Princess Diana Remembered

With the royal wedding only a week away, it got me to think about the top royal weddings in history. There’s Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly; there’s Prince Frederick of Denmark and Mary Donaldson; but there’s one wedding that is one of the greatest and most memorable weddings of all time—the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Since her announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles, she became a public figure. This held true even till after her death with the weeklong display of public mourning. She truly was the ‘People’s princess’ who captured everyone’s heart.

One of the greatest accomplishments of Princess Diana was without any doubt the fact that she did succeed in making the world a better place for a lot of people all over the world. She did this through her active role in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines; raise AIDS awareness and any charity work involving children of any kinds. No matter what the charity or disease, Princess Diana had a rare ability to make people happy just by talking to them, shaking their hands, or giving a hug. Her ability to listen, look directly into the eye, and talk to a person in a way that made one feel that you were the only person that she was at all interested in.

Even though she can’t play an active role in making the world a better place, she continues to help many today. Through her inspiring words her presence still lingers, making her the lifetime favorite princess.

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.

Life is just a journey.

Only do what your heart tells you.

Family is the most important thing in the world.

If men had to have babies, they would only ever have one each.

If you find someone you love in your life, then hang on to that love.

Any sane person would have left long ago. But I cannot. I have my sons.

Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can.

Everyone of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.

HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug: Heaven knows they need it.

Hugs can do great amounts of good - especially for children.

I don't go by the rule book... I lead from the heart, not the head.

I knew what my job was; it was to go out and meet the people and love them.

I think the biggest disease the world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved. I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month, but I can give. I am very happy to do that, I want to do that.

I wear my heart on my sleeve. 

I'd like to be a queen in people's hearts but I don't see myself being queen of this country.

Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life - a kind of destiny. Whoever is in distress can call on me. I will come running wherever they are.

When you are happy you can forgive a great deal.

Princess Diana will always be remembered with these touching & loving words.  

A Life Long Impression

As all my friends and best friends talk about tassels, tickets, invitations and black robes, all I can think about is how I won’t be graduating with them. I don’t consider myself unlucky though, because I am lucky to have met them. I can’t sit with them or turn my tassel from one side to the other… no big deal. Because even though I can’t spend those three hours with them, I get to spend my life with them. 

As happy as I am that my close friends will be closing one chapter of their life, and starting a brand new and shinier one, I’m saddened. As they count down the days until their freedom from essays, assignments and boring lectures, I am remembered of the few weeks, few days left of all of us being together.

The tears, the loves, the memories will all be cherished. But most of all, I will cherish the friendships. Some friends leave an impression on us that will stay with us forever. My friends have left footprints on my heart.

Congratulations to Souvonik Adhya, Zarna Doshi, Jaskaran Nat & Richa Patel. Good luck in the real world! 

Joy of Giving

Remember those childhood days when you were gifted a box of chocolate by a dear family friend and your mother asked you to share it with everyone at home? Although you may have done so reluctantly, it must have surely taught you the importance of sharing. From sharing our toys with friends in the neighborhood to lending lecture notes to pals in college, we’ve been familiar with the practice of sharing. But somehow as we become adults, the concept of giving and sharing seems to get increasingly alien.

Just yesterday, I gave my precious bunny to a family, making a little girl’s dream come true! Although, it was painful, the act was rewarding. I cried a lot. I cried on the way to drop of the bunny. I cried when I held her for the last time. I cried when I shifted the supplies into the new owner’s car. But not until I saw the look on the 8-year-old’s face did I smile.

Dominique didn’t know she was getting a bunny. When her mom asked Dominique to come around to my car, she screamed of joy. She jumped on her mom and climbed her way up to wrap her arms around her mom while singing, “thank you, thank you, thank you.” At this moment, I knew I had made the right decision. I loved knowing that I made a little girl happy by making a little sacrifice myself.

To Baby---

I miss you. You were a fantastic pet and a fantastic friend. I have little tokens of your love still lying around my room—the half eaten up remote control, your favorite blanket and your enormous appetite for Special K cereal. You were always reliable, full of love, true in your affection, predictable in your actions, grateful and loyal. I will miss your binkies. I will always love you. I hope you have a wonderful time with your new family. I will always be thinking of you.

Become Inspired

I like to keep my work space to a minimum when it comes to clutter. So I try to get rid of things off my desk or find a new place for them in my room. Sometimes I place items anywhere to keep the area clean, even though it means that sometimes I can't find it later when I actually need it. Sometimes if I can't find another location, I simply throw it away. But there is one item on my desk that I can not delete or relocate. It's a quoted frame that reads:

"There is always a way when things look like there's no way. There's a way to do the impossible, to survive the in survivable. There's always a way. And you, you and I have this in common. We're inspired. In the face of the impossible, we're inspired. So if I can offer one piece of advice to you, my friend and my love. Today if you become frightened instead become inspired." 

There are so many times when I'm frightened. When the phone rings with news about cancer. When I cannot get a hold of my parents and my mind goes to the worse possible scenario. When I get an e-mail about a friend that is struggling through something about her life. When I hear other student's stories about their less than perfect lives--yet they are at school every day working as hard and smart as they can. And so I think through all this scary and crazy stuff, I'm supposed to be inspired? 

However, I think the quote is meant to inspire me to be brave. To be inspired to make a difference. To be inspired because it feels so much better than being frightened. And mostly to be inspired because then I can see the world through a whole different perspective--and that is beautiful.