31 March 2013

What is beauty?



 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder… or is it really? That is one thing to reflect upon. People’s life nowadays depends so much on the opinion of others that they forget their unique individuality. They just want to be modeled into a person that others like. For that they are prepared to go to such lengths such as ravage every inch of their god given body! There are only a few of us who have mastered the art of true confidence in themselves. Those are the people among us who do not care about what others think about their looks or achievements. They just want to continue doing what they love. Such people live a life that I  used to envy… a life of non- conformity. Most of us live by the unwritten rulebook of society. We have this intense desire to conform even if we might feel otherwise. Is it the thought of censure and condemnation that keeps us from expressing our desires and actual opinions or is it just the feeling of simple embarrassment or humiliation about the ideals that each of have? Nobody wants to acknowledge it but everybody has those little insecurities that just won’t go away. The lucky people manage to overcome these things and establish a happy life for themselves. Then comes the not so lucky people who live their life in doubt and insecurities, forever trying to live up to a goal or fill in somebody else’s large shoes. It is easy for a person to sit there and criticize such people but what they don’t realize is that such a person usually has a warped self-image which cannot take such battering. Such people work toward looking good on the outside so that they can try to fill up the empty spaces in life. How quick we are to judge a person of good looks as having everything easy in their life because of it when most likely that person cannot trust anybody? What about attributing a name tag immediately for someone who is not that fortunate on the side of physical appearance? You people must have heard it a thousand times that beauty matters when it is from the inside but nobody really pays attention to it. What is the use of having great beauty when you are just a tarnished and empty shell inside? If the people you have in your life are only in it because of that superficial need? If all you have is based on your looks, what remains when you are old and haggard? Am not asking people to totally disregard their beauty products and numerous other dubious things because most probably you guys wouldn’t listen and secondly I don’t particularly feel like being murdered by the cosmetic companies! All I ask is to not hide behind a painted face. Realize that you have a beauty that comes from within you and no matter what anybody says they cannot take it from you. That is one of your secret weapons and a mile marker on the very long road to success.

THE EASTER STORY


THE EASTER STORY
                                 -Nina M
(Edited version from the Goa times)

Easter is rich in symbolic meaning; centuries-old traditions have been passed on from one generation to another and these continue to be observed to this very day. It is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This explains the mystery of how the date for this festival is derived.

Not many are aware of the fact that the modern English term Easter developed from the old English word Easter, which itself developed prior to 899. The name refers to goddess Easter, who in Germanic paganism, was celebrated at the spring equinox.

Prior to the feast the faithful observe 40 days of Lent. These preparatory days are marked by fasting, penance and abstinence. It is a period of meditation, a time of reflection and renewal of oneself.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday. On the evening of Holy Thursday, the church enters into the Easter Tridumm, comprising of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

It was on Maundy Thursday many centuries ago, that Christ shared His body and blood with his disciples at the event written down as the Last Supper. With the symbolic breaking of bread and wine, the Lord ‘sealed God’s covenant’ and the holy sacrifice of his own life for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind.

The scene then shifts to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus took his disciples to pray; it was the night before His death. The hour had come when the Son of Man would be betrayed. As He was praying, Judas, the traitor identified Jesus to the soldiers. Jesus was then taken to the High priests and other officials at the time for the final judgment to be passed. Thus began his long and arduous journey to Cavalry, the place of crucifixion. These incidents took place on Good Friday. Though no mass is celebrated on this day, at the evening service, the Holy cross is adored, prayers are said and the entire story of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection is read. This day has led to many traditions. In Goa, for instance, the crucifixion scene is played out with the crucifixion of the statue and later the statue of the crucified Jesus is brought down from the cross and taken into procession.

In the evening, Christ was taken down from the cross and laid in his tomb. The church marks this time with a period of silence. Holy Saturday, as it is referred, is a day of meditation. Later that night, the church prepares for the resurrection of the Lord, before the mass, Easter vigils are held. At this point, the fire is blessed and the Paschal candle is lit. At the mass, the baptismal water is blessed and the baptismal water is blessed and baptismal vows renewed. At twelve, bells ring out with the joy and the congregation sings in praise; all proclaim the good news of the Lord’s resurrection.

In Goa, during the days following Easter, the priests visit each Catholic home and bless them. This happens in parishes across Goa.

With Christ’s death, He brought new life; with his resurrection, he opened the doors of salvation and fulfilled the promise of God the Father.

As ancient writer once wrote, “ As God created wonders even from the impossible, so that we will that only He can do as He wishes: From his death proceeds our life, from his wounds our healing, from his fall our resurrection, from his descent our rising up.”
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYBODY!!
 


Snippets




I love hearing legends, myths and the stories that exists in today’s world. Things and stories which have been passed on for generations have a strange allure and fascination for me. Many of us celebrate a variety of festivals without knowing its significance and are also in the dark about the origins of various legends so from now on I am going to post any stories or origins of festivals that I come across. Stay informed people! :)

14 March 2013

Post exams!!

What a good feeling it is to be back!! feels like i haven't written for ages!! first of all check out the following things!
7 DROPS TO AMAZING HAIR AND SKIN!!  TRUST ME I HAVE TRIED!
http://platinumbubble.blogspot.in/2013/02/miracle-glow.html

CHECK OUT THE  5 BEST DRESSES WORN TO THE OSCARS!
http://crystaldragon8.blogspot.in/2013/02/top-5-oscar-dresses-2013.html

WHO SAYS CURLZ ARE UNMANAGEABLE?!!
http://platinumbubble.blogspot.in/2013/02/diva-curls.html

ALL THE REAL DELENA FANS MUST READ!!
http://crystaldragon8.blogspot.in/2013/02/the-vampire-diaries-season-4-episode-14.html

THE BEST SITE EVER!!
http://theoatmeal.com/

LIVEN UP YOUR DAY BY A QUIRKY HAIRSTYLE!!
http://crystaldragon8.blogspot.in/2013/02/cute-ways-to-liven-up-boring-hair.html

MY FRIEND HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS! NOW I KNOW WHAT SHE IS TALKING ABOUT!!
http://www.crunchybetty.com/

Check all of them out! its worth it!:)

7 March 2013

I Don't Know Why...



What do you do when a person you trust repeatedly makes mistakes? Do you stop them? Or do you ignore it because the person means a lot to you? Why is it that people keep making the same mistakes again and again while pretending it is not the same? Why is it that they cannot listen to the voices of reason that tells them not to do it? Why do they see the people who love them as their enemies? What is it that makes them blatantly lie about their lives? What is it that makes them betray people that are closest to their heart without thinking about the consequences? Do they really think that every single time they will be forgiven? Is it because they are taken back into the person’s life and given multiple chances? Why is it that some people who pretend to be truthful are actually the ones who are the biggest liars? Why is it that they who have the guts to tell the whole world what they think cannot do it face to face with the people close to them? Why do they have a hard time accepting reality? Why is it that they want to live a life being oblivious? Is it because reality is so much harsher? At the end of the day it’s each one for themselves with most people. It all comes down to the fact that the people you believe to be there for you when you need them the most turn out to be the ones that are the biggest deceivers from all. They pretend to offer support and advice and say all flowery speeches about how they will always be there for you and make you want to believe in them but deep down you know that they will betray you. They turn out to be the biggest hypocrites…the biggest disappointments and sometimes the biggest loss.