Top Ten Books that I love

You would be aware of the book list challenge that was recently doing the rounds on Facebook.  For those of you who aren't aware, the challenge is simply this: In a few minutes, without thinking, you have to list the top 10 books that stayed with you in some way, those which you love :) After that you have to tag ten of your friends to continue the chain.

I got a chance to make my list, thanks to my friend Olympia who tagged me. And I decided to blog about the same, just because I want to share it with a wider audience.

Before I list the books, I would like to mention that these books may not be literary masterpieces or impressive books. But they are all personal favourites that have touched my heart and stayed with me in some way. After each book in the list, I have included a description too! Here goes:

1. Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling
Simply the best books I've ever read so far in my life! No description needed. Enough said :)

2. The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho
A thought provoking book that showcases the personality of a woman as described by the perceptions of different people. Loved it.

3. Idle Hours by R.K Laxman
Simple yet heartwarming writing makes this one delightful to read. It is a collection of short stories, anecdotes, travelogues and essays.

4. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
A touching and compelling tale that tugs at my heartstrings for the tragedy of it all.

5. Message in a bottle by Nicholas Sparks
A story that speaks of love and loss, and of fate. I like it because I'm a romantic at heart!

The Concept of 'Me' Time

Work has consumed all the time in my life. I've been busy, but surprisingly I've kind of enjoyed it. Whatever leisure time I get has been translated into sleeping time because at the end of the day I'm exhausted and can't bring myself to do anything else.

But I really miss 'me' time. I personally feel that 'me' time is something everyone should have daily for atleast 15 to 30 minutes. If that's not possible, you can translate a weekend/ holiday into a 'me' day. It's pure bliss, I tell you! 'Me' time is a concept I vouch for. 

But what is it?

'Me' time can include any activity that makes you happy- be it a hobby, idleness, putting thoughts on paper, being pampered (or pampering oneself), etc. The focus should be on personal fulfillment or pleasure. Your thoughts and feelings should hold centre stage. ( it is okay to be selfish once in a while)You will be lost from this world and all your worries will be left behind. The point is that you should have a good time, feel peaceful and emerge refreshed at the end of  'me' time. It will lead to an increase in your productivity and happiness levels.

Life's Little Pleasures

Experiencing the little pleasures is merely about being attuned to life.

Take the time to enjoy the little pleasures of  life. Here are a few of many:

(in a random order)

• eating roadside pani puri!
• getting completely drenched in the rain and enjoying it
• both the above at the same time :)
• having a big cup of calorific ice - cream and making no bones about it
• drinking/eating any cold stuff when you already have a bad cold or after you get drenched in the rain
• giving your seat to an old lady in a crowded bus
• watching kids playing in the beach
• looking at old photographs
• catching up with an old friend after a long time
• finishing any work that was tedious and time- consuming
• being pampered 
• knowing that if something goes wrong, your loved ones are there for you
• being in love

Take a Chill Pill!

" When life gives you lemons...... make lemonade "

This simple, age old saying indicates that you can make the best of what you're given.

It is entirely in your hands.

(You can even sell the lemons on e-bay or squirt the lemon juice in life's eye!)

You are the deciding authority on your life. You can chose to be happy or sad, but only YOU can control it.

Never allow any external circumstance to control you. The power to self control lies within you!

Don't let worries or problems overwhelm you. You have one life after all and you might as well live it to the fullest. (unless you believe in life after death!)

The Joy of Reading

" Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." 

                                                                                                 -Charles W. Eliot

There are some things in life that I enjoy doing and one of them is 'reading'. 

Reading is an activity that can offer both information and pleasure. But it depends entirely on what you read.

If you read useless and trashy stuff, then you wouldn't benefit from reading.

However, if you read books of value, it is an entirely different story altogether.

If you have been reading for a long time now, you would know that benefits would always come to those who read, as long as they read the right stuff. In some cases the person may not be consciously aware of the advantages, but he/she will definitely realize them in the long run.

"The art of reading is in great part that of acquiring a better understanding of life from one's encounter with it in a book."  

                                                                       -André Maurois

For those of you who are averse to reading, I'm now going to list a few (out of many) benefits of reading. This is a small attempt on my part to get you folks to join the reading bandwagon.

Here goes:

A Bevy of Thoughts

The human mind is a complex machine. Its intricacies haven't been understood completely by man. It is difficult to comprehend how it functions. Yet it remains the most powerful in the human body. It can fill your head with millions of random thoughts a day.  At the same time, it can also help classify the thoughts in a systematic manner. In addition, it can help you retain the necessary thoughts while the rest are discarded or stored somewhere deep down (so that they can be accessed in future-if and when the need arises).

Vacation Diary

Hi!

There's no better time of the year than the summer holidays.Who doesn't want to take a little (or big)vacation and chill out for a while?

That's exactly what I did. after completing my MBA course in Chennai,the next step was a JOB. But I decided that before taking up a job,I needed a break!After 18years of education,I wanted to relax before moving to the next phase of life.So, i came straight home to Visakhapatnam.I've been home for two and a half months now and I've had loads of fun.

I incorporated some ideas to help me spend my leisure time.Some were girly, some practical and some downright silly, but nevertheless, they were enjoyable.

The things I did:

Got a license: I applied for a car driving learners license which seemed a practical option. I practiced driving daily and will take the test soon.

Had a haircut: Summer season made my hair unmanageable.So I opted for a new haircut. 

Cleaned my room:  My room was quite messy and boring, so i thoroughly cleaned it up and decorated it a bit.