Dream board

If you really want something, the universe conspires to give it to you. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? This concept went viral after "The Alchemist" released. It's a  very simple concept of wanting something, without giving a thought to whether the idea is conceivable or logical. As I always say, simplicity is not one of the virtues people possess these days! So it's a very tough concept to wrap your head around. Coz it doesn't work on tangible things. It works on faith.

Visualization is one of the concepts that takes people one step closer to having faith. In visualization, you create a visual representation of what you want your life to be. You throw your wishes and desires to the universe in a pictorial form. You paint a picture of your life ahead. You graphically portray your desires. It can be something as simple as random photos that depict a part of life you yearn to lead to a canvas where the colors make your future come alive. You are the creator of your own vision board!

I had the good fortune of working with a friend on my dream board last week. It has all the ingredients of the life I wanna live - a collage of some beautiful pictures and some really strong quotes. While I was doing this art project, I felt alive. The most alive I've felt in a looong time. I was working on something that probably didn't make sense to a lot of people I knew - a feeling that thrills me to bits every single time! My dream board is ready. My first and my best so far!

During this exercise, I experienced something very impactful. As I looked at pictures cut out from the magazines, pictures that were meant to depict my future, I realized every picture had a story. Suddenly a classically dressed model seated on a bike, reading a map, transformed from a confusing portrayal of God knows what, to a modern day woman dictating the journey of her life; a confused looking girl in an airport with a suitcase was now a girl with dreams - uncertain about her future yet determined to live every bit of it;  the couple holding hands, looking away from the camera were no longer tired. Instead they seemed to look ahead, dream of a prosperous life together, believing in miracles. It's the same feeling I had when I visited a museum in Philadelphia. Hundreds of paintings and nothing made sense! But on reading the descriptions associated with each of them, I wondered how I could miss the message being sent out through this exemplary pictorial representation.  It's said that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. The same holds good for the pictures that now form my dream board.

It's wonderful to see how different people interpret the same things. To a large extent, you are what you interpret. Recently, an exercise was conducted, where people where given the task of finding hidden words in a box full of letters. It's surprising how some people found the words "love" and "peace" while the others found "power" and "money". A very good set of people found "hate". Now, what does this say about the game? Honestly, I don't know. But it sure as hell says quite a bit about the people playing the game. It's said that people never really change their stripes. To a large extent, I believe it. You will always be "you" from within. There would always be certain things that you really want. It could be anything, ranging from love to money. In time, probably they might be burdened by other fancy things that would make you more appealing! But in your heart, you always crave for the things that touch you in ways nothing ever could!

Coming back to the dream board, your dreams are your own. No one can interpret your life the way you can and the only interpretation that counts, is yours. Yesterday when I  shared my board with a colleague, he found less of dreams and more of amusement. My immediate reaction was WTF! As far as I am concerned, you touch a new low when you make fun of someone's dreams.Having said that, the world is full of nonsensical people who lead a life of their choice. Yes, they lead  "their" life, don't let them lead yours!

Back in the days when my dream was to travel, I was the butt of many jokes. "It's not a dream!", "What sort of a life is that!". Just typing these comments makes me nauseous! I am living my dream as I type this post. It's my personal accomplishment. The skeptics are where they were, non existent! But what does exist is me and a heart full of joy riding high on faith.

How many times in life, do we change our dreams to make us socially acceptable? Re-paint the canvas of our life with colors chosen by others, creating something that makes absolutely no sense to us. But thats the beauty of life. There can be a blank canvas presented to you at your will. The only rule is that you make an art out it. Something that as abstract as it may be, makes perfect sense to you. Challenge is not to get swallowed in others talks. Coz that's their philosophy - got mouth - will talk! Always be respectful of people's dreams especially when they don't make sense to you! Coz dreaming is a sign of life. The dead don't dream!

Warrior Princess

A lazy Saturday afternoon. Just finished my brunch. As the cries of little kids fill the air around me, I stare blankly at my laptop screen. My fingers randomly scroll up and down the deals email for today. At the background, I am processing the number of things I ordered online and keeping  track of how many I am yet to receive. Of course, by now I have stopped thinking if I actually need any of the things I order online. If it's over 50% off, I WANT IT! Make no mistake about it. I look outside the window. It's a perfect day to sit by the window and read a book, something that I've been meaning to do for the past 6 months. So that's exactly how long it has been since I learnt a new word! Now I can hear an action sequence being played in the other room. I've half the mind to walk up and turn the volume down. But my laziness creeps over and I plug in my earphone, listen to Bob Marley instead. I am mindlessly reading the news feed on my FB wall. My eyes fall on an interesting article - 7 ways of hurting your daughter's future. I am surprised at how much I start relating to the article!

As a kid, I was always told to be nice to people. Smile when they pass sly remarks on you, coz it's all in the name of fun! No one means any harm! If you as much as talk back, that's impolite. Good girls don't talk back. Good girls keep mum coz the only time words suit them is when they came out in a form of a song, in front of an indifferent crowd. "The girl can sing! She's gonna make her in-laws very happy some day!" That was the day my young mind thought being respectful is equivalent to keeping quiet. 

Few years later, these very people decided to make my appearance a matter of their concern or should I say their "life mission". I was a plump kid and puberty was not exactly what I would call a party! Clearly the zits on my face thought otherwise! Apparently I was not attractive enough to gain attention. A lot of parents inculcate the concept of beauty into their kids very early in life. And make no mistakes about it, it's not the inner beauty about people that make the rounds with them. Bestowing such values on kids only ensures this spreads like plague. And spread like plague, it did. I grew up in a society where values were the least of one's concerns.  "Anyone can be beautiful. You just need to concentrate on your strengths." Obviously no one told me that strengths don't just mean "physical attributes"! And hey, I was too young and on a quest for perfect beauty! I spent years on finding my strengths. I believed in my heart, every ugly duckling turns into a beautiful swan someday.

 Good looks always overshadowed good heart, trendy clothes always eclipsed solid character, slyness outshone honesty. With all the emotions bottled up, tears would find the comfort of a pillow.  This is when I learnt the second most important lesson on my young life - people are always right, for might is right. What's inside is worth a nickle compared to the perceived beauty!


As I grew up, I bid good byes to few of my talents, for I had no seekers of the talent and I had no will to pursue them without encouragement. There were always certain set of things that I HAD TO do and was SUPPOSED to be good at. I won't lie to you, I sucked at all of them. Why? Coz I honestly couldn't give a tiny rat's ass. I could count the number of things I've done halfheartedly but very early in my life I was told that I suck at Maths. Now this thought has been so deeply ingrained in my head that it has turned into reality! Bottom-line,  talents which will help you fetch money/ status/ good spouse are talents; the sooner you let go of the rest, the better it is.  Third lesson of my life - I CANNOT complete what I've started.


I reached a point in my life, where all these lessons raised their ugly heads every now and then. Suddenly they didn't seem to make any sense. The smile that was supposed to be a polite answer to bullies transformed into a nervous laughter, for in my heart I was done upholding the name of fun. But having been quiet for so long, I had no means or clue of regaining the wit I presumed to have! Caught in a dilemma of being "good" and being "true"! Trust me, it's one of the worse battles I've been in!

No matter how good I look, there's always gonna be that one woman who'll be my nemesis. There's always a better face/ smile/ rack/ ass etc etc. True story. But all the while, I could be that "one woman" for someone else. I don't know, I don't wanna know!

When I started writing, I felt free. I wrote for myself. It was my life in my words. My autobiography in posts -  one post after the other. I finally felt that I was good at something. Until it became a need to want people to like my work! It was not about my feelings, it was more of reader's enjoying my work. It was no longer my life, it was more about topics that people could relate to. And then I stopped writing, for I could find no suitable topics! I read this line again and I feel frigging lame. As I  look around, there are atleast a thousand living/ non living things within 10 feet radius. Living things that I could appreciate, non living things that my words could bring life into. And honestly people have little to say about it, coz well.. IT'S MY LIFE! MY WORDS! MY OPINIONS. If you don't like what I write, you are free to humor the million bloggers out there! I promise - no bad blood!

Looking back at all the things I've left incomplete, I have regrets. Too early for a 27 year old , with her entire life ahead of her. For whatever reasons and fears that caused me to leave business unfinished are the main reasons that led me to believing that I have it in me to run only half a race. In life you often tend to mistake you actually are what the incidents/ people in your life make you believe. You might as well be what they think you to be. But end of the day, there's only one judge YOU.

No one can undo their past. But one owes it to oneself to unlearn the things of past. You don't keep stock up trash in your house, then why trash your life?

There are always gonna be broken hearts and shattered dreams. But you are who you are. Your beauty doesn't lie in your flawless face or impeccable body. Your beauty lies in the way you've achieved without them!

P.S : http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2012/06/28/7-ways-youre-hurting-your-daughters-future/

Soul sister

I was beginning to feel light headed. The never-gonna-leave-my-lips smile had announced its dangerous arrival. "She hasn't smiled this way since you left", he said. No one had spelt it out till then, but one look at her and I knew it was true. The music was filling my ears and well, to a large extent my brains! I wanted to sing! I am damn good singer. You can ask anyone who HAS NOT heard me sing!!! People who have will probably tell you something that could collapse the castle I am trying really hard to build!

It was just one of those days when I had to sing (Trust me, those days are not very often! Thankfully!) She held my hand, accompanied me to the mike and stood by my side while I exercised my vocal chords in an inebriated state. She didn't know the song, but she caught up, sang with me, made me feel like a lesser idiot. I guess that's an integral part of being a soul sister. You don't let the other person make a total idiot of herself. You join in!

Vada Pav, chocolate pasteries, paani puri, veg momos - formed an integral part of our date. (not to mention the "magically" acquired bellies and "jodhpuris") The date that we looked forward to after a long day at office. Initial memories of us involve bread omlette, masala dosa, tea, Mc veggies, french fries, costa coffee and chocolate muffins, Thinking about it, food seems to be one thing that always connected us!!! (To a very large extent, it still does!!!)

Walking the Times Square with her in what I was pretty sure was the "Ice age re-visited" marked the high point of a highly eventful year. (try posing for a caricature artist in almost zero temperature with no gloves on. You'll know what end of world feels like!) My end-of-the-world definition turned a new leaf when I was faced with making a decision - save my fingers from falling or ski my ass to glory. The girl in yellow pants took the decision for me. She stayed, I did too! Falling on my bum has never felt better. (I probably will shy away from falling anywhere for this one life time!)

She has always been good at that. Setting the bar really high and "nagging" you till you reach there! Nagger, she is (brownie boy don't be scared! Nagging is always accompanied by an overflow of love, which I am quite sure you'll thrive in!!!) Confidence could as well be her second name. (Having said that, please don't buy the bucketful of shit she's selling you. It's tempting, reaaally tempting, but steer clear!) "I believe in you", she said, "but you need to believe in yourself." The never ending conversations make my ears burn yet listening to every word of a mature granny coming from a hot tiny girl!

You talk about the blizzard in US? Few days back there was a thunderstorm in India, caused by a million heart breaks. Reason - A BIG FAT PUNJABI WEDDING! My girl found her man of dreams and turned their dreams to reality. I couldn't be happier. A dazzling smile found a rightful guardian who I am pretty sure will make the smile last! (Else I kick your ass! )

Life is a bitch, they say. But when life involves long drives, parties, giggling like there's no one watching, head banging on sleazy songs.dancing on even sleazier numbers, talking all night long, throwing tantrums, binging on tea and garlic bread - it just couldn't get any better! My Ms Soul sister is now a Mrs Brownie guy and I really couldn't think of a better match made in heaven! (or well.. in a crowded MNC in my favourite city of all times!)

Again, words don't do justice to what our relation means to me. ( 2 posts dedicated to the same person on my blog goes right into my "blog hall of fame"!) There are very few experiences in life that you remember right to the excruciating details, few relations that you have no expectations coz they are above and beyond human understanding, few memories that can get you out of the dumps with their very glimpse and finally few people who bring all of this together. (Louve, It's time you grab a tissue now!)

Cheers to you new life. Let the memories begin!

2-0-1-3

2:10 am; Sitting in a wooden cabin, surrounded by snow; Far away from home but midst the warmth of a family in a far away land! There you go - Welcome 2013!!! (Ya, we all are alive, the world hasn't ended. Someone was definitely right when they said, mayans ran out of stones leading to their calendar ending in 2012!)

Saying goodbye to the most eventful year of my life takes me on a trip back to the memory lane. A journey from scorching heat in Pondicherry to the beautiful snow in Virginia - a perfect blend of various opportunities, diverse avenues, new places, crazy adventures, intriguing people! (Ya! My life ROCKS!)

The one thing I have really wanted all along, is to travel. Travel as far as there is sky over my head, travel as much as my feet can take. What started as a resolution,eventually turned into a reality. Travel I did. Walking the streets of French colony and basking in the peace of Auroville in Pondi; Fighting the scorching heat of Chennai; Winning over the not-so adamant auto drivers of Hyderabad; Exploring the downtown life of Chicago; Living my childhood dream of visiting Disney Land; Experiencing the magic of a Halloween parade at the Magic Kingdom;Understanding how hyped Statue of Liberty was; Seeing the lights do wonders to the largest Christmas tree I've ever come across at Rockefeller; Walking hand-in-hand with my soul sis on the Times Square; Jumping of a plane in Indianapolis; Almost injuring my knees, skiing in Virginia..pheww.. as you can see its been one hell of a ride!

I have always believed that one can judge the quality of life one leads by the quality of people in their life. I can proudly say, I have a supremely high quality life! Lovely parents, who are determined to master an apple product everyday just to get a glimpse of me (well, to be honest I am almost as technically illiterate as them. Just the genes I guess!!!); super awesome better half who gives me the not-so-gentle push I almost always require; a best friend who redefines focus; a soul sis who's held my hand when I thought there was no one, the only girl I look up to; a foster dad - my partner in crime, my conscience keeper; bunch of hunkie bros who make me feel like a child - happy and protected; bunch of highly tortured girl friends, who I know can live their whole life with some more torture (come on! I know you guys love it! I bring more colors to your well.. lets say already colorful life! *evil grin*). This is my solid support system. This is why I breathe the air I do, the reason for who I am, the reason for me dreaming higher. Making me believe I have all I want, but pushing me to explore newer avenues.

2012 has been the year that witnessed few of my dreams being fulfilled and created new dreams waiting to be lived. A great ending to the best year of my life, marks a new beginning to a new year, challenging it to raise the bar higher. Cheers to the high standards of life, cheers to new dreams, cheers 2013!

Turning 24...

What are the best memories of my birthday's, you ask? Well.. when I was a hundred years younger, I thrived in the glory of growing older, that probably meant I could wear heels, fashionable clothes, you know, the normal stuff! Basking in the attention, distributing chocolates, wearing colorful dresses and laughing at others kids in their uniforms!

You know how time changes things right? Well, I am awesome, but I can't escape time! Last year I crossed an important age milestone (and no it's not 30!). I clearly wasn't thrilled to bits to even thinking of an extra grey hair or god forbid, a WRINKLE! (Does anyone know when they start appearing? Please shoot me a mail with details!) Of course having "well wishers" say, "It's all down hill from now" did not boost my morale either! So as you would have guessed by now, my perceptions have changed. Heels are good, they bring your ass to limelight. But they screw every other ligament and bone in my body, so verdict - not worth it! Fashionable dresses, well I stock up my wardrobe with comfort wear which, well.. how do I put this delicately, which would definitely get me a job of a nanny! And finally chocolates.. any more in my tummy and people would definitely ask me how many babies am I carrying in me! (Yikooos!)

Obsessed as I am, I do tonnes of things to counter evil! For starters, simple steps like not giving my birthday details on FB! But I guess these things have a way of working themselves out. Miraculously I have a hundred "Happy Bday" posts. (Alright I am exaggerating. Lets say 10!) How people remember dates when you take away a most important source of memory, still remains a mystery to me!!!

Few years back, I had a rule. I don't work on birthdays. I like the whole day to myself, with family and friends who matter. Also, spending time with people who are a lot older than I am, gives me a sense of security I cant quite attempt to describe. (If you older ones are reading it, well, I love you guys!!!)

This one was different. In Chicago, far away from people who matter; Chocolate cake, pizza, "I am in Chicago and I am never going back" realization coffee mug and 3 awesome roomies stacked in my room, stirring at every sound in the hall (relax guys, there is no ghost in our apartment, it's just ME); Production issues at work, embracing me in their warmth, phone buzzing with calls missed and messages unattended, meaningless mails waiting to be replied, an impromptu birthday plan for a special person leading to a 3 hour bus delay (inclusive of 1 hour of evading frost bite!), my first snow - guess I am pretty special myself!

So here's to one of the most unconventional bday's of all time and hoping this was the last of its sort! Cheers!


P.S: For those who are interested, I didn't turn 24.. I remained 24 ;)