For the unhappy soul...

I took up the 100 Happy days challenge on facebook. I am on Day 57 and honestly, it feels fantastic.

This challenge showed me that no matter how irritating and frustrating life is sometimes, there are surely a few things in a day that can make you smile. Life isn't as tough and as complicated as we want to make it. Often, we are so overwhelmed by the problems that we cannot find strength to look for and implement the solutions. Sometimes, we fail to communicate, ask for help. There are times when we are just exhausted by the drama and the endless cycle of bullshit. It is definitely not the easiest time in the world.

That old phrase.. 'The grass is always greener on the other side'.. got me thinking once. If the other side feels that the grass on my side is green, then what in the world is stopping me from enjoying that! 

The philosophy kinda stuck. I decided to see what was green on my end. turns out.. quite a bit. 

Living in a beautiful city (Los Angeles - So much to see and explore).
Saving money for some excellent vacations. (East coast, Vegas, SF!)
Making new friends and learning so much about random things (Did you know that a chinese surname with 2 consonants implies that someone in their forefathers was like a celebrated genius!)
Learning that food is one of the best ways to know about a culture or a person.
Doing stuff alone, may be looked at weirdly sometimes.. but is oddly satisfying.
Realizing the importance of family and well, they understand your importance too
Understanding that boys, all over the world, are the same. Oblivious, Emotionally challenged.

So now, everyday is a choice for me. To brood on what I cannot control OR To accept it, not let it screw my head and show the damn world that I can handle my own shit very well.

2 months ago, I was sad, lonely, in a foreign country, struggling with personal and professional stuff.
I needed something to keep me going everyday. The challenge was just the beginning. I will recommend it to anyone who feels that they simply need something to look forward to everyday. 
It made me realize that I need to be brave and selfish for my own happiness. I am capable of that. And that, it is not a bad thing.

The Quarter Life Crisis

So… I see this link on facebook and damnit! A realization sets in with my morning coffee... Whoa… I am already facing a quarter-life crisis. There’s a decent job, no boyfriend (no desire to have one either!), life is routine, hobbies are occasionally thought of (more like yearned on), friends are there but busy with their own lives, parents want me to just get married and fast. Sigh!

I again begin my daydreams of really enjoying life like I want to. Work 9 hours a day, 4 days a week. Travel on shoestring budgets and just discover places. Read and read a lot. Lose those extra inches and get a fabulous body. Discover something I am so passionate about that I lose myself in it and lose myself in this world. And so on… Everyday, atleast once a day, I daydream. 4 months away from being 25, I wish I were still 18 and would’ve done more. I wish my life were different and I wish I would do something.

The interesting part is, I know a lot of folks going through the same. They are bored with their jobs, they want no serious relationships (or are so committed in one that it doesn’t particularly count) and they want to read or travel or work in an NGO or just start something. There are just too many people of this category. And it made me wonder.. Why are we all so dissatisfied and unhappy? We have the ability and the power to make decisions for ourselves and yet we complain, we agonize, and rarely do anything about it.

The truth is we are a struggling generation. A generation trying to desperately bridge the gap between old and new. A generation who has seen the likes of the handheld phone and the smartphones to google glass. (Yes, our parents have also seen them, but unlike us, they are happy with the old tech!) A generation to have seen movies in single screen halls to multiplexes to Movies on demand on your home theater. A generation which has seen joint families, housewives and double income nuclear families. A generation that debates whether 24*7 connectivity is a boon or a curse (Remember the fav topic of school essays: Science a boon or a curse. Simpler times!) A generation that has seen a recession cycle and that actually understands how the economy works, how it can be fixed and well, how we can sit around and do nothing about it.

‘Ignorance is bliss’- that was the old saying. In today’s world of knowledge economy, all our wealth is knowledge. And I fear our generation has too much to process, too many things to consider and reconsider, too many options to seek information from. And with the rest of our world’s success and aspirations being rubbed on our face everyday with facebook and instagram, we really don’t want to make ourselves feel more miserable.

The average 25-year old today has seen enough changes in the world, that the pressure to make the right decision gets the better of us. Keeping up with this change is what we are learning and we Indians… Well, we are keeping up with the westernization vs. traditional war as well! It is a war out there… A war to get the perfect job, the perfect partner, a corruption-free developing/growing country, a robust economy… 

So lets cut ourselves some slack and do what we actually want to do. Make quick decisions and stick to them. Not think too much cuz that always made the decision more difficult. Let go off the pursuit for the 'extra' knowledge.. Why? Because you can. And stop this war in our own heads and hearts. Cuz whatever the war may be outside, we would finally want to die with no regrets and only peace in our lives.

And yes.. Happy Birthday Harry Potter! :)

Rains

It is one thing everyone is eager for

The farmer, the children with eyes sore

When the heat simply gets to you

Pleasing the rain gods, you pursue

And then comes a shower to make you smile

The first rains and the earth smells divine

The smile on every child’s face

The relief on a farmer’s tired gaze

The farmer prays for good rains

His life depends on his grains

He may have a good year’s harvest

And afford his wife a bangles set

The child wrestles through the summer

His school reopens with rains bumper

Its new books, new classes and a new timetable

Rains mean a new year, new friends and a new fable

And we try to get to work dry

Enjoy the delicious bhajia-fry

Romantic are those long drives

Get soaked in the rains on Marine Drive

The Europeans hate it, but they don’t know

India loves the rains and the chaos that follows

For us the green is prosperity and boon

We simply love our very own monsoon

Some things that run through a girl's mind when she's buzzzzing!

1. Gosh the guy on the next table is soooo cute.. would he mind if I say a hi? ;)

2. Can I have more fries? They taste soooo awesome ryt now!!

3. Should I completely stop texting my ex-boyfriend? Does he like me.. or is he still an idiot!! Need a drink to stop thinking abt jerks.. Conc. on the guy on the next table.. he looks well dressed.. Mamma's boy.. no doubt!

4. I'll do that assignment tonight! How much will the answers change after I am drunk.. Lets see!! And let the marks go to hell! :P

5. Is my nail paint better than the chic on the next table... Is that guy looking at her?!

6. Damn I cant make-out with anyone ryt now! (applicable to ones w/o a date!) Will that cute guy even look at me once?!!

7. I am definitely thinner than that one sitting there!

8. I should give up this material life and live like a hippie! Will the guy in the next table like a hippie?! Damn yaar.. but hippies are so not in fashion ryt now... Bah.. leave it!

9. That was my last drink... but wait.. I feel good.. I feel a nice buzz.. whats the harm in another one?! ;)

10. Can I sing this song out loud?? Its like my fav song ryt now!!

11. Screw the cute guy.. all guys are dumbos.. Looks are so freakin deceptive.. The last one also was like that... idiot!!!

12. Adios Amigos... I feel too sleepy to do anything good for myself!!

Office Boredom!

My creations @ the office... Yeah.. there are times when I get bored!! And writing comes to my rescue.. :)

Single

I smile shamelessly everyday

Flirt with the cute guy on my way

The Happy Feeling comes back to me

I feel lively, light and free

No longer am I answerable

What ended yesterday was quite a fable

Its time for new beginnings today

Time to let your hair down and play

More girl time is always recommended

Guys in the bar, don’t be offended ;)

Time to let go, get ready to mingle

Absolutely Happy that I am Single!

  Mumbai 

Every Morning, a new energy is found

Money in pockets but feet on the ground

The value of time is more than money

Little time left for vacation or love honey

Life simply ceases to stop here

Weekend at Toto’s, unwind with a beer

Peace and tranquility at Land’s End

Crowded trains, little margin to mend

On Tuesdays Siddhivinayak calls religiously

The city finds solace on a basis weekly

Don’t have a car yet, no space to park

The dogs on the street don’t bite, only bark

So many people that you are never alone

For some self time, Marine Drive is the zone

Come monsoon, we revisit the romance

They flood each year w/o missing a chance

The war of the town and the suburbs goes on

But on a crisis day together we belong

The Taj reminds me of our resilience

Mumbai lives on, killing the silence..

Cheers to Marsh... :)

© Kits

Second Love

Life is a bitch we all know

True colours people will eventually show

But love aint all that bad you see

So if you fail the first time, don't flee

You pray for another chance to love

You pray for another chance to be loved

And when the second love arrives

You pray for the love of all desires

The second time, you take more care,

No errors to happen, no details to spare

The chances of success are so much high

The doubts are laid to rest with a sigh

True love awaits you, give it a shot

The second time, maybe someone more hot! ;)

The first half wasn’t great, lets admit it!

Time for a better second half and living it

In this life, love deserves a second chance

We all learn from mistakes and thus enhance

Don’t disrespect the second chance given to you

Few people are lucky, this time, its you!

(Dedicated to the guy who wanted me to write positive and get that smile back on his face!)

The 'Happy' Feeling

This is my 50th post.. And I have to say. I am very Happy.. But the Theory of The 'Happy' Feeling is something that i will share with the world today. I had promised a close friend that this would be dedicated to him and will be my 50th post. :)

SO what do I mean by the 'Happy' Feeling... Well, essentially, it is that warm, fuzzy, butterfly feeling that you have when you are crushing on someone. The theory is that when you have a crush on someone, you are in general very happy. And its like the universe seems to you a combination of things that make you Happy. 

You try to find that person in every good and beautiful thing around.. Every happy song has a reference to them.. When you are at the beach, you want to hold their hand.. You want them to be next to you when the sun sets and the twilight sky seems the second most beautiful thing in the world. There is a smile on your face whenever you see them or when they notice you. You have butterflies in your stomach when you talk to them.. you want to say a lot, but don't want to embarrass yourself! ;) And still every time their name or face comes to your mind, you can't help but smile. Your heart is full of joy when you are around them.

And the best part, this isn't a relationship, so there are no expectations and nothing to tie you down. Its unconditional and generally one-way. That is what makes it even better.

Cheers to this feeling and Cheers to you if you've ever been a victim of this!! :)
The feeling is simply Awesome!! :)

The 4 musketeers

I never imagined in the past

The 4 of us having such a blast

With pseudo names that cause glee

Let me introduce them to thee.

The monkey is the cutest of all

The giraffe cracks the worst jokes on all

The dolphin is my sweetheart & simply the best

The last one is me and we are the best.

The first time in jungle out in the night

It simply rocked with ‘A Beetle’ in sight

T’was fun being tipsy in the lane

The night did end on a jet plane.

Lack of memory is what haunts the second

Indulgence was my key in the end

Another night with singing fun

All I remember is smoke and rum.

The third was simply legendary

A night of song and dance and merry

Records were made and all were high

Performances made even the girls sigh.

Popcorn will soon change its name

Singing with an Indian accent is the new game

Feelings came on, like a flood

This time, I’m gonna drink his blood!

Google talk never appealed to me

But it connects me to the other three

The chats are dirty and fun with a twist

I pray the fun times forever persist.

Love you my 4 mosquitoes... oops!! 4 musketeers.. Ro, VT, 4g et moi! :) CD Rocks!!

New Beginnings

This life is short
Dont let it go waste
Live every moment like your last
Make merry and make haste

Mistakes are plenty
Everyday try a new one
Living with an expiry date
Is simply zero fun

A new year signifies new beginnings
A new year means to forget the past
A new year implies forgiving
Its A new year... HAVE A BLAST!!

Its the time for new everything
Time to smile and spread the cheer
Time for self renewal and heal
Time to move on and have no fear!

Wishing everyone a very very Happy 2011.. And Cheers! to a new great life ahead and new beginning!

PS: My fav part about a new year: Suddenly all unpleasant events seem a year old! and you know how time heals wounds! ;)

Pphhhbbbbtttt... Phatak!

My dearest, awesome friend and fav Pcom member Koshy,

Here's a list of your lyrical abilities for the world to see.. ;)

17/12/2010

Look at us, we write poems that are sweet and lovely,

For this guy who is nice and funny.

We take his case and he gives it back,

We say phhhbbbttt and he says ‘phatak’.

The gods have gone crazy, the kids have gone mad,

The verbal volleying will continue till one too many drinks is what we’ve had.

18/12/2010

And so they started early and got stuck in traffic

But it didn’t work in dampening their spirits.

They had fun,

Had a great beer run.

And took a taxi

To cap a night that was sexy!

20/12/2010

There are days on which we feel low,

days when progress is  real slow,

On these days remember that you have the friends to act like their not 25,

friends whose lyrical ability is real fine ;)

And here's what started the whole chain of poems..

and its for all my recently single friends.

17/12/2010

Today, I become a free bird

Flying high, above the world

No more shackles to bind me

I feel joyful, light and glee

Screw the world, I am my own king

Every sunday an affair, every saturday a fling ;)

If this is a jungle, I am on the prowl

You can hear me celebrate, drink and growl

And I feel AWESOME, I am Superman

Back to the drawing board and making plans

Time to move on and get going

Back to sayin, " How you doin?" ;)

Dedicated to RJK...

Love you sweets :)

Keep smiling and keep me smiling :)

P.S. : For others who are unaware.. First three were written by him.. and the last one by me! ;)