It's Perfect to be Imperfect!

Someone once asked me that why is it so difficult to manage everything?
Can't life just be perfect? If yes,then when will that 'perfect' come? When will it feel all the more beautiful and easy. To which I said...

The much heard of apothegm says "Beauty Lies In The Eye of the Beholder!" ,how aptly said,it truly does. With times passing swiftly, generations becoming smarter and people getting geek-ier (if that's a word :p), we have somewhere forgotten the essence of life. That essence of taking joy in who we are,feeling blessed in the way we are born and celebrating the fact that we live a much happier life than what others do. This essence is missing. Sadly enough,with flying times the essence has flown away too! Everybody wants there life to be a fairy tale inspired by all the melodrama showcased on the celluloid (no offence), they want it to be as good as it can ever be even though it's monotone might seem to itch the ears after a while, they still want it picture perfect. For what? How interesting would it be to wake up every morning in a sound mood to a good life? Might seem that it really will be very interesting,but it wouldn't. Because how on earth would you come to know what a good life is, when you haven't seen it turn bad ever? Life is only beautiful when you experience all the shades of black,grey and white. But somehow people have turned dichotomous for them it's either black or white, not realizing that it's the 'grey shades' which make it live-able. You need to take pride in your imperfections, to know that they are a part of you and it is 'Perfectly fine' to be with them. If you haven't reached your acme only then is it fruitful to exist, to live to reach that pinnacle otherwise what growth will you have? We abide by the nature which has created us and if we go on to refute it's very law (which is to change) then how do we plan to survive? Because change is not possible without imperfections and stagnation is not susceptible for survival. So to accept who you are, to take pride in what you've been through, to hold your head high for where you come from or for how you look and be brilliant at what you do and ridiculous at what you don't is what it takes to lead a perfect life,and trust me it ain't all that difficult. It's the easiest thing because it just requires you to 'BE' what you are. #takepride #beimperfect #striveforperfection #itwillbeworth ,Because....

Set Your Life On Fire!

With the festivities all around the corner and the aura of lights all above the only thing that ticks my mind is to "Set yourself on fire and seek those who fan your flames"...
That's what one should do. At least I make sure that I take this opportunity to set 'myself' on fire and let my worries ignite,rather than burning crackers and causing a mayhem, because that's the only way I can bring in the lost charm, the new found happiness and the likes of it back to life. Isn't it? I've always believed that one shouldn't let the 'kid' die inside, it's the only one that keeps you alive. People today strive to be happy 'with' people, 'by people' and 'for people', what for? Once a smart chap told me a priceless axiom that read as, "Make sure your anger is the most expensive and your happiness is the most cheapest thing in your life!" Awestruck, I was a little taken aback for a jiffy then,that how such a simple thought never caught my attention,however now I seem to apply it every now and then.The only reason that people seem to be more stressed nowadays like never before is that their happiness lies in 'others' and not there 'self'. They've forgotten to live with themselves, always demanding the presence of someone's 'company' from going to the market to leading a great life. We are social being's and socialization is bound to take place, it just does not hold survival value rather it's solely essential for inculcating growth and development. But socialization shouldn't bring in dependency.Should it? That's not what it's meant to do. We meet people to learn from them,from there experiences and make sure our journey is smoother and better. And it's straining to see people going into a long phase of hibernation because a friend ditched them, committing something as gruesome as a suicide because they had a bad life. So what? Who doesn't? Who has it perfect,no one. It's meant to be perfect in it's very own imperfections. When you start to look at people who don't even have a penny but still that 'hope to survive', who don't have a good family but still the 'belief in there ability',who don't have more time left to live as they wanted to, yet they try and make the most of there present, who don't own a bright future but definitely a bright present, its then that you realize the worth of the word called 'LIFE' and you come to realize that , that's what you are missing out on. No one is blessed with all the good things in life, the goodness lies in yourself and that is what you need to seek.The day you stop pointing bad things in others and realizing good in yourself, The world will then never seem to be daunting rather a blissful place to be in.Make sure you spread happiness wherever you are,make sure that you take the moment and make it special and make sure that you live your life as if there is no tomorrow because there might be none! Every shot must be your last and with just one thought in mind....

#therewontbelookingback's #makethemostoflife #timeswon'tcomeback #cherishit

Best thing that Eva Happened To Me!

There are some things in life that change you as never before,that help you come out of your cocoon and see that the world is a beautiful place to be in. Those things that bring out the best in you and leave a mark upon your life so much so that it reflects in your personality. It reflects in the kind of a person you are. Yes I am talking of something that intense and that impactful. Every one would have or if not will for sure once come about such a phase in their life that makes them realize a little bit of their own self. I am fortunate to have had one such enriching experience so early in my life. It was 9th September 2012, at around 8 o'clock in the morning, when I was waiting for my induction into one amazing Organization called 'AIESEC In Chandigarh'. It had all begun from there on,I mean that life changing experience, but the spell had been casted much before. One fine afternoon, in a very jazzy Cafe', I was called for my final interview with the President of the Local Chapter,as any amateur I had my own preconceptions of that interview,but believe me or not those 2 lines during my interview made me change the way I thought then and the way I think now. Which were,"Who are you? And why are you here?" As an idiot I started blurting out things that we are made to Ratta-fy (mug up) while giving our bio,but that wasn't what the question demanded,it's now that I understand that. That deep insight which that young fella had then wanted me to gain, still somehow seems to revolve in my head all the time. When I told him this later,he smiled and said,'that's what it was meant to do to you". ;) I had no idea then of what I was getting into,but just that it's some big Organization that will provide me with a good enough experience to add onto my CV and nothing else. My induction happened and I got recruited into one of the most smartest department of the Local Chapter,that I then did not realize and still dissatisfied with it I thought that I won't be sticking long into the Organization and would leave it in a month or so,making one or the other lame excuse (which of course later on never happened). There were certain people in the Organization that had got me inducted and when they heard that I wanted to leave they made sure I didn't,they made sure that I stuck to it longer and had my own experience.I can never thank them enough.They made sure I stayed not by making any fake promises about the kind of learning's that they will impart me but by giving me those life long learning's for real. I started realizing slowly and steadily the essence of the Organization, learning about there culture (which is thee most coolest aspect of it) and knowing of stories of different alumnus of the Organization. Thinking that,maybe I don't fit in here because these people are way too cool for me. It was then that someone in the Local Chapter told me, that it's not that we are cool and you are not, it's just that we have discovered our true selves and you are still figuring out,once you are done, you will be way more cooler that what we are :) And then there was no looking back, I worked crazy,had mad fun,met amazing individuals,went on some very amazing meetings and made my own story, a one I would never want to forget and a one that made me realize a little bit of 'me'. From a girl who could never gather the confidence to voice out her opinion in front of 5 people, who was not-so-very social,who was abashed about the kind of personality that she carried, to a one who can hold herself with aplomb, has friends in various parts of the world and can easily reach out to hundreds of people,I owe it all to AIESEC.That's what it has done to me and I am truly proud of it.

 #AIESEC #Love #Ajourneytolookback #Empowered

There is nothing to writing you just sit down at a typewriter and Bleed!

Hemingway had rightly said "There is nothing to writing,you just sit down at a typewriter and bleed!"

I haven't come across anything more serene than this. It is absolutely beatific to witness something so pure and so inspiring.I believe everyone is a little bard inside,it's just that some let it flow out and some don't,feeling that the cacophony of it wouldn't appeal to many. But I guess its okay if 'you' can sense some harmony there.We all have a story to tell,I am sure we do,a one which is in the making,a one which we are working upon,a one which can touch the hearts of many,a one which can bring a little twinkle to the eye and a one than no other can perfect as perfectly as you can.It's just we don't let that little writer inside, to come out and express what it wants to.It might sound bohemian to some but to me it makes sense.Remember when you started riding your own bike for the first time? Or when you did something by yourself for the first time without someone's help? Or that day when you got over a very tensed situation? Or the day you made someone feel proud about you? Or that time when you overcame a bad relationship? Yeah,exactly. Now you know what I am talking about...
These are the kind of stories that get converted into beautiful aphorisms and apothegms.The ones we can go back to and take something to learn from. Someone once said, that it's important to give words to your feelings that ways it's 'you',who ultimately doesn't suffer.I do not know if this strikes a chord inside you or not but I am pretty sure that you can somewhere relate yourself to the above.I recall something really funny,though we are talking some serious business here :P but I can't resist myself from putting it alongside,that all 'females' are labelled as being over 'expressive', belaboring things massively and being ultra sensitive about issues which aren't that sensitive and also of just 'venting' it out every now and then whereas men don't do this. Ever thought why? They aren't meant do this,they are all molded in a manner in which they aren't supposed to break there cocoon and burst it out. Because it ain't easy. It requires your gut to be strong enough to pen down an intimate experience or a one so close to your heart, just because you want someone to take back something useful from it.That also reminds me that men are susceptible to cardiac arrests more often because of the same :P.Well then probably I am better off any day, being labelled as 'over-emotional' so to say. So,just try being altruistic for once,it will not only help you in your catharsis but also make you 'feel-good' about yourself!
 This brings me to leave you with a little message that I wanted to convey via the post, that "There's a writer inside you,don't let it die ever,it's the only thing that will keep you alive!"
Because....

#reflections #voiceitout #itmatters :)

Just BE!

We hide,we run,we get frustrated,we want to change,we get influenced,we are afraid not from somebody but very surprisingly from our own SELF.Why can't we just BE? Is it that difficult to feel likeable or wanted? Is being socially desirable a better feeling than being self desirable? We often start disliking our own self because we can't "brag" about it, it does not fit in the convention of 'cult' so to say or simply maybe because its very uncool. It's really alarming to find that people nowadays,who 'so' want to have their own identity in this mad race start loosing it instead. It's really tough to say to your new college peers or your colleagues that I don't drink or I don't smoke or I don't go clubbing or maybe just that I am not a night person, because it isn't the 'in' thing. Right? But just realize that Individuality is something that is meant to be manifest and not latent. Not at all. It's differences that make life colorful and liveable. Clones are similar,not people. Rather than pin pointing the negatives a person has, it's better to look for their positives, though they may be few but for sure they will be, and that would reflect the kind of person YOU are, more than what they are. Everybody wants to get ahead of the other because that brings them to the 'limelight' but I don't know what for? They are ready to cheat,steal and do whatever on earth is possible to attain the pinnacle, but will that acme hold any value? It might give you a great name, an even greater fame but then can you go and look into your eyes the next day in the mirror? Doesn't that person there seem to annoy you.The only problem is that everybody is dichotomous, they want to be good at EVERY thing. I mean, firstly how? and then why? Everybody is blessed with there own arcane potential and it's just,'that',which they need to mend or polish, and they definitely would shine.Why won't they? If sun would have tried to replicate those stars then I am sure it would not have been where it stands now. This only betokens that you could be there if YOU want to be. How do you know you that you can not be better than the other person at a job if you would just set your limits by there's? You should never settle for less, you aren't meant to be. Find a meaning for your existence and then life would seem beautiful. It might not just be your 'career' or getting a position in your grade, it could be much beyond. 3 Idiots never fail's to remind me of the adage, that it's excellence that you should seek and success would follow. Strive for bigger things in life, rise above getting those 100/100, or standing 1st in your class, or being declared the best employee and so on, you could definitely be better than that. Seek knowledge, learn and do it gracefully. If you do it with aplomb you would definitely be there, not surely in the 'limelight' but yes maybe in an even better state. So just be what you are and do what you want to do,because no one can be a better YOU than YOU YOURSELF can!
 #lastthoughts #thisaphorism

New Girl In The University!

The title seems familiar isn't it? All thanks to 'Wake up Sid's Ayesha Banarjee, I guess. Well,standing at an almost similar point the title immediately struck my mind. Her New Girl In The City seemed to be so fresh,and today when I have just entered a new phase of my life I feel almost the same. I am awed by everything that's coming my way, Maine toh socha hi nahi tha sab itna different hoga :). College seemed to be so closed, so protective and university feels as if someone's left a bird free to fly wherever it wants to, with no boundations or limits set but just a direction that it has been given which it may or may not follow. Bada ajeeb lag raha hai, really. Things have always been sorted for me,like always, that "always" planned good life that almost every teen wants. But NOW this is something! The plans have failed, the directions have changed, the feeling is only of being 'lost' amidst this shor in the city and nothing else. That feeling when your family says 'Ab tum bade hogaye ho' is sinking in slowly. It's a very absurd feeling, a very happily absurd feeling. In masters, I am studying  jo main humesha se padhna chahti thi, this feeling is beautiful. The phase which I guess would be familiar to those who would have once broken there cocoon to enter this nasty world which seemed to be daunting,wild and so demanding once upon a time. To those who know what 'passion' means when you have one,would be getting this post a little more than those who don't. It feels absolutely crazy right now, with so much work load, so much more to learn and to give back to the society. Par, what more can I give back to them which hasn't been given before? For now at least, mujhe nahi pta. That's the only thing that revolves in my mind during those lectures, mid breaks, roaming around at the student center,having silly moments with my new friends and where not. That time of finding a meaning for my existence has arrived along with those last college years which are going to be the best days of my life. This period that I am living I know would never come back, and that is why I just want to record it here and now, so that when 5 years down the line I am sitting at some jazzy office with my colleagues I can come back to this read it and laugh at it with a twinkle in my eye, that yes I witnessed something crazy,something amazing and something that I would never want to forget...But for now,it makes me contend to imagine that..

#newlife #newthings #somethingamazing #itwillhappen

You Are Enough!

It was this fine day when I came across such a brilliantly written adage that I couldn't resist posting on my blog. This is how it reads...

How wonderfully has the author quoted it! Its magnanimity can only be comprehended if you read between those lines. No wonder you would see that those three lines are all that I have on all of my social networking platforms :D, I want it to reach to people. On a serious note, this amazing quote re-instills in you that zeal to realize the importance of 'ME' that I was talking about earlier in my previous post. It is so effing important to know your own value. It is YOU and no one else who can reach that pinnacle of glory which you have imagined for yourself. I am not trying to say here that you are all encompassing but that you are 'enough' encompassing to break all those abstruse barriers that are stopping you from reaching your 'high'. Sit down to analyze,let me make it a bit practical,say for example where did the gravitational force emerge from? Wasn't that fruit falling from the tree everyday? It WAS. Here is where the catch lies, it's the perception I am talking about, it did not mean that Newton was all 'encompassing' by himself, but it was that acumen that he possessed to learn that no one else did. He was no different but just that he looked 'differently' at things. It was those resources and those cues from the environment to which ONLY he was receptive and no one else was. Taking me back to where I was, that he just discovered,"He was enough,he was just enough,it was unbelievable how enough he was!" And that's what I am trying to put across here that it becomes really important to pick those right kind of cues from the surroundings that would eventually make you self fulfilling.I am sure you would be familiar with what Robert Frost had to say while he quoted "Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one less traveled by,and THAT has made all the difference". It's all about YOUR choices, and when you would know how to separate you chaff from the grain,that day this monotonous looking life will seem to possess a melody of its own to which you would like to dance every day! That phase of ambiguity would eventually fade away and it will just be the 'sun' that you will see. Remember it is YOU who can make a difference,it is YOU who possesses it all, it is YOU who will make it there one day.

Just remember you don't let this happen to yourself :)
#Youareenough #Youarebloodyenough

Seek Excellence!

Being deterministic every single time isn't good but then most of the times it does make sense. It's needed to connect the dots to form that 'bigger picture'. Only if you have that picture in mind. Isn't it? I am sure you do. People say that with time things fall into place, but if you've ever analyzed carefully the most difficult aspect of letting those things fall into place is 'giving' that time. It's not that none of us have it, it's just that we aren't eager enough to give it.We all want to reach the 'acme' but without any labor. It's so boring hearing a success story, a man reach to the top with so much put into it, a woman becoming a successful entrepreneur while being a great homemaker or a teenager cracking a civil without adequate resources? But trust me when I say this that 'none', I repeat 'none' of those success stories will be able to caste there spell on you until you have one to tell or you are in making of one. Am I right or am I right? It does not seem to catch your attention because you haven't 'prioritized' things in life yet, and by this I mean no offense to the one's who haven't yet sorted out things for themselves, however I only intend to throw light on something which might have not struck you before in the same manner as it now would. I talked of the 'bigger picture' and that's what I am trying to do right now, to 'connect' those missing dots for you. Imagine not being able to deliver what you easily can? What a waste of potential,really. It gives me immense pain to see those 'talented minds' yet unleashed doing nothing good to there life just because someone said they couldn't do it. Everybody has been gifted with a special magical power,so to say, and the world is just waiting for you to caste your spell. It's just beginnings that people are afraid of and not the journey. It is absolutely difficult to begin with something new, something that requires to push your limits and something which seems to daunt your potential but then it's all about overcoming the fear of 'failure', we all will face it one 'fine' day but then the sooner the better. Because once that image of 'fantasy' breaks and reality strikes you, you will feel a little out of place, and that won't feel good. It was just another day when I met someone so wonderfully focused, who had the acumen to explore, to do something for others and not for himself, to venture out the yet undiscovered avenues of his field even though he is at a stage in life where he doesn't really 'needs' to achieve any more accolades for his brilliancy. Now that really is something,isn't it? And guess what? He was no superhuman with any special powers, but just a regular man with the capacity of discovering his credentials right in time at the right place. So it's all about staying in sink with that bigger picture and the small bits will fall in place one day!

Watch this beautiful video, that not only shakes a nerve it makes you work towards it...
#Watchon #seekexcellence #skyisthelimit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTcgXKrXHA8#

Rains and those Days...

Sitting by your window sill sipping a cup of hot coffee while reading a love story and seeing the rains pour. Ah! that is exactly how it feels,isn't it? Monsoons have arrived and they bring out the best in you. They do! Giving you a break from the vicious heat and making you ready to face those cold winters wrapped in the lights of festivities. The season of happiness, love, heart breaks, warmth, new friendships, mass bunks, hot pakoras and that adrak wali chai, rains caste their spell immediately. The comfort they carry is accompanied by the freshness that they bring along.
Ever seen a kid making paper boats while it rains heavily, or a group of teens enjoying the weather while they sit at the canteen, or a bunch of school kids getting wet in the rain and dancing while coming back home, or a mother who is about to conceive feeling happy seeing it pour heavily,or people falling in love or a newly wed sitting on the marine drive enjoying the rains?

 If you haven't taken out the time or had not had the chance to view at least some of these then you are missing out on LIFE. You are.Ummm? What? Really,don't give yourself a lame excuse of missing out on any of  these because of your night shifts, busy schedules or simply lack of time. It's not just rains that you are missing but you are missing out on a beautiful chapter of life, that aspect when people are the most warm, the most expressive and its not just nature at its best but people who are at there ever best. It's rightly said that 'Some people feel the rain,while others just get wet' and it gives a sense of insane happiness belonging to the former. These little things in life make everything seem beautiful. Those tensions of a pending loan, a demanding job, a fussy boss, an incompatible life partner, a troublesome tenant, a bad relationship, an unaccomplished career, a fight with a best friend, a failure, an insufficient salary, a final examination, a not so homely hostel would always remain. Trust me ALWAYS! And it's time when you overlook these 'oh-so-important' things of life to peep into the brighter side of your life. To view the rains pour, the nature turn beautiful and your 'blue' days turn better :) These things in life bring out not only the lighter aspect in you, but it also brings out the kid inside which has somewhere been lost under the shackles of maturity and time. Don't let that kid die inside because as I always say this mad world needs that 'grain of insanity' in you so make sure you carry it. Life is beautiful only for those who know how to look at it.Take everything with a pinch of salt and  remember that its important to weather the storm and dance in the rain.
#makesureyoudance #monsoons #rains #bestseason

Slow Down

Dreams.Ambition.Focus.Career.Goals
That is all that I have been talking about in one or the other manner till date. But suddenly it hits me, that how 'obsessed' have I turned out to be about certain things in life? It never happened to strike me this way before, like it did a while ago. In this hoard of reaching out to things so ambitiously I completely forgot the most important thing that was equally essential to be done.To SLOW DOWN! Yes. That's what I had been missing out since a while. Of course we need to be goal directed in today's era but then we need to pause and rewind too. How important is it to look back and reflect upon the journey you have traveled till now? I guess absolutely essential. It's good to carry a direction n life, to have something to work upon and to have a sense of purpose in life but like every automobile needs a 'service' to work efficiently again, every 'mobile' needs a recharge before it dies out similarly every one of us need that 'energy booster' or rather 'power saver' mode once in a blue moon. The only reason that I thought of writing upon this 'not so thought of' topic was that I had missed upon this 'break' and drifted from my sense of 'passion' in life and I dint want any one of you to do the same.It's good to learn from mistakes. So all you fellow readers here who are or have been experiencing a sense of 'focus loss' in life lately and haven't been able to get hold of the 'why' of it, probably one of the reasons could have been staying 'over focused' since long We have a tendency of  being dichotomous,don't we? There are no grey shades to life, it's either black or white. But sometimes it's good to take the middle path, to follow your heart and not your mind,to take a deep breath and to just let things go where they want to because at the end you will only get what you really wanted to. Trust me on that. It's equally essential to follow like it is to lead, because unless you follow you would not know how to lead. It's a very common scenario today, when articles are flooded about how to get rid of 'frustration', 'stress' and 'depression' in life and all of them brimming from nothing but 'life stress'. No doubt that the amount of tensions and work pressure is exceedingly high these days but then you need to have your own stress busters. It's good to go out on an odd Sunday evening with your family and not your colleagues, to go out on the lake instead the mall, to watch out on nature rather than your idiot box. That work's, it absolutely does. So make sure that you make up your bucket list soon, I've already got mine... Just be sure that you carry your own grain of insanity in this mad mad world and then life will be worth it!

 #Carrygoodnessaround #yougetwhatyousow

Something I Miss...

Some times are like water, however hard you may try and hold them they just keep drifting off your hands and some like sand,however hard you may want to let them go, they don't until you let your fists open.
And sometimes opening your fist isn't that easy. Everybody has there own story to tell and there own good and bad times. But the times that I miss, those that I know will never come back, those that I long for are the ones bygone. Some people get what they want so easy isn't it? I haven't been lucky to get what I want from life that 'easy'. Never in my life have things been an easy prey. Those who get hold of anything and everything they desire, I don't know whether it's something to be happy of or something to be afraid from? I am sure we can figure this out by the end of the post but for now every coin has two sides and the side unnoticed is often the side one should be looking at. Let's unleash the latter. I don't think getting what you want from life every single time would be interesting. Though I do agree that my bias for the ones working for there goals is more because I relate to that slot but still trying my best at neutrality I really think the former aren't very fortunate. Not because they get 'everything' but because they get everything without working towards it. I've always held a strong belief that its not really about the happy ending but the 'journey' and it's sad that they have missed the 'journey' part to there story. That journey which would have made them better, that journey which would have redefined there perspective towards there 'I', 'me' and 'mine' and perhaps that journey which would have given them the courage to fight there own battles, to stand tall in front of every storm, to have that aspect of 'humanity' still alive in them. I am proud that I belong to the era when to win a 10 rupee note from my parents I had to score a 10 on 10, proud that I belong to the time when I was given a pat on my back for wishing my elders, proud that for me 'childhood' meant tom and Jerry,outdoor games with my neighbor hood friends,proud that the definition of 'happiness' started at family and ended at friends. It gives me immense pain to see the rate of crime,corruption and for that matter disrespect growing amongst the younger slot. It's those times I miss when teachers meant lifelines and parents meant our entire world. In that hoard of moving forward, of getting everything with a click of a mouse the people today have forgotten where they have come from. It's not that change isn't required,it definitely is. Change is the law of nature and thus is inescapable but then there are some things that are constant and should always be.You can always change for the better. With the increasing count of elderly in old age homes, teachers being ridiculed by there students, molestation cases by there very own family members I don't know what are we up to? If that is the swag you want to brag about then I am sorry it's not cool. To forget your roots and carrying pride in it, is really not cool. How difficult is it to stay loyal to your family,to bestow trust upon your friends,to carry goodness around you? I still don't think it's that difficult. It's those times that I miss...
I don't know if you've carried something to look back from my post but I have a little quote that will do the summing up for me...
#justbe #reflections #lookingback
Make sure you are able to do this too....

Unexpected End| 31 Day Blogging Challenge

Day 15 of this 31 day blogging challenge will be the last day of this challenge. I know this end wasn't expected but there wasn't much choice. Blogging is something that comes to me instantaneously, something that I like to do in my free time, something that serves as a stress buster for me. I had took up this challenge in order to bring consistency to my passion so as to give a direction to my ability but instead it started restricting me in its limitations. Undoubtedly it has given me a great number of followers, regular readers but till the time 'I' don't think that 'I' am doing justice to my own talent I can not just keep writing. The quote being amongst my favorites rightly says that it is about the journey and not a happy ending :) I am glad of taking up this challenge and I promise to keep writing regularly. But unfortunately this was getting very self centric and I did not wish things to turn this way. More posts will be in store for sure but for now let's just celebrate the midway completion of the challenge because.....

#Illbeback #withsomethinginteresting #tillthensigningoff #31daybloggingchallenge #ends

What Should Be In a Handbag|Day 14

I know ideally according to the challenge the topic should have been 'what's in my handbag?' but personally I do not feel it's something that should be spoken about on a platform like this. I have stood by a simple principle always and would further, that 'I will use this platform not only for my own good but for yours too' and I don't think reading about what I carry in my handbag would suffice that. Like a normal day girl even my handbag looks somewhat like this...

Thus, we shall talk of 'what SHOULD be in a handbag?' Today, talking of the era that we belong to, the newspapers are filled with tips given to all the women out there to carry things for there safety, for there own good in there handbags, like say a bottle of pepper spray, a small first aid kit and even an emergency app in there smart phones that dial a number on there own when the women seems in danger. Shameful? Isn't it. I don't think that's spreading awareness rather I feel it's spreading fear amongst us. I take this not so very deep topic as an opportunity to talk about 'women empowerment'. It's essential that we talk of it today. The world does not want another 'Nirbhaya' does it? At least I don't. We are heading towards an era of savagery and barbarianism! To an era filled with desperate and vulgar minds. Minds that are filled with filth and nothing else. With there stench getting unbearable for us every day. Not even a single page of any newspaper is without an eve teasing case or a molestation case or a gang rape case of a minor or a girl traveling in a bus, train or a public vehicle. What a shame. Shame on those who have restricted the preamble's 'All Indian's are my brother's and sister's' pledge to just a pledge. And not very surprisingly they take pride in it? Ah! why won't they, the entire system is involved in it, because half of such cases include no one else but the involvement of a police official. It gets on my nerves not because I myself am a girl but because all of this is not at all human! Rather than educating us about who to talk to, what to wear, how to laugh, who to go out with, what time to be back at, what to carry so that you reach home safely at night, each of them should take the responsibility to educate there sons that how gruesome can things turn, how inhuman an act are they indulging in, how shameful it is to molest a girl walking on the road as tomorrow it can be there own sister, mother, wife or even daughter. It is important that they understand the sensitivity of the situation. Rather than launching these stupid programmes that are good for nothing as I just said that half of the times the crime is committed by the ones who should be controlling it they should focus on improving the psyche of individuals, of lowering there stress levels, of providing them with the basic amenities so that poverty does not become a reason for all of it. The most shocking news is to read of a girl being a victim of these cheap acts by her own relatives and even her own father. Nothing can turn worse than this. No government measure can be of any good until we decide to improve our own self's. It's aptly said that 'Charity begins at home!' and its our duty to follow the same. It's very easy to point out things and say that this can never change or that can never happen but it's difficult when it comes to application. So 'Be the change, you want to see in others!' Rather than rendering tips on what should women carry in there handbags try aiming at a better and a free tomorrow.
#introspect #womenempowerment #spreadthecultureofhumanity

Favorite Qoute|Day 13

Day 13,holds something fruitful in store. Something that I've always looked up to,something I've always believed in and something that I keep in my mind every day I wake up. I firmly believe that we need some kind of  fuel to ignite that spark within and for me this serves as that fuel.

 Yes that is my favorite quotation. "The best is yet to come!" What a wonderful thought. That's the only thing that spins in my head whenever I go through a good or a bad phase in life. Whenever I think that things can not turn worst than this for me is the time they tend to worsen. It's those times that I bring myself together with a hope that tomorrow will be a better day. That tomorrow will have something more to offer. There is only one instance that suddenly strikes me presently. Once while I was giving an interview and my interviewer asked me "Who are you? And why are you here?"That day onwards things completely changed for me. Of course I couldn't give the perfect answer that time, but yes that question made me rethink over it again and again making me realize that it was not just restricted to that 'interview' but beyond. It was meant to question my existence. It was meant to question my individuality. It was meant to question where I stand? And I did question myself, trying to figure out all those answers that I was meant to find a meaning of. I am glad I figured out another 'bit of me' while I was trying to do all of this. The question was aimed to do so and it did. I started believing in what life had to offer with an open mind. From being a very closed and an amateur teenager I managed to bring a remarkable change in myself. Feeling good about it. It not only gave me a sense of purpose in life but also helped set a passion to strive for. For those of you who have left your passion behind, who have lost that fuel to strike a spark, who do not know what they are meant to do, trust me The best is yet to come!. Just stop, pause, close your eyes and think for a moment of all that I've just said. I am sure when you open your eyes the world will seem new to you.
#Hope #Forabettertomorrow

If I Won A Lottery|Day 12

This challenge is really 'self centric' that's what I've gathered :P in these 12 days, but yes it definitely has popped a bubble somewhere inside me :). That bubble which gives me one more chance to step close to my dreams. Winning a lottery! Whoa, now who could have thought of that? Such an absurd topic to blog about, isn't it? But I am sure, reading this post you can broaden you horizons on how to turn spendthrift without giving a second thought ;)

Firstly :P that's how huge I want the lottery to be ;) if ever I get one, because there's a whole lot of a bucket list that I need to go through :D

MY BUCKET LIST

This is going to be long :P. A huge lot of things that I would prioritize on if I won a lottery would be...

1.

Owning this with my own money, at this point of time can only be possible with a lottery :P. I want to ride this beauty to the university with my RayBan on every day ;)

2.

I am crazy about wrist watches :D I so love to collect them. The first thing I would love to buy for myself will be a Rolex for sure. It will be a dream come true,these little diamonds studded in the dial take this watch to the next level, and I so want it. Like NOW! ^_^

 

3.

  Shopping is a girls best friend! And there can be no two ways about it. I desperately want a wardrobe change. There's so much new to look up to these days at the stores. From Gucci, Armani, Mk, LV, UCB, Mango, Madame, Jimmy Choo and every other brand that one can think of, are all that I need in my closset ;).

 

4.

A makeover :D from MAC. This is such a must in my bucket list.After a wardrobe change all I can seek for is Good Looks,Good Looks and Good Looks!

5.

A convertible Mini Cooper Cabriolet in my backyard! :p Yes that's what I ll do winning those millions. Ah! That day ;) A perfect long drive in my own 'cooper' somewhere down the lane. (Dream>Check!)

6.

Being an aspiring psychologist this is all I desire. A jazzy counselling clinic of my own to work at. This is exactly how comfortable and soothing I want by working ambiance to be. #dreamoffice

7.

After buying all that I have listed,becoming all that I desired, my ultimate end that I shall seek is carrying my bag pack, a Nikon DSLR and leaving for a world tour. I want to see every beautiful place this planet has to offer, roam in every lane of every country, touchdown every continent, ocean, city, mountain range. Sit at a beach drinking a pinacolada,gazing at the sunset,hearing the silence of the waves with no one to disturb.

#lottery #life'sgood #that'swhatIseek

Most Proud Moment|Day 11

Day 11,the challenge is really gearing up now. These 31 days from the very start have been and further will be challenging for sure as the day when I started till the day I've come to,this journey has been immensely demanding. Today it talks of taking pride in yourself. I'm sure that each one of you have experienced this moment of joy, though I am yet waiting for it. It isn't that I haven't been lucky enough to experience great times, there were many,but it's just that they were not the 'most' proud moments so to say. I am still hopeful :)
It's truly said that...

And I follow the same.Coming to what I should be talking of, my most 'proud moment',well frankly as I said above,it is yet to be experienced. But the one that I take immense pride in till date, has definitely been my weight loss. I know it might not be a very big thing to brag about or take pride in, but for me it has been a turning point to my life. I haven't had the sources of spending lavishly in a gym or consulting a professional dietician like many of you. This journey has been hard, it has been challenging. There were times I felt isolated, times when I felt I was in a battle with my own self, times when my body starting giving up but then my mind didn't.I never knew I had this fountain head of determination in me, never knew that a girl like me could change and change for the better. Those days when I carried a baggage of 125kgs had been pressurizing. It had been stressful,lethargic,hazy. That phase of life that I've left behind me a few years ago somehow never tends to leave me. The kind of glutton that I was,loosing an inch seemed unimaginable. I have never learned to 'give up' but this challenge made me 'give up' time and again, and 'that' feeling wasn't good. Six months that I had begun to 'exert' I didn't loose even half an inch! Depressing,that's what it was. I had almost begun to loose hopes from myself now,till the time the effort starting showing results. From that huge girl who couldn't even jog like about a 100 m in half an hour,who couldn't stop hogging till the time she was told to, I take pride in saying that she's transformed to a girl who now can easily do cardio for 2 hours and eat wisely and in a much more balanced manner. :')
I may not  have the 'perfect body' yet but loosing those 60 kgs has left a lasting impact for sure.And I am glad it did not just stop on 'loosing kilos' but I made sure I carry on the same determination,patience and passion for every single thing in life. That lesson has been the best I've experienced,leaving a better me, a me who is active, energetic, healthy, wise in making decisions for herself, who is confident,presentable and a one who does not know what 'impossible is'! It was pure bliss,that moment when I felt proud in the manner things had turned for me after giving my everything to it. It had finally paid off.
Today I can vouch for the fact that....

#justbelieveinyourself #nolookingback #youhaveitwithin

First Celeb Crush|Day 10

Perfect day for the perfect topic. 26th June when my crush has just turned 29 and here I am writing about my first celebrity crush,which is none other than him...

Eye Candy :D that is what he is, in this silly age group that I belong to, every girl wants her man to be tall, handsome, rugged and he absolutely fits the criteria for me!
I go banana's every time I see him. The day I saw the promo of  Ishaqzaade, his debut on celluloid, was the day I fell for him. He give's me that 'butterfly's flying in the stomach' kinda feeling :P. His career though has just started, yet he has made a mark for himself for sure. Called the 'ladies man' he seems to grab my attention not just because of his looks or his work on the silver screen which I absolutely love, but also because of the kind of a person he is in his real life. I can easily identify with him.We both have come down from say a 125kgs+ to a fairly good body weight ;). Another thing common that I find between him and me is the soft corner we have for our 'mother' :).  He can carry consistency,punctuality and a humble attitude with grace and that is what I like about him. Of course the stubble is like a cherry on the cake for me, but then the way he carries himself with dignity having been subjected to so much in his personal life is commendable.
He's shown his versatility from his very first movie. From his fanatic outlook in Ishaqzaade,his aggressive plus a soft double role in Aurangzeb,his humor filled outlook in Gundey to his every woman's man look in his recent 2 states :D he seemed to take my heart away.(P.s I cant wait for his next ;)
He seems to please me in every look be it...

This guy next door look or...

This smoking red hot look. I can't seem to get enough of him.

#P.S All I want to say to you today is...

Happy Birthday Arjun :D

Wishing you a very very happy birthday :* keep growing hawter ;). The stubble seems to suit you :D so please keep it on! Here's me wishing you all the love, luck and happiness in life. And I've also baked a small birthday cake for you :)

Just to say happy birthday Love <3
#crush #arjun #hot #infatuation :)

Piercings and Tattoos|Day 9

Piercings and Tattoos. Day 9 and we talk of the most 'in thing' of the 'gen X'. Well personally I like getting both of them. They seem to be the trend setters for today's generation.Teenagers specially,seem to be really crazy about both.
The craze of getting pierced has been immense amongst girls from the very beginning though now the guys seem to be catching up. They want to get inked and pierced too.Though I personally dislike the latter. No doubt piercings do suit guys like 'Ranbir Kapoor' in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani to enhance their characters but reel is definitely different from real. They sure look glamorous on celluloid but generally on a daily basis these tend to suit a very selected few. Girls on the other hand have geared up on their 'nose piercings' recently, which seems to be the 'new fashion' for them,every girl seems to wear a  nose stud or a thin silver ring. Studs in my opinion do look 'hot' and sure increase their beauty.

Something like this seems to just look perfect. Though the girls in there teens these days consider getting there 'chin', 'brow' and 'belly button' pierced as  their 'swag' but it does not seem to catch my attention.
Coming to tattoos, well getting yourself inked is the most coolest thing to do, it serves as a big turn on especially for guys. I want to get inked too :P but not as what people casually do, by getting there beloved's name inked on their wrists or necks like...

...her, so as to regret afterwards. These are a big no no for me. Little ink marks do look cute on some, however the guys like it on their toned arms I prefer it to get it on the side of my wrist. Something like...

...this,seems to instantly grab my attention. This looks cool at the same time not over the top. Just the right thing to get done (though I know how bad it hurts to get a permanent tattoo done :P yet I want one).
#Nextbigthing #Gettinginked #Areyou?

Old Picture Of Me|Day 8

Today's topic is really close to my heart. Everybody has their own story and so do I. I haven't led that normal girl next door life ever. I've striven hard to make me who I am today. The only 'old me' that I recall is...

 :P Surprisingly,yes that is what I looked like a few years back. Though this 'outlook' did not seem to 'please' many,it seemed to please me.It still does. I loved how I used to be,irrespective of the 'cat calls' I was subjected to day in and day out by people walking on the streets,my very own classmates,my distant relatives and what not.It did not seem to bother me till the time 'I' decided to change for my own good and not for others.To not show anybody but myself that I can be better than that.

Yes,presently I do look like the above,which is hard for me to believe too. I never thought I ll make through such a long but of course a fruitful journey. This change that I now notice is not only in how I may appear to 'everybody' or 'myself' but also in how people 'treat' me now. The difference is unimaginable! It seems as though I wasn't living in a world of 'polite humans' before. This feeling makes me sad,it does. However I do realize that today's gen 'X' just has three words in their dictionary which are 'Good looks,good looks and good looks',yet I feel a little differently about it.The saddest thing that anyone can do I feel is to 'judge' somebody on their 'outlook',without trying to peep in. Looks for me were never a criterion and can never be. I think we can rise above that.We definitely can.
I am sure all you beautiful bulky women out there have that confidence to face the music. If you think you're good for 'yourself' then that's the only thing that matters :)
#Justbeyourself  #Changeforyoureslf  #AndNotforothers

 

10 Favorite Foods|Day 7

Within no time a 'week' has passed since I started with this 31 Day blogging challenge.With the most interesting topic in store for the seventh day I present to you my 10 favorite food dishes.Being born and brought up in Chandigarh, a proud north Indian :), I am fortunate that I belong to not just the 'City Beautiful' but a city which is a hub for almost any cuisine that you may name.With the most jazzy eating outlets available in the city to the most diverse range of foods to pick from I choose to be 'simple' in terms of the food I grab. I am very choosy when it comes to hogging. Healthy is wise :) and I choose to be the same :P. For those of you 'Vegetarians' out there who want to have a great time binging upon some mouth watering food without consuming any much calories,this is the right post to read ;)
My 10 Favorites are...

1.Paneer

Well if you have been consistent with the previous posts that I v written,you will be very well versed with the fact that how much I love paneer :P. So yes,this will top the charts for me. I love it in any and every form however some of the dishes that I really like to dig in be it early morning or the mid night hour are paneer bhurji, kadhai paneer, paneer tikka and chilly cheese.
For all you Chandigarhians the best places to have a good serving of an economical yet yummy paneer dish that I will recommend will be Sindhi's sector 8, 9/11 sector 44, Nagpal sector 22.

2. Tokri Chaat

This is sinful P. I can have this all the time without getting over it. For all those chaat lovers out there this is a must. A very interesting preparation of the normal routine chaat. It's a combination of thick chilled dahi (with a hint of sugar), a chutney made of gur and imli and a green chutney, boiled chickpeas,boiled potatoes, sprouts, pomegranate along with crushed bhalla, papdi,and golguppas.

The only place that I recommend for a great chaat snack is Sindhi's sector 8, however Gulaab sector 35, Guru Nanak Sweets sector 44, Baba Dairy sector 21,Gopal's sector 35 and Bengali Sweets Panchkula (near Fun republic) are great options to have a mouth watering plate of chaat too.

3.Spongy Dhokla

A light yet fulfilling Gujarati delicacy that I am really fond of is a spongy khamman dhokla.  As soon as you take a bite of it, its a mix of sweet and tangy flavors that burst into your mouth. Usually prepared from gram flour it's made spongy by adding a syrup which is a combination of lemon,sugar and water. It's best served chilled. A lot of varieties have come up in the city beautiful recently and I've got my hands on almost all of them but my personal favorites remain the 'Plain' khamman dhokla and the 'Masala' khamman dhokla of Gopal's sector 35.If you haven't tried them yet then you're surely missing on something yummylicious.

4.Red Sauce Pasta

My Sunday afternoon 'brunch' that I love preparing myself by experimenting with a variety of veggies and sauces is a simple yet filling Red Sauce Pasta. I like it authentically prepared with olive oil,basil and a lot of red tomato salsa sauce. You can add as many vegetables as you want starting from olives,baby corn,sweet corn,bell peppers to broccoli,zucchini and even shredded grilled chicken (in case your a non vegetarian). The best pasta servings in Chandigarh are available in Pizza Hut and Dominoes (sector 35). Make sure you try them!

5.Khandavi

Another Gujarati delicacy (no wonder I love it :P as my mom's a Gujju) that I absolutely love is a Khandavi. I am sure, a lot of you might not even be aware if a dish like that exists or not. But once you try it you cannot resist yourself from eating at least a bowl full of it ;) I bet. Gram flour is used to prepare it and the special tadka of sesame and mustard seeds along with curry leaves acts like a cherry on the cake. The new food joint called 'Gulaab' sector 35 Chandigarh, presents an interesting preparation of these rolls with a stuffing of roasted coconut and pomegranate.

6.Poha

If you live somewhere in or around Mumbai then I am sure this needs no introduction.An all time favorite of every Aamchi Mumbai ka aam aadmi is Kanda (onion) Poha with Sev on the top. However I personally prefer it without Sev. It's a delicious evening tea snack for some and a complete breakfast for many. I grab it as a complete meal. There is no place that I will recommend you to have this :P my mom makes the best kanda poha in the world :D. It takes the next level when she adds roasted groundnuts to it which is worth relishing especially during monsoons. Humph! I see some saliva dripping on the keyboard now :P

7.Uttapam

A much known South Indian delicacy that I love is uttapam along with white coconut chutney and red tomato chutney. It is not only very light to consume but is absolutely flavorful too. Some prefer it along with sambhar however I personally love it only with the chutney's. Usually consumed as a snack in north India you will find the most amazing preparations of the same in Jallandhar Sweet's sector 23, Gopal's sector 35 and Sindhi's sector 8.So if you are looking for a tummy filling light mid time meal then uttapam is the best of the lot.

8.Pindi Chole

Believe me they taste much more yum than they appear. An all time favorite north Indian dish Pindi Channa are boiled chickpeas prepared with a lot of masalas.They are usually eaten along with a puri, bhatura, aloo tikki or a tandoori naan in north India.They mean the same to us Punjabi's like the macher bhaat means to Bengali's or an idli sambhar means to a south Indian. :) There is no as such specific place that I love for serving Pindi Chole but yes any sweet shop that you may find on every nook and corner of the city will ace in preparing Chole for sure ;) Try them all!

9.Grilled Soya Champ

This mouth watering dish amazes me every time I eat it. It's a vegetarian leg piece :D An energy booster for sure it's a rich source of protein especially for all you vegetarians out there ;) I love them grilled however people prefer them fried, it sure enhances the flavor but then the calorie count too ;) So make sure you do follow a proper gym regime the next day or take it as a cheat meal from your oh-so-boring routine as I do :)

10.Mushroom Corn Sabzi

Being a mushroom lover you cannot ask for a more delicious combination than mushroom and corn. They really go well with one another. I can not get over it when my mom prepares it in winters :). Piping hot, I like it with a dash of extra red chillies. It is prepared both in gravy or dry however I like the dry preparation with a rumali roti which is a special Indian bread :). 9/11 in sector 44 Chandigarh serves the best preparation of the same.
 Yummy. I am not too sure weather I have done justice to the post or not ;) but sure that I had a gala time writing it :D
#Foodlove #Foodie #Keepeating

3 Personality Traits I am Proud Of |Day 6

'Personality', that complex combination of a persons 'traits' or characteristics that reflect in there behavior,something which is beyond a persons outlook and more close to how a person reacts in a variety of situations with that combination of traits which he/she is subjected to.To each his own!
Well I know this definition may not 'fit' the layman perception of 'personality',however being a student of a behavioral science like Psychology myself,I could not help but put that in a simpler manner than that. :)
Coming to what I just listed above, 'to each his own', we do understand that there is something called 'individual differences' and that's what a personality is all about.That is the only aspect by which 'me' and 'you' are distinct in our very own way :). Each one of us have a number of personality traits some of which we ourselves like and some which we are embarrassed to hold,today we are going to talk of the former. Those of our 'prominent' personality traits that depict our personality clearly. The three that I proudly own are...

1.Assertiveness

An absolutely essential yet often unnoticed 'trait' which I am proud that I own is being assertive.The most easiest manner in which I can put this is 'your ability to politely say no to someone'. Yes that is what it stands for me. To be able to put your point forward without neglecting it's consequences on yourself or the other.There's a thin line between being assertive and aggressive or dominant and if you refute that then the purpose of holding it gets totally defeated.In this era of moving forward when everybody demands a 'comfy living style' this seems to be really important.Believe me that...

 And I am proud that I do not settle for anything less :)

2.Being 'Non Judgmental'

This now,is really something.I am not in the lieu of saying that I 'completely' own it,but I am really proud that I have nurtured this aspect of me.Proud that I am at least trying to fulfill it to the extent that I can.Being socialized in a country like India,which is home to such a diverse population I take courage in saying that I try and respect individual differences that I try and inculcate the same amongst those around me.We all here above any thing else are 'humans',so let's not  forget that and blindly run behind those umpteen cultures, castes, religions, creeds, sexes, genders, careers or classes that we might belong to and try and impose it on someone. THIS is sad,it really is.And I really feel strongly about it.It reminds me of what Rumi once said...

So just try and see the 'uniqueness' each of us is subjected to. Be strong enough to accept the choices others hold along with your own, because mind you individuals are meant to be different, it's just clones who are similar.

3.Determination

Well this like the former two though cannot be 'inculcated' much but is something that comes from 'within',and I am glad to have it in exceedingly well amounts in me (very humbly though). This aspect lets me reach those 'dreams' which I would not have otherwise been able to fulfill had it not been my own will power. It flows in my genes,so to say :). I've always seen a struggling yet a happy father, a sacrificing but a perfect mother, a supportive though a struggling sister and a  younger but a hardworking brother. Without a frown on any of those faces they manage to give it all they have and that makes me do the same. Two words called 'give up' are non existent in my dictionary, thankfully I have never been brought up in a fashion to just 'let' things go without working for them,to be a looser in your own eyes . I truly believe that if YOU think YOU can then YOU WILL. It is that parameter that makes it all up for the 'normal every day girl intellect' that I possess.The only thing that I've always followed and had faith in is that...

The only message that I mean to put across by the above self disclosure that I've just done is not to aim for or grab any 'attention' or sound 'boastful' but to make those few of you that might be reading this post by any chance,to realize that everybody is 'gifted',all of us knowingly or unknowingly have it in us,it's just about Identifying that spark and then spreading that light across.Though the only difference you and I might be sharing is that I have been lucky enough to unfold those :) I hope you see them in yourselves too.

#Discover #Unleashyourpotential #Itsallwithin :)