Meaningful words.

Express Yourself: Do you love to dance, sing, write, sculpt, paint, or debate? What’s your favorite way to express yourself, creatively?


Like every other living creature I like to express myself. Although, the changing world requires you to keep your thoughts to yourself because anyone can be offended for any reason, we still support the right and freedom of expression. Which ever way one chooses they can put their thoughts to meaningful words. That is the beauty of languages.

However, The painful and disappointing truth is that not everyone enjoys this so called birth right. I do not even want to touch the parts of the world and what all goes on there. But I wrote that just to remind myself of the many things that I tend to take for granted whilst we all should be grateful for it, for things are not the same for everyone, sadly.

Coming onto me, I do not dance, I do not sing (in public), I do write, I can not sculpt (in a million years), I do not paint as frequently, but I do debate – I like starting a dialogue and voicing my opinions, when ever it seems appropriate.

I adore dancers and singers, also painters, sculptors and writers. I grouped them on the basis of the medium they require to express themselves. Dancers and singers use their bodies only. It is the voice, the gestures, the movements and the emotions that these talented people use. The latter group uses their imagination and hands. But one thing common to the both groups is their perspective.

For one, they need to be inspired as that is their fuel but once inspired they create something entirely based on their own perspective. What I am trying to point out is the fact that how artists do not necessarily feel the need to relate to others. It is in the hands/eyes of the audience/consumer/critic to not only behold the beauty, but take what they choose/want to take form it. It is freedom in its true form here, artists leave it to us to dig deeper and decipher the meaning.

And as I like to write, I like to speak (a lot, actually, I just need to get started once). In speaking or writing, the use of words is primary, which is naturally followed by the nonverbal cues. But there is no way one could say “I hate you” with a smile and it would not be taken seriously. Hate is a heavy word.

Words have effect because they are easily understood. I could utter a profanity in a foreign language and still those who would pay attention would get the idea because, words are easily felt. In my opinion they are the easiest, most basic form of expression and a perfect example of the freedom of expression. Meaningful words bring meaning to life (we should choose them wisely).

(Breeze driftin’ on by you know how I feel) I’m feeling good.

Can’t Drive 55:  Take the third line of the last song you heard, make it your post title, and write for a maximum of 15 minutes. GO!


The last song that I heard was Skrillex – bangarang feat. Sirah, but the one that I paid more attention to was sung by a contestant, in a singing competition, on the telly. He sang I got you (I feel good) by James Brown. A really good song that catches your attention in a matter of seconds – Captivating!

Later while checking the prompt I searched for the lyrics of the song to cross check the exact third line, but the web-search suggested that I should check out Michael Buble’s cover of the song – I’m feeling good. So, naturally I could not resist myself from listening to the “awesome-sauce” original version of this song sung by Nina Simone.

Now that is called a good prompt. And in keeping with the fifteen minute challenge I won’t write much. However, here are the first few lines of the song:

Birds flying low you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by you know how I feel.

(I guess this is the chorus)
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me yeah
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for meeeeee…
Ooh And I’m feeling good.

The way she sings “breeze” is so magical, actually her voice is. No it is the whole song, just transcendental. The lyrics are so simple yet sung with such passion that you can feel it inside you. Each word in the lyrics hits that right spot and makes you simply relate to it.

And that folks, is what music should do for/to you… take you to your happy place.You can enjoy the song, you can take the lovely message, but it is the instrumental and the voice that you will never forget.

I love this one, it makes me feel good because it is a new dawn, a new day and a new life for me after I’m done listening to this song (haha) it makes me feel good. And for a change, I can actually listen to some vocals and not just some loud instrumental with repetitive chorus that a lot of fellows, of my age-group, seem to enjoy these days.

Link to Nina Simone’s song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Y11hwjMNs.

Gardens

Three Coins in the Fountain: Have you ever tossed a coin or two into a fountain and made a wish? Did it come true?


Have I ever seen a fountain? Oh yeah, that one time at that garden – I remember. Actually, fountains are pretty rare on this side of the world and the ones that do exist are more or less gifts from our ancestors previous rulers, like the famous Mughal gardens. Oh, the architecture, the planning, the beauty!! Well in short everything about them is stupendous.

Everyone knows the Taj mahal, but the garden adjacent  to it kind of gets over shadowed by the gigantic yet mesmerizing marble structure – it literally shadows the entire garden. Anyhow, these Mughal style gardens that are based on Persian architecture are scattered all over the northern regions (not so sure about the southern) and are definitely a thing of beauty during the sprig season.

Some of these (or may be even all of these) gardens are under special care and supervision. They are opened on a particular season for the common people to hang around and it is the only opportunity for them to take in the captivating beauty of nature’s creation coupled with an artisans vision. And that is where once, in year long time can, can a person see a fountain – worth seeing that is.

This brings me to the answer of the prompt – no I have not littered a fountain with coins. Fountains are not common here, let alone people throwing money in them. And when something like this beautiful comes under the protection of the state, well you do not dare to breathe near the fountain – forget about throwing stuff at it. You get the idea.

Although, I love the sentiment behind wishing upon a fountain. It just proves that hope goes long way in shaping our perspective. If you have thrown a coin in a fountain and wished upon it, like everybody else, and believed that you would receive your miracle, time would be the only thing between you and your wish coming true. Never stop believing!!

Now, of many pictures that somehow got deleted, one is left. Here is a fountain at a Mughal garden.

mughal_delhi