Daily Prompt: Wasted Days And Wasted Nights

Tell us your tried and true techniques for focusing when that deadline looms and you need to get work done.In other words, how do you avoid wasted days and wasted nights?

I like deadlines, it helps me to discipline myself. Having said that if the task is given two weeks ahead, I tend to tell myself there is plenty of time to get it done.

I put the task aside and do other things, then I get a call from my friend, “did you get the work done?” She asks.

This is the time I panic,I wonder what happened to two weeks, what did I do , how will I get my work done in two days?

Somehow magically I’m able to complete my task, really it’s not magic it’s me working all hours of the day to get it done.

This is my way of catching up to the wasted days and wasted nights!

………………………. 🙂

 

 

Daily Prompt: That Stings

Franz Kafka said, we ought to read only books that bite and sting us.” What’s the last thing you read that bit and stung you?

The book I’m reading now is, ‘The Miracle of Mindfulness’, on my trip to Montreal , I rented an apartment from a local French landlord. I noticed his shelf was full of French books, but there were only a few English ones. I picked up one and was fascinated by the title.

I opened the book, the title of the first chapter was, The Essential Discipline, I wanted to find out what he meant by it. I started reading, it was interesting and I continued reading, I noticed on the third page there was a  line ,Washing the dishes to wash the dishes. What does he mean by this I questioned myself, I read on to find the answer. I know I wash dishes morning,noon and night and in-between,I never came across this phrase, ‘Washing the dishes to wash the dishes.’

My curiosity was at its height, I must find out the meaning I thought. On the last paragraph the author explained what he meant by that phrase,he says, “while washing the dishes one should only be washing the dishes one should be completely aware of the fact that one is washing the dishes.At first glance ,that might seem a little silly: Why put so much stress on a simple thing? But that’s precisely the point. The fact that I am standing there and washing these bowls is a wondrous reality. I’m being completely myself,following my breath,conscious of my presence, and conscious of my thoughts and actions.There’s no way I can be tossed around mindlessly like a bottle slapped here and there on the waves.”

I was impressed I decided immediately I must have the book. I went out to Indigo book store, inquired about the book, the lady at the store told me she had two copies, I rushed upstairs, there was only one, I grabbed the book paid for it and came home. I have it now, it’s one  I think should not be read at once. There are a lot of things in it and very valuable.

I’d say this one bit and stung me. It’s worth every penny I spent to get it! 🙂

……………………………. 🙂

 

 

365 Writing Prompts:

When I think about childhood I must admit they were the best years of my life. I grew up in a large family, Mom was a fabulous cook,Dad was busy with his work. He had a very important 8 to 6 job.

We were very disciplined, school was from 6 to 4. I went to school on the  school bus. I was picked up at 6 in the morning and dropped off at 4 pm. Our teachers were strict there was no room to fool around, tasks had to be completed on time or there was tons of homework, unfinished school work and regular homework.

We had supper as soon as Dad was home. My Dad was a fussy eater, everything Mom cooked had to be perfect or he wouldn’t eat. If any of the ingredients in the food was slightly more he’d call me and tell me to give it my Mom to eat. I was very young ,I never understood the sarcasm, I’d happily take the food to Mom. One such day the meat Mom cooked was not according to my Dad Up to standard.

As usual he instructed me to take it for my Mom , I thought Dad was generous, as soon as I said, “Mom Dad wants you to eat this.”

I felt all hell would break loose, Mom was unimpressed, she yelled something which I did not understand. Once my Mom put too much onion in one of the dishes, Dad called me and said in his sweetest voice, “Ranu ask your Mom if the onion is cheaper these days.”

I knew why he said it, I wasn’t going to ask Mom about the price of onion.

One might wonder why Ranu was doing all this chore, what about the older siblings and the servants. Well none of the siblings or the servants wanted to face Dad when he was in a devilish mood. So Ranu was the one everyone depended on, I wasn’t fond of this duty but like Shakespeare’s character Andrew Aguecheek , it was thrust upon me, I could not complain, I stayed away from Mom’s anger.

As far as music goes we were prohibited from listening to any kind of music, because my Dad thought it would distract us from our studies. He never bought a radio,for this reason.

Once my sister told Dad Ranu can sing quite well, I was summoned by my Dad, when Dad called you had to be there, so I went with a heart beating out of my chest,thinking what was I guilty of.

It turned out he heard I can sing, he was all smiles, “Ranu can you sing a song for me, I will give you money?”

I was very shy singing in front of Dad was unthinkable, besides money was not an attraction, the moment my two older brothers found out I had money, they would make me give it to them. I declined to sing.

I’ve probably presented a very gloomy picture of my childhood, it wasn’t,  nothing could match the wonderful time I had in my early childhood.

…………………….

k: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2015/04/04/365-writing-prompts-2/

365 Writing Prompts: On the edge

We all have things we need to do to keep on an even keel–blogging,exercising, reading, cooking.What’s yours?

This is something not so easy to do, to be able to balance so many tasks I need to do needs discipline. I sometimes falter, then I let loose some of the things thinking, I won’t go on that bike today, I’ll exercise tomorrow, but I must do other things properly, since I’ve taken away the time for exercise for reading.

When I start reading I get so involved I’m unable to stop and turn my attention to cooking, I know it needs to be done or what will my daughter and I eat, getting takeouts is not an option, it’s not healthy.

I have  a set time for blogging I write two prompts daily, I do not have time to do more, I also read posts of bloggers and write my comments, some posts are longer which requires more time to read and comment.

I must admit I sometimes neglect some of the things that need my attention.

Reading, writing,cooking, blogging takes time, I am not capable of doing all of them regularly, I procrastinate, eventually lot of important things are left undone.

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/365-writing-pr…ts-on-the-edge/

Fasting Post by Ranu

Ramadan Mubarak Said (Photo credit: jotunbani)

For a month once a year we have the month of fasting. This is the best medicine prescribed for Muslims all over the world. It gives us a chance to understand discipline. Waking up in the middle of the night to eat something,wait for an hour to do our morning prayer,makes us look at ourselves and think of all those unfortunate ones,who are dealing with it regularly that is deprived of food.

This is the time when we are required to be generous,be kind,refrain from lying ,cheating and read the Quran and follow the instructions given in it. I am not saying to do all these things only in the month of Ramadhan.We are supposed to do it throughout the year.

Maybe we do not think of these things daily. This month reminds us of our duties towards our fellow human beings. We all need discipline and this is a very unique way of learning it.

To all the people fasting ,”Ramadhan Mubarak”, may you have a very good month and also “Eid Mubarak” to everyone.

DP Daily Prompt: I Want to know What love Is post by Ranu

Yes, I have loved humans different ways. There was my father whom I loved dearly.There was no condition attached to it.I loved him for who he was,the care he gave us. He loved us all unconditionally.We didn’t have to excel in anything. We were his children and that was good enough.

Then came my siblings, I liked them but did not really loved them,my elders were too demanding,I did not appreciate their interference. It always seemed to me I had to meet certain standards.I could not handle it.My affection for them depended on their behaviour towards me.

When it came to the spouse, I did my duty. Sometimes he was very nice,other times he was not. His siblings were always interfering and he took their side more than he did mine. This was a different kind of love.

Then came my three children,I loved them as a mother would.There too I had my frustration and it was as if they were judging me all along,who I loved the most.The youngest one had to be disciplined more than the other two.She was the most difficult to deal with.

Then came the cats,I really loved them.I knew they loved me unconditionally. Thursday was always on the look out for me, if she didn’t see me she cried. I found it easier to love the three,they did not complain.If the food I gave was not their favourite they’d turn around and leave. Thursday loved to jump up on the couch,if she found me lying down.

Yes in life we all meet different people,some are easy to deal with,others are not. It is hard to balance ones emotion when things are tough. Two of my children hardly think about me,they are on their own.They do not need me and they’re happy doing that.

Sometimes to me love means how much I can give and if I am unable to satisfy the near and dear ones I am constantly coming into contact   with,their love goes out the window.