MERRY CHRISTMAS - be in abundance!!

It's the 25th of December so of course the obligatory "Merry Christmas" wishes to all of you reading this blog! As I sit and type I wonder what it REALLY takes to make a Christmas merry.. actually we are celebrating the birth of Jesus who is widely worshipped as a saviour! Growing up in the United States and fortunately being born to liberal parents.. plus we rented and LIVED in a house that belonged to the local church.. I've even attended Sunday School classes for the longest time and loved them! Just for the record.. I've also attended Bal Vihar classes run by the Chinmaya Mission and loved those as well.. and this post definitely ISN'T about religion.. Religion and Politics are two topics that the wisdom (?!) of age has taught me NEVER to discuss with friends family or anyone I really care about! 

The word Christmas conjures up vivid images of beautifully decorated Christmas trees.. brightly wrapped presents.. striped candy canes.. sparkling baubles.. turkey dinners.. family meals and most of all.. to me.. abundance! Most of us find ourselves being more caring compassionate and generous around this time of the year.. with our time energy patience and emotions! We are definitely at our kindest and most receptive to whatever the Universe has to offer us during these days.. but the question I'm nudging you with is.. Are we truly grateful? Do we say grace before meals? Do we recognize and acknowledge our numerous blessings? Do we truly have the Christmas spirit?

Christmas is an exceptionally significant day in my life because my maternal grandmother (Nani) was born on this day! Although I was very young when she passed away I know from family stories how she was this extremely gentle loving and caring human being who came from total abundance (even though she hoarded like a magpie out of the sense of "why waste money on a new one.. we might need it someday!) 

Christmas is a "larger than life" experience so let's be MORE today onwards.. MORE aware.. MORE  patient.. MORE tolerant.. MORE open and accepting.. MORE generous.. and most of all.. come from MORE abundance at every level.. physical mental social emotional intellectual and spiritual.. Let's read.. process.. understand.. internalize and practice more wisdom from the great masters.. through whatever paths we choose to walk.. Abundance.. coupled with the joy of giving.. and heartfelt gratitude are what generate the trust Christmas spirit of abundance!

And like they say.. give.. Give...GIVE till it hurts.. and beyond that as well.. so as a Christmas present (to the world.. not to me) please accept my little reminder to be in abundance.. and strive to be MORE at every level.. The only way to do this is of course to have our feet firmly planted on our spiritual path.. whether it is through yoga meditation reading worship or anything else.. all these paths only take us towards inner peace and understanding! 

Let's all overflow with the spirit of abundance so much that it washes away and wipes out all the negativity unhappiness anger and even Covid 19 AND Omicron from our beautiful world! 

Wishing you all a truly MERRY Christmas today!!

COLON THERAPY.. Fear is contagious!!

So here I am.. on my annual three week detox at Pema Wellness in Visakhapatnam.. It's a beautiful place.. serene.. green.. calm.. and has a pond of beautiful koi fish in the lobby! It is an experience I really look forward to.. twenty one days filled with a variety of massages.. scrumptious healthy food.. lots of walking.. interesting talks by the doctors.. and all kinds of therapies for various conditions!

Among these is the BIG C.. Colon therapy or colon cleansing as it is commonly known! Ever since I first came here everyone who talked about Colon therapy made a HUGE thing out of it.. said it was super stressful etc.. Me being me.. I had taken all my prescribed therapies as scheduled and was absolutely fine.. The evening before my first scheduled Colon therapy while I was at dinner.. everyone said things like "Ohmigod! You have Colon therapy?! You poor thing.. it's scary.. you will feel very weak.. your BP will go haywire.. you will feel nauseous.. exhausted.. etcetera.."

It must be confessed that I entered the Colon therapy room with some trepidation.. but.. as it turned out.. nothing could have been smoother! The healer (therapist) who administered it was kindness itself.. explained the procedure step by step and was very reassuring.. she even showed me a short video that illustrated exactly what was going to happen.. Basically, the machine flushes your digestive tract with 32 litres of water (gradually of course) and all your undigested food matter gas and other toxins are flushed out of your body! Yes I DID feel a little tired once it was over but was euphoric at the sheer lightness I felt as well.. most people looked at me as if I was crazy when I said I had actually ENJOYED the therapy!

Perhaps some people are a little more brave than others.. a little more receptive to trying new experiences.. a little less hung up on their sense of dignity (you sacrifice shame when you undergo this therapy for sure!!) But it gets a lot of bad press that it doesn't deserve! If you ask me.. taking an enema is way more stressful and anxiety inducing! Given a choice I opt for the Colon therapy any day - it takes just 40 minutes.. is completely painless.. and who in their right mind would want to walk around and live with multiple toxins in their body when there is such a simple option to get rid of all that and be completely cleansed and fresh?! The gut is the second brain - who wants to be knowingly brain damaged?!

Also.. I realize that a number of psychosomatic disorders start from the gut.. and that's probably because we all carry so much negativity within ourselves.. anger frustration jealousy impatience.. and it festers inside while we are trying to be polite normal (and civilized).. We may have been holding onto and harboring these feelings for a long time.. and finally they manifest in the form of mental and physical illness.. and that's why it's super important to "let go" of things and people who generate stress.. for OUR own wellbeing! Colon therapy helps us indirectly to do that.. negativity gets flushed out along with the waste..

On a larger scale, it strikes me that when we go into a new experience or a new situation.. we should just have faith that it will be good for us and embrace the novelty value and try to enjoy it! Sometimes.. no.. often the unknown is challenging.. fun.. exciting.. and HAS to be experienced with an open mind.. We are all unique with our own minds and intelligence.. WHY do we decide how we are going to react to something.. anything.. based on someone ELSE'S experience? Have seen so much stress and tension on people's faces here before going in for Colon therapy and felt that I absolutely MUST share my take on this whole thing!

Applying this to life in general on a broader and larger scale.. the way to live life is to come from passion.. compassion.. zest.. enthusiasm.. but never ever from fear! Be brave.. be strong.. be adventurous.. be a risk taker.. be impulsive.. be whatever you want.. but please don't be fearful! Do your research.. read up and be informed.. ask an expert if you must.. but (with apologies to Nike).. JUST DO IT!! 

GIVING THANKS ON THANKSGIVING!

 Thanksgiving is a day to recognize  the sacrifices and blessings of the past year.. and it is celebrated with family friends good food bonhomie and good cheer! Most people in India don't celebrate Thanksgiving on a particular day.. but everyone who says grace before a meal.. offers the cooked food at the altar before consuming the meal.. or even just says a silent "thank you" to the farmers who grew it.. the person who prepared it.. the person paying for it.. or just a simple acknowledgement to the Almighty is celebrating Thanksgiving!

This year Thanksgiving is especially important to me simply because it falls on the fateful date of 26/11.. Most of you know that I was sitting INSIDE Cafe Leopold when the terrorists opened fire and ran for my life! God was kind and I was luckier than many others who fell victim to the barrage of enemy bullets.. an absolutely tragic night and couple of days that jolted us all bigtime! It's been 13 years now and I still like to stay indoors and safe at home on this particular evening.. unless I am travelling..

There have been so many sacrifices and casualties in the past year.. thanks to Covid.. work from home.. companies paring down on staff.. businesses that went under.. families losing their breadwinners.. doctors losing patients.. and yet.. I take my hat off and salute the medical frontline workers who went above and way beyond the call of duty to cure patients.. emergency helpline counselors who saved lives..  garbage and sanitation personnel who did their jobs well to keep us safe and healthy.. people who gave food.. clothes.. money.. time.. a listening ear.. a caring heart.. and did whatever they could to ease the burden of the multitudes who were suffering.. God bless them all.. for they are the blessings!

Today.. I am grateful for so much.. a healthy body that functions well and lets me do whatever I need to.. friends who have become family.. a comfortable home (two actually).. wise people who guide me well.. sincere and caring staff.. a reasonably kind heart and enough to be able to reach out to people in need and help them when required! I am thankful for this beautiful "second life" that has been bestowed upon me.. am thankful to be alive.. and trying to be the best version of me that I possibly can!

A number of people have told me and asked me at the same time (with the best intentions in the world) "Why do you give so much? Why do you go out of the way and do so much? Why do you always want to make the other person happy etc.. etc..?" Today I finally have the answer to those kind of questions.. a plain and honest from the heart answer.. because I CAN.. and that's all there is to it.. Giving caring and doing are what make me happiest.. today and always!!

The way I see it.. life isn't easy for anyone.. and somewhere.. we are all struggling.. and if we are ever in the happy position of being able to give something - be it a smile.. money.. a hug.. moral support.. food or anything else.. let's just do it! The opportunity may not come our way anytime soon again! And if we are in the even happier position of being able to DO something for others - be it family friends colleagues or those less fortunate.. let's just DO it! A warm fuzzy feeling inside is guaranteed for sure! 

Most importantly.. let's practice active gratitude towards the Almighty.. the Universe.. our friends families and everyone we meet.. and make every single day special.. and make every single day our very own version of Thanksgiving!!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to each and every one of you for reading my blog.. although I may not ever tell you in so many words.. but.. it means the world to me!!

WHEN YOU FALL DOWN.. AND YOU'RE HURTING.. WHEN YOU'RE FEELING SAD..

The iconic movie "The Sound of Music" with the charming song "These are a few of my favourite things" is pretty much on everyone's "most liked songs" list.. right? It's definitely been on mine too.. ever since I was a little girl who watched the movie enraptured and was immediately whisked away (metaphorically speaking of course) to Salzburg with the Von Trapp family children! Listening to this song a little while ago, the realization dawned on me that this song contains a hidden mantra for happiness.. "I simply remember my favourite things.. and then I don't feel.. so sad".. How wonderful are the magical musicians and lyricists that allow us to heal ourselves with their words and music.. if only we take the time to LISTEN.. properly..

Things have been a little topsy-turvy in my life lately.. I had a bad fall on Dussehra and have been in considerable pain ever since! It looked like a badly scraped knee and some impact injury on the lip (since I fell flat on my face) which was ok but as the days passed, my hand started hurting and so did my ribs and all this "shadow pain" started! Cherry on the cake (?!) was that I got some redness indicating an infection on the injured leg.. just below the knee.. so am taking an antibiotic for ten days.. definitely NOT fun! Good thing is.. today's the last day of the antibiotic.. Yippeee!!

More than a few people have been telling me "What's wrong with you? You're getting angry so quickly and completely out of sorts.. this is so not like you.. What's going on?" Found myself also feeling listless.. worthless.. and as far away from my usual sunny (?) self as it's possible to be! Clear screaming in my face signal that it was time for some serious introspection.. so I went into a virtual "vanvaas" and sorted out some of the clutter in my head.. went through a mini meltdown with my bestie Parul (who's always my voice of reason and good sense)! She heard me out.. sat me down and gave me some incredible advice.. and now I am well on the way to becoming my usual self very soon!

When realization dawned on me, it was made up of a number of factors.. this meltdown and fall apart wasn't triggered by one single incident.. but a culmination of a number of small things! As my friend Porus laughingly and frequently admonishes me, I am an "empath" to a high level and THAT is a major reason..  if and when people I care deeply about are going through stress.. and share it with me.. I tend to internalize it (almost subconsciously).. it builds up over a length of time.. and then I start feeling overwhelmed! Detach.. look at it objectively.. don't get emotionally involved.. don't take ownership of someone else's problem, etc..etc.. Yes.. I know all that is great advice.. BUT.. actually putting it into practice.. much easier said than done! 

Friendship is the most important relationship in the world to me.. and I feel completely blessed that there are friends who play the different roles of friend philosopher guide critic mentor etc.. so willingly and happily for me! It is such a comfortable and comforting feeling to have people with whom we can be our "best" and "worst" selves knowing that they will love us no matter what and will NOT judge us! The gifts of acceptance understanding sympathy empathy support faith confidence loyalty affection and love are infinitely precious and lifetime gifts that cannot be bought with all the wealth in the world!

It's been over two weeks since the fall and last night was the FIRST time that I slept well and uninterrupted thanks to a strong painkiller.. God bless whoever invented Myospaz Forte! A good night's sleep is actually miraculous - I woke up feeling rested happy at peace positive and full of energy.. after 15 nights of tossing turning restlessness and pain.. Resuming my walking in the house from today as well.. my knee just wouldn't allow it until today! These past two weeks have given me a little glimpse of how it can to be OLD with constant aches and pains.. and am very clear I want to avoid that as far as possible! Walking the straight and narrow and trying to be as good as possible!

With Diwali almost upon us, this is just my way of reaching out and letting all you wonderful people know I'm okay.. happy and pretty much back to myself! Thank you all for the wisdom and clarity I get from you.. the faith and trust you have in me.. the sunshine and smiles you bring to my life.. the laughter and positivity you bring to my days..  .. the love you give to my blog.. and.. to ME! Thank you all for being very important and special in my life.. and making it special and exceptionally meaningful with your presence! On the rare occasions that I am sad.. I simply have to think of ANY.. or ALL of you.. and there's instantly a sense of pure joy and upliftment.. and this is the absolute TRUTH.. Love you all so much!!

Wishing you the radiance of smiles.. happy times.. joyous meetings.. get-togethers with friends and family.. funny stories and laughter.. and most of all.. above all else..

Wishing you abiding peace and contentment.. and light and love at Diwali (and always)!!

LIFE - is a jigsaw puzzle so don't allow for missing pieces!

All of us have days when we wake up.. think about the day ahead.. and want to just burrow into the bedclothes and go right back to sleep.. right? Days when we feel overwhelmed.. anxious and maybe just plain and simple stressed about.. days where the fate of something or someone important lie in the balance.. days when we are worried or hassled..

These are invaluable moments because they FORCE us to stop in our tracks.. both - mental and emotional.. and take stock of where we are versus where we want to be.. and need to be.. We get so caught up in completing our "to do" lists.. and getting through the mundane seemingly essential daily tasks that we often stop listening to the little voice at the back of our heads that's gently whispering to us to take it easy.. slow down.. and be kind to ourselves! 

That gentle whisper gets ignored.. the feelings keep simmering.. we keep suppressing them.. the whisper gains momentum and before we know it.. it's escalated into a full-blown cry for mercy and help.. AND.. we feel like everything's crashing down around us! Time to pause.. reset.. analyze and understand what's going on.. and recalibrate our lives!

A great analogy (according to me) is saying that life is like a jigsaw puzzle.. our lives are made up of friends family work fun health happiness hobbies travel etc.. and jigsaw puzzles are made up of corner pieces.. and pieces of various colours.. each piece independent and having it's own "place" and each one essential to "completing" the picture at the end! 

There are a number of what are popularly referred to as four-letter words and some of them aren't always the most pleasant ones.. but there is another whole list of much more important four-letter words which we need to be aware of and they are : grow.. able.. rest.. flow.. calm.. work.. fill.. with.. home.. and most of all.. LOVE!

Being career-minded and driven, a number of us tend to give too much of ourselves to work and the attendant stresses.. and who are the casualties of this? Friends.. family.. and most of all - ourselves! When our life boat gets rocky, we panic and don't know how to cope and think that the worst is going to happen! The dangerous part is when we start doubting ourselves and our self-worth plummets! 

Be aware.. identify your strengths and good qualities.. know how much "you bring to the table" at work and at home.. Make sure you spend time with your parents (if you're lucky enough to still have them).. hang out with your siblings and cousins.. share your desires aspirations and concerns with your spouse.. carve out "quality time" (mobile free) with your children and discuss what's going on in your head and heart with your friends.. 

We have unique relationships with everyone in our lives and we are all special to each other.. simply because NO ONE ELSE can mean what you mean to the other person and vice versa! ALL these people are vital parts of the puzzle and HOME is where you go at the end of the day to recharge, rejuvenate and get ready to face the world again tomorrow! 

Keep your "jigsaw puzzle" carefully in your head and heart.. cherish it.. and discover the pure joy that living an emotionally balanced life can bring.. it's one of the greatest blessings that we are empowered to create for ourselves.. and SO achievable! 

Stay aware.. blessed.. thinking.. feeling.. and connected!

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY TO SPECIAL PEOPLE!!

September 5th is and will always be one of the most special days in the year for me.. it is Teacher's Day and a reason to celebrate! I have written in an earlier blog about how I actually decided to become a teacher.. but when I sit and reflect, it is a great joy to have realized that nothing else could possibly have brought me this much pleasure! It's been 25 years of teaching and miraculous to look forward to going to work every single day! To be honest, teaching pre-school has to me.. always felt almost like getting paid to go.. be surrounded by positive energy.. and have a good time! Today am sharing some stories about the people who have inspired me and helped me become the teacher and person I am today.. 

This profession has brought some truly wonderful people into my life as well.. my Heads of Department and professors Jana Mahadevan.. Nalini Chugani and Nandita Jhaveri.. They saw my potential.. extracted as much as they could and constantly inspired me to always do more and give my best! Jana is even today a very dear friend and close to a mother figure.. Nalini is a quiet presence but all our interactions (even on WhatsApp) are both thoughtful and meaningful.. Nandita is highly creative and has a terrific sense of gentle humour so we share some great conversations as well.. and she often has a unique perspective on things which appeals to me tremendously! We are good friends and very much in touch even after all these years.. I know you are all reading this so please accept a heartfelt thank you for making my journey so memorable! 

After just two years of teaching, I was selected to conduct two workshops at a seminar on "Professionalism in Education" where I met the quietly brilliant Roshan Billimoria! She came to borrow a stapler from me.. we talked.. the seminar strangely enough, inspired me to write a poem.. that led to an invitation to lunch at her beautiful home.. and now we are friends forever! Roshan and I have a very strong karmic connection and serendipitiously similar things happen in both our lives around the same time.. give or take a week or two! She is quiet.. I am the chatterbox.. but we both draw positive energy and happiness from each other.. and she numbers among my closest friends! 

During the course I was with Ami Mody (now Thakker) who is hands down, the sweetest and gentlest person I know.. and the most patient teacher for sure! She has always been someone who believed in me and my abilities more than I myself ever did! A truly lovely friend who always participates in my wild enthusiasms (which have fortunately always been for the good) and done so whole-heartedly! Equally blessed to have met Alefia Zoomkawala who came to train at the Saifee nursery and became a willing partner in crime with Ami and me at Salaam Baalak Trust where we did English conversation with street children! Alefia also soft and gentle - and diametrically opposite to me personality-wise this trio proved that opposites attract and can work wonderfully together! Thank you both for also agreeing to be a part of the Palghar school project - hope it starts up soon! 

After one year of teaching with Sangeeta Patel (another darling who's a close friend) I was invited to teach at the Saifee nursery at Malabar Hill. I was lucky in my first year of teaching and supervising to meet Rohaina Kher who is a born teacher! She is very artistic, super creative and a perfectionist - and a reminder that "God is in the details".. have yet to meet a teacher who brings that much finesse to her work! Moving to Saifee nursery, I made three more lifelong friends - Anu Thyagarajan.. Sadhana Khagram.. and Renu Haksar! NOBODY in the world can tell a story like Anu can.. and even though she's in Singapore now, we talk pretty much every other day and can read each other's minds and take the words out of each other's mouths even today! She also happens to be my best friend! Sadhana is super organized and very patient with children (because she's basically very kindhearted) and Renu.. well.. Renu's a whole different story! Her son Rajat was in my class and she used to come to help voluntarily.. Rajat settled in school and would only come to me.. and I found in Renu a kindred spirit! She and I have had the most fun times conducting teacher workshops together too! We are both similar in being finicky.. perfectionists.. and OCD to the point where we were referred to as "Choi & Moi"! Have to mention that we share a super wacky sense of humour as well and can talk non-stop nonsense endlessly! Renu and I are very close.. each other's support system.. friends forever too and the day isn't complete for either of us until that last call at night takes place! 

There have been so many teachers with whom I have worked or even just become friends with including Vaishali Mehta (we had a super time at Bombay International School) who is creative to the last degree.. Kavita Khanna who is the most sincere and committed teacher I know.. Mana Mehta who is the best French teacher ever.. Manisha Desai who is a motherly and loving teacher.. Praneeta Varadarajan.. the children in her class never want to move on.. and there are so many more.. I could go on and on.. 

At a wider level, we learn from every person we meet and so are surrounded by teachers - in our homes and families.. from our friends in the workplace building and office.. and most of all.. our elders AND our children! 

Teaching means touching and transforming lives.. and to everyone mentioned above and a whole lot of others whose names don't appear but who still matter.. and are IMPORTANT.. AND SPECIAL.. Thank you for touching my life.. am truly blessed and grateful to know you all.. 

Here is my wish for you all on this most special day of 5th September.. 

To become a teacher is a joy and to be a teacher is a privilege! You get to be an important part of a child's formative years and a strong influence.. for better or worse! It's a huge responsibility and commitment that only a few genuine teachers can fulfil completely.. It means putting and keeping someone else's hopes dreams and desires ahead of your own on a constant basis.. It means being patient even when you don't feel like you can.. It means hard work and being genuine.. It means a listening ear and a helping hand.. It means "kissing it better" and the magic of a hug.. It means celebrating every little success.. It means being a subtle support who just enables things to (seemingly) happen "on their own".. It means having a "virtual" doctorate in crisis management.. and most of all.. it means.. being a magician-superpower-omnipresent-demigod-entertainer-and mini-Einstein all at the same time! It means you have been incredibly lucky to be given the opportunity to create and witness the "magic of learning" in front of your eyes!! 

God bless you for being a truly inspiring motivating and exceptional teacher!! Happy Teacher's Day!!

AM BECOMING ALLERGIC - AND SPREADING IT!!

"Some people can't function without negativity.. because bringing others down makes them feel better" - sad but true.. 

We all know people who not only live on negativity but thrive on it! Being on my own spiritual path of learning and self-growth.. it truly amazes me   as to how much hidden and open negativity we are surrounded by! What is even more unbelievable is how resilient the human spirit is.. we either accept it.. live with it.. ignore it.. or.. if we have taken the time and trouble to go within ourselves.. we decide to put it in the past and.. rise ABOVE it!

Easier said than done right? Absolutely.. but.. essential if you have to keep yourself happy positive and at peace with yourself and the world around you! If we allow the everyday stresses like road rage.. inefficient vendors.. unpunctual people.. uncooperative team members.. lazy staff or unpleasant relatives to occupy space in our heads (and sometimes our hearts) for more than a minute or two.. we are the sufferers! Why SHOULD we allow this? Is anything or anyone SO more important that we should ourselves to be adversely affected by their words or actions? Negative people will say or imply something negative and then go away after planting that seed in your mind.. are you going to water it and nurture it to fruition or just see it for what it is.. "pull it out".. and throw it away?

It has taken a number of experiences and great deal of pain for this realization to have taken place.. and it hasn't come easily either.. I have STAYED in friendships that were toxic and unhealthy simply because my "need to be needed" overcame my need to be happy! Even if the other person never called.. wasn't particularly kind or considerate.. it was so scary for me to think of being "without" them.. I would still "put up and shut up"! The "need to feel needed" was so overpowering that it kept me in an extremely toxic marriage until things got physically verbally and emotionally abusive and I FINALLY woke up to the realization that staying in the relationship could and would destroy me completely! Took a great deal of courage to decide to "walk out" but was supremely empowering when it finally ended! 

Ending friendships and relationships is a sad thing.. because we are human and by default we like to believe in the concept of "happily ever after"! I'm not saying be intolerant.. am sharing my experiences to try and empower people who are suffering to find the courage to take control of their situation and change it.. People are unreasonable.. strange.. difficult.. temperamental.. and all that is fine.. accept them for who they are without trying to change them.. BUT if they are unkind mean hurtful and negative.. RUN.. don't walk away! Trust and believe that you WILL find other friends to fill the gaps and that you deserve to and you WILL be happy without them! Don't be with people who are judgemental.. they are "energy vampires" and will suck you dry and move on to their next "victim" - and how do you know when this is happening and how will you stop it?

LOVE yourself and believe in yourself first of all - tell yourself that you are a clean pure and happy soul who believes in the essential goodness of human nature.. that you are worthy of respect and love.. that you are bright capable and strong.. The pandemic hasn't gone anywhere.. new waves are constantly looming threateningly on the horizon.. young fit and healthy people are dying all of a sudden.. and there is stress all around.. Choose to live in a self-created oasis of  happiness positivity and joy.. your life will transform into a continuing beautiful  celebration!

Just a few words of wisdom and caution to be heeded..

Cut negative people out of your life.. the people you spend time with influence your attitude and thoughts more than you think..

Negative people need drama like it is oxygen.. stay positive.. and take their breath away!

Don't chase people. Do your own thing and work hard. The right people.. the ones who really belong in your life.. will come.. and stay..

"You can't calm the storm.. so stop trying.. 

What you can do is calm yourself.. 

The storm will pass"

And finally.. just remember.. be allergic to negativity!! Be contagious so the people around you become that way as well!! Keep spreading the positivity and sunshine!!