Who is not in love with rains?

The delight-amplifying mechanism of Mother Nature induces clouds to pour down heavily in response to the roasting heat caused by the summers. Mystic hues caused by a riot of raindrops; nostalgic aroma of wet earth; water-logged parks with mud-smeared kids; sinking and floating pool of paper boats; window panes getting an eternal caressing from streams of showers; that feel of riotous water trickling down your hair; those facial gestures of a long-held prayer being answered; getting a kick in shearing a water-filled mud hole by speeding our vehicle over it; the mass-hugs and the abundant giggles; the momentary evanescence of worldly worries!!

Rains fulfill a missed connection between us and Mother Nature. I remember those spells of joyous feet-thumping in rain waters, those sprees of singing aloud with a bunch of friends while it rained as if there is no tomorrow. On the outer side, it may seem that rains convolute the orderly arrangements; however, in real, rains serve to make the things attain some patterns, and regain lost sheen. Rains join sky and earth, which otherwise never touch each other. With the interconnectedness of all the elements of Mother Nature, the world seems more fluid than ever when it rains. Oh I have been bitten so badly by the bug of rains! When would it rain in Delhi?

My cup of tea

Tea is intricately woven into my daily routine which includes a lot of mental calisthenics. I am sure, as Indians, nothing really turns us calmer than the thought of a nicely brewed cup of tea; anything that goes on for pretty long durations starts affecting our lives from inside out, and tea holds no exception. I Have memories of my childhood days when we, the close-knit members of our family, used to gel over cups of tea, some snacks and abundant affection. Those foggy mornings of winters, those picturesque evenings of springs, those breezy nights of summers – all embraced us in the prevalent aroma of tea; the bonds got stronger and the joy associated with tea also grew manifolds.

I am basically a TEA person; give me any variant of tea and I would tell you about the secrets that have gone into preparing it. Some of my colleagues would prefer a cup of coffee with rich lather and richer aroma any given day, but a coffee is not my cup of tea. Everyone has affinities, the close callings; I need my daily supply of tea to be able to feel in sync with my systems. I don’t consider my self addicted to tea; it’s just that I am a tea-lover. The sight of monotony-breaker whirls settling in the cup, the anticipation of first slurp while bringing the edge of cup to your lips, the fragrance that can only be appreciated while you close your eyes – a cup of tea can make this world appear even more warm, stimulating and homely. 

10 tips to love your food

Eat when you feel like eating. When you start expecting your food, or missing your food is the best time to indulge in some soulful eating.

Take a deep breath before you start to eat. In the confines of your mind their lies a vast space that bears no boundaries. Thank the Lord, while the pith of your mind lies in this area, for enabling you to have your meals.

See the colors of your food. Colors are beautiful and our foods seldom get the appreciation for the colors they flaunt. Now let’s not be mean and visualize the beautiful, often vivid, colors of our foods before we start to eat.

Let the whiff of the succulent food enter your nostrils. A blend of different aromas can be such a mood-lifter. At this stage, you would be tempted to wolf down the first gulp.

Start eating slowly, like you are still learning to eat. This would give your taste buds enough time to appreciate the farrago of tastes, and a thorough mastication would keep your digestive system going great guns.

Imagine the processes that had been involved in making this food. The cultivation of daisy-fresh crops, the careful plucking of vegetables, the tender treatment in the kitchen, and finally the decoration with the herbs.

Imagine that the food being eaten is slowly being assimilated in your body’s systems. Feel the energies being released gradually; it’s the vital energy of life that you derive from your food.

Make sure to eat with a serene mind. Don’t indulge in negative emotions while eating.

You would best experience the food when you eat without speaking. Concentrating on the eating experience would make it feel even better.

Make it a point to eat till the time you still have some feelings for the food. If you tend to overeat, the feelings that you were experiencing moments ago will vapor away fast. So indulge in moderation.