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.

Yet another New Year!

I read somewhere that man is probably the only creature who takes time so seriously.. The birds, the trees, the animals, no one apart from humans seems in a rush to make as much of time as possible. I had never thought about it in such a way. We use time so often to discipline ourselves.. Trains to catch.. Flight schedules, meetings, daylight savings (why not just adjust your schedules to make the most of it?!), birthdays, anniversaries, timezones, alarm clocks. We humans are obsessed with time. And a new year (apparently) indicates a passage of significant amount of time in our lives.

This whole concept of 'the-rest-of-the-nature-not-taking-it-seriously' kinda stuck to me. We do certainly delve too much into the past and hope too much from the future. It does add drama to our lives. 

But honestly, its a lot of fuss about one date. Why can't we make a resolution on any other date. Its gonna be as unsuccessful as all your past resolutions were! We are allowed to party (and not pay exorbitantly) the rest of the year too. Maybe its just a common day everyone decided to take off. You can introspect anytime during the rest of the year too.. Its not awkward. (What is a little awkward is putting it up on facebook for the rest of the world to read!)

I'm not saying I don't like NYE and the celebrations. I like an excuse for a celebration. But I think we have too much fuss around one date. I like to take lessons from nature. Let the world run on its pace and not time it. Let everyone just enjoy life and not run behind making up for lost time (cuz honestly whats gone, is gone.)

As one of my favourite artist pens in one of his songs..

"Well I’m sick of this town, this blind man’s forage

They take your dreams down and stick them in storage

You can have them back son when you’ve paid off your mortgage and loans"

Life doesn't have to be a time-bound plan. It could just be a free flowing river, a fish in the sea, a chase of your dreams.

Make today special by starting to chase your dreams. And then repeat the same tomorrow. And the day after. And so on. I think, life will be one big party then.

Psst: I do make resolutions. This year, its to travel to new places more. Atleast once in every 4-5 months. And I've already started it. Discovering west coast. :-)

V Day special :)

I know its a week after V Day... but better late than never...

This post is dedicated to all those readers who believe in those silly little things you do in love that mean a great deal... :)

What a kiss means..!

 Kiss on the stomach = I'm ready
 Kiss on the Forehead = I hope we're together forever
 Kiss on the Ear = Your my everything
 Kiss on the Cheek = We're friends
 Kiss on the Hand = I adore you
 Kiss on the Neck = We belong together
 Kiss on the Shoulder = I want you
 Kiss on the Lips = I love you

What the gesture means...!

 Holding Hands = We definitely love each other
 Slap on the Butt = That's mine
 Holding on tight = I don't want to let go
 Looking into each other's eyes = I just plain love you
 Playing with Hair = Tell me you love me
 Arms around the Waist = I love you too much to let go
 Laughing while Kissing = I am completely comfortable with you

--ADVICE!--
 Dont ask for a kiss, take one.

P.S.: If you were thinking about someone while reading this, you're definitely in Love :)

Dedicated to my Valentine :)

Silent Conversations

You’re a stranger, you stand so far

And our eyes meet in the corner of a bar

You look tempting and awfully good

The sort on whom girls continually brood

I like that drink in your hand

And your choice of song to the band

I notice you notice me some more

Those piercing eyes never seen before

A fleeting smile across that face

Adds so much more to that naughty gaze

A tilt of your head by my side

Or was it for the bitch beside? ;)

The band changes the track, just like our story

Our dates come back and we dance away to glory

And like the songs we dedicated to each other

This silent conversation remains in memories forever.

Friends Worth A Lifetime (4) : Pooja

Some of the most memorable times with Pooja :)

Me and Pooja have been friends for the past several years... I dont even remember exactly when did we actually become friends.. but we became close friends in std 10th.. Mahesh Tutorials.. Part of the gang of girls who hated Prasanna sir!! Niyati and Sana completed the scenario... Life moved on.. college came along. But our friendship stayed.. It helped that her parents loved me and my parents adored her. It was like both sets of parents have 2 daughters. Yess.. She was more than just a friend.. a sister.. a guide.. a companion.. a friend.. a mirror.. a pillar of strength.. a shoulder to rely upon.. always there.. smiling..

There is no particular thing that I love the most.. The whole package is simply awesome!!
She's patient and always lends a ear to anything I have to say anytime. She can anytime manage to make me smile. We share the same values and thoughts in so many different things that its difficult to keep track of. We have cried with each other, we have cried for each other, we have laughed like crazy, we have done crazy things and always been glad that the other one was in it too.

Some relationships in life cant be expressed with just words.. Given any day, I know that I'll definitely have one person to fall back on whether i need a hug or convince my parents about my choices in life. Luv you Pooja for being that one person. Have a great bday!! (yeah.. its her bday today!)

10 Things You MUST DO In Mumbai

1. Watch the sunset at Marine Drive
2. Walk all the way till the end of Lands End at Nariman Point
3. Sit on the front seat of the top of a double decker bus and roam in the city. Preferably route no. 138.
4. Take a nice long look at the majestic Taj Mahal Hotel.
5. Travel by local train. (if you are daring enough.. then in 2nd class and if even more daring then at peak hours! :P)
6. Play cricket in Shivaji Park (for that matter any road will do)
7. Watch Sachin play in Wankhede/ Brabourne (Basically in front of Mumbai crowd)
8. Walk all the way to Siddhivinayak
9. Get drenched in the rain at any sea front (Marine drive/ Juhu/ Bandstand/ Worli sea face)
10. Drive on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link

Yess... Its Magic... Yess.. Its Mumbai! :)

The Constant in Change

1988- I come in this world.
1991- Kinder Garden
1995- School
2004- Junior College
2006- Under Graduate
2009- Post Graduate
2010- MBA
2011- Summer Internship.....

These are some major changes that happened in my life till date. And with each one of this change the people in my life kept changing. Some friends stayed, some others moved on. Some became even more close. I met new people and worked with them.

But 10 months staying away from home, I realized that, whatever changes, there is one place that will always love you as much and always welcome you with open arms and will always treat you the same whether a prince or a pauper... Home. The constant factor in the change that our life is.

When I taught regression to my classmates, we used to easily ignore the constant in the equation and focus on the co-efficient. The change is what people normally focus on. I have to be ready for this change. Is my preparation enough? Am I capable of handling this change? Blah blah blah... But they take the constant for granted. And worse, they never appreciate it.

Home is that constant in anyone's life. How attached and how deeply embedded family values are, defines your core. People who follow the 'I am Ok. You are Ok.' line of thought usually come from a Happy Family. I always strongly disagree with people who say that XYZ is more important than family. Then that means You, my friend are messed up (or your home is).

We try to please the world and take for granted those who make us who we are. Take time off for them. Buy them gifts. Take them out to dinner. Laugh. Smile. Make them smile. Those jokes will become family jokes that only you and your siblings get. Play Dumb Charades of weird relatives. Play Antakshari. Appreciate the constant part of your life. The part that keeps you stable. The part of your life that you were born into and makes you unique.

Cheers to Happy Homes and Happy Families!

The Celebrations in Words!!

The amazing stuff that has been written about Team India!!

Anhoni ko honi karde, honi ko anhoni;

Ek jagah jab jama ho teeno, Ghajni, Rajni aur Dhoni…

-          Singing in the streets last night

Rajnikant has watched India win in his dream last night, Today, he’s just watching the highlights!

-          Anonymous tweet

All the politicians @ Wankhede please note, that’s what a leader looks like # Dhoni.

-          Anonymous tweet

Saturday belongs to Lord Hanuman, and this clearly is his emphatic victory over Lanka.

-          Swapnil Parab, Lalbaug, Mumbai

After Sehwag and Sachin’s wicket fell:

No more fall of wickets, Rajnikant paddling up!

-          Anonymous guy in the crowd

Before the India- Pakistan encounter:

Dear Pakistan, we come from the land of KAMASUTRA, and have 277 ways to fuck, so just wait and watch!!

-          SMS courtesy Vishal Thakkar

Semi Final Teams:

Group A- Pakistan, Australia and Sri Lanka.

Group B- India

Jhundh mein toh kutte aate hain, Sher akela aata hai!

-          SMS courtesy Sandeep Rathi.

Pehle maari goron ki,

Phir haram khoro ki,

Phir baari aayi sita ke choro ki!

Bolo Jai Shri Ram!!

-          Anonymous SMS

A 23-year old drought that began in 1987 and kept ending fruitlessly every four years, finally gave India- a country of 1.21 billion people- its moment of glory. It all happened at the historic Wankhede Stadium here.

-          TOI

Asked for revenge for Dada's pain..and you gave it..

Asked for revenge for the nightmare of the burning Eden and you gave it..

Asked for a lifetime desire to see the World Cup in the hands of the person, who has been playing since the day I was born...and you gave it..

Asked for the chance to turn back and say: "Yes, Dhoni & Co"..for every "Yes, Kapil & Co" that I heard...and you gave it..

THANK YOU TEAM INDIA!!

-          Facebook status, Pramit Pratim Ghosh

For the last 21 years, he has shouldered the burden of the team. It is time we carried him on our shoulders.

-          Virat Kohli, Member of the ICC World Cup 2011 winning team

Sorry to disappoint you all. This is not for my girlfriend. It is for Sachin Tendulkar.

-          Yuvraj Singh, Member of the ICC World Cup 2011 winning team.

Emotions were running high. As soon as I hit the six, I was almost half way down the pitch and I thought I would grab the stumps at the non-striker’s end as souvenirs. But then I saw Yuvraj standing there and I was afraid he will grab that stump. I then told myself, forget hugging Yuvraj, let me grab a stump first. That confusion made me stand still in the middle of the pitch.

-          M S Dhoni, Captain, Indian Cricket Team, World Champions 2011.

As a kid, I always wanted to lift that World Cup trophy. All my cricket has been for that. On the way, several things have happened, several records and some achievements that have given me happiness. But this is the ultimate. The most proud moment of my career This world cup is for the entire nation. I am happy I could bring a smile to a billion people.

-          Sachin Tendulkar.

“Are there tears, in your eyes?” Tendulkar’s former Mumbai teammate Sanjay Majrekar, now a commentator, asked him. Tendulkar almost shied away, laughing. “I want to thank the team that made it possible. The support staff and particularly Mike Horn,” he said.

Dhoni, Zaheer, Yuvraj, Harbhajan, Virat – they all lined up next to him pointing fingers at Tendulkar to tell who they got inspired to win it for. Tendulkar just smiled.

-          At the post match celebrations, Wankhede stadium, Mumbai, 2nd April 2011.

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!! :)