Hello Inner Lion, Nice to See You

I was a shy, scared, and sensitive child.

Truly, the mouse of the family, it was quite wild

Minoo Mouse all the way

Minoo Mouse all the day.

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I read a lot of books

But I was tongue-tied

When people visited our house

I would run away and hide.

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Shake their hands

And slink away

As fast as I could

You couldn't coax me to stay.

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Diwali brought on terrible fears

I would close my eyes, and plug my ears

I would only hold sparklers at the end of a stick

For being a scaredy cat, I couldn’t be licked.

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There was no change, when I came of dating age

I headed straight for the dance floor, to keep my shyness out of gaze

Dancing and dancing, I got away with saying few words

Minoo, call that dating? I know, it was absurd!

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I had a catalog of fears, some small, some great

Injections were one of them  - you can't even contemplate

I once scaled a tree, and jumped over a high wall

So the visiting vaccination nurse couldn’t get me, 

Couldn’t get me at all!

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Omg - does the story get worse?

Was Minoo doomed to a lifelong curse?

Or was she able to cut the Chicken Little cord?

Good news! Good news!

Sparklers At The End of a Stick Minoo grew into the lion that roared.

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Mentally strong enough to buck traditions

Such as a college education, without contrition

Dropping out in her very first year

Using a talent for words to write Deccan Herald middles, and get into the advertising sphere.

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Yes, yes, yes, and there’s more.

About how Sparklers At The End of a Stick Minoo grew into the lion that roared.

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Entered a disco competition, and took home a 2nd prize

Landed on her feet, quitting 5 jobs in her life

Started Purple Patch, her own little advertising shop

Moved to America, learned to cook, drive, look after a baby, become a Commissions Analyst, and start again from nought.

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And so, my friend, here we are today

With Sparklers At The End of a Stick Minoo having come a long way

And it may be a miracle, but this much is true

Minoo Mouse was able to keep going, once she was able to say, “Hello Inner Lion, Nice To See You”.

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Minoo Mouse was able to keep going once she was able to say, “Hello Inner Lion, Nice To See You”.

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Dear friend, have you said hello to your Inner Lion, or not just yet?

Well, a brand new year is ahead of you, so get ready, get set

Let the New Year see you do some wonderful new things you want to do

Let the New Year find you saying, “Hello Inner Lion, Nice to See You”.

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Let the New Year see you do some wonderful new things you want to do.

Let the New Year find you saying, “Hello Inner Lion, Nice to See You”.

Yay!

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Let the New Year see you do some wonderful new things you want to do.

Let the New Year find you saying, “Hello Inner Lion, Nice to See You”.

Yay!

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Happy New Year.

From Sparklers At The End of a Stick Minoo, who turned into the mouse that roared.

All my love.  Hope you have a vibrant and unforgettable 2024. Make it so. Make it so. If you do one unforgettable thing, that's plenty.

That Kind of Love

That kind of love...

🎄

That you can rest in.

That you can feel blessed in.

🎄

That you can feel at peace in.

That you can feel at ease in.

🎄

That you can feel at home in.

And you never feel alone in.

🎄

That makes you feel lucky.

That makes you feel plucky.

🎄

That makes your life come alive.

And makes it worthwhile to strive.

🎄

That makes any mountain easier to climb.

And the earth and sky look sublime.

🎄

That gives you confidence to fly higher.

And keeps you ever inspired.

🎄

That makes you want to sing.

And makes every season feel like spring.

🎄

That makes the sun and the stars shine brighter.

And tough moments feel lighter.

🎄

That you are thankful for every night

And makes your spirit burn bright.

🎄

I wish you that kind of love, this Christmas. And every Christmas.

🎄

Whether from the one you love, your family, your friends, your cousins and relatives, your pets, your neighbors, your teachers, your mentors, your well-wishers and supporters, the people you are connected with through school, work, community, church, or other shared experiences -- all the wonderful people who have made your life richer, and have brought you joy on different occasions.

🎄

Here's to the strengthening of the love you share with all of them.

🎄

Wishing each and every one of you, a very merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

🎄

All my love - Minoo 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

I Went to Draw Water from the Spiritual Well

I went to draw water from the spiritual well

And saw an unfamiliar face

My heart grew cold, and my spirit recoiled

Who is this defiling the space?

I said, "what are you doing here?"

"I am here to draw water" is what he said

"Oh no, you're a pagan, you don't belong here.

You are an infidel, and you are going to hell."

"You won't find anything here," I said

There isn't anything here for the likes of you."

"Did you come to draw righteousness from this well?" he asked, gently.

I nodded angrily. He said, "I did too."

"Did you come to draw goodness from this well?" he continued,

Angrily, I replied, "What's it to you?"

"I did not mean to offend," he said.

"I just came to draw goodness too."

"I didn't come to draw barbarism," I snarled,

"And I don't want to have anything to do with you, and your barbaric lot".

"I came to draw compassion from this well," was what he replied.

"You see, I have the very same problems with my thoughts."

That gave me pause, and I said, "Ok...

"We have some things in common, but not a lot".

"I came to draw truth from this well", he said.

"Do you think this is where truth may be sought?"

Again, I got angry, and I snarled

"Truth! I don't want to hear another word

"Don't you get it - My truth is the truth

Your truths are just sacrilegious and absurd."

"But isn't there only one truth?" he said

"I am confused. This is what I believe"

This is why I came to draw water from the well

To find out what it will reveal.

And so we dipped our buckets into the well

Him in curiosity, me confident I was right

And do you know we pulled up the very same things

And it was only then I saw the light.

                     **********************************

Inspired by this quote from Thoreau:

“In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagvat Geeta, since whose composition years of the gods have elapsed, and in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial; and I doubt if that philosophy is not to be referred to a previous state of existence, so remote is its sublimity from our conceptions. I lay down the book and go to my well for water, and lo! there I meet the servant of the Bramin, priest of Brahma and Vishnu and Indra, who still sits in his temple on the Ganges reading the Vedas, or dwells at the root of a tree with his crust and water jug. I meet his servant come to draw water for his master, and our buckets as it were grate together in the same well. The pure Walden water is mingled with the sacred water of the Ganges.”

― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Connect. Connect.

Connecting is a gift that keeps on giving.

Connect. Connect.

Connect with people

Tell them your story.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will help you believe in yourself.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who can give you that initial boost.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will jump in, and join you in a venture or hobby.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will give you ideas and inspire you.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will see something in you.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who you can learn from.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will be receptive to your thoughts and ideas.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will take you under their wing.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will become a mentor and a sounding board.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will help you break through your limitations.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who might help you increase your possibilities, and your sphere of influence.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who can improve your thinking on some subjects.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who can become your trusted confidant and coach.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who may expand your vision for the future.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who can help you gain clarity on the choices in front of you.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will open your mind and heart.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who may be ready to collaborate with you.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will be the key to your continued growth.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who can give your situation or circumstances a boost.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will help you think your way out, when you are in a funk or jam.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will be the solution, or have the answer to a problem.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will hold your hand, when that’s what you need.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will be one of the people who get you.

Connect. Connect.

You never know

Who will become a long-term supporter or a lifelong friend.

Connect. Connect.

And finally,

You never know

How much richer your life will become

For all the differences that different human beings bring into your life - from the books they read, to the foods they eat, to their tastes in art, music, clothes, entertainment, and above all their unique and individual perspective.

Connect. Connect.

                    ************************************

This post is dedicated to the masterful connectors in our family, friends, and relatives circle - living, and living in our memories.

Got Things To Do!

Got squirrels to chase

Got people passing by to bark at.

Got things to do.

🐶

Got socks to remove and run around with

Got whines to emit when loved ones return home

Got things to do.

🐶

Got new scents to smell

Got new patches of grass to roll in

Got things to do.

🐶

Got to eat my food

Got to beg for treats

Gotta be alert for crumbs that fall off the table, if I'm lucky

Got things to do.

🐶

Got to strain at my leash

Got to walk or run, until I am hot and thirsty

Got to drink water

Got things to do.

🐶

Got to jump on my favorite chair

Got to roll over for a tummy rub

Got tricks to perform

Got things to do.

🐶

Got to wag my tail

Got to run for cover, when it's bath time

Got to dash around madly, to shake the drops of water off my back

Got things to do.

🐶

Got to play with my toys

Got to be Shiva or Terminator with them

Got to show them who's boss

Got things to do.

🐶

Got to scratch the mat

Got to yawn or take a nap

Got things to do.

🐶

Got to growl at other dogs

Got to scare away those who come close to my food

Got to chase my tail

Got to roughhouse

Got things to do.

🐶

Got to pretend I like being dressed up

Got to pose for pictures

Got to stick my head out of the car and

feel my ears flap in the wind

Got things to do. 

🐶

Got to tilt my head 

Gotta do amusing things

Which elicit an "Awwww", or "OMG , so cute"

Gotta create What'sApp and Text Message and Tik Tok photo-worthy moments

Got things to do.

🐶

What's my favorite?

Wanna take a guess?

No competition - being with the one whose name starts with a T and ends with an A, and the one whose name starts with a J and ends with an H.

That's the very best.

🐶

Oh, that, and food!

Hint! Hint!

🐶

On behalf of all of man's people's best friends, wishing you a joyous Christmas season, and a very happy new year, with lots of love, including dog love. and cat love, which may be the best kind of love. Just saying. 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶