Monthly Archives: November 2018
A Time for Thanks
“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.” Cicero
Today, the 22nd of November, the United States will be celebrating one of the most popular holiday events, Thanksgiving, a festival of Gratitude, originally celebrated to honour the blessings of the harvest. Thanksgiving is celebrated in many countries, including Canada, Australia, Grenada, Liberia, Netherlands, Philippines, St Lucia. India has its own version with Pongal and Makar Sankranti in January.
The Fourth Thursday of November is a Thanksgiving festival that is not only prevalent in the United States but has become a secular event celebrated in many parts of the world, including our own.
Thanksgiving Feasts centre around cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends. While families give thanks to the Almighty for a good harvest and food on the table, many also remember others not as fortunate and extend generosity in the form of food
Christmas Cheer
“Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” Norman Vincent Peale
A few weeks more, and we will be at the threshold of the Festival that transmogrifies individuals and communities across races and faiths into cheerful, merry, altruistic, joyful beings. When Season’s Greetings and Christmas Wishes and Prayers, and Santa’s Secrets are blithely distributed in good spirits, amidst much merrymaking and reflection.
Over the decades, Christmas has become a cultural and social festival, as much as its cornerstone is religious. While it is universally known that Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, this day was commemorated as His birthday only in the 4th century by the Western Christian Church, following the Gregorian calendar. Some Eastern Christian Churches celebrate this day on January 7, as they follow the older Julian calendar.
Did you know
The Diwali Dazzle
And the most-awaited, most enthusiastically-celebrated festival that Indians of all faiths and communities participate in, Deepavali/Diwali is just around the corner! It’s dazzle times again!
The most literal association with the name – Deepavali – is of course, rows of diyas (lamps), which is a ubiquitous vision across the country. India on Diwali is a sight to behold, even when seen from space! As other nations retire for the night, India shines on, glittering in an array of lights, shunning darkness with a shower of illumination.
While Diwali symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, its origins are interesting varied and variegated. A popular legend names Diwali as the day Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya, after completing his exile, defeating Ravana, and returning home with Sita and Lakshmana. Another attributes Diwali to the night when Goddess Lakshmi wed Lord Vishnu, and thus Lakshmi Puja
Dining Room Dressing
“Dinner is better when we eat together.”
The dining space is a sacred one, revolving around food, family, friends and free-wheeling conversation warmed by the contentment of comfortably full stomachs. The stomach and the soul have a symbiotic relationship. When your stomach is happy, your soul is inspired.
Your dining room then, must be a place designed to elevate your senses and your soul!
Hence, when you think dining room, think furniture that is bespoke, customized, designed specifically for YOUR satisfaction, comfort, and preferred ambience.
Let’s look at some ideas for contemporary dining rooms. Many of us in today’s times, do not have the luxury of a separate dining room. It is often combined in an open-plan setting with a kitchen or living area. In some cases, it even doubles up as a work space. Consider all these factors when choosing the furniture, specifically the table and the chairs. If space is a constraint, opt for a round
Wow Workplace Décor Ideas
Many of us spend 1/3 or more of our 24 hours at the workplace. It behooves our soul and mind to beautify and elevate our workspace. Let us help you create an inspiring, rejuvenating, and calming ambience that will help you enjoy your day at work, even on those stressful days. After all, considering the number of hours we spend there, it’s almost like a second home. Having said that, one must balance the homely feeling of comfort with a professional business image. It is after all, your ‘work’ place!
Let’s start with a booster basic: your company’s mission or vision statement. If your company already has printed handouts, put one up in a prominent place on your softboard, or else print one and stick it up. It’s a great way to keep the big goal in mind and motivate yourself. Go one step further with a colourful letter size paper and write YOUR daily goals on that and put it up under the company’s vision/mission statement. Double-barrel motivation!