Avoid fear?

      “And avoid fear, for fear is the consequence of every lie.”
                                     Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov



       Fear is a Lie.     It's hard to believe-but it's the truth.

Here is a little story: At the beginning of this semester in college, in English Class, we had to do a bunch of things like "Public Speaking" , "Group Discussion" and other things. And quite simply put, I was afraid - of the teacher, of my class mates, of the situation, of failing the class (yeah well you get the picture.) Fear has a way of distorting the size of the thing you're afraid of, in your head.
This fear of my teacher grew well out of hand, and soon I couldn't face her without my heart thumping uncontrollably. I remember my first speech being "The Fear of Public Speaking", simply because that is all that filled my head and there wasn't any room for anything else. 
 One of my friends from school, Lydia, who is also my class mate for this class-stood out with her excellent (and hence inspirational) speeches, simply because of her lack of fear.
Of late, however, I've come to know and love this teacher. I'm glad she sort of pushed us all onto the edges of our comfort zones and right over it. Because how else are we going to learn to fly? 

What I've learnt is this : Fear is just a consequence of a lie. We actually have no reason to be afraid. 

Open up your mind a little bit and watch this amazing video. 

  Once again, I'm putting this on this page, to remain as a reminder for me- that Life is Beautiful when you believe the Truth, so don't let fear confuse you. 

        "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified and do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go."

                                                                                            - Joshua 1: 9

 Love
   -Jeff  

Coraline( Film Review)

      I remember looking at the trailer of this film and wondering how odd the animated characters looked like. But now, after watching it, I'd describe the animation as a "refreshing change to what I'm used to".
    This story is about an unhappy young girl-Coraline, who moves away from her home town- into an 150 year old house, with busy parents who seem to have no time for her. She meets new people, but can seem to make a real connection with nobody. Nobody except, a little boy who (along with his black cat) has taken to stalking her. He gives her a doll which looks very similar to herself( and which he has stolen from his grandmother - who coincidentally, is the owner of the house Coraline's family now lives in).

   While looking around the House, she discovers, a small door on a wall in her house and immediately gets it open with her mothers help, only to find a brick wall on the other side. However at night time , she finds that the door leads to an alternate universe-type-place. Here, her mother is attentive, loving and cooks all the things she loves and oh wait...has buttons in the place of eyes.

     This new world, seems to have everything she could have hoped for. People who care, neighbours who are amazing. However she is able to return to her reality in the morning, when she wakes up - and is irked at how unsatisfying and imperfect everything around her is. Repeatedly she is warned not to go back in through the little door, but the other world is too enticing. 

All is not well for long however,and she realises this when her "other mother" puts before her the option of staying in the other world forever if only she'll let her eyes be sewn over by buttons. This suddenly jolts her back to her senses, and she realizes that her imperfect reality if Far Far better than this "so-called-perfect-yet-fake-other-world". 

It turns out the other world is not really a "world" but just her house and a little bit surrounding it-or at least the enamoured version of it. What follows is her fight back to reality and how she begins to see things differently 

   The Characters are extremely well portrayed and the message is loud and clear. Things are not always the way they seem. What we get is what's best for us, and when we go after something that we think is better (or what appears to be perfect for us)-it usually isn't.

 We find that the "other thing" is far worse than what we first had. Because what we've got is the Best- it's the way we look at it that needs to change. 

P.S. I am no professional " Film Reviewer" and this post is about putting across, what I learnt from this piece of work. SO, there are a lot of details that I've left out. Starting with : The film is based on a Book by "Neil Gaiman", of the same name. Check out more such details : here :D. 

P.P.S. Oh and I take no credit for any of the pictures used here :DThanks:)

Love

- Jeff 

Why Serve? :D

Hey :),
 Here is something I wrote for an English Test. It roughly and briefly explains why I think everybody should be involved in some form of positive "service"(and by that I mean, helping others out, keeping only the uplifting of others in mind - for absolutely no personal benefit.)

     Positive change in society begins only when its smallest and most important units - its individuals - begin to think and act positively. Citizens involved in service begin to understand that the world is much bigger than themselves and their problems. They also begin to obtain a different perspective- one which helps them see that their lives needn't be wasted, but can be full of joy and be used to change other lives as well. By this, both the one who is served and the one who serves is benefited. If we want our county to change, we need to see that we are an integral part of it, and by our actions show those around us, through service. 

I know I've said "for absolutely no personal benefit" and then , in the passage mentioned that " by this, both the one who is served and the one who serves if benefited" - and it sounds contradictory, but - it isn't . What I mean is personal benefit will roll in once we focus on other things, besides ourselves. 
    
   I'm not saying that I am an somebody who is an extremely experienced person in the field of Service. 
Au contraire , I am aware of how much I painfully lack in giving back to the society. But I will strive, to maybe become that person someday. One of the main reasons for my posting this here, on this blog, is so that it remains (for however long this page may exist) as a reminder for myself. 

 // Have been Missing In Action for several months mostly because I have been focussing on growth and taking a break-in general. I'm SUPER EXCITED to be writing here again :). Thanks for reading. God Bless :D
Love
-jeff