Four Clover Life- By Namrata Singh

Dear Words,


I am struggling and I am new. Everyday tracking of page views, Google AdSense & affiliate account earning (if any), umpteen social media accounts, followers and following, stumbling and pinning, posting and reposting, Facebook groups and their admin, gaining entry and getting blocked, FB pages and no.of likes,  and the list is endless. I am overwhelmed by the vastness of this world. I am out of breath already. Collapse I may anytime or quit. Should I?

When I see myself in the ocean that I am in, I feel scared. There are so many people writing so good, blogging so well, skillful and artful, earning and thriving. And here I am scrambling to survive. When I quit my corporate career to follow 'WORDS' I was unsure if I am doing the right thing. I followed 'WORDS' and I am still unsure if I am doing the right thing. Everyday a new revelation, a new learning and a new lesson. It's when you see millions of people who have been there, done that, you question y…

I shivered reading Michelle Obama's words
"I never cut class. I loved getting A's, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world."
The words echoed as I felt goosebumps on my body. My heart shriveled up as if aching from an old pain and my mind raced fast. I know what it means to cut class. I know what it entails to chase cuteness. I know how it feels to get an A. And I now know that being smart never goes out of fashion. It's the safest bet actually.
When I was in high school, I was a victim of the 'cute syndrome'. I was all of 16 and there is something about being 16. There is so much going inside and then there is a threshold that you never get to know when you have crossed or not. There is a big ' YES' your heart says for every 'NO' that your mind says and you oscillate like a pendulum. I surrendered to many YES’s only to realize later that I lost out on class, grades, and A's.…

To paint is to create a whole new world on a blank sheet. The world which can be as beautiful as you want or as real as you see around. What you paint speaks volume about you. I love painting autumn trees. There is some tranquility in knowing that everything comes to an end and fresh beginnings happen. It's calming to know - 'this too shall pass'. The only words which make you smile amidst sorrow and be grounded when riding high on success. The only words capable of keeping the 'honsla'( strength) and 'umeed' (hope) alive, kicking, breathing and thriving.
Thank you for dropping by. Do not forget to like, follow and share. Drop in your feedback if any.
For more such articles on Meaningful Parenting, Mindful Eating, Well-being and Motivation Cuppa,  please visit Four Clover Life at  http://www.fourcloverlife.com/.

Dear The USA, Is your sky blue? Or is it pink? Yes! Some people are very smart in life. They know the sky is blue wherever you go.I had read it too, knew it all along but somewhere I had a mini-me who believed that only my country has a blue sky.

I belong from a small but a throbbing town in India- Bokaro, famous for its Steel Plant where my father worked…all his life. I had the best of education what my dad could provide, and my competence could gather. 30 years I spent in India going through the usual rigmarole of life. Class 12th, then Bachelor's, then Master’s and then some decent job, the crazy independence, tequila shots and tandoori chicken, best friends, funny infatuations and serious heartbreaks.

Alongside was a mini-me, which remained inside, but fluttered creatively. Of all that appeared logical, rationale and ‘common sense,' this mini-me defied all of them. No wonder I had this silly feeling somewhere deep down that only India has blue sky.

Has anyone gone through this…

Maa,
I am just so upset, irritated. This is not done.I am just so not into Mother's day. One day this father-son duo will make me breakfast- the humble, effortless bread and omelet( no grand, sumptuous aloo parathas),  gift me flowers, take me out for shopping and rest of 364 days I keep chasing them for everything. Huh. From riches to rag story all in a day.This is what it is.Unbelievable. What is the use of Mother's day? 
The little grandson of yours is making me demented day by day. He thinks I am his Google in life. Maa, he is just 4 and has 400 questions every day. That makes 400*364 to answer. Now you see my plight. And I can't even ask him to go to Daddy.
That brings to another big problem in my life- His Daddy, his calls, his work. I tell you Maa; this man is forever on his phone. The adage - 'and they lived happily eve after' is most suitable for this man and his phone. He just doesn't have time. Either he is on his daily status call, or weekly status cal…

I love colors, all of them. I so much wanted to learn painting, but my father insisted I should only concentrate on my studies. He was right in his way. A middle-class family cannot afford extracurricular activities. They have built their life on 'studies, ' and they believe that is the ONLY way to make a decent life. When resources are scarce, one makes the most of what is available. My father did that. I respect him. 
My 4-year-old son loves colors, and I thought to make him love them more. Why am I so concerned about drawing, colouring, and painting? Art takes time, needs focus and doesn't give instant gratification. I am teaching him patience, concentration, eye for details all through painting. He tends to rush into things, but I am teaching him to hold on, let the sheet dry, paint once dry and when you hold your brush, keep changing angles depending on what you are painting. A bird's beak and an ocean need different strokes of the paint brush. I hope later in life…

I had read somewhere that jealousy is a great teacher. It teaches you the kind of person you want to become, the kind of things you want in your life and the kind of relationship you yearn for.
For we are only jealous of someone when that 'OTHER' has what we don't have but WE WANT TO  HAVE.
That is the long and short of it.
Is there a problem being envious or jealous? Yes and No. Yes because it is a negative emotion so it makes you feel unpleasant. You can feel unpleasant to the extent that it attacks your self-esteem. You keep thinking about it, brooding I must say and the circle is vicious as you feel as if you have it none and that other has it all.
No, because it is human and normal and natural. It's innate, instinctive and to an extent essential. We have it, it's there. It happens to all of us. Some hide it, some feign it otherwise and some have it on open display. 
The problem is not in being jealous or envious. The problem is in letting it rule over your head and h…