Life’s five lessons amongst the many more…

A Very Happy New Year 2016 to all my blog readers!

At the start of each year, I list down my goals, diligently. Though I do try to accomplish them, many a times I do not accomplish all of my goals.

Nevertheless, I do learn many lessons out of my experiences during the course of the year. Here are some of the five lessons I have learnt in 2015 besides many more…

Lesson 1: Gratitude. Since childhood, I could always remember the good deeds others had done towards me. And I have realized that these are blessings from the Divine showered on me. Thus I have decided to have gratitude in life, towards the various people who have touched my life in many ways which may be small acts of kindness, respect or love and be thankful for this.

  

Lesson 2: Problems. It is basic human tendency to shun problems and run away from them instead of tackling these. However this is all in the mind. If one decides to face the problems headlong and tackle it, it no longer remains a problem. So I have decided to remove the word ‘problem’ from my life’s dictionary.

Lesson 3: No to negative thoughts. I remember my Dad used to always tell us since childhood to ‘Be Positive’ and the Gods will listen to you by blessing you. What a beautiful thought! I am convinced that with positive thoughts, positive vibrations emanate around our surroundings, which in turn, drive off  negativity! 

Yes to being positive, No to being negative!

Lesson 4: Uplift yourself and others. I have come across some great women and men in my life from whom I have learnt one key lesson – treat others with respect and help the needy. Your status does not matter, the way one treats others with respect, matters most and I hope to continue so…

Lesson 5: Smile, yes, I have seen that a simple smile does wonders by breaking barriers. I feel sad when I see some persons who cannot smile or who try hard and refrain from smiling. Who does not like smiling faces?  Smile often!

This post is written for Indispire Edition 98: What are the 5 Lessons 2015 has taught you? #Lessonslearntin2015.

The tree of life !

In Sanskrit, the coconut tree is rightly described as the kalpa vriksha - "the tree which provides all the necessities of life"
It is supposed to be one of the five legendary Devavrikshas.

The coconut provides a nutritious source of food, juice, milk and is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

It can be rightly called the ecofriendly crop – which permits coexistence of multi-species plants
In scientific terms, it is called Cocos nucifera. This nut was initially referred as ‘coco’, which means ‘monkey face’, by early Spanish explorers. And ‘nucifera means ‘nut bearing’

Coconut is grown in more than 86 countries worldwide. India is the third largest coconut producer in the world, with Indonesia and Philippines in the first and second spot. It has around 3000 years tradition of coconut cultivation.
Kerala is the largest coconut growing state in India.

The various products obtained from coconut are: Tender Coconut Water, Copra, Coconut Oil, Raw Kernel, Coconut Cake, Coconut Toddy, Coconut Shell based Products, Coconut Wood based Products, Coconut Leaves and Coir Pith.

The water of tender coconut, technically the liquid endosperm, is the most nutritious wholesome beverage that the nature has provided for the people of the tropics to fight the sultry heat. It has caloric value of 17.4 per 100gm.
The major chemical constituents of coconut water are sugars and minerals and minor ones are fat and nitrogenous substances.

The various medicinal properties of tender coconut water are:
1. Good for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances.
2. Oral rehydration medium
3. Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties
4. Keeps the body cool, application on the body prevents prickly heat and summer boils and subsides the rashes caused by small pox, chicken pox, measles, etc.
5. Kills intestinal worms
6. Presence of saline and albumen makes it a good drink in cholera cases
7. Checks urinary infections, Urinary antiseptic and eliminates poisons in case of mineral poisoning.
8. Excellent tonic for the old and sick, cures malnourishment.
9. Diuretic, Effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones
10. Found as blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, does not produce heat, does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body.
11. Aids the quick absorption of the drugs and makes their peak concentration in the blood easier by its electrolytic effect.
12. Urinary antiseptic and eliminates poisons in case of mineral poisoning.

Coconut oil too, makes a truly remarkable food and medicine. The benefits on this oil will be shared with you in my upcoming post.

"Coconut fruit is agreeable to heart", Gunapadom, a Kerala text.

Reference: http://coconutboard.nic.in/