Melanie is the host of SYW

QUESTIONS;

Do you believe in second chances?

I do. At first mistake or mixup, I give the benefit of the doubt. But when things go the same way, it is time to change tactics. I love this saying, “ Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me” so if we let others play us for a fool more than once, it’s our fault. So no third chance!

Is your glass half full or half empty?

Oh, my glass is always half full, much to the irritation of my family and friends ( sometimes). As they say, I’m an incurable optimist, and even when things go wobbly for a while, I still manage to see the bright side of things.

Would you rather someone be honest and hurt your feelings or lie to protect them?

Now this is a thought provoking question! I don’t demand 100% honesty when I want reassurance. When it is a matter of relationships, I do want people to be totally honest because we cannot build relationships on lies. But when I ask how I’m looking in my new dress/ haircut etc, a little fibbing is expected.

When have you felt your biggest adrenaline rush?

That hasn’t happened lately so I have to dig deep in the past. The one incident that comes to my mind was when we were traveling by Jeep on a narrow hilly road. There was a drop on my side of the road which was probably many hundreds of meters down. The road itself was one and a half lanes and we were petrified. That was I think my biggest adrenaline rush. And I don’t want to do it again!

GRATITUDE SECTIONWhat are you grateful for?

Last Wednesday was Eid and we had a wonderful family get-together. The Eid day went so well and we also met a few cousins as well. I also had a great visit from my blogging friend, Dr. Tanya.

➰➰➰

#Keepitalive

#SYW

Melanie is the host of SYW

Welcome to Share Your World! 

QUESTIONS

Are justice and the law the same thing?

Justice is when the criminals get their just desserts. Law is what oversees this process. Both are not perfect but we can only hope that just laws are made and implemented so that justice is served.

Which kitchen appliance do you use every day?

Stove top, refrigerator, microwave and my electric kettle.

What is one thing you’ll never do again?

Run, sit on the ground, use a treadmill or any thing which requires me to bend my knees beyond 90* angle. I have been prohibited to do these after my bi-lateral knee replacement.

What event escalated very quickly?

Anything where human emotions or stupidity was in the picture. If people had followed the covid sop’s things may have been better. If countries have sane and intelligent leaders, wars would not happen. It’s all about being in control of our emotions and using the brain.

GRATITUDE  (As always, optional)

Feel free to share something that made you feel good from the past week!

We are in the third week of July. It is Eid tomorrow and my kids will be coming over for lunch. The weather is nice as monsoons have started. My plants are thriving.

Thank you Melanie for these interesting questions.

#Keepitalive

#SYW

Melanie is the host of SYW

QUESTIONS;

Is there inherent order in nature or is it all chaos and chance?

I feel that nature is the most organized machine in the universe. Some things that feel chaotic to us are a part of the bigger plan. From birth to death and rebirth everything is meticulously coded in the basic units of nature. The only unpredictable element in nature is the man! Human beings are the ones creating chaos because we act arrogantly and without thought to how it will affect other creatures around us.

What is infinity?

Infinity is endlessness! It’s how we feel when we are trapped in a boring situation or with a person we would rather not be with!

Does observation alter an event?

Like “a watched kettle never boils”? Scientifically this has not been proved! If someone tells you that it’s true, don’t believe them.

Do you like balloons?

I like them, especially the helium-filled ones. When any of my grandkids have a birthday, we get loads of balloons for them. One day I’d love to travel in a hot air balloon!

GRATITUDE SECTION (as always optional)

Yesterday was America’s Birthday, does your country celebrate a “Founder’s Day” or other traditions like that?

We do celebrate Independence Day on 14th of August. It’s the day when the British left the subcontinent of India, dividing it into two countries, Pakistan and India. There was a lot of unwarranted bloodshed for months following this event and many families suffered horrendous losses. We remember the sacrifices of those people and pledge to do better for our country.

On a side note, today is my 36th wedding anniversary! It’s been quite a journey and I am grateful for all the blessings that have been bestowed on us as a family.

♾♾♾

#Keepitalive

#SYW

Melanie is the host of SYW

QUESTIONS;

What’s the worst commercial you’ve recently seen (or heard)? Why was it so bad?

I really don’t watch tv and avoid the ads specially. But the ones I dislike the most are those from the law firms, telling people that they can make a lot of money if they have been injured in an accident. It’s wrong on so many levels.

What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it?

Studying, learning a trade, building a career, all are very lengthy processes but they are worth every minute of it. Many people regret not doing this when they had the chance.

Have you ever smiled at a stranger and then wished you hadn’t? Why or why not?

I try to smile at strangers when I’m out and about, some smiles back while others often ignore it. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But I still did. Now however, it doesn’t matter because few people can tell if someone is smiling under the mask!

What do you think is the nastiest tasting food? (This one might be a recycled question. It’s familiar to me anyhow)

Everyone has different tastes and preferences. I dislike red meat and wouldn’t eat it at all. So for me, that is a nasty taste. For someone else maybe the veggies I love may taste nasty.

GRATITUDE SECTION (as always, optional)Are you at peace with yourself?   Your world?   Please share, whether you said “yay” or “nay”! 

Yes, thankfully, I am at peace with myself. As for the world around me, not so much because I know we can do much better. But my theory is that instead of being dissatisfied with everything around us, we should try and do our part in improving it. It could be a small thing but each and every thing counts.

Otherwise, living becomes a difficult chore!

#Keepitalive

#SYW

Melanie is the host of SYW

Welcome to Share Your World!

QUESTIONS

What activity instantly calms you?

It Walking and meditating calms me the most. But if the time is not right for walking, playing a game on my phone does it too.

What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve done lately?

Last Saturday I went and got my hair treated to a keratin treatment. It makes them super flat for a few weeks and then they look nice. The reason for this sudden decision was that I couldn’t take their supper curly plus frizzy condition anymore. So I took a plunge to splurged on them. Now I don’t have to do anything to them. It’s wash and go.

If people receive a purple heart for bravery, what would other color hearts represent? (Example yellow heart = cowardice)

A blue heart for those who conserve water 💙

A green heart for those who work for forest conservation 💚

A red heart for those who show their love of humanity by working on its unity ❤️

A yellow heart for sunny temperament who spreads cheer 💛

What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done or witnessed someone else do?

I have seen my older daughter raise her son as a single parent, look after her home, study for her Ph.D. degree and survive all that life threw at her in the five years she was in the USA.

GRATITUDE SECTION (Always optional)

How do you show gratitude to the people you respect?

I am grateful for people who are deserving of my respect, in my life. For those who have passed away, I honor them by following their legacy. Those who are alive, I try to support them in whatever way I can. Being kind is I think the best way to show respect.

Lovely Memorial Day share questions Melanie. Thanks

#Keepitalive

#SYW

Melanie is the host of SYW

QUESTIONS

What are you most proud of in the last year?

My proudest moment was when my eldest daughter completed her Ph.D. program and was awarded a doctorate in artificial intelligence.

I’m also quite proud of the fact that I survived 2020 and almost half of 2021 without going full-out crazy!

If you see a puddle on the ground, do you walk around it or give in to the child within and splash about?

I walk around as I don’t want to slip. Slipping or falling is really not good for a person with two artificial knees.

Do you feel free? Why or why not?

I do feel free. I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. When I turned 40, my mother’s younger sister gave me this priceless advice; After 40, don’t give a damn about what others may think or say about you. It doesn’t matter and shouldn’t concern you. I took her advice to heart and I feel free to make my choices. I feel no pressure from the society or family and friends concerning my behavior, dressing, or how I spend my time.

What life skills are rarely taught but are extremely useful?

How to deal with a mother-in-law! Lol!

But jokes aside we seldom learn how to convey our thoughts in a positive manner, without hurting others or putting them on defensive. This is a game changer in adult life and everyone should learn this. Communication is very important and good communication skills are worth the time we spend on learning them.

GRATITUDE SECTION (always optional)

Please share some gratitude with everyone!   There are lots of reasons just now I think!

My grandson has completed his primary school and will now start middle school after the summer break.

And we may be adopting a rescue cat in a week’s time! 😻

Thank you so much Melanie for these lovely questions.

#Keepitalive

#SYW

Melanie is the host of SYW

QUESTIONS;

What inanimate object do you wish you could eliminate from existence?

Hmm…. this is a tough one. I guess something that is mostly useless for everyone like an old-fashioned handset ( telephone). As I know very few people who use it now.

What tells you the most about a person?

I think their shoes! It’s not my own idea, I heard it somewhere that how a person wears and looks after his shoes tells us a lot about them. Like how clean they are or are they in good condition. I have noticed that we can also tell the financial condition of the person as well from their shoes.

What is something you thought would be easy until you tried it?

Writing stories. I used to make up stories in my mind but when it comes to writing them, so that they make good reading and also good sense, it’s not that easy.

What ridiculous and untrue, yet slightly plausible, theories can you come up with for the cause of common ailments like headaches or cavities?

You can get a headache if you watch Trump on your television. Or read too many tweets from him!

Eating celery can cause dental cavities, as it’s tough to chew!

One can loose ones mind if one becomes addicted to online games ( this is probably true!)

GRATITUDE SECTION (always optional)What are you grateful for since they ‘cured’ Covid?   (yeah, I realize it’s not cured.  But at least the vaccine is available and restrictions have eased up in many places.  If that’s a good thing or not remains to be seen I suppose).

We still have all the restrictions in place and all the SOPs still to follow because there is a massive surge of covid cases in my country. Though all the three adults in my household have been vaccinated, we still are being very careful.

It was Eid last Thursday and we just had dinner with my children and their families. No big get togethers till we get lots more people vaccinated.

Thanks Melanie for these fun questions.

#Keepitalive

#SYW