Realization: Sometimes problems have a way to solve themselves out.

Complexity at its best. Patience is not my forte yet procrastination is something I live by.

I have this tendency that when I have been asked to do some thing in my capacity (officially especially) I try to do it asap, never mind if the job is big or small, urgent or not and report it back when done. Because of this, while I have come across with some compliments, I have got into trouble at times as well. Of late I have realised that instead of getting things done as and when it comes at my table, it is better if I analyse the situation and the nature of the work. 

Sometimes when problems poke their heads in life, professional or personal, and one finds herself trapped, dont panic and start breaking your back worrying/working/sorting it. Take a breath. Use your conscience. Analyse the situation. Leave it aside for an hour, a day or a week and engage yourself in your day to day life. When working with a clear head, one finds the solution. And the best part is:  Sometimes problems, given time, have a way to solve themselves out.

Irony

In these cold winter days, my grumpy mornings in bed begin hearing the boisterous sounds of the "Laughter Club" from the nearby park.
Arghh!!!

Pic Courtesy: www.imgarcade.com

Carry on Tuesday: Forwarded message

Now this is a forwarded message. I found it in Facebook and thought of keeping it here in the blog for gentle reminder on small tips to keep oneself healthy.


1. Walk for 30 minutes daily.
2. Eat a piece of fruit daily.
3. Eat whole foods instead of processed foods whenever possible.
4. Reject foods and drinks made of artificial colors or sweetener.
5. Start each lunch/dinner with salad.
6. Give your partner a hug every day before work.
7. Take a deep belly breath for three to five minutes twice a day.
8. Smell the scent of lavender to relax and sleep well.
9. Eat a handful of walnuts before bed.
10. Drink plenty of water.
11. Get 10-15 minutes of sunlight and fresh air daily.
12. Jog.
13. Run in place.
14. Have a greater variety of food. Variety means no excess of anything and more nutrients. Eat three different foods at every meal.
15. Eat slowly.
16. Have snacks between meals.
17. Watch comedy and add humor to your life.
18. Never skip breakfast.
19. Try to have seven hours of sleep at night.
20. Have a fixed bed time, preferably at 10:00 pm.
21. Increase your fiber intake.
22. Eat foods with bright rich colors.
23. Join a Yoga class.
24. Surround yourself with loving and supportive people.
25. Know that healthy food tastes great later.
26. Drink green tea twice a day.
27. Exercise till you sweat once a week.
28. Save a one year’s worth of living expenses to eliminate the money stress.
29. Have as much sex as possible … At least twice a week.
30. Do pull-ups and push-ups for 30 minutes twice a week.
31. Eat a handful of nuts 30 minutes before a meal.
32. Step on a treadmill.
33. Learn to cook and gain control of what goes into your meals … and save money!
34. Take a Vitamin D rich supplement.
35. Chew food thoroughly.
36. Avoid cold drinks with meals.
37. Take ginger.
38. Cut down sugar.
39. Don’t over-eat!
40. Don’t eat 3 hours before going to bed.
41. Fast.
42. Sit in silence for 10 minutes each day.
43. Play games.
44. Read good books.
45. Pray.
46. Meditate.
47. Don’t compare yourself to others.
48. Do work that you are passionate about.
49. Quit a job you hate.
50. Keep in touch with your family.
51. Do something good to one person everyday.
52. Don’t drink coffee twice a day.
53. When you feel tired, REST.
54. If you’re stressed, don’t try to manage it. Instead, take time off and relax.
55. Laugh out loud.
56. Quit smoking by smoking one less cigarette every week.
57. Walk in nature barefoot.
58. Spend time with friends.
59. Start a gratitude journal. Record one thing you’re grateful for everyday.
60. Ride a bike for fun or cycle to work a few times a week.
61. Read 8 Weeks To Optimum Health by Dr. Weil.
62. Wash hands with soap.
63. Avoid passive smoking.
64. Ask for help when you need it.
65. Eat calcium-rich foods like milk, cheese and green leafy vegetables.
66. Don’t sit for a prolonged time. Stand up and stretch.
67. Wash your eyes and face regularly.
68. Sing.
69. Dance.
70. Swim regularly in open air.
71. Take the stairs. No elevators. No escalators.
72. Remain faithful to one sexual partner to avoid AIDS.
73. Travel more often.
74. Wear high quality comfortable shoes.
75. Eat until you’re 80% full.
76. Cook meals with curry powder.
77. Take a 15-30 minutes nap.
78. Eat dark chocolate.
79. Eat wild salmon at least once a week (Omega-3 rich).
80. Forgive someone.
81. Call an old friend.
82. Eat oranges.
83. Sometimes, you need to say no for the sake of your health.
84. Take care of your teeth. Floss and brush your teeth twice a day at least.
85. Take honey to build up your immunity system.
86. Don’t sleep right after having a meal.
87. Don’t sleep when you’re emotionally upset.
88. Begin a garden.
89. Build your self confidence.
90. Don’t over-spend your money.
91. Volunteer in a good cause.
92. Do some strength training twice a week.
93. Eat one or two fish meals per week.
94. Find your passion and purpose in life.
95. Consider massage.
96. Don’t solve your emotional problems by eating more.
97. A garlic a day!
98. Cut back on salt.
99. Avoid negative people.
100. Herbs, herbs, herbs.

Thought bubbles on Monday Morning

Yesterday night I slept with a resolution: to wake up early. At 06 o'clock. So after many, many weeks, I put alarm on my mobile. I am not a keeper of resolutions, am I? The half-done tags in this bblog are a good reminder of this. I woke up today at my regular sevenish. Dum spiro spera. So hopefully by the end of this week, I will be reporting in this blog of a Saturday morning that begins at 6 in the morning.

It has been two days that my maid has not come. So I was making umpteen journeys to my balcony to look for her in my street. Not that she would deliberately skip my house if I dont check on her, but then the kitchen sink full of dishes was enough for me to wait for her. "rasta niharna" as it is said in hindi.:)

While I was slouching over the railing of my balcony, I saw the shops in the street opening up their businesses, people brooming their verandahs, landlady watering her road-side plants and the 90s bollywood music rafting in the air. I knew that song. Infact tell me any hit song from the 90s, I am sure I would have heard it and can even hum a line or two (some full). After all, I am a child growing up in 90s on the solid diet of these songs. But just by hearing that song, I was sure that some construction worker/rickshaw wala bhaiya is playing this song. No they are not those dual meaning songs that were hit then(like ilu-ilu, gutur-gutar etc.), but these are the songs of love and heartache, resplendent with Kumar Sanu's voice which screams 90s.  With few experiences of my own and with due research of my fellow friends, I have come to an conclusion that these songs are a favorite among the construction workers/ rickshaw walahs. You know, like every decade, the songs of the 90s fall in two category: the good one (like Pehla nasha, ek ladki ko dekha, kuch na kaho etc-you get the drift) and then there are songs like these. Seems "Bewafa Sanam"movie has some of the Super-hit songs.

I am a very lazy person. And when I am alone, I am usually very careless of my meals and skip a one or two. Instead of cooking even maggi, I would rather look for buiscuits to quench my hunger. Thats how lazy I am. Not a good thing. So today I  made myself butter-jam toast and green tea (whoa what elaborate breakfast :p ) and decided to do something productive. And here I am writing a blog post. Woh, I am a girl who knows her priorities right. :)

Picture from google images

As I am not able to remember more 90s songs, feel free to add more in the list.

Image Source: https://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/98133221v6601421-slices-of-toast-bread-jam-cup-of

One day

It is afternoon. And there is nobody home. For past few days, the weather has been awesome. Cool breeze with intermittent rains.
I have always longed for spending aimless afternoons at home with myself in a good weather but  work has never given this luxury to me. But today is special.
After endless internet surfing, finishing the book that I had been reading, TV-watching I lie in my bed. With my headon the end of the bed. From there, I have a view of the sun from the open door. The sky was pleasant blue with light super-white fluffy clouds all over. A part of me wonders how can such bright blue skies happen in the pollution filled metro. Afterall, I have seen such bright blue skies only in the beautiful, untouched hills.  But then who am I questioning on the colour of the sky of this big city. It might be the first time I am actually looking at the sky above.It might me the first time I have relaxed in the afternoon with no chores to do and no thoughts in my mind.
 May be in September the sky always wears this beautiful colour or may be the salubrious weather is the reason or may be today is special.
And the heart said a quick thankyou to the universe for small pleasures like this.

Kids perspective

It was a dark July morning. Dark because of the grey clouds ready to pour any minute. It had rained last night as well. Drinking my morning tea in the verandah, I overheard my niece calling out her brother. Its around 7:00am in the morning and they were almost ready for their school. They lived next door to us.

T (yelling): Apppuuuuu, come outside.

Apu (came out from their home running to his sister's side)

T: Look Apu (pointing her finger to the ground.)

 (in a mesmerised tone she added): WOW Snail!!!!!

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

I was so amused with their conversation. As kids, we have such a sense of wonder for the world but as we grow old, we become so busy in the nothingness of life that we fail to notice the beauty around all of us.

This also reminds me of a poem I read long time back in internet. I found it apt for our busy lives and saved it. The post where I read it did not have the name of the author. So I dont know the author name but thanks to him/ her for such a piece of wisdom.

Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions!!!

Authour Unknown

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.

My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.

My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear Music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so i sit self-consciously and listen. 

My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. 

My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it,  until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray. I say thee and thou and grant me this and give me that. 

My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. 

My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with. 

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from. 

I wish you Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions!!!

And it rained today

I am not a rain person. I have waxed eloquent my dislike for rains in this post . But then life throws you into situations where you have to face your dislikes and displeasures and you have to chew your own words.

We all know how monsoon has not been favorable this year because of El-nino effect and yada-yada. June came and gone by, July is half passed but we had yet to see a good rain this year. The weather has been extremely hot and humid. Everyday temperature sour to above 40 degrees. Add to it the extreme stickiness of humidity and frequent power cuts. Every night I cried for this cruel weather and power-cuts and every morning I prayed for rains so that at least we get some respite from this situation.

And just as we finished our lunch today, ZZ yelled from kitchen ( No he didnt cook the lunch. He was just there to put his plate in sink. I know there is no need of explanation but I just want to make clear in case doubts arise in your minds :p) "It's raining. Take out clotes from the cloth line outside". I literally jumped from my seat and opened the door. It was raining!!!! I danced my way to ZZ (imagine the bhangara and jumping singing "yay!!yay!! yay!! baarish ho rahi hain".

And I did the unthinkable. I have never voluntarily danced in the rain. I never have this urge to dance in the first showers of the rain that few of my friends have. But today I just wanted to go out and enjoy in rain. And did I have fun getting wet in rain? You bet.

I have never waited for rains like this in my entire life (may be waited for rains to go away) and I have never rejoiced its showers like today. But then one gotta face this cruel hot and humid weather to appreciate rains.

Am I a convert from non-rain person to rain-person. Cant say. But yes I do understand how rains are a harbinger of hope and joy in life.

Pic Courtesy: Google images