To a healthier better me – My birthday resolutions

I am a big big girl, in this big big world, its (any issue) not a big big thing, come on bring it on to me..

Happy Birthday

Yeah , it’s my birthday week . he he he 🙂  I usually celebrate my birthday the whole week. So now that I have stepped on to the second quarter of my life , or to say I am crossing mid twenties/late twenties and rushing towards 30s  but instead of focusing on anti-ageing treatments to disguise my age , I am putting my energies to a very obvious thing that unfortunately I had been ignoring from long time.

Family, friends, long lost friends, colleagues, acquaintances, well wishers, everyone showed their immense love on my birthday. They wished me happiness, prosperity and good health. I have been saying this on my blogs over and over again, but yeh ! I am confessing even I have tendency to walk over it (bad bad girl). I am blessed I always get cooked ready to serve – excuses to put my health not on top priority.

Well, I’ll be honest; it’s not that I’m not capable of committing and following through – anything that I have decided for myself. I don’t bind myself with point to point resolutions, but it’s too easy to slip in my comfort zone crushing my all healthy thinking’s 😦 . I am going to experience a 360 degree turn soon in my life (keep guessing 😉 ) transitions have already started then why not fixing my health status.

Being a woman, I sincerely apologize; I am adding few more vanity (mind, body and soul) changes in my resolution cart.

Here I am  with my resolution cart :

1. To take good care of my health

a)      Go for 30 min walk or meditation.

I love morning walks. I am sad I am not going for them due to all the stupid reasons I can think of. But from this morning, I am back in action.

b)      Will have proper 3 meals a day.

I am not going to try to have a proper diet, I can’t afford trying. I will do it.

c)      To have 6 hours of sleep a day.

I can see, people who know me smirking (and also those who can see the time of the post). I am an insomniac. This will be a fight but I want to win sleepily , else one day will come when I will be called as zombie . (Currently, they have termed as ghost)

d)     To take my medicines on time.

I am not that ill, that I have to take so many medicines daily. But whatever I need to take (multivitamins, calcium, iron tablets, pain killers etc etc) , I will have them on time. Already, placed a daily alarm.

e)      Start my day with lemon and honey in warm water.

Ya, ya I want to lose those stubborn inches. Do you know how bad it feels , when you have a Van Heusan dress in your wardrobe from last 11 months (price tag freshly enacted) and you try it every Saturday morning , just to say ‘I wish I could look better’ L

2. Do something that I love to.

I love to write. I love to dance. Writing and dancing is being in trance form for me. Need to come over my mood swings –  write/dance. Need to vent out my anger – write/dance. Need to express my happiness – write/dance. I know I am not regularly blogging but tweeting. I am trying to be active on blog again. Coming to dancing, what gratifies me – locked my room, dim lights , loud music dancing in front of mirror , just like that.

3. Crop the cribbings

I do sometimes crib, human tendency please don’t judge me. Thanks. Every day is a new day , every moment is a new moment, every situation is a new situation.. Face them , live them, embrace them. Life is a bed of roses but with some thorns. Once pinched by the thorn tip immediately turn to the softness of roses, don’t stay there and start cribbing the thorn , better to confine into the softness of roses.

4. Keep my wardrobe organized.

Don’t want to waste precious morning minutes in finding what to wear and then iron them , uff , I do need to fix this bad habit.

5. Not to say ‘I am busy’

There was a time, when friends always taunt me because I am always ‘busy’. Credits to last few weeks, I am actually busy (oops I said that , I am sorry).I am not liking this , feeling totally burn out. I am daily struggling to manage my just 24 hour day. The way I am moving with life (can’t dare to say growing with life) I feel I would never be free from schedule madness until I will be comfortable taking responsibility of ‘my time’. No one is going to beat me for declining meetings. Being busy is not cool !

So where does this list will leave me? I believe in results, I am sure I will be sticking to above mentioned resolutions (fingers crossed)

Life is short, though I wish to live 100 years. I want to make this life worth living every moment. No walking away from greatest life episodes. Not to miss any single moment to say thanks /sorry / love you. Do something that I am proud of , in my signature style.

Cheers, to a better , wiser, more organized, more energized, new freshen one more year older me … happie birthday 🙂

Thank you everyone, hugs and kisses. Stay Blessed

Saakshi

Related articles

• It’s my birthday! A writing challenge. (anexerciseindiscipline.com)

This is your life.

Image source : Google Images

7 steps towards a happier you

Ever wonder few good habits can make you walk the aisle of happiness?

I am a wanderer, restless, person who is in continuous search of finding the other, the better, the happier side of me. I promised myself that this year (2012), I will take care of myself at the highest priority. This is my bit ……

Follow these 7 steps to lead a happy, satisfied life.

 

Step 1 : Sleep .

We have our jobs to do , we have our social life to manage and we also have our family to give some time to. I always try but fail to do all that stuff in 16 hours a day; if I save 8 hours of sleep. So when I am scrambling to meet all these demands, it’s too casual of me to cut down my savings and spend them on never ending to-do lists.

Whatever, you do. Whenever you manage to do. Please DO sleep on time and for at least – 8 hours. I am no doctor who can explain you the benefits/power of sleep or be able to aware you about sleeping disorders; but can request you to think twice on your sleeping habits. Even minimal sleep loss takes a toll on your mood, energy, efficiency, conscious and ability to handle stress.

How frequently you charge your smart phones?

Step 2 : Punctuality

My work is my elixir and punctuality is one of its parameter. Try to be organized and be on time. The more you give respect to time the more you will be stress free. And while working in a service industry, you can imagine the demons of deadlines and meetings.

My mom always tell me since my childhood , to do things on time otherwise I will forget (short term memory loss 🙂 ), don’t have any clue what’s the source but I still follow this. Organize your work and prioritize it, believe me you won’t forgot those small notes , files ,no missing attachments in e-mails , and interestingly not even your lunch.

Remember, Intime , when time is currency.

Step 3 : Music

Let me clarify to all those, who don’t skip any chance to scold me when I listen loud music with earphones on (oh by the way they are always on , even now!) I know it may lead to health issues. Music helps me to focus, and freshen up, inspires me and sometimes it’s the only thing that gives me a company when I am alone. Music is Sanity.

So let me rephrase – Music is the secret of my energy.

Step 4: Walk

I love it and those who know me can swear on my stamina. Walk few steps for your life. They will give you the time you always wanted for yourself. Even doctors say walk 10,000 steps a day are actually steps to a healthier life. For my lazy days, I take bus no 11 to get back to my place.

A walk to , remember !!

Step 5: Show gratitude

“Thank you”. You may have no idea what these two words can do to someone , your kind words of appreciation can make their day , give them a new hope , make them smile.

 Recall the vedio of “Kuch to hua hai” from Kal Ho Na Ho.

Thank you all for being with me till here , I am left with only 2 steps now 🙂

Step 6 : Strangers

Gone are the days when they say, don’t interact with strangers. We have twitter now. A simple # (Shift + 3, simple isn’t) can connect you to the ‘strangers’ with similar concerns. Be honest, don’t you like when someone from other part of the world retweet (RT) yours or reach you with a solution? Similar with facebook likes and shares.

Try coming out of this virtual world and interact strangers in real. Helping someone with the route, crossing the road or to park the car will surely bring a smile on their face as well as yours.

Some sort of my inner gratification.

Step 7: Peace

Have you ever thought of spending few minutes with yourself? Peace is something we all long for. I am NOT advocating listening music, or reading a book or watching a television, by peace I mean do nothing and relax silently.

For me late nights are wonderfully tranquil.  No phone calls, no interruptions. I like the feeling of knowing that nobody is trying to reach me at that hour.

Inner peace will bring the positive vibe to keep you happy as long as you wish !

Related articles

• Gain Control Over Sleeping Disorders (everydayhealth.com)
• Love yourself  (saakshinagpal.wordpress.com)
• Thankyou Thanks giving Day (saakshinagpal.wordpress.com)

Stay Happy,

Saakshi

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The Quest of the Sparrows

Image via Wikipedia

It was some 5 hour journey during the day today with un-limited questions fighting in my mind and few medical reports and co-incidentally bank statement; which gives mirror image of my present state. I am frustrated and annoyed with myself. I am doing a bit for myself and lives a happy serene life , but at times (this comes at a frequency of 6 months) feel unstable and very string vibes of something missing.

Just trying to distract myself , I bought a book to read while traveling. Never knew reading just 20 pages will calm me down .

Thought I should share some excerpts with you. It could have been a  sin , if I choose to keep it with myself.

Book – The Quest of the Sparrows

Authors – Kartik Sharma & Ravi ‘Nirmal’ Sharma

‘

We live in times when media is the king. It’s only interested in financial figure, records and achievements. Spirituality isn’t an object of desire, or even in the headlines; still, you are here. I bow to your spirit, which believes in what no one has seen and marches to a destination that appears to be even harder to achieve than the biggest material goal.

Most human beings search for eternal happiness. Yet, why is it elusive? Most people fail to achieve it by following idealism, spiritualism, capitalism, materialism, socialism or other-isms. Why do they meet disillusionment?

Why does a sparrow, which knows no “-isms”, live without the worries which accompany human beings? What is it we manage throughout our complex lives? Merely survival. Hey, something is wrong – because the bird does the same, effortlessly. So what’s the big difference between us and the helpless sparrow? Don’t you think we’re missing something? What is it?

Forget the sparrow for a moment. Think of all the people in this world. They go to their workplaces in the morning and then return in the evening, like swinging pendulums. But does a pendulum swing aimlessly away and towards the centre? Or does it personify something more , like time? That depends on what you associate with life? Is it aimless or does it have a higher purpose? Like pendulum, it swings between two states – birth and death. What gives it meaning? Can anyone answer ?

The divine . One answer , could be . But that’s a lofty ideal for us beginners. Think of something more practical. Look around you; is everything the same as it was a century ago? What has happened in all these years?

Evolution. Probably ,another answer. Yes . Between birth and death is evolving. That’s the higher meaning of our lives. But what do most people do ? They achieve, lose, feel happy or sad, celebrate and mourn. They merely move to and fro like a ball of a pendulum, with hardly any peace. Even among believers, everyone is religious but very few are truly spiritual. Is it all linked or unrelated? Think over it. Find the connection, and I think we will be able to solve the riddle of life.

Stay Blessed,

Saakshi

Thank God it’s Friday

I was trying to open my eyes at wee hours of the beautiful Friday morning. I was at bliss!!

The sunbeams through window were brightening up the room. The moment, wow, it was so pure, sigh!!

I happily slid outside my warm blanket, put on the slippers and in next few seconds I was out at the terrace. Experiencing the divine feeling of something, which we, rather ignorantly, say – Good Morning.

Flashback: Thurs – Day and the Night

Not just as always, but slightly extra overloaded, pathetic, tiring day at work. The overlap UK and US hours or our Indian evening hours , which make me terribly think of myself as some local call center employee (with no intention to offend) rather than a busy IT professional. I am sick and tired, longing for a peaceful goodnight’s sleep.

 3 conference calls, 2 follow up calls, 1 team meeting , 3 project deliverables, 180 ingoing and outgoing e-mails , 7-8 chat windows , 6 personal calls , 5 cups coffee , no breakfast , lunch of a sparrow , one last crispy piece of spring role , few custom action failures , excel sheets with annoying macros (project reports, they say) , phone battery dying and crying for help (m gone deaf 😦), meeting invite for previous date (that was embarrassing), arrangements to rescue Holi celebrations, never going migraine and on and on …..This you call a day, which ends when you realize you are the last one on the floor. Leave; call it a day, now!!!

 There is one more element, a vital one – dinner. Veg Chinese Sizzler, with green mint dip. Loved it 🙂

Back home, hit the bed and I am dead. Needless to say, it was early A.M timings.

Back to Present: Friday Morning

 Leisure of a blissful, beautiful morning! I live on the top floor of this building with a terrace facing state highway and a park. Saw senior neighbors practicing yoga and chunk of ladies taking rounds of their morning walks, a kid washing the cars , some punctual professionals ready in their formal attire carrying their bags waiting at the bus stop, and a tree with long leaves of the shades of yellow and orange, scattered everywhere on the road, pavement, on the roof of cars and park. Strangely, I fell in love with this autumn feeling at this time of spring.

Back to my room, my bed, ohh , I am back to my laziness , zzzzzzz sleeping. The one I desired for.

 This time dawn seems to be a struggle, I woke up at P.M timings. Wondering why the alarm fails to bring me back from dead. Still in process of waking up , I made efforts to find my soul mate , that was supposed to be next to me , near my pillow. (Let me remind all, I call my mobile phone as my soul mate). He was almost dead. Oh, poor baby, more than me, he needed a life. I am a good host. I rushed to my desk, got the equipment, and put the soul mate to his ventilator. Wishing him speedy recovery, I made myself a big cup of green tea and start making my today’s To-Do list. (I am old-fashioned , paranoid, have this habit). Voila 🙂 🙂 🙂 , nothing, just one Toastmaster’s Meeting. Hurray !! 

Thank God it’s Friday.

 

Thank God it's Friday ; Image source - My work desktop screen shot.

 

 No deliverables, No Client Calls, No deadlines, ignoring the fact its 2nd of the month , no bills to pay , no , nothing.

 Yeah !!

Till now , it’s really been a Friday. I am enjoying , a bit sleepy , a bit tired but chirpy , bubbly playing with outlook , e-mails pouring in , e-mails shooting out. What more can I ask for, week long vacation approved , with few kind words of appreciation.

Yeah !! Fingers Crossed, I still have to travel back home , some 5 hrs road journey in a state roadways bus. I wish the rest of the day remains the same.

 As SRK would say “Din to abhi baki hai mere dost.”

 

 Love ,

 Saakshi

Thank you Thanksgiving Day !

On the eve of Thanksgiving, I sat till late night to prepare a long list of people and things I am thankful for. I am amazed by the fact that the list is very much long than the list I once made titled “Things I am sorry for” (at last !! )

Here goes my list

1. God , Parents , Sisters and  Friends

This doesn’t need explanation. They all define me. I am God-fearing person, His fear gives me strength.  Mine is a family of 5 members: Mom, Dad and 3 sisters. Being the eldest one, I am looked down with responsibilities. My dad loves me the most {Sis(es):  Aren’t you both jealous 😉 }

And I love my sisters. This Thanksgiving I want to Thank you for teaching me the meaning of  selfless love.

Friends, I am completely taken by Airtel promotional advertisement motto – ‘kyunki har k friend jaroori hota hai’ (because, every friend is important). In my good or bad days, during our fights and leg pulling sessions, I appreciate your efforts to handle my short temperedness and increasing my patience level.

Thank you for making me feel alive !!

2. Google

For its instant help , anytime anywhere

Had I been born in my grandparents or even my parents generation, I would be saying ‘Google ? What’s this ? A miracle? Just Type in your questions and in seconds you will get Goooooooogle answers.

Thank you Google , for providing instant help , anytime , anywhere required , that too unconditionally J .

Google must be having loads of credits for millions of professionals as a major reason behind them.

Thank you Google

3. Mobile Phone

I call my mobile phone (read, smart phone) as my soul mate.  Though I am not a chatter box , and doesn’t keep my phone line busy , but still Love ❤ my phone a lot.

Isn’t it great you can be :

a)      in touch with family , friends and business  through calls.

b)      Send and receive SMS for when we can’t actually talk.

c)       Take my reminder notes.

d)      Maintain a calendar.

e)      Use as a torch (safety !!)

f)       Play music

g)      Click pictures

h)      Find Places (Maps and Navigator)

i)        Handy calculator (I use it a lot)

j)        Check E-mails

k)      Available on IM

l)        Connected to facebook, twitter and other social media.

m)    Play games

n)      Have unlimited applications

o)      List goes on 🙂 🙂

Thank you Nokia/Samsung

4. Books

How can someone on this Earth hate books?  They are my companion. They let me think, listen the mind and soul of the author/character. The characters and incidents usually stay alive, days after I finish any book.

I am a weekly passenger (travel back home every weekend, 225 kms , one way ) a book , music and a big pack of wafers are must for me. So you will find a book always in my bag and some e-books on my office computer.

Thank you books you  keep me going.

5. Enrique Iglesias

I love Enrique Iglesias, since I was in Class 8. Thank you Enrique for making me study and pass my board exams. You always help me out from my mood swings. Your songs have that secret spark to ignite up my mood and bring a long smile on my face, during any course of a day.

Thanks for giving those natural, spanish, damn sexy, dulcit tones that makes me feel more in love.

Thanks  all of you  for spending some time and reading it.

Thank you  Thanksgiving Day for giving me an opportunity to thanks everyone for molding me the way I am and I want.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Embracing the new

Sometimes people come into our life and we have a hitch that they were meant to be there, to serve some purpose, teach us a lesson, or to help figure out who we want to become. We never know who these people may be. May be a long-lost friend ‘friends’ via Facebook , or a stranger who seems to be always in a hurry each morning standing at the bus stop. But when we notice them, we know that very moment they will affect us in some profound way.

People we met and share success and downfall with, help to create who we are and we want to become.

Strange isn’t it?

When they love, they embrace us, when they hurt or betray, they teach us the importance of trust and hard meaning of being cautious. A moment of love, affection, and care make us calm,composed and confident. It fills our days with joy and happiness. A betrayal makes us cold,frustrated and shocked.

We humans are very sensitive yet we say we are strong and move on easily, knowing deep down that our emotions are fragile. Now, how we know that? We feel compelled to stay on a rigid pre – chosen path for our lives, even if we don’t want to. And why is it so? It revolves around our reclusiveness (which we generously say ‘self defense’), or simply we are afraid to experience something different from our routine.

Embracing the new in life is not about making unwise risks, but about taking chances for the quality of our lives. The new may not bring fame and fortune, but happiness we were longing for.

I read somewhere that people are like onions. Onions!!! Every now and then we have to peel off a layer to reveal a new facet of theirs’ , just to mention with every layer comes the tears , more importantly it adds a critical flavor to everything you do , if you do bad it will stink. Peeling an onion symbolizes new beginnings, afraid of tears but revealing a fresh new skin, ready to take onthe world!!

PS: Give every man thy ear but few thy voice. – Shakespeare.