A young Rajasthani folk dancer

Rajasthani women

Kesariya padharo mhaare des...

Jaisalmer

Blog Birthday

Exactly a year ago, Toeragz was born. When I mentioned this to my fellow blogger and good friend, he insisted on writing his views on the same.

One day last week, when it was pouring heavily in Chennai and I decided to stay home and blog hop, my toe got stuck in toerag.blogspot.com. The blogger's latest post was about 100 things one should do in life. Now the Internet is full of such things, but something made me go through each of those 100 tips. What was that something? Was it that something which had brought me there in the first place? What was that something anyway? Or was it someone, instead of something? It was someone, I realised, as Sangeeta popped up on my screen. She said Hi, held my hand and took me on a guided tour of Toeragz. There, hidden in a corner of the screen, I found several small pieces, soaked in compassion and sensitivity. The pieces pick out the tiniest of human emotions which most of us tend to miss out.

My favourite is the short, short story about a woman addicted to blogging. And of course, her experiences with the tiny tots. There are many more, and many more going to come. And today is Toeragz’ first birthday. I wish to raise a toast because a blog's birthday is no less significant than a blogger's. A simple detail will explain that: just click on Sangeeta's profile and you will see it has been viewed by a few thousand people. Of them, a hundred must be returning every month to take a look, and of those hundred, a few dozens must be returning every week. And at least a dozen of them click on Toeragz every day: they are people who love Sangeeta, rather people who have grown to like Sangeeta. And she has accomplished all this without even stepping out of home.

That's the amazing thing about blogs: it connects hearts and minds without the help of middlemen. Physical presence is not at all necessary. In any case, it is the mind that matters. So here's raising a toast to blogging and to the great mind. Happy birthday Sangeeta, er, Toeragz.

- Bishwanath Ghosh

Thank you Bishwanath, for your kind words (me's blushing) To conclude this post, I have listed a few of my favourite posts

Best Laid Plans

Best Laid Plans-II

Class Act

Casper-The Friendly Ghost

Giving 'Miss' a miss!!

Close Dose

Baby Talk!

What was that again?

(I tried to look for the top 10 but could come up only with 8.

(Fishing for compliments.*Wink Wink*)

Uhmm, post The Great Indian Comedy Show, I would love to rename this post as Pehchaan Kaun? LOL

I started this blog when I was going through a difficult phase in my life. (which explains the name I chose for my blog-Toeragz) But since then it has been a great year! The Blog world has given me so many friends. Thank you all of you, and hugss!

Innocent Days, Innocent Ways

I walk into this class during Recess and notice this li’l boy looking forlorn and lost. His arm is in a sling so he can’t play with his friends. They have left him alone. I have seen him before and he doesn’t look his usual chirpy self. Time for some pep talk!

Me: You know what I like about you?

Kid: (Shaking his head) Uhmm… No, Miss.

Me: Your eyes twinkle when you smile. I like that… a LOT!

Kid: (Smiling, anxious to return the compliment and obviously is very generous with it)

Miss, I like your whole body!

Me: (biting my lips. Simply dunno where to look)

Trying Times....

God knows I need a laugh :(

Hi!

I'm just back from a trip to Tirupati and Rajasthan. Will post the pics in a few days. Have a lot to catch up with..see ya!

Happy Diwali..

Wish you all a very Safe and Happy Diwali!

100 Stress busters...

• Getup 15 minutes earlier
• Prepare for the morning the night before
• Avoid tight-fitting clothes.
• Don't rely on your memory
• Practice preventative maintenance
• Make duplicate keys and store them where you can get to them
• Say 'no' more often
• Set priorities in your life
• Avoid negative people
• Use your time wisely
• Simplify everything you can
• Make copies of important papers and store them where you'll be able to find them
• repair anything that doesn't work properly
• Ask for help
• Chunk down big jobs into little ones
• View problems as challenges
• Look at challenges as opportunities
• Unclutter your life.
• Smile
• Be prepared for rain
• Laugh at something
• Pet a dog or cat
• Don't try to know all the answers
• Look for the silver lining
• Say something nice to someone
• Teach a kid to fly a kite
• Walk in the rain
• Schedule some time each day to play.
• Take a long shower or a bubble bath
• Be Conscious of the decisions you make
• Believe in yourself
• Stop beating yourself up
• Stop saying negative things to yourself.
• Visualize yourself winning
• Develop your sense of humor
• Stop thinking that tomorrow will be a better day
• Set goals for yourself.
• Say hello to a stranger
• Ask a friend for a hug
• Give a friend a hug.
• Look at the stars
• Breathe slowly
• Learn to whistle
• Read a poem
• Listen to some music you've never heard before
• Watch a ballet
• Read something
• Do something new.
• Stop a bad habit.
• Buy yourself a flower
• Smell the flower
• Find support from others
• Give support to others
• Do it today.
• Work at being cheerful and optimistic
• Put safety first.
• Do everything you do in moderation.
• Pay attention to your appearance
• Strive for excellence, not perfection
• Stretch your limits a little each day
• Look at a painting or a sculpture
• Hum a song.
• Eat nutritiously
• Plant a tree
• Feed a bird
• Practice grace under pressure
• Stand up and stretch
• Have a "plan B"
• Draw a picture
• Buy some crayons and color
• Learn a joke.
• Be responsible for your feelings
• Meet your own needs.
• Know you limitations and let others know them, too.
• Throw a paper airplane
• Exercise
• Learn the words to a song
• Get to work early
• clean out one closet or one drawer
• Go on a picnic
• Take a different route to work
• Put an air freshener in your car
• Watch a movie
• Eat some popcorn while you watch a movie.
• Write a note to someone you haven't heard from in a while
• Take a walk.
• Go to a ball game and scream
• Eat a meal by candle light.
• Recognize the importance of unconditional love.
• Remember that stress is an attitude.
• Keep a journal
• Practice a smile
• Remember that there are always options
• Develop a support system
• Quit trying to "fix" people.
• Get enough sleep
• Talk less
• Listen more
• Praise others
• Stop counting things.

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