FROSTY FASCINATING WINTERTIME

 

Seasons blend in a colourful mélange of festivities, vibrating a varied life. Seasons represent rebirth and renewal. The cycle of nature has enthused many writers and poets. The certainty and the rhythms of seasons fade in and out like soft lullabies, signifying change.

In the North, the steel-grey clouds, nippy afternoons make way for cool winters after the sweaty and stifling monsoons. Thick night air dense with the intoxicating fragrance of the Harsinghar flowers and the carpet of blooms in the morning fills our hearts with happiness. Peace and grace descend slowly upon the mind in the sun-filled winter mornings.

 

Winter has vitality, unforgettable beauty, and the coolness in the air rejuvenates our lives. The comfort and warmth of winters have a magical aura. There is heavenly bliss in the wintry fireside, warm rugs and a mug of hot tea in the company of our loved ones. It is time to savour the gachak, halwa, and ladoos hurdled in the quilts. When you get up on a misty day, the trees, houses, gardens, and everything around is shrouded in the misty forest. It appears as if the clouds could not stand being away from earth anymore. The sheer fogginess, nothingness has mystery, the purity of existence. 

 

The darkness before the snowfall gives way to the fluffy white blanket which engulfs the whole place. Every descending snowflake fills our beings with sweet clarity, and everything appears magical. What a joy to walk in the fresh snow! The silence veiled in white lace is soothing to the mind, body and soul. The sprinkle of glistening snow on the bare trees speaks of fairy tales of spring.

The cold temperature intensified by the howling winds is frightening at times. Winters can be harsh, unpredictable and unforgiving for homeless beings. During the cold and dreary time, we may lose sight of our sense of wonder. A change in perspective can help us brace up for the season. “Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart,” rightly says Victor Hugo. The icy chill and the shining sun have purity and bliss that elevates the spirit. Seeds buried underground wait for spring to be alive again. “In every winter's heart there is a quivering spring, and behind the veil of each night there is a shining dawn,” observes Khalil Gibran. 

Winter festivals give us a reason to rejoice, dress in vivid clothes, and beautify our homes. We celebrate our diverse cultural heritage with harvest festivals of Lohri, Makrasakranti in the North, Bihu in the East and Pongal in the South, with much fanfare and gaiety. The Jaisalmer Desert festival in the deserts and the Goa Carnival, Christmas, and the Konark Dance festival complete the extravaganza of diversity and togetherness.

 

The fog lifts and the glowing sun shines bright. The laughter of the children in the playground interspersed with the chatter of the elderly soaking the long-awaited sunshine brightens the entire ambience. The radiance and warmth of the sun, with the fragrance of crisp wind, is refreshing. Tiny buds are sprouting on bare branches. Spring is in the air.

 

 

 

 

 

                    BEING HAPPY IN 2021

The uncertainty of the current circumstances has sent us reeling, and we are not alone. 2020 was hard; you can create the new one agreeable. The former comfort zone has gone, and we have to embrace the new normal.  We cannot have power over the continuing pandemic, but we can control how we respond to it. In challenging times, we need to be centered when faced with difficulties, as our real essence is happiness. It has a vital role in our lives as everyone endeavors happiness.

After the burnout at the closing line of 2020, it is critical to make our resolutions realistic. So it is necessary to rein in our failings to usher in contentment in the New Year. Above all, you need to stop being a complainer, acknowledge your plight, and get cracking.  Learn to adapt to change, work on obstacles, practice reflection, and move ahead with confidence. There should not be any apprehensions as failures are worthy lessons of growth. Accept the situation with a renewed resolve to restore life to embrace it entirely.

Take time to recognize negative self-talk and practice reframing it. You are your most reliable friend, exercise compassion, and accepting that our flaws do not diminish our worthiness for well-being. When it comes to validation, bask in it, but do not spend your time seeking it out. Find your own validation.

 There is also a need to avoid the toxic, narcissistic, forever complaining people as they manage to undermine your pride and distract you from accomplishing your goals. Banish criticism and build a personal mark of bliss. Human survival depends on attaining awards and avoiding coercion. When these two desires are out of sync, and when your drive to reduce threats is higher than the drive to achieve rewards, you are prone to self-sabotage. Self-sabotage and low self-esteem are a hindrance to happiness.

Getting rid of negative qualities and enhancing positive ones will make happiness possible. An optimist will have a lower rate of anxiety and depression and a greater sense of control. We have the habit of remembering the negative things; fail to change despite consistent efforts. Routines are part of our subconscious. Through mindfulness, we can learn to concentrate more on the positive to lead a happier life. Mindfulness or spirituality is a fundamental change in the way you think, feel, and experience life. The lama attitude allows you to comprehend the real version of yourself. Affirmation, visualization, and manifestation will bring good to your life.

Compassion and gratitude are equally necessary for attaining happiness. Appreciating and acknowledging goodness brings tranquility and bliss, the foundation of abundance in life. Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself and understanding the interdependence of all beings.

 Be adaptable, receptive, and consistent with the complex vagaries of life. Regulated breathing is a sine qua non nowadays. Science is discovering proof of what yoga has been implementing, the outcome of appropriate breathing in our life. Be confident and find your internal light of sunshine. One can learn to train one’s mind to be cheerful with practice.

Set in attainable and definite goals rather than pie-in-the-sky wishes as 2020 has been a turbulent year with unwanted energies.  We need to welcome the fresh beginnings, show compassion and gratitude in the never-ending pandemic times. Our resilience and adaptability will give us happiness and see us through tough times as we restore and readjust. Each one of us has the power to make small changes in our behavior, relationships, and our surroundings to be on the road to a happier life.