tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37957065239075902502024-02-19T19:44:48.120+08:00Such is lifeIt’s sweet, it’s bitter; It’s longer than Twitter-
There are rants, there are sighs; There are lows, and yes some highs-
It’s nostalgic, it’s dreamy; It’s pretty damn funny-
Or so I have been told; Read along and you may be soldSeema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-14295183040902695812018-12-02T09:27:00.000+08:002018-12-02T09:29:55.109+08:00I am Indian. And I can't do Yoga.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My body lacks the flexibility that is a pre-requirement in doing yoga, or at least doing the poised form of yoga. Other women can contort their bodies into shapes befitting gorgeous creatures, with a saintly smile on their serene faces. While my right leg attempts to stay still, as my outstretched left arm quivers, and my abs (or lack thereof), recall the white chocolate and strawberry muffin that should've been avoided. I stumble. Always the first in class to let go of the pose. Toned, white bodies around me pity my awkward fumbling brown body and perhaps wonder if I am really Indian.</div>
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"Why can't you simply sit crossed legs like everyone else in class?" The voice of my 3rd grade PE teacher, steeped in frustration, resounds in my ear. I try again to place my right foot on my left thigh, and then slowly lift my left foot towards my right thigh....oops my right foot has slid of my thigh. A plastic smile stuck on my face I keep glancing at the clock, legs finally crossed, but my knees higher than everyone else. The rest sit in insta-worthy poses, blonde hair tied in perky pony tails, back curved at the right angle, and that tranquil but oh-so-smug expression.</div>
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Finally! Savasana. A pose I have more or less mastered. Lying on my back, which is threatening to quit on me, legs spread imagining unspeakable thoughts, arms by the side, palms facing up, praying for class to get over, slow breaths, 1...2...3...My eyes droop as I struggle to stay awake. They crave sleep and defying my instructions, they obstinately stay shut...long after the soft gong has stuck.</div>
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Around me the bikini bodies with exposed belly buttons in trendy yoga gear are rolling up their mats. They give me yet another fake smile that seems to suggest "Give it up already."</div>
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Maybe I should give up and find a support group of women who feel outcast because of their inability to strike yoga poses. I wonder if they would accept Indians? </div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-69303242403513038512018-04-17T10:15:00.001+08:002018-04-17T10:15:50.242+08:00Resistance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I saw it for the first time. It looked like a sliver of the moon or a lightning strike in the sky. It was the colour of chemically washed pearls. Or a soft silken beige woven thread perhaps? </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It stared back at me like a blank sheet of paper, almost mocking me. My plan of attack was colour. I thought hard what colour it should adorn. Brown would be the obvious choice. Black maybe akin to faking it. A dash of red to spice things up? I was definitely not bold enough for a purple streak.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I looked again. Hoping it would’ve gone away. But it was still there. Like a speck of light, way out in the dark sea. Distinctive, confident, unapologetic. The exact shade of milky vanilla ice cream. Or dusty greying pages of a second-hand forgotten book. I could be poetic about it. I could even try and ignore it. It was merely a lone, aloof grey strand of hair today. But what would happen when it multiplied tomorrow? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had seen them several times before. Heavy, bulging, a weird shade of purple-black. Drooping, like gravity was working extra hard on them. They looked like lumps on what previously was a smooth vanilla milkshake. They were a testament of my troubles. A declaration of my distress. A reminder of the rat race. An advertisement of the adversaries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They were the first thing people noticed about me. Despite my pretty pink dresses and darling black shoes. I soothed them with whitish green cool cucumber slices. I nourished them with hot green tea bags, cooled down to room temperature. I indulged them with 8-hours of beauty sleep, interspersed with dreams from my beautiful youth. But my eye bags and puffy dark circles had become a part me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, my hair had caught up with my eyes. It was futile resisting now. </span><br />
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-55613881858503513952017-11-09T17:51:00.001+08:002017-11-09T17:51:07.822+08:00Being Me (a poem)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can only be me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't know how to be anyone else</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So love me, leave me,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Laugh at me, tease me, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will just be me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Adore me (I like that!), Indulge me (I like that more)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I will still stay me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lust after me, or simply listen to me (ideally do both)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I will still stay me (thought a teeny bit happier).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mould me, shape me. And you will be disappointed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Teach me, help me grow, And I will be a better version of me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watch me fail...and then let me fly</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will go far, I may go further, but I will remain me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />So take me as I am</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I may not be all that you hoped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But trust me...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being me is like nothing else on earth!</span><br />
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-56564275899058364242017-10-18T21:38:00.003+08:002017-10-18T21:38:34.451+08:00Travel Tales: College Reunion Trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you get when you take 1 holiday planning with 6 friends with 27 years of friendship and 5 countries between them? You say 'confusion' and you wouldn't be far from the truth. It's all out mayhem!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">But first let's start with the good stuff. The miracles that helped this dream of a holiday become a close reality. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miracle 1- Getting the date. All of us have jobs, all of us have kids. Getting one week that worked for all six of us, was nothing short of a miracle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miracle 2- Aligning on the destination. With two living in India, one in Canada, one in USA, one in Switzerland and me in Singapore, finding a location which was convenient and no one had been to before or at least loved it enough to go again, was not an easy feat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miracle 3- And the toughest of them all. Getting permissions. Not from bosses/ husbands/ boyfriends/ parents (well maybe not parents, no self-respecting 40-year-old should need to take parents permission for anything). The crucial one was getting permission from the kids. I don't know about my friends, but I went through a questioning season that was akin to a third degree. Rather reluctantly, I was granted the permission provided I was home on Diwali and my birthday. Ironically, Sanil is off trekking the mountains of Japan on a school trip during the Diwali holidays. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miracle 4- Standing our ground. Barcelona was decided as the destination as Europe is midway between Asia and US and it had all the attractions of the perfect girlie trip- night life, good food, amazing wine, culture and the handsome men.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One week after we all booked our tickets, the terrorist attack hit Barcelona city. While people panicked, we made a conscious decision to go ahead. I have very strong views in the matter. The terrorists win when people cave. Their intention is to cause havoc and our response should always be to not give in. It was that and non-refundable tickets that sealed the deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miracle 5- Visas in time for Indian passport holders. Needs no explanation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So after jumping through all these loops, you would think we are all set? Alas no! Until 2 days ago, and mind you we fly the day after, we didn't know which country we were flying to!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With the demonstrations and riots in Catalan, two weeks were spent in discussion, deliberating, cancelling and re-booking accommodations. The chat group covered three time zones so was active all day and I used to wake up to 125 new messages! Should we take chance with Barcelona? Or should we change to a different European country? Once that Pandora's box opened...every place in the map of Europe was considered. Amsterdam, Vienna, Prague, Lisbon, Berlin... Then staying in Spain but out of Catalan was weighed in. Should it be South of Spain Seville or North of Spain and San Sebastián? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After multiple permutations, combinations, several spanner in works and banging heads against walls (that was mainly me), it was decided that:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- No matter what happens, this trip will take place. Yay for sisterhood!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- While we are brave, we don't have to be foolhardy. And we wanted to be sure everyone in the group was as comfortable with every decision made. So we decided to take a chance with few days in Barcelona and then fly off to the French Riviera. Thus spreading the potential risk. Yay for female sensibilities! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- We pooled our resources and research skills and within 24 hours we planned and booked a whole new itinerary, which includes spending five days in a penthouse in Cannes. Yay for women power! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This has undoubtedly been the most harrowing trip to plan! It's Wednesday night and I fly on Friday evening. I have not packed, or shopped, or researched about the best places to visit/ drink/ eat (last one is most crucial). Going by my usual nature, I should be freaking out! But strangely I am not. Not even in the least. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because I know I am meeting my best friends for what will be the most amazing holiday of our lives! If the planning is anything to go by, the adventure has only just begun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See you in Barcelona darlings! </span></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-83709557230961731082017-07-20T18:49:00.001+08:002017-07-20T18:49:21.031+08:00Tragic Travel Tales (The Italian Job)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This story has all the ingredients that make for good entertainment. Drama, intrigue, thrill, couple of police encounters and beautiful connections with complete strangers.<br />
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Sitting in the plane back to Singapore, I can't help but feel a huge sense of loss. I lost money. I lost time. I lost plans. I lost experiences. All these losses stemmed from one catastrophe- my passport and identity card were stolen in Florence. Luckily it was the last leg of the trip, but the sense of loss was indescribable. Losing a document that is the very foundation of your identity has a soul crushing effect. Not to mention the various practical considerations of losing a passport together with credit cards and a chunk of cash, makes one realize the high dependence we have on all our financial objects.<br />
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In Sept last year my clutch was snatched in Vietnam, by two hoodlums on a motorbike. I lost a credit card, some cash and my brand new Samsung S7. I thought travel horror stories could not get worse, but then I had never faced the crafty Italian thieves well-versed in the art of pick pocketing.<br />
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I was warned by everyone (especially knowing my history of being a drama magnet), and I was super careful. Not carrying all my money in one bag (thank God for that!), using a sling and clutching it close to the front of my body, using a bag with a zip (my dad does not understand how there can be any other kinds of bags), keeping my passport safe locked in my suitcase, etc. I travelled through Italy with all these precautions from Trevi Fountain in Rome to the Path of Gods in Positano and charming villages of Tuscany. I avoided touts, was extra careful in touristy areas and I even advised random tourists to be careful of their unzipped bags (dad would be proud). Unfortunately, in Florence I forgot to lock up my passport and walked around the city with it. We ended up in a trashy store which was selling dresses for 10euros. In the frenzy that can only be attributed to cheap shopping, my cousin and I got distracted and someone unzipped the sling and fished out my wallet. Completely unnoticed by either of us. We were in a holiday euphoria supplemented with shopping excitement to even realize what had happened.<br />
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After I did, I cried. On the street. On the side walk. By the fountain. In the church. The impact of what that happened came in bursts and I thought I couldn't breathe. My sister was a rock, who reminded me that losing a passport did not mean losing my identity. Wise words, alas, lost in the tragedy of the moment.<br />
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I berated myself for being foolish, immature, inept and totally incapable of looking after myself. I was at my lowest ebb when I started feeling that I did not even have basic competence to travel alone and I needed a male companion to protect me. I had sunk so low in that one hour that I vowed to never leave the security of home ever again. (Bye bye college friends reunion trip to Barcelona planned in Oct).<br />
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Then I got up. Wiped my tears. Heard my little sister praise me for being a 'woman with ten arms' (translation: goddess/ woman who can multi task effectively) and then I did the one thing that calms me the most. I made a list (yes I am a nerd).<br />
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The below list has no drama (which comes in later in the story, so stick with me). This list is useful for anyone else who may go through a similar experience. (I pray it never happens, but if it's Italy, chances are very high)<br />
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1. Lodge police report (this is most critical as you will need this for all purposes including claiming insurance)<br />
2. Cancel credit cards<br />
3. Borrow money<br />
4. Inform relevant people who should need to know (choose people who will find practical solutions and not berate you or make you feel like a sorry loser that you are)<br />
5. Go to your embassy to get a temp passport<br />
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Indian embassy in Rome looked like an Indian government office from the 80s. Snaking queues of people with strained faces waiting for their passport/ visa application, holding bunch of documents, in a tiny dusty windowless room. I shamelessly used my elite privilege and victim card (I know Karan Johar would not approve) and went straight to the counter, from where I was directed to the 'office upstairs'. I was one floor closer to a solution.<br />
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The officer was rather unperturbed, shrugging his shoulders he informed that 'this happens everyday'. So I was not even special! Just another lousy tourist target. There was a clear system in place- including a travel agent across the street who will prepare all the necessary documents for a temp passport, for a small fee is 40euros. Within an hour it was all done! And I would have two full days to enjoy Rome and move on to my final vacation destination- Dubai. After the walking around Italy in canvas shoes and cargo pants, I was so looking forward to being in the lap of Dubai luxury strutting in heels and flirty summer dresses. With a spring in my step I skipped back to the embassy.<br />
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The staff greeted me like an old friend and took my application- competed in triplicate. And then came the bombshell (didn't I warn you the drama will return?). My lost passport which was issued in Singapore just last month, did not exist in the Indian government portal!! The dilemma facing the efficient officer was how does the Indian embassy in Rome issue a temp passport when the stolen passport cannot be cancelled in the system?<br />
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At one time the officer also questioned how I had made it from Singapore to Italy on a passport that 'does not exist'. Being snarky and saying that I stowed myself in a container on a carrier ship leaving from Singapore to Amalfi Coast wouldn't have been funny. I was advised to wait and then meet the senior officer. And you guessed it! I moved one more floor up. To a beautiful colonial styled room with plush carpets and an adjoining terrace which offered breathtaking view of the city.<br />
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The lady was absolutely lovely, sympathetic to my situation but puzzled by the predicament. "You don't exist in the system Madame." At that point tears threatened to flow again, when she added "But we will help you. Don't worry. Give us a day." And they did! They wrote to Indian High Commission in Singapore who confirmed my identity and after two more trips the following day to meet my embassy friends (we were in first name basis by then), I was holding a passport again! I was sweetly requested to let the world know about my positive experience through the marvel that is Twitter. Kindly retweet- https://mobile.twitter.com/seemapunwani/status/887338188301361152<br />
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Ironically, I felt more exposed not having my credit cards than my passport. I know it sounds frivolous but the lack of financial independence was rather unnerving. No longer could I pick up whatever my heart desired or enter a restaurant without looking on the right hand side of the menu. I still used my secret stash of money for the necessities- wine, a few dresses and of course the last Euros were spent at the book store.<br />
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I told my sob story to anyone who would listen, even attempted to get a discount for my handbag purchase. But it appeared this was a common woe in Italy, and I was unable to cash in on the victim card, except for the lady at Western Union who gave me a half-decent rate for my USD exchange (which went towards the handbag).<br />
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There were other kind strangers like a Chinese-American couple from Singapore who offered to loan me money to change my ticket at the airport. The Singapore immigration service staff who gave me the most pertinent advice to transfer my re-entry permit online so there would be no issue to board the flight. A process that can take between 1 to 5 days was done in under an hour.<br />
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Friends from different parts of the world offered to wire me money, give me their credit cards, come pick me at the airport, take me shopping, in addition to their much appreciated care and concern.<br />
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I missed meeting some of these friends in Dubai, as the airlines only allowed me transit in Dubai but not the planned stopover. My visions of indulging in Sukh Sagar pau bhaji and heavenly kebabs, came to a grinding halt. 12 days of pizza and pasta have taken their toll. And how does one survive on pastries for breakfast?! I longed for a cooked breakfast of masala omelette and toast. Being low on cash also meant that last meal in Rome was mini sandwiches and convenience store bought wine. How the mighty had fallen!<br />
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The key realization in all (besides ALWAYS keeping my passport under lock and key) was how our privilege has made us weak. The two other people who had their passport stolen at the same time, could barely afford to pay the temp passport fees. Their concern was basic survival. Mine was elitist inconvenience.<br />
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The incident left a long-standing mark. In one tragic stroke, I went from a seasoned solo traveller to a weepy inconsolable nincompoop. From savoring every moment in Italy to begrudging the small part of the holiday that I missed. From being privileged to checking my privilege.<br />
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Italy, you took away a lot from me. But you left me with a humbling experience. One that I hope will teach me to rely less on documents and objects, and more on human compassion and friendships. And you did give me a beautiful holiday with my lovely sisters, one that I will cherish forever.<br />
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-5482623591376201722017-03-22T10:14:00.001+08:002017-03-22T10:18:04.546+08:00The Independent Princess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Meet the independent princess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She likes being indulged. She wants a fairy tale romance. Yes she desires a Prince.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But she is not spoilt. She is pragmatic, sensible even. And yes she knows her life is great even without him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She likes to cook for her man. But is scared to admit it. She might be considered a door mat. But then what about the times she cooks for her children, her friends, her parents, her colleagues? Why is she only judged for caring for that one person? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She wants a magical proposal. Planned to perfection. With a rock. The whole deal. But then she also likes the fuss her girlfriends make on her birthday. Or how her mother still bakes her favorite cake for her. And you know what, she takes twice the effort to do thoughtful things for them all, the boyfriend, the child, the parents, the friends, the sisters, the brothers, hell even the in-laws. Why is she then only accused of being a complying girlfriend? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She loves frilly frocks, stilettos and dangling earrings. She also sports a dragon tattoo (and not a butterfly one). She still sees a rainbow in wonder. And also wonders about effect of climate change on rains. She likes Barbies (blasphemy!) and admires Malala. She wonders why both cant co-exist in her daughter's world?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She is whimsical but has will power</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She is dainty but deadly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She is diet conscious but cheats on her diet (occasionally)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She is a drama queen but a jack of all trades</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She daydreams but has no nightmares</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She can be a nightmare (but that's when she is not allowed to cheat on her diet)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She earns, she saves but she also splurges when she caves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She impulse shops online, but likes to be taken shopping by her man</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She likes receiving flowers in office but whatsapp messages during office hours annoy her </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She adores tiara and she participates in</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">triathlons (sometime both at the same time)</span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She cries while watching rom-coms but keeps her wide open during The Exorcist</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She breaks glass ceilings but covets Cinderella's glass slippers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She gets nail art done but ruins it by doing art with her toddlers </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She worships fashion but she cherishes her PJs (and her boxers even more) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She enjoys doors being held for her, but she can kick open any door she wants</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She believes in magic, but has no qualms creating it for herself</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She is a conundrum. A mystery of sorts. Feminists hate her. Romantics mock her. She can't pick a side. She wants a man, does not need one. She relishes a whirlwind romance, but that does not define her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yes she is a Princess. She is an independent, career minded, self-financed, home-owner. So </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">if she wants to be a Princess, full power to her! </span></span></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-1612735857950207952017-03-10T22:39:00.003+08:002017-03-10T22:39:52.332+08:00Aapke Baad- Ek kavita<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jis subah aapko yaad nahin karenge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jis shaam aapka naam nahin lenge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Us din se hoga yeh ahsaas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ki aap nahin hain ab humare aas paas</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lekin tab tak kya karein yeh dil?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kaise savrein? Kaise sambhlein?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kaise yaad karein woh pyaar bhari nazarein?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kaise bhoolayen woh guhm bharein nagme?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Humari rooh mein aap ho samaye</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Humare zehn mein ho sada shamil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Har ek nagme mein hai aapki yaad</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Har ek saans karti hai yeh farman</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ki aapki kahani na kabhi ho khatam</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aapki ghazalon mein doobe har mehfil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aapki muskarahaton ka no ho koi qatil</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pur ab hum toot se gayein hain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ab toh ijazzat de do</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chalo jaon, aur le jaon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apni kahaniyan, apni ghazalein, apni muskurahatein</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chod do humein tanha</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aapke bina jeene ki aadat dalne do</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aakhir, saayon ke saath nahin guzarti yeh zindagi</span><br />
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-30164727218792571722017-02-13T20:10:00.000+08:002017-02-13T20:15:56.908+08:00Life, I don't have time for you<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was told everything is transient</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know nothing lasts forever</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But I still try and keep</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Memories close to my chest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And regrets in my back pocket</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I fish these out regularly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then I reminisce and smile</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or remember and weep</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I sometimes get the blues</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And other times red in anger</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While my memories and regrets take over</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Life takes a backseat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It waits patiently for me to take notice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To have a conversation, to share a laugh</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But where do I have the time?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is so much to mull over</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So many anecdotes to recollect</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Few heartbreaks to get over</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then tragedy strikes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I stop dead in my track</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I take stock</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I store the memories in a corner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I discard the regrets in the bin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I slowly pick up the threads of conversation with Life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It responds hesitatingly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After awhile I shake its hands confidently, "Can we spend more time together?", I ask</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">With a hint of a smile, Life replies "I have been waiting for you to say that for years"</span><br />
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-44761434752053560802017-01-13T12:04:00.001+08:002017-01-13T12:06:27.335+08:00Follow your heart <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's a slippery slope</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's a messy design</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A convoluted journey</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And sometimes there are no signs</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But follow your heart</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Oh follow your heart</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To find that spark</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Just follow your heart</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Your coffers may dwindle</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You'll become fan of </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">minimalist</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But your soul will soar</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And life will turn out fantastic</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So just smile your way to following your heart</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's a mixed bag</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Walking on clouds one day</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Living in grunge the next</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The music is sometimes soft</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But sure never fades</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You waltz one day</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And tango the next</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So just dance your way to following your heart</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You are able with paint with no brush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Write your own life story</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Weave a future with no fabric</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Compose a never-heard melody</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So just sing your way to following you heart</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But it takes courage</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It needs patience</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Quitting is not an option</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Keep moving the only solution</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So just work your way to following you heart</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It will never be smooth sailing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Self-doubt will be your companion</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You may wake up in cold sweats</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But will go to sleep dreaming</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So just dream your way to following you heart</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To find that spark</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Just follow your heart</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">p.s. if you don't trust me, trust HIM (and no I don't mean God)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMHHoZuwMqEu-j2NVp-6NJS7JjFsVUVz_wTyn1iUWT9g2drxYyR42QqkwjlipvlqbmD_vVVOSLFotkfrbbeNXrLIxh8wpQxyLuaG1Fby58m9YWx5T8nGnnLL5ijj_5-HSYk6K8F2GGaBu/s1600/passion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMHHoZuwMqEu-j2NVp-6NJS7JjFsVUVz_wTyn1iUWT9g2drxYyR42QqkwjlipvlqbmD_vVVOSLFotkfrbbeNXrLIxh8wpQxyLuaG1Fby58m9YWx5T8nGnnLL5ijj_5-HSYk6K8F2GGaBu/s400/passion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-5406032370062885562017-01-06T07:36:00.001+08:002017-01-06T07:37:03.889+08:00What crappy 2016 taught this<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>1) We live in a digital bubble</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Our friends on social media are similar to us, their friends are similar to them and thus making our immediate and extended social circle in the digital world not too different from us. Thus we believe what is being shared, liked, discussed on our Facebook posts and Twitter feeds to be the way the rest of the world should think, worse behave. Hence Trump winning the elections came as a shock to so many of us. We voiced our support for Hillary unequivocally, expressed aghast on Trump's opinions loudly and rallied our views on social media (without any voting power whatsoever) truly believing it would make a difference. </span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">We forgot to look at the real world i.e. 90% of people who live outside our digital bubble whose issues are different from ours, whose views are radically apart, the ones who voted Trump to power. We could not fathom this turn of events and many of us are still reeling from the after shocks.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">We all need to understand that there is a world outside the digital bubble we've built for ourselves and our friends and their friend's friends don't make up the all of the real world. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">2) Sharing on social does jackshit</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Changing your profile picture to represent LBGT colors, adding the national flag to your DP, posting and re-posting pictures and news articles about Paris attacks and Syrian refugees does not make you an instrument of change. You are a sympathetic observer at best, an armchair activist at worst. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">I am not dissing social media or its users. I am leveraging it too to share my views. But time comes when we need to step up to take action and move out of the Facebook walls. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA8GIlU_pDmOQ8wRnSNDGOfypXxWH6SOdAN09C-TlrPr93NclB_dkJc8oTpdDqNWiBVjlBlHjUhjEHzCfeuyNNelgiib4ummskhMaZYvqnvUdKmty2J5Psu4IJjF_u_k5wGuudRUrg9Es/s1600/social-ego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA8GIlU_pDmOQ8wRnSNDGOfypXxWH6SOdAN09C-TlrPr93NclB_dkJc8oTpdDqNWiBVjlBlHjUhjEHzCfeuyNNelgiib4ummskhMaZYvqnvUdKmty2J5Psu4IJjF_u_k5wGuudRUrg9Es/s200/social-ego.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">What did any of us actually DO to affect change on miseries that 2016 bought on the world? Jackshit! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Instead of having our fingers fly on our keyboard to lambaste the next atrocity, we can keep away our devices and using our hands and heads to affect change. It can be as simple as volunteering at a soup kitchen or a random act of kindness towards a stranger. Hell, start by being kinder to the Uber the driver who turns up late or show more compassion to your household help.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">3) Believing everything we read on our smart phones is not smart</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaALNm5zOr_HuJhMv_l9jBIvqmonoWnf6tiNHacMGw8M2CzsebqfXVakdMwa0C5pNo9F3umvt45RS65681hbGbWlg4aQuuEMl6ZlFJx9amjkXO06L5pveGlr9Jstf8MVvHaC8G0D6eOjVk/s1600/social-real.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaALNm5zOr_HuJhMv_l9jBIvqmonoWnf6tiNHacMGw8M2CzsebqfXVakdMwa0C5pNo9F3umvt45RS65681hbGbWlg4aQuuEMl6ZlFJx9amjkXO06L5pveGlr9Jstf8MVvHaC8G0D6eOjVk/s200/social-real.png" width="197" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">For any world event from Brexit in Europe to Demonitization in India, there are not only several views, but multiple 'facts'. It's almost impossible to distinguish what is accurate and what is misrepresentation. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">The problem of 'fake news' is ironically real and even Mark Zuckerberg is finding it hard to deal with it. Fake news leads to real profits. And these fake new sites stand a chance to make lots of money by providing false information and using channels like Facebook to make it go viral. While both Facebook and Google have taken steps to block many such sites, there are still several corrective measures needed before this issue goes away. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">So next time you want to forward that video, post that saucy news article, stop and have a think. Who exactly is benefiting from your this? Besides making you sound like a pseudo intellectual and providing social currency to trade for likes and comments, you are really doing anything.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>4) We live in terrible times</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Which show no signs of abating. Why would anyone drive a truck through a Christmas market in Berlin? Or open fire in a night club in Orlando? What sick perverse people and organizations think and act in such heinous manner? I cannot for the life of me understand. But what is clear is that this is the world we are living in. And while we can't change things at a macro level and find solutions to Syrian refuge crisis or ISIS, we can do much more on a micro level.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">We can exhibit more tolerance. Tolerance towards to people who look different from us, who talk a strange language, who pray to different God. We need to start seeing more oneness in each other irrespective of race, religion, color, caste or what us urban elite are usually guilty of, class. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">We can teach our children to rise above these differences, to stand up to any form of bullying, to become color blind, religion agnostic and class tolerant. We need to deliberately curb any ill feelings while having an open conversation with our kids, so they are better prepared to face the challenging times we live in today.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>5) We gotta have faith, faith , faith</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">In the eternal words (though taken a bit out of context here) of the legendary George Michael who 2016 took from us along with several other stalwarts, we gotta have faith.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Faith that despite the craziness around us, we can still rely on each other. Isn't the sharing economy of Airbnb stays and Uber pool rides testament to that? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Faith that we all can modify a bit if not change completely in these trying times. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Faith that we are just one tiny spoke in the hub and we need to each do our part to keep things moving.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Faith that there is a beautiful world outside social media which we need to relate to more. With that am getting off my iPad and heading out for a morning walk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Happy new year folks! </span></span></div>
Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-19180777745687091542016-12-30T17:04:00.000+08:002016-12-30T17:04:39.407+08:00Just Read<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 17px;">Read a book</span><br />
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Any book</div>
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Every book</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Just pick a book and read</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read for a lark</div>
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Read to smile</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read to cry</div>
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Read to think</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read to question</div>
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Read to challenge </div>
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Read to debate </div>
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Read to change </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read for pleasure</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read through pain</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read to hide</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read to escape</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read to change your world</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read in lieu of travel</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read to step into the future</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
Read to walk back through history </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Read a classic</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Read a short story</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hell, read a comic</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Just pick a book and read</span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">
<div>
Read a book</div>
<div>
Any book</div>
<div>
Every book</div>
<div>
Just pick a book and read</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-30018212117364538312016-10-08T10:26:00.003+08:002016-10-08T10:44:18.896+08:00This was not her story <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was ordinary for her. It was exceptional for him. She compared it to the many before. He had not much precedence. She forgot about it soon after it was over. For him the feeling lingered for weeks. She went about life like nothing had happened. While he was bewitched and lived under a spell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She often wondered if romance resided only in insipid rom-coms where the bad boy magically altered his callous ways for his lady love. But enter the next handsome charmer with a winning smile and she was bowled over. She was attracted to the cocky ones. With the instant chemistry and unbridled passion. The lust and romance. The intensity and drama. She then tried harder. She went further. Thinking that would make them stay. She even bent over. Though that hurt like hell. But it always ended the same way. In heartbreak. With them forgetting her almost as easily as they were attracted to her. She could not break the pattern. Nice bored her. Sweetness tired her. She liked it spicy. Much like biting into a chilli padi. The burnt crimson should be a deterrent. But the sensation on her tongue was intoxicating, getting her to throw caution to winds yet again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sitting in an idyllic beach bar, she twisted her straw mindlessly. He watched her from a distance. Awe stuck at her nonchalant manner. He did not believe she would be interested but he could not resist sending her a drink. She turned to look at him and mouthed a thank you. Her lips were wonderfully shaped, like if she kissed an envelope the pink lipstick would make a perfect kiss shape. He gingerly gestured to sit on the stool next to hers. She shrugged like she couldn't care either way. He sat down, more confidently than he felt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He was drawn. She was not altogether repulsed, like his ex-wife used to be. He took that as a positive sign and asked her to dance. She laughed almost rolling her eyes but his vulnerability stopped her. He seemed un-chilly like. Almost chocolaty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After a few dances, she agreed to go for walk on the beach. They sat on the soft silvery sand. He talked. She pretended to listen. He was enthralled. She was vaguely curious. He leaned forward, anticipating the head tilt, so he could kiss her. Instead she stretched her body backwards lifting her head towards the starlit sky. Suddenly she faced him, came forward and placed those perfect lips on his. A kiss that was hungry yet sensuous. He kissed her slowly, enthralled. Then she pulled back. He held her hand and they sat silently listening to the night sounds. She stood up and said she had a wonderful evening. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They exchanged numbers. He was already planning the next date. She was already forgetting this one. This was not her story. All she wanted was to become immortal in someone else's. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv1uSavEaYyLybd070P1G7Ovmt3nXBScYZryj1yBXWRDfXe1mgrWvVpevaR5mj_5-g_ZdNNQx5l1t5SU1-PcIyc24sk3sYi0-jHx9CbXBmWRVelxsOPJZrR3OqbhBivj1Nzpx9HH5XiG0/s1600/beach-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv1uSavEaYyLybd070P1G7Ovmt3nXBScYZryj1yBXWRDfXe1mgrWvVpevaR5mj_5-g_ZdNNQx5l1t5SU1-PcIyc24sk3sYi0-jHx9CbXBmWRVelxsOPJZrR3OqbhBivj1Nzpx9HH5XiG0/s400/beach-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-37190639303169837492016-09-25T20:31:00.000+08:002016-09-25T20:34:26.188+08:00O Weary Traveler- A Poem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">O weary </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">traveler</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Come sit awhile<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your travels can wait<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your worries will abate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you just simply sit awhile<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">O weary <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">traveler</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let your shoulders rest<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take off those bags<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Slip into some homely rags<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Even strong shoulders need a good slump<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">O weary <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">traveler</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Put up those feet<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Put that coffee table to good use<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your shoe rack misses your shoes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">Long-traveled legs long for some
rest<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">O weary <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">traveler</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Can I help you unpack?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That baggage of painful memories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That load of sorrowful guilt<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lay it all out, step by step<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don't be shy, open it up<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let's show and tell<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Believe me I have my share<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I carry it around everywhere<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I too now need to put it down<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">O weary <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">traveler</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let's put this baggage down<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Come sit beside me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Come sit awhile</span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswRg50-1sgj5ZCqaJbvjOucc1BJwruy19reJI1OvK1ojRZPsr-jEQedUJXgjVCHgqLuKfLufC2_b1XXaMyWwfmjOWg1r-w527OVGxsetx_reaAIcmlpbaTy71NsS1Jwgj5BYUPOSellXs/s1600/deck+chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswRg50-1sgj5ZCqaJbvjOucc1BJwruy19reJI1OvK1ojRZPsr-jEQedUJXgjVCHgqLuKfLufC2_b1XXaMyWwfmjOWg1r-w527OVGxsetx_reaAIcmlpbaTy71NsS1Jwgj5BYUPOSellXs/s400/deck+chairs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-44403368747454494682016-09-03T10:04:00.001+08:002016-09-03T10:04:22.174+08:00High School Stereotypes that don't go away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was at Sanil's school yesterday for the Curriculum Evening for middle school. Three plus hours of walking from class to class for teacher briefings. Objective was to put ourselves in our kids shoes to understand their schedule and expectations from the teachers. Sanil warned me it was 'lame' and I 'did not have to do everything the school asked' and 'be Ms. Goody Two-Shoes' all the time. I did not pay heed to his advice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Very kindly the school advised parents to wear comfortable shoes. That advice I totally heeded. I was very sensibly dressed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- No legs, no cleavage show (have to look mum-like)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Glasses firmly perched on my nose (so I could read the slides)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Jeans and Long sleeves top (so I don't freeze in the air con)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Minimal make up- just light lipstick (same reason point No. 1)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But at the last minute, just before I was rushing to catch my Uber, I slipped on my latest acquisition. A ring. Now women my age should adorn solitaires or semi precious stones at the minimum. My ring was this:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9DC_fkHEyTvdof2RXD-rjGugXFN6th4D5XdKucefP6_UiJemvtAoADxi25BZRYKgW8pPRuN-J4AkKMtzLETSCmyegtmXBuXSe4f9B07w3bYNIX0SCkpCP5Hr5rQaj2fclirs6gANk_Mb/s1600/20160902_075810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9DC_fkHEyTvdof2RXD-rjGugXFN6th4D5XdKucefP6_UiJemvtAoADxi25BZRYKgW8pPRuN-J4AkKMtzLETSCmyegtmXBuXSe4f9B07w3bYNIX0SCkpCP5Hr5rQaj2fclirs6gANk_Mb/s200/20160902_075810.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Picked up at a local flea market</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Designed by comic enthusiast who makes jewelry from original comics. Batman cuff links anyone?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- And truly and totally irreverent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No one else noticed. No one would care. But I love doing one tiny little thing that does not conform. Always have...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was also the one who carried my small pink notebook in my purse to jot down important points during the teacher talk. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was back at being the nerdy girl in</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> school who lived in her own world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then I looked around the classroom and found every one of the stereotypes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1) The Front Bencher- </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The first one to put the hand up to ask questions</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2) The Cute Guy- on the next table, who is always taken</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3) The Flirty Chic- </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">who would chat with every handsome male teacher after each session </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4) The Lost Guy- who moved from class to class following the herd and totally unsure why he was there in the first place (reckon this was his wife's punishment for forgetting some anniversary)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5) The Social Butterfly- who flitted from parent to parent exchanging numbers and creating whatsapp groups at speed of lightening</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6) The Man's-Man- who walked around like he was in command but in reality was only there as his wife insisted he get 'more involved with the kids education'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I am not even getting into the nation stereotypes like the Asian dad who took on the challenge to solve the Math equations the teacher had put up on the board. Or the desi sherni mom who asked about the dates of the first assessments and wrote them on her thick bound folder in deep red ink (ok, there was no folder. It was a piece of paper. And the pen could've been blue)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I could not help but wonder...do our inherent traits ever change? I am still the girl who stands away from crowds, talks to only few people she knows and always sits at the corner tables where she can get in and out unnoticed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So if we have not changed since High School, why do we expect others to act differently? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The jerk who broke your heart in college is no different from the grown up man who at 40 still suffers from </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">commitment phobia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or the popular cheerleader who was nice to you only because she wanted to borrow your notes, is no different from the mother who only calls you when she wants pick up/drop off favors from soccer class.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or the cool kids who want you in the study group but not in the fancy parties are the same ones who would reach out when they need help to organise a community event but not have you over for the after-party.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But then, just like that, you find your people. The girl who was shy but had a wacky sense of humor. The boy who read Fountainhead at 14 but was not pretentious about it. The mum who suppressed a giggle every time sherni wrote in her bound folder with the red pen. The man who was more comfortable chatting with the kids and getting to know them rather than strategizing to impress the teacher. The lady with a resting bitch face like yours which actually hides the mischievous glint in her eyes.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next time you are at a school, in office or at a networking event, look around carefully. You will find your crowd- those people with whom you feel like you truly belong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They existed in high school and and they are around now. And once you find them every PTA meeting is as much fun as being back in the college canteen.</span></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-74314628609660692192016-09-02T07:18:00.000+08:002016-09-02T07:18:08.957+08:00Breaking Down- a poem <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You broke me like no storm could</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You crushed me like no fist dared</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You pierced me like no arrow before</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You hurt me tons more than the tons of bricks before you</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You burnt me like no fire did, though several did attempt</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought I would rise like a Phoenix from the ashes</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But even a Phoenix has a breaking point</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before it revives and is reborn</span><br />
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-28402903571631812492016-08-28T19:04:00.003+08:002016-08-28T19:05:00.255+08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-83778888799392701102016-08-28T19:04:00.001+08:002016-08-28T19:08:20.313+08:00Short Story: When Sullen met Lonely<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlHq8pNRmFM3O1HlD3qRAFAG7vJIg2MVmClzBh6n8S7ztGUKilaxGAjGrdjGitWQEO635DgUiwGQB70BvO2KGEEs9QfHe9icknraYJrjHh84RnlhbA9D7S8_k37XTUMhLfqpMBi2HevpP/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlHq8pNRmFM3O1HlD3qRAFAG7vJIg2MVmClzBh6n8S7ztGUKilaxGAjGrdjGitWQEO635DgUiwGQB70BvO2KGEEs9QfHe9icknraYJrjHh84RnlhbA9D7S8_k37XTUMhLfqpMBi2HevpP/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He saw her at the corner table, pushing her errant hair away from her face, as she exhibited some frown lines while focusing on her book. After a few minutes she looked up and glanced outside. She saw a young mother wipe baby chino foam off her little toddler's mouth. He stood on his tippy toes and kissed his mother's nose. She looked away like she had witnessed an intimate mother-child moment that she should not be privy too. Her face had a half-smile but her eyes seemed sad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He named her Lonely.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Rn-w7VUweAd2evL9NU_uTWI_WdeGwBLTsp78upQ0_yBN2F7i7ik7EYDxaBKU_vYpx0_nNPSHjoVyIcexUrnvkzbKOluL2eKFLhJe14D042LQmJbDwcSKJP385JvH3nMI4sUWW_RZCq_N/s1600/readers-retreat-man-in-cafe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Rn-w7VUweAd2evL9NU_uTWI_WdeGwBLTsp78upQ0_yBN2F7i7ik7EYDxaBKU_vYpx0_nNPSHjoVyIcexUrnvkzbKOluL2eKFLhJe14D042LQmJbDwcSKJP385JvH3nMI4sUWW_RZCq_N/s320/readers-retreat-man-in-cafe1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She saw him look at her from his Economist while his latte sat on the table getting cold. She did not understand people who did not have the food at the temperature it was meant to be consumed at. It felt like an insult to the food in question. His dark eyes appeared to have forbidden secrets, hidden fears, or she reckoned, a bit of both. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She named him Sullen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am old and grey and my eyes are weak, but see things young people don't. Sullen had recently quit is job to pursue his love of food. He tried a new cafe everyday to understand how he could make his cafe unique. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I named him Passion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lonely was a kindergarten teacher. She loved books and babies in that order. Today was the first day of the summer break and she was already missing her kids who were off for their vacations. Her eyes were misty thinking about how it would be many weeks before she saw them all again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I named her Hopeful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sullen and Lonely would never give each other a chance. How I wish they could see each other through my eyes. </span></div>
Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-47448465806673679832016-08-12T07:10:00.003+08:002016-08-12T07:11:41.192+08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-58356383756193007582016-08-12T07:10:00.002+08:002016-08-12T07:11:37.698+08:00Six-Word Stories Vol-2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's said that Hemingway was challenged by his writer friends that no one could write a story in 6 words. He took a napkin from the table at the cafe where they were sitting and penned this. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqcFZ4fwP9DcnoHf427DKapQ12_nB3ZkCMV7In15Gx4M9b_N_2dbC4plbDDbFayvxnP8sPqO08Op5m0MLXDvuygl_oBURdva06qR6z077TtBXEop8bzabwPd6TAAEBywKqUXDYMcYJpaF/s1600/6+word+story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqcFZ4fwP9DcnoHf427DKapQ12_nB3ZkCMV7In15Gx4M9b_N_2dbC4plbDDbFayvxnP8sPqO08Op5m0MLXDvuygl_oBURdva06qR6z077TtBXEop8bzabwPd6TAAEBywKqUXDYMcYJpaF/s400/6+word+story.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Several six-word stories have been complied by Smith magazine with people from all over the world contributing their words which will help you create their story...with only six words. http://www.sixwordmemoirs.com/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are some from me:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">When you left, I lost me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Unfurled sari, broken bangles, blood-chilling screams.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">New yacht. Old Money. Young wife.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Breakup. Lonely. Amazon. Click. Click. Click.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Prison freed me like freedom couldn't.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Advertising lies. Consumer buys. Debt sighs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">His graduation celebration, my empty-nest depression.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">High seas sailing, land memories forgotten.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Brown grass, cloudless sky, farmer's death.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Potions spell death outside Harry Potter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Fairy lights, misty eyes, unused mistletoe.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do flowers speak better than words?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Jimmy's shoes, Celine's bag, Burglar alarm.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Were we in the same relationship? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Long flight. Big fight. Whose's right?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Jack, Jill now argue about bills.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Perfect recipe. Sugar, butter, eggs arsenic.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Tears added bitterness to husbands' dinner.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I once loved my wife's lover.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">For more, </span><span style="color: #222222;">http://seema-suchislife.blogspot.sg/2014/06/6-word-stories-vol-1.html</span></span></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-11069585799664998572016-07-27T12:56:00.000+08:002016-07-27T12:56:20.088+08:00The Legacy we are leaving behind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #454545; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">There has been a lot of coverage this week on First Lady Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic national convention. My </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">knowledge of US politics is more "House of Cards" and "Madame secretary", so I cannot comment on the political aspect of her speech. What stood out for me is what she said about us being role models for our children. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"<i>And make no mistake about it, this November when we go to the polls that is what we’re deciding, not Democrat or Republican, not left or right. No, in this election and every election is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives"</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She (or her savvy speech writer) turned the conversation away from politics and back to the one thing everyone is most concerned about i.e. our future, which is our children.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So that begs the question, what legacy are we leaving behind for them? What are they learning from our actions? Every time we show our road rage, or gossip about the neighbor, or speak rudely to someone, or keep quiet when we see something wrong happening, what message are we sending? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kids observe. Even when we think they are engrossed in their world, but they take in everything.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We complain about the gadget overuse of our children on whatsapp groups with other parents. The irony of it! We can't ask kids to sleep on time when they know we are out late every other night. They learn by watching us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a lot we have to teach them. From faith to honesty and hard work to perseverance. But here are four qualities we must make sure they imbibe as these are what the world needs most today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1) We are all the same</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you caught yourself (even if it's ever so lightly) making fun of someone's accent? Or an offhand comment on someone's body shape or size? We all have been guilty of such indiscretions at some point. And if it has happened in the presence of a child, rest assured the message they got is that it's ok to look at people differently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The message we need to drive home is that we are not that different. No matter our religion, or caste, or skin color, or nationality, or gender or even our gender preference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The simplest analogy is the Shakespeare stage-actor one. Kids need to understand that each one of us is the same inside. Outwardly we play different roles, in various costumes, but that comes with the script we have been provided. Inwardly we all are the same. We all need love. We all crave affection. We all desire friendships. We all just want to be accepted for who we are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2) </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Being different is not a bad thing</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before we begin accepting each other, we need to accept ourselves and our circumstances. Today children don't lead traditional lives. Divorce, same-sex parents, third culture kids, these are all part of our lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our children need to accept their circumstances and make the best of it. A tragedy cannot be used as a shield. A setback should not be reason for despair. They can only do this if we lead the way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do we compare ourselves to others and always see where our life falls short? Or do we accept what we have- the opportunities and the problems- to carve our path forward? Let them learn from us that they have deal with whatever life throws at them. And our individuality comes through our differences. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3) Privilege has to be put to good use</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our children are privileged. There is no denying that. They have tons more than we had growing up, and lesser people to share it with. It's easy for selfishness to creep in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We need to constantly show them that they have to be considerate to the ones who have less than us. Whether it's giving part of birthday money to a charity or volunteering time at the animal shelter, we need to set an example. We have to be conscious of our conspicuous consumption habits so they learn restraint.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4) There is no substitute for kindness</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My first advice to Sanil about friendships was 'You don't have to be friends with everyone, you don't even gave to like everyone, but you ALWAYS have to be kind to everyone'. Don't allow your children to exclude other kids. Children can be cruel. We all have experienced bullying in some way, shape or form. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our children need to learn compassion. And it can only happen if we are empathetic towards others. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So let's leave behind a legacy of oneness, of collaboration, of tolerance. As without these, our children will not have the kind of world we envision for them. </span></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-23698015775820767232016-07-26T13:02:00.000+08:002016-07-26T13:02:50.825+08:00We simply are not that apart <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Your white is my red</div>
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My white is your black</div>
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Your green is my saffron</div>
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My duppata is your scarf</div>
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Your cross is my Om</div>
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My bindi is your kohl</div>
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Your eyes weep like mine</div>
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My child hugs like yours</div>
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Your prayer may be your work</div>
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My work is my main prayer</div>
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I worship an elephant</div>
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You a saint with a dog</div>
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I bow, you kneel</div>
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You raise hands, I fold them</div>
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And with these folded hands I ask</div>
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Look beyond these signs,</div>
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Look further from the symbols</div>
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Peep into the heart and you will realize</div>
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We simply are not that apart</div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-47045165892849806492016-07-18T09:42:00.001+08:002016-07-18T09:42:19.080+08:00The Invisible People of Singapore <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">We spend our bonuses, they count their daily wages</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">We see unwanted calories, they see much needed meals</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">We reside in luxury, they build in the heat</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">We admire the green landscaping, they nourish the plants</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">We command an uber, they walk miles</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">We Instagram every minute, they carry a family picture in torn wallets</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">We sweat once a week on the treadmill, they sweat every second at work</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Herman Miller chairs for us, Harness with minimal safety for them</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">After work cocktails for us, soup kitchens for them</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Walk-in closets for our shoes, closet-sized rooms for them to sleep</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Warmth of family for us, pining for their families for them</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Once in awhile step out of the privileged existence </span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Look up at the shiny skyscraper and have a thought about who built it</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Next time you pass them, acknowledge with smile, or nod</span><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">People of Singapore, be grateful for those who built your country</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />Offer gratitude for the invisible faces in our community<br clear="none" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />Because without them nothing would be as it is now</span></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-44039221246899793702016-07-09T22:09:00.000+08:002016-07-09T22:09:01.365+08:00Erasing Memories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't write you off the books yet</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or weave you in my life story</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You are like that word that keeps reappearing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes completely out of context</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My vocabulary has absorbed you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like a term used daily</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Was there ever a lexicon in my life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Where your name was not present?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May be your definition has changed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or your meaning has lost its relevance?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like an oft-repeated but old phrase</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's not kept up with the times</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You like an Oxward dictionary word</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That can't be searched up on urban dictionary</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A single word with two different meanings</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One which represents the past, and one that's alive today</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My memory of your name is a lilting melody</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A sensuous sound that easily rolls off my tongue</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The word today sounds bitter, harsh even</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why then can't I banish it from my language?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wish to erase your name, like words written on sand</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That wash away with one tiny wave</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That dissolve into nothingness</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without a trace, like they had never existed. </span></div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-77042168460429155342016-06-14T21:01:00.000+08:002016-06-14T21:01:33.582+08:00What we do is not who we are<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Being alone does not mean being lonely</div>
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Having peace does not mean being passive</div>
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Planning does not make one a control freak</div>
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And neither weaving dreams a dreamer</div>
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Aloofness is not always a snub</div>
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And style may not equate to fashion</div>
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Friendship can be garbed as love</div>
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Though lust can never beat passion </div>
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Musing does not make one a poet</div>
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Or humming tunes transform one to a singer</div>
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A sleeper is not necessarily lazy</div>
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Nor a worker particularly industrious</div>
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What we do and who we are</div>
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Is not always connected</div>
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Yet we box, we label, we name</div>
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We point fingers, we blame</div>
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Accept me for who I am</div>
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Not for my work or my words</div>
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My name or my stature</div>
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Nor for my friends or possessions</div>
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I am my temper, I am my cruelty</div>
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I am my kindness, I am my generosity</div>
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I am the storm, I am the valley</div>
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I am the noise, I am the silence</div>
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I am more than my job</div>
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I exceed beyond my education</div>
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Don't define me with your perceptions</div>
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Or see me through your world view</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">See me as me, I beseech </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As I see you as you, I promise</span></div>
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I love you for you, I vow</div>
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Alas you can love only the blemish-free me</div>
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795706523907590250.post-5072738098918744902016-05-29T20:53:00.001+08:002016-05-29T20:53:51.439+08:00What would your teen self think of your current self?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwNXGLuoEd0n-1Z1uWLN0Go9YvLst8Pa0UMJuljbyz3XMLCw23QDxi4NxO62UCixDC81EMC22qkMvtHXFLV0Bv3BrhxUzKUPrPX7eZ_jJ5eZuHA2vWtwxNNrmhIkeJx48YZfjeD1jiXdH/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwNXGLuoEd0n-1Z1uWLN0Go9YvLst8Pa0UMJuljbyz3XMLCw23QDxi4NxO62UCixDC81EMC22qkMvtHXFLV0Bv3BrhxUzKUPrPX7eZ_jJ5eZuHA2vWtwxNNrmhIkeJx48YZfjeD1jiXdH/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">The other day I was reading </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 26px;">The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">One chapter described the blue mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, Shrine of Hazrat Ali. Thousands of believers and tourists flock to the shrine, but the doves are the original residents, apparently living there since the 12th century. Legend has it that the doves are pure white because of the sanctity of the mosque itself; if a dove with a speck of color flies in and stays, it too will turn white as snow.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Written words create visuals in the mind eye. I did not need to google image the shrine, I had an image imprinted in my heart, which leapt up with excitement at the thought of visiting this magical place. Until my head politely pointed out to my heart, that it could not even begin to list the complications of visiting Afghanistan on an Indian passport.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">So my smart head suggested Turkey instead. And then for the next few days I researched about Turkey, spoke to people who had been there and read about the places to visit, where to stay, what to eat (supremely important) etc. I spoke to people who had been there especially about safety of solo female travelers. I was politely reminded that the danger was from ISIS and they were rather gender neutral with their destruction. No wonder I was getting cheap tickets! After reading travel warnings on both the US and Australia embassy websites, I had to pack away my dream of seeing the Blue Mosque for awhile at least.</span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">What has this got to do with the topic of this post you wonder? Everything! </span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">When I think of my young naive self of 16, I wonder what would she think of me now? I believe she would have expected me to live in a big house, work in a fancy job with a corner office, still in love with a handsome and caring husband, two children (one of whom would've been a girl) and all the usual bells and whistles of a modern successful life. </span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">And here I am. A middle-aged single mother to a teenage son. I don't have many work related accolades to boast of and no specific accomplishments adorning either my living room or my Facebook wall.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">So what would she think of me now? </span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">She would be amazed is what I think she would be. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Amazed that I can read about a place one day in a book, and in the next hour already plan my holiday there. Amazed that I have don't have to ask anyone before doing that. Amazed that I don't have to pay heed to any advice (except US and Australia embassy ones). Amazed that I have the power to make my dreams come true.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">She would be insanely jealous of the independence, rather envious of my self-reliance and totally in awe of my courage. </span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">From a girl who needed permission to go out after 9 pm, who was socially awkward among peers and seniors alike and who worried incessantly about being alone, here I am today.</span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">From the girl who almost failed PE, to one who runs 10Ks effortlessly.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">From the girl who was shy to even audition for a minuscule part in the school play, to one who lectures at universities.</span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">From the girl who was apprehensive to travel alone by Bombay local train, to one who has journeyed half-way around the world by herself.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">From the one wore geeky glasses, had her nose in her book and whose favorite place was the library, to....OK not everything is different :) </span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Growing older is hard and being an adult can suck big time. It's when you realize that every decision you make is yours to face, there are no parents to blame or teachers to fault. It's when you adjust to the truth that you are on your own. No matter who you have around you and how supportive your friends and family may be, ultimately its your responsibility. We each are on our own journey.</span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">But when you question your path or are anxious about your future, stop, breath and look back. Wave to your younger self who is looking on expectantly at you from afar and see what she has got to say. And you will see her with her thumb up, smiling and edging you to continue down the path. Because she knows you have achieved far more than what she could ever imagine. </span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">"Just look forward and keep walking" is what she is saying. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">And the older you probably wants to tell her this: </span></span><br />
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Seema Punwanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836293321354734118noreply@blogger.com0