Life ... As it is !

Dear Best Friend...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 18:02:00 +0000

I looked at your letters in my hand today and traveled back in time.

My memory stopped exactly 19 years ago. I can’t recollect how & when, but some quick encounters started our friendship and before we knew it, we became good friends.

I sailed through some of my best years of schooling life thanks to your support. You were always besides me no matter what. On good days and even the really bad ones. You always maintained you will never have a best friend in life since you thought it unfair to distinguish between friends. I never understood you on this but always wondered and wished that you would say I am your best friend. I would constantly prod you with my silly questions -

“Whose your best friend ?”

“What if you could only choose one ?”

“Who would that one person be?”

“All are good friends of mine.” - was your forever reply when I tried my best to get my name out of your mouth. “You will always be my best friend.” - I boasted to you. But that’s how mature you were, even from a very young age.

I learnt a lot from you and still cherish the moments when you stood by me. You were the first one to teach me optimism and always encouraged me to think positively in life. I thought I was the only one with real-world problems until you showed what it means to look at the silver lining in every situation.

When I had to leave your company and go away for higher studies, you promised to keep in touch and you always did. During one of the toughest phases of my life, the only relief I got was from your hand-written caring letters. I looked forward to the birthday cards you sent me and till this date, treasure them as good as gold.

Reading all the olden letters and cards, makes me sad today but nevertheless feel grateful and blessed to have as my friend. I feel proud to have known you. Even when we reconnect now, I never experience a loss of connection & always manage to pick up from where we left the last time.

You showed me how friends can be family too. I wish all our life relationships were as caring and loving as ours. I wonder if I have been a good friend too. But I guess I am too quick to dismiss this thought knowing that I haven’t.

Because you made a promise and always stood by it.

If you had to write a letter to your best friend,

what would you say ?

**Linking with Day 7 of the #BarAThon Challenge from 1st to 7th August 2016**

Yours' truly,

Not-so-perfect

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 18:17:00 +0000

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“I want it to be perfect. It obviously has to be.”

If any far-fetched soul ever thought about writing my autobiography, then this is what the title of the book would read.

I have literally chased perfection all my life. Well, at least 30 of them. Every time a new life-changing chapter begins or an occasion needs planning that’s just around the corner, I would go off on a trip of my own. I always had this constant urge to be the best. I enthralled at the thought of the meticulous arrangement of doing stuff and even dreamt of how it turned out in my head - ‘perfectly’. Every milestone had to be complete, as per me.

But life chose otherwise. No matter, how hard I tried, I would never be happy with how it turned out. My ‘perfect-in-my -head’ scenario would always finish as ‘not-so-perfect’.

And then one day, I gave up and sat back. I tried not to make it look so hard. Why did I believe that ‘perfection meant everything’? What was with all this wishful thinking ?

Because you know what ? I loved how life turned out to be. Just the way it was. Beautiful, normal, and not-so-perfect.

I enjoyed the fact that life could be lived to its fullest with raw edges and bumpy roads too. In the end, it’s what your personal definition of perfection means. And that’s what really counts.

Is it just me or do we all initially crave for that satisfaction of a perfect wedding, perfect birthday, perfect home or just a perfect evening ?

**Linking with Day 6 of the #BarAThon Challenge from 1st to 7th August 2016**

Yours' truly,

Outside my window

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 16:32:00 +0000

As my fingers type away with what’s on my mind, my heart quickly races back to the little boy running around in his tiny shoes. He runs on the empty ground nearby playing with his pet dog. I stop typing for a moment and get up to peer outside my kitchen window.

Moving to this place 3 years ago, made me feel sad. I purely went by the appearance of the locality and the layout of the apartment only to reject it in a blink of an eye. However, 3 years later, I feel cozy because life’s best memories have happened here.

A house once stood tall on the nearby empty ground. Old and abandoned, it looked like a shipwreck. A tattered gate prevented strangers from entering the plot. I would stand in my kitchen every morning preparing my coffee and occasionally crane my neck to see if I would be lucky enough to even catch a glimpse of a neighbor.

At one point, I thought the house was haunted. In the late hours of the night, as I would tip-toe into my kitchen for a glass of water, I would force myself to not look outside the window terrified that I would find a ghost walking across the room with a candle in hand. But I never saw one.

I wondered why anyone would leave their home unattended. I imagined the kind of people who lived there, what lives they might have led and even made up mock memories in my head. A house-warming, birth of kids, graduation get-togethers, birthday parties, home renovations and what not.

And then one wintery morning, huge vehicles entered the premise and made the space their home for the next 5 days. Construction workers would hammer here and there to tear the roof apart, or pick up broken logs and lug them out. All the remains within the home were picked carelessly and thrown into garbage bags.

Once the belongings in the house had been cleared, a huge bull-dozer brought the house down while constantly beeping away. I looked on as the pillars of the house fell, then the wooden roof and finally the walls of the rooms until there remained no proof of a house.

Watching the sight of a broken house made me restless but I consoled myself with the thought that now a new family would come back to build their home right here. Soon, there would be good memories to reminisce about. This end only meant a new beginning. I waited and waited for months expecting and hoping that soon there would be another home.

But no one came. And there never was another home.

Now, all the sights I find on the empty ground are kids playing during the holidays, people walking their dogs int the afternoons, squirrels chasing each other for hours and birds pecking away in the search for food.

Seasons change and so does this empty ground. It stands barren in the winters, and turns lush green in spring. The place has it’s own charm in the fall with multihued leaves strewn everywhere.

My friends who stop-by never fail to take a view out this window and exclaim how peaceful it looks outside. But, every time I look out the window, I imagine the old home standing tall and ponder about the memories that lasted there.

What’s the view like outside your window ?

**Linking with Day 5 of the #BarAThon Challenge from 1st to 7th August 2016
and Friday Reflections - What can you see outside your window?**

Yours' truly,

Charged as guilty

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 17:51:00 +0000

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The first time, I lay my eyes on you, I knew we were meant to be together.

I mean, who wouldn’t love you ?

The first time I held you, was more challenging and unlike anything else I had done before.

I assured myself saying everybody feels weird the first time.

As time passed, I took care of you - constantly checking on you, ensuring you aren’t extremely hot or cold, keeping you clean everyday, protecting you from every tiny scratch possible.

There were accidents intermittently but I learnt to take care eventually.

Oh! How proud I felt to show you off to the entire world. The bright beaming look on my face and the happiness in my heart to say that - “You were mine!”

And then, one day, when I woke up, you were gone. I felt as though a sudden fear had engulfed me in it’s claws. Frantically, I searched for you all around the house.

Then I wondered - “Did I lose you forever?”

But my fear was short-lived as you re-appeared within seconds.

Nestled in the soft hands of my two and half year-old daughter.

She looked up at me with an understanding face and innocent eyes. She held you with both her hands carefully, just the way I did, and it showed on her face how much I loved you and cared for you.

Gradually, she walked towards me and looked into my eyes. I kneeled down trying to reject that ugly feeling deep down in my stomach which made me feel sick. As I lowered my head in shame, my eyes welled up.

Lovingly, she extended her little arms towards me, she said - “Amma, here’s your phone. “

At that moment, it dawned upon me that my relationship with you, needed to change. I felt like a thief who was caught red-handed for a crime but wasn't punished.

I threw away my smartphone and wrapped my arms around my little one. As embarrassed as I was for ignoring quality time with my precious one, she saw how a small gadget had become a big part of me. I needed that wake-up call. I needed her to teach me this lesson.

Don’t stare down at your phone, people. Look up and notice the people standing there waiting to see your face.

Did you ever have a hard-hitting experience which made you realize that -

"Life is beautiful" ?

**Linking with Day 4 of the #BarAThon Challenge from 1st to 7th August 2016**

Yours' truly,

A simpler time

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 06:56:00 +0000

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“Life is short so never hold back, forgive like you have amnesia, believe like a kid, love like crazy, and never regret anything that made you happy.” - Author Unknown.

As I flipped the monthly calendar to the new month, I looked back at the days gone by and realized I was getting old. There are those days, once in a while, when memories spring up in mind and remind me of a simpler time. Before technology took over. Before the world changed forever. Before we over-complicated our lives.

When the mobile phone first made an entrance into our household, as children, we helped our parents learn all about the new gadget. Up until then, every time we needed help with a problem (in school, in academics, in life, you name it) we turned to our parents. They seemed to know it all. Even without the help of Google. Our youngster, fresh minds were bubbling with energy and ready to take on the world. More importantly, we looked forward to adapt to any new challenge.

Fast forward to the present day and I reminisce about those simpler times often and yearn for it. On some days, I feel I am done with the new age traditions and wish someone could invent a time machine for me to go back and relive those memories again.

As we mature into older versions of ourselves, I find many of us don’t wish to over-complicate our lives anymore. Seriously, I don’t. I like having letters in my mailbox which I can read later as opposed to emails. I enjoy in a long walk on a warm evening accompanied by just by a bag and a book instead of a mobile, charger, headphones and a laptop. I realize that our fragile lives are caged temporarily in a man-made bubble which may pop anytime and leave us crippled if we don’t train our brains and heart to live without a mobile.

If I could, I would take away the technology that has tricked us into becoming it’s slave. If only, we would slow down our fast-paced world and take notice of the world around or even better, just look around and for once, be in the moment.

Nowadays, I enjoy a simple game of ball with my baby girl. I relish a cup of coffee reading a book. I focus intently on what I am cooking so as to absorb the recipe and not just merely follow the online instructions. It’s a way to enjoy what I am doing and also stay in the present moment.

Do you agree - what’s your ritual when it comes to relaxing our super fast lives?

Also please share, how do you like to detox technologically?

Do share.

**Linking with Day 3 of the #BarAThon Challenge from 1st to 7th August 2016**

Yours' truly,

Don't judge me

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 19:02:00 +0000

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You look me in the eye and have me all figured out.

You feel you know me right from the day I was born.

You form an opinion and think it right to label me such.

You boast to others of who you think I am and how you think I should be.

You don’t ask me to explain myself and look away when I resist.

You don’t care about my feelings and you will never.

You are a part of my life today and know that you matter to me.

You made me work hard and then pushed me to work harder some more,

You made me change myself,

You made me forget who I actually was before,

But…

I am not what I seem and there is so much of what you don’t know,

I got to know you because I picked you,

I never got to show or tell you what I actually am,

I never got to defend your thoughts about me to others,

I kept quiet even when I was brought down emotionally,

I have been taunted by you and always dread for another instance,

I am a part of your life too and I matter to you as well,

I accepted the change until I chose to detest it openly,

I broke my limits and surged so far ahead I can never look back,

I wonder at myself and question - “Is this really me?”

I believe people come into our lives for a reason. Just as how I believe that everything happens for a reason. However, even though instances may or may not change us as an individual, there are people who bring out that change in us. Here’s to all such people who came into my life, who taught me important life lessons, who showed me how strong one needs to be, who proved that I need to be more compassionate but I should never expect the same and who finally left me as I stood confused for answers.

Try as much as I can, I can never ignore the pain some of them brought along and even though there are a million reasons to look up on a particularly low day, my mind races back to that one day when I couldn’t say what I wanted to say. Time has definitely healed the pain and I have undoubtedly learnt to push away my hard feelings. They have taught me to keep my head up always in anticipation of a brand new day.

Nobody wants to carry along a grudge in their hearts, but do you ever wonder what if things could have gone better in certain relationships ?

Do share.

**Linking with Day 2 of the #BarAThon Challenge from 1st to 7th August 2016**

Also linking with #MondayMusings.

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Yours' truly,

There once lived a girl...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 05:22:00 +0000

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“There once lived a girl, who felt as though, she was spending her life aboard an imaginary boat. Along with her among the passengers, were her near and dear ones - who loved her unconditionally and whom she loved as well. Or so she thought. She compared her life to the tranquil sea the boat seemed to be sailing on, which is constantly steered but is unaware of its final destination.

There once lived a girl, who saw what her early life was made up of. She played with kids of her own kin and looked forward to meeting them often, confident of the fact that she would always stay in touch with them. She saw how they all got along together and how peacefully they traveled on the boat as a joint team.

There once lived a girl, who saw that as the years passed by, the occasional thunderstorms and rapid waves rocked the boat occasionally but never let down the people onboard the vessel. Their respect and love for each other always made sure the boat restored its calm and returned to its original sway.

There once lived a girl, who saw how one fine day, the boat began to rock vehemently. She got all scared and looked around. But what she saw disturbed her. The other members of the boat had gotten into an argument and let their personal differences becomes the reason of the turmoil. They yelled at each other, they boycotted each other’s opinions and saw how no one actually respected the other in spite of the strong bond they once all shared.

There once lived a girl, who thought, it was considered best to keep quiet as an adult. In matters of the heart, in unavoidable circumstances, in family matters and important decisions. She played to her surroundings with utmost care so as to never disturb the equilibrium of the boat and her mind - both hers and those around her. All was well as long as she never rocked the boat on her own and quietly swayed to the whims and fancies of the sea.

But it wasn’t an easy task. Stories she had only read about in books took place in her own life. No matter how hard she tried, she could never bring back the peace of her mind that she once carried as a child. Times had changed and so had relationships. Even though years had flown by, it had taken some relationships mere seconds to transform into a new entity. She realized how 'stranger than fiction' her life had become.

There once lived a girl, who then realized that every story or real-life situation had 3 sides - her side of the story, their side of the story and the ‘truth’. And so she decided that it was best to remain calm and do her duty. If she felt it right, she would acknowledge the situation but never let it go out of control. If the situation made her uncomfortable, she decided to remain calm and let the storm pass by. No tears, no explanations and most importantly, no heartbreaks.

Today the little girl has evolved into a young woman. One who left her world to make her own little world. She sails adrift on her own boat. The old boat has sailed out of vision, however, now she feels at peace. She couldn’t change who they were and so she decided to start afresh with a new perspective.”

It’s surprising to see how life transforms us. A moment of truth in this instant, doesn't stand true in the next. But I have realized that’s how life has to go on. A repenting heart forever stays but life goes on.

Have you ever experienced a 'stranger than fiction' situation in real-life?

How did you deal with it?

**Linking with Day 1 of the #BarAThon Challenge from 1st to 7th August 2016**

Yours' truly,

Looking back at June 2016 #GratitudeCircle

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 06:58:00 +0000

Can you believe that half of 2016 has zoomed by ? Here I was in January, still reeling from the unexpected trip to India, packing & unpacking suitcases, figuring out things in life, when suddenly I realize it’s February - by the time we returned to the US and here we are now in July - waiting for the second half of the year to unwind. I am not going to bother saying the age-old cliched punch line of how quickly time has whizzed past us. Because before you know it, in a blink of an eye, it will be December and the holiday season will be upon us and then boom - ‘Happy New Year’ guys! :)

They say - ‘You never realize how quickly time flies when you’re busy having fun.’ Sure, I am having a lot of fun but I just can’t accept the fact that so much time has passed since. So instead I am just going to look back at the past month - June 2016.

Quite a lot of activities kept me busy during the first half of 2016 and one major activity was prepping for few shows & performances that were staged whole of last week May. I had a troupe of people visiting from Mumbai, India who needed to be hosted and driven around New York & New Jersey. The busy schedule that began in February ended on June 1st and eventually the curtains were closed on this life-changing chapter.

Needless to say, once our friends returned to India, we took a breather and chilled out the first weekend in June - catching up on much required sleep, lots of TV and little bit of shopping. Most part of the month went by without a fuss and I caught up on relaxing myself while still going about my other routines. As I look back, I can't help notice how easy-going the past month has been -

Blogging - No matter how many excuses I make, I just can’t seem to escape the reasons why I was missing from the blogging world the past few months. So I am not even going to try. :) A major reason (read - not excuse) was when it came to finally sitting down to write, the right words wouldn't come out (whatever that means). I am sure I couldn’t label it as ‘Writer’s Block’ as I was able to elaborate on any given topic in my mind but at the end of the day, I wouldn't be happy with what I had written on my laptop. I did mention about this funny state of mind to Sid (who blogs at 'I Wrote Those') and Parul (who blogs at 'Happiness & Food') and they have been very supportive sharing tips on how to stay in touch with writing. Thanks guys ! Facing this mental fear was finally possible 2 weeks ago and apart from other fellow-bloggers’ support (that I always grateful for), I am also grateful to that unexplainable feeling that eventually made me clear my mind and just write.

Reading - As I sat back, relaxed and contemplated on my writing, I could find a million reasons that catered to it in the first place and one of them is that my reading has hit an all-time low. For starters, I didn’t set any reading goals for 2016. Last December, when I joined a reading challenge that I liked - ‘Book Challenge by Erin’, I ended up backing out at the last moment owing to the unannounced trip to India. Since the challenge required 10 books to be completed in 4 months, I knew I wouldn’t be allotting time so much as to read even 2 pages in a month, thanks to the crazy schedule and rigorous travels. This time around though, I am leaving no stone unturned to give my best shot. So, for a quite obvious item, I am sure grateful that books always feature on my gratitude list since they make me feel happy. Here’s to all the wonderful books in the world. I plan to post book reviews for each book that I finish reading & you can also follow me on Instagram for more updates regarding this book challenge.

Support from friends and family - Even though the people who visited last month were my friends, my association with few of them goes back as long as 15 years. So they are now an integral part of my extended family. It never felt as guests were coming over but more like my own family visiting me. I surely had a ball spending time with them as did the hubby and Baby Girl. At one point, they even made me forget my family back home in India. The silence of the house & the vacuum they had created, once the trip was over, was palpable. But it made me feel all the more grateful that I have such people & mentors in my life. On one hand, I had the company of such wonderful individuals while on the other hand, I had the unrelenting support of the darling hubby and my Baby Girl who never complained my intermittent absence (in between shows) and made sure I was 100% available to attend to my guests. As my friends complimented and as I experience everyday, I am grateful to have a caring & supportive hubby in this life. :)

Pleasant surprises - June came with it's own share of surprises. From attending a premier show of 'The Secret Life of Pets' at Times Square-New York, to hearing great appreciation for my work from unexpected corners, to dancing and performing at picturesque locales (like a waterfront to live audience), to getting an instant job offer (was offered one right after the performance by a biggie dance company), to eating great food, to receiving surprise gifts & things I love, I had a wonderful time living all these experiences and feel grateful to the opportunities that come knocking at my door everyday.

Enough about me, now you tell me how did June treat you ? :)

What events of June 2016 are you grateful for ?

**Linking this post to Gratitude Circle Blog hop on Vidya's blog for June 2016.**

Yours' truly,

Everyone needs a touch of magic #FridayReflections

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 04:56:00 +0000

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I remember how, during my high school days, I eagerly looked forward to the first day of every new school week. Apart from spending quality time with friends, classroom fun with favorite teachers & subjects, or creative experiments during arts & craft, it also meant the class teacher would decide which student gets to write the ‘Quote of the Week’ on the blackboard. Every evening, I would flip & scour the school diary at home, skimming through the quotes printed on the bottom line of each page, looking for the perfect one to write.

But it wasn't just the thrill of being chosen to write on the blackboard that excited me. At certain times of the long school day, my eyes would drift from the teacher and her written white words to the quote written on one end of the backdrop. It made my mind wander off the teacher & stop focussing. As the words glistened on the blackboard, my mind silently read - ‘Honesty is the best policy’, ‘Silence is golden’, ‘Live and let live’ and what not. A stream of thoughts thus initiated as I struggled to make sense of it’s underlying relevance to life. Sure, it wasn’t difficult to understand the meaning. However, it still managed to keep me baffled about its importance in my life or anyone else’s.

One particular week, when my turn finally came up to do the honors, I went ahead promptly and wrote on the blackboard - 'Forgive and forget'. It took me under half a minute to write the words on the board that day. And, it’s taken me over 2 decades & countless experiences to unearth it’s true significance. To this day, I still question the quote - ‘Unpleasant emotional experiences can scar us for life. Even if we are able to forgive a thing of the past or a person or an experience, do we or more importantly, ‘can’ we ever really forget ?’

There have been instances where I have been answered back at, where people have - unknowingly or on purpose - hurt me and never repented their actions, times when everything seemed to fall apart in my mind, when I felt helpless and yet nothing I did helped me. During such times, the aforementioned quote always stood out in memory and made me ponder - Is this achievable in real life?

We always share our deepest secrets, struggles & worries with our close friends and / or family members. Likewise I have had my close ones share their struggles with me.

If I ever happen to have a magical touch, which can make impossible things happen, I would wave my magic wand instantly and...

- help such a person get over the emotional hurdle / situation that he / she is facing and get rid of whatever it is that was bothering them in the first place.

- get them to meet a close friend or family member who wholeheartedly supports them in contrast to people who have let them down. By doing so, I believe they would regain lost strength.

- help release any grudges or negative thoughts. I am sure once the negativity is taken care of, it would also naturally facilitate in forgetting the past and in particular, what has happened.

- stop the person from overthinking, losing mental strength and from losing trust.

Long after such a chapter is closed, it still reels in some of our minds and ensures we place our next step with a careful deal of caution. And no matter how strong a person is, when such experiences take place, even an optimist can skip the silver lining.

Don't you think the world would be a much better place to live in, if everyone could just whiz past the bad experiences and start afresh at the whisk of a wand and a hint of magic ?

Easier said than done. If only there was an straightforward way to achieve this. Being grateful, reading positive thoughts, and meeting positive people also helps but everyone needs just a tad bit of magic in their lives, at some point or another.

Tell me, what are your thoughts about learning life's lessons in a hard way ?

Do you really forgive & forget ?

Yours' truly,

Hello Again !

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 04:32:00 +0000

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Hi there ! Remember me ? At this point, I am frantically hoping that you still haven’t forgotten me, thanks to my unplanned, unexplained hibernation phase I have been going through up until now, and if you have indeed forgotten me then I wish this post of mine penetrates deep into your mind, to dust-off & bring back all those wonderful thoughts that conspired in your mind every time you visited this space.

Now that’s what I call wishful thinking ! :D

Back to reality then. As you can see, there’s been a pretty wide gap between now and my last post. Between now & then, while the world had its share of New Year celebrations, V-day mushiness & a billion other global events keeping it busy, I had a sudden ‘Shockation’ (it’s a new word in my dictionary & I’ll be talking more about it soon in this post), I discovered a different meaning to my traditional New Year Eve celebration, some new experiences, some old heartbreaks and countless memories to last a lifetime. So join me & read on to find out more.

I have always looked at successful people & strongly believed that their everyday lives are results of meticulous planning. So as to survive better, we plan our activities for each passing day - carefully save & pick out destinations for our yearly vacations, diligently revamp our goals for every new decade of the millennium and consistently watch out for any unexpected curveballs that may deviate our journey in this life. Because that’s what people should do for a smooth & pleasant life and few others who prefer a balanced life with goals and milestones. Right?

But what happens

if we don’t overlook the curveballs

& go about planning our lives as usual ?

How do we wake up one fine day

& re-adjust ourselves to face life

with a new plan ?

Exactly 2 months ago, while one half of the world was busy enjoying the New Year bash and the other half was gearing up for the New Year to start, I was caught in between staring into oblivion. Conscious of my being but unaware of how life could change course within mere seconds to make new plans almost instantly.

Originally having planned our family vacation for March 2016, we looked forward to

spending quality time with loved ones,
attending family events scheduled in that time frame,
completing few over-delayed responsibilities
and generally have fun in the Indian summer heat (ok, the last one wasn't true). :D

The morning of 31st Dec 2015 definitely ensured we throw out the afore-mentioned plan. Enter our ‘Shockation’.

We were still vacationing at our friends’ place at Ohio (which is 12+ driving hours away from our home sweet home in New Jersey) when a shocking update from the hubby’s office came about saying that an unfortunate paperwork goof-up will require us to immediately pack our bags & leave for India to help sort it out. And this was just the beginning. So left with no other viable option than to travel, we drove back from our friend’s place overnight to save on precious time lugged by bag, baggage & toddler to at least get things rolling.

Traditionally New Year Eve, for me, means to spend time with friends or family, watching movies, playing crazy games, feasting on delicious food & counting down to the New Year. But the New Year Eve of 2015 surely took the cake. We spent the initial moments of the New Year, at a gas station. Feasting on homemade quick bites. Remembered the mind blowing fun our friends were having at the same time. Sigh !

Aah ! Let’s do away with tradition I say ! :D

I still have no idea how the next 2 days flew by mainly because we had to pack 5 big suitcases (and hand baggage extra), coordinate with the office to book our tickets, shop for last minute gifts for family whilst remembering to jot down our pending tasks on paper so we wouldn’t forget the zillion things once back in India & also catch up on beauty sleep for the long journey ahead.

Before we knew it, we were on a plane to India, still reeling over how life could take sudden swift turns on a smooth road & throw you off-track. We definitely weren’t in the vacation mindset and I surely got a taste of that, thanks to my ‘Shockation’.

Since our trip was unplanned, we didn’t inform anyone in the family about our visit except my Baby Bro. It was a rather fun experience to casually walk into the household in front of my parents who opened the door with gaped mouths and were pretty freaked out seeing us there. They gave us an earful for hiding the surprise but the look on their faces is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. :)

The month whizzed by in a blink of an eye and we also made sure to return to the US with an ‘almost’ completed to-do list.

Once the ‘Shockation’ came to an end, it’s side-effects began to roll. You know the drill - fever, cold, cough, bad throat - the usual drama. At one point I was freaking out the people around me by all means thanks to my rustic, croaky voice. :D

We returned home early February & since then I have been reveling in the happy moments of the trip & feeling grateful because -

Sudden vacations are always good - Life has a funny way of telling you to stop working hard or even partying hard. Then it just forces you to enjoy & live for the moment. Truly said - “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.”

A dose of family & friends can fix everything - January saw us reconnecting with family, friends & everyone from our social circle living in different cities. It made me forget my worries & feel blissful in their company. After many years, Hubby dear got to spend his birthday in his home town amidst his family. Baby Girl, on the other hand, got to meet everyone in our families who were equally thrilled to see her & watch her antics. So never distance yourself from people who shower their unconditional love on you.

The Universe is constantly conspiring to help us - If I learnt anything from my experiences in the past couple of months, it is that - ‘Everything is life has its own time.’ Sometimes the Universe plans for you & helps you achieve/complete it. When things don't happen our way, we begin to fret over the small stuff. On the contrary, something better is definitely on its way. So I have learnt to stop overthinking, worrying, trying so hard and let it naturally flow.

Writing again - The past 3 months have been low on my writing part. At one point, I wanted to just keep away. Either because I had a feeling I had nothing to write about or at other times, I was bursting with so many ideas to share about. When I would finally sit at the laptop to write, I just couldn’t. Made me wonder - have others felt the same too. If yes, please do share. Reading Parul’s gratitude post on her blog - Happiness & Food, gave me that extra nudge & a little much-needed inspiration so as soon as I was done reading, I made myself a hot cup of coffee, sat down on the couch and promised myself not to budge until this post was ready.

Now is the time - I am grateful for ‘this’ moment. I realized that with the vacation out-of-the-way, I can now focus on the other important stuff lined up for this year & I am all excited about it.

A surprise V-Day celebration - We have actually never celebrated V-day in the true sense. However, this year was a first of firsts. Earlier this month, on probably the chilliest day of this month, hubby dear surprised me to a lovely brunch on a cruise along the New York waterfront. We were also one of the very few couples onboard who had a toddler in tow. ;)

A V-Day surprise !

Last but not the least, your blog posts - Even though I have been away, on vacation or at home, I remembered to read my favorite bloggers before heading for bed every night. I realize I haven't been regular on the comments but I still do read all of you. :)

Do share ! What’s on your gratitude list ?

Linking with Vidya’s Gratitude Circle Blog hop for February 2016.

Yours' truly,

A Perfect Escapade

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 21:00:00 +0000

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The sun has just risen all bright and warm hinting at the beautiful day just begun. Peeking out from behind a cloud even though he invites me, at the same time, it seems as though he wants to hide from the world. The clouds race away carelessly brushing the blue sky gently with their white, snowy appearances. A slight chill fills the air but I am at ease. Thanks to the sun-kissed rays of warmth around me.

I look out the window and feel at peace. It’s what I always wanted. Or maybe everyone else does too. A quiet place, lots of sunshine, a brisk breeze and everything engulfed by beautiful Mother Nature.

Oh but wait! How could I forget to appreciate Mother Nature? She looks like an enchanted riot of hues what with fall upon us. Her colors lay strewn everywhere my sight takes me. Ignoring the plush brightness of her red, yellow or orange is highly unachievable especially when they stand out against the backdrop of the calm blue skies. She teases me further to look at the horizon and encourages me to forget this moment. She attempts to take my breath away but no matter what, I must return to my environment.

The walls of my room stand adorned and it indeed has been the desirable fruit for all my efforts over years. From the classic William Shakespeare to the contemporary Stephen King, from the dusty trails of historical times to the best-selling catches of fiction, from the subtle poetry to the magic-filled memoirs, they all reside in the multitude of books lined up around me looking upon as I go on.

Sitting in this quaint cottage, deep within the woods, surrounded by the foliage of the country makes me a poet on some days or a critic on the others but what I enjoy the most after a few hours of this romantic escapade are seeing my thoughts take form through my pen and paint wholesome experiences in my empty journal.

Just before I end, I look up once more and watch it all gone. The travel back to reality is hard but necessary. What I envision in my dreams remains a dream but until then I shall go back and visualize myself all alone in that cottage, looking out the window and blissfully writing away.

Yours' truly,

Awards galore !

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 07:02:00 +0000

About half a year ago, I received an award for my blog - ‘The Versatile Blogger Award’ all thanks to a dear friend & awesome blogger from the blogosphere - Shantala Nayak.

Shantala writes at ‘Shanaya Tales’ and shares her thoughts on a variety of topics ranging from book reviews & parenting experiences to glimpses of everyday life. Being less than a year old, what attracted me to her blog earlier this year during the month-long blog-a-thon April A-Z Challenge was the similarities in our writing. Even though we both had pre-decided themes for the challenge, when our post for every day would get published we’d realize that the same topic popped up on our respective blogs.

I largely relate to her blog and love reading her experiences on general living and food-for-thought posts. What also interests me is her simple yet elegant blog design.

Thank you Shantala and I also owe an apology for procrastinating on completing this post for as far as I can remember. :) Thank you for giving me this award.

What is ‘The Versatile Blogger Award’?

The Versatile Blogger Award is given in recognition for the great commitment, diverse talents and generosity shown by bloggers here in our community. There is so much creativity on show that it is difficult to reduce a list to only a few, but for those nominated it is hoped that it will serve to motivate them as well as celebrate their work till date.

What are the rules?

• Display the award on your blog.

• Thank the person who nominated you.

• Share 7 facts about yourself.

• Nominate up to 15 blogs.

• Link your nominees’ blogs, and let them know.

If you have followed this blog for some time, you would have read about the time when I shared '10 Random Things About Me' ?

If not, then what about when the Liebster Award came knocking at my door the first time ? And again the second time ?

Ok ! What about the time when I had to reveal who I really am - Part 1 and Part 2 ?

Well, if you still haven't had the chance to know me better then read right on as I share some facts about me which have come to be this year circa 2015.

My favorite time of the day is when the house is asleep, the kitchen sink is clean and there aren't strewn around toys left to pick up because that’s when my mind is at complete ease and also abuzz with creative thoughts.
I get easily affected by negativity. Whether it’s random comments or people, once it happens I keep away, rather prefer running off, from such situations for my entire life.
I love reading books on historical fiction and mythology.
I look forward to connecting with the blogosphere everyday and the wonderful friends I made here. Having a supportive group has rekindled my old love for letter-writing.
With each passing day, I am striving to write better. At book cafes, I am constantly on the search for books that help improve my writing skills.
My perspective on my work has changed. Earlier I used to work to earn better, now I work to do good in whichever way possible and feel better.
One of the main goals of this year has been to declutter my stuff. I no longer have the urge to shop at the drop of a pin or fancy owning the next big thing in the market. Except when it comes to shopping for my Baby Girl. At that point, I just want to purchase every nice outfit that I set my eyes on. :P

That’s not all. About 2 months ago, another wonderful blogger - Janine Ripper nominated me for the ‘Sunshine Blogger Award’. Makes me wonder sometimes if my blog and I are indeed credit-worthy of these thoughtful awards.

Thank you very much, Janine and sincere apologies too. I am not even going to go into why I delayed this post only because it isn’t fair to always quote - 'There is no time left in my day' or 'I have a busy life going on' - when I see such inspirational bloggers like yourself managing everything at ease and still writing beautifully.

During March this year, Janine, who blogs at ‘Reflections from A Redhead’, added me to the awesome group - ‘Friday Reflections’ on Facebook and it has truly enriched me. I love the prompts provided every week and definitely give my best shot to reflect, write and share my thoughts in this group on a regular basis. Around the same time, I came across Janine’s blog too and loved how she and Mackenzie Glanville ('Reflections from Me') host this weekly linkup.

I absolutely admire their posts and there is always a feel-good factor at the end of every article. It always fills me with positivity and makes me want to embrace life with complete enthusiasm. You should check it out too! :)

What is ‘The Sunshine Blogger Award’?

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are inspiring and bring sunshine into the lives of their readers and fellow bloggers. It feels great to know that as a blogger, one's personal experiences and innate thoughts can inspire others.

What are the rules?

Thank the person that nominated you
Answer the questions from the person that nominated you
Nominate some other bloggers for this award
Write the same amount of questions for the bloggers you have nominated
Notify the bloggers you have nominated

Janine’s questions for me are :

Why did you start blogging?

Over 8 years ago, around the time when I got acquainted to the term ‘blog’, a close friend shared a couple of posts from his blog. As I read his words and appreciated the metaphorical comparisons of mundane everyday chores or his unique encounters on a recent trip it intrigued me and kindled an interest with a question - “Could I write as well as him?” That nudged my inner self to wake up and start one for myself. This was my first attempt at blogging. The joy was short lived since the blog survived for 2 posts and then went into hibernation as life happened.

Second time around, over 4 years ago to be precise, I came across many new bloggers and their expressive writing skills. Deep down in my heart, I wanted to own my personal space where I could just write, share, speak my obscure thoughts before they disappeared and record them in this large cyberspace. A few chosen ones of those bloggers inspired me to create that space and so a new blog evolved.

What is the most positive thing that has happened to you because of blogging?

Even though my initial attempts at blogging were structured to consist of my daily chronicles of life, as I came across various blogging groups and linkups, the one thing I noticed is that there were a handful of bloggers whose writing made me appreciate myself for what I am and made me feel good from within. Now with every passing day, I realize how writing can be therapeutic. It enables you to notice the small things in life and constantly keeps your mind busy looking for ideas to share. I see myself strive everyday to write better and want to bring out a positive impact on my readers as well. Thanks to the blogging world, I now have a constant urge voicing inside of me to appreciate life, capture my feelings, record the expressions and express gratitude every single day of my life.

What do you do to keep positive and live an inspired life?

Actually, it’s a mixup of different things. I look for inspirational books at the library or the book cafe, I listen to old classics which transport me back in time and make me want to relive good memories. It also makes me look back at some sad memories as well but then I realize how far I have come since then and feel hopeful again. On alternate evenings, I keep myself busy in my dance class for an hour or so when nothing else can penetrate into me. I find myself most relaxed then as my entire focus is on my students and everything else ceases to exist. It feels good to indulge in my passion.

What do you do when you aren’t blogging?

On most of the weekdays, the schedule is jam-packed with the management of the dance institution, classes, driving around for the toddler’s play school classes, reading and catching up on other creative projects.

Weekends are reserved for dance performances & shows in & around the city, home management, traveling, watching movies and sheer laziness otherwise.

What do you do to relax?

Having a toddler doesn't quite give me an opportunity to relax on a couch and sip on green tea but then when the little one naps, I love listening to music, reading books, watching feel-good movies or reruns of old TV shows.

For my nominations - I nominate the following amazing bloggers for both these awards :

Vinitha Dileep - Void Thoughts
Nibha Gupta - Expressions!
Mackenzie Glanville - Reflections from Me

And don't forget to answer the following questions from me to you, bloggers (if you choose to accept the award and respond)

On which topic do you enjoy blogging about the most ?
How has blogging helped you in your life - emotionally and socially?
If you had to shut down your blog tomorrow, what would you write about in the last post ?
When do you enjoy blogging - in the early hours of the day or late hours of the night ? Why ?
Do you have a writing process ? Why or why not ?

Please leave a link to your post in the comments section so I can stop by later.

Yours' truly,

What I wish others knew about me… #FridayReflections #MondayMusings

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 04:59:00 +0000

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When we set out to meet a new friend or befriend a random acquaintance on a bus or train, what exactly do we share about ourselves - our interests, our background, our profession and passions ? Ever wonder how different it would be if we could tell these people who we really are. No, I am not talking about sharing our likes and dislikes. But things that matter to us, like who are the kind of people we despise, what are our personal traits - are we short-tempered about silly things, do we have an easy-going attitude when it comes to facing deadlines, our pessimistic approach to life when it comes to certain matters - in short, how different would it be to divulge genuine details about our inner self ?

I once came across this Japanese proverb somewhere which basically said - 'Everybody has 2 faces - a good one and a hidden one. It’s the hidden face that truly reveals who we really are.'

It was kind of creepy reading into that quote but as I thought more about it, the more sense it seemed to make. Isn't it true ? Don’t we always put up our best faces in front of friends and extended family ? Other than, maybe the people who live with us constantly 24/7, who exactly knows our true self ? You may argue saying that we are as we are even with friends and family, which in that case, is good. But I fail to accept that we are a 100% ourselves when it comes to revealing our personality with friends & family.

If there is ever a scientific invention in the future of the digital age, where gadgets could reveal our deepest fantasies and darkest secrets, I would like to own the one that helps me understand that hidden face of an individual. Likewise, I would love it if others knew the following facts about me and about my hidden side -

Friendships matter to me, more than my family - Last year, while spring cleaning my apartment in India, I found a nicely wrapped bundle of letters and greeting cards stashed away in one of the old storage boxes. As soon as I laid my hands on it, I began to dig in and read through every letter. The exercise was painful and it welled me up like never before. But in the end, the affirmation was the same as what I had believed all these years. 'Friends are the family you choose.' Each letter was from a dear friend over the initial difficult years when I had moved to India for higher studies from the Middle East and adjusting to the new place was making it all the more impossible to like my life. In the past couple of months, I have come to realize that these are the relationships that go a long way even when you go for a long time without being in actual touch. On the other hand, for me, when family tends to go off touch, they go off touch.

I stay away from self-involved people - During my high school days, there used to be this class-mate of mine who would obsess about how good she was at everything and how things always turned out to be perfect for her. Even though reality was far away from being true, what she said and how she said always stuck with me. I know, it was a childish experience but I learnt a lot from it personally. I just couldn't survive around such people for more than 2 minutes. No matter how hard I tried, the discomfort of being around self-obsessed folks always shows in my body language.

My life isn’t a Facebook story - Yes, it's true. Been there and done that. I know of a lot of people who have tried to figure me out with just my Facebook account. And that is frustrating. I use Facebook a fair amount - like to publicize a new location where I am teaching a class or keep my friends informed about an upcoming performance or glimpses of past shows but when people expect me to upload a 100 odd photos of my personal life which has no meaning to why it is being uploaded in the first place, I wonder - 'How does social media help these people?' Back in the late 1990s when the internet made a slow and defining appearance into our household, my mother would crib - 'This computer thing is the worst invention of all time.' I dismissed it like yet another complaint but over the years somehow her statement seems to ring true when it comes to maintaining personal relationships even with those who we care about. I am happy to remain a firm believer of simpler times and everything old-fashioned.

Tell me, if you could wish for others to know some facts about you, what would it be ?

**Linking with Friday Reflections and Monday Musings**

My Security Blankets

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 15:19:00 +0000

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Why does it feel like something tugs inside me ? Why does it feel like a knot rolling over deep down in my gut ? It makes me want to slouch and curl myself up. It makes the world spin around me. All I want to do is to hide and never face anyone. When I close my eyes, it feels like I am trapped someplace unknown. I am unable to free myself. The thick darkness engulfs me like a moonless night. A feeling of fear creeps in and feeds off my misery, just like a helpless deer giving up itself to a herd of hungry lions. There is a weird pain in my heart. I can almost feel it diminishing the last streak of hope from my mind.

And then just when I think it can't get any worse, the knot rises from my gut and heads straight for my throat. It turns into a lump and stays there forever, making it hard to breathe, think or see clearly. I strain my eyes to look for help but I find none. The world around me seems new. This sudden rush of sentiments makes me dizzy and all welled up.

From the corner of my eyes, a tiny droplet of water escapes it’s realm to begin its rapid descent. They leave behind an easy trail for the others to follow. I look away in a failed attempt to hide my tears but they give away the emotions trapped inside of me.

I walk around feeling helpless and nowhere to go. But ‘all is not lost’, my mind whispers as I build the courage to speak out my feelings. Only then do I realize - what I had been truly missing, was in fact right in front of me. I pick up my phone and dial the number to the only people I know I can trust no matter what comes.

When the long distance call finally reaches the other end, I take a deep breath to utter the words - “Hi Mom, are you up”? I catch a glance of myself in the mirror in an effort to look brave with cried out eyes and dried up insides. I barely wait for her to answer and then I let the gates unleash the truth. She listens patiently and tells me to calm down. She worries what the stress is doing to me so I relax and focus on her words.

She tells me to gain perspective on what is present and exists right now. She advises me not to worry about the past or the consequences of the future. She comforts me like no other and helps me understand why the situation isn't of any gravity. I finally begin to see clearly and desire to have my mom’s affectionate arms wrapped around me. But that seems impossible considering the physical distance between us. So instead I settle for her wise words and feel grateful to have her in my life.

She shares her experiences and asks me to toughen up. Life is going to throw all kinds of challenges at me; it is up to me to decide which one truly matters. She reinstates my hope for life and asks me to focus on my self-improvement.

When my dad comes on to the phone, I feel like a small girl all over again telling him the little things pricking my heart. His pep talks inspire me to let go of my anxiety and emerge with a feistier attitude. His insights help me gain perspective and allow me to be myself again.

I can’t believe it! Merely speaking to them changed my whole day and made me feel good about myself.

I tell my parents to not to worry about me. That all the pandemonium in my head had been a result of my over-thinking. They wish me a good night’s sleep and hang up. I end the call feeling determined and positive once again, ready to face my life.

When things get a little rough, I always look for directions and heart-felt guidance to channelize the overwhelming feelings gushing inside me. My parents have been the sole anchor at those points and I can’t even begin to imagine what my life would look like if these pillars were to disappear one day.

Tell me, who is the anchor in your life ?

99 things I love #FridayReflections #GratitudeCircle

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 02:00:00 +0000

Unlike the times where I have to play a mental tug-of-war with my mind on one side and the words being typed on the other, I could just dive in this week and write out to my heart's content. Because it's a list I love, it's about all the things I love and there can be no end when it comes to picking out our favorites from this lifetime. Incidentally, this list also combines items that I am grateful for.

Source

What I would love, even more than the list, is to find out how many of you amazing people have the same things on your list, if you had to write one now ?

So what are we waiting for ? Let's share and find out. :)

Source

My birthday (ok! That seemed obvious. :p)
Birthday cake (or any cake in general)
Books, books and books - need I say any more
Reading on my couch with a steaming hot cup of coffee in hand
A comfy couch
Watching the rains while listening to my favorite music
Traveling to exotic places
Food !
Writing
The 'Fall' season - how nature changes its colors and makes me 'fall' in love with it :)
Watching the first snow of the season
Shopping for Baby Girl (or myself :D)
Watching romantic movies with LP
A long shower (yes, that is indeed a privilege these days)
Loitering around mindlessly in a book cafe
The smell of new books
Blogging community and all the wonderful friends I made in the past year
Writing letters
Poetry
Dancing
The performing stage - it's where I want to die when its time
Going home to see my parents and baby bro
Planning surprises for loved ones
Driving on my own
Occasional solitude - lets me indulge in my thoughts
My busy routine
My dance studio - it's where I forget the outside world and sometimes even my family :D
My iPhone - even though I hate how the invention has replaced 'almost' everything, I am used to it
Doing nothing from time to time
Chatting away with friends for hours
Watching mom cook
The appreciations after a good performance
Watching my dance institute grow an inch every month
Going away for the weekend
Thanksgiving shopping - when good things are really cheap
Holiday season
Sightseeing in NY - you never run out of places
Walking around the neighborhoods of NY on a Saturday afternoon
Spending some well-deserved alone time at a coffee shop
Flipping through old photo albums
Watching silly movies with my baby bro
Balloons
Historical fiction
Mythology
Indian classical music
Soft toys
My laptop
Early mornings and its eerie silence. For the same reason I love late nights and the solitude it brings.
Going for a long walk
Long drives
A clean home
A cleaner sink :P
The days when I have a lot of reasons to smile about
Sleeping after a really long day
Disney stores - I could keep gazing at the toys and the princess dresses forever
Movies at the theatre with popcorn in my hand
Feeling the cool breeze on a hot summer day
Watching reruns of F. R. I. E. N. D. S.
Creative thinking - irrespective of whether it's for dance, painting or writing
Playing games with close friends
Having a pot-luck dinner topped with hot debates, delicious desserts and late-night movies
Opening gifts
The accolades from childhood
Long walks along the country side lanes in UK
Visiting churches and temples to admire the intricate architecture
Meditating
Acts of kindness
Quiet evenings
Meeting my students every week
New Years' Eve celebrations
Snuggling into bed
Flowers
Chocolates
Shoes
Reconnecting with school friends
Being silly with my toddler
Cartoon time - makes me reminisce my childhood days
Photo shoots - personal, professional or plain candid
Peeking from my blanket while watching a horror movie (Yeah, I do that a lot.)
Singing in my car with the music on
Planting sloppy kisses all over my kid
Volleyball matches with friends
Bowling
A nice dinner at my favorite restaurant
An empty calendar day
Video chats with my family
Ice cream
Exploring best picks for furniture from IKEA
Silly dancing along with Baby Girl
My morning free time before the pandemonium begins
Puppies and kittens
Visits to my library
Clouds
A nice hot bowl of soup on cold wintery nights
Sunrise and sunsets (who wouldn't have these on their list)
Vacations
Fridays
Memories
Special moments of life

Go on, it's your turn now. :)

"Is there a letter for me?"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 14:26:00 +0000

In today’s time and age, everyone seems to be in a constant race with their clocks. Prioritizing activities is highly essential in order to skip the countless other mundane chores staring from our never-ending ‘TO-DO’ lists. ‘Spare time’ seems like a luxury for those who don’t get a second’s space to calm down, breathe and smell the roses.

And it is this ‘rush’ of life that seems to have taken away the charm of doing simple things. Like having a conversation with a friend for hours, looking through photo albums, enjoying a cup of coffee with family or alone and many such pleasures. If you ask me, reaching out to a friend today means a lot of stress. Even though we have countless avenues to contact one another, we still yearn for that personal touch. For this reason, I cherish the memories of a telephone call from a friend, a hand-written letter or a greeting card from a loved one over a long email.

Technology has given us a zillion options to stay in touch but somehow it always fails to express the emotion of the gesture. When the Blog-A-Rhythm group created the ‘Snail Mail Challenge’ about 3 months ago, wherein you get to send a hand-written letter to a fellow blogger and also receive one from another, I jumped at the opportunity. The catch of the challenge was that every blogger would be assigned at random, the name of the pen-pal, to whom they would write the letter. So I filled in my details, sent it across and waited patiently.

One fine day, when the Godmother’s (aka Shailaja’s) email sprung from my inbox, I knew it was time to bring out the pen and paper. :)

My excitement knew no bounds when I came to know that I get to send a letter to one of my favorite bloggers - Shilpa Garg. So much so that I ended up writing a 5-page letter to her. Not that there was a word or page limit, but once I started writing there was so much I wanted to share. I wrote to her about my recent vacation to Cincinnati, Ohio and the fun things that we got to do with our close friends.

In the end, as a surprise, I thought it would be a good idea to share my identity with her since pen-pal letters are meant to share our deepest feelings. So I sent her a photo of my family and my friends.

Once I posted the letter off to it’s destination, I couldn't wait to know whose letter would reach me. I regularly checked my mailbox and pestered LP to search through the envelopes in the hope that one would be addressed to me.

A couple of weeks down the line, a private message popped up on Facebook and I knew who sent me the letter. The scanned pages of the letter lay in my inbox waiting to be opened and my first reaction was a confused look. I got so caught up in the expectation of an actual letter that I missed experiencing the joy of actually having received one from my partial namesake (as she calls it :) ) - Inderpreet Kaur from Eloquent Articulation. Turned out that, while providing the address details at the start of the challenge, I had checked the option which said - ‘I am moving and can’t receive a letter’.

So I went back to the letter and learnt how Inderpreet had recently moved cities and in the midst of the pandemonium she had to write to me for the Snail Mail Challenge. Having moved 3 times across 4 states during the initial 2 years of our stay in US, I know how hard it must have been to stick to the deadline. At least in my case, it was just LP and me moving places but with a child the definition of ‘moving’ tends to go out the window.

I got to know a little more about Inderpreet through the letter where she went on to talk about her work, her 6-year-old son, how she would find it interesting to blog under a pseudonym on some occasions and how she loves the art of letter writing but finds it almost dead in the current scenario.

Inderpreet was so sweet to mail the letter to my address even though she had scanned and sent across the content. That indeed was a surprise. I was so happy the day LP handed the envelope to me and said - ‘This one’s for you’. :)

Before ending her letter, I did find an extra page written in letter that wasn't part of the email that she had sent over earlier. It felt heartwarming to read Inderpreet express her feelings about the blogging world and how it has helped her make quicker friends.

‘THANK YOU’ Inderpreet. We should definitely keep this association going on.

‘THANK YOU’ B-A-R for this wonderful challenge and helping me enjoy the art of letter writing again. The next time, I want to express my feelings with a loved one or a dear friend, I am going to write them a letter.

Do you love writing letters? Do share, I would love to know :)

**Linking with the Snail-Mail Challenge hosted by Blog-A-Rhythm**

An ideal bedtime routine #FridayReflections

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 21:47:00 +0000

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“Bedtime routine? There isn't time to have a routine, per say. All I can ever do is first, get my child to go to sleep and then, you call it a day.” :)

Ask a mother of a 22-month old toddler for her bedtime routine and you think you already know the answer. Right?

Wrong !

Most moms in my apartment complex (heads up - there are 3 other toddlers on he same floor as us and of the same age) would swear by the above-stated routine.

As for me, my day literally starts or (gets even busier) once the baby is down. And that doesn't involve any of my personal ‘want-to-do’ items. Well not all of them.

For one, the dirty dishes need to be sorted out so that the household can face the next day pandemonium with a fresh mind (and a clean kitchen sink). After that, it’s the turn of the living room and dining area. The strewn toys get picked up and stashed in the toy box, the chairs need to be stationed back in place and oh, how can I forget the mail envelopes that need to be cleared up from the million places where they always end up being rather than the super-comfortable and well-organized wall pockets. *Take a hint atleast now, my dear hubby* :P

And then the favorite part of my bedtime routine. Once everything is back in place, it’s time to read or maybe write or even explore creative options for my dance school. While I ensure none of these activities run past midnight, there are those ‘days’ when creativity just holds on to you at the weirdest hour and it’s hard to break the continuity.

And while we are still talking about routines, my toddler also decides to go off-track on some days because kids, apparently, like having spontaneity in their schedule. So just when it seems like they have retired for the night, they may surprise you by waking up after a short nightly nap to emerge fresher and much more active than during day times.

So the one thing I would like to change in my bedtime routine is to move all those ‘want-to-do’ items over to the early hours of the day. So as to be able to drop dead asleep at night. So as to wake up ‘early’ and consistently too.

But until then, I’ll just put my baby to sleep, battle the drooping eyelids and tip toe to the next room to read or write or… zzzz :)

Tell me, what's your bedtime routine like ? Is there anything you would / wouldn't change about it ?

10 things to feel grateful for... #FridayReflections

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 23:33:00 +0000

Central Park, New York

1. Thanks to the fluctuating levels of mercury and humidity this week, things have been pretty rough health wise. The toddler in the house decided it was time to pass on her flu and which better candidate than her own mother? My sore throat and runny nose were enough to send the dear hubby off to cook the meal of the day and wash the dishes before he left for work yesterday morning.

For that (and for a million other reasons), I am grateful to him and happy to be relieved of the everyday chores even if it's just for a day.

2. When nothing seemed to help my aching throat and irritated nose, a nice hot cup of chocolate at the mall, did a great job to soothe and calm the illness. Sure, it may not be the recommended cure for a bad cold. Nevertheless it definitely cheered me up both health and mood wise.

Grateful to have finally achieved some ‘me' time while Baby Girl ran through the mall with the hubby close behind.

3. Time and distance change any relationship. For this reason, I believe in long-lasting friendships that stand the test of time for years and years to come. Many a time, certain people who started off by being a mere acquaintance at college or work turned into one of my closest friends in life.

Likewise, I've also learnt how one fine day, a good friend could suddenly decide to call it quits, cease all communication and transform into just another acquaintance. I am grateful to those friends of mine who, in spite of being miles apart, always treasured the friendship more and remained the way they are. You are living proof to the fact that no matter what, things never change between true friends.

4. I must admit that once every few weeks I seem to be swamped with whatever life throws at me. This puts me off blogging and writing in general. However when I return to my blog after a dormant phase, there are pleasant surprises waiting for me. Goes to show how kind and generous my readers are.

Earlier this year, during the A-Z April blogging challenge, my Facebook page reached a very important milestone of crossing 100 likes. After 4 years of blogging, this definitely looked like a huge deal for me. But the next 100 appeared rather quickly. This week, in just about three months since the last milestone, the page exceeded 200 likes.

I am grateful to my readers who visited my blog irrespective of my long absence.

5. I am sure all of us have heard this before - 'Parenting is tough’. Maybe as a word of advice from our own parents or as a random rambling from a dear friend. But the actual truth is that it doesn’t get said enough. Whatever knowledge is shared between friends or family is of great help. Reality is when you finally get to experience it.

You can plan and plan and plan some more but eventually babies (or toddlers) more often than not, prefer to have a schedule of their own for everything. If you think they adapt well to a routine, don’t be surprised if they decide to stay off it for no apparent reason.

Thanks to the parenting experiences this week, I have a new found respect for my parents, who single-handedly brought up 2 children, in a far-off land away from family, or any other source of help, whilst perfectly juggling between work and home. Seriously, how did you do it without going insane ? And without social media ? :P

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6. Earlier this week, I chanced upon a family photograph at home. I miss those times when photographs ruled our world. Holding onto a memory in your hands, traveling back in time to remember the moment, looking at the happiness cast on faces of the entire family - every time a fresh breath of nostalgia. It reminds me of a simpler time and almost instantly a feeling of appreciation gushes through my heart. Today, although I am happy being able to click pictures at my will from the ease of my phone, I am grateful to have been born in a simpler time when photographs meant more than just a click. They conveyed untold stories and captured memories like never before.

I almost feel bad for my Baby Girl, who by the time she grows up, will end up using more advanced ways of photography.

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7. When it comes to adapting to new places, I must say I fare well. After the initial glitches of any new place, I clear my head and vision to focus on the good aspects. Visiting Manhattan in New York for the first time wasn’t the best trip in 2011 . I didn’t get to do much sightseeing, I hated the hustle-bustle and the crowds of the city.

The second trip to New York came a few months later again in 2011 during the Christmas holidays. I still didn’t like the place as much as I thought I would but that didn’t stop me from appreciating that Christmas is indeed a great time to be in the city.

Now it’s been over 2 years living near the ‘city that never sleeps’ and it amazes me. I love how there is never a dearth for places to visit. True, natural beauty is something you won’t find as easily in the concrete jungle. Even so, finding something closer is far better. :) Last week we had friends over in the city and we had an amazing time whether it was admiring the New York skyline from over the Waterfront at New Jersey, taking the ferry ride over river Hudson to New York, visiting the beautiful St. John's Cathedral, strolling through Central Park or walking at night over the Brooklyn bridge.

I am grateful to witness new sights and places in New York during every trip.

St. John's Cathedral, New York

8. Two years ago, my health wasn’t in the best of spirits. Even after the delivery of Baby Girl I still continued with a lot of my unhealthy eating habits which made it difficult to lose the extra flab. Thanks to constant inputs from hubby dear and a lot (when I say 'a lot’, it actually means a whopping 'lot'!!!) of research, I decided to straighten up my eating habits and stick to them. While there is still room for further improvement of my diet and while I still encourage my sweet tooth cravings from time to time, there aren’t any extra chocolates stocked up in the fridge or cookies stashed in the cabinets any more. The result - I feel good, I feel healthy and some people tell me I look good too :P

Just this week, I received compliments from my friends making me feel grateful to understand the importance of healthy eating and making better decisions to improve my lifestyle.

9. Even though I didn’t enjoy a good night’s sleep last night, I was up at 5 AM today thinking of how to productively spend my time till the toddler is up. Found time to read, enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee and blog at ease without any interruptions.

I am grateful to enjoy the solitude of the early morning and doing what I like - writing.

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10. Last but not the least, I am grateful to Friday Reflections (not just this week but every week) for giving me that extra nudge from behind to take notice, sit up straight, reflect on the past week, write my thoughts and share it with the world.

So what’s on your gratitude list for this week ? I would love to know.

Aim for the sky always... #FridayReflections

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 06:35:00 +0000

It’s funny how the possibility of a new venture or the opportunity to step out of our comfort zone, sends us into a frenzy. The simplest doubt crops up in our minds and we get bogged down with the same old predictable questions.

Will I succeed ? Will I make it to my destination without getting disappointed ? What if things don't go as planned ?

What if I fail ?

Even before we get a feel of the journey, let alone success, we fear the worst and finally step back. For once why can't we relax our minds, stop brainstorming on the possible negative outcomes of a situation, and focus on our aspirations ? And it doesn't even have to be revolving our work related apprehensions alone. Even in relationships we find ourselves confused with the same worries.

I am no different from the others when it comes to fearing about failure. But I also know what I would attempt to do if I was guaranteed never to fail.

1. Be more friendly

Thanks to life experiences, when it comes to friendships or building new relationships, there always a realm of caution in my mind. Because let’s face it. People let us down. Sometimes it’s the people who matter the most to us, on the other occasions it’s the unexpected ones who turn out to be the smarter lot.

If I knew I wouldn't get hurt or be let down by others in return, I could get to be myself. I wouldn't have to worry about others hating me or turning me down.

2. Be more courageous

So that I could take more risks. To dream bigger. To perform difficult feats like sky-diving. Or bungee-jumping. Take every day as it comes. Literally.

3. Be more imaginative

Many a times, our lives are controlled by our own shortcomings. Financial support, incomplete or inadequate education, mortgages on everything in life - home, a world tour, even basic living expenses.

If only, I could erase all my worries by a single stroke of a wand to actually imagine my life devoid of any limitations. To perceive the life that I want, that I wish to live. If only…

But what we truly need to acknowledge here is that failure isn't bad. Maybe it’s the best way for the Universe to tell us that it was not meant to be the first time. That something larger is in store with better results. That we needed to fail in order to emerge victorious the next time.

That life is all about “second chances”. That, no matter how hard you fall down this time, you always aim for the sky :)

Tell me, what would your aspirations or goals be if you knew that you could never fail ?

A to Z Reflections 2015 #AtoZChallenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 May 2015 06:52:00 +0000

“Your writing voice is the deepest possible reflection of who you are. The job of your voice is not to seduce or flatter or make well-shaped sentences. In your voice, your readers should be able to hear the contents of your mind, your heart, your soul.”

- Meg Rosoff

And that was my motto for the A to Z April Challenge 2015 which ended last week. It’s funny how even though the challenge has ended I find myself in a rhythm of going over everyone’s blogs, reading old or new posts and constantly updating my blog calendar.

Since the past couple of months I have been in a sort of unexplained frenzy. A first timer in this challenge, like everyone else, my initial thoughts were apprehensive. In my head, surviving a month long blogging challenge seemed like an impossible task (only for me) considering how I am constantly drawn in multiple directions all through the day.

And I was indeed wrong.

Last month, I discovered new capabilities in myself. I learnt new lessons and most of all, I enjoyed writing.

Lesson 1 - I loved the concept of having a theme because it paved my thoughts in a specific direction.

Lesson 2 - You don’t need much time to publish a post as long as you are focused on the letter of the day.

Lesson 3 - Blogging is as much as easy as any other day-to-day task. A routine is what helps set it in motion.

Although I was prepared with a theme and roughly 13-15 auto-scheduled posts, it was the second half of the month which seemed the hardest. Thanks to the weather bug, the entire household came down feeling sick and that slumped my writing or rather my strength to keep up. Nevertheless, I have been better than most other challenges.

As the above quote suggests, writing for this challenge helped bring out few heart-felt emotions on the paper. While the most part of my writing looked like pieces of fiction, I did write about real-life experiences to see how my readers would react given the same situation.

I also dabbled with different forms of writing during the month ranging from different kinds of poetry to 100-word drabbles to open letters to lists and eventually matters close to my heart. I kept it like a month long initiative by blogging for Friday Reflections which again kept me thinking and reflecting on the past days. It has been a fun experience and most of all it opened the world to an amazing community of bloggers and blogs likewise - as always.

Can I end this post without thanking the wonderful bloggers who took the time to come visit my space and leave their thoughts everyday. I think not. :)

While I may enlist only a few bloggers here (in no particular order) right now, I am deeply grateful to all those who visited. You made my day everyday last month and in turn showed me how I can never run out of reading good inspirational blog posts each day of my life. :) Thank You !

The Moving Quill by Shailaja V
Shanaya Tales by Shantala Nayak
Living my Imperfect Life by Sanch Vee
Everyday Gyaan by Corinne Rodrigues
A Rose is a Rose is a Rose by Shilpa Garg
Blog-A-Rhythm by Shailaja V and many other talented bloggers from the sphere
A Tale of Two Tomatoes by Shalini Nair
Life Under Microscope by Prasanna Rao
Happiness and Food by Parul Kashyap Thakur
Blogging from A to Z Challenge (where it all began ! :))
Expressions by Nibha Gupta
Void Thoughts by Vinitha Dileep
Xpress your Essence by Elly Stornebrink
Alphabet Salad by Laurel Regan
Flightless Birds Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy
A Global Fusionista by Eli Ertresvaag
Write with Fey by Chrys Fey

I definitely see myself returning for this challenge next year and until then, till we meet again… :)

“My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.”

- John Lennon

Zephyr #AtoZChallenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 04:05:00 +0000

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I wished forever she would stay,

I wished to tell I love her…
This breeze reminds me of that day,

Like today it looked a lot similar…

As the guy who aped a mime,

I wonder if she still remembers me…

All these years, all this time,

Her stole always fills me with glee…

But soon formed a deep heart hole,

Coz she barely glanced at my face…

Surely she forgot her old stole,

Else why her rush through the place…

Oh my sparkling sunshine ray,

Who was I for her to stop?

All I wanted was for her to stay,

All she wanted was to leave my shop…

And then she stepped back a yard,

As her friends called her to return…

The light breeze turned strong & hard,

And my mind began to yearn…

Unable to sail & unable to steer,

I felt like a sinking ship…

I sensed my looming fear,

And my heartbeat went into a skip.

Too nervous to ask her - “Are you fine?”,

I stood speechless & scared…

When her eyes landed on mine,

An unspeakable bond I felt we shared…

I stared at her radiance & looks,

While standing with a sheepish gape…

She glanced at my stall & books,

While looking just like a scape…

Those luscious lips & rich hair,

I will miss her coy smile & angelic eyes…

As she walked out of the fair,

I heard my soul’s painful cries…

Together our hearts were meant to seal,

When we first met & saw each other…

Now all I can do is to feel,

And write about this sad smother…

Note : Today's poem has been recreated from an old poem - "A Rainy Day".
See the prompt details here.

**This post is part of the A to Z April Challenge and the Ultimate Blog Challenge.**

**My theme for the A-Z April Challenge is "26 Days of Eloquent Writing".**

You... #AtoZChallenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 04:05:00 +0000

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With my heart filled with love and anticipation, I walked over to the mailbox today hoping to see a letter from you.

But as always there was none. Reminiscing about our old memories welled up my eyes.

You were my sunshine. My reason to live. My confidante.

Letting you go shall always remain my biggest mistake. Unaware of whether you exist or not today, I go to bed everyday with this hope in my mind that someday you will reach me. Until then I shall spend each day of this life… waiting.

"You were truly the one meant for me…"

**This post is part of the A to Z April Challenge and the Ultimate Blog Challenge.**

**My theme for the A-Z April Challenge is "26 Days of Eloquent Writing".**

e-X-uberance #AtoZChallenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 22:00:00 +0000

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I stared at you endlessly,

Clueless as I can be.

Watching you smile from the other end,

Thoroughly confused and distracted me.

This should've been a team play,

My blurry mind repeated all along.

You erased those thoughts by saying -

“Just smile and sing a song.”

Walking towards you was a feat,

And this bridge a long trip.

Not once did you relent ever,

Never did you change your quip.

And then it struck me,

What you aimed to teach.

You are a true master,

One who’s always out of reach.

I rush over to embrace you,

And surprisingly you do too.

What seemed like a lifelong journey,

Was indeed a fun party you threw.

Some dread you, others even cry,

But you say - “Continue the faith.

Zest is what it takes to overcome,

Not misery and never-ending wraith.”

I hold you close and whisper,

“Hardships were and will always be rife,

But don't you worry because,

You are my one and only life.”

Note : Check out the poem prompt here.

**This post is part of the A to Z April Challenge and the Ultimate Blog Challenge.**

**My theme for the A-Z April Challenge is "26 Days of Eloquent Writing".**

The "250th" one ! :)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 20:38:00 +0000

Just a couple of weeks ago, here I was looking through my posts and noticing that the 250th post should be coming along in the midst of the A to Z April Challenge. Now that the day has arrived, I am freaking out over what to say.

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So like always (you must have obviously guessed it by now :P), I am clueless what to write. Because just like life, my other blogging milestones also seemed to just pass at the blink of an eye.

I have no recollection as to when my 50th post got published or for that matter, even the 100th post. I felt so bad missing out on shouting from rooftops about my feat that I observed hard at my blog thereafter. And even harder so as to not miss the 150th post. Finally I caught it right on time and boy ! did I grab the opportunity. :D

I was so busy basking in the glory of the 150th post that I missed when the 200th post came along.

So for this post, even though I didn’t try and even though I am acting cool about it, here it is staring at my face and saying - “Come on now. Say something. Ain’t I special?”

Special it is. Having started a blog 3 times over, I never knew I would get this far in the last attempt. Never thought of making so many friends that I can’t even count on my fingers anymore. Never knew that you could never run out of discovering amazing new blogs every single day of the year. Never knew that I had in me a little flair to write whatever I could while gawking awestruck at every other blogger on the amazing post they have just written.

But it is not so special too for many reasons. For one, I haven't been blogging consistently like I want myself to do. Some days the thoughts won’t flow and on others I just won’t shake off the laziness to write. So while my 150th post came out over a year ago in January, this one has taken time to make its appearance. Also not to forget that reaching 250 posts in 4 years isn’t a huge achievement considering all my blogging peers have been there and done that in less than a year or two.

Nevertheless, I need to stop today and say a big “Thank You”!

To the entire blogging community who always visited this page (whether or not I wrote) to stop, read my thoughts and reflect.

To all the friends I have made along this journey. You inspire me every moment.

To all the readers (random or not) because in today’s world sparing one’s time means you have just shared a part of your life with me however minuscule it may be.

And while I make no specific plans to celebrate, I do make this little promise to myself in my heart today - “to always write...”. :)

What if... #AtoZChallenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 04:05:00 +0000

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What

If you

Could tell me?

The

One thing

That scares you.

What

If you

Could show me?

The

Only person

Who loves you.

What

If you

Could understand me?

And

The countless

Feelings trapped within.

What

If you

Could hear me?

And

Emerge alive

From the slumber.

Note : This kind of a poem is called a hay(na)ku. Check out today's prompt here.

**This post is part of the A to Z April Challenge and the Ultimate Blog Challenge.**

**My theme for the A-Z April Challenge is "26 Days of Eloquent Writing".**