WHAT I LIKE AND WHAT I DO NOT LIKE

Hi friends,

We have been friends for a long time. I doubt whether you know what I like and what I do not like. I would like to tell you the details so that you know about me. This does not include the daily routine like walking, meditation, exercise, etc.

WHAT  I  LIKE:
1.READING: "READING MAKETH A MAN," Lord Byran said.  By reading books, we develop knowledge. The books are the best companion. I was reading 2 books a month or 75 pages a day, on spiritual, management, life sciences, fiction, newspapers, magazines, articles, etc. I have read about 25 authors each in English and Tamil. Now due to failing eyesight and the small size of the letters I find it difficult to read.
A. TAMIL 
1. Paramacharya [ Deivathin Kural] 2. Swami Chithbavanandhar [Bhagavad gita] 3. Swami A.Parthasarathy [Vedanta]  4. Kalki, 5. T.Janakiraman 6. Pudumai Pithan, 7.Sujatha, 8.Kannadasan, 9. Vaali, 10. Lakshmi, 11. Siva Sankari, 12. Indhumathi, 13.Punithan, 14. Maniyan, 15. G.Ramakrishnan, 16.Bala kumaaran, 17. Mu.Karunanidhi,18. Vairamuthu, 19. Rajesh Kumar, 20. Sandilyan, 21. Na. Parthasarathy, 22. Irai Anbu, 23. Akilan. 24. Jayakanthan
B. ENGLISH:
1.Dale Carnegie [Personality] 2. Norman Vincent Peale [life] 3. Stephen R.Covey[Management] 4. John Grisham [law] 5. Robin Cook[ Medicine] 6.Chetan Bhagat 7.Nicholas Sparks 8. Paulo Coelho 9. Dan Brown [symbols] 10. Jeffrey Archer 11. Sydney Sheldon12. Danielle Steel [women] 13. J.K.Rowling. 14. Herold Robbins [romance] 15. James Patterson16.Frederick Forsyth [crime] 17. Robert Ludlum 18. Ruskin Bond 19. Harper Lee 20. Arthur Conan Doyle 21.Robin Sharma  22. Mills & Boon 23. David Baldacci.

2. WRITING. I love to write letters, stories, incidents, and articles. It takes a lot of time and effort to develop a concept, design, and write. The pleasure of writing patiently is unique. I have a blog http:/thinkannote.blogspot.com wherein I post my articles. I have so far posted about 165 articles on various topics.

3.MUSIC: I have an interest in music especially Carnatic music. My wife and my daughter are good singers. I like film music based on Carnatic tunes and philosophical songs with good lyrics. Music is a healer. You can spend your time singing or listening to good music. It is also a good therapy for mental peace.

4.TRAVEL: I like to travel. I like to see various places, meet different people, learn different languages and cultures. I like to go with my wife and children. In the US, we go out like a picnic carrying all types of food. I have visited New York, Washington, San Francisco, and California. In India, I have gone to many places. Now, due to old age, the body is not cooperating though the mind is willing.

5.RELATIVE/FRIENDS: I love to visit relatives and friends and to receive them as guests. It is a unique pleasure to meet them, share with them and eat with them. However, the talks must be within limits, of mutual interest without leading to argument or quarrel. When there is slight disagreement, we should leave the subject without further talk.

6. MOVIES: Seeing movies, short films, clips, is my passion. I have an interest in the technicalities of movies. I do not give importance to artists. The story, script, photography, music, and editing are the areas of interest. A good movie should touch the soul. I prefer family-oriented subjects. I am a family man and I love my family. Families are the backbone of our society, culture, and existence.

7. INTERNET: Browsing the Internet is another area I am interested in. The Internet has great potential. In the future, nothing can be done without the Internet. I spend time checking chrome, emails, FaceBook, reading The Hindu, Times of India, Economic Times, seeing news channels, reading spiritual websites on Paramacharya, cricket, sudoku, etc. It is quite interesting and time-consuming and knowledge developing.

WHAT I DO NOT LIKE:
1. OVEREATING: Food is necessary for living. But eating unhealthy foods at untimely hours affects health. Simple vegetarian food is good. Snacks, bakery products, eating at will are all bad. I eat at a fixed time. I eat simple food. I eat more vegetables. I reduce my salt and sugar. Wasting food is a crime.

2. FANCY DRESSING: Clothing is one of the necessities of life. Dress is for the occasion, for the status, for the age, and for the comfort. It is not to show off. Paramacharya advocated simple dress and also minimum quantity. I keep only three sets of dresses. After using it, I give it to the poor before buying a new one.

3. ARGUMENT: I hate arguments. When two people are not in agreement they should stop the further talk and move away. Argument spoils friendship. It affects the peace of mind. It increases blood pressure. When we talk to our elders, we should restrain ourselves. They may not know everything. We know better because of our education. They know better due to their experience.

4. TREATING GUEST: It is always a pleasure to receive visitors. That is our culture. It is a pleasure to give than to receive. Sharing with them on various subjects without misunderstanding is enjoyable. I do not like to receive many guests at a time. There can be only one train on a platform. Many visitors at a time will lead to problems.

5. OVER SPENDING: One must neither be a miser nor an extravagant. I spend judiciously as per my need, income, and plan. I save for my children. Even the ants save for the rainy days. Housing, children's education, parent's medical expenses, and retirement living should be taken care of.  Go for the necessities, avoid the comforts and forget the luxuries should be the motto.

6. OVER TALKING: Some people talk beyond their age. They talk about philosophy and spiritual matter at will. Everyone has his own belief. One should not be compelled to follow their views. No one knows full well about these subjects. Do your duty, help the poor, make the parents happy, and pray to God is my policy.

7. GOSSIP: Some people, just spend time, are talking without any purpose. They talk about others, cinema, politics, and other topics of no value. Talking about these subjects is a waste of time and energy. We don't gain anything. Sometimes it may even lead to quarrels and misunderstandings. We should talk about useful subjects. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

 

WHO SPOILED THE KIDS ?

Hi friends,

I am the mother of my children. You are just a grandmother. You always give them freedom. You never said no to them. When I wanted to discipline them, to brush on their own, to comb their hair, to eat the food, to dress up, to sleep on time, to do homework you interfered in everything.

I don't want them to be spoiled. They will turn into bad guys. They will never learn discipline, to do their work, to wait for the other, to share and care. When they were babies,  I wanted them to sleep on their own, but you held them on your shoulders.

Every time you run to their help. How will they learn to be on their own? You get them nice gifts. How can you do that? They are very happy and excited about your gifts. What they will think about me? 

When they come back from school, they run to you. You made their favourite dishes and even sweets. Naturally, they come to you instead of me. I don't want them to come to you. Grandmothers always spoil the kids. I even wanted to send you off.

Until you are no more.

How can I explain to them? How can I tell them what death is? They won't believe me. They will not accept. They are crying for you. I understand now how important you are. I understand how much they loved you. You have left so soon and so suddenly.

They are now doing their work without my help. They score good marks. They take their classes seriously, They found love in your cooking, stories, loving words, singing, emergency medicines, and above all in your affection.

I was wrong. I did not understand you. My kids miss you badly. You are one of their best friends and a great fan always smiling and cheerful. They miss your talking, your words of wisdom, encouragement, and above all your love for them.

Every time they now achieve, I think about the harsh words I told you. I want you to come back. I won't say a word. Bring your sweets, gifts, their favourite snacks, take them anywhere you like and love them as before.
.
I know you cannot come back. You have the capacity to find out from their faces whether they are confident or bored or thirsty or scared. Come back and listen to them how they have improved. 

Their eyes are bright with passion. See them in their new dress, watch their hairstyle, how it blows in the wind. The years have moved and they are becoming adults and more responsible.

You have never left them. You loved them so much. It gave you joy and purpose. Your love is what they are and what they will be. I thank you for what you have done for them. I wonder whether you could come back again.

Your loving daughter/daughter/in law

MY MOTHER AND ME

We say mother, motherland, mother tongue, mother's day. We know God but we cannot write about Him. Similarly, the mother. She has so many qualities which you can only wonder. I am now trying to write about my mother who is 91.

I imagine my mother.  Aging is a natural process. My mother is no exception. She has also gone old. She is fragile, grayish hair, brownish eyes, shrunken skin, withered teeth, unable to stand erect, bent at the waist level, always looking at the ground, depending upon walkers, her life has been confined to the four walls. 

These are the symptoms of aging. Even then she is my mother. I love her so deeply. She wakes up early in the morning, and after brushing, she takes her coffee. After combing her hair, she gets up slowly, holds the walker, and moves towards the nearby bathroom to answer the call of nature and for bathing.  Thank God, at this age, she is able to move around and look after herself. 

After a bath, he resumes her work as if she works in an office. She starts writing  Sri Rama Jayam. Her target is one thousand daily. Then she starts reading books. She is a voracious reader. She gets many magazines and books to read. After reading, she cuts the pictures of the Gods or any good article and pastes them in a notebook, and shows it to people who visit her. She takes her food and medicines on time.  

I wonder is she the same mother, I know from my childhood?  My heart bleeds on seeing her condition now. Tears roll down my cheeks. She used to sing lullabies when my children were young. I wondered at her melodious voice. She never learned music from a Guru,  but she developed singing on her own instinct. People used to appreciate her Sruthi, breath control, and passion for music.

She has 9 children and their 9 spouses and their 18 children of whom 12 are married. These 49 people love her to the core. Everyone comes to her for her blessings or for some advice or for some consultation or for some discussion, or for fixing an auspicious day, or for chatting, etc., etc. All of them, when visiting get her some gift say, mp4, tablet, silk Saree, books, a statue of gods, sweets, fruits, etc. Her room looks like a temple. She is able to handle all modern gadgets.

Everyone wants to make her happy. She blesses them whole heartily. She also gives them gifts mostly in cash. All of them are well off and they attribute their success to the blessings of the old lady. I imagine her profile in my wedding album. Time has taken a big toll on her. She was charismatic in my album and in the photo with my father she looked gorgeous carrying me as a one-year-old child.

As the next eldest person in the family, I remember her all through my life. Born in 1925, as Rajalakshmi, the only loving daughter of my grandparents, she was married at the age of 12, to a handsome young man working in the State Govt. She learned the art of cooking and efficiently running the family from her mother-in-law. She also taught these nuances to her daughters and daughters-in-law.  

She had brought up her children in the very best way possible and got them married in time. She looked after her in-laws and her parents in their old age till they breathed their last. All sons, daughters, daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, and grandchildren are very much fond of her and showed her love, respect, and regard. She is full of love and shared all her love with every one of the family.

What a wonderful person she is!! One must be very fortunate to have her as a mother. I can call her a phenomenon and a person par excellence and a noblewoman. She has sacrificed her entire life for the well-being of everyone in the family. The love she shows towards the children is much more than the love we show towards her. Though we are sorry to see her suffering at this old age, we want her to be with us always. We all pray to the Lord to give her strength and long life without much suffering so that she can always bless us.