A Rendezvous with the Disney world

Disney World is an amazing amusement park that is ginormous and radiant. As a matter of fact, it actually has: Four Theme Parks (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot Centre, and Animal Kingdom), Two Water Parks (Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach), about 20 Disney-operated hotels (depending on how you count), 12 hotels not operated by Disney, a “downtown” shopping and restaurant district, Disney Springs and, a few other less notable features (e.g., golf courses). So, it is basically an entire city all by itself except for the fact that there are no private houses. It would take more than a week to catch a glimpse of the entire park. 

Something the Disney world is known for is the mystifying display of light in the sky during nighttime above the Cinderella castle; It is amazing even though it is late at night and very crowded; it is worth all your time and effort. It is called, ‘ Once Upon A Time Castle Projection Show’. You can also take great pictures in front of the castle.

If you do not have the budget to go all the way to Iceland to watch a diffused glow emanate from the northern horizon, it is not a problem. You can always count on the frozen (movie) rides and shows to show the northern lights. Even though the movie is not as amazing as the actual lights, one gets a surreal feel of the original.

Another staple in Disney World is the parade. The floats are very tall so you could admire the view from afar. During the parade, the streets bustle with an enthusiastic bevy of tourists so it becomes pertinent to reserve your seat before it gets occupied. 

Walking to this extent gets exhausting at times so replenishing our bodies with meals is the next best thing to do; but heed my disclaimer as my experience tells me to share with you how unhealthy and calorie-laden foods are sold there.  The most common things you get to eat are: churros, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, coca-cola, ice cream, etc. but if you are worried about gaining weight don’t be because in the park you can easily walk up to 20,000 steps going from one place to another. Also, it would be a good idea to wear some comfortable slippers as the weather is unpredictable. When my family and I had gone one day the weather was scorching hot and the following day there was a heavy downpour. So slippers would be your sole mates. Well, you certainly would not get to see a ‘moonbow’, a rainbow during the night but the odds for seeing a rainbow would be equally scarce, owing to the uncertain weather.

Which leaf do you wanna be?

 If I were a leaf, I would be world-famous because I would be the only Beech leaf in the entire universe who would not only know how to talk but would also gain experience of the unknown.

My day would go like this- I would wake up early in the morning before sunrise and go lay in the mud to get my suntanning for at least 5 hours. While doing that, I would also try and learn different languages to impress others from all around the world. Then around 11, I would go take a nice shower preferably from a garden hose or fountain. Then I would go to the airport and sit in somebody’s bag and go wherever they go. That is why I don’t live in a house because I never stay in one place for more than a day or two. I think I would travel 50% of the world if I smartly attach myself to celebrity luggage.

I would travel the world, and see climates that no beech cousin of mine has ever experienced before: be with Nick Jonas on the India tour to endure the dry, sultry and barren weather and meet famous celebrities like the Bollywood stars - all for free too because who was going to notice the tiniest me on Nick’s bowtie? I could just sneak into anybody's backpack or collar and have the time of my life. The possibilities are endless. 

But the only gigantic problem would be that I could be killed easily due to my structure so I would need to be extra cautious. Also, many people would mistake me for flying objects sticking to garments as millions of my other twin brothers and sisters and I have sticky properties too. Who said traveling with a celebrity would be easy? It comes with its own platter of problems, some may include - lack of sunlight, water, soil, etc. 

Even though my wiser cousin, the oak leaf is a powerful symbol of strength, endurance, and eternity, I am happy signifying death as death is the new door to life. Despite the ash tree teasing me about her powers of longevity and endurance, I stand for the changes that arise through realization. Last but not the least, my nagging sister sycamore taunts me for her strength, protection, and divinity, I, however, seek revelation and increase my knowledge.

Do you see me?

 

With invisibility comes great power. If I have the power of becoming invisible whenever I want, I would practically be a ghost; I could pass through doors, walls, objects, and everything else you can imagine. While I am invisible, I would go rob a bank and become the richest person in the world. I would go and attend super confidential government meetings and sell their secrets for millions of rupees. I would be a criminal mastermind! 

Just because I have the power of becoming invisible doesn’t mean I would only use it to my benefit. I would help others too, but, I wouldn’t want them to know my secret so, I will have to be discreet about it, otherwise, they will suspect me of robbing the bank and I would want to be seen as a hero in their eyes. Sneaky right? 

I will have the power and freedom to do literally all I want. I can take free plane rides, holidays, know people’s secrets without them knowing that I know; not only that,  but I can also scare my enemies. I can easily become the world’s greatest spy because of my powers.  Invisibility is the most unpredictable thing in the world; much better than having super speed or tensile strength. Luckily, I can turn my invisibility on and off; if I were invisible forever, it wouldn’t be that great as no one would know I exist and that is kind of sad. Unluckily, all of this is not possible in real life, or it is and not many people know of it. After the coronavirus mishap, I feel anything is possible. For all, we know there are mermaids swimming somewhere in the ocean and we just haven’t discovered them yet as they are that good at hiding their superpowers. 

Secrecy is very hard. Personally, I am average at keeping secrets so if I ever become invisible, I would want to tell someone. I could also get caught as if I am doing something I am not supposed to do and someone accidentally drops powder on me, my silhouette would show and they would know I exist. So I would need to master the art of avoiding contact with the powder. Or should I show everyone my superpower and become famous? for that, it might be a little dangerous as people might try kidnaping me for it or some crazy scientist would want to do random tests on me to see how I am turning invisible. So the best thing to do would be to only tell someone I trust so they can help me dominate the world and be my partner in crime.

Woeful winter or wondrous winter?

‘Winter is not a season it is a celebration’- Anamika Mishra 

Winter is absolute bliss. The magical and enchanting atmosphere makes me feel like I'm floating on a cozy cloud with a giant mug of hot chocolate along with crisp cookies while watching my favorite TV show. 

Apart from snuggling in my warm blanket, winter is also fiesta time! Christmas, thanksgiving, New years, and what not? Christmas is my favorite holiday because of the treats and gifts from family, friends, and Santa😉. The way I picture the perfect Christmas day is a giant Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and vibrant lights. Christmas scented candles, the presence of family and friends, Christmas-cookies, cakes, gifts, and resplendent smiles. Christmas is not the only best holiday of the winter season. We also have New years eve. On New Year's eve, I picture myself sitting around a  bonfire along with my friends eating the best barbecue food. 

However, winter is not always a jolly season. It can be grey and full of gloom for many. The cough, the cold, and the shoveling snow make winter soooo slow. There is no place to go as most of the stores get shut due to the heavy snow. It gets dark in a blink of an eye resulting in no time to go play outside. Don't forget the frostbites or the frozen toes as the season also has a lot of lazy woes. Still, winter is my favorite season until I have to say bye-bye winter...

Mindful Entertainment

Recently my teacher acquainted me with the technique of drawing mindmaps to organize my thoughts and ideas. At first, I used to just keep writing whatever came into my head. But now, I have started making mind maps and dividing them into four categories. What, Why, Who, and How. This approach really refined my writing skills as now, I pen with effortless ease and efficiency. The pieces that I have written in this manner are ‘it’s never too late’ and ‘mindful entertainment?!’

 “Happiness consists more in conveniences of pleasure that occur every day than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.”

– Benjamin Franklin

Entertainment is an activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure, amusement and delight. It gladdens them by bringing smiles to their faces. Entertainment can be in a form of watching a movie or hearing someone sing - it all depends on interest too. 

Therapeutic music heals the biased judgments of the world. When I play the piano, it obliterates the distractions that otherwise would not let me enjoy the rhythmic notes of music.  Self-entertainment releases pent-up emotions and helps us get ecstatic. 

Entertainment plays an important part in our lives. Without entertainment, we feel tired and dull. As human beings, we need some kind of break from our daily jobs and routines. We know we are entertained when we are on top of the moon. For example, when I watch TV, read a novel, and play with my dog, I feel like I am on cloud nine. Entertainment can not always be available wherever you are but your interest can sustain your happiness in whichever situation you are in by letting you revel in either your own thoughts or your own imagination. Entertainment is a state of mind.

Recently my teacher Poonam Ma'am acquainted me with the technique of drawing mindmaps to organize my thoughts and ideas. At first, I used to just keep writing whatever came in my head. But now, I have started making mind maps and dividing them into four categories. What, Why, Who, and How. This approach really refined my writing skills as now, I pen with effortless ease and efficiency. The pieces that I have written in this manner are ‘it’s never too late' and ‘mindful entertainment?!’

Gracias Gratitude🙏🏻

 “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous. 

Gratitude comes from the Latin word “gratus” which means thankful.  Gratitude is the feeling of being grateful. Family is a gift that lasts forever and I am fortunate enough to have a loving and caring family. When you feel gratitude, you're pleased by what someone did for you and also pleased by the results. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences and also improve their health.

Of the many things in life that I am thankful for, love and tangible good are my assets. I love baking and the support of my mother in helping me bake is unconditional. Having a piano at home to learn and practice is not what everyone can afford. I am blessed to have one that gives me joy and comfort. Moreover, an experiment was done on some customers of a jewelry store who were called and thanked showed a 70% increase in their purchasing. In comparison, the customers who were called and shown a sale showed only a 30% increase in the purchase. In another study, it showed diners gave bigger tips to the servers who wrote thank you on the check. 

Louie Schwartzberg, in his youth, didn't have much money but had the time and a sense of wonder and so started shooting time-lapse photography. It would take him a month to shoot a 4 minute roll of film. He is the only photographer in the world who has been shooting time-lapse films 24 hours a day, 7 days a week continuously for over three decades. He never gave up because he had a sense of gratitude. He was thankful for the very little he had, unlike most of us. Through his film ‘Moving art’, he has been constantly striving to make us believe in the power of Gratitude. Heeding his advice, I have started my Gratitude journal, Shouldn't you? 

 

Limitless Potential

 Disability is an inability to see ability’ - Vikas Khanna 

Aimee Mullins is an athlete, actress, and public speaker who was born on 20th July 1975 with a medical condition that resulted in the amputation of both of her lower legs. But after going under the knife, is alive and kicking. Believe it or not, she participated in the paralympic in 1996, RUNNING!   

Ms. Mullins was told to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life but after years of persevering and practicing how to balance, she finally learned to walk with prosthetic legs and looks stunning in them too! People who don't know Aimee’s story may not even consider her disabled because she doesn't look disabled. She boasts of a collection of different heights of legs. Many of us may call her lucky as she can change her height whenever she pleases.

To continue with her success story, in 1999, Aimee began modeling and acting in 2002. Her TEDx talks have inspired many differently-abled women and men across the globe. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2017. On May 4, 2018, Ms. Mullins received an honorary degree and gave the commencement address at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

Aimee Mullins couldn't have ever been where she is today if it weren't for her bravery or her positive mindset. So let us not be afraid to push our limits and aim for the best. If there is anything, I have learned from Aimee Mullins, it is that hard work is the key to success.