YELLOW, MYFIRST RIDE!

I am gifted my life and living it is my

birthright.

In the early days of life happily playing

non-stop at best I plotted and planned

games with my sisters and the

neighborhood kids.

It was striking those days when eating

and sleeping delightfully fell into place,

no outlook needed.

Riding my tricycle I do not remember but

what I do live with is the sublime

memory of my lovely Yellow three

wheeled scooter.

You know the one now made famous

with Hiritik Roshan setting his foot on it.

Yes his ride in ‘Koi Mil Gaya’ that’s the

one!

{For those who don’t know Hiritik. He is

the sizzling Indian movie star of today}

I witness my left foot on the ground the

handle confidently gripped. The right

foot right-angled to the elegant straight

front extensions firm in the panel that

served as foot rest.

Mind full of anticipation and my eyes

after that only see the path ahead.

Leaning forward I’d push forward quite

gently.

That was the happiest moment in the

history of happiness I was moving.

Next incessantly the left foot would do its

job of striking the ground at just the right

angle at just the right time to keep me

moving faster and faster.

At that moment the left foot would then

obtain its honored place behind the right

foot on the foot rest. It takes its spot

quite naturally at 35 degree angle to the

right foot.

Quite simply done!

Upright I would be gliding; maneuvering

the handle came naturally to me. So

sometimes throwing one arm to

the wind I’d sail …..

I felt the air against my face, mostly hot

for all of this activity would take place in

the early evenings of the hot summer

days.

Sweat trickled down my back, shone on

my face, waltzing down my hairline.

I did not mind sweat then as I do now.

The fringe on my forehead parted ways

on every ride I took.

I did not mind it then surprisingly

I do not mind it now.

Tall slim rounded bars growing endlessly

from the bottom plate held the two iron

springs that apprehended the handle

to the lone wheel in front.

These were strong as they were ugly.

Many times I would try to wiggle my

fingers between them to clean them of

the dust or a gone astray pebble.

When firm they held they place refusing

to budge. So when I washed and cleaned

my Yellow the springs looked quite the

nasty rebels.

The church compound and the CI club

grounds were so large

in my mind’s eye I thought mother let me

go out in the world when I rode there.

But the largest part of riding took place

in the Kale Bhavan Garage.

Which I must mention here I thought

was part of our home for longer than I

can remember. Its tarred road was ideal

for my escapades on Yellow.

I would go up and down the

road with not a gasp of breath to

spare as I turned and hurtled down the

way again.

The tall looming identical slopes that

took the cars up to the no road strips of

platform were my danger zone. Yes this

would get my breath racing as fear

whispered just before I’ d leave the safety

of the platform to hurtle down those

mean slope at speeds that landed me a

fall more than once.

But I’d do it every now and again to win

some and lose some.

Tears dried well before I reached home.

The two back wheels looked meek and

humble awaiting my bidding to roll and

rumble.

But let me carve up with you

how vicious a fiend it would be.

When in motion if for some

reason my left foot came too near it.

It scrapped the skin off

my ankle bone and looked on

unfeelingly as blood left my wound.

The nut and bolt at all times looked cruel

through my tears.

Nevertheless love my Yellow I did!

Mum would put dettol on the damage

and I would squirm

but as the sting subsided my mind would

already be in travel mode.

Yellow had a factor that made it easy

enough to slip under my bed. Somewhere

just near the front wheel were

insignificant two claw like clutches.

You had to pull hard

and fast outwards and then let go.

Moving your precious

digits away quicker than silver was

essential.

For then the handle collapsed on to the

foot rest the handle bars nestled between

the back grumpy wheels confidently.

With one swift shove I would trust it

under the bed for safe keeping. As well as

it was in easy vision for me, all it

required was to hoist the bed sheet an

inch to see Yellow sleep his metal sleep.

Some may remember it red but I know it

was always Yellow.

And my fascination with driving remains

till today.

Love always

Joscelyn

THE TRUTH BE TOLD

We are not destined to be loved by all.

We are not designed to be happy all the time.

We are not preordained to be successful with every try.

We are not fated to be right in everything we do.

Every situation will not be for our advantage, but our

attitude can be beneficial every time.

Every person will not speak well of us, nonetheless some will

at all times.

Everyone will not hate us, although a number will.

All will not love us despite the fact that a few may possibly.

It’s tiresome to have an opinion about everything however

trade for nothing the ones valued close to your spirit.

It’s learning time when your point of view is not acceptable

and your way is not the one trod on.

It’s time to make a difference in your life with thoughts,

words and deeds which heal and unite.

It’s here now carry out everything to lose it not to the option

which comes too late.

I am, accordingly I be in this world.

I am and I live to tell the tale.

I am and this too shall pass.

Move on says the stars who root for me in heaven!

I am!

Love always

Joscelyn

LOVE CAN BE THE VISION.

Today was a day when discord was just a byproduct of music. Agreements followed the creative law of accepting disagreements without reservation, as facts. And love was experienced as love.

Love is love; it cannot be qualified in the realm of being untrue. Love does not exist in the wrong.

If you need to question if it’s true or untrue then know it’s not love.

Intention and motive can be untrue.

Not love.

Love is just love. It needs no qualifying adjective.

Love is love.

It lets you be the real you.

It does not judge.

Its stands by you in the U turn of life.

It puts you before self.

It understands and empathizes.

In love, hopes lives unflinching.

It never slanders.

It does not distrust when tough times visit.

Your happiness is the vessel in which it is enclosed.

It books no blame, knowing that blame is a tough cookie; which neither crumbles nor tastes good, ever!

Love is just love.

It craves no qualification or categorization.

It looks for no title or medal.

It seeks only peace for the loved one and rests its dreams there.

I saw a vision of love and Today, I lived completely.

Love always

Joscelyn

FEAR! MY CHAMPION. MY FRIEND.

Harrowing emotional days popped up every other day.

I should stop.

Many painful physical conditions challenged me sometimes morning, sometimes night.

I could stop.

Fear gripped the mental faculty on seldom occasions but the time it did it left me horrified.

I can stop.

But sanity reigned with a conscience choice

to think differently and

do things in my own way that being

one step at a time,

one day at a time.

Each day I dressed up and showed up for 20 days.

By the goodness of God ….

TODAY I AM a HOLDER OF AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENCE.

Just 6 months short of my lucky birthday 55/55.

2010 is my kind of year.

Challenging situations and full of ups and downs is a life worth living.

I realized as the day unfolds and things happen and

if I slow down I can see that

every situation is a way to find out who I am.

If things are going my way how does that make me feel,

how do I react and

what is my behavior in such an environment.

What is my personality when mud wheels turn

spitting its delights with no concern

for me or my sensibilities and sensitivities?

How does the moment tick when I am blamed for something I did not do?

What is my mind gripped with at a time like this?

Life talks, life lives, life is present always,

but am I present in the present?

Open your mind to the wonders of what life has to offer

and let it impact your life and affect your thinking.

Years ago I took to heart the saying “Do it afraid”.

It was a great step forward to know that

you don’t have to be brave first and act later.

Everything does not have to be right before

you endeavor or embark on a project.

You just have to do it !

I did!

Yes, I am on my feet.

It’s true you heard right fear can be zapped right out of existence.

Here is how you can do it.

Make fear your friend when it knocks asks questions…

Be persistent if it’s persistent.

Don’t back down…stare it in the eye.

Don’t blink.

You are in charge, do not freeze or it will lead you by the nose.

Fear, is my Champion, my friend when I ……..

F…..Follow my belief

E…..Enact my faith

A…..Accept and dwell in the

R…..Righteousness of God

Love always

Joscelyn

HOW TO 'PLAY SPOILSPORT' WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

Go ahead and Trust yet again

Laugh another time and yet again

Be at peace once more.

Let nothing tamper with that.

Feel guided for a second time and

let the counting begin.

Recognize you are watched over for all time

Identify you are held in high esteem

Discern you are adored at all times

and in these times more specially

Make great stuff happen

Make more great things happen

Change lives. You changed your own life.

Move mountains and do the impossible

Scared, you will overcome

Knocked down, breathless with shock and disbelief, Know you will rise

Lost? Only to find you are actually at

the threshold of creativity, love and fun.

Do; stay humble amid all this glory!

You have done it before you can do it again!

Spoil the plan of negativity with these steps ……..

There, you are now the

most delightful

and crazy

and lovely spoilsport

to the

era of fear and negativity.

Love always

Joscelyn

A PRAYER BY A KNUCKLE HEAD!

Forgive me Lord for the times I do,

but I know not what I am doing.

Be patient with me Lord when

I forget to do what I need to be doing.

Don’t give up on me Lord when

you find me wandering and wondering what to do.

Grace my thoughts now, before that

vacant sign goes up in my eyes.

Shower me with blessings when a drought of ideas floods my mind and threatens to over whelm.

Grant me the peace to know when

it’s going to pieces and when

it’s time to pick up the pieces.

Remind me to laugh again once

the pain subsides and I catch my breath.

Stay by my side as I shave a sliver of life

and try to do better than my best.

Step on the slow motion button if

I trip or stumble and fumble for

want of affirmative thinking.

Yes that’s it Lord,

I can’t think of anything more I can let you do for me.

Amen

“You were on a roll why did you stop….. Knuckle head!”

You said it.

Maybe,I am the Knuckle head!

Love always

Joscelyn

My Realistic Goals – as easy as ABC

Appreciate a teacher. Accept the weather.

Bounce back. Beckon all possibilities.

Cultivate the positive. Call on forward thinking.

Do yourself a favor. Dive into creativity.

Expect change. Exist in today.

Foster good practices. Feel the energy of progress.

Give yourself a break. Go have some fun.

Have kindness in the till always. Hold on to genuineness.

Increase your faith. Imbibe hope in shuttered eyes.

Jump for joy. Jig whenever you want.

Kid around. Keep peace near.

Leave something’s unsaid. Long for nothing.

Make a child smile. Make parents partners in their children’s education.

Never delay a good action. Note what makes you happy.

Open your mind to another perspective. Offer only the viable.

Pull a bunny from a hat. Practice patience & persistent

Quiet the rumble of self doubt. Queue up constructive action.

Return a Smile. Reverse a frown.

Signal negative thoughts to disperse. Savor healthy ones.

Thank your sadness. Take time to laugh.

Unfold the layers of your personality. Uncover your eyes to bliss.

Voice your love. Vote for peace.

When the tick in your heart yells now know it is the time. Wake up to contentment.

X-ray your intentions. X out the mistaken.

Yellow is also a colour. Yell for help, its ok.

Zigzag into peace. Zing it to last.

Go for it!

Love always

Joscelyn