When you say nothing at all, you scare me. Say something, I cannot see you mum. I can no longer tolerate you silence. Scold me, beat me but do not stay silent. You know I love you, don't punish me like this. 

It was too late he read the note and she was gone forever!

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

Book Title: My Stroke of Luck, Alphabet to Author

Author: Vijay Santhanam

Genre: Inspirational

Publication: Hay House

Pages: 231

Price: INR 299

Life takes a twist when something unexpected happens and one requires a lot of courage to accept the reality and move on with it. When I received the book and before I opened it, the title of the book made me think what the book can be about? Would it be gaining wealth through luck and how is alphabet related to an author.

The author explains how his health conditions were prior to stroke and the symptoms of it. Had he been not ignorant of the symptoms, there were chances that he would not have not had a stroke. He was admitted to the hospital at Singapore at a right time by his wife.

Vijay writes in detail how his condition was at hospital and how his head went blank when he could not understand what was going on and why he was on a hospital bed. Most of us use the left brain and hence the right side of the body is more used. When a stroke occurs, the left brain is affected and he loses the ability to speak or even reason. He could not recognize the numbers nor the alphabets, post stroke.

The author also explains how essential it is necessary to take care of oneself in such conditions. He once fell off the bed in hospital and it required others assistance to lift him and put him to the bed. Ever since then, he made sure, he would be more cautious and be careful of the surroundings.

Most of us get into depression and keep thinking of "what has happened" or "Why did it happen to me?", "What wrong had I done to others, that the almighty is punishing me." I am sure most of us would crib and cry when such a thing happens. And worse happens, when your family and friend, remind you and convey a "sorry, it shouldn't have happened to you", the more it hurts than what has actually happened. But here, the author says, he never thought of the past or questioned the almighty, "why it happened to me". There are many people who undergo a stroke but do not have sufficient financial fund to pay off their medical bills or afford for physical therapies. He thanks his family and friends for being supportive during his recovery phase. They never let him feel low or made him feel that he was helpless.

Last but not the least, it is the will power that makes a person achieve what he wants. If your will power is strong, then nothing can stop you from overcoming the major difficulties in life. The answer lies within one's self. Its left to an individual, on how they face the challenge in life.

The author has written using simple vocabulary and provides an easy reading. The book is on similar lines as the book: Tuesdays with Morrie which is based on a professor who is diagnosed an incurable disease and how he copes up with the harsh reality.

About the author:
Vijay Santhanam graduated from IIT, Roorkee and IIM-A. He has worked in major corporate sectors like P&G and BP. He is the co-author of books, If Cricket is a Religion, Sachin is God (2009) and The Business of Cricket: The Story of Sports Marketing in India(2011). He currently lives in Singapore.

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia


Malaysian stamps
This is my first postcard from Malaysia. 

I love reading books and whenever I find a new released book, I buy them. The hobby has grown to such an extent, that, I now have more than 200 books in my library. Just arranging the books into the shelf on a Sunday morning.

Its my second card this week and second one from Ukraine. The first postcard I received this week on a Monday, 1st of July. The postcard depicts the Ukrainian Dance.

Ukrainian Dance

Ukraine Postage depicting hen and rabbit

We, three friends, caught up for lunch after a long time. We have been friends for more than a decade and wanted to order something apart from potato chips which is commonly called French Fries in Bangalore. And ended up ordering onion rings. I love Onion Rings when served hot as an evening snack or a starter. I admired the way onion is chopped into rings and fried. All us of smiled having burnt the lips while eating the hot rings. :)

Stamps are interesting with the towers, leaves and I guess the men are the priests

I am happy that my old hobby of writing letters, which I did only at school; collecting and exchanging stamps is back to life.

On a rainy day,
                       I don't want to wake up.
On a rainy day,
                       I curl up with a good novel.
On a rainy day,
                       I relish the tea and love its aroma.
On a rainy day,
                       I want to eat chilli bajjis.
On a rainy day,
                       I want to jump into the puddle.
On a rainy day,

Toni & Guy Shampoo

LASplash Glitter Eyeliner Tracer Liquide shade 6ml. Actual prize Rs 795 for full size.

I completed reading this book sometime ago but I have been waiting for The Secret to work.

Rhonda Byrne has written this book based on her experience while she was in depression and how she came out of it. When things don't work as you wish, when nothing goes as you plan, a phase comes when your life goes blank.

Rhonda has researched to an extent, interviewing celebrities and how they were able to succeed and reach a high position overcoming repeated failures.

Few things that I have noted and preaching while reading this book:

1. Be grateful to all things you have. Be thankful that you are able to step into another day of your life, to the people around you who love you. When you thank every day, it makes you feel better.
2. Love yourself, your body, your health. Assume you are healthy, are slim and forget the comparison. Once you love yourself, nothing and no one can make you inferior.
3. If you think you don't enough money, think you have enough money and much more than that. 
4. Don't crib about your past or what went wrong. The more you think of it, the more it hurts. 
5. Appreciate the other person and stop complaining. 
6. Aging is only in minds of the individuals. If you think you're getting aged, the more you become. Be young at heart and think you are young. The brings a smile on your face every time you think.
7. Laughter is the best medicine. The more you laugh, the healthier you are.

Always think of good things and the things that you wish to have, achieve, goal. The universe listens attracts and reflects the same. I waited for a long time for my wishes to come true. Though, it is not always guaranteed that things would work as you wish; there is no harm dreaming of good things and feeling great about oneself. That's the mantra to live life happily.

I have seen the movie which is based on the book itself. The movie is a collection of experiences from the people who underwent lot of suffering, be it health, relationships, monies. Success did not come to them easy. Each and every individual has explained their "Secret" to success and by following The Secret, how we can make our lives better.

I liked the movie and I am sure that all of us face challenges or bullied at some point of time. Trust in your self, have faith and things would shape up for good.

Seek and Ye shall find.

This review contributes to the Australian Women Writers Challenge.

The stamp is a globe and round in shape.

I wish I visit this beautiful state of Montana someday.

I received a postcard today from Dandenong, Victoria, Australia. Dandenong is a suburb of Melbourne and brought back the memories of the charming city. The lovely postcard was sent by 68 year old Wendy who lives in Dandenong. Second card to my collection.

Postcard from Dandenong.

Kookaburra on the Aussie stamp