I could write about politics. No ! I will write a novel, maybe I should be writing a film review, or better still be participating in a debate or a story telling workshop.. I let that all pass, because official notes and draft letters are within my writing purview, so is blogging but the aforesaid mentioned are beyond my grasp. I will stick to what I can do best and no prizes for guessing that.

On that note, I begin. Today the 16th of June, Circa Two thousand and fifteen, I resolve to stay close to the topic and so even as I will write, I will keep reminding myself..." Please remember the topic "..." Oh ! dear !...do not stray away from what you wish to say.." Please, that is not the subject."

So, dear friends how do you begin your day ? If you are past fifty, it must be pretty tough to get out of bed, right ? At the crack of dawn with the sound of joints creaking and cracking what is foremost in your mind ? Is it exercise ? If so, you are on the right track. Get into those track suits and start running.

If you are up daily, groggy and grumpy faced, you were probably tossing all night singing

करवटें बदलते रहे,

 सारी रात हम,

आप की कसम,

आप की कसम with a background score, a medley of

सो जा राजकुमारी.....

सो जा....

सो जा राजकुमारी.....

सो जा...... and a modern remix of

नींद ना मुझे को आए,

दिल मेरा घबराए and

निंदिया ना आए........

निंदिया ना आए हाये

रैना बीती जाए .........leaving you wide awake for the rest of the night.

So, Please turn off the gadgets and sleep well.

Having doctors at home helps. They reassure me saying that most of the creaking sounds are harmless provided one is physically active. I am relieved and I ponder...Hmmmm !..." What better song for staying agile throughout the day, than this favourite one ? "...

উর্দ্ধও গগনে বাজে মাদল.

নিম্নে উতলা ধরণী তল.

ওরুণ প্রাতের তরুণ দল.

চলরে, চলরে, চল

চল ! চল ! চল  ...or even this one...

জাগো তুমি জাগো !

জাগো দুর্গা ! জাগো, দশ প্রহরণ ধারিনী!

অভায়া শক্তি ভালো প্রদাযিনি তুমি জাগো!

জাগো ! তুমি জাগো !

or a …मेरा नाम चिन चिन चू

चिन चिन चू बाबा चिन चिन चू......

रात चाँदनी, मैं और तुम.. ..Hello ! Mr, How do you do ? :-):-)

That motivates me to get up, stay brisk and active. I start my day with the filter coffee and I prepare the brew with the Rama Nama chant on my lips. I would not mind singing.." Ay malik tere bande hum, aise ho hamare kadam "...... but that would be a distraction to a better half who sings well and loves old Tamil melodies. I allow him to sing..

.Ayya Murugaiya...Murugaiya Kandhaiya...

or...

Thirupparangkunraththil Nee Siriththaal Murugaa

Thiruththani Malai Meedhu Edhirolikkum

Thirupparangkunraththil Nee Siriththaal Murugaa

Thiruththani Malai Meedhu Edhirolikkum…..

That's how you go about doing the morning chores. Ok !...Sing, do a chore which you are compelled to, sing and do a job you love. I love to cut veggies but I hate the cleaning work..So, in between cutting veggies and the cleaning, I tune into Vividh Bharati or listen to Saavn....

That's morning activity sorted out. Right !

Alternating smartly between tasks you love to do and tasks that you are forced to do, is the key to keeping your cool. The intervening period gives you the scope to do what you want . So please do destress and make best use of the time available.

Get going, go out into the garden, take a stroll in the park, admire the greenery and come back right in to continue from where you had left. Now you may sing... मधुबन  खुशबू देता है, सागर सावन् देता है...जीना उसका जीना है जो औरों को जीवन देता है...

Dear friends,

Stay healthy, Keep smiling, Stay positive, keep moving and sing along…..

सायोनारा सायोनारा

वादा निभाऊँगी सायोनारा

इठलाती और बलखाती

कल फिर आऊँगी सायोनारा.

सायोनारा, सायोनारा