Simple Pleasures, Free for Takes

Simple Pleasures, Free for Takes

Pleasures are sought in various areas, sometimes even by paying a hefty sum. It all rests on the individual himself on how he /she seeks pleasure at leisure. Sometimes simple things that provide pleasure are overlooked in one’s haste to derive pleasure from other more expensive resources. Just a mere sight of a boat bobbing on the greenish blue waters, the sea gulls flocked together on the white foamy waves with a lone eagle in the sky eagerly seeking its prey can lift up one’s spirits and provide immense pleasure. These are landscapes which have no beginnings and no ends, they are visible to all as far as the eye can see, as they are painted by the Creator whose brush work soothes the eyes and relieves the minds of those who care to take time and look at the wonders of his creation. For those of us who are the observant type and can hold our attention patiently on a particular activity taking place can derive simple pleasures by just watching children at play. Apart from taking us on a journey back into our childhood, these little innocent angels can make us either laugh or go into deep introspection about a child’s nature and on how their minds work and perceive those around them, We can determine on who the leader of the group is and on how the others are taking to the task of being led. Dominance, subservience, timidity, team spirit is all at display for the patient observer. Seeing little kittens or puppies at play, frolicking atop the trees, indulging alongside to play hide and seek just like us the humans, occasionally being scolded by the mother cat when the play gets too exuberant is again a sight to behold. Many a times we find ourselves at a loss on not being able to decide what to do whenever we feel the need to be alone, bored with television, internet, reading etc. At times like this, just a leisurely walk around the house or by the beach or even on the street outside can provide one with simple pleasures, like the one’s mentioned above, the only thing required is an open mind for nature’s gifts, the rest is free. More simple pleasures arrive with the onset of Monsoons, when we soak ourselves in to the lush green landscapes dotted with colorful flora and fauna which is a sight to behold. The tiny rivulets of water , muddy puddles wherein the little ones let themselves go in gay abandon and set to sail dainty paper boats bringing about immense pleasures . Not to forget the child side of adults showing up when monsoons come when they feel overjoyed getting drenched is another form of simplest of simple pleasures that equates to none. Pleasures like these are for free, bestowed upon us humans by the Almighty, so let us make the most of them and thank him for his bounty. 

 

 

 

 

 

 By  Maria  Gorette  Sequeira

Living by the Coastline

Living by the Coastline

As the first light of dawn slowly trickles through  the green hills, crossing over the lush verdant  fields, bringing in a soft bluish green hue to the still water of the lakes and ponds and finally meandering towards the coastline, one is clearly able to see around , the dewdrops glitter akin to  tiny beads of jewels on almost everything . At this blissful  time around  when  we   happen to traverse to the shore  where  the   sea  meets   coast   to   coast ,  finding  our feet in for a treat as the soft cool sand caresses the   tender   soles with  the urge to   wade  in and soak  all  that  feels   salty. The Gods of the Sea know  what  it  feels    , when  the   water wets  feet  ;  irresistibly wanting  you to immerse  your entire  self  to  feel the bountiful  nature   up  close  and  so  very  near. There is a sense of togetherness, a different hue painted to the sky shimmering itself in the cool calming still waters of the morning and the  soulful  sea. Fringing the beach & its surrounds one finds   the  coconut trees to be still with their majestic fronds awakening  motionless to the call of the morning breeze  so  pleasant  making  you  feel  God touched  his  Hand  unto  you . Eyes do  not  miss few of  those  birds  up and about, welcoming the morning sun and its  rays doing  peek-a-boo  through the lush fronds making their way to the cool sea water and there one sees the Almighty Creator dipping his brush into the palette; painting a bright yellowish tinge to the blue green waters of the bountiful Sea. The Sun is then slowly seen journeying skywards   making    the mist disappear with its brightness and warmth. Soft rays of the sun bathe  down the earth as  far  as  the  eyes  can  see  in  to the far horizon   transforming  the dark night into a beautiful sunny morning.

Allow your Gaze to travel back to the      shore   and  what  is  seen  is  the  traditional fishing activity carried on  by the fishing community, who  go about doing their job   joyously  with  bubbling energy either humming a song or whistling  merry  making tunes  reminiscent  of  the  folklores. The catch is heaved up, consigned to bamboo baskets readied for shipment to the market or the factories. The nets are freed of all sea clutter and spread to dry in the morning sun before they are ready once again for the next fishing activity ;maybe later in the day or the next day.

The Dewy haze  is  seen  clearing  far in the distance  and  one can see other fishing boats and mechanized canoes out like  dots on the horizon and the sea gulls swooshing   down  taking  low  flights  converging in groups bobbing on the white foaming   sea , their light wings fluttering as they  greet   crests of   waves  upon  waves . The gentle rays of the sun warm the skin and the cool fresh salty tang of the sea breeze vitalizes senses like no other making one feel fresh & rejuvenated and ready to face the day and whatever it upholds. Luckily coastline dwellers are indeed blessed as they can experience the cool dawn of a new day as well, the cool orange sunset of a lovely evening or even the early caress of the dusk .The sea at all times is a thing of beauty which indeed is a joy forever.

By Maria  Gorette  Sequeira

"THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY"

"THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY"

       As the dark  ink  of the  of the night thins out   and the faint light of dawn is seen on the horizon,  us the early birds who are up and about, and ready to make the most of the day, and are lucky enough to see, hear and feel the new day taking birth slowly and beautifully. The light reddish hue of the sky far out into the  sea, heralds the new day and the world is  seen  treated to the sweet trills and chirps of the winged and feathered creatures  nestled  up in the trees, welcoming the day and in their own way thanking the heavenly creator  for  all  that  the  GOD  loves  much to  name  as  “earth” safe  through the  dark hours of  the   night . The dawn of a summer day will waste no time in letting the bright rays of the sun filter in over the mountains and through the treetops. The distant sounds of the cocks crowing and the coherent   responses  in  chorus  by the others of the same species have acted as a natural wake up call for humans through dawns of time . As the dawn  breaks  to the  sunny  self  and people go about their work, not so  natural sounds  silence  the others and merge in unison  in to the making of a beautiful  morning.

 
       Come dawn  and the  morning  has   sounds  so unforgettable  of which   the  one is of the bread man/baker, who , with  his bamboo basket stacked up with hot, soft and crusty delights of different shapes and sizes  cycles his way  to the houses. Come what  may !! It may be a cold chilly and foggy dawn of a  spine  chilling winter or it may be a cold rainy and stormy dawn in the monsoon or a warm dawn of the summer, this is another sound which never goes missing just like the sweet birds nestled  in  their   tree tops    or  taking  flights  of    gay  abandon .

       And  while   the  dawn  winks  gloriously ; some of us fitness freaks  ready ourselves   to embrace  the  day   by  embarking   on to   early morning walks or rather  engage    ourselves  and  the  bodies  in yogic asanas, and few of  the  others  who  feel spiritually attuned   are  seen    connecting   to the    creator    in obeisance in  a   deep meditation   ;or perhaps make their way to a nearby place of worship, some others whose mornings don’t   allow them   to  lay  back  are seen busy  caught  up in the  grind  . Some members of the student community are  seen sitting with their books making up for lost time and also making the most of the early morning freshness and alertness of the mind. For some of us a cool refreshing morning shower before getting dressed and ready to face the new day makes it worth the while.      

        Every dawn brings with itself a feeling of hope, of promises about to be fulfilled, of dreams about to be realized. None of us know what the latter part of the day might hold, it may make us happy beyond words or it may bring about unforeseen difficulties but since a  peep  in to the  future is not possible , let us at every dawn, like the birds in the sky, thank the Good Lord for the gift of a new born day and pray to him to help us make it a ‘Day’ more special than the previous one.