The Retrospective View on Things

Whenever I am in a retrospective mood, I think about events of the past in my memories, and events in history that shaped the life that I am living today.  Memories that I think about while in a retrospective mood include those of major events in my life, or events that shaped who I am, how I think, how I live, and influence my goals and dreams.  Events in history that I think about while in a retrospective mood include those like past natural disasters, past political events, past cultural changes, and evolutions that formed the world that we recognize today.  Being in a retrospective mood makes me feel grateful and blessed about my life and all the blessings in it.  It also makes me feel so young, as if I was a baby, compared to all the events in history that preceded my life by many years, whether it is a decade, a century, a millennium, or even an eon.  Lastly, they put me in a reflective mood or feeling that makes me contemplate about many things within society today, and what is in my life now, and what will be in my life forever.

Service: Hidden Among Us

Whenever I am lonely or am in need of help, there always seems to be someone who is around to get me out of the mess I got myself into.  It seems as if they are a kind of guardian angel that is there for me when I need it the most, and it makes my day a whole lot better than it was before.  Now, I am starting to see that when I help others, it makes me feel a lot better and is a sort of therapy or a break for my mind.  Doing the small services to others like helping a friend who has been wrongly accused of a mischievous act or comforting a person who grieves or is burdened by matters in life that can make a person go crazy.  Even the seemingly-large acts of service like signing up for food drives, or events at church like a bazaar, or even just signing up for volunteer events for school.  All of these acts of service, big or small, make an impact that could start a domino effect out of kindness.  Once others see you do it, they are inspired to begin this.  Thus, you become, "A city of light set on a hill that cannot be hidden."  I myself used to think that service could not be productive and is not practical for my own schedule.  But the more I allow myself to do it, the more I realize that service is one of those activities that has been hidden away, because I never tried to do it before.  It gives me a different peace of mind that actually lets me say, "Wow, I'm actually doing something that will make a difference in someone's life."

Bombay Pizza Company

Experience a culinary twist where Italian and Indian cuisine come together at the Bombay Pizza Company.  Here you'll find classic pizzas that everyone will recognize along with others that feature exotic spices and unique ingredients.  Examples of these pizzas are Mr. C's Pizza, Gateway to India, Bombay Ranch, etc.  They also have vegetarian options like the Berry Bombay, The Munshi, and Mr. Nehal's.  They also have soups, salads, mini-burgers, rolls, side dishes that complement your entree, and desserts that are the perfect finale to your meal.  They even have a private dining room that seats up to 20 people and can wirelessly stream music from your own Smart Phone.  To satisfy your desire to be outside, they have a patio, and to quench your thirst for finer beverages, a full service bar.  The Bombay Pizza Company was even featured on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and has everything to accommodate all diners from the regular customer to the sophisticated food critic.  The service is excellent, and after a while, they learn your name. The facility is very clean, and the staff always make sure the table is open, and ready to seat their next customer.

Martial Arts Theory & Practice

Have you ever been to a martial arts tournament? How about seeing one on TV? Well they are fun to watch, but are harder than they seem... It all starts off with martial arts itself, which originally was a form of self defense only meant for defense against others in times of need.  Gradually throughout all the ages, generations after generations have helped it evolve into many different fighting styles, with a style unique to their own country or origins.  Martial Arts has also become more complex and involved in today's society.  There are weapons now that involve some traditional ones like swords and nunchaku or bows and arrows. Then there are some modern forms of martial arts like shooting and military training.  The main goals for martial arts that have constantly withstood the changes of centuries are the need for self-discipline, confidence, speed, agility, strength, and honor that are uniquely known to each discipline of martial arts.  I myself got to see from a firsthand experience when working at a martial arts tournament today.  Not as easy as when I myself used to compete, rather this time I had the privilege of  helping out behind the scenes by score-keeping, time-keeping, attacking during a self defense division, and even the opportunity of being a judge in the ring.  The tournament took place at a school where honor and virtue is the martial artist's pride because of the people who built it up from a small business to a successful chain of martial arts schools.  It shows the true qualities of a martial artist, because you don't have to be very athletic to be one.  All you have to do is to have honor, self-discipline, and confidence in yourself in defending yourself and/or others.

A Tribute to Family

Ever had a really long day and when you come home, you can finally take a sigh of relief that you made it to what really matters to you? I will tell you that's how I feel whenever I come home to my family after a long day doing my duties.  To some, the primary inspiration is their son or daughter, and to others, a fiance or set of grandparents.  Whoever it is, they have an impact on what you do throughout your day.  Family, the one thing that will prevail through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, through poverty and wealth, etc.  You may have your quarrels, your disagreements, your grudges, but you must admit that your family, both immediate and extended, is your refuge; your stronghold that has always been there throughout your whole life, brother or sister, niece or nephew, mother or father, aunt or uncle, grandmother or grandfather, or even mother-in-law or father-in-law.  A simple, "I love you!," can make your whole day brighter or give you an inspiration to make it through tough times, a hug or kiss can give your son, daughter, spouse, parents, etc. a better day and lift their spirits.  No matter what life can give you, success, failure, happiness, heart-breaking sadness, a family is what will always make it through, even if there are nuclear-seeming disagreements.  I can tell you this, throughout my whole life, I have had fads come and go, I have had friends who can appear and disappear in my perspective, but no matter what, my family has been a place of refuge and love that I can always depend on.  I have also learned that a family is not, "Every man for himself," but rather a cause for teamwork and team effort.  No matter what beliefs a family has, a family exists when people confide in each other as a place of refuge and support each other and love each other.  A family does not have to exist just because you are related to one another or through marital relationships. No! A family only exists with an exchange of love, true love between one another.  A family can exist between people who are not related to each other as well, but trust each other, support each other, but most importantly love each other. 

The Sweet Boutique

Have you ever wanted a french macaroon, yet could never find a place nearby serving one?  How about a gourmet cake pop, created with the best craftsmanship that only a master baker could duplicate?  Well look no further.  The Sweet Boutique is here ready to serve your craving of gourmet pastries!  Located in Sugar Land's very own Town Center, the Sweet Boutique is a nice little shop that can satisfy a person with an expensive taste of maybe french macaroons, cake pops, snicker doodles, cupcakes, and even custom cakes, at special request!  The French Macaroons are true, exquisite little pastries capturing, "heaven," in a bite, melting as soon as you start to bite in.  It makes you forget all your troubles.  The Cake Pops will satisfy your toddler's craving for a lollipop, and yet have that little firework display in your mouth.  The Cupcakes are the fun-fetti bomb, decorated with the rich and decadent sugar icing on top with edible sprinkles and your choice of red velvet, strawberry, chocolate, cookies & cream, etc.  The choices are endless and offer a satisfaction to any sweet craving of pastries of all kinds!

 
 

Dancing Through Space & Time

Have you gone to a reception or a dance club where it is supposed to be an event for dancing and everyone there does not dance at all? The truth is, studies show that this is because not as many people today know how to dance to the music of today.  The United States of America is a nation made and literally held up by the melting pot of cultures that reside here and migrated here for a variety of reasons.  Not surprisingly, all of these cultures have their very own dances.  Many people who have their roots from other countries are taught these cultural dances as children.  The dilemma is that they do not know how to incorporate them in today's, "modern," music while paralyzed in performing them well to traditional music that they were accustomed to.  What we have to come to realize is that if we allow ourselves to do that, the culture itself will die gradually because of living in the past.

  An alternative to dancing to the cultural music is doing the dances to music of today that have the same beat or tempo as the music we were taught to dance to.  One example of this is the, "Salsa," from the Latin American cultures or Spanish cultures in Western Europe.  We can put this to many different kinds of beats in the so-called, "mainstream," music of today.  How about dances from India & Bollywood? Those are also very energetic dances that be applied to the music of today and the really fast-paced choreography taught to those who have the native blood in them.  What about America's very own Hip-Hop and Break-Dancing? To those who have learned it, you can use it anywhere in America if the music has the right tempo, using dances from today, all the way back to 1980's! There are so many possibilities, that it is not impossible for people not to know how to dance.  Hopping up and down, leg in leg out, that's a dance right there.  Although some people refrain from dancing because they feel they lack the skill or rhythm to do so, I would encourage everyone to try! They might even discover their own hidden passion for dance.  A few years ago, I never thought I would enjoy dancing, but after quite a few Zumba sessions, I was hooked!