dedication

‘Wear your heart on your sleeve’ – Major Ritu Pant

This morning I was forwarded this inspiring video of Major Ritu Pant – Serving Indian Army Officer.

I have watched it over, and over again and have hung on to every word of hers.

My attempt at translating the poem- please forgive any errors and mistransalations:

‘Dekha hai toote taron ko manzilon pe aate hue’

I have seen broken stars fall to the earth

‘ashkon se bhari aankhon ko geet gungunate hue’

their tear filled eyes singing songs (telling their story)

khud pe yekin hi kafi hai jhukane ko aasman

one’s own faith in oneself is enough to make the skies bow down

varna suna hai maine bhi kismeton ko vajud mitate hue 

or else I have heard that luck (Kismet) can destroy one’s own existence (ego)

A friend has kindly translated the same poem for me:

‘Those who were thought to be down and out have also been known to rise from the ashes.

Their stories are an inspiration for others despite the pain they have endured

No hurdle is greater than one’s faith in their true self once it’s been realised

It is no surprise that the existence (ego) of those who suffer from excessive pride (without knowing of the inner self) in annihilated through their own doing.’

Major Ritu Pant has come to the limelight due to her participation in Mrs. India Earth 2017.  I am grateful to this contest only because it has brought to light a hidden gem.  Major Ritu Pant has served in the Indian Army for 12 years, is married to Dr. Vivek Sood who is a doctor in the Army Medical Corps, and they have 2 lovely daughters.

In 2015 she was awarded for rescuing 18 young soldiers who were injured in  ID blasts in Manipur, North East India.

Allow me to share with you the highlight of her introduction:

“I am an amalgamation of dedication, devotion, compassion and hard-work.”

“I am a writer, poet, singer, guitarist, avid reader, fitness freak and most of all a God-fearing lady.”

‘A message to all women, “We are power.  We have the power to stay strong against all odds.  We have the power to stay determined to follow our dreams and to listen to our heart. To answer all the questions which we ask ourselves.  Wear your heart on your sleeves’.

“If you dare to dare, dare to dream, dare to achieve, then nothing can stop you.”

She brings a message of “love, peace and humanity to the world” and wants to “subtract crime and violence against women; hatred and negativity from society.”

Wow!  I salute you Major Ritu Pant for being a ‘complete‘ and ‘whole’ woman.  For your courage.  For celebrating yourself and your talents.  For your compassion.  For your dedication to your country – India.  For protecting your country and your people.  For bringing a very important message of daring to dream and to achieve and your message of love and compassion to women and to the world.  For reminding us of the power each one of us has in us to ‘be’ women and to celebrate all our inherent female qualities ‘amalgamated’ in to one.  For reminding us that dedication and hard-work are core values that can only have impact with compassion and devotion.  Your ‘princesses’ are very blessed to have you as their role-model.

Jai Hind!

 

 

I’m a mother, I’m a daughter. I’m a daughter , I’m a mother.

3 weeks ago my mamma underwent a scheduled surgery involving reconstruction of a bone and skin grafting. Being that we live in different continents and not being able to leave my boys at the time all I could do was pray for a successful surgery.

That day I found myself deep-rooted in the ‘middle’ generation. Between my parents and my children. It’s quite a privileged place to be and yet it’s that place and time in my life I find myself praying for the good health of my parents and for the good health and development of my children. It’s a magical place and an un matchable emotion to be a parent and a child.

I have had the urge to fulfil my call of duty as a daughter to help care for my mother and my father who is so dedicated in  nursing my mother back to a speedy and healthy recovery. However to do this I need to for a few days not be a mother and leave my children to be looked after by their father and grandmother.  A strange place to be as both roles are equally important to me.

Nurturing my nurturer and nurturing my babies.

I am on my way to be the daughter.

Welcome to Colour Me Woman

Colored Oil CanvasPeople are BEAUTIFUL and COLOURFUL.  Sometimes, it takes one with beautiful vision to recognise the beauty in another.  Most of the time, one needs to look within and appreciate oneself and recognise the beauty within!

Colour Me Woman has been created for and dedicated to all the beautiful women in the world who are a significant part of our lives, or who we desire to emulate. We tend to spend time following and idolising celebrities, and there are a large number of them, who truly are remarkable and great role models.  However, the focus here is on US and the women who walk among us.  You are all heroes in your own right and to the people who look to you.  Among us, in our families, in our communities, at work, in our various circles, are women that make a huge impact on us, on the community and many on the world at large.  We want to celebrate them.

Colour Me Woman is also dedicated to women who are so busy being … who need to come up for a breath of fresh air every now and then from their lives, be it their careers or their families, and have the need to reach out to something light, to something fun, or even a reminder of who they are deep inside.  For you ladies, we have our fun updates on movies; music; cocktails (AND where to find a good one), useful gadgets and apps; a great recipe (OR where to eat a well made one!); where and how to connect with nature, a yoga pose for the day, or fashion and beauty updates.

I invite you to contribute towards this effort….. share with us the movie you just watched and loved, or didn’t; the song that keeps you humming through the day; the drink that took the ‘edge off’; the ‘app’ that saved your day; the dish you made or had somewhere; a funny experience that kept you smiling; talk about the woman/women that have impacted you…. and anything else you would like to share…

Stay Colourful….. and Beautiful….