The Look - With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility.

In the arms of a woman and a woman alone do we find strength, contentment and empowerment!
There’s nothing more empowering than to have a woman lying in your arms looking up to you with her eyes so full of love. That look, if you've ever had it, you will know what I'm talking about. That look so pure in emotion, makes you think twice about a lot of things. 

Many make the best of it and move up in life to become great husbands and successful men. But others succumb to The Look and end up breaking hearts after hearts and in time their own. When a woman gives you the look, you should know she’s ready for the next stage and that’s to get married, have kids, build a home, grow old with you, be with you till death do you part.

Women talk a lot! Even when they’re not talking they’re constantly, silently talking to you. Sometimes it’s irritating, sometimes funny and sometimes romantic. (Dare you ignore the signs!) And one of the most powerful and potentially life changing communication, is one that does not involve a word, not a syllable, no hand gesture but a look-The Look!  

The Look: When a woman looks at you her head resting on your arms, a look of contentment. She knows how vulnerable, fragile she is at that very moment. Her fragile heart in your hands, her entire life to spend with you. You could break it and make her life from then on a recurring nightmare or you could treasure it. She has asked analysed the scenarios, the pros and cons in her head a million times. She knows about your lousy excuses and the lies you so often meticulously plan just to hang out with your buddies, or to escape shopping with her. She knows about the dubious names that makes no sense on your contact list. She knows about your secret stash of magazines and CD’s (maybe vintage VHS) or that tola of weed/hashish you've been saving for a rainy day-she just chose to ignore it!

With that look she has stopped judging you, your flaws, your short comings, your past and the mistakes you made and will so often continue to make, are all but a thing of the past. With that look she tells you everything you're not is what makes you special to her and her alone. With that look she assures you that she has your back no matter what. With that look she accepts you as her man, protector, provider, her pillar of strength.  

That look can make you feel like a man, work harder, be stronger, achieve great things or leave you grasping for a walking stick to support your spineless ass. You can choose to look back with your own re assuring eyes, silently telling her “You’re safe with me, I won’t let you go” or you could choose to do otherwise. With great power comes great responsibility. Embrace The Look.

DECEMBER

It was a cold December evening. It was the evening my last surviving uncle passed away, it was also Christmas Eve. Cold cold December my differences with you will take a while to settle.

As I sit and watch the last week of November pass, I wait in anticipation for December with all its spirit to engulf me, like so many Decembers or yesteryears I remember. The Christmas carols, the family dinners, the presents under the Christmas tree, the parties. But flashes of one cold and unwelcome memory come blowing like a cold Siberian blizzard, relentless in its course.

My winter clothes are yet see the light of day and already I feel as cold as I can ever feel. I wonder if they were out, would they serve their purpose? Who, what can shelter a fragile heart from the freezing cold of emptiness? A sense of numbness creeps over my skin as I look at the month to come. How frighteningly empty and cold can a month so full of hope look? What madness? What contrast to the nature and purpose it symbolizes.

No, I do not long for reconciliation, nor closure with you. I have had mine, in stages, in pieces and in retrospection. There’s no love nor is there hatred, just a fleeting fear of December. They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place, so fear not. But would you stand again right where you were struck in a lightning storm? 

Many have come and gone, I have found my peace and my heart and head settled. There’s nothing more I could ask of this life, for all these blessings. I have been given more than I deserve, but yet He does not take this from me. “You can take away my heroes, but can you take away my pain?” says a song. Very rarely in life do you question the foundations of everything you ever believed in.

But as I contemplate on our history, I fear that I cannot escape our encounter. As surely as night follows day will you come with aplomb. We shall have our dance, December you and I. But I have prepared for you. You have done your worst, but I haven’t been defeated yet. So rather than creepily shy away from you, let me welcome you to do your worst again, but might I warn you, I come prepared! So hear my battle cry               ........................................................."Cowabungaaaaaaaaaaa Bitch"...........................................................

My top 10 Power Ballads of all Time

I feel lucky to have been born in the 80’s if not for anything else but the music we grew up listening to. The earliest memory I have of rock music was in the late 80’s when we were still living in Kulikon Aizawl. I don’t remember very clearly who it was specifically, but it was either my dad or one of my uncles that used to play “Twisted Sister – Were not gonna take it”. I loved that song, I didn't know English at all, so I would make up the words and just rock to it. We didn't even have cassettes back then so all the music we had were the good old vinyl records. I remember our sitting room drawers and shelves’ filled with these records.

So anyway, I think the 80’s and the 90’s were the best era for music especially rock, but I must admit the disco guys had it good too. Some of the best songs were released in this era, from party anthems to timeless rock ballads we had it all. I can still picture parties where people would rock it out to tracks like “Come on feel the noise by Quiet Riot”, “We will rock you - Queen” etc. The best part about this era was that both men and women were listening to the same genre of music ROCK, the only difference was that the guys would listen to heavy metal and the women hated it, but we were one and united in ROCK, until the NKOTB fever destroyed everything. 

My first love letter had a few lines from Warrant’s Heaven hahahaha 

its funny when I look back now but man those power ballads would make my hair stand and give me goosebumps. Being in love and listening to these songs could not be compared to anything I had ever felt before, it was like we were one, the songs and me. Which is why songs like “You’re all I need, Till death do us part – White Lion, Hold on to my heart, If you need somebody – Bad Company, Have you ever needed some - Def Leppard etc.” will always have a special place in my heart. So without further ado, here’s my list of the top 10 best Power Ballads of all time.

10. Is this Love – White Snake
9. Amanda – Boston (If you're in love with someone & you need to let them know, this song will do the trick)
8. I Need You Now – Alias
7. I Can’t Live Without Your Love & Affection – Nelson
6. Every Rose has Its Thorn – Poison
5. I Remember You – Skid Row
4. Till Death Do Us Part – White Lion (I used to picture myself getting married to this song)
3. I Want You – Bon Jovi (One of the best underrated power ballads from Bon Jovi)
2. Hold on to my Heart – Bad Company/ Open Arms – Journey (a tie coz these 2 songs are equally awesome)
1. Faithfully – Journey
Hands down the best Power Ballad of all time from the gurus themselves - Journey. I don’t know anyone who doesn't like this song, Steve Perry’s heart melting voice, coupled with Neal Schon’s melodic guitar and brutally honest lyrics from Jonathan Cain, makes this song the best in my list. A masterpiece, enough said!