at his 4 year old son at work the other day and it broke my heart. Please don't do that.
Manner #14
Don't call people mean names.
Manner #15 Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.
Manner #16 Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.
Manner #17 If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me."
Manner #18 Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.
Manner #19
As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.
Manner #20 If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.
Manner #21 When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile. And do your chores without having to be reminded. If it's the same thing every week, you can't forget about it!
Manner #22 When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers! You can never say "thank you," "sorry," or "please" enough...use them freely!
Manner #23 Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.
Manner #24
Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.
Manner #25
Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed. Does it bother you when people have their elbows on the table? It definitely doesn't bother me...I think it's the weirdest manner ever!

It's very basic, but you probably know so many kids that are manner-less...this could help them out :p

So long <3

How to Get an A!

"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth."

When I first started writing, Vatsa's apartment was busy studying. At that time, Kruti put down her books and asked me to blog about "how to get an A" and I promised that one day I will definitely do that...so here you go! (Finally, hah sorry!!)

Not going to lie, but I'm only going through different websites and pulling out things that may be able to help. If you're ever skimming through this blog and you should be studying, read this post and get back to work!!

1. Attend every class. It's not that simple: pay attention in every class. No phone, no FaceBook, no e-mails; nothing. Simply sit there in class, listen to the teacher and take notes. Even if you know everything, you will focus better by taking notes.
2. Know your deadlines for every class and put them all on one document to pull up whenever needed. You don't want to have to go through every syllabus each time midterms are coming up. 
3. Go to office hours twice a semester for each class. Even if you're a genius and the class is a joke, get to know the teacher.
4. Study with kids in your class, but not your best friends that you'll want to gossip with!
5. Set earlier deadlines for yourself (maybe a week earlier). This way, you have a full week to edit or do something else.
6. With that said, here's a basic one: do NOT procrastinate. Haha, I know. How many of us actually avoid procrastinating? None, I know. But...limit your procrastinating. Time yourself. Realize how valuable your time is. 
7. Ask questions. If you don't want to ask in class, then stay after class, go to office hours, email the professor or ask other students. Don't just let things slide.
8. Read. I know that most of us do not read every page of every textbook (or even open it up until finals come around), but I am so sure that we'd do a lot better if we started reading. Watch less TV and read more. Read less novels and more textbooks (I knowww...that sounds awful, but we gotta do what we gotta do!-Tommy Pickles).
9. Do extra credit!
10. Schedule study time as if it's a class and don't let anything else come in the way.
11. Have an agenda book! Or a small notebook. Or put things on your phone. I don't care how you do it, but help yourself by organizing classes, meetings, study times, hang out times, etc. [Google calendar...ask Radhi if you don't know how to use it!]
12. Search practice questions for each class online to review.
13. Use review questions in textbook!
14. Go to learning centers if you don't get something...we pay so much for school, why not use the resources they give us?!
15. Study for classes you don't like or don't get first, and get that out of the way. 
16. Oh, by the way. You should check the dates on your syllabus at least three times in a semester in case the professor changed anything.
17. Have a study area (not your bed or the couch).
18. Don't drink so much coffee...you're going to crash soon. Instead, grab a fruit or something and munch on it. Also, do not eat a heavy dinner and then plan on studying for 5 hours...you're totally going to knock out.
19. Do your homework even if it's optional and ask the professor for help if you don't get it. Even if the questions aren't similar, the concepts will be.
20. STUDY. Don't cram. Don't just review. Don't just skim. Don't just take practice questions. Actually sit there and STUDY! 

I know that this is the worst time to put this up since we're all at home (and only a few of us are taking classes), but it'll help eventually. Set your goals high, and then work to achieve them. Don't just assume that you'll do great because you want to do great.

Hope that summer is going great!

So long <3

If I Die Young

No one knows how much it hurts...honestly, I was thinking about it today: we all have an extremely different relationship with every person we interact with. So no one will ever know exactly how you feel when you lose someone, right? You know the last thought I had of you before you added me on FaceBook again? I wondered if I would take out time from my life to come to your wedding...if it was worth the time and money to come to your wedding. I thought I would want to come just cause I didn't want to miss any cousins' wedding again, but then I think I decided that I probably wouldn't want to come. Does anyone understand how much that hurts? If you were alive, we wouldn't be talking. We wouldn't be friends, we wouldn't act like sisters. It hurts so goddamn much knowing that...and I'm not even learning from this mistake. I'm trying. Sometimes.

Why can't we all always just be really happy? I understand that certain situations come up, we argue, we fight, we get upset, we give each other a cold shoulder, etc. But then why don't we make up right away? What if something happens between the fight and when you're supposed to meet again? How will you feel? But then if we think like this all the time, we're going to all have such pessimistic views...and that won't really help with anything, right?

Tejalben, wherever you are, I just want you to know that one day we're not going to cry as much. We're not going to think about you as frequently as we do now. We're going to move on, we're going to feel okay, we're going to only smile when we think of you. ...that doesn't mean we love you any less. It just means that we've come to terms with life, and that we're going to hold on to the good memories and move on. I don't know when it'll happen, but it most definitely will eventually happen. When it does, please don't think anything of it. You're going to live on in our memories forever...your nieces and nephews will love you without having to meet you--that, my sister, is a promise.

On this amazingly sad note, I would like to say...Darpana Aunty, I totally expected you to walk in today when Jagdish Uncle came to Yuva Din and that completely threw me off track. It's been so long, but I can still hear your voice and incredibly beautiful laugh...wherever you are, I hope that you are resting in peace. If you're back, I know that you're making a family extremely happy and that in many years, you'll be an amazing mother again. <3

And Ramesh Bapuji, it's crazy how much our lives turned around completely after you left us. It's crazier how your family's lives are a lot better now that they've been introduced to so many great things here on Long Island. I hate it so much that you aren't here with us, but I am so proud of everyone on behalf of you. I know that you also are making a family very happy now and that you're going to be the best Bapuji to someone else...and I also know that you will somehow make sure to take care of Dada because he's not doing so great right now. I assume that you are so proud of having a father like him-after having been through so much, he's still the head of the family that's still intact.

To all of my family and friends that have passed on...I miss you. You affected me in ways you don't even know. Charles, I miss the confidence you had in me. Jagdish Bapuji, I miss going to parades with you. Mani Dadai, I miss you watching us play baseball in the summer. And the rest of you that I didn't get to know so well, I hope that are you doing better than you were here...

Know that you are all remembered. Know that I love you. Know that I miss you...

"If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh, uh oh

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger, I've
Never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand, there's a
Boy here in town who says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life, well,
I've had, just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh (uh, oh)
The ballad of a dove (uh, oh)
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls"

So long <3