BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

PARADOX OF CHOICE The paradox of choice encapsulates the bewildering notion that as the number of choices available to individuals increases, their satisfaction with their final decision decreases. Initially introduced by psychologist Barry Schwartz, this concept highlights how an abundance of options can lead to decision paralysis, anxiety and ultimately, a sense of regret. In today's modern...

ABOUT THE POEM: The poem LOVE’S TOWERING INFERNO is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. The poem expresses a sense of solace and comfort in thinking about someone's virtues, presumably a loved one, while the poet is surrounded by the destructive force of a forest fire. The vivid imagery of the fire is compared to a golden rope, evoking images of opulence and wealth. Despite t...

 FASCINATING FACTS - ON CLAPPING Generally, we clap when we want to praise someone or something. It is a part of appreciation but there is a lot more to it than we think! Clapping has been proven to provide a lot of health benefits that most of us are not aware of! Just like laughing therapy, clapping therapy is also becoming popular as an easy and effective healing practice. There are so many way...

ABOUT THE POEM: The poem VEILS OF SORROW is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. In this poem, a companion of a young girl addressing the girl’s foster mother reveals a hidden truth about a distant mountain where the chieftain, the girl’s lover resides. In the surrounding jungle, the local people dig for tubers and leave pits uncovered. The pits are then filled with golden blossom...

FASCINATING FACTS - YOU ARE UNIQUE Indeed, each individual is inherently unique, as evidenced by the distinct characteristics that set them apart.  No Two Faces Are Similar Facial features, shaped by a combination of genetics result in a vast array of appearances, making it improbable to find two identical faces.  No Two Voices Are Similar Similarly, the nuances in vocal cords and speech patterns...

ABOUT THE POEM: The poem LOVE’S CHASM is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. The poem expresses the lover's longing for someone special who is far away. This person, described as having beautiful eyes and graceful shoulders holds the lover’'s affection. The lover's heart aches with desire, comparing their emotions to a peasant with minimal resources tending a small fi...

ON EXTENSIVE READING Jawaharlal Nehru,Ex-Prime Minister of India  is  a bibliophile and voracious reader. It is reported in one of his biographies that in spite of his busy schedule he read about 500 pages a day. Is it humanly possible to read 500 pages a day? Yes, it is possible and how I'll explain now. Every paragraph will have a topic sentence and as a rule, the first sentence or the last...

ABOUT THE  POEM: The poem CLANDESTINE LOVE is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. Amidst a marshy setting, an egret resembling a rain-soaked water lily is on the hunt for prey. Spotting the egret, a crab feels fear and escapes into its hiding place beneath the roots of a screw pine. The poem draws a parallel between the crab's flight and an ox breaking free from a tether. The...

FASCINATING FACTS OF LIFE SENSE OF APPRECIATION  Dear Listeners, From today for some more weeks in the Wednesday Episodes, some interesting facts of life will be talked about to make your lives lovable and livable and everything is doable. In today’s episode, I will talk to you about Sense of Appreciation which is an art in itself. Do you know a secret: Everyone craves for appreciation from one ye...

ABOUT THE POEM: The poem “FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT” is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. The poem paints a vivid scene where herons have alighted on marudu trees near fields. These herons surround ponds with azure waters, reflecting the beauty of the surroundings. The ponds are teeming with fish, offering a bountiful feast for the herons to enjoy. Amidst this serene setting,...

TONGUE TWISTERS 5 TONGUE TWISTERS 1 “Surely Sylvia swims!” shrieked Sammy surprised. “Someone should show Sylvia some strokes so she shall not sink.” REPEAT “Surely Sylvia swims!” shrieked Sammy surprised. “Someone should show Sylvia some strokes so she shall not sink.” TONGUE TWISTERS 2 Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons—balancing them badly. REPEA...

ABOUT THE POEM: This is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature titled " A SUBLIME REVERIE". In this poem, the experience of a dream that wakes the lover from a pleasant slumber is vividly brought out with a great poetic nuance. Despite the disturbance, the dream reveals a fascinating image of the lover’s beloved. The sweetheart is described as having a dark complexion, a de...

PRACTICE: TONGUE TWISTER 1 There was a young fisher named Fischer Who fished for a fish in a fissure. The fish with a grin, Pulled the fisherman in; Now they're fishing the fissure for Fischer. Repeat There was a young fisher named Fischer Who fished for a fish in a fissure. The fish with a grin, Pulled the fisherman in; Now they're fishing the fissure for Fischer. TONGUE TWISTER 2 Suddenl...

ABOUT THE POEM: The poem FLEETING LOVELINESS is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature. The poem portrays the scene of storks descending upon a creek after its waters recede, feasting on fish in the slushy bed and perching on the dunes. These storks resemble the king's soldiers with their vibrant attire adorned in colorful plumage. The girl urges the friend to inform the lover wh...

PRACTICE: TONGUE TWISTERS 3 Of all the felt I ever felt, I never felt a piece of felt which felt as fine as that felt felt, when first I felt that felt hat's felt. If one doctor doctors another doctor, does the doctor who doctors the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor he is doctoring doctors? Or does he doctor the doctor the way the doctor who doctors doctors?

ABOUT THE POEM : The poem conveys a message about the roles of men and women in life, emphasizing the importance of work for men and  nurturing the family  the prime duty and nature of women. The speaker suggests that men find purpose in their work, while women bring love and warmth to the home. The friend consoles the woman who is feeling sad with an emphatic reassurance that her lover will desis...

PRACTICE: TONGUE TWISTERS I cannot bear to see a bear Bear down upon a hare. When bare of hair he strips the hare, Right there I cry, "Forbear!" How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much wood as a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

ABOUT THE POEM : The poem captures the girl’s profound sadness over the departure of a friend who only stayed for a single day. The girl has been grieving for seven days, feeling her emotions slowly melt away like wax consumed by fire. Despite the brevity of the friendship, the impact it had on the speaker is evident in the ongoing sorrow. Ultimately, the poem explores the ephemeral nature of frie...

TONGUE TWISTER It is a phrase or sentence which is hard to speak fast, usually because of alliteration or a sequence of nearly similar sounds. It helps develop speech skills & helps in speech therapy .  To get the full effect of a tongue twister you should try to repeat it several times, as quickly as possible TONGUE TWISTER 1 She sells seashells by the seashore. The shells she sells are surel...

COMMUNICATION GAP - A FUNNY ANECDOTE One day a little guy came to his dad and asked him what is sex. The father was thrilled, shocked, flummoxed, flabbergasted and took him to a private room and told him all about sex with the help of the biology book: Childbirth Reproduction Adam & Eve story for about half an hour Finally, the little boy wanted to know where to write all this because a small...

ABOUT THE POEM : In this poem, a young woman expresses her profound devotion to her beloved to her dear friend. She compares the beauty of their love to the enchanting sight of the moon reflecting upon the sea and the ethereal waterfalls cascading down majestic mountains. She sees her lover as a radiant sun and her own shoulders as graceful as nerunji flowers. With unwavering affection, she confid...

 HEALTH AND FITNESS - EXERCISE PART SIX sweat : The physical process of perspiring or excreting moisture from the pores of the skin, usually as a result of physical exertion, elevated body temperature or emotional stress. Tabata™ : Tabata is a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout method developed by Japanese scientist Dr. Izumi Tabata. It consists of short bursts of intense exercise fol...

ABOUT THE POEM: The essence of the poem FORSAKEN FLEETING VOWS, a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature lies in the tender affection and promise shared between two lovers. The lover adores the flowing hair of the beloved, expressing a deep attachment. He assures her that when she attains maturity, she will become a cherished presence in his home. The lover hails from the hills. Akin t...

HEALTH AND FITNESS - EXERCISE PART FIVE push-up: A type of exercise where a person lies facing the ground and pushes their body up using their arms, primarily targeting the chest, shoulders and triceps. regimen: A prescribed set of activities, exercises or behaviors followed regularly to achieve a specific goal, often related to health or fitness. rep: Short for repetition, it refers to the comple...

ABOUT THE POEM: The poem speaks about the notion that marriages are predetermined and questions our ability to judge the worthiness of a groom and the soothsayer’s premonition of the proposed marriage. It portrays a daughter who defies the predictions of a fortune teller and ponders her choice of the groom while gazing at the blue lilies of spring with a heavy heart and shedding tears copiously. I...