International Day of the Girl!

I was on the CNN website to check up on what Sandy was upto in the East coast considering I have cousins splattered all across the US when I noticed that today is actually the International Day of the Girl! I know every day is another day of something or the other but I am damn excited about this day. Trust me, coming from someone who scorns the commercialization of every holiday, this day must mean something.

So what is this day and why is it important that we recognize it? It is an important day, especially for young girls all over the world and it is our responsibility as the Gen Y women to spread the word to these young girls about the importance of being born a woman. What we have learnt over the years and what we have to 'give' in terms of advice, suggestions, experiences...what we have learnt is often a great place to start. 

There's another part to this day, and that is thinking about your oown past. Things that you  would tell your 15 yr old self. I found a very inspiring link on CNN and have posted that down below for y'all to check out. It has some of the world's most prominent women personalities from various fields giving their pearl of wisdom to their 15 year old selves. But honestly, think about it girls...what advice would you give your 15 yr old self? 

Here is what I would tell lil Sophie...

"Life is too short and goes by before you know it. Be smart and make decisions after really thinking them through and even if things don't work out don't beat yourself over it. Don't give away your trust too easily and earn your respect by working hard at whatever you do. Learn to love yourself and don't try to be someone you are not for anyone. And hear out your Dad and Mom. They do know what makes you..you!"

So...what would you say??

Some links you should check out:

CNN:  http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/11/world/gallery/international-day-of-the-girl/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
Birds on the Blog: http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/
Oprah: http://www.oprah.com/index.html
Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53lfXb73z3c&feature=g-vrec

Broken Hearted Angry Music Anyone?

I don't get it! Why are all of Taylor Swift's albums going Platinum? Is it because she is good at what she does or is it because she is good at dissing men, relationships and love in general by belting out one song after another about how badly YET another guy has treated her?  My friends cousin (all of 13yrs) is a great fan of hers and sings each song almost as her bedtime prayer! When I asked her why she likes Swift, pat came the reply, "Coz she writes from the heart about how bad boys are and why we should be careful of trusting them"! HUH?? OK!!!

Swift's latest album RED, though has some very hummable tunes and sounds really good, is another plate of anger and bitterness dished out for young teens and twen-teens (as I like to call young girls in their 20s) 'jilted' in love to lap up. Adele made her millions off of her broken heart...granted she is a genius and is brilliant... but people talk more of her tears and hurt at the age of 19 (fancy that!) than just her brilliant voice. It seems that of late most of the music created by some of the most talented singers is about scorned love, heartbreak, shattered emotions and the BAD BAD BOY! So what's is it that makes women at such a young age (most of Swift's fans are in the teens or early 20s) like this music so much? 

I was a teen not so long ago and the music that I remember growing up on didn't involve male bashing and was instead 'diabetic-ally' sweet on romance...remember Take That and Boyzone?? I agree that love can hurt and men can be asses but is it wise to expose young, impressionable girls to such negative feelings about getting your heart broken? Where is the music about self love, expressing oneself, about freedom and peace, about meaningless stuff and meaningful stuff?? What happened to Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Madonna, Aguilera singing 'Beautiful' and Spears telling us 'oops she did it again'?

Come on ladies! I am sure not all of your music needs to be centered around men and how much hurt they caus/caused you? Here I was, thinking that we had finally moved on to better things to talk about but somehow we are still talking 'boys'? I am sure there is so much more you can write about and sing about. I would have assumed that the generation Y women (and I am lucky to be one if them) who have experienced some of the most amazing things in this and the previous century had finally realized their value but somehow each time an angry tune turns into a hit song/album it makes me cringe!

Are you telling me all these women from Beyonce to Taylor to Adele are actually writing about themselves or is it possible that they are feeding on the insecurity that young women all over the world have? Are you telling me that these singers actually sing what they go through or have been through or could it be that they know this works so they keep repeating it?  Beyonce may write about poverty and about getting her heart broken (though of late her music is about empowerment and kudos to her!) but isn't she leading the complete opposite life? What say Jay-Z? And trust me if you are gonna use your heart break to make music out of it...great but when you do it in 3 consecutive albums...you are NEGATIVE energy bundled into one body of blonde!

I don't hate you Taylor but I do think that you are not a good influence on young women if your work is based on negativity and hatred toward the opposite sex. You aren't helping young girls become stronger, you are making them more scared and insecure about relationships and men in general. So if you can, how about the titling your next one 'Butterflies' and writing about how awesome it is to be a woman! Here's to hoping you will!

I agree it's a crazy world...so stop and smell the roses!!

I am missing my lil apt in Bby. Weird isn't it? When we have something we don't realize it until we are a distance away and then we miss it. So here I am visiting my family in Hyderabad and missing my apt in Bombay.

Day 7 - 11 I have been a bad girl. Haven't worked out a minute since I got here 4 days back (does running around with my two nephews count?). Though I have been following the rest of the list. So all in all...not too terrible am I? :)

Being back in the city where I grew up most my life made me remember the little things that used to make me happy as a school and college kid. It wasn't about the expensive dinner, clothes or fancy parties, it was the simple stuff that made every day special. Late night calls with my buddies Jeetu and Pankaj discussing silly little things and hours spent dissecting what we read in Cosmo with Aarti; sitting on the steps of FABS and sharing one bottle of Pepsi between 10 friends; scavenging for loose change in our bags to pay for that Pepsi; getting drenched in the rain and yet running through the Bougainvillea drenched lanes of Sainikpuri, holding hands with my bestie Neha; lying to our parents and sneaking off to watch a movie at Sangeet...I miss those simple days.

Reminiscing made me bring out my diary and list out my current favorite things, those that don't cost much but give me immense joy.  I think all of us should at least once in our lives make this list. A list that would comprise of things we like doing, things that make us feel..well!..like us when we were younger. Things that bring back good memories, help create new ones and let us remain 'sane' in this crazy world of competition, stress, crashing world economy and fickle relationships.  

So here is my list...and I hope you make yours too...and try to do at least a couple of your favorite things in a week. Trust me, it's worth the effort.

Raindrops on roses...these are a few of My Favorite Things:

1. Sitting at my window ledge in my Mumbai apt watching the rains, drinking cold coffee, reading, surfing www.people.com for the latest celeb gossip and style....anything...it's my favorite place in my apartment

2. Cooking...anything and everything...experimenting with new sauces and veggies and meats...it's amazing to see a dish turn out and then get people to try it...love the flavors, the fragrances, the sounds that cooking food makes...

3. Having a glass of red while watching my favorite TV show or a movie on a weekday afternoon (when I have a holiday) and eating nachos with my homemade salsa or enchilada sauce...YUM!!

4. Meeting my closest friends for dinner...or coffee...or anything and laughing my guts out with Deven...making complete asses of ourselves at public places where we are asked to quieten down or LEAVE!!

5. Talking to Aarti my best friend...she is so busy with work these days but whenever we catch up...it's my favorite time...

6. The smell of books...so anytime I see a bookstore...I end up buying at least one book...yeah! It's my weakness...more than shoes even.

7. Going for a movie to PVR Phoenix (YES! ONLY THAT ONE!) and eating the Bhel there...hahaha...I love it..

8. Playing with my nephews...they are a total stress buster...until one of them poops!

9. Dancing...anytime..anywhere!!!

10. Lavender oil massages and body scrubs...whether it is my maid who gives me a back rub or I give myself a home leg and arm massage or at a luxe spa...it has to be lavender oil...maybe a lil vanilla added to it...Lavender is BLISS!!

Day 4-5!

I was a lazy bum yesterday but I made it up by eating healthy and doing stretches at home. So it counts... :)

Am off travelling today but have promised myself a quick run around my parents house - a couple of late night laps in the suburban  colony with it's open air should be fun. 

Loving me all the time babies!

Do We Indian Women Still Fear Perception?

While I was in school, I was taught by my teachers and elders around me that any girl/woman who wants to be taken seriously and respected needs to play the part - basically, speak in a particular tone of voice, not laugh too much and not be too open about herself to people, be self sacrificing, etc. etc. The 5 years I spent in the US helped shape me as a person and helped me realize that 90% of the advice I had gotten about being taken seriously as a woman was...well! not to be taken seriously.

When I got back I was pleasantly surprised to see a tidal wave of change sweeping through young urban India particularly among women who were now far more independent and outgoing than 5 years back. I was happy to be back to a new, improved and emerging India.

India has changed. We Indians have sped ahead in practically every area of life be it relationships, culture, jobs, art, film, etc. but have we as Indian women (including myself) broken free from the past? Do we still have a fear of perception that keeps us tied down to stagnant tradition, century old rules and self made boundaries. IBN recently did a news piece on career women in urban India who put their careers ahead of getting married; the survey was conducted on about 1,200 married, young working women and home makers in cities like Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune and showcased how Indian women are now choosing the good of the self before the demand of the many (read family/society). If that is the case then why is it that it feels like most of our decisions are still made based on societal pressures? Why is it that there is a certain decorum that we still follow not because we are comfortable with it but because we don't want to give discomfort to those around us?

Have you noticed how conscious we single Indian girls over the age of 30 get when asked about why we aren't married yet? I know this is a challenge any single woman in her 30s anywhere faces but in India it is at another level altogether. Have you ever felt weird about dressing up for work - not just wearing the same simple salwaar or basic pant suit - but actually dressing up like you see so many women on TV when they are off to work? Have you felt obligated to play the perfect host when hosting a dinner party for your husband's friends or yours even, cook the typical Indian food and spend the rest of the evening playing slave to the guests - not because you want to but because that is what is expected of you? Do you to go to your place of worship because you want to connect with God or is it because you are expected to coz you are a good Indian girl? Do you fast on Karvachaut in the name of religion and tradition because society dictates you do it every year for your husband's long life or because you want to?

You might be wondering what I am trying to get at? No. I am not trying to get some bra burning protest started here. All I am trying to understand or figure out is whether Indian women are free of Indian perceptions? If we do, what we do, because we want to or is it because that is what is expected in our society? I find myself questioning my own decisions of late and many times realize that I end up pleasing others because of these perceptions. 

Just putting a thought out there. 

Day 2 - 3: Upanishads, Cooking and then some Crab and Clams!

I kept my end of the deal that I made on this public forum. Proud to say I have kept my word and eaten healthy and I spent this evening and yesterday on cardio via brisk walking and yeah a lil stretching and dancing so there you go...and I have followed my list. :) 

Well! It's been an awesome weekend...Sophie's Kitchen (my cooking agenda of the year - also on FB: http://www.facebook.com/sophskitchen?fref=ts) was good...I made Chicken Fajita and hopefully taught people who read my page how to do the same at home; I traveled to Pune and had a ball; I spent Sunday eating baked clams, drinking Sangria and catching up with an old friend and reading....


Yesterday was fun...I spent it in Pune eating some delicious Singaporean Crab and walking through the city before we met up with Sri M. A yogi who born into a muslim family is one of the very well respected spiritual leaders with a complete knowledge of the Vedas. I picked up his books on the translations of the 3 Upanishads  plan to read them next week when am on my long vacay. 

Anyways, coming back to the spiritual stuff...honestly I was very skeptical about meeting Sri M, I mean I have no idea what a yogi is or does and he sounded more like a holy leader of sorts. So imagine my surprise when I was face to face with a simple working class man with kids who just happened to spend a few years in the Himalayas and took a fascination to the Vedas and decided to teach what he had learnt. What I also really liked about him was his way of talking to people. I mean it was a seminar and I know you have to be a totally into PR if you are an author (ask me, I worked in publishing as an intern when I was at UT) but this wasn't PR. This was honest to God simplicity. I was totally amazed at this man's sincerity when he reached out to each of us through his answers. And he has a sense of humor to boot. I have picked up his book and will eventually review it on my blog so you guys out there can decide if you want to read what Sri M (or the Upanishads) have to say.

So I am all in all totally doing the self-love thing. Spending the last few days following my list has made me realize that ME comes first!! And I hope you girls do too. It is very important for each one of us to step up and treat ourselves better, be it eating right, working out, being kind to ourselves for the so called silly mistakes we made...it's about learning to be kind to ourselves the way we would be to someone else. 

So yay me!! From now until...forever!!!

Day 1: List Update

Yup. I followed thru!

29 more days to go and those shoes are ALL MINE!!!

The Joy of Lists...and how I intend following my latest one for once!

I think I have OCD. 

Ok maybe it's not really like a bad case but it's still there. Apart from the lining up of jars and kitchen stuff in order of height, spot free cleanliness and labeling of my shoe boxes i make lists. Lots of lists.

Making lists gives me immense joy especially when I am checking off the boxes when I am done with the task. I got into this habit when I started working in 2004. A senior colleague suggested I make lists to get through the day instead of making mental notes on the work that was due. I have to say this helped me immensely in my work life for a long time. But it also left me with unfinished tasks, unchecked boxes and also at times a list as long as Santa's Delivery Schedule on Xmas eve!!

Very recently I found a solution which came in the form of another very knowledgeable ex-colleague suggesting the 4 Quad List maker -  a list based on the order of importance. So instead of just writing down 15 things due in the day, I divide my page into 4 quads and then place the tasks due in these and check them off basis their importance. A new way of getting things done basis their urgency that has made work life so much better. By making the 4 Quad List I am able to not only prioritize but also move the not so urgent tasks to another day without feeling bogged down or guilty about it.

Here is what the 4 quad task list looks like and I hope it helps you guys out there too. Trust me - it looks like a lot of work - it is really worth it.

But more often than not when these lists are about life decisions and stuff that's good for me (like eating healthy and working out or trying to wake up an hour early to enjoy the sunrise) I am absolutely unable to follow through. I wonder if most women face this dilemma?

So this morning while driving to work and after a crazy night out with the girls (yea! on a Wednesday!!!) I decided that this list will be my FINAL list and come what may I will make an effort to follow through on it. 

The plan is very simple:

1. Make THE list
2. Set timeline to follow - 1 month (30 days starting today - 18th Oct 2012)
3. Update blog daily with a day-wise update on if I followed through on each day and if I DON'T I will be honest about it and report that too
4. Post 1 month I will reward myself with something expensive and unnecessary (like a pair of jeweled Steve Madden's) for following through


So ladies, here is my ultimate list of all lists...

THE LIST

1. DROP all superstitious rituals (THANKS to my best friend Aarti!) I follow albeit 2 (you have to understand those 2 really WORK...I can see you rolling your eyes...so don't roll your eyes and no I am not jotting down which 2...you may ROFL!!!)

2. Stop being a greedy Pig - basically don't download any more TV shows or movies until I finish the ones already sitting with me; don't drink like it's going outta fashion even if it is 1 day in the week; don't buy any new books before I have finished the 100 I already own (ok 99); don't buy shoes that I know I will end up wearing once in a year and hate every minute of it coz they are so freakin' uncomfy; don't be in a hurry to get ANYWHERE. Take it slow.





3. The thing that I have gotten into the habit of doing on BBM - STOP IT!! I don't have to update my status or DP on FB or BB every hour. Stop that annoying, irrelevant habit. The world will still keep moving if I don't inform them of the 13th plate of Bhel I ate today!!!

4. SLOW DOWN AND SMELL THE ROSES - seriously. I mean it! Stop worrying about something that hasn't even happened and probably never will. And stop thinking about the gazzillion things that have already happened and that I can't do anything about.







5. SAVE - Become smarter with my budget and funds and save up better than the existing plan. Become smarter about my eating habits and save my tummy from the onslaught of unhealthy crap that I keep treating it to. Save my body by being more regular with my running and dancing.






So - Let's see how I do these next 30 days...and if I succeed...THOSE HOT PINK CRYSTAL SHOES ARE MINE!!! (Yeah I am allowed to be a PIG that one time:)). Wish me luck!

Why we LOVE Ryan Gosling!!!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0331516/

A guy friend of mine asked me the other day why we women seem to all be in 'luurrveee' with Ryan Gosling. Granted he is HOT as hell but what's the deal with this phenomenon that seems to have swept females the world over. I decided that it's time I took the bull by the horns and told you why women love Gosling.

Ok let's just be honest here.

I am Sophia Sinha and I am a Ryan Gosling ADDICT. I love him. I can't imagine a world without him. I agree his body looks photo-shopped (and it's not) coz no man has ever looked THAT good bare chested. I think God didn't rest on the 7th day...instead he spent it creating Ryan Gosling! 

BUT.

But Gosling is more than just a pretty face and sexy bod. He is what I call a 'holistic' man as far as the entertainment industry is concerned and is the only man after Tom Hanks to have gotten this kind of dedication from me (Well!! Tom I am sorry but you aren't/weren't ever ripped like RG so I give my boy a 10% lead on you!).

I started following Gosling after watching him in Lars and The Real Girl...he was not a somebody then...yes, he had done a fab movie called The Notebook but that was mushy crap and NOT what he showed us he could do in a slew of movies that have followed in the recent past. While RG got noticed post Blue Valentine, if you want to see this boy in action you have to go rent/buy Half Nelson, Drive, All Good Things and The Believer. He is talented as hell. He has taken risks very early on in his career without the fear of being typecast. He made short films that may not have been seen by many but have been close to his heart. He hasn't made conventional choices and he is just happy doing what he believes in. He plays the lovelorn guy, the sick murdering bastard, the insecure husband, the drug addict teacher and the poster boy all with so much ease that it is tough to ignore his abundance of raw talent.

What I also admire about this guy is his dedication to his dog George and animals in general (he is a self confessed animal lover)...and his band...YES HE PLAYS IN A BAND called Dead Man's Bones. I have their first album and they are pretty OK. He still jams with them and hasnt given it up now that he is world famous. He is grounded.

Also if you wanna see how this man inspires women then you should pick up the book 

'Feminist Ryan Gosling: Feminist Theory (as Imagined) from Your Favorite Sensitive MovieDude

 by Danielle Henderson' from Flipkart for like INR 600. It is a hilarious book on blog posts by the author which got converted into this book. I read an extract and ordered it right away and am waiting for FedEx to bring it to my quavering hands....(ppsst...it's got hot steamy pics of RG with quotes from women about him, feminism, him and then some more him...). it's not only his shirtless self, but also the sensitive man we have fallen for.

So I am assuming that for one man to create this kind of fan following, that when People DIDN'T vote him Sexiest Man Alive there was a mob of women protesting outside their office, is a once in a lifetime phenomenon. It doesn't come from his sexy good looks alone (if that was the case then Zac Efron would be God too...BLECH!), it comes from the way he is...which it seems is as close to normal as can be for an actor of his stature. 

So there you go boys...that's why we love Ryan. All the lil words I have marked here in bold...that's why we love him...not just his body...so if you are left wondering about this Crazy Stupid Love women the world over have for him...quit complaining...coz now you know...!!!

*WINK*

Stumbling into Happiness...4 New Sources Sophie Found!

So there I was on a Monday night after a delicious dinner crafted by Chef ME and am sitting up in my tiny lil apartment's window ledge (my absolute fav place in this city apart from the park at Breach Candy) overlooking the sea-link feeling all content and full of smiles. I found these smiles in different forms - spoken to me, read out to me, staring at me on my computer screen, as melodies in my ears - and I decided to scribble down the 4 new things that I discovered recently that made me so happy!

Ok before you guys freak out, am so not going philosophical on you. You have to keep an open mind and read, watch, listen...and then let it sink in...whatever that IT is. For me it was a realization that happiness is a state of mind and that you achieve it by being yourself, having faith in yourself, recognizing the beauty around you, enjoying one task at a time, meeting new people and spending time with old friends...so here goes...

1. Mary Angelou: WHATTA WOMAN! If you don't believe me...click on this link and you will know what I am talking about. I love her lil quotes...some funny, some very insightful but all full of light energy..as I like to call it. She is an author, poet, civil rights activist, social worker, so much rolled into one. This is power...with words.

“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 
― Maya Angelou
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3503.Maya_Angelou

2. Gothic Music: Yeah for me Goth was black, red, blood, sinful...and then I stumbled onto these songs and I have since been captivated by the music, the Celtic tunes, the native language in some...this music has funnily increased my concentration power while I work. Give it a listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5absmIJN24&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=EDySgeN3l7A&feature=endscreen


3. Thich Naht Hahn - he is Thay ("Tie" - means teacher in Vietnamese)
A spiritual leader, a monk and touted as the calmest man on earth. I read some of his words and was blown away.
http://www.plumvillage.org/letters-from-thay.html
http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Thich-Nhat-Hanh-Quotes-Calm


4. The Ultimate Heart Reads:

- Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shefak
If there is one book you have to buy, this is it. A tale of friendship, love, faith and resilience. It teaches you through Shams beautiful words on life and love and Rumi's dedication for the wandering dervish.

- Single Girl's To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk
 Kick off your shoes, grab a cold coffee and read this heart warming and funny account of a young woman's journey into self discovery and moving on from heart break.

- The Power Of NOW by Eckhart Tolle
A bit heavy on words but you don't have to read it chapter by chapter which is what makes this book awesome. Read the Index and decide what you wanna know and learn about and then go for it. 

I think what it all boils down to is how open is your mind to new experiences,  some that teach you about yourself, some that show you new ways of dealing with things and some that make you realize you have far more than you realized.  So find your 4 things that will get you in touch with the happiness that exists in you. Let it shine. Just like that.

10 Things I Wish I Remembered When I was 25!

1. When someone shows you who they are - BELIEVE THEM! 
Maya Angelou was bang on when she said this. Everyone you will will meet will show you who they really are many times over. It is up to you to see that and believe that. The friend who is perpetually late will not change her habit, the guy who was demeaning in his words will always be that, the friend who said he was selfish will always be selfish...so stop and listen...and remember...and then don't try to change them or think they will change or expect anything new. Be smart. Watch. Learn. Remember.


2. 20% of your salary should always go into a SAVINGS ACCOUNT
No. You do not NEED those shoes. Every month just think you earn 20% less than your actual income and then put the rest away for a rainy day, a holiday in the Bahamas or just new furniture for your mom's place. But PUT IT AWAY. Anything else that you save, is added bonus. You will be glad you followed this advice my Dad gave me when I started working.

3. Listen More.
It always helps to keep your mouth shut and ears open. Especially at the work place. I haven't been a success at in in my personal life but yeah this advice is for both sides of your life. The more you listen the more to realize and that is always good.

4. Orange Lipstick is not for INDIAN girls.
Don't try it. Trust me. DON'T TRY IT.

5. Show your love to people who deserve it. 
Yes, you should be kind and generous with your affection but not like a saint. You aren't put on this earth to take shit from people who don't deserve your kindness. That doesn't mean you turn into a bitch, it just means that you should know when to STEP BACK and LET GO. Don't EVER expect people to realize their mistakes and CHANGE coz that rarely ever happens. Do your bit but also know when to just STOP.

6. EAT HEALTHY but take a break once in a while

We all deserve an indulgence snack once in a while so don't beat yourself up if you break your dietary routine. All work and no play will make Jill a dull girl. Enjoy a bowl of ice cream with chocolate chips in it, have that extra helping of the cheese casserole but also know when to put your spoon down.

7. Don't take yourself too SERIOUSLY.
Yes, we have to become CXO's by 40 and retire but that doesnt mean that we beat ourselves up every step of the way. You will make mistakes. You will probably lose your job at least once in your entire career. You will have to deal with a HORRID boss some time. Don't kill yourself over it. Relax. Shit happens. Just remind yourself that this too shall pass. Trust me. It will.

8. Read more.Be aware of what's going on around you.
It doesn't matter what you read. Just read. It could be a blog like this one, a news webpage, a marketing book or just a chic-lit by Sophie Kinsella. But read. Start with stuff you like and soon you will be able to move onto stuff you probably aren't too fond of. I hate reading The Economic Times but when I precede it with CNN Money or follow it up with Oprah I find myself more open to clicking that link. I hate Strategy books but I promise myself a trashy murder novel as a treat and guess what the Strategy book actually grows onto me. So read. Be abreast of the world around you.
 
9. Don't sweat the small stuff.
There's a bad jam on the Sea-Link? Listen to your fav song again. Your boyfriend is ignoring you. Give him space. You can't get your mom to stop asking you to get married? Smile. Yeah, it sucks and you wanna scream. I did. Well! The 'small' stuff didn't stop happening. So coming from someone who has had her share of ups and downs...LET IT BE. As Dory from Finding Nemo would say, "Just keep swimming"!

10. Don't chase after anything in a desperate attempt to make it yours.
Work hard. Study Hard. Pray Hard. THEN LET IT GO. Anything in life meant to be yours will ALWAYS be yours. If you have to put yourself through hell to get something (and by hell I don't mean burning the mid-night oil like crazy med students, I mean unnecessary tears, drama and pain) then IT SURE ISN'T gonna be worth it when you have it! Love isn't supposed to hurt (it will be tough but SHOULD NEVER hurt), jobs aren't meant to kill you (yes, you will be expected to work hard but not at the cost of your health, life or family), relationships aren't meant to stress you out (we have enough crap going on around us without people we care about adding to it ALL THE TIME). So DON'T CHASE. Lie down. The butterflies will find you.

So ladies, I wish I had known this when I was 25...or rather followed all of these back then...but now I know and now I follow them. Hope these words help you too as they did me.

Have a lovely Tuesday!

I AM ME!

Dear all,

I have been gone a year and I have returned (I am sure) smarter, wiser, saner and far more accepting of myself in many ways. The past year has been an awesome journey. I quit my job, survived a break up, moved cities, found a new job, tried that for 6 months where I met fantastic people and made friends for life but didnt quite like the work, so decided to cut my losses, found an even better work place (mashalah!) and a fantastic opportunity for my career, got reacquainted with Mumbai, met some awesome new people and caught up with old ones, learnt so much about myself and found out that self-love is a fab thing and everyone should practice it...and now a year later am sitting here on my beautiful window ledge overlooking the Sea Link and writing this tale.

I am happily content! :)

As I close this entry...am going to leave you with some beautiful words that I came across today...hope these words inspire you as they have me.

“I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it — I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know — but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am Okay.” 

- Denis2005 Virginia Satir quotes (American Psychologist and Educator, 1916-1988)