Love your life

A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed

“A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.” — Arnold H. Glasow

“There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will.” — Unknown

“A friend can tell you things you don’t want to tell yourself.”-Frances Ward Weller

Video Courtesy: Bill Withers
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBTrTXbSiv4Pq7As_tcB0UA

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked”- Bernard Meltzer

“Cherish the friend who tells you a harsh truth, wanting ten times more to tell you a loving lie.”- Robert Brault

“If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together.. there is something you must always remember. you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. but the most important thing is, even if we’re apart.. I’ll always be with you.”- Winnie the Pooh

Quotes on Hard Work

Here's some of the all-time inspiring quotes I hold on to when it comes to Hardwork, Success and Determination.

A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work. ~ Colin Powell, former U.S. Defense Secretary

We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in. ~ Ariana Huffington, businesswoman and author

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. ~ Dale Carnegie, American business icon

If you love your work, you’ll be out there every day trying to do it the best you possibly can, and pretty soon everybody around will catch the passion from you – like a fever. ~ Sam Walton, founder of Walmart

Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment. ~ Oprah Winfrey, media mogul

I think that my biggest attribute to any success that I have had is hard work. There really is no substitute for working hard. ~ Maria Bartiromo, television journalist and author

Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come. ~ Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, former wrestler and actor

“Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You…Be Free…Share.”
― Steve Maraboli,( Life, the Truth, and Being Free)

The ones who say you can’t are too afraid you will. Nike

Do not whine… Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone. Joan Didion

Soon You’ll breathe again

An excerpt from my poems in "The Quantum Leap"

Hold on, Precious Self for You still count, You still matter

It doesn’t seem so now, it may never feel so again.

Your trust is broken, your hope is lost, Your world has fallen apart

All you’ve cherished has gone afar- But soon You’ll breathe again.

Rise above, Precious self- You need to be wise, not naïve anymore

For they don’t see you’re hurt, nor do they choose to see

All you believed in has lost meaning, all your prayers seem unanswered

The pain scares you, the memories haunt you-But soon You’ll breathe again.

Mourn all you want, cry out your deepest pain, you can and you should

Your soul needs time, away from the noise, to reflect on life, every bit of it.

Allow yourself to vanish from sight, hidden away to be alone

The scars will remain, the hurt will linger -But soon You’ll breathe again.

Its time to believe in your worth, its time to realise you deserve the best

A whole new world is waiting for you, Shine fiercely and be your person.

You are still standing, brave and strong, unwavering amidst all your battles,

You are the sun, You are the centre, And Soon You’ll breathe again.

Be Grateful For Solitude

An excerpt from my poems on Inkling Lafz, A publication of Unvoiced Hearts.

From the minute you wake, open your eyes and look around 
To see what you have and give thanks for that.
There’s a new sunshine after the dark, a ray of hope lingering afresh
You too must rise, to be who you are, to fly high and soar the skies.

The losses of yesterday weigh deeply still
Scarring your heart with despair and hurt, 
Don’t let them take you down, don’t let them sink you deeper
Just keep affirming that hope will find you.

Widen your gaze and stare at the horizon
Hang in there and spot that rainbow.
Keep still as you seek within, quieten your mind and wait for a whisper
The answers are there,  for you to discover, to give you all you’re worthy of.

Realize the virtue of your mind, the strength that comes from silence
The silver lining cannot but come, new paths will keep unfolding.
Solutions will find you, obstacles will clear off, your dreams will come true
Such is the power that comes from solitude, a divine blessing to be grateful for.

Mini Balakrishnan

The Little things that matter

(An excerpt -My short story from an anthology I have co-authored -Lockdown Emotions, Unvoiced Heart Publications, Available on Amazon )

He knew there was more to come. The day had just begun and his patients were streaming in. The city’s leading neurosurgeon, Dr Amit Sharma started his day before dawn. This was his routine for the past 17 years. So then why was he feeling uneasy today? He somehow dreaded the day that was unfolding before him. Something told him that he shouldn’t be at work today. Where else was he supposed to go? The home he built was no longer familiar to him. His life was at the hospital. On days filled with surgeries, he didn’t even bother going home to sleep. On other days, he went after his family was asleep and returned even before anyone could see him. Life was fast-paced.The power, fame, money he enjoyed was addictive. He was the provider, he was the miracle worker, He was the Neuro God!

Shaking off the distressed feeling, Amit walked into a critical patient’s room for a consult. And then he knew. Before seeing her battered face, he recognized her. She was the love of his life. She was the one who taught him to count stars, to play in the rain, to watch the kites fly. As he reached out, her tiny hand slipped into his. Barely being able to speak, she spluttered- ‘’Papa, You came. ‘’

The miracle worker lost his words. He had missed her school drama in which she was the princess. He asked to be left out when the family went to the zoo. He had forgotten the day he was supposed to take her to the park. He was saving lives, but he took for granted that he had a daughter who needed him.

He heard his wife crying and telling him how their little girl had crossed the road to go to the neighborhood park. A careless, drunk driver appeared from nowhere and changed their lives forever. ‘’You have to save her, Amit. You have to bring our child back, ’’the distraught mother cried.

The Neuro God walked into the Operating room, with his wife’s words haunting his ears. Could he do it? Was it worth giving up his family for all this fame? Could he bring back his very own child to life? Could he play God once more?

By Mini Balakrishnan

Quotes For Tough Times

We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want-Jim Rohn

Never give in. Never, never, never–Winston Churchill

The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.-Ulysses S. Grant

Tough times never last, but tough people do–Robert Schuller

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. – Henry Ford

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.–Kenji Miyazawa

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it-Michael Jordan

I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me- Dr. Seuss

The Super Heroes of Daily Life- The Covid Caregivers

As Covid is taking its toll on people all over the world, every household is on the brink of panic. No, I am not going to tell you about the dangers of this horrifying virus. You have had more than enough of that already. It’s all over social media every day. So what are we talking about today? Let’s take a slightly different approach.

It’s not only the Covid patients who go through severe stress and pain. Take a moment to think about the terrified family members who have to take care of the patients-The caregivers.

The emotional agony they go through is equally distressing. There are minutes of fear, which cannot be explained. When you know that the decision to save a loved one’s life is entirely in your hands, those long hours when you see them fighting against the odds to survive, the clock-ticking minutes when you are exhausted of searching for proper medical guidance and adequate treatment facilities- Those moments stay with you for many days to come.

So what do you do? When you know you are the person responsible for making decisions when you have to be the person forgetting your own needs to make sure your family is safe when you try everything in your power to get rid of their pain, how would you manage?

Believe In Ultimate Guidance

You may be so exhausted with all the physical strain and emotional trauma that praying for long hours won’t be practical. So ask God or the Universe or the Infinite Source you believe in to guide you towards the right path. Trust that this guidance will reach you on time in the form of ambulances, doctors, oxygen cylinders, caring superiors who help you take decisions, family members who offer support, friends who buy you supplies and pass on cooked meals. You will know that you are taking the right decisions if you take a moment of silence. When in doubt, pray for the right guidance and it will come to you.

Switch Off Social Media

There are so many scary stories out there. DO NOT listen to such stories which mostly talk about death rates and complications. You are here to be brave and row your boat to safety. You may be in a constant state of tension and there is no need to increase your stress levels.

Avoid Unnecessary Personal Calls

Yes, that seems rude, but it’s necessary. People tend to repeat Covid stories, especially the bad, sad ones that they know of. It’s human nature, the speaker may have a good intention, however, at this point, it affects your mental strength. And that’s not going to do you any good. It will deprive you of what little energy you have left. Filter who you should talk to, who you should not, who offers positive words and who offers you actual help.

Seek Guided Medical Attention

Do not wait for emergencies. Keep in constant touch with a doctor who is ready to help at all times. Inform him/her that you would want to call them for online consultations. Follow all their instructions. You will get advice from all sorts of sources. But, your doctor knows best. And only YOU know what’s best for your loved ones. So follow your gut.

Check the availability of hospital facilities if you feel there might be a need to admit any family member. Don’t keep thinking that someone will get all that done for you. You are in charge. You need to think about post covid care too.

If you are planning covid care at home, you have to make sure your doctor is available online when you need advice.

Do The Oxygen Check

As far as I know ( Please note that I am no medical expert), what will help the most is keeping a regular check on oxygen levels. That is the best indicator of things going wrong. When there is a slight dip beyond what is required, do not hesitate to seek medical help.

Trust You Will Make It

This one is the most important. You have followed all medical instructions, you are taking the best care of everyone, including yourself, you are taking all the required precautions, now what? This virus takes its own time. But you are better than that. You keep your trust intact. You have asked for proper guidance and for sure, You will be provided with that. Just keep knowing that you are all going to be free of Covid soon. The next test results will prove that you defeated the virus!

A Special Reminder

Dear Readers, Get yourself and your loved ones vaccinated. Then even if you do contract the virus, the complications will be far less.

We are defeating the virus. The whole world is overcoming the Covid situation. We are celebrating our freedom once more. A big salute to all the caregivers who are doing their best to keep the world safe.

You Will Achieve

(A poem from my book-Dare to Live….)

You can

If you want to,

The question is

Do you want to?

You will

If you decide so,

Doors will open

If you want to.

You should work

On your dreams,

You should know

Only you can achieve them.

Work on your dreams

With trust and faith,

Believe you will achieve them

Because you know you can.

A letter to you…Dear Friend

Dear Anyone

If there’s anyone out there who is having a hard time, whatever the reason, this letter is for you. A simple note of encouragement and care. A gentle reminder to let you know that you are not alone. A hopeful note to anyone who is struggling.

I know, it’s hard to go on not knowing how life will turn out. Embrace the mystery and look up with wonder. Listen to your inner voice. That may mean staying in bed the whole day. That could mean working so hard that you are too tired to think. That may mean gorging on chocolates and ice cream. That may mean you want to spend the day in silence and meditation. It can mean a hundred of things to different people. And that’s perfectly alright. Do what you must, leave the rest and stay still.

Let people in. If you observe, you will find someone who is waiting to hear you out. If you relax, you will find a way out. Let your feelings touch your life, experience the pain, the joy, the excitement. Watch them as you would watch a movie. Do not keep suppressing and ignoring your feelings. They count and are worthy because that’s who you are. Let go of unwanted emotional baggage. It’s not going to do you any good.

Cleanse yourself internally. Cultivate the habit of finding happiness in what you have. Losing people, losing opportunities, losing that what matters most will hurt deeply and painfully. However, you do not control everything. You have to trust the Universal flow. Control what you can and let go, with the blind belief that what’s meant for you is with you. You are exactly where the divine force whats you to be now. Trust the process, as hard as it seems to do. Keep the faith.

You are a beautiful soul. You may have made mistakes, but that’s how you learn. So hold on, dear one. Pause and exhale slowly.

To second chances, to new beginnings, to start dreaming again!!

Love and prayers

(An excerpt from my book- Dare to Live)

A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed

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Quotes on Hard Work

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Soon You’ll breathe again

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Be Grateful For Solitude

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Top Post-Covid Tips to regain your health

Dos

Don’t s

Forget Me Not

Star Tip of the Day

A Secret weapon

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The Little things that matter

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Quotes For Tough Times

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You Will Achieve

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A letter to you…Dear Friend

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