Gender Bias Zindabad !!

Apart from the left and right brained stuff which, supposedly, determines which gender of the species uses which part of the brain, it is also intriguing how this applies throughout our lives, subconsciously at that !!

With due respect to all women ( and men ) I know :

a) Most hackers are men – basically the instinct of breaking that childhood toy and see its working, much akin to a mechano set in reverse
b) Women subscribe more to support groups, parenting online, and blog better ( and more!!) – does this indicate an emotional support or more emotion in display?
c) Men bosses are more interested in what time you would report into office than wanting to know (like the female peers/supervisors/subordinates) if the child u left at home is crying or not
d) Remote control : Now, I read somewhere that the need to control a remote control (albeit remotely controlled himself by the wife/daughter/female presence in the house) rises from the fact that his mind needs to do mindlessly use the buttons while breaking away from the ‘realities’ of the day. Seldom do they even follow whats on TV (apart from the mundane cricket / sporting events)
e) The great Indian thali: Over 95 % of indian males( incl those settled outside the country) would settle for a thali ( or any fixed menu meal) than rack their brains on “whether missal would go well with raitha that would be a disaster with Coke” !!! This is no published survey , but I can see the males nodding ( and the females grinning)
f) Reading to kids: Dads generally leave the tear jerkers (again) to the moms. And settle for any story with a lineage for bravery, truth, action and/or superman, Tinitin.. The ramayan and all its sub stories are better handled by the men
g) Communication: Apart from the good old handwritten notes pre the internet / sms era, seldom has any info from the male kingdom begun with (a) what the neighbours dog did (b) why Poonam Aunty cut her hair (c) Who did Alok run away with ….. u got the drift… It would be surprising to even see their perfunctory greeting of Hi and hello too

Wonder if all this would change in 2009 !! hope not….:) ciao… till 2009 !!

The art of Living and Giving !!

And as yuletide is around the corner with the new year peeping, it’s suddenly the season of giving, cheer and happiness. Like these were absent throughout the year and we all scramble to make up for the lost time??? !!

No. My little one’s first ever official santa party (ok, parties. She attended two - back to back !! ) confirmed this and more. What with Santa seen as the ‘giver’ of presents, cheer and even shadowing the “jumbo” puppet show at school. As a consequence, they start associating Santa with Christmas (minus the snow in India, of course!!). But would they associate Santa with yuletide (or the charm of giving) ? Hopefully so. Else the following story would be so untrue.

Or the memories of tugging along my dad and sis (and sometimes mom) to Bangalore’s famous Annual Nilgiri’s Cake Show. And watching the memoirs come alive in sugar, candy and lots of cake - be it Veerappan, the red Fort. Or the melt-in-mouth plum cakes. With even the ‘Iyengar Bakeries’ giving it a shot with the not-so-soaked raisins. And rum! For an iyengar bakery , it would be nothing less than blasphemy. While the eggs can still be counted as vegetarian. The price of hypocrisy didn’t matter to us as little tots !!

If it weren’t for the spirit of giving, why would the two hotels – Taj and Trident - recently battered by terrorism make a fresh beginning barely 21 days after the terror attack open its doors to all its guests and offer the best service. Money, one might say. Yes. But they needn’t have not billed their guests for the night’s stay on their magnificent comeback on 21st Dec. If this was not giving, what was??

That to me was the Art of Living and the art of Giving

Merry Christmas and here’s hoping the spirit of sharing and giving goes down with you as well . (along with the ‘spirit’ of the year end party !! ha ha !! )

But meanwhile. The story I referred to earlier....

“I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read and perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.
I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan .
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and Iquickly decided a lunch would help pass the time....
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base 'His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?''Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is yours with thanks.'After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.
A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Aircraft Pilot coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'
I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.
He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.
As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals..It seemed so little...A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to his country for an amount of 'up to and including my life.
'That is Honor, and there are way too many people who no longer understand it”

And thus spake the Mahatma !

"Bombay is beautiful, not for its buildings for most of them hide squalor, poverty and dirt; not for its wealth for most of it is derived from the blood of the masses; but for its world-renowned generosity. Bombay’s charity has covered a multitude of her sins. She has enabled India to keep her promises" —Mahatma Gandhi

Wow ! Now this is somethign new about Mumbai --- interesting to read that the Mahatma also thought this high about mumbai. He is still right about the dirt & grime though !! Was it this dirty even in the Mahatma's times??

Which brings me - an immigrant to this city of last 6 years-to dwell upon what ticks me (on)/(off) about this 'city of dreams' - Vikram Chandra and Sharada Dwivedi notwithstanding !

a) M in Mumbai stands for Maida - one look at the vada pav (ok, the pav of the vada pav), Vibs and all the breads jostling for space both at the supermarkets and local grocers make u, feel, very ‘gastric; apart from the ‘spice’ of the potato filled mixture, nothing else seems to be of nutritional value !! ok, we do have the brown bread et al.. but, isn’t brown bread in india made by adding colouring, and not reducing the gluten content … Having said that, am prepared for the day Jumbo Vada Pav enters the gastronomic dictionary of my little one, and she pays obeisance to rasta food .. Health given a toss out of the window!

b) Next has to be the local – Mumbai’s lifeline – even beats the reliance , BSES, BEST power !! Although runs on the same. Much has been rendered on the ubiquitous mode of transport for all men (and women ) alike – a Dalal street broker from Borivili would share the space( or the lack of it) with a very ‘uppish’ , ‘snootish’, Bandra boy who prefers his branded clothes rather than rasta maal !! And about the ladies' compartment... well, it wouldnt fill this space , what with all the jealous pangs, and uski-sadi-meri-saadi-se-acchi-kaise-hain looks!!

c) Which gets me to ponder on the great north / south divide. Hell ! no. Am not supporting Raj Thackarey or his misgivings on the North India pooulation. Am talking about what Sion, Mahim divide between the auto driven and the more expensive ‘cab’ driven population. Does that mean that South Mumbai is not to be polluted with the fumes of the unassuming autos? Is this divide confined to the vehicles or even to ‘townies’ as they prefer to be called. A resident with a sea facing apartment in Marine Drive is much higher in ‘societal valuation’ than one living in similar sea faced apartment in say ‘ bandra’ , which is in turn higher than one with a sea facign apartment in , say, Gorai? Is the sea different ? Or does the proximity to ‘town’ matter that much? Isnt this a charade or what? ( and by the way, never mind the harbour trainwallahs, or those on the harbour suburbs- they are yet to ‘evolve’ on planet Mumbai !! )

d) And the plastic clips – wow !! Seemingly dangling like butterflies in every hue and colour, these are the 3rd (or 4th) most important paraphernalia of mumbai’s life. Tagged to the highest balcony (that’s a misnomer again), these appear like flags, and once they slip out and reach terra firma , you may be at arms with ur neighbour segregating your undergarments J

Till the next quote by the next Mahatma, ciao !!

Holier than thou ??

Having just read the debut novel “Keep off the grass” by Karan Bajaj, am left wondering what the book was all about : extolling the virtues of being ‘stoned’, or promoting Vipassana or yet another novel by a now ubiquitous ABCD ?? (That for the uninitiated: American Born Confused Desi)

In comparison to many other novels on debut, what this one particularly fails is it leaves the reader as confused as the author (or was that the purpose??)

Novels such as Ravi Subramaniam’s “If God were a banker”, Lavanya Sankaran’s “The Red Carpet” do not exactly titillate you. But they fascinate you not only with the content, but with also the style and the single direction the novel takes you (even if they are a short story collection).

Which brings to mind, " Seven Steps in the Sky" - fascinating novel with a female protagonist !!
I still recall this particular novel for its style and content and although that am unable to locate at any good store( which was again I think, coincidentally , written / translated by a South Indian lady – now if u think that was sheer coincidence, well…that happens!!), am sure I will want to read that again...Afterall, chick lit is a fashionable term only recently!!

Which is why a unglamourous novel may not be , well, a commercial success. But if it is deep rooted enough, it would make up for all the ‘lost’ directions it intends to convey !!

Partly (or wholly if you will) autobiographical, what I could connect more is to the protagonist’s friend Sarkar rather than Samrat who doesn’t seem to know what he wants , even after Vipassana and hippies to boot!!

Benares, and the oddly-in-place meeting with Ruskin Bond are extremely very filmy. More like in film placements, if you choose !!
Perhaps Chetan Bhagat and his clan of the new age Indian writers debut a novel with a film in mind!! And why not, the moolah is good. The PR gets done by the producer, and the poor masses (read us) are the scape goats. !! Ha ha !!

What with brilliant ones from books produced in the past like Godfather and the ilk, these novels (and therefore the movies) are not a blot on the titans produced!!

Am not exactly against people making money, or for that matter writing for one !! But what sets the classes from the masses is the way your (debut) turns out to be. For all the churned out PR and media expose', the heart to a reader is not to make him squirm (leave that to the Amitav Ghoshs please), but make him relate, and appreciate your first one !!

For me. Finally. This one’s a no getter. And then, anyways, one man's food is another man's poison. Even if it is grass, of the 'other' kind !! :)

Life's FAQs :)

One of the many things that I am learning and . yet to learn, is on self assertion. Being assertive without getting emotional.
Which brings me to think about learning about alternate modes of communication, apart from the time honoured verbal / written paths.
Communicate without bias. Should you always be truthful? Does it work in the corporate ladder? Is buttering the boss the only way up? Does lying mean a temporary loss of values> or is it ok ? atleast lying to your little one once in a while on why she should not be eating chocolates? Or why the ‘demon’ would take her away if she doesn’t eat / sleep on time > Are little lies ok in comparison to the bigger ones?
Is it ok that you plan an annual vacation, nay holiday for almost a month, and come back more disillusioned than ever?
Is it true that somebody cannot teach you how to be street smart at 30? Or that if you don’t learn how to, you are lost in the corporate war?
Does your family matter more than the job you hold? Is the value of the money you bring in more than the power of financial freedom that you lose while giving up your job?
Is individualism more important than team – at home or office? Or does ur opinion count everytime?
Is it ok for ur BMI to be a little (read a little more) above than normal and you are still functionally strong and robust? And therefore, is it necessary for every (married) woman on planet earth to fit into Size “medium”.. isn’t large or XL a size too !?? J
Do you necessarily have to forget and forgive every person / incident from your past? Would you rather let the past haunt you for those tender innocent memories than deal with the drudgeries of the past?
Does money really make man? Isnt it true that class needs money, but can money buy class??
Like all other anomalies in life, aren’t relatives in life ‘relative’ too?

Even friends from the past dont seem to re-kindle that 'comrade' feeling anymore... or is it that I reticent to open up mentally? I mean, it was really nice catching up after many many years, but has our careers been traded for 'companionship'?

So:
>>Even if you bungle up a vacation, doesn’t matter. Hasn’t Chetan Bhagat said: At the most you have 2500 weekends in life, do you really have to take life seriously
>>Apart from EMIs , there is nothing else that you need to be paranoid about (unless we have an Indian sub prime growing in our backyard)
>>Its ok to be working mother, and still not spend ‘adequate’ time with ur child on weekends if u don’t feel like doing so.
>>Spouse, kids and parents should not be telling you to do things you are not comfortable
>>Its just about ok if you don’t fit into (Indian size) 36 ; 40 still will do just fine
>>Religion cannot be substituted with tradition the same way devotion with temples!!

So. Get into your jeans. Relax. Watch a mushy movie. Drink(lots of water). Eat nice healthy food. Shop a while. Watch your kid grow one more week old. Help yourself to a nice facial. Massage hubby’s back. Help mom….

Whew !! I just did it again !! pile on !!! :-) but isn’t that the way life goes on ,. For the next 1800 odd weekends in life (and much less if you don’t have a 5 day week !! Chetan I suppose did !! )

Ciao.. and see you soon…ok , ok , before you go, Tagore's immortal poem below " Where the mind is without fear" :

WHERE the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Revisiting Innocence !

Having been in Bangalore for the last few days, every single lane, store brings back (natural) old memories - some good, some not so and most of them thoughts of innocence.
Like the way my little one wants to climb up the sand pile in the construction site next door- exactly the same way that I used to find it comforting.. the luxury of having ur afternoon lunch onthe steps/porch...the sheer expanse of the park nearby(the price of which i fathom only now after 3 decades!), the neighbourhood shopkeeper who knows more about ur family lineage and history than you know yourself... What a comfort - an oasis in the midst of the frentic pace that we subject ourselves to , no matter what the city...

I do know it will not last forever,...but I need to make this trip work for me. Need to make this worth all the energy , time and resources that have gone into this..

But the most I discovered is the innocence I seem to have lost on the way to financial freedom and 'female emancipation' , if you like !! :) the sheer luxury of having to call on relatives who would gladly host you (albeit for a shot while) ; the seemingly endless cold weather interspersed with the shopping at Jayanagar 4th block, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee as you pass many darshinis..(although they dont come cheap anymore- a good idli vada seems to be as expensive as mumbai - a staggering 25/-) ; the sheer joy on mom's face as she recognises many a face at the local bank/grocer...and many a student / old colleague gushing with joy at having seen their mentor(she was a teacher/prinicipal par excellence-you see)...

Which brings me back to the question: " What is the legacy / memory I shall leave my daughter with ? " ???? Mumbai's cramped spaces? the local trains? the lack of friends?

Or should I - following The Secret strongly - revive my dream to come back to Bangalore??
Perhaps "kaalaya tasmai namaha" (Only Time shall tell)...

Till then, am heading off to my comfort zones- Sukh Sagar in Jayangar, the Ganesh temple opposite that...and many more lanes to conquer.. Many more memories to linger..

Of wanting to cook world cuisine :)

Now that I have some real good links to some great food blogs, I am sincerely thinking of trading my microwave( for the 2nd time) for an OTG. initial research has led me to weigh the pros and cons of quality vs time. But with hubby repeating a "NO capex expenses" statement everyday , I might just be forced to postpone the purchase.. :(
But what if I trade> I might still get a decent (read atleast Rs. 500/-) for my (sparingly used) microwave that I bought with much fanfare. The lack of time, inclination, interest were used as reasons not to use the Micro, which pretty much asnwers the hubby's question " Whats the guarantee u wont do i again"? My but's and "If " s dont seem to work around him - so I shall do the next best thing - Not ask him for an opinion at all. After all, arent I "the modern forward thinking woman" . although I must admit his logic will hold good..
But that doesnt answer the question lurking "...but what about my little one..I would love to cook somethign good - atleast one per weekend ? " - Just ferverently hoping I can manage the 'justification' why I bought this !! :)
Happy weekend :)...and happy shopping - to me :)

A little princess !

She must not have been more than 6 years old. Frail and tiny, with unkempt clothes , you would know she shared her space in a shanty, along with the teeming millions who seem to make the footpath their lifelong dwelling !

It was surprising to see her board a ladies first class compartment which was already jostling with people - some reading, some whispering sweet nothings to their boyfriend / husband / ex - whatever.Some more tired office goers on a meditation spree. More looking for that 4th seat (if u know what it means-that end seat on that train seat made for three- or even two depending on the 'volume' occupied). And many of them sleeping with their mouths open - their heads swung back on the seat. And many more yet looking forward to the rest of the night... you see, I told you, the compartment was packed to capacity :)

Yes. But back to this girl. Loads of plastic covers hung from her frail arms, but there was a twinkle in her eyes that shone - something that made most of us take notice. Deftly putting down the bags, and tearing open the covers with her nimble teeth, she opened her wares to us.

The brightest of clips, ribbons, bindis, hair bands - all fit for a princess lay opened in the cardboard boxes and peeped out of the plastic covers.

Swiftly making her way through the crowd, she let the passengers haggle with her. A fleeting glance in the adjoining compartment to make sure her mom was around. And she was ready to bargain, sell and make quick bucks to light the evening fire at home.

Having made purchases for my little one (after bargaining , of course - haggling should be a constitutional birth right for every Indian!!), I quickly got off the train. And as I reached home and opened up the treats, my thoughts kept going back-that girl was a princess herself ! Who would plait her hair, adorn it with clips, and make her look like a princess> her mother? most probably not. She has too many mouths to feed.

And this little one was feeding most of them!

Bangalore Ahoy!

aah !! that time of the year when I can plan my vacations...and this time (again) it is bangalore , although its teamed up with Mysore as well for a social get together..
Am already thinking about the chat wallah at jayanagr 4th block ( where I have spent almost 2 decades of wolfing down 'absolutely unhygenic' chaats!! ) from unkempt plates, but strangely never down with any of the 'infections' on my sister's or mom' s list !!
Am sure my sis would not dream of going to a place to have chat other than a restaurant( or atleast what is recommended by her friends as the "ADDAH"/ hangout!! ) .. but me , being me, can almost taste the masala puri with the chutneys and onions spread liberally !! somehow the rest of india disappoints me with Chat, esp the masala puri is a total mess !!
Even in mumbai which is supposedly the 'road food' king of India, I find the chats either too spicy / loaded with dhania powder, or too mushy.. as my south mumbai friends would say " arre ... asli cheez to juhu ya chowpatty mein hothi hain", am still inclined to feel that I miss the bangalore punch..
and coming back to the second stuff -the sheer space u get in bangalore ( ok ok i know the traffic is bad), but there are still lung spaces like lalbagh and cubbon park where I would love to take my little one - all of 3 years and expose her to the 'real grass' and show her real flowers and the taalaab.. !! and who knows, she might just be as brain washed about blore as I am passionate about it, and then mother and daughter would take out a dharna to move to bangalore - permanently !! Although I doubt that hubby dear would not only relent but even take cognisance of this dharna !!
Aah!! the sweet nothings in Jayanagr, the dosa courts/ darshinis with piping hot idlis and crisp vadas (not re-fried in old oil unlike munbai),. the soft and succulent rava idli which is a misnomer in most other states of India !!
Man (and woman ) eternally live in Hope.. and am lookign to re-live my childhood . even if its for a few days. Through my little one. through her smiles and ecstacies.. and then come back to reality that am a mother !!
Bangalore.. here I come !!

motherhood vs meetings!

Am certainly not the first, and definitely not the last mother on this earth to have this dichotomy playing in the back of your mind !


Between diapers and daily briefings . between motherhood and meetings. between school and socialising. and I really admire all those moms around the world doing the juggling act, and effectively at that..


But frequently u do find the emptiness within u, an urge to give yourself that adrenalin push(of the other kind) once in a way, to be able to go pubbing without feelign guilty, to be able to have a decent one hour conversation with hubby dahlin ( at home ., taht too )without being asked where the colour pencils have disappeared, or which of the kids didnt make it to school !!



But just one look at all those parents ferverently hoping to conceive, and am a Queen.. with my little own princess. And a family to boot ! and what luxury India (or even mumbai can give u with maids -yes at exhorbitant prices), but yet the fact that you are comign home to an angel who looks at the world through your eyes, a hubby who keeping egging you on every count, a sister though far away is always in ur thoughts, and finally a demi God mom , who is the best support of your life !!



What more. God. Just One thing. Let me be ever grateful and strong enough to have that balance between motherhood and Meetings. for Life. Forever! Amen !

Away from this blog for a longgggggg time now.. reasons cant be totally unknown...
Well. there's always a reason to re-start - life, love and eveything eles..

Found this great article to kickstart blogging !!

8 steps to manifesting your very own miracles!
By Staphanie Mcwilliams
By Guest Tickler, 4th November 2008 Email This Tickle

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Some people seem to have it made, generating miracle after miracle with apparent ease, while the rest of us try time and time again, only to be left frustrated, exhausted and confused. But what makes some people abundant, while others are not? It all boils down to the eight success secrets listed below. Once you understand your own abundance blueprint, you too will begin to manifest your very own miracles.
1. ASSUME THAT EVERYTHING IS FOR YOUR HIGHEST GOOD
At this point in my life, I automatically assume that the world is kind. I assume that someone far smarter than I has choreographed my challenges, worries, triumphs, joys, sorrows, and all the rest. To me, life is far too magically complex to simply be random movement of atoms and energy. Through all the good and all the bad in my life, I’ve learned the most amazing things - things I wouldn’t trade for the world. Now, even in the midst of challenging situations, I know that life’s got my back.
2. EXPECT SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSE
“Ask and It Is Given” is an amazing book, and an even more amazing statement in itself. So often we’ve forgotten to expect support. Usually we’re wanting support, but rarely, rarely are we expecting it. When we expect something to be done, it’s as if it already is. Someone who expects good things in life often gets it. And have you notice that those who expect the worst usually get that too? Donald Trump expects to be rich. He doesn’t hope for it, he demands it of the Universe. No matter if he loses billions of dollars, he gains it right back. Life is solely an outer manifestation of our internal expectations.
3. BE OPEN TO THE SIGNS
When the world hands you a coincidence, stop and say “thank you!” I see coincidences as winks from the Universe, helping confirm that we’re on the right track. When opportunities line up perfectly, when situations mystically converge, when opportunities fall in your lap, or when you simply find a penny on the ground, embrace them without hesitation.
4. DON’T WANT FOR ANYTHING
Most people, no matter how many manifesting books they read, are still longing for things. The “want” for money, abundance, love, health or happiness is merely that… a want. And voilá, that’s what we get: the opportunity to long for something and not get it. When we think about what we want, or talk about what we want, the world hears “Please let me want for X-Y-Z”. The most challenging aspect of manifesting is to be in the state of already having what you want. Evoking the emotions you would feel once your desired goal is attained is the real key to generating your desires.
5. BE GRATEFUL
The state of gratitude is like having your arms wide open to receive all of life’s bounty. When we’re not in the state of gratitude, it’s like walking through life with your fists clenched and your body contracted. Check in to your emotional and physical positions throughout the day. Are you feeling open to everything around you, or are you guarded, grumpy, cynical or sad? If you are frustrated by your current situation or surroundings, make a choice to see only the good, even if just for 2 minutes each morning. Jotting down things in your life that you’re grateful for, no matter how small, helps you to open to life’s abundance. As we all know, what we think about most, we bring about!
6. CLEAN UP YOUR INTERNAL ACT
Why don’t we all have what we want in life? It’s usually because we have beliefs in the way that are generating more of what we’re not wanting, and less of what we are. No matter how much manifesting work we do, if those beliefs are still in place, they will subconsciously be running your life’s ship without you ever being the wiser. Cleaning up these mystery beliefs can be challenging for most.
As you travel further down the path of cleaning up your home, body and thinking, the work of Byron Katie can be the most amazing gift (www.thework.com). This process is the way I continue working on my own limiting beliefs. The less that stands in our way of believing we deserve a wonderful life, the more we can allow in.
7. FOLLOW YOUR HEART
When you choose to spend time with things that bring you great passion and interest, your emotional body resonates on a very different level. Those who follow their bliss, choose careers that bring joy, spend time with people who delight them, watch movies that lift their spirits, and read books that inspired excitement often draw in more abundant situations. If you make choices out of fear or to “play it safe”, life will give those types of situations or frustrations right back to you. And if you instead take risks to open your heart, mind and spirit, you will, worst-case, get a life of fulfillment, surprise and joy. Look inside to all your underlying motivations and shine a light on them so that you might make a different decision tomorrow. Awareness is the key.
8. TAKE ACTION
When we realize what we desire, and begin to align ourselves with these goals, the next step is action. And often times this is the step that trips us all up. When I had manifested my T.V. show “Fun Shui” and had met my producer, I got scared. REALLY scared. And I began sabotaging the opportunity out of fear. But luckily I came to my senses in the nick of time, stood up bravely, and took action. I moved into some of my deepest life fears, I pushed through limiting beliefs, and I did things I’d never done before…
We can’t stop with just meditation, gratitude, and cleaning up our thinking. We also must take action, and step up to the plate when life hands us miraculous situations or circumstances. Don’t let a great thing pass YOU by!
————————
Stephanie McWilliams is the host of HGTV’s hit show, “Fun Shui”. She is a gifted feng shui designer, coach, holistic health counselor and intuitive - combining all her talents into a powerful Mind/Body/Space approach to healing and personal transformation. Visit her website http://www.EvolvingArts.com to get lots of free goodies, as well as her inspirational weekly newsletter, “My Cup of Chi”.

Mera Bharat Mahaan!!

Before anything, let me clarify (to myself) that this is not Independence day fever (which happens to be around the corner).. !! rather, am now at Hyderabad International Airport.. makes u think u have 'arrived' and strikes with the clean glass , workers scurrying around, hordes of crowds teeming in the visitors area archign their necks to get a glimpse.. seems surreal but is not quite !!
Happy Independence day !! :)

Aamchi mumbai local !!

ahem !! I survived the 2nd day syndrome.. back to login my thoughts for the day.. well, almost what seems to be the end of the day!! :)

Strike 1

At last !!! at last I have begun my journey into the hitherto unknown arena of blogging.. many a day when I spent debating if I should join the band wagon.. !! But then , I did give in to my right brain (or was it left) to join the creative writing profession.. of bein able to write in... scraps, thoughts, feelings, just about anythign I feel about strongly !! voila !!
Feels good... so far.. Hopefully the euphoria will last !!
So, to all co-bloggers out there... a very wam namaste !