Living once again…this New Year

So guys, I believe the New Year bash is finally over. After spending around a week in wrapping up 2011, rewinding all the important as well as beautiful things it brought by, making your houses as well as minds clutter-free, resolving the dilemma of making New Year Resolutions or not, having good food, fun and frolic, sending and receiving so many New Year wishes across friends and family, and above all, spending a lazily luxurious Sunday at the start of this fabulous year 2012, you might be back to the normal lives now.

Like most of you, the only words I could hear/read in this time is – HAPPY NEW YEAR. It seems as if everybody is programmed to utter those words before beginning any conversation or write them on their pages to do their bit; their bit in wishing that the current year brings all the joys and happiness to you, that your dreams may come true, that you make all success in this current year.

But you also know well, happiness doesn’t come solely through wishes. Being simply happy for the rest of the year, is not an easy game. It requires certain efforts on our part too. Although I had shared this post last year on the ways to stay happy, I believe, by now, you too might have made certain efforts in the earlier years of your lives, understanding what all can make you happy.

But this year, come forward to understand what takes you aback, what spoils your peace of mind. See why you become vulnerable to the situations and how you allow them to pre-dominate and encroach on your time. Hence, before focusing on other targets that you have lined up for this year, strike at the very basic necessity of living better. Learn to let go, to forgive; whether it’s somebody else or you, yourself. Make an actual new start this new year. Promise yourself to be stronger than the situations, to at least not let petty things overwhelm you and your peace, to not let them drain out your new energy and enthusiasm.

I am sure this de-cluttering, this unloading of resentments can let you focus 100% on the things that are genuinely important, that can make a difference in your lives indeed. Only then, those hundreds and thousands of wishes will work wonders.

To let a happy start to my New Year, I pampered us with this rich Vanilla Fruit and Nut Cake made at home. After all, they say You Live, Only Once. Then why not live happily.

Stress-Me-Not

There is something terribly morbid in the modern sympathy with pain. One should sympathize with the color, the beauty, the joy of life. The less said about life’s sores the better.

Oscar Wilde

I am sure while writing the last line ‘the less said about life’s sores, the better’, Oscar Wilde actually meant ‘the less thought about life’s sores, the better’. Because you talk about it or not, if you keep thinking about the obstacles, the complications, the unjustness of life, it may never end. It can go on, in a spontaneous flow, taking away your peace of mind unless you deliberately put an end to it. The more you think, the fierce things become.

While talking to my father yesterday, I came to know about one of his friends who was in the hospital since past 2 months. Doctors couldn’t diagnose the real cause of illness for around 3 weeks until they concluded that he’s been suffering from tension and is severely depressed due to which his body metabolism is all disturbed. In other words, he’s suffering from ‘taking things too seriously’.

Also, following Sonal Kalra’s weekly column ‘The Calmer You’ for 5 months now, has brought into light so many differently sized issues that cause day-to-day stress. Some stress out at intimidating, boasting people around while others feel awful about their looks; some fret over how people become pushy for petty things (sometimes important ones too) while others get disgruntled by their bossy bosses; some envy how people take shortcuts and succeed, while others don’t find any relief from their Gmail, Facebook, Twitter; some wish they throw away their mobile phones until they stop ringing at random times while others are too concerned and always ready with their precious advice on Cricket or Politics or Ethics; some worry how their kids will get through while others threatened by the competitive surrounds. Relatives, traffic, exams, relationships, jobs, EMIs,rains, inflation and what not!!! The list is simply endless…

Sometimes there might be bigger reasons too, to worry. But ultimately, all this is taking its toll on your health, resulting into outcomes as small as insomnia or headache to as large as life-taking fatal diseases. Ups and downs keep coming and are inseparable part of life. God has his own methods of regulating them.

No one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with the gladness of life.

But, our lifetime is precious; getting baffled by ‘the things not working out’ or regretting about the choices made, will only stress us more. We are a small part of this universe and so are our problems too. After pondering hard about this whole thing, I came across the following three ways out:

1. ‘Keep it simple silly’: Getting into deep down details and finding complex solutions is itself a stressful activity, so better keep things simple. Accept the things you can do nothing about and move on further. Don’t take it too seriously.

2. Adopt more healthful ways of living: Health doesn’t come merely by following a healthy diet and an exercise/work-out regime. There is a third cause too that affects and that is Stress. So adopt ways to de-stress yourself, de-clutter your thoughts on regular basis.

3. Just do your bit: In any case, you will NEVER BE ABLE TO PLEASE EVERYBODY, to meet up to their expectations. What best you can do in any situation is: performing your best. Leave the rest!!!

What do you think about the stressful patterns of life? What are your ways of handling it? Share with us your calmness tips, you never know who gets a benefit out of it…

Don’t need to do…still they lie in my to-do

Okay, let me clarify this even before starting…this is not a bucket list, nor it is any set of resolutions. It is simply a recognition; recognition of some facts that have amassed in the recent past. It’s just the cognizance of the idea that devoting some more time or at least, a little time on regular basis, on certain things will emerge me into a more contented individual.

How come? What explains that better, follows:

Cooking

I am a born “good-food-relish-er”, I can mention that as many times as possible. But I never had the slightest idea, earlier than the past 2 years that cooking food, that people relish, is far more gratifying. It gives immense pleasure, especially for new-comers-in-cooking like me, when something-even some regular food item, tingle your taste buds. So I truly madly deeply crave to move on, in this: cook food more often, more variety of recipes and try some innovations as well.

Writing/Reading

What bliss it is-writing things and reading them over and over again-only those who love to write, or simply write often, can apprehend. But forging ahead, from regular personal-diary-writing to writing-for-a-public-blog, is altogether convalescent. Above all, it gives so much impetus to write things, that make some sense. And then reading how others write, what attracts and what does not-all this, gives you a fresh vision.

As I often state, architecture has given me a distinct vision to see this world, it’s much captivating and striking than before. Similarly, blogging has given a new essence to READING, a new drift that I want to drive it further to a regular practice.

Gardening

Why the herbs grown in your backyard taste so exceptional, why the flowers blossoming out of your own plants, look so delightful? I couldn’t infer unless I saw those lovely buds coming out of a wild rose stem or those mint leaves adding so much flavor to the Pulao, I prepared. Now I don’t even mind creating those soil beds or de-weeding the garden or anything else that makes it more appealing. So now I aspire to convert my backyard into a neat and clean kitchen garden consisting of home-grown herbs, flowers, decorative plants and a little more.

Jumping back to the basic requirements is but natural in daily routine-performing tasks that we are required to do, by any means. They don’t comprise, any of the above, at least for me. But stretching myself a bit, out of my comfort zone, can be quite satiating, quite fulfilling. I am not sure how much of the above, will I actually do but as they say ‘writing things down gives them more weight’, I expect this post too, will surely propel me to devote some more time than I normally do.

What about you? Are there certain things that you also want to work on, just like that? Is there some desire, that you don’t get time for? Share your views…may be I recall some more, as well

3 big lessons this year 2011 has given me so far

You like it or not, time has its own methods of preaching, spreading its lessons on all of us-sometimes in a subtle voice, while banging hard at our doors, at other times. In these past five months too, we all must have gone through many experiences which made us learn new things or else believe certain things more strongly. I chose to put mine in this post, sharing them with you all and playing my part. Thanks to this blog-it has made me more thoughtful and learn from my surroundings in several different ways.

1. The only thing that remains constant is - Change

We find ourselves apprehensive or worried about a particular moment or situation, but actually when it arrives, things have changed a great deal. With days, months and years, things keep changing. They keep changing within us, around us. They keep us moving, they keep us alive. That is how we grow, that is how we don’t become stagnant. So it’s always better to live in the moment, live it to the fullest and perform your level best there and then-as per the wisdom and resources available.

2. This world doesn’t run on logic, though it seems so

I read in a book, “about 15% of one’s success is due to one’s technical knowledge and about 85% is due to skill in dealing with people.” Winning arguments never pay. They may elevate your ego but they can never let you prosper. We can always complain that people make decisions based on personal liking/feelings. But that is how it is. This world doesn’t run on logic, it runs on likeability. We don’t prefer to be around the people who know more, we want those whom we like more. Hence the biggest investment is in building relations, richer relations.

3. Just because you deserve it, doesn’t mean you can get it

This is the world of dramatization. Merely having potential or doing quality work is not enough, you need to present it in a vivid, interesting and dramatic way. That is how you draw attention. Now I am not talking about the cheap publicity stunts but simply highlighting your worth, so that it can be brought to the attention of people concerned. After all, this is a busy and competitive world. I usually keep sharing the Vodafone Zoo Zoo advertisements on my Facebook profile. Those creative ads are also Vodafone’s another way of gaining attention. This is how you make people like your work, let them feel your presence, give you an edge. And this all is required, so that you can get what you deserve.

So come up, accept the changes going around, nourish your relations with people around and flaunt your work/talent and spread your wings.

P.S. I am really thankful to WordPress. It has added a new dimension to my life, where not only I can share my own ideas or experiences, but furthermore learn a lot from the fellow bloggers and those who visit mine.

10 steps towards a better life

In the rush of daily life, it really soothes to come across something that emphasizes on leading a healthier and happier life. I can’t say about others, but I really get inspired by the idea of devoting some time for our own selves or taking care of small things that can enhance the quality of our life. It relieves to know that we are still not machines who are supposed to just work, work and work. We have a good life and we can make it better further, not by achieving more targets or piling up more possessions, but rather, by slowing down the pace of our life, a bit. We often read or listen to such ideas, I am just summing them up here, so that it can act as a ready reference whenever it is required the most.

1. Rewarding self for every small accomplishment: Whether you study hard for the whole day, or work at your workplace, or perform your daily household chores, reward yourself for even small accomplishments made. After the day’s work, you deserve a warm shower, soothing music, good food or any other thing that can allow a feel-good-factor. Enjoy the simple things and unwind yourself before going to bed.
2. Surrounding yourself with what you love: It is pleasure to see the things or people we love the most, whether it is family, pets, plants, hobbies, keepsakes. Let your home evolve into an oasis from the frenzied world outside.
3. Cultivating richer relationships: “The quality of your life is the quality of your communication.” Tell the people that you love them, treat them well. But having good relations with all is not possible as this is an imperfect world. So keep up the virtue of forgiving.
4. Keep cheerful friends around: Associate only with the positive and cheerful people from whom you can learn things. Avoid those who make you unhappy; whining and complaining people will sap away all your energy. So laugh-often, long and loud.
5. Throw out non-essential things: The principle of emptiness comes into play here. Give away the things you don’t require, de-clutter and don’t keep piling up and similarly give up the useless feelings and thoughts too. Make space for the new ones to come in. One can experience the enhancement in energy levels, once you de-clutter and organize (whether things or thoughts).
6. Cherish your health: Since health is one of the most important assets, so adopt a healthful lifestyle. Indulge in a health regime that can help you stay fit and fine. Have a balanced diet and keep the stress away.
7. Keep learning: Learn some new things, whether it is a new recipe or a new activity, a new art or anything that makes you feel growing. You are happiest when you feel you are growing. When you feel that you are contributing and advancing in the direction of your dreams, you will notice that you have boundless energy and vitality.
8. Reading: This is the best way of getting many years of experience in a few hours time. Resort to speed reading; read about influential people, read about the topics that interest you. After all, the more you know, the less you fear.
9. Appreciate nature: At times, take some time out to enjoy the natural surroundings; take a walk, hear the birds chirping, gaze at stars, see the sunrise/sunset. Get up early some morning and notice the richness of your surroundings.
10. Endure, grieve and move on: When the things go wrong, as they sometimes will, don’t shy away from shedding some tears, you can have the liberty to grieve on it (provided you move on and not keep clinging to whatever happened). Be alive, while you are alive.

What matters, is not that you do in your life; but how you do it.