I Am Thankful For

- Having to wake up in the mornings because it means I am alive and healthy.

- Being tired at the end of the day, because it means I have been productive, and I will have a great sleep.

- The mess in my house because it means that there are normal loving people living around me.

- My cellphone that buzzes the whole day because those I love think of me.

- The preparations before and the cleaning up after a party because it means I have friends surrounding me.

- Having to drop off all work to be there for a friend, because I know they will be there for me just as same when I need them.

I am thankful for all the things that irritate me because when I look at them differently, they show that I am a normal person having a wonderful life.

Images courtesy Google links!

Taking Stock: On the Eve of My 22nd Birthday

Today during my IR lecture my mind wandered (as usual...it's Industrial Relations and Labour Law...come on!) and I started thinking of my life.....this tends to happen to me on the eve of my birthday almost every year, so I am not surprised.

Firstly all the wonderful things I have had in my life:

1. My closest circle of friends.....those who are always there for me. You guys will always be the first in my life! Sanaya, Vidhi, Kirti, Mukul, Bhavik......that's you guys!

2. A beautiful relationship in which I learned to love, respect and cherish and also let go.

3. My family with whom I have managed to go beyond the troublesome college years finally.

4. A wonderful brother and a wonderful sister...who btw is getting married this year....it's going to be awesome!

5. The determination to go in for whatever I have wanted to do, be it acting, singing or dancing or writing scripts or directing.

6. Knowing I have a talent I can nurture....and writing a book finally this year!

7. An amazing childhood, with its great memories.

8. St. Xavier's College...this just speaks for itself.

So what do I want to invest the next few years of my life in?

1. The field of HR definitely. I am polishing myself for it and want to give it my best.

2. Writing....it's my life.

3. Adopt a child or have one. There is nothing more precious than the lessons that a child can bring to your life.

So hope all this comes true. Actually I will make it come true!

The Story of Life

My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot. ~Ashleigh Brilliant

I have a tendency to complete novels in one go because I can't stand the suspense. Sun (of the Sun, moon and star trilogy) likes to savour her books so she holds on to them for long, Star also loves her books a little slower than me. Moon? I? I don't take books till I know I have a 4-5 hour one slot commitment that I can give to it, to my liking.

But my own life! It's such a slap in my face! I have always written the story of my own life. I have it in control..or always have. But right now, circumstances are such that I have control over the small things, but the big ones..either I can't see or they are really out of my control.... I am working on the pieces and waiting for the bigger masterpiece (thats what I hope it will be) to work itself out. I am actually hoping for a miracle....which is NOT me! This is one story that is taking really long and its complicated, but at the end I hope its really worth the wait! Because for once I am holding on! And being very very very patient! God, I hope You are listening!!!

Fairy Tales

There is a question I have often asked a lot of my friends and colleagues often: "Do you believe in Fairy tales?" Don't get me wrong: It's not about whether they believe in magic or something...that's what people have a choice to believe in and I don't argue or question that. My question actually means as to whether people believe in happy endings? Whether they believe that good things are up for them.

Knowing how tough the world can be and how tough it can make people, I have always expected the answer to be a cynical no......And people have managed to again wonderfully surprise me......YES they do! In all their varied ways of accepting such stuff....declining in the most unbelieving way, shrugging, to smiling and saying nothing but accepting it, to an outright unembarassed yes, to a squeal of "YES!"

People still believe in fairy tales! And no! Don't be cynical: My sample consists of both MALES and FEMALES...and all of us do believe in happy endings...whatever may be the trials we go through....ah! the strength of hope! That's why we fight the bad times.

And that's why Bollywood is such a money spinner! It's all our fairytales acted out for us! And there is always a happy ending! I HEART BOLLYWOOD!!! And I HEART FAIRYTALES!!!

For those who say they don't believe in fairytales, just a question: Why do they read them out to their children? Why give them false hope?

So let me quote a few of my favourite lines about hope:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

To the power of hope!

Growing Up

Another reason to grow up today. For the past few years since I have become a "legal" adult, I have realised what it is to grow up, because of the various incidents I have been through. This is what growing up is through my eyes:

Thinking from the head when your heart wants something else, just because it is the right thing to do.

Staying put when all you want to do is run miles and miles away from that place.

Smiling when all you want to scream in pain.

Fighting on when there seems to be no hope and you want to give up.

Going miles away to realise the value of what you have left behind.

Growing up is not always fun...but it is one of the best things that could happen to you. Makes you a human, and keeps you one!

Ten Reasons to Smile Today

1. You are alive!

2. You are healthy.

3. It's a brand new day and yesterday does not matter....

4. You can always pick up the phone and talk to the person you miss. Simple!

5. The smell of coffee brewing. And the first sip of it.

6. You have someone to love....and someone who loves you back....

7. Old e-mails, old letters, and old photographs.

8. Hot food cooked by mom.

9. You have someone to talk to.

10. Tomorrow will be a new day even if you screw up today!

Great Life Lessons We Learn in KG

Row row row your boat,

Gently down the stream,

Merrily merrily merrily,

Life is like a dream

**************

From the movie 'The Bucket List'

We live, we die and "The wheels on the bus go round and round"

***************

5...6....

Pick up the sticks

7...8....

Lay them straight!

****************

When you are happy and you know it!

Clap your hands!!!

***************

Leave them alone

And they will come home,

Wagging their tails behind them!

*****************

Fun Things to Do

Ok so its Saturday afternoon and you are bored, or you are with a friend and have nowhere good to go out to because..well.....you are short of cash...and all places have a paying prerequisite. Anyways, here are some fun things you can do and not even spend a dime:

Take a walk in the park:

When was the last time you actually did this? Yeah, we can complain that there are no open spaces, no parks but you will find some if you are willing to actually move your body out of the couch and do it.

Volunteer:

Go do some volunteer work. Take your friends along. It will make you feel content.

Play Antakshari:

All you need for this is:

Baithe baithe kya karein?

Karna hai kuchch kaam

Shuru karo antakshari

Le kar prabhu ka naam!

Cook:

Yeah! Get together and cook! Create something new in the kitchen! If it turns out good you will be very proud of yourselves! If it doesn't, it will be something you will laugh about for a long time!

Create a Collage:

On the computer or using pen, papers, scissors, old pics. Do it alone or with your friends. Get your creative juices flowing. Extend this to other forms of craft or art....as you wish. Its a great activity!

Read:

If you are anything like me or my friends, you will enjoy a lazy afternoon spent reading.....and enjoying yourself with different stories and characters.

Create a Boardgame/ New Sport:

We used to this a lot as kids. Crete a new game or sport, with our own rules and scoring systems. Saturday afternoons were a laugh riot because you can think of the silliest rules and enjoy yourselves.

Choices

This is one of the best pictures I have ever come across!

The choice is always ours! Isn't it?

Once in Life

Bunk a lecture or office

Dance in the rains

Walk barefoot on the beach

Sing recklessly

Laugh til your stomach hurts...and then laugh some more

Do something that scares you

Fall in love

Miss someone

Take random crazy pictures

Write a poem even if you cant rhyme

Talk to a complete stranger

Dress up

Cry in a movie

Tell someone how much they mean to you

Call an old friend

Let go

Learn a new language

Volunteer to help

Play with a child

Do something spontaneously

Play a prank on a friend

Hug someone

Take a walk in the park

Play a sport even if you don't know the rules

Eat alone at a restaurant

Throw a party

Take a breather and live!

Because as they say, "Life is what happens to you when you are busy doing other things!"

Love is...

Love is when I get late and my father is waiting for me for dinner.

Love is when my brother leaves all the ripe and sweeter pieces of the mango for me.

Love is when I am missing my best friend and I get a handwritten letter from her along with a gift whose meaning only the both of us would understand.

Love is the relief I feel when I talk to my friend.

Love is when my friends understand what exactly what I am feeling even if they are halfway across the globe....by just the look on my face.

Love is being disturbed from work by the right people.

Love is giving surprises to those you love.

Love is in the smallest of things....

Hold On!

He took the knife
And ended it all
Ended all he couldn’t bear
For hope of all he yearned…

And there he reached God’s gate
His life’s work half done,
His song half finished,
His book with pages yet to turn.

And God yelled at him “You fool
This isn’t yet done
Turn those pages you yet not see
I gave you what you yearned!”

It only took Me longer
Because you wouldn’t open your eyes
It only took Me longer
Because you wouldn’t open your heart

If only you had accepted my miracle
You would have known
Though it didn’t look like what you wanted
It was much more than what you yearned!

The Moment of Truth

The moment of truth of falling in love is one of the most special ones in one's life. Here's to that moment of truth....that is special because:

You realise that that person is more important to you than anyone else and you care for that person more than anyone else you care for, and sometimes even more than yourself.

There is this feeling of knowing something about that person that no one else knows..may be that has been discovered through your togetherness..and that feeling that you understand and know that person better than anyone else.

The agony of being away from that person and not being able to think of anyone else... the ecstasy of forgetting all else when you are with that person.

The butterflies in your stomach when seeing that person smile and the feeling of knowing that you are the reason for the smile.

The first person who comes to your mind when you want to share some news...good or bad....

You just know that the person will pick up your call whenever you call, however busy they may be. And that you can talk to that person for hours about anything and everything under the sun and not feel tired or bored......

Here's to the moment that is wonderfully amazingly special and to the hope that everyone finds that moment of truth in their lives......

Blessings

Walking through the meadows,
Hand in hand
Walking on the rocky roads
Still hand in hand...

Simple prayers said,
Great blessings received

Laughing through the god times
Hand in hand
Singing through the tough ones
Still hand in hand...

Simple prayers said,
Great blessings received

Walking through the sunshine,
Hand in hand
Dancing through the rains
Still hand in hand

Simplest prayers said,
Greatest blessings received.

Things I learnt the Hard Way

Well, in life you can’t always depend on someone’s experiences, though they are a good form of vicarious learning. So here’s to a few things I have learnt the hard way:

Multi tasking while having a coffee cup in one hand and wearing a white t-shirt can be disastrous to the t-shirt.

When on a trip, enjoy the journey because the journey is always as much fun as the destination (unless you have a travel sick companion)

We only have a few seconds to make the first impression, and we need to make the best use of it!

Its pointless to do good work in the office unless you make it visible. You won’t get what you deserve otherwise.

Take time to go through your old letters, books, cards, and gifts. Time changes, memories don’t! You will always end up feeling better.

Believe that you deserve the best, and you will get it.

Always use the right words if you want to be understood right!

Trust your instincts (especially if you are a women…for men I really can’t say).

Always be your best friend and your worst critic. Don’t choose to be one of the two, you’ll either get too full of yourself, or hate yourself!

Most of the things we worry about too much, do not matter in the long run.

Sunday Special

Sundays are truly special! Anyone who faces Monday blues would agree with me when I say Sunday is special. They are the one thing that looking forward to keeps you going through the week. Here is a list of somethings that just make my Sunday:

Sleeping in late: a true luxury!!

Reading for hours at a stretch...

No deadlines!!

Calling and talking to people who you do not work with.

Having a long leisurely bath to pamper yourself.

Food...Sunday always calls for special food....

Spending time with family.

Meeting friends.

Here's to the magic called Sunday!!

Living Life to the Fullest

I live as if I were to die tomorrow.

I am not depressed and this is not an appeal for help....I just truly believe that there is no guarantee (as there is none actually) that I will live tomorrow.

This just helps me put things in perspective.

Is there anything I regret having said to anyone today? If yes then did I apologise? If no, then what am I waiting for?

Did I put my best efforts in everything I did today? Will I regret not having done something in a particular way as I wanted to?

Did I call everyone who I wanted to/needed to? Did I say everything I needed to tell them? Did I tell the people I love that I love them? If not, then what am I really waiting for?

I missed one chance to tell someone I love them because of that person's death. I am never losing another chance of doing something I really want to do...ever!