International Women's Day Celebration

It's International Women's Month. Being a woman, I was reflecting on my journey. I was raised by my parents who never differentiated between a boy and a girl. I was given equal opportunity and I was also taught to take independent decisions for myself.

I could do everything that my brother would do, whether it was wearing pants, shorts, playing sports, going for a movie, playing caroms or chess, climbing trees, riding bicycle or motorcycle, going to school, college and post graduation all of this except that I was not allowed to go out alone after 6 pm or after the street lights are on. This is for my safety and it is same even now. But the boys can stay late no issues and I find that's an issue in itself but I will save it for another blog-post!

Those days I was very focussed on what I want to achieve and worked towards that. Eventually, I got awareness about my surroundings, my field, certain positions and true that women are not everywhere the way men are. Why?

I have often felt that when my Dad didn't differentiate between me and my brother then why the world does it? A very fundamental question but it happens and my simple ask is when we see that shouldn't we do something about it?

I come from a family where my both parents were working and when they come home they both help each other in the kitchen. I always feel I am the other wheel of the chariot in my family, that's how balanced we all want to be.

Given the strides that women have achieved in recent years in terms of empowerment, it is worth celebrating women around the world specially this month and March 8th as International Women's Day.

There is a constant need to remind ourselves and the world about the objective of this day. At work it was great to listen to some of the women leaders how they navigated their career growth and then based on a study as of February 2023, 38% of leadership roles in the US were occupied by women. Even though that percentage is higher that the share of women in leadership roles globally i.e., 32% there has been lethargic progress towards closing this gender gap. The proportion of women in leadership positions in the US has only increased by 2% points since 2016.

There's a lot more need to happen, just by giving a seat to fill the gender gap isn't the solution but men and women equally have to help and mentor each other to be on leadership roles. It's a collective call towards gender equality.

She is delicate and dreamy like a vine, 

Yet standing on her own without whine,

She is strong needs opportunity to shine,

You can challenge her and evaluate fine,

Treat her just like you want to be divine,

It's been ages friends now is the time,

We must change for good let's align,

To bring equality let us define,

Because this dawn believes in sunshine!

~ Dawn

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give !!!

Last weekend me and my husband were invited for a charity event. It was a kick-off meeting for a volley-ball event. This kick-off was at someone's house. It was very kind of them to open their house for more than twenty people and showering with their hospitality to all.

It's a community event and I think wherever you go, it doesn't matter who you are or where you belong to, humanity is all about coming together and helping an event if that will bring happiness and opportunity for people. This was for children to play volleyball and travel across States where they represent different teams and hence have to be given proper lodging and boarding facilities, proper food, sports uniforms, first-aid and so on. All this requires money and hence charity is the mode where they were looking for support. The support could be through paying money, volunteering, or by sharing coupons for twenty five dollars, or marketing about them such that it will generate more awareness and that could bring more help and donation.

"Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting." ~ Brian Tracy

It started with an introduction about the charity organization and it's board members. The treasurer also shared last years collection and where all the money was spent. This year the volleyball game will be hosted in California and hence the expense will be more.  The cause is for children who are at the age to play a sport, specially volleyball and to get coached from senior players from the team and support them in every way to play in a league or even go into Olympics as well. These kids will get introduced early to healthy life-style, and fitness.

After the introduction and honoring the guests, there was dinner for everyone. The food was delicious and it was home made. Everyone had a chance to get introduced while having dinner and all of a sudden someone mentioned to us (we ladies were sitting on the dinning table), on our kick-off day itself we got the highest donation of ten thousand dollars. Everyone got excited to see this great beginning and asked who is that person. Immediately we were introduced to the person who donated that money. This person is in real estate business and they said hello to us, while each one of us was being introduced  by their name. There was one lady from our table, congratulated that person and said I also run a charity organization for women who are in distress and abused by the society or family. It will be good if you can support us as well.

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver." ~ Maya Angelou

I thought that was a decent way to put it because many times it is a challenge for any charity organization to ask for money directly and this was the moment where charity support is the cause.

The person who was all nice and smiling, suddenly had a shrewd look and they said, it's a give and take thing. You give me business and I will give the money out of the profit that I make through that business. 

"It's easier to take than to give. It's nobler to give than to take. The thrill of taking lasts a day. The thrill of giving lasts a lifetime." ~ Joan Marques

The moment I saw their face expression and their way of talking to this lady, it completely made me very uncomfortable. I am not sure how I would have reacted if I was that lady. But something that I witnessed couldn't go off my mind. The shrewd and mean face is what I remember not what they did or gave!!!!

Charity is all about good will and help the needy. I understand here the situation was not for people who are hungry and living in poverty but still organizations who run charity for women or children it is for their development and support. The person could have easily said sure and moved on as no one was coming after them for money at that moment. 

The way the person spoke to that lady,  the body language, it gave me an impression that the person is doesn't respect people but only those who have money. I literally felt very embarrassment as this happened in front of lot of people. There was a silence for a second and people didn't know how to react. Good that they lady asked as if nothing happened, and continued where do you stay, you should probably come to my home for a cup of coffee.

"Money is not the only commodity that is fun to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love, or simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run of something worthwhile to give." ~ Steve Goodier 

I do not respect people who show-off their money in the name of charity. I often felt charity should be given anonymously if possible. Even if one happen to give a cheque of ten thousand dollars, one doesn't have to show off that they are great. I think it's a humble and kind act. If you have a lot you give a little from your share to those who don't have enough. There is nothing to feel proud because money is such a thing it comes and goes. It's the people who we have to hold on to. Humility and kindness is what we expect from people who donate because I feel they have bigger heart where they are ready to accommodate who are in need.

"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give." ~ Khalil Gibran

I had to write this post because this incident was bothering me for two reasons, one the way they spoke to the lady and then about give and take charity. Never heard such thing and specially from the one whom everyone is praising for the donation. 

I figure these days charity is a business and it is hard to understand who is helping from heart for the well being and who is doing it for self-promotion.

"Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give" ~ Ben Carson

~ Dawn

Don't worry, be happy!

I am coming here after 9 months approximately. It's not that I have not thought about it. Everyday I think of writing because everyday something or the other comes to my mind which I could put it in words here but then...!

"All problems are illusions of the mind." ~ Eckhart Tolle

As a kid I started writing my diary and then when I started using computer for work, writing in a diary stopped and blogging took over that space. It's a habit and not just habit but a way out for me. I feel good when I talk to my blog, it's like talking to your trusted buddy.

At times, mind wants to be that buddy and it takes over the space. I have often realized how in my mind I am dictating and mind would absorb it all. I felt good for a while because I got busy hence mind-blogging worked out. 

"The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a heaven of Hell, a hell of Heaven." ~ John Milton

There is always a juggle between blogging and mind-blogging just like how one wants to hold a book to read versus audio book listening. One goes back and forth and I feel that is what has been happening with me all this time.

"All the things that truly matter, beauty, love, creativity, joy and inner peace arise from beyond the mind." ~ Exkhart Tolle

Let's talk about present since we are in 2023. The new year started well with family and friends. I was in Vegas on 1st January 2023. I have come to an understanding that life is not all about taking stress but being stress free. We all work hard to earn our living and one should but there is also something called self-care which I feel our generation is catching up now.  I am really grateful for my good genes for good health but it is very necessary for all ages to take care of self not just physical well being but mental too. 

"The mind can calculate, but the spirit yearns, and the heart knows what the heart knows." ~ Stephen King

Often in the rat race we forget, job, position, money, promotion all this is meaningful only if you're alive and healthy. One should be in present and enjoy the moment that is my mantra but I also don't take stress unnecessarily. I do used to worry to prevent things but with time realized that we can only save what we can rest we are not sure, so why worry?

Don't worry, be happy!

~ Dawn

The feel of spring

 

The colorful and cheerful nature,

With birds chirping, ducklings playing

Geese's honk and the buzzing bees 

The citrous flowers and their scent 

Spreading freshness in the air 

Giving the feel of spring

That nature shares with all

I happen to witness all these and

More with children's art work around

My happy place in the arms of nature!

~ Dawn

There is no later!

The year came with harsh realities

Something we all see everyday

The sun rises and sets in the evening 

To every start, there is an end but

Sun rises again and again yet

We don't!

It's okay to be motivated,

Nature does that to us but

The fact is that it is real,

We come and go and 

we don't wait for anyone,

No matter how close one is,

No matter what relation you have,

We live only once and 

we don't rise again!

But still, we try to extend 

Our stay on this planet,

By hook or crook and 

Hope that it will remain

Forever!

Don't wait for special day,

Make every moment special and real,

Live it, Love it, because

There is no later!

~ Dawn

 

The best things in life are rescued

Every person grieves in their own way and yes, we as a family did too. It was during that time when one of my blog friend  Keithkenny , who's comment in my previous post made me think.

"At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer, we remember them."  ~  Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Reimer 

I must say, Thank You Keithkenny for your kind words of wisdom. We started thinking about rescuing another one just for our Reyna's sake and then we started looking online shelters to rescue with an open mind.

We made an appointment on a weekend to visit Humane Society Silicon Valley and here we are looking at all the animals that were brought in here one or the other way. l mean, somewhere brought from another shelter because it was a small place and they couldn't accommodate or somewhere just stray in the Central Valley and they were brought in. I have been to this shelter in the past as a volunteer and all I felt was there's so much cruelty around and as much we humans are intelligent animal, we tend to think we can do anything and to prove that power sometimes some harm others and that can be their own family members and, or their pets.

"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on." ~ Henry Havelock Ellis

My heartaches always when I go to a shelter because I read their eyes and I feel each one of them are talking to me. Why I feel they are screaming through their eyes, please take me home!!!!!!!!

I never like to go in when it comes to choose one over the other, hence I told my family you all decide because for me, I am okay to rescue any. I remember when I was a high-schooler, I used to say I want to adopt all the animals, stray and the ones in the zoo and take care of them.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France

We saw there were so many puppies this time and when we asked, we were told during covid lot of people got the pets but returned it because they felt they cannot take care of them.

"Should you shield the valleys from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their canyons." ~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Such a sad thing. Well, we looked at some who were in the room but people visiting them so finally we got to meet Ginger a border Collie and German Shepard puppy who was that time ten weeks. Ginger was with her sibling Sue and the way she was sleeping on Sue ( a complete black in color with white fur on the paws as if wearing socks), made us feel that it was a stuff toy until we entered the room.

Ginger was very social, as soon we got in the room she came running to us and started kissing and she won everyone's heart. Sue, was not interested and she was sleeping. We discussed among ourselves and decided to get Ginger home.

Today Ginger is eleven weeks and happily adapting us as much as we have made her part of our family.

I often accidentally call Ginger, Reyna but then quickly correct it as I tell my kids that no one can replace Reyna and Ginger is not a replacement for Reyna. We are very thankful for Ginger to help us through this time as these days our world revolves around her.

Her schedules, her food, her toys and trainings and in all her cute gestures, her puppy barks and playfulness. 

Life moves on while we create more and more beautiful memories which we cherish until we live.

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." ~ J.M. Barrie

~ Dawn

I may regret the way we ended, but I will never regret what we had!

This is my first post of this year. New Year twenty twenty two as much I thought is exciting and hopeful, it just went exactly opposite and it's only the first week of the New Year and I am terrified and sad because we had to put our dear and loving furry baby Reyna down yesterday (January fifth).

We rescued a five year old Cocker Spaniel female dog who comes from a puppy mill. As much we loved her, she also adopted us dearly. Slowly our life started revolving around her and we lived happily ever after until this New Year when she started having diarrhea and the Vets couldn't figure out what it was as all the blood reports came normal and x-rays didn't show anything concerning and in days she lost so much fluid from her body that we had to take her to emergency.

We tried our best to get her cured but in the ultrasound the Vets found gut disease which is incurable and hence surgeries would not help either and hence putting her down in sleep peacefully was a decision that probably I have taken in my life for the first time.

Yes, tough decisions sometimes bring the results immediately and may be good in the long run but probably has a bigger impact.

Life will go on but it will never be the same without Reyna the queen of our family.

"But nothing makes a room feel emptier than wanting someone in it." ~ Calla Quinn

I am hoping time will heal my family and we will rebound back.

Let's see what else is stored in twenty twenty two!!!

I hope the world becomes safer for everyone around.

~ Dawn