Bedtime Book – The Boy Named Joy on Amazon!

Children’s bedtime book, The Boy Named Joy is now available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084DMGH8J). Download your eBook copies on Amazon.com or Amazon.in (if you are in India).

Here is the preview:

About the Book: Why is King Boo-Hoo always sad although he has everything? And why is the boy named Joy always happy although he has nothing. What is the secret? The magic painting or something else… Read this endearing tale to know all about JOY!

 

The Making: The story was written quickly but the illustrations were a problem. Then, my eight-year-old, Adiraj stepped in and created the characters. He was enthusiastically encouraged by my little kindergartner, Aviraj. And after the characters were drawn on paper, I digitized the pictures and put it all together. This is how we created the book.

Message: The Boy Named Joy has a message for school children and adults as well! This Children’s eBook tells us that happiness does not really depend on cool gadgets, apps, video games or fancy clothes. That kind of happiness is momentary. True happiness comes by choosing to be happy irrespective of what we have and what we don’t have.

The eBook will help raise, good, happy kids who would learn to make wise choices in life. It is my sincere hope that this special tale will entertain as well as teach the kids to stay positive despite challenges in life just like the main character Joy.

Our kids face many challenges in life and this simple book might help.

Your feedback is extremely important and very welcome. Don’t forget to write a review on Amazon if you like it. Thanks again for being a great support!

– Shivangi

 

Just a Thought – Rejection

Every winner reaches the top by climbing a mountain of rejection, refusing to get buried after an avalanche of disappointments. And then, getting up to climb back again with renewed determination.

Winners know that reaching the top is not in their hands but climbing up is and that is what they do till the end… relentlessly, tirelessly and zealously.

Winners do not fear disappointments or rejections. They know the mountain of rejection is sacred, because the process of climbing, falling down, getting hurt and starting again shows them what they have got and what they are made of…!

No, nothing can break their spirit… let alone the mountain of Rejection. Because winners know that nothing is more stronger than a resilient will made of their unyielding spirit! They will just not give up!

Get up and keep climbing friends, that is the most important part!

Images courtesy Google

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation for Kids

Today I came to know that there are two kinds of motivation for kids – Intrinsic and Extrinsic. As I read more I learnt why intrinsic motivation is far more superior to inspire kids and have a life long impact. Although extrinsic motivation is occasionally important too. The subsequent quotes will help you understand the difference.

And I loved this last one below that tells us how to encourage our children to be intrinsically motivated. Hope you will find these quotes as important as I find them. Good luck to you, dear parent!

Images courtesy Google

Just a Thought – Control

The more we try to control people, thoughts or circumstances, the greater we are controlled by them. It is always a two way arrest game. Handcuffs are on both the arrester and arrested. But if we let go of control, it’s not that we will be at inactive mode but we would do our jobs blissfully, freely without thinking of controlling the ‘result’. The RESULT is anyway, NEVER in our hands. No?

Some people try to control in a positive way, out of concern but some use negativity as their power. This quote explains the negative types.

But flow is always more powerful than control. Hope we learn to let go, because there is nothing blissful, joyful and liberating than complete surrender! Exhale…!

Images courtesy Google

Just a Thought – You Are The Sun!

As I was doing dishes today, the Sun’s brilliance captured my attention through the kitchen window. I was mesmerized. But soon a pathetic dark cloud enveloped the Sun dimming the landscape. Disappointed, I saw more dark clouds in the horizon! They came, darkened everything, moved on, but… the Sun stayed.

I learnt, the Sun shines no matter what! Although, the clouds come and go, they do nothing to the Sun’s core. Just like our inner core, which is bright, still, luminous and joyful, and no darkness can change it! I experienced, the Sun is an outward manifestation of our inner self. It was a lovely feeling!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you, dears. May no dark cloud ever stop you from knowing that You Are The Sun!

Images courtesy Google

Just a Thought – You’ve got my back!

When you know someone up there has got your back, you’re afraid no more. You soar, you dive, you float or you fall flat, nothing matters! You look up and say – you’ve got my back, why should I worry? And you smile at the thought of someone watching over you, loving you, protecting you and sometimes pushing you…so that you learn to stand up! But all along you know, it’s all for your own good!

(I took a small break from blogging. But I’m back my friends to share my life and thoughts with you almost every week. Sending lots and lots of love and peace your way!)

If You Are Sad!

No, I’ll not say I’m sad you are going through this difficult phase. I’ll not indulge in grief along with you. Never! Rather I’m convinced impediments, grief, setbacks and disturbances will mould you into somebody special. I heard someone say today that failure teaches us far, far more than victory, always. I agree! Therefore, I’ll pray for you and wish that you welcome your grief with a smile and say – Try me, I stand strong, you can never break me, you can only mould me into a better version of myself…into a fine miracle!

(Image – Google)

Go For It!

Just a little quote for you…if you have been procrastinating like me…

Image courtesy Google

Can you stand up for a cause? Alone?

Consider this – You are in a bus. And you see a lecherous man eyeing a lady. He is sort of checking her out. He even tries to get cosy with her. The lady is ignoring him. She obviously doesn’t want a scene. It has nothing to do with you. But will you stand up and do something?

Second situation – There is a serious tussle going on between your loved one and a neighbor. You feel your loved one is not right. But objecting will mess up with your own relationship. Will you stand up and take the side of the outsider and hurt your own?

Third situation – You know your teacher is being mean to your friend. But revolting would end up in an ugly situation. Will you stand up with your friend against the teacher and possibly earn the wrath of the school authorities?

Honestly, in such situations, I would personally not like to invite trouble. What will you do? Will you stand up or remain seated like me. I guess, we the common people like to be seated. We have a hundred chores to do, mundane jobs to take care of…we are already burdened and do not want to bring on more problems.

We witness everything but turn our faces away. This is the reason why ‘saints’ like Ram Rahim continue to rape women for decades or little kids like Pradyman Thakur get murdered in school premises. We forget that a witness to crime also partakes in the crime and shares the ‘paap’ with the perpetrator.

But just in case, if you belong to that rare species of human beings, who just cannot stand injustice, then good luck to you. You will be perceived as a dimwit. Your standing up will come at a great cost. But then, we the seated lot might look up to you and may join you against injustice.

I earnestly hope, you the reader, belong to this rare species. Just be at it my friend! Only a few have your courage, only a few have your integrity and only a few know what is right and what is objectionable. The world needs more people like you.

Images: Google

The Raped Girl Who Refused Heaven!

A girl who was brutally raped and murdered, went to heaven. Near the entry she checked herself in the golden mirror. All signs of cruelity that had been done to her body was gone. Now, she had a glorious, translucent form. The four guards of Heaven greeted her at the gates. But suddenly, she stopped and stepped aside.

Every soul was always eager to enter heaven and meet God. Since eternity, nobody had ever done that. So, the four agitated guards asked her, “Why are you refusing heaven? My dear, come back to the queue and enter the great gates.”

The girl smiled and recounted, “You know I was gang raped by a group of filthy men, who were jeering and spitting on me…”

“Yes, we know that…,” the guards cut her short in chorus. “Please don’t tell us the details. We know you have suffered immensely but once you enter the gates, all pain and sadness will vanish. Your troubled soul will find peace. All thoughts will leave you and you will bask in eternal glory.”

The girl still hesitated. The wind played with her hair as she she looked around with delight but still showed no inclination to enter.

“Dear, what is going on your mind? Do you feel any sort of guilt? Do you think you can’t face God after what happened to your modesty?,” the guards asked in chorus.

The girl laughed for a long, long time while perplexed guards looked at each other. 

“It is not that! The reason why I don’t want to see God is not because I am ashamed. I have done no wrong. Wrong has been done to my body.” she answered.

“Then?,” the guards asked.

“It is because God will be shamefaced on seeing me. I know, He will never be able to meet my eyes. I want to spare Him the shame as I love Him too much,” the girl wandered away after saying this leaving a trail of shimmering light behind her. The guards stood unmoved, red faced.

God heard her, clutched his heart and cried…

( Written after viewing a terrible image of a dead, rape victim in West Bengal, India. She moved me beyond words. A tribute to such victims.)

Images courtesy Google

Just a thought – Kids

I am not taking care of my kids, they are taking care of me – with unconditional love and positive spirit!

Image courtesy Google

From Mad Man to Mountain Man

Dashrath Manjhi sat viewing the mighty mountains surrounding him. They were the barriers, the hurdles, who had played with the lives of so many of his loved ones.

The mountains arrogantly stood between his village, Gehlaur and the nearest town blocking medical and other facilities. And not long back, the love of his life had slipped from one of these rocky terrains, leaving him alone.

He wanted revenge now! It was his will against the daunting mountains. Angrily, he took out his hammer and chisel and began to hurt the mountains. 

The villagers called him mad. But he just stopped listening. For twenty two years, he single handedly struggled against the mountains. 

Finally, he succeeded in carving a path 9.1 metres (30 ft) wide and 110 metres (360 ft) long through a hill 7.6 metres (25 ft). The distance between his village and the town got reduced from 55km to 15km.

Today, the world knows him as the noble Mountain Man!

(The picture reminded me of the poor labourer Dashrath Manjhi from India, who spent his entire life doing a noble task. His life has inspired many documentaries and films as well as stories.  In August 2015, a Hindi movie Manjhi – The Mountain Man, based on his life got released and was well received.)

(This is my entry to the flash fiction challenge, Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers hosted by the lovely Priceless Joy. We are given a photo prompt and approximately 75-175 words with which to create our stories. This challenge is open to all who would like to participate. Please CLICK HERE for more. Thank you Grant for the image!)