Live Positive Way

Years back when I was working with ABN AMRO Bank, in our department we played a game called 'Star of the day'. We select a person randomly and rest of us will share something positive about them written in a paper and will put them in a drop box. At the end of the day, we open that box and read out loudly all things written in those papers.  My fellow Bankers might have even forgot this but I have treasured those valuable comments till date since its their comments and my compliments. I keep seeing them whenever I find myself little upset or missing those days!

A couple of days back I have posted a message in my Facebook timeline and shared it to my WhatsApp friends too which reads as follows - "Say one word which describes about me"..... I did received some replies back and there were really some unexpected surprising replies too.

It might sound funny to see something like this posted by an adult like me, but the entire process was to know what my dear ones think about me. I can be an International blogger, an Educationalist, a Motivator but being a normal human begin at times I too need recognition, acceptance and encouragement. These things always boost me more.

'Appreciation' - that's what everyone needs starting from a child to an old person. But everyone busy chasing their own dreams and hence have no time left to think about others or thank and appreciate anyone. But appreciating a person can not only motivate them but we will also have a feel of positive impact in us when we do so. If you want to appreciate anyone you have to carry a smile on your face, openness in heart and honest words to deliver it. If we are able to bring smile in someone's face by appreciating them, why can't we do it regularly?

Lets not even say just for the sake of saying, we can always be true and appreciate them for what actually they have done. It can even be the smallest thing but we can motivate them. If we start doing it we will end up receiving it. Let's appreciate others and also our own self. Just these words from one of my favorite songs flashing in my mind......

"the more you give; the more you get; always try not to forget; so give it all the way; and all that you want will be yours...."!

Live Positive Way

Natural disasters!  How helpless we are! Unlike man-made disasters it will be felt all over the city and completely.  No one be able to help others since all got caught in that disaster. Whether it was our last year's flood or this year's horrific 'Vardah Cyclone', we were helpless. Especially during this cyclone everyone in My City - Chennai had locked themselves in their homes and gazing through their windows wondering how its gonna turn out and when it will be over and worried about their family and friends left stranded outside in the city at the time of cyclone.

Its always an emotional, mental and physical challenge in the time of crisis mostly like without water supply and lack of necessary survival-essentials.  These situations even provoke brutal happenings, looting and crimes but Chennai is 'moderately' safer city compared to other places and hence we are all safe.  

During last year floods, we were in a better situation with electricity and water supply. We (our apartment) were able to get news updates and were in a position to help a few but this time that too got rulled out since whole city is worst affected -- cut off from the world without any power supply and connectivity. Nevertheless, after it got over, inspite of all difficulties, the best part of such scenarios is that it brings out kindness and strengthens bonding with the people who stay near us.  Humanity stands tall and everyone get ready to help each other.  

Last year floods made me to identify the like minded people in my apartments and which later on developed into a great friendship and going strong since a year.. This time without electricity, television, broadband and internet connections we were taken back to 80's and 90's and it has surely brought back those fond childhood memories. The kids were playing in the open corridors instead of locking themselves at home with the idiot box TV. Saw our fellow flatmates getting drenched and enjoying the rain as if nothing worst has happened. Later, men  got involved in removing fallen trees and ladies helping each other lending stuffs, with cleaning tips and some families bonding over a cup of tea. 

Being in a materialistic world these days, we hardly get to know even a few personally but such tough times help us to initiate friendship, improve bonding with already existing ones. Being a social animal we too need self gratification and being accepted by our people, these phases in life will truly help us to understand ourselves better.  Though I am blessed with many friends in my place and we are a big gang of friends we hardly have time meeting everyone together. This time we could manage to do that. Thanks to Vardah cyclone. I personally felt strongly bonded with my friends, had some quality time with my better half, found my friends coming and calling me to check around if I am safe and me feeling worried and checking about my dear and near ones. I once again started using the stairs to climb up which I left years back.  

At the end...all is well. Just another couple of days and the city will become normal. We be back with our routine but the memories will last forever and the friendship till the end of my life. We will learn to share and value each other going forward. Feeling motivated to post this blog but wondering when I be able to since I am waiting for my internet connectivity....but sooner! Oh.....you already read? Thanks for blog walking! 

Stay positive....always!!

Live Positive Way

It is always there when a girl gets married she becomes busy with her family performing duties of a wife and a mother.  Hardly she gets time to think about or do anything for the society even though she wish to do it.  

Have expressed many times to my hubby that when I leave this world at least I must have 10 people (excluding my blood relatives) to cry and mourn for me.  At least I must touch few kids life who will surely think me like a mother and be very special to them.  Yesterday when I witnessed our Honourable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Ms. J Jayalalitha, who doesn't have a family of her own, doesn't have a child but the whole Tamilnadu mourning for her.  There are still so many people today paying their homage to her by the way of doing 'Mundane', generally done only by the son while performing the last rites of his parents.  She is blessed with thousands....no lakhs and lakhs of sons & daughters.  The way her last journey took place was very touching and everyone in Tamilnadu still mourning with divinity and peace.

She performed the duties of a mother.  She provided food to the most needy, she provided water in a subsidised rates, she gave bicycles and laptops to the students, many more to add on to this endless list..  It is justified with her every action that she did everything like a mother and that's why she is fondly called as 'AMMA'.  Even the national English channels telecasting her news with the headlines #RIPAmma.  Top leaders starting from the President, the Prime minister, other states Chief ministers, Cabinet ministers, VIP's of Tamilnadu all were present to pay homage to her.  Its all over now but still every minute, every second I keep receiving messages from social medias about some wonderful memories of hers and what she really been.

Just remembering the words of Thiruvalluvar, "Thondrin pughazhodu thonruga ahuthilar thondralin thondramai nadru" meaning "If you are born (in this world), be born with qualities conducive to achieve fame. From those who are destitute of them it will be better not to be born".  She lived that way and had left this place leaving a big void behind.

A tribute to our Iconic Leader, A Great Lady, an Amazing Personality.  Will miss you for sure. #RIPAmma

- Suganthi Sankaran

Live Positive Way

While browsing Facebook today I came across some astrological prediction of the Sani/Saturn transit which is going to happen next year. That post took my mind intensely few years back. That was the time when I quit my profession completely to take care of my daughter and was going through some challenges in life.  Few relatives and some friends used to say it's all because of my Yezhu-arai Nattan Sani (The 7 1/2 years of Saturn transit) by which I was facing those difficult times.  It was like to some extent that if I start discussing about any issues my loved ones say "aiyo, don't talk much...its 7 1/2 Sani, talk less, it be good for you".  I am not a keen follower of astrology and also I was not able to accept what they said since 'Life' is always a roller-coaster.  Yes! there were many difficulties past few years and even if I thing vaguely its because of Sani peyarchi, I can't deny that all those problems had some better solution always.

Being an optimist I can bounce back but the difficulties were so different that I was able to sense even my own ones becoming indifferent and just changing so selfish.  I did loose one of my brother like friend who used to be my biggest moral support.  I was continuously shifting places due to various reasons.  But, I am always blessed with many well wishers, good friends who were not my kin still mine supporting me in many ways to cope up with those situations.

Now almost at the end of this 7 1/2 years phase I am staying happy with inner peace.  When I look back and remember those tough times I really understand now that I have learned to stay more serene, learned what to say and what not to say, have learned to be more assertive, realised who all are truly there for me, who are all fake & how to handle them and how I have to stay away from negativities.

Well, if I think about it from Shani Dev's point of view, then I am bound to give him all credits since he has in a way created a complete data-chart for me to understand people who are genuinely mine and positive and who I can take along with me in this life's long drive!

Its not necessary to get panic and afraid about anything in life since its always a learning experience in various situations and it makes us a better person at the end.

Let's appreciate, rejoice & enjoy life...wishing each one of you a splendid times ahead!

Stay happy.... Stay positive!