Meeting Sayali, Sayalee and Hope!

Sayali/Sayalee/Sailie is my favourite name. Little did I know, or coincidence as it may be called, I generally get along well with people of that name. Sayali Rajadhyaksha is a food and lifestyle blogger that I follow. Her recipes on "Anna hech purnabrahma" (https://shecooksathome.wordpress.com) are amazing. Her writing styling is conversational. Her lifestyle blog - saree and other stories has a lot of stories about saree, jewellery and travel. Through one of her posts, I came to know about a silver jewellery brand named aadyaa. Aadyaa is a silver jewellery brand by Sayalee Marathe. One of the interesting things I bought on aadyaa.com is a silver hope ring. 

This weekend Sayali and Sayalee organized a saree and jewellery exhibition at Cache Art Gallery, Bandra. I had bought one saree last time and it was amazing. Even if I didn't buy, looking at the collection is a treat to the eyes if you love saree and jewellery. I also had to a Poetry event in the nearby so I could do both these things in one trip.

Aadyaa hope ring inspires me- so why not make a poetry on hope on the day I meet the designer of this hope ring. So this is what hope means , talking from the point of view of a person of who has been rendered on a wheelchair due to a strong viral infection

What hope means to me-

I thought I should give up

Things wouldn't work out they said

Somewhere a force said "Go ahead dear , All will be well"

"You will never be able to walk" the doctor said

I sulked and cried uncontrollably that moment

But no I can't give up so easy,my inner force said

I will continue my physio and do all what it takes to get up on my feet and walk ahead

Every moment that I thought of giving up,the next moment my inner voice said "Don't"

That is hope I think 

The inner voice that tells you to go ahead and walk freely 

That hope is the positive amidst all negatives

When hope is lost all is lost

Don't give up on hope dear

Hold on a bit, hope and work towards a better future

Sharing some pictures with Sayali and Sayalee.. I was so mesmerized looking at the collection that I missed taking pictures of the same.

-Dhanashree

Poetry for a cause

There are two causes that I feel I should do something about. They are about helping and working towards women empowerment and disabled (specially abled ) people. I have been  helping these causes by some direct monetary contributions and indirectly by buying stuff from them. But that is not much in my opinion. In terms of doing on the ground work for them, I am not able to devote much time. Today I performed poetry in Cuckoo Club open mic  hosted by Sonali Kapoor talking about these causes.

The first poem talks from the point of view of a disabled person. A student who was rendered  wheelchair bound post an accident. A moment that changed his life and brought basic mobility to a standstill. How does he feel? How does he gather the courage to move ahead? How does he feel?

I am just "Differently" abled

 I was born to win or so it seemed
Until a car knocked down all my dreams
Trying to save a little boys life
I myself lost all my limbs that time

From a four-wheeler to a wheelchair
Life was cruel, it seemed so unfair
My brain and heart were still the same
Carrying all the same dreams with them
My limbs prevented me from moving forward quickly
My mind went into a train of negative thoughts quickly

Why was I feeling so bad?
Or were people's sympathetic looks making me feel so
I don't know
But someone would have definitely helped me when faced with a small stair or so
A small stair never seemed so big
Until I was wheelchair bound indeed
Was it the obstacle of the stairs
Or was it in my head again
I don't know
I decided to give my best shot to life again

Continuing with my studies as well as treatment
I promised myself to never feel let down again
I received help from a few well wishers
I was just differently abled they concurred

Diversity and Inclusion seem big words
We all can do a bit for such stuff
Today I want to tell you one thing
I am not disabled, I am differently abled
On behalf of all such people, I urge you one thing
Do not show sympathy , just help and show empathy

My next poem is on the topic of women empowerment. Women are taught to be perfect , because of which we overthink before taking any new venture. Women are also judged a lot ; sometimes also let down and judged by other women themselves. What should women do to not get carried away by negative thought? I think they just need to ask themselves " What would I do if I weren't afraid? Just have the right attitude. As Viktor Frankl has said "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way."

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

What would you do if you weren't afraid
Start  accepting you are not perfect instead

Its ok to take that plunge
When you are 90% sure of success

Some things will work
Some things won't
Let the disappointments not deter you
Or the successes flatter you
Keep working on the next big move
That you would do if you weren't afraid

Someone will be more talented
Someone will have more family support
Someone will be richer
But you are unique because of your attitude

For everything can be take away
But your attitude to respond in a given set of circumstances
Finally determines what you become
It is something that no one can take away from you
Go ahead dear in your fearless path
For what would you do if you were not afraid

-Dhanashree
https://dsaidso.blogspot.com

My father's day poetry open mic

I participated in a poetry/storytelling open mic named #Anthem conducted by Artociate this Sunday. It was special for me since it was father's Day and I could begin the open mic by dedicating a poem to my dad. My dad has been and will always be one of my greatest pillar of support. I presented my four poems in that open mic based on the common theme of "Father's Day". They are as follows

The first one is for my dad( this poem is the end of this link here)- http://dsaidso.blogspot.com/2018/06/fathers-day.html?m=1


On father's day, we see messages overflowing with Happy father's day. What would someone whose father is no more feel like? Trying to pen my thoughts from the perspective of a girl whose father is no more.  My second poem on that one-- http://dsaidso.blogspot.com/2018/06/i-wish-to-see-dad-calling.html?m=1


Any image or depiction of parents , at least by Indian society standards portrays them in a very positive light, who would sacrifice anything and everything for their children. What about a dad who is so full of himself to the extent I call such a dad a narcissist dad. Penning a poetry from the perspective of a child who has a narcissistic father.  Such a child would struggle to even share with someone how his/her dad really is. Nobody would believe this. Hence trying to pen down the feelings of such a child-http://dsaidso.blogspot.com/2018/06/my-dad-is-really-like-this.html?m=1

This poetry is for my husband , who always had a chill , carefree attitude but after our daughter Swara was born changed into a responsible and loving father -http://dsaidso.blogspot.com/2018/06/to-carefree-yet-loving-dad.html?m=1

--Dhanashree