Maya Angelou's Phenomenal woman- A salute!

A friend of mine mailed me a poem and I insantly fell in love with it. It's so beautiful that I just had to share it with you and add my little bit about how it made me feel.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them, they think I'm telling lies.
I say,It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, that's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, that's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say, It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman, Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, that's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say, It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman, Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, that's me.
-Maya Angelou

I was highly inspired by the spirit of this poet. Ahhh, I can just see the positive energy that just reverberates from every word she writes; the smile that would touch the lips of every woman who ever reads it; and the simple agelessness of the poem. To leave a mark in the hearts of so many people with such simple words is an awe inspiring activity. Something that just doesn't come easy but when it does come, it's here to stay!

Anyone would love to be the phenomenal woman described in this poem and live a life- so full of life! A life full of passion and charm and self worth! A life where you are confident in your being. Where you are in love with just that- being so phenomenal inside!

It's a poem that leaves you feeling nice and happy and positive- it's truly phenomenal!

Love or Something Like it!

Sometimes Profound Love is found in a moment... Sometimes a lifetime of looking is not enough...

I am emotionally touched by the latest novel I read... One of my close friends gave it to me and asked me to read it... I am sure most of you must have already read it- it's quite a famous one actually but for some reason I never got around to reading it before. "Bridges of Madison County". The story is of an unusual but once-in-a-lot-of-lifetimes kindda lovestory between Francesca (the farmer's wife from Iowa) and Robert Kincaid (the National Geographic photographer).

The story moved me in ways that is hard to express. Let me try breaking it down for you... There were some lines that I completely loved in the book, and they had nothing to do with the lead characters falling in love.

"But it's not what I dreamed about as a girl"

"The dreams were good dreams, they didn't work out, but I'm glad I had them."

"This is why I'm here on this planet, at this time, Francesca. Not to travel or make pictures, but to love you. I know that now. I have been falling from the rim of a great high place, and through all those years, I have been falling towards you."

"As much as I want you and want to be a part of you, I cant tear myself away from the realness of my responsibilities"

"In a universe of Ambiguity, this kind of certainity comes only once, no matter how many lifetimes you live."

Wow! It really is the work of a true genius... Anyone who can capture emotions that well has to be called a genius. I am no-die-hard-romantic, but even I could feel the emotions that the characters went through- the pain... the agony... the yearning... the decision of responsibility over passion! All I can say is that it is a work of art that stirs something deep within and touches even the heart of a cynic. It is love, the way never told before. It is life itself!

While ending this, I can't help but remember these verses from a favourite song... "This is the beginning of your day, Life is more intricate than it seems, Always be yourself along the way, Living through the spirit of your dreams..."

Happy Birthday Astu!

If I could wish something for myself, this birthday I would wish for peace in my heart, confusions out of my head, a fitter body and a happier soul. I want a change from the life as I know it now and want to strive to become a better individual. (cliche' but true!) If I'm being honest, I also want people to love me for being myself and understand what makes me tick. I want to be that special person who lights them up with just her presence. Oh and did I forget to say I wanna runaway? Yup at twenty six, that's exactly what I want to do.

I'm 26. Youth as we know it, is officially on it's way out. I'm on the other side of twenties. You are supposed to have had the best years of your life by now. The carefree years, where you have quite literally done it all. But when I look back at the list of "Ten things to do" I had made some years ago, I have not done too many still... Ok being positive let me first check the things I did manage-
PG Degree- check
Become an AVM- check
Dance class- check
Get a tattoo- check

Now for the things still pending...
Trip abroad
Learn an instrument
28" waistline
River rafting
Parasailing / scubadiving and
Seing snow.

It's funny, when I think of my "ideal life" I don't think about the company I work 3/4th of my life for, or the boss who upsets me with his disapproval. I don't think about the countless cribs I spend being stressed about or the baby I have been trying too hard to get. I do however think about the passion for music and travel that still lies in my heart, of harmony in my body and mind and true companionship.

I hate this self awareness that's irritating me right now like a popup in my brain's screen that just reads "What have you done to change things? Do you really love yourself?"

If I loved myself as much as the people I love, I would wish for me a greater self awareness, a stronger self respect, and an appetite for excitement. I'd wish the world conspires to make all my wishes come true.... :)

So I guess it's in my hands afterall. I can always make the changes. I can spend sometime falling in love with myself. I can take things in control and not loose sight of things I want to do. So here's wishing 2009-10 becomes the ideal year I turn back to, when I had it all and loved my life. The year when I finally fell in love... with myself ofcourse!