Basil's Brain

Seven shades, a soothing sight. Perfectly painted, across the vast blue sky. Oh! how pretty and magical you are. Why are you called 'rainbow'? Are you a delightful drawing, after the rain? Springing forth smiles, bringing wonderment... Never failing to amaze, casting a spell for all to gaze. Seven shades of balm... may you always remain to calm.

While flipping through the pages of a women's magazine, i spotted a website that brought back memories... i read Sun Tzu's "The Art of War For Managers" fifteen years ago.It was recommended by a friend and i thoroughly enjoyed the contents of which truly intrigued me. Needless to say Sun Tzu's wisdom left a lasting impression on me. The website in the women's magazine however suprised me as it was www.suntzuforwomen.com . It made me curious to find out if there were different strategies for women to 'fight wars'. i checked out the website and memories came rushing back.i tried but failed to notice any difference though...hmm. Oops!. Pardon me but for those of you who are not familiar with 'The Art of War'; it is about Sun Tzu, an army general whose brilliant strategies are incorporated and practised by many companies around the world. i'm no manager but what fascinated and left a mark on me were his principles that apply to daily life...

A woman's tear... what causes it? one wonders, worries and sometimes wrongfully accuses. A woman's tear... is sacred because she cries when she's happy, tears of joy roll down her cheeks, tears of pleasure, tears of pride, tears from uncontrollable laughter! There are also tears of pain, tears of heartache, crying for loss and tears of dissappointment, tears of sorrow and misery, crying to vent her frustrations and failure.... A woman's tear... symbolises her strength; for crying releases pent up emotions from within. She cries to ease her constricting chest and sighs a relief afterwards. A woman's tear... may also be her weapon towards manipulative endeavours, to conquer and capture all that she craves. A woman's tear... is her GOD given gift, to shed when she finds true happiness from just being a woman!. The power it yields and the magic it holds... A woman's tear... is her solace and solitude a secret and serene balm to soothe her ...

i was absolutely cross with a phony smiling female yesterday and what irked me the most was the fact that she could deliver a 'put down' with an artificial laugh which grated on my nerves!.i admit my temper gets the better of me and when that happens, sarcasm drips. Unfortunately, this creature that got under my skin is so dense that my sarcasm eluded her and instead i get her phony smiles...arghh. This is not my first encounter with someone who by some magical inborn device can summon artificial laughter and have a phony smile plastered on their dishonest faces.i bet most of you have come across these people and i am not talking about politicians or smooth talking sales people. My first encounter with a phony smile was from a politician, a former boss.i stared and stared and almost blurted out  to ask her if something was wrong with her face that particular day...too much foundation?.i recounted the incident to a dear friend with much knowledge in this kind of matters.She sa...

What is your favourite smell? what makes you inhale deeply and let out a sigh of pleasure? i have quite a few favourite scents that invoke serenity, provide pleasure and definitely lifts my mood. i love the smell of dry earth when it rains...i inhale deeply and feel one with Mother Earth. The tiny jasmine buds with their potent perfume transports my mind to all that is erotic and sensual. Sandalwood incense truly makes my senses alive and i cherish every sip of my Earl Grey tea by constantly inhaling the bergamot infused beverage. My list is quite endless because i believe scents really can and do give immense pleasure and satisfaction to a tired, anxious or even disgruntled soul. It commands attention if that is one seeks. Scents calms and quiets the mind too which is why many use it for meditation and quiet reflection. i will always remember Al Pacino in the movie, 'Scent of A Woman' especially the dance scene. i have a habit of always taking a whiff of my food as smell...

i  don't see kids playing games like hopscotch, skipping ropes, hide and seek and other fun filled activities outdoors or with friends anymore. Do you? Oh!,what joy it was to play for hours without a care.i sometimes yearn for that carefree moments spent with friends from the neighbourhood.How we could just invite a newcomer to join without a second thought.... i did a survey among my teen students, nephews and nieces, friends' kids on why they no longer played such outdoor games. Some were totally clueless about the games i mentioned above. Most said their parents don't allow them out for safety reasons and mixing with 'strangers' aka neighbours. Half of them looked at me as if i was from the stone age and said why go out and sweat when games of all manner can be found at their fingertips via modern technology. Needless to say i came away stumped and sad. No amount of cajoling can bring them out of the stupor of what modernity and technology have wired into t...

We live in a hurry now...sometimes it is mind boggling!. The only time we actually stop is when something bad happens either to us or near us or even in another country- sad is it not? but so frighteningly true. We then start telling ourselves how precious this life is.To call a sister or visit an old school friend.Nowadays,it is to remember to call your parents or visit your grandparents and make time for your family!. i have always felt family is important but along the way my own family members have dissapointed me and questioned my belief in staying connected.Ironically life has a way of teaching you to stay true to what you believe in even if the rest are not with you. i penned the piece below after much tears and a turbulent time in my own family sometime in 2004 but i am still hoping and praying for the blessing. FAMILY Farce or familiarity? Fuzzy feeling or frustrations? Foundation or fallacy? Fruition or foolhardy? Friends forever or foes till the end? F...

Wishing everyone a beautiful, blessed and bountiful New Year! Well, a new calendar year begins and with it countless expectations and experiences await. There will be the bumps and valleys to walk...some will be pleasant and others not so. Walk i must and face the challenges.To be a better person and live joyfully. i find that prayer is most helpful and calming in the noisy din of everyday life.i believe in GOD and somehow i am very attuned to the powerful energy manifested in the female form. It was during one of my morning walks that i was inspired and wrote a tribute which i hope will give strength, courage and insight to everyone in good and bad times. Mother, you are the face of compassion the heart of vision. Mother, your gentle face provides calm your kind eyes...my soul's balm. Mother, you are my strength in the face of wrath you are the tender breeze amidst a thunderstorm. Mother, talking to you gives me courage to trudge along life's many trough...