A Delightful Kellog’s Cornflakes Breakfast with Guptaji

Breakfast for me had traditionally comprised of sabzi and parathas with a dollop of butter on top. Alternately, for a change it would comprise of the ubiquitous bread and butter with eggs and jams. Both these categories of breakfast being high in calories had been adding to my body weight. In fact for most city dwellers like me who have a sedentary life still like mine become over weight in due course because of what we eat.

My eating habits would have continued unchanged had I not met Guptaji  in the park the other day during a morning walk. Guptaji had recently shifted to our locality . We had been seeing each other regularly in the park. One thing  led to another and we became friends. Despite his age Guptaji was not over weight. One day when he saw me panting after the walk he enquired what kind of meal I was having. I told him about the breakfast which I had been taking all these years. He thought for a moment and then extended an invitation to me to have breakfast at his place the next morning. Initially I was hesitant but out of curiosity I accepted the invitation.

Next morning after the walk we went over to his place. I was greeted by Guptaji’s family. While the breakfast was being served Guptaji confessed that the breakfast for him and his family comprised of dishes made from Kellog’s Cornflakes. Most of us are not aware as to how many dishes could be made with Kellog’s Cornflakes. But when the breakfast was served I was in for a great surprise . We started with Strawberry and Banana Cornflakes a dish which was out of this world. The next dish served to us was Walnut Cornflakes Choco balls. The dish was unforgettable for all chocolate lovers like me . The next dish on the course was Sitaphal Cornflakes which turned out to be another dish beyond imagination .

I could never have imagined that Kellog’s Cornflakes could have been used in so many wonderful and delightful ways. Guptaji further elaborated that besides being tasteful all the dishes were also low calorie. No wonder Guptaji and his family members were all slim and in perfect health.

While going home I resolved to change over to Kellog’s Cornflakes for breakfast. The breakfast besides being tasteful would not cause any heaviness. After few months of having Kellog’s Cornflakes to my pleasent surprise I found that my body weight had reduced and I looked a few years younger than my actual age. Whenever guests would be around breakfast using Kellog’s Cornflakes could be made in a jiffy. I also discovered that besides using Kellog’s Cornflakes for breakfast it could also be used for preparing several snacks like Cornflakes Popcorn Clusters or Chatpati Cornflakes Chidva.

Thanks to Guptaji and Kellog’s Cornflakes for changing my life for the better. I will definitely visit their place again to enjoy the sumptuous breakfast which is healthy as well as tasty.

 This post is a part of https://www.facebook.com/anaajkanashta and https://www.youtube.com/user/kelloggindia

Simple Things That Bring Happiness

It is said that happiness is a state of mind . In the rat race for one-upmanship where we try to outdo the other in search of happiness we miss the wood for the trees. We overlook the small things in life that can bring happiness instead of chasing a mirage. In our repentance on what we could have done in the past  for a better present or our apprehension about the future we lose the pleasant moments that we could have enjoyed in our present. A person who is content with what he has is a saint , for lesser mortals like us we keep on striving for things we believe would give us happiness. Once we achieve what we want we find that happiness in what we have acquired is temporary. After some time a new struggle begins in pursuit of happiness.

                For most of us happiness is a relative term. Many a times it depends  upon how much better off we are compared to those around us. Do we have a bigger car compared to our neighbour? Is my house bigger than his? Do I go  more frequently on foreign trips than my colleagues or neighbour? When we discover that it is otherwise it makes us frustrated and unhappy.

In my search for happiness once I was fortunate to listen to the discourse of a learned sear. He told us that happiness is always there around us. Only we fail to recognise it.  He advised us to take a holiday from what we are always doing and try to discover happiness in small things in life. It would change our perception of happiness. The sear’s words got me thinking. I decided to follow his advice for sometime.

I have been a workaholic by nature . Often I would bring  my work home . The result was that I could hardly spend time with my family. I decided to  change this practice. Next day I came home on time. My family was surprised as well as concerned to see me back from work early. Was I feeling alright ? was the obvious question. I said that I was perfectly in good health and for a change had decided to spend time with my family which I had been missing. The smiles on their faces was more precious than any wealth. The happiness in spending time with my family was unforgettable and I made it a practice whenever I could to come back early from work .

I have been by habit a late riser as I would work till late in the night. I decided to change this habit as well. I decided to arise early. Next morning I got up early , put on my sports shoes which had been gathering dust  and went for a walk to a  park not far away. The Sun was just rising and the sky had turned pink in its glow.The environment was serene, the air cool and fresh. The chirping of the birds was more melodious than any composition. The moments spent in the park was blissful. I realised what I had been  missing all these years in my pursuit of happiness. I decided to rise early everyday to enjoy the beauty  which nature has endowed upon us.

Our weekends would always be taken up in attending to routine household chores or going for routine shopping. For a change we decided to do something different. We decided to go for a picnic. There was a beautiful picnic spot a few hours drive away from our place . Next day was a  Sunday. All of us got up early.  We packed our basket with goodies , collected what ever was required for a picnic and left. Driving everyday to office had been a harrowing experience in peak hour traffic and getting stuck in traffic jams. But the experience of driving on the highway outside the city limits  was a different experience altogether. The green wheat fields on either side of the road was a rare sight for city dwellers like us. The picnic spot was as beautiful as expected . The blue water of the lake , the ducks gliding gracefully in it , the sight of so many colourful birds we don’t get to see otherwise was a heavenly experience.

On our way back we had to stop at a traffic light. One young girl in tattered clothes came begging for alms. Normally we would look down upon such persons. For a change we decided to do something different. My daughter took off her jacket and gave it to her. The smile it brought to her face made us realise that helping others also gives happiness.

I thanked the great sear who had put me on the right path for happiness in life and taught me to look for happiness in small things in life.

This post is a part of http://cokeurl.com/96jnc

Rediscovering Ourselves

We  got married to each other on the first day of the new millennium . We  had met for the first time at a common friend’s marriage. It was one of those moments of love at first sight. The marriage ceremony provided an opportunity to be near each other. One thing led to another and soon we were chatting with each other as if we had known each other for ages. The moment came when we had to depart and go our respective ways but not before exchanging our contact numbers.

At that time we did not realise our feelings for one another. But after going home I could not forget her bubbling  personality . Later on she confessed that she was experiencing similar feelings ftowards me. She like me was also working for a large multinational company . While daytime kept us preoccupied with our professional llves  we would make it a point to meet each other regularly after office hours. We had been romancing  each other for almost eight months now. It was now time to take our relationship to the next level. One evening over a cup of coffee at our favourite hangout I proposed to her and she happily accepted. Our families had no objection to our alliance. We decided to get married on the first day of the new millennium on a cold January night. The warmth of our relationship made  it feel like spring time.

The first few years of marriage were like bliss. We could not wait to be with one another. We would eagerly wait for the weekends for going on long drives early in the morning , have meals at a way side dhaba and spend evenings in each other’s arms watching  our favourite movies.

Well as the saying goes every good thing comes to an end  one day. Our professional lives started taking their toll on our marriage and the spark in our relationship started fading  after a few years of marriage  Our career took predominance over our relationship. There was no longer any hurry to rush back home after work. Weekends would be taken up in attending to household chores. Life would have continued without any colour for the rest of our days had it not been for the fateful day which changed our orientation towards each other.

On that fateful day we had gone for work as usual. In the midst of a meeting at about 12 noon I saw her name flashing on my mobile. We had stopped disturbing each other at our work places  unless there was an emergency . I excused myself and came out of the meeting for attending the call. What came next made my heart sank. Her building was on fire and she was stuck with no means for escape. Her office was on the tenth floor  with two stair cases on each end . The fire had spread to such an extent that the staircases could no longer be used. When I  heard the news I just rushed towards her office building without a thought. On reaching the spot  the smoke billowing from the top floors  made me feel faint. Suddenly I realised what she meant to me . I tried to rush into the building but was prevented by the authorities. I sat down on the ground holding my head in my hands. My life was meaning less without her. I frantically was trying to contact her but she would not answer putting me to further despair.

The Fire Department had put a ladder form the other side of the building of which I was not aware. I had given up all hopes of her survival. I kept on sitting on the ground oblivious to the surroundings tears blinding my eyes. Suddenly there was  a familiar hand on my shoulder. It was her. She had survived. It was a miracle coming true. I could not control my emotions. I hugged her tightly and we cried like children.

We had finally found the lost spark in our relationship.We had that fateful day realised what we meant for one another . In all such relations life turns black and white and a couple starts taking the relationship for granted. We also would have continued in the same fashion had it not been for that life turning incidence.  We had rediscovered ourselves.

We #together have rediscovered ourselves 

 This post is a part of https://housing.com/in

Start A New Life

My life has been no different from others coming from a middle class background. Being an educated person we are well aware of the shortcomings in our socio-political system. We love to read the newspaper over a cup of tea in the morning and scoff at the unscrupulous bureaucrats  and politicians who are ruining our Country. We would pass expert comments on what should or should not be done for improving our Society. However , we dread to take any initiative to change the system fearing for our lives and our dear ones. So we continue to remain in our comfort zones and let the vested interests of our Society rule the roost. Years and decades pass by as we continue to wait for the Messiah who would liberate us and transform our System.

However , our conscience does not let us rest in peace. “What can I alone do to transform the system and fight against the formidable system? or where do I have the time ?” Is our excuse to our conscience. We never garner courage enough to become the change agent for improving the Society. So this is the unfortunate story of most middle class persons like me . The result is that in due course either we become indifferent and continue to go about our own ways turning a blind eye to the nefarious activities by the vested interests  or we pack our bags and baggage and settle down in some or the other advanced countries of the world from where we continue to scoff at the Indian socio-political system.

I would have continued in my state of inertia had it not been for that fateful day which transformed my perception towards myself. I came across my old school teacher Shri Dev Dutt who had been an inspiration for us in our younger days . Dev Duttji was now in his late Seventies. When I met him he could not recognize me . However ,when I helped him remember the year when we were his students he could recall. Dev Duttji was an ardent Gandhian. He had played an active role in the Freedom Movement and gone to jail number of times for his active role against the British Government. He used to tell us Gandhism is a way of life. Either you follow it entirely or you don’t. When he asked me about my activities all these years I felt embarrassed to tell him as I had nothing to be proud off when I looked back. That night I could not sleep. I kept on thinking that if every great leader wouldn’t have thought and worked beyond themselves and their families the world would never have been a better place.

The elections to the local municipal council were before us . As usual every contestant would make tall promises before the elections which would never get executed when they came to power. I resolved to change the situation this time . Any initiative taken alone would have been futile as the candidates and their cronies wouldn’t have allowed any move which could jeopardise their chances of winning the elections. So I went from door to door and could convince atleast one hundred families to cast their votes consciously after they are sanguine that their candidate has a plan of action for fulfilling the promises he or she makes in their manifesto. We decided discretely that henceforth whenever any candidate would hold an election rally we would as a group ask them to indicate in clear terms how they proposed to fulfil their election manifesto . The grilling strategy worked. There were threatening gestures from the cronies but when they saw such mass action they could not do much to silence us. We could easily make out whether a candidate had any clear and concrete plan of action for fulfilling the election manifesto.   This move saved us from voting for the wrong candidate. Our strategy soon spread by word of mouth and through social media to others. The result was we could get in place  Councillors who were sincere and could deliver. 

Finally I had taken a bold initiative which helped to improve our system and I could sleep in peace.

Always #StartANewLife if required!

This post is a part of housing.com/in

A Ray of Hope

        I, RSV Subramanium was an upright and self made man. I came from a conservative family which had its roots in the interiors of Tamil Nadu.  I was one of the five children of my parents. My father was a school teacher and mother attended to the household and children with limited resources at their disposal, I had no alternative but to study in the local village school.

        I was not only a dreamer but a determined hard worker to translate my dreams into reality.  On account of my brilliant performance in school finals I could get admission in a coveted engineering college in Tamil Nadu on scholarship.  During my college days I would see many students resorting to plagiarism and cheating in the exams but I never gave up on his sincerity and honesty.

        After completing my engineering, it was now time to step into the world outside for securing employment.  But securing a suitable job commensurate with my qualification was easier said than done. Nepotism and bribe were rampantly practised in the world of employment.  But I did not give up. I was a fighter. I worked hard for the All India Engineering Services exam conducted by the Union Public Services Commission and got selected.

        I was given appointment in the Public Works Department. But the initial joy of securing a good job soon turned into dismay when I saw rampart corruption all around.  Due to my upright nature and refusing to compromise with the corrupt officials I throughout my career got tossed from one post to another, one remote office to another remote office.

        The constant struggle and the decaying system took it’s toll on me.I retired a a broken and dejected man.  The tentacles of corruption were everywhere and increasing day by day. One could hardly get any work done without greasing the palm of a corrupt official. So much that even for drawing my pension I was either asked to pay bribe or else make countless rounds of the bank .

 On one such occasion I was returning from the bank in an auto-rikshaw. I reached home paid the driver and went in.  Suddenly I realised that I had forgotten my bag containing my pension in the auto.  It was like the last nail in the coffin. I sat down with a heavy heart holding my head in my hands why was destiny so cruel. I felt like ending my life.

I heard that someone knocking on the door. It was the auto driver. “ Sir, you forgot your bag in the auto”.  Tears welled into my eyes.  I hugged the auto driver.  All was not lost.  There was still a ray of hope as long as persons like the auto driver were around. It was an amazing feeling for me that there is still something good left in the world.

That moment really filled with me optimism and hope for the future.

This post is a part of housing.com/lookup

        

Apno Ko Apne Dum Pe Jeena Sikhao

Family plays the most important role in everyone’s life.  Just like everyone, I also have a beautiful family. My family members are always there for me at any point of time. The best thing about family is that the other members in your family do not let you feel alone. They are always around us to inspire us, motivate us and be with us at every walk of life. My family is the true blessing from the Almighty . I am very lucky to have a family like this.

My mother is an angel for me. She is not only the care taker of the entire family but also she has taught me to be self reliant and independent.  I am a writer by profession and writing is my passion.

After I passed out from my school, everyone wanted me to be engineer and do a job which has decent salary but my plan was different. I wanted to be an author, I wanted to open my own publication house. There were times when my other family members did not support me and had stopped talking to me. At that point of time, I needed money to start my own business and my father was not ready to waste his money on me. I was shattered and did not what to do, at that point  of time my mother played an important role. She could have given the money to me but instead she wanted me to be independent. She suggested me many ways by which I can earn money. She wanted me to earn on my own so that in future I do not have to take any obligation from anyone. She encouraged me and gave me many ideas. I joined a small organization and started taking tuitions  for about an year. By the end of the year I had enough money with me to open my publication house and stand on my feet. My could see my dream of becoming a successful writer and a businessman coming true. After  a few months, I opened an organization, I worked hard day and night to make my business successful. There were many phases where I had to face many disappointments and failure  but my mother never left my hand. She was always there to inspire me and always guided me to give my best. Whenever I felt sad, I went to my mother and she would motivate me to do the best. One thing I love about my mother is that she never taught me to beg in front of others. I always kept this in mind and I would definitely teach the same  thing to my children. With my mother’s blessings and support my business earned great revenues and now I am on the process of writing a book which will soon release in this year.
 I thank God for sending a mother like this in my life who had selflessly worked for her children bestowed good thoughts and lessons to her children. Today whatever I am is because of my mother.

This post is a part of www.hdfclife.com by indiblogger.