Vinod Pillai

337

The coconut palm plays a central role in the lives of people living in the coastal regions of India and many other countries. Not only is it a food ingredient providing useful oil rich in MCT for cooking and cosmetic uses, but it is also used for many other purposes earning it the well deserved recognition as the kalpavriksha or the wish fulfilling tree of mythology that meets all your needs.

Neem has been declared by the United nations as "tree of the 21st century." It is a tree that provides numerous medicinal benefits and helps to control pests while improving the environs - all without any side effects!

There is a certain allure about coffee which goes way beyond the fact of it being the second most traded commodity in the world - after crude oil. Coffee is a popular beverage consumed in many parts of the world. Recent studies indicate that it has numerous health benefits.

Oftentimes in the journey of life, we are prompted to ask ourselves "what is life?" and come up with a variety of answers - each one different from the other. My current definition of life may change tomorrow but it may still be worthwhile putting it down.

In a recent survey twenty two per cent of those surveyed chose laughter to be the number one contributor to make their lives pleasurable. Not surprising, since laughter has always been extolled and there are good reasons why it is indeed beneficial.

From being an esoteric hobby or the preserve of professional photographers, photography has now become accessible to one and all. All you need is a mobile with a camera. Anybody can be a photographer these days but if we spend a little time understanding what it is all about, we can add tremendously to the joy of engaging in photography and turn it into a lifelong passion.

Commonly known as Moringa or Drumstick, Moringa oleifera is a very useful tree with numerous benefits. All parts of the tree are used - the bark, roots, seeds, pods, leaves and even the flowers. The tree has some amazing properties and is worth our attention.

There are many kinds of tea and many ways of preparing the beverage, which is why, it is worthwhile to explore the world of tea. As an added bonus, tea has some amazing health benefits too!

That man is selfish is a truism. But does it shut out the need or possibility of empathy in our lives?

Yesterday may be dead and gone and tomorrow may be full of hope, but the old days have a quaint charm of their own which is worth savoring.

Listening is difficult. The problem is widespread but rarely recognized or accepted.

Why do I write is a question that can be answered in many ways. Retracing one's first tentative steps can be one way of discovering why we write.

Nobody likes to fail. But in a system which has one success and nine failures, this question - 'Why do I fail?'- is bound to come up frequently.