The Secret for the last decade

The last time a whole decade passed in 1990 – 2000 – i pretty much didn’t care that the decade was over ! It also meant i was just passing each school year– one after the other. I didn’t really care to sit back and think what that decade meant for me. But in all consciousness, today , i can say, this last decade from 2000 – 2010 has been eventful. Now hang on – eventful can be good, bad, ugly and beautiful. Yes ! These years have been a complete roller coaster. And I am pretty much sure the coming decade and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that – and I hope I have none after that !! I wish for a small happy healthy life – however, that’s not the point – the coming years are not going to be half as eventful as this last one was. For starters – I went from being a rude, strong minded, outgoing teenager, to a strong headed and yet diplomatic adult. Well, some may beg to differ – but what the hell ! I like to believe Life threw melons at me – and I learnt to make a Gin and Tonic with it : ))

So, I owe this decade a round of applause. Not that I am sorted in my ways of life. Each new day i surprise myself and the people around me. This is what keeps life complicated and eventful ! So, today i have come to a conclusion – Simple and uncomplicated life might be good for the others – they might want to lead a life of peace – but what’s the fun ? Can you believe it – I passed a decade trying to find a balance – wherein I am neither too happy not too sad... But at the onset of a very fine new year – my thoughts are different. I want each day to be a struggle – I want to be an achiever at the end of the day – i want life to be a challenge – I want to strive to achieve excellence. Ofcourse I know I will bitch about the hardships that come my way. But the point is – I love the feeling of success. And that can only come to a person with very low rate of being called a stable person ! Yes Folks – it might not make sense – but this is MOI !

Each new day when I do something new for instance – I find it compelling to write about it – to blog about it. And then there are days like these days in December – when I am knee deep in social engagements and struggle to come up with something for my blog and find time to eat Pani Puri at my favourite Pani Puri walla – and an old friend from kinder garden walks by and appreciates my blogs – That is it. It makes every sleepy moment after a hard day at work worth it – when I strive to come up with something interesting for my readers. It is no JOB FOR ME ! It is a matter of the heart, it is my passion ! And hence, I am going to enjoy the process too. The process of going through everything – thats my New Decades Resolution. Not complain about the ups and downs – but enjoy the process !!

This also holds true to the classic New Decades Resolution – To Loose weight. I am a whinner when it comes to gym and excercises. My lasy bones refuse to work out – but I am going to stop complaining and get going !! Enjoy the pain, enjoy the sweat, enjoy the thrill of lifting weights, enjoy stepping upto another plate ! I am going to keep you posted on how that is going !!

Ofcourse the key to the last decade was finding the SECRET – literarily and philosophically. The book, THE SECRET holds a good SECRET. I just wish I am going to carry THE SECRET into the next decade to see it beautifully unfolding before my eyes. And before we all know it, like this decade another beautiful decade is going to swoop in and we will find ourselves appreciating GOD for his creation !

New Years Resolutions !

As you count down the hours to the new year’s eve, all you can think about is of New Beginnings ! “2011 is going to hold many promises which 2010 failed to deliver.” But, do you remember the promise you made to yourself on the 31/12 last year ? Many of us have even forgotten the promise. Such is a case with 98% of the individuals. So what does it take to be in the 2% of achievers ?



The trick is in maintaining a pocket size diary. This diary, at the end of each day is like an open day at school. The empty page will reflect as a measure of what you have done and how far you are from achieving your goal. When you will see many empty pages in a row, your mind will start competing against you ! It will plot and scheme against the negative energies of the universe.



Each day you will find yourself getting up earlier and earlier than usual, in order to fill these empty pages ! you will experience that time has expanded itself and you can inculcate a lot more productive things in your day. Each day starts with an enthusiasm unmatched – and at the end of the day you will feel victorious of having achieved so much !



“My life is boring. There is Nothing worth mentioning !” is your thought. Then you are wrong ! A personal diary can start with just some simple ideas and answers to :
Did I experience/take part in some exciting/surprising situations/events?
What were the various tasks I performed today?
Did I meet some new person, made some contacts?
Did I share some thoughts/took part in some discussions with someone?
Did I achieve success/completion in my tasks (small or big)?



Also make a note of the emotion of the day : Positive/Abstract/Negative Emotions. Over a period of time you will also see your emotions Neutralizing. Use affirmative words to reassure yourself of your goal.



The important thing is the discipline ! BEWARE of the devil-voice inside you ! Initially he will bar you, tease you to stop writing, To give up in order to get rid of the feeling of not having done anything. Whenever you think of failure – open your success Diary. When you turn the pages, You will soon realise you do not need anyone to Pat you on the Back. You have done it several times and success is here to stay. Failure is only a process. Through your diary you will be able to rewind and refresh those lovely memories, those cherished moments which will instantly light up your dull day !



But be true to yourself and see your world change in front of you. See the clock tick on 31/12/2011 – and when you reflect back, experience the satisfaction! In the words of Latesh Joshi, “If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then you will begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page.”

Teaching at Mithibai College

I came back home from the party at 1 last night. After which I spent an hour reading the course work for my teaching class today. It’s at a time like this I wonder why I take up something more than I can handle - sure my 24 years and some days old bones are getting lazier ! It is one thing to know what you do – and excel at it day after day, but teaching that to a whole bunch of 60 students ( who are sleepy ) x 2 classes Export/ import is another ball game .

Honestly – I do remember very well , nodding profusely in a 7 a.m. lecture – back in the day when I was a student of Mithibai College, BMS – but not understanding a word of what is being taught. Especially on a fine wintery morning, where it’s just cosy enough to drift into outer space till everything around me turns dark pink and purple – and then.... then... a whole other world – which definitely looked more interesting than the OHP projector reflecting the transparency and its contents. The flutter of pages every now and then. The slightest irk caused by the chalk. The teacher hmming and ahhhing in between. The low hummmm of the A/c working – and then suddenly the entire class becomes silent !

I was woken up by a teacher – much to my embarrassment ! Today, being on the other side – and trying to snooze at a student felt so weird. Strangely it made me feel way older than 24. I said a silent thank you for not letting that guy buy me a drink last night – imagine this with the alcohol residue in my body – would have been disastrous. For the very first time I thought I needed to refuse the drink and behave older and more mature and get back into bed.

Being funny comes easy to me – but sometimes as a teacher – I feel awkwardly conscious cracking into a joke – will i be over stepping the friendliness border ? I added the first few of my students over Facebook today.. !! Will they accept the friendship request ? only time will tell ! But one thing is for sure – I am a lot more relaxed than I was when I had first walked into the class. I only hope i do not lose my drive to wake up morning after morning and come to the class. Especially saying goodbye to Friday night parties 2 hours before I would have actually come back is the hardest thing to do !! I hope in the end it is worth it. I hope in the end I make a difference !

Recycle your Blood !

One phone call, it just takes one phone call from a friend in need. And that’s it. You go there no matter what. And not matter for what ! I was on my way to the office and took a little detour and went to Nanavati Hospital. A friend’s cousin aunt needed to replace blood. Many were called, many were scared, many made “I faint at the sight of blood” stories. It was pretty terrible to know that some people didn’t come since they had doped the previous night or were high on alcohol a few days ago. It makes you wonder where is our world headed ??

The BLOOD BANK might look like the scariest place to enter – but really it was just a tiny simple room with 5 posters – all promoting donate blood ! Recycle yourself ! only 350ml, and you can save 4 lives ! Interesting enough – when all people can think of these days is bloodshed ! Do they even know how difficult it is to replace blood ??

A very extremely friend staff waits long hours in the bank encouraging people to donate. Calming them down. And even answering the same questions to every person that walks into the room – but with a smile. The warmth bowled me over.

So, here is what happened – those of you scared please read to know, nothing, not even remotely anything gets affected. A small prick to check haemoglobin and blood type test later, it was determined that one can be a donor or not. The friendly staff lets you sleep in an air conditioned room. They even make you comfortable and give you a blanket to feel cosy. They give you a stress ball with which you keep flexing your muscles.

The actual prick which is attached to a tube, which in turn is attached to a plastic bag to fill the blood doesn’t feel anywhere close to what it looks like. In fact its lesser of a prick than those lab tests you do ! The bag has a chemical which is an anti-clot, Which slowly mixes with the blood. The bag itself is on a moving lever – to prevent it from clotting.

And that’s it. By the time you actually make conversation with the doctor and ask all your queries about blood and blood donating, you are DONE !

Did you know, blood can only stay in the bank for 35 days ?? So the bank needs to be replenished all the time ! There are so many people who cannot donate blood because of the lifestyles we lead – but those of you who can – and the only thing between you and actually donating the blood is the FRIGHT – then I hope you overcome it. You can save 4 lives with 350 ml of your blood.

The blood which is pumped out will be automatically replaced by your heart within 24 hours – this is actually recycling yourself !! This is a brilliant opportunity to walk into your nearest blood bank every 4 months and recycle your blood and help save lives.

And if not for anything else, the blood bank gives you a sweet dose of Mango Fruity at the end of your heroic gesture...and a warm thank-you by the staff and the person who you donate blood to will be indebted to you for life – will all make the small prick 3 times a year all worth it !!

Baking

It's that time of the year when you get back home and its dark. But the weather is just perfect for a warm batch of cookies !! I do not get tired after a long day at work. Infact i am quite excited to make some really cute little cookies today ! Will you come to sample some of them ?? To be very honest, I am not a great cook. neither do I decorate well !! But the pleasure of standing next to the oven to see even 1 perfect golden brown cookie pop up is worth the effort.

Here are some pictures to get you excited to BAKE as well.

Beyond Walls , By Lina Jaros

Photographer Stylist Lina Jaros's new series called "Beyond Walls" has lived upto her unmatchable design standards. she manages to create yet again a scene out of my imagination. Of when I was little and would set up my doll house and play "House house." I would use my tea cups and host high tea, make dinners effortlessly for everyone in the house !!

she goes onto to say ." Using photography as an instrument I explore the psychology connected to ambiguity, and the circumstances under which we doubt an environment and its content, or categorize it as strange or incomprehensible.

Through environmental distortions of everyday surroundings I challenge the ordinary, natural or authentic. I take interest in the illusory and appearances of objects, and search for a condition when interiors gets separated from their traditional representations, and leave room for a new interpretation and evaluation of familiar space. " Check out the Beyond the Walls Series.. !

Breaking into Coco Rocha's home

Breaking into Top Model Coco-Rocha’s home. This was done by artist, stylist, and fashion editor Lela for Vogue for their APT with LSD” and Coco has been honored as the owner of Apartment One. This Model and husband opened their home to the magazine for a sneak peek at their decorative apartment and its memorable features.

It is a great shoot that captures her Rimmel heavy makeup wardrobe, a limited look at her custom designed closet, a piggy bank that looks like a YSL bag, a DIY project that originated from a street find, and details about Steven Meisel‘s wedding present for Coco – a portrait of the model – by the artist. Take a look!