Art: The gateway to happiness

My children are at the age where I am introducing them to formal lessons in different art forms. My daughter started Bharatanatyam and also violin classes. I have to be very creative in getting them to the classes. Why do I going through all this trouble?

Painting from http://www.ivanguaderrama.com/wall-decor.html

I really don't expect my children to be professional dancers, artists or musicians. My only goal as a mother is to equip my children with tools that can help them throughout their lives. Art can calm the mind and soothe the soul. When life is all work in an endless routine, art will break the monotony and make you feel alive and excited about life. Art will unite you in harmony with the rhythms of the universe. Art is the simplest and most accessible gateway to happiness. By teaching my children the arts, I am giving them a small key to instant happiness.

Azhage Azhage from Saivam: Lyrics and meaning

I heard this song for the first time and fell in love with the melody, the voice of the young singer and its classical feel. My mother-in-law translated the lyrics and now I love it even more for the message it brings that When there is love in your heart everything is beautiful. The song wakes us up to the inherent natural beauty and strengths in everything around us and in our own selves.

Beauty is all around us, we have to open our hearts to see it

Meaning : 
There is beauty in anything and everything. In the light of love, all is beautiful. Is it only rain that is beautiful? The scorching sun has its beauty too. Is it only the flower that is beautiful? The falling leaf too has its own beauty. The sight of a smile is beautiful. The silence that follows the end of speech is also beautiful. A lie told for a good cause is beautiful. Truth, is indeed very beautiful. When a Cuckoo sings its melodious birdsong, is there a need for music notes? When  a peacock trots and dances, is there a need for rhythmic steps? For a river to reach the ocean, does it need a companion. For the waves in the ocean to form its sounds, is there a need for language or grammar. When you commune with natural beauty, the whole world is beautiful. If you forget all your worries, this whole life is beautiful. The tender heart is a swing that sways to the left and right. The heart can be lost in happiness or drowned in sorrow. There is no meaning in pondering about the past and there is nothing greater than looking at the present and counting our blessings. The fragrance wafting off a blooming flower is so beautiful. But even better is the fragrance of love that flows from our hearts) 

Lyrics: Azhage Azhage 
Sa Sa Sa Sa Ni Sa Ri Sa Pa
Ma Ma Tha Tha Thasa Ri Pa Pa
Sa Sa Sa Sa Ni Sa Ri Sa Pa
Ma Ma Tha Tha Thasa Ri Pa Pa
Ga Ma Tha Ni Sa
Ni Ri Sa
 Azhage azhage edhuvum azhage, anbin vizhiyil ellaam azhage
mazhai mattumaa azhagu, sudum veyil kooda oru azhagu
malar mattumaa azhagu, vizhum ilai kooda oru azhagu

Punnagai veesidum paarvaigal azhagu
Vaarthaigal theergayil mounangal azhagu
Nanmaikku sollidum poigalum azhagu
Unmai adhuthaan meiyaai azhagu

Ga Ma Tha Ni Sa
Ni Ri Sa
Ga Ma Tha Ni Sa
Ga Ri Sa 

kuyil isai adhu paadida, swara varisaigal thevayaa
mayil nadanangal aadida, jadhi oligalum thevayaa
nadhi nadandhu sendrida, vazhi thunaithaan thevayaa
kadal alai athu pesida, mozhi ilakanam thevayaa

iyarkkaiyodu inaindhaal, ulagam muzhudhum azhagu
kavalai yaavum marandhaal, indha vaazhkai muzhudhum azhagu
Ga Ma Tha Ni Sa
Ni Ri Sa

azhage azhage edhuvum azhage

Janu Thaka Dheem
Nirisa Nipa Gamarisa
Janu Thaka Dheem
Madhani Paga Madhanisa
Thajum Thajanu Thaka Dheem
Maga Nireesa Ni Madhanipa Thaka Thajam Thajunuthaka

idhayam oru oonjale, idam valam adhu aadidum
inbathil adhu tholaindhidum, thunbathil adhu moolgidum
nadandhadhai naam naalume, ninaipadhil porul illaye
nadapathai naam enninaal, adhiavida uyarvillaye

pookkum poovil veesum, vaasam enna azhagu
adhayum thaandi veesum, nam nesam romba azhagu

Ga Ma Tha Ni Sa
Ni Ri Sa
Ga Ma Tha Ni Sa
Ga Ri Sa

azhage azhage edhuvum azhage, anbin vizhiyil ellaam azhage
mazhai mattumaa azhagu, sudum veyil kooda oru azhagu
malar mattumaa azhagu, vizhum ilai kooda oru azhagu

punnagai veesidum paarvaigal azhagu
vaarthaigal theergayil mounangal azhagu
nanmaikku sollidum poigalum azhagu
unmai adhuthaan meiyaai azhagu
Ga Ma Tha Ni Sa
Ni Ri Sa
Ga Ma Tha Ni Sa
Ga Ri Sa

Life's Simple Pleasures

I have a lot of simple pleasures strewn throughout my day. Working part-time lets me enjoy a lot of little things. I enjoy a half hour at my daughter's school watching the kids, picking up my kids from school, an afternoon nature walk, bath-time with the kids, chatting with moms on a play-date, my evening tea, a nice oil bath, my dance class, some quiet time to myself when I work from home.

What is life without these little pleasures in a day? Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things - Robert Brault 

“Living well is an art that can be developed: a love of life and ability to take great pleasure from small offerings.”  - Maya Angelou