Smile at the Universe!!

Ever since I moved to Kuala umpur, I have been walking a lot to drop my kids to and fro from school. On my daily walks,I see many familiar faces, regular joggers, dogs and of course, school-going kids.

As I walk , it is my habit to smile at people. Even if they are strangers, whether it’s a policeman, a maid on her way to work, I always smile.

A lot of people, smile back. There are some, who wish me “Good Morning” enthusiastically even before I can smile at them.

And then there are some people. They are so pre-occupied with where they are going. They seem to be looking straight ahead at nothing in particular. And when they approach you, they look even further away, as though they are studiously avoiding a smile. I know, they can see me from the periphery of their eye. I know , that they know I’m looking at them, about to smile or wish them.

And yet they move on, walking furiously towards their chores,  their destination. As I observe their faces, and expresson, some are lost in deep thought, some are melancholy, and some are just closed. They don’t want to let anyone in, least of all a smile from a stranger.

I want to smile at them. I want to tell them, Smile at the universe, it is waiting to smile right back at you!

You might say, to each his own. And what right do I have to expect a smile in return.

But , here’s the thing. How often do we go through life like that? Me included. We are furiously focussed on our goal. Walking ahead, so lost in our thought of the destination, that we don’t want to let anything get in our way. The smile from a stranger, A hug from a child, a phone call from a friend who you don’t have the time for.

And maybe we do miss so many things. Some opportunities, Some connections, the ability to take life slow, the leisure of stopping to smell the roses… I can go on and on…..

How many times do we shut out things, people, and so many other moments? Because they are distractions, or we just don’t have the time!!

Smiling at the Universe opens you up to all the good that life has to give you. The mere act of smiling at a stranger, saying yes to a detour, ushers in all the positivity that we deserve to receive. We can focus on our destination, and yet enjoy the path that takes us there.

Here’s something I wrote .and I hope that it may serve as an inspiration to you…

It’s a tough road everyday..

No time to watch the sun’s shining ray..

I know how much it means to you to reach your goal..

As in your life, you play many a complex role..

But STOP, and SMILE…it won’t cost a thing..

The universe wants you to appreciate everything..

You may be in a hurry, you may be running late..

But smile to watch the sweet girl running out the gate..

I know you are busy, and there is lots to do..

But there’s a cute dog on the street waiting to say hi to you…

It’s easy for me to say, I know I don’t walk your path..

But there’s a stranger who is waiting for your smile to light their heart…

Smile for yourself, It’s a selfish thing too

Because, as you smile at the universe, it will smile right back at you…

I need to reach my destination, I know that’s what you say…

And I have a mounting load of chores, and so many bills to pay..

A smile won’t slow you down,  it wont make you come last,,

Because fast is slow, and slow is fast

Just  remember, the journey is the reward!

Smile at yourself, and to no one in particular..

Just yell to a stanger, “Have a nice day! See you later!

Watch the bounce in your step grow

It’s sometimes nice to be slow..

And when you reach your destination, Smile!

Lend a hand to someone who has walked an extra mile..

Watch the magic unfold in your daily life..

All you have to do is just SMILE….

The Fault in our Stars- Book review

Shakespeare wrote: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings”

That may be true for life, but for Hazel and Gus- the principal characters of the book,The fault IS in their stars.

It is easy to understand why John Greene changed the quote for his book title.
Two star-crossed lovers, meet in unlikely circumstances, and love blossoms. Can we call it 
love? Is it love, if it is felt between two adolescents? Can it be labelled a relationship, if the very foundation of it is rocked by Cancer?

On the face of it, The Fault in our Stars seems to be a story about Cancer. Yet it is anything but that. Cancer is relegated to the side-lines like an extra in a movie. It keeps popping up in the most annoying places, but never steals the show.

To me, it is a love story. A love, that’s so subtle, and shows so much maturity and restraint, that one would hardly imagine it to be between adolescents. And yet it is narrated through Hazel’s eyes. The language echoes the sentiments of their age, but their connection defies the years.

The book is peppered with small moments that make it endearing. Be it the first time Hazel makes eye contact with Gus, or the Night of the Broken Trophies, or the moment when they have their first real date.

You genuinely feel for the characters, be it Isaac, and his girlfriend woes, or the parents putting up a strong front, or the other main character in the book- THE book- An Imperial affliction.

An Imperial Affliction is not just a book in a book! What starts off as Hazel’s seeming obsession, slowly becomes a connection between Gus and Hazel, and finally overtakes it all  to become their raison d’etre

As a reader, this book takes you on a rollercoaster. The Ups are filled with witty repartees, and meaningful quotes. The downs are only yours when you realise that the Cancer never goes away.

As a writer, you learn how it’s possible to write moving literature without resorting to melodrama. You learn how a book can be so deep, and yet not take itself so seriously.

I cried when I read this book. Not because of the eventuality, but because Hazel and Gus moved something within me. I felt their pain. Just like Gus says; Pain, It demands to be felt. I felt their happiness. I felt them.

This book has come to mean many things to many people. To some, it serves as an inspiration to never stop living or loving. It helps a mom be honest to their child about cancer. And to some it becomes their own version of “An Imperial Affliction”.

And yet as I write this review, I feel like Hazel. Advertising my affection for the fault in our stars almost seems like a betrayal.

Read The Fault in our Stars at your own risk. It will touch you in places, you can’t imagine, and move you in ways you didn’t know were possible. 

But either way, remember that you will be Okay. Okay? Okay………….

A conversation with Life...

I’m all grown up, I declared to Life

She smiled, and I thought I heard her chuckle.

I am, I told her. Believe it or not.

With head held high, I continued my path.

She walked with me, holding my hand.

Here we are, she said approaching a fork.

What road will you choose, my grown up child?

Which one will you take to be your guide?

I looked at each road, and back at Life.

She reassured, I’ll be with you no matter what you choose.

I agonized as I compared the two.

One looked bumpy, the other rocky.

One looked steep, the other sloping.

You’re all grown up, she reminded me.

You can decide, and it will be alright.

I chose one, and we walked together hands held tight.

My eyes were fixed on the other path

I couldn’t stop thinking, had I chosen the right one?

And then it happened, I stumbled, and fell flat on my face.

With my face bruised and black, I felt like a disgrace.

Why didn’t you hold my hand, I asked angrily?

How could you not prevent my fall?

You are grown up, she said. Think about the reason behind your fall.

I dusted myself, and continued tall.

The other road seemed so breezy.

Maybe if I had chosen it, it would have been easy.

I cursed myself for making the wrong choice.

You were wrong , kept echoing my voice.

I passed huge obstacles in my way.

I fell, got hurt, but was determined not to stray.

And yet I simply couldn’t help but steal

A glance at the path that I didn’t take..

What if, What if, the words echoed

Could it have been a piece of cake?

Pray tell me! I begged to Life, for my sake.

She smiled that smile which bugged me by now

And we continued walking in tow

As time went by I grew stronger, and confident

The road seemed gentler, and I felt different.

In the distance, I could see my destination..

She squeezed my hand and gave me a nudge.

Exhausted and proud I took the final step.

And as I looked back at the path with a sense of pride

Life unveiled to me where the other path led…

The one that I didn’t choose…

The one that had filled me with so much regret..

Now I understood why she had chuckled

When I had declared that I was all grown up..

No time to stand and wait she said..

And led to me another fork..

What road will you choose, my grown up child?

Which one will you take to be your guide?