STAYING SERENE AND GRACIOUS AT NINETY

My mother turned 90 this month and we had a party for her. It was a wonderful celebration, full of fun and merriment. Many members of our extended family and some of our friends presented songs, dances, poems, dramatic readings and speeches. They were all excellent and Mum felt great! Mum loves music and the band played her favourite songs. She was very happy. Watching Mum made me realize that there are some things to consider and apply if we wish to live a long serene and gracious life. In this post I share some of these ideas with you. Avoid Envy All her life Mum has never been envious ... [read more]

THE STORY BEHIND MY NAME

Over the years many people have asked me about my name. People are curious to know about its origin, its meaning and the culture with which it is best associated. I avoid answering their questions as I have always been reluctant to talk about my name. The reason for this is after learning the meaning of my name from my parents, I was too embarrassed to tell it to anyone else. However, I have now decided to share with you some details about my name in this post. It has taken so many years for me to realize that there is nothing to be shy about talking about my name. After all, it is a beautiful ... [read more]

SAUDI ARABIA AND ISLAM MUST CHANGE

Like many other people I was horrified to see the images on television and to read the accounts of the stampede in Saudi Arabia. The stampede occurred during the symbolic stoning of the Devil ritual which is a part of the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca. People were trampled upon and died from suffocation. It must have been gruelling. It must have been awful. It was cruel. I send my sincere condolences to the victims and their families. To those who were injured, I send my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Reading some of the articles about the chaotic organisation of the pilgrimage ... [read more]