Tulsi – A tweet of nature

HG Wells opined I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.

That is exactly how I felt when I started enjoying Tulsi (Holy Basil) planted in my backyard. I tried my Tulsi tea, the flavor was so refreshing that it became my morning ritual. I became accustomed to respect Tulsi by bowing my head to its natural bounty and then tending it daily. The herb enriched my life and this is explained in a dreamy sequin below:

I was laying in my backyard with a warm mug of tea beside me, my ideal start to a day. Glancing around the backyard greens, a diamond shaped herb caught my eye, stopping over to smell it, I knew that it was familiar. Confirming from my better half, it was holy Basil or Tulsi. I just dropped a couple of washed leaves in my warm tea and the experience changed. The ordinary cup of tea seemed filled with sweet, fresh nature. I felt swept by glowing sun rays, humming fire flies similar to the types in the movie, Avatar. The cup seemed brewing the scents of the best in nature and it seemed to bring a warm embrace to my heart, giving a great start to my day.

Researching its health properties, my heartful emotional appreciation met with a rational checkmate. The ‘tulsi’ plant or Indian basil is an important symbol in the Hindu religious tradition. The name ‘tulsi‘ connotes “the incomparable one”. Tulsi is a venerated plant and Hindus worship it in the morning and evening. The tulsi plant is even known to purify or de-pollute the atmosphere and also works as a repellent to mosquitoes, flies and other harmful insects. Tulsi used to be a universal remedy in cases of malarial fever.

Here’re top fifteen medicinal uses of tulsi:
1. Healing Power: The tulsi plant has many medicinal properties. The leaves are a nerve tonic and also sharpen memory. They promote the removal of the catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tube. The leaves strengthen the stomach and induce copious perspiration. The seed of the plant are mucilaginous.
2. Fever & Common Cold: The leaves of basil are specific for many fevers. During the rainy season, when malaria and dengue fever are widely prevalent, tender leaves, boiled with tea, act as preventive against theses diseases. In case of acute fevers, a decoction of the leaves boiled with powdered cardamom in half a liter of water and mixed with sugar and milk brings down the temperature. The juice of tulsi leaves can be used to bring down fever. Extract of tulsi leaves in fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 hours. In between one can keep giving sips of cold water. In children, it is every effective in bringing down the temperature.
3. Coughs: Tulsi is an important constituent of many Ayurvedic cough syrups and expectorants. It helps to mobilize mucus in bronchitis and asthma. Chewing tulsi leaves relieves cold and flu.
4. Sore Throat: Water boiled with basil leaves can be taken as drink in case of sore throat. This water can also be used as a gargle.
5. Respiratory Disorder: The herb is useful in the treatment of respiratory system disorder. A decoction of the leaves, with honey and ginger is an effective remedy for bronchitis, asthma, influenza, cough and cold. A decoction of the leaves, cloves and common salt also gives immediate relief in case of influenza. They should be boiled in half a litre of water till only half the water is left and add then taken.
6. Kidney Stone: Basil has strengthening effect on the kidney. In case of renal stone the juice of basil leaves and honey, if taken regularly for 6 months it will expel them via the urinary tract.
7. Heart Disorder: Basil has a beneficial effect in cardiac disease and the weakness resulting from them. It reduces the level of blood cholesterol.
8. Children’s Ailments: Common pediatric problems like cough cold, fever, diarrhea and vomiting respond favorably to the juice of basil leaves. If pustules of chicken pox delay their appearance, basil leaves taken with saffron will hasten them.
9. Stress: Basil leaves are regarded as an ‘adaptogen’ or anti-stress agent. Recent studies have shown that the leaves afford significant protection against stress. Even healthy persons can chew 12 leaves of basil, twice a day, to prevent stress. It purifies blood and helps prevent several common elements.
10. Mouth Infections: The leaves are quit effective for the ulcer and infections in the mouth. A few leaves chewed will cure these conditions.
11. Insect Bites: The herb is a prophylactic or preventive and curative for insect stings or bites. A teaspoonful of the juice of the leaves is taken and is repeated after a few hours. Fresh juice must also be applied to the affected parts. A paste of fresh roots is also effective in case of bites of insects and leeches.
12. Skin Disorders: Applied locally, basil juice is beneficial in the treatment of ringworm and other skin diseases. It has also been tried successfully by some naturopaths in the treatment of leucoderma.
13. Teeth Disorder: The herb is useful in teeth disorders. Its leaves, dried in the sun and powdered, can be used for brushing teeth. It can also be mixed with mustered oil to make a paste and used as toothpaste. This is very good for maintaining dental health, counteracting bad breath and for massaging the gums. It is also useful in pyorrhea and other teeth disorders.
14. Headaches: Basil makes a good medicine for headache. A decoction of the leaves can be given for this disorder. Pounded leaves mixed with sandalwood paste can also be applied on the forehead for getting relief from heat, headache, and for providing coolness in general.
15. Eye Disorders: Basil juice is an effective remedy for sore eyes and night-blindness, which is generally caused by deficiency of vitamin A. Two drops of black basil juice are put into the eyes daily at bedtime.

Planting Tulsi Seeds in the Ground
• Step 1
Dig a ¼-inch-deep furrow in your garden soil with the edge of a garden hoe. The tulsi plants should be 12 inches apart when they’re mature, so the length of the furrow will depend on how many plants you plan to grow.
• Step 2
Drop two seeds per inch into the furrow. Cover with garden soil. Keep the furrow moist, watering at least twice daily, until sprouting occurs.
• Step 3
Thin the plants after they sprout so that there’s 12 inches between each one. Cut the seedlings off at ground level—do not disturb the soil by pulling them out.

I like the idea by Tennessee Williams : The goal of life is living in agreement with nature. as there is so much we get from nature, the interdependence is obvious. So it makes absolute sense that we spend time connecting with it and then caring for it with heart and mind.

Why is greed taking place of faith

How do you view money? Balance of greed and god, a good question for CEOs . The first principle they teach in business school is that purpose of business is to improve shareholder value, that is where we are wrong. We owe to society to make this planet a better place. First thing the consumers need to know is not to use their unearned money to spend on things they don’t need to impress the people they don’t like.

The basis of faith is giving, I pray to God and money will start flowing in that is not faith that is greed. It is a hard time for a lot of people and we must have compassion, Wall Street is paying its karmic hell. We call ourselves consumers, we are a conference of compassions, so focus on giving and love will flow in enriching our lives.

People who run Churches, people are beaten down and we need to help them so that they don’t get discouraged and not get sucked in to damage their prospects. The word prosper is to give a good life, good job, good relations, God has put gifts and talents in everyone to architect their lives. The love of money is the root of evil, where are your motives,to pay your unpaid bills, the belief that God is going to help you to reach there. What should our values be in regards to money, It is not to live in debt, live at the top of barrel. Be practical but hopeful. Don’t live to please everyone and be slave to money instead let money work for you.

Go Green for your holiday gift list

The Xmas time is here again and the shopping fever is sure to creep up on most of us. Here are some green ideas for making your gift giving list greener to save the planet and your pocket.

For Kids

• Gifting travel coffee mugs instead of open coffee mugs for Teachers gifts for your kids
• Board games made out of recyclable paper
• A solar-powered backpack for kids,
• Recycled stationery
• An eco-friendly snowboard or skateboard

For Friends

• Organic candles for friends,
• Homemade cookies and bakeries for family and friends in beautiful containers
• Eco-friendly jewellry for girl friends
• Holiday cards made out of recyclable paper,
• Even use of postcard instead of a regular card to save the paper
• Send  e cards for seasons’ greetings
• Eco-friendly handbags made from juice packaging, candy wrappers, labels, etc which would otherwise end up in landfills.
• Clothing made from recycles materials
• Vintage and antique jewelry found in ebay, and other online retail stores
• Gardening tools
• Books that advocate green living

So the saying that life looks greener on the other side of the fence should not be true when we integrate green into our lifestyles which helps us to make the most of our resources. As a result, we bring more attention and apprecaition in all our tasks by looking different and thoughtful. Green and Simple Living is about much more than recycling and conserving energy. It will do us tons of good if we focus ourselves to have healthy living, simplifying family life, reducing our carbon footprint, and tips to teach the next generation about sustainability and green living.

Free – What does it mean for you ?

There are  several thoughts that come to mind when we think of Free.
FREE is a marketing word to attract attention, a gimmick to lure customers to buy the products.
It holds value for the conservative lot who find value for money as the primary reason to buy.
While the wealthy, traditionally rich find it a needless technique to devalue a  otherwise great product. They find it worthwhile to buy if its price is high rather than dirt cheap.

The views are several but majority still feel that good value for money, a free deal or buy one get one free are the marketing vibes that they find irresistible. Do you remember a time when you received a free favor from someone just because you were so charming. I remember a free bus ride, some free coffee, a preferential treatment - and I didn’t even have to use my charms just a smile was enough. There is some level of satisfaction derived from such an emotion such as you are worth it. Your first impressions are great and resonate well enough to get you the best from the circumstances.

As is commonly heard that nothing in life is free but there is also a converse opinion that best things in life are for free. As we go through the events of life we remember that things that we really value come for free. Some examples to illustrate this viewpoint are as follows:

the parents you are born to or
the husband you are destined to spend your life with,
the friends and close connections you make,
the memories of rolling in the sand in childhood or
the memories of that beautiful trip you made along with your cousins in the valleys of Ladhak or Pahalgam in the lap of Kashmir.
So in that sense it seems likely that the best things of life are for free. Also the things that are well earned get you some of those free thrills as an outcome. Remember that expensive but sexy dress that got you so much attention for free. Or several hours hands of time clock that gave you the well earned success and got you appreciation and made you an inspirational icon in several hundred eyes for free. So in the end we conclude that the word free is a other side of the coin for well earned. The things that are well earned get you some more valuable outcomes for free. The thing to remember however is that those you count pennies never make millions….

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Fluency in nonverbal communication can be as powerful a tool as masterful negotiating techniques or expert salesmanship. The starting point, he says, is what he calls “personal curbside appeal.” Project yourself as a confident, welcoming person, and your clients, colleagues and bosses will be attracted to you, keen on doing business with you and on promoting you within your organization.

Curbside appeal has several components, starting with looks. Tidy, neat, conservative clothes are preferable, Navarro says. A good rule of thumb: mirror, don’t shock. “Observe how upper management dresses, and follow their lead,” he advises. “Casualness can kill credibility.” Unless, that is, you work in a place where the top brass wear jeans and polo shirts, like, say, CBS Studios in Hollywood, where you may be the only person in a suit.

Gestures go a long way in conveying your personal message. One of the most appealing: Stand with your head slightly tilted and your hands clasped, and with a smile and a gaze that meets the other person’s. The head tilt exposes the neck and says, “I am listening, I am comfortable, I am receptive,”. By contrast, if you touch your neck or cover the dimple at the base of it, you’re saying you are uncomfortable, insecure or concerned.

Click here for the full article….

Reasons to celebrate November

November is a month that falls between October ( a month of many festivals like Thanksgiving, Halloween, Diwali, etc) and December (the Christmas month). So what then makes November special?

There are in my view many reasons to love November also  fondly called Movember. Men choose this month to grow their moustaches to celebrate their masculinity. It is called month of moustache. Reasons for growing moustache may vary from charity to making a fashion statement. Whatever the reason some corporate offices use this tradition for promoting charity and make it a fun event for little or no price.

It also marks the end of fall so the trips to see beautiful fall colors happen with a feverish last minute urgency. November is also the month when we start our Christmas decorations and marks the beginning of Christmas excitement. Deck the halls with rolls of holly la la la la la la la la.

The joyous feeling of  holidays coming up fast, American Thanksgiving coming up in a couple weeks there’s tons to celebrate in November. It by default becomes one of my favorite times of the year, from fall through Christmas I really enjoy all the decorating, baking, and crispness in the air this time of year.

It engages us in lovely plans for the holidays, and everything that goes with it. The month kick starts everything up with things you can celebrate in November. The following are some of wonderful reasons to rejoice this month:

• November 10th Sesame Street celebrates their 40th anniversary
• November 11th is Remembrance Day, celebrate the veterans in your life.
• November 17th is World Peace Day
• November 18th is Mickey Mouses Birthday
• November 21st is the official day the Pilgrims landed in 1620
• November 22nd is National Adoption Day
• November 26th is Thanksgiving Day in the USA

What do you have to celebrate during the month of November? One hint is to spend the month gearing up for Thanksgiving, then Christmas and New Years. There are several things to do ahead of time to prepare, so to get  things out of the way so one can coast through the holidays.

Cheers for November and all the good beginnings of the holiday cheer it brings with it.

Winter Driving – Preparation is the key

November is a month when we prepare ourselves for the chilly winters.  We can continue into the coldest season of the year unprepared at our own risk.

Some tips on how to keep safe on the road and stay alive if the going gets tough.
VISIBILITY
To have visibility during winter weather conditions, it is important to have right necessities available. Keep a snow brush and ice scrapper in your vehicle at all times during winter months. If you car is parked outdoors often, invest in a winter windshield cover to keep snow, frost and ice off of your windshield.

Always keep an extra wind shield fluid in the trunk and top it up for extreme temperatures.

CHECK-UP
Prior to the start of any season, make an appointment to have your vehicle fully serviced, especially prior to winter when weather elements can affect many performance elements of the vehicle. Have your battery and charging system checked to ensure it will have enough power to start the car on cold mornings. Check wiper blades for signs of wear and cracking and replace if necessary. Better yet, change to heavy -duty winter blades like teflon wiper blades. Also extreme cold is hard on engine oil. An oil change and new filter are good ideas for teh change in season.

PACK A VEHICLE EMERGENCY KIT
Keep the following on hand in your car, in the event you are stuck or stranded.
Cellphone with handsfree option.
Emergency car starter.
Gloves and hat
Shovel
Flashlight
Jumper cables
OR you could join a association such as Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) who help you anytime anywhere by giving your car a booster charge, or a battery change or tow your car to a desired location for further check up. It can be a real friend in the time of dire need for it is not easy or practical to do things when the weather conditions are so adverse.

Warming up
Canadian winters can be bitterly cold, so warming up your car is essential. Depending on where you live 60 seconds is all you need. According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), warming up your car for more than 60 seconds can be expensive, insufficient and harmful waste of fuel.
NRcan has more driving tips at vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca

S o lets gets ready for a safe winter. Wishing you all a safe and prosperous winter.

Effective Communication

Life is unfair, succeed anyway!

If you can IMAGINE it, you can ACHIEVE it…… if you can DREAM it, you can BECOME it….!
You should fill your life with experiences not excuses. I am sure we have complained or heard someone complain on how unfair life is. However, one has to wonder how people succeed despite life being unfair. Life teaches you some painful lessons. But it is from adversity that strength is born. You may have lost the innings, but you’ll win the game. Everyone has to face challenges in his or her life, but it is the way the individual handles a challenging situation makes a person successful or not. There are many case studies before us of people who had to beat the odds to get success.

Some of the examples of women are Shanaaz Hussain, queen of herbal beauty products, created a beauty products empire by scratch all by herself, beating the odds that she was a Muslim woman in a male dominated world. She created a niche for herself being a smart entrepreneur full of enthusiasm and passion for work. Oprah, Michael Obama, Sonia Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto, Aishwarya Rai are other examples of powerful women who have become icons, a power house on their own. These individual’s contributions to the society has made them famous but imagine, if they had spent their time complaining on how unfair life has been for them.
We all know that the world is not perfect. There are many injustices in the world and make us feel that life is not being fair to us. Fighting injustice is a noble cause, but fighting against it may make the injustice stronger. The key is to know how to fight injustice and one way is to make injustice irrelevant by learning to work over it, around it, through it and make it irrelevant. The concept of eye to eye is one way of fighting injustice in the world, but the result is both parties involved lose and the world becomes a terrible place to live.
Alternatively, if we work on identifying the root cause that makes the many injustices in the world and come up with creative ways to make injustice irrelevant, we can say that we can succeed in spite of life bring unfair.

For example think of a person who has just lost his job in recession. He could spend his time complaining about how life has been unfair to her by taking away his job. Instead, he preps himself for the next job. Builds on his strengths, creates a network of people who can share and appreciate his work. He thinks of giving back to community when he has just lost his way of making a living.
Terry Fox created a legacy of opting to run across Canada in spite of having Cancer. Just as Helen Keller (American author, lecturer, political activist) showed the world that being deaf and blind didn’t deter a person from achieving unprecedented success in life. All these examples illustrate the point that problems are actually opportunities in disguise.
Success examples are not limited to only a few people but we can apply the principles to our lives/ situation.
In these tough economic times it is common for people to lose their jobs however, the ones who accept the environment changes without complaining can bounce back fast. Mr. A lost his job during recession. He was very upset and conclude that life is not fair to him because he was the chosen one! While it is normal to feel this way when you lose your job, the only problem was that Mr. A did not get over this feeling and got into a habit of complaining about everything. Over a period of time Mr. A became known as a complainer and even friends who wanted to help him did not feel like it. Mr. A remained unemployed even when the economy turned around. Instead of complaining we have to learn to deal with the challenges in a positive manner. Instead of complaining we should take a step back and examine the whole situation and take action to live life to the fullest by facing the challenges that come our way with courage and determination. We have to remember that despite the fact that life is full of unfairness and inequity there are many workable and creative ways to rise above the negative circumstances. Stop complaining and just move forward!

Summer Expectations

Summer is a time for giving tribute to nature, lush green gardens and parks, humming butterflies and birds sashaying through the sky, laughter of the kids ringing through the parks, – all this elevates our soul from our petty thoughts. At this time desire for hitting outdoors and seeking out adventures is heightened.

It is a time for camping, hiking, soliciting the beeches, vacationing, making up for the hibernation in the winters. Some people like to indulge in something out of the box say archery or fishing while others like the great weather for shopping, camping out with friends, swimming, etc. Only regret is that this time of the year doesn’t last long. Even now we’re just waiting for summers to come. The temperatures are still hovering around 15-20 degrees. We are still waiting for the hike in temperatures to 30s to enjoy summer activities. In Canada, especially we celebrate this season as it is so short and when it does come the time just flies. However, people don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy. The importance of summer in Canada can be explained by the following analogy: Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer’s year – it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.

But too high expectations can lead to disappointments. So intermix the expectations of summer with the balance of play and work. Let the quest for fun not dim the light of learning. Make goals and turn them into a reality. So the overall satisfaction is ensured and a balance is attained.

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