Reality Vs Virtuality

I have tried.. really tried to find one person who doesn't use the internet.. Today its all about Facebook and twitter and LinkedIn and pinterest (I have no clue what on earth that is though!!) and yet, I am not the best person when it comes to keeping in touch with people.Somehow, I have managed to make friends who make sure that I do. There is always a thread of emails, or tweets or something updating me about my friends.. I feel old when I say this, but I remember a time when only celebrities would telecast their weddings.. and just recently I had to watch my best friend's wedding over a link from their "Wedding webpage" (the new thing huh?!)..and it almost felt like I was right there.. felt so real..

So anyways, going by the trend I asked one of my childhood big-sister type of friend..how she was and what's happening with her, if she was on twitter or Facebook etc etc.. and she replied in the most "matter-of-fact" way. She said, " I am still old fashioned and use emails to keep in touch with people. I don't use any of the social networking sites". Hmm.. and here I was, (like an idiot) thinking, that old fashioned meant actually writing letters, with a pen.. on a paper.. When did emails become old fashioned?? (Feel like am 10 yrs older than my age right now!).

Moving on, you know how almost every other person from India either has an engineering degree or a medical one..well, I am one from the same lot... and like the entire flock, I went to an engineering school also.. got a degree also.. moved to the US (also).. got a masters (also).. What I managed to do in the process was meet some amazing people... and managed to keep few of them as friends (still).. I was part of this girl gang at my engineering school. All the girls were way more smarter, prettier and far more accomplished than I was/am..(That said, I don't see how we became friends actually!!)..Well, anywayyyyyyyy.. point being, we are still in touch.. and the last email I saw said something about all of us meeting up soon..  It got me excited..My mind was racing with re-union ideas, themes, places, dates etc.. and then I read the later part of the sentence..where she mentioned.."Let's all meet up soon.. on Google+"... WHATTTTTTT!!!! I don't know when the transition happened...Which world was/am living in?

So, feeling utterly old fashioned, I decided that the best way to make me feel younger and part of this gen.. was to talk to my parents... :D I remember, I had to write down a step-by-step "procedure" for my mom about how to use email, how to use "Shift" to capitalize letters, explain "Caps Lock" etc etc.. you know the drill right..So I called mom and in the middle of no where.. she asked me to add her on Facebook!!!!!! WHATTTTTT!!!.. Really??!!! I am NOT on facebook.. I had to deactivate my account because it had become an addiction and here I was trying to explain that to her.. and I fell short of words.. She knew a lot more about facebook.. timeline.. sharing.. privacy settings etc.. Here I was, listening to my mom explain to me, what facebook was...and why I should be on it..and yeah... add her as a friend..

End of it all, I miss those days, when people wrote hand written letters, eagerly waited for a response, the concept of "Pen Pals"..The content of the letters were outdated by the time it got to your hand, but that's a different story, for another day. I miss actually sitting down with friends.. in person.. and having a coffee and laughing over silly jokes, I miss the phone calls, and the "Ohhh..Its been sooo long.. How have you been?" lines.. The line between reality and virtual reality has become so thin and almost invisible that it freaks me out sometimes. Its convenient, yeah! but still.... I wish I had the right words to express what exactly about it that I am missing.. I guess, it's the human touch that it had, the feeling, the anticipation, the mystery to it all.. Well..What can I say..I am old fashioned ;)

Cheers :)

My supernatural power :)

Just so you know, this title is NOT as misleading as you'd think.. 

Although I am not referring to one of those creepy spirits in paranormal activity or one of those athletically built super heros in an uncomfortable body suit, I am stating a fact. I do have supernatural powers and honestly, so do you. If you manage to read through till the end, maybe I can show you why I think so. 

In the past couple of weeks, I have been fascinated by what is called the subconscious mind and how it works. I haven't understood all its ways and means yet, but the things I have read and felt so far have been truly surprising. Its actually a shame that all of us have this "subconscious mind" and yet know so little about it.

So, say as you read this, I ask you NOT to think about your left foot.. Can you do it?.. NO...DON'T think about it.. DO NOT move it.. I am pretty sure you probably twitched it a little.

So, let's get this straight in the beginning itself.. you cannot make your subconscious mind NOT do something. ( I guess, its kind of a rebel thing going on in there) 

I'll try and take small examples to justify my statements, so I leave with the thoughts as you apply it to bigger situations in your life.

There are so many things that we do on a daily basis without paying even the least bit attention to it.. One easy example is breathing.. Are you breathing now? You breathe all the time..with or without paying attention, while you are awake or asleep... How is that?  Its not something that you don't control. If you wanted, you could be taking deep breaths right now.

Have you ever had this situation, where you have a bag of chips in your hand, and you have two voices in your head...each with a different opinion..One tells you NOT to do it and one promises that this would be the last one...

How about this one.. Have you walked home, while talking on the phone with someone or lost in thought.. and reach your own home.. you weren't really paying attention to the directions, in fact your attention was on something else entirely and yet.. you din't go end up at your neighbor's place.. 

Did you ever try this one.. well, if not, try it.. Don't set your alarm for tomorrow morning but tell yourself repeatedly, that you HAVE TO.. simply HAVE TO wake up at 5am (haha.. nice try!).. What do you think will happen.. I'll give you 20 bucks if you don't actually wake up.. 

Let me ask you this..how much is 6x6=? 

I am pretty sure you remember those gruesome mathematical tables from when you were much younger.. how is that? You weren't born with this information. You trained yourself to learn it... and even worse.. remember it till this day! 

The more I read about this, the more I am starting to believe that the subconscious mind can do a lot of things that, you'd want it to do. You are simply not aware of it. I think you can train your mind exactly the way you want.. to do the very things you need.. to help you reach your goals much more effortlessly than you can imagine. I think YOU have the power to make things happen.. even the most unrealistic ones (who would have thunk that bending metal into some shape can transport people through air.. and today we have aircrafts)

I think that power of the subconscious mind is no less than that of a supernatural one..(that is, if you try and use it)

I know, this is one of those really longggg blogs.. but I can really go on and on about it.. 

Think about it!

Cheers!

Promise..

If I had to promise you something, what would it be?

I can't promise that you will always be comfortable..

Because comfort brings boredom and discomfort.

I can't promise that all your desires will be fulfilled...

Because desires, whether fulfilled or unfulfilled, bring frustration.

I can't promise that there will always be good times...

Because it is tough times that make us appreciate joy. 

I can't promise that we will be rich or famous or powerful...

Because they can all be pathways to misery.

I can't promise that we will always be together...

Because it is separation that makes togetherness so wonderful. 

Yet, if you are willing to walk with me, 

If you are willing to value love over everything else, 

I promise that this will be the most rich

and fulfilling life possible.

I promise your life will be the an eternal celebration.

I promise you, I will cherish you more than 

A king cherishes his crown, 

And I shall love you more than

A mother loves her newborn. 

If you are willing to walk into my arms, 

If you are willing to live in my heart, 

You will find the one you have waited for forever...

You will meet yourself in my arms.. 

I promise.

--Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

Just Words....

Are you kidding me??!! Its mid-august already??!!!!

I guess that's a good sign that I did not notice my time flying by :) Makes me think.. am already past half the year and yet, there is not a single thing on my "New Year Resolution list" that I have accomplished... (not that I remember what was on the list anyway) ;). 

I haven't been able to update my blog much coz.. honestly, nothing has inspired me so much that I want to write about it. 

Anyways, a recent conversation with a close friend involved a lot of gratefulness and thank yous for all the "help" I did.. and that made me wonder.. what is it exactly that am being thanked for???!!!.. You see friends going through their low phases in life.. and all you do really is tell them that, it will all be ok.. this too shall pass.. chin up.. hang in there.. and I guess everything and anything that could get them through that day. End of the day, its  just "words" that you can offer to make someone feel better or worse at any given time. Honestly, it does not quantify to anything. Its not like, if you see someone in pain, you would laugh and celebrate it..  Ofcourse you'd empathize and/or sympathize with them.. they are your friends after all.. why wouldn't anyone do the least they can...??!!

Am I abnormal to feel weird and strange to be thanked for something I don't see the big deal in? Reminds me of this old and gone band called Boyzone and this one brilliant song " Words"...

I never did realize that, just words..and only words can touch someone from the inside. Its gratifying to know that, few genuine words can make a person smile and forget that they are having a bad day.. I have heard people tell me before, that am good with my words..but I just thought that was something polite you say to people.. I mean, common!!! would you actually go and tell someone.. you are horrible with your words.. you don't speak well or whatever...

Well, my point being.. Its amazing how much few words can do to make a day better or worse.. so look around you and try being randomly nice to someone.. If you know you have the power to make someone's day better.. maybe its time you put it to good use.... 

My guess: A lot of people could use it :)

Cheers.. :) 

P.S : Let me know if you brought a smile to someone's face :)

The Experience called Lexus :)

It was last year when I finally owned my very own car.. all by myself.. no daddy dear or mommy dear to pour out their saving on me.. and no rich boyfriend or husband to pamper/spoil me.. ALL BY MYSELF... It was an antique '94 Geo Prizm. It was my first baby.. and the feeling was so over-whelming. If you look at it from a normal perspective, it was neither a good buy nor a good car.. but it was MINE.. and honestly, it made me feel more in control of my life than anything ever has :) 

So, if that was my passion for my car.. one can only imagine how heartbroken I was when it died on me.. in the middle of peak traffic on a highway.. scary.. yea... heartbroken.. HELL YEA!.. So, there started my car hunt for a more reliable car. Although it might sound funny to the ear.. car hunting was NOT fun at all.. NO.. not because car dealers are a pain in the ass or because all the banks were after the money I din't have.. but just because I carried around this guilt that I was leaving my baby Geo behind :(

After all futile attempts to fall in love again.. I stepped into this structure called The Lexus... and man... what an experience it was.. Once inside the car and on the road.. its like.. you are in your own bubble.. your own world.. sitting on the most comfortable leather couch, cruising through the clouds and watching the world trying to catch up with you.. Its not beautiful.. It is MAGNIFICENT  :)

People turning their heads to give me and my car a second look is not really new to me.. Geo made a lot of heads turn.. mostly with faces that had an expression of shock that such a car was on the road.. faces with expressions of anger and frustration because Geo wouldn't go any faster so they could pass by.. and now.. I see the same heads turn again.. with faces in Awe :) :)

The Lexus demands respect.. and honestly it deserves every bit of it.. and am glad everyone on the road are generous with it ;)

All in all... a Lexus entered my life and turned it around.. My first baby is always going to be my first love.. but  my lexus.. well.. that's the one am getting married to ;)

Lexus is no car I say.. it's an experience.. an experience worth having :).. and here's a sneak peak :D

Cheers!

The Closing Act of 2010

Its here again.. the festive spirit, the Christmas carols, the New year resolutions lists, the madness and the anticipation for the days to come.. 

It hit me last night that this year is almost done with. I went down memory lane to think about all the things that this year got to the plate.. made me frown, teary eyed, and finally smile. I totally understand that one should look at the brighter side of life, but common.. how can you possibly appreciate the better if you don't acknowledge the worse...

Personally, this year totallyyyy started on the wrong foot for me.. I was jobless, insecure, heart broken, frustrated and unsure about how things were going to pan out.. I remember that the year had just started off and I couldn't wait for it to be over..I was pushed to my threshold limit of frustration but I did manage to keep a cheerful front. It was getting harder to look at myself and reassure myself that it will all be ok.. Things will work out.. This too shall pass.. picture abhi baaki hai.. and all those other motivational things.. 

I am not sure exactly when things began to change and get better.. but I know it wasn't overnight. Now, I am at the last leg of the year..and surprisingly I am not complaining. Things did work out, my heart did heal (more or less), I did get a job, my visa got approved and to make things better, it wasn't just for me.....My friends also had good things falling in place. I have no guilt in being happy.. coz I am happy not just for myself. 

It's the closing act of 2010 that has been particularly interesting and worthwhile. It started off will small things and finally, every person I love deeply had good news to share. Be it about long awaited jobs, expecting mothers, new love, weddings, or just a simple family re-union..the smiles spread.. and they spread far and wide :)

To take all this happiness to another level, I get to spend my Christmas and New Years(hopefully) with people I care about most deeply. I get to laugh, smile and enjoy with those who have seen me at my worst and have taken my hand to lead me here. 

Here's to hoping everyone gets to their happy place..

Thank you 2010.. your closing act has been spectacular and has me looking forward to 2011. 

Signing off for the year....Cheers :)

Post Bootcamp

First of, I really did not think anyone was reading all my jabber.. and yesterday someone actually asked me why I haven't updated my blog :)..So.. here it is...

I did it.. I made it to all my bootcamp classes and walked out slightly leaner and lot wiser. Honestly, the major thing that bootcamp did for me is that it gave me the confidence that even I can do it. Its possible.. I can make it happen and that's what am going to stick to. For a person as lazy as myself, imagining working out as part of my routine was hilarious. But then, all it takes is that one FIRST step towards what you want.. and things begin to happen like magic. 

With the help of a very undeterred friend, I managed to find a diet that works for me..and with the help of my lovely credit card I managed to find a gym that will help me burn my love handles :). The one thing I managed to do all by myself was to "accept" the fact that I am wayyy over my ideal weight and that it was unacceptable. 

NO, its not ok to look double my age..NO, its not ok to weight as much as I want when I am beautiful from within.. and NO, its not ok to believe that its too late to do anything about it. I can not allow my busy schedule, or lack of time or anything else for that matter to be an excuse for not taking my first step. Like my friend said.. Trying to do it and doing it are two different things...and I am determined to do it!

I made myself a milestone.. to weigh 7-8lbs lighter in 11 days.. and YES its possible. I have taken it upon myself  to control my urge to indulge and move my ass to the gym despite the cold weather. Starting today, I am going to dedicate 2hrs of my time at the gym, either mornings, evenings or both (if I have to).. and I am hell bent upon looking like a 1000 bucks (to start with..)  :)

This post feels more like a pledge to me than anything else... lol..

Either ways.. my calender is marked for December 23rd and I am going to kill, if I have to keep up the promise I made to myself... and yeah now that am posting it on a public blog.. am pretty sure.. I am going to do everything to save my face as well ;)

Here's to a million possibilities..

Cheers :)