C: Celebrate something about life every day; if it is a journey to be experienced from dawn to dusk, why not enjoy, appreciate, have fun and rejoice, all within a day’s span

Declaration: To begin with, I must declare that the post is not sponsored by any event management company or party supplier. It is just an idea as I ponder from one alphabet to the next.

   We all have our reasons to celebrate. We are also blessed by numerous occasions of celebration. Birthdays, festivals, graduation, events, marriage, anniversaries- you don’t really need any justification, while you plan celebrations on such special days. Then why do I need a post on celebration? Besides these special days, why should one seek opportunities to celebrate? And if celebrations are for certain reasons, how can you create them on a daily basis?

   When I say celebration, I do not intend to go the old school way. Parties and fiesta is not the aim of this quote. Through this title that introduces my next letter ‘C’ in series, I want to talk about celebrating some unique factor in our lives every day. It may be the sight of sunrise from your window or aroma of your morning beverage, it may be the presence of your family members or the colleagues you work with. It may be the humble television that greets you or your desk at work with its busy aura - there are so many things worth celebrating.

   If we seek one unique factor each day and celebrate its presence; we will realize that life is so dynamic and wonderful. We often complain of boredom and monotonous routine, but that sense of boredom is solely created by us. If we seek happiness and joy even in minutest things around, we will be able to celebrate the bigger picture called life. Having said that, it does not mean we can drift away from our responsibilities and ignore them under the pretext of seeking joy.

  I do not intend to invite celebration to replace the serious business called work. We all are supposed to work hard and stay true to our duties. But if we urge our mind to seek one unique reason of celebration, we can channel our energy and enthusiasm to greater causes. By celebrating what is around us, we can show our respect, appreciation, gratitude and affection.

  Why should we reserve the joy of celebration to special days alone? Why can’t we celebrate every day as a new opportunity and new course? This form of celebration will not melt away our challenges or take away roadblocks from our path. You will still have to face some unexpected circumstances and undesirable situations within a day’s course. But, if you program your mind to seek reasons of celebration every day, you will simply magnify the fun. Instead of waiting for special occasions and events, bring the fun to your place through simpler means. It will not take away the charm of those most awaited days or grab its thunder in any way. Enormous fun and grand joy is definitely reserved for major occasions, but little moments of pure joy are right before us, every day. Celebrate the presence or occurrence of something in your life daily, and you will experience magnified amounts of satisfaction.

    This novel idea of seeking a reason for celebration every single day was sowed into my system after I realized the act of being happy lies within our control. Unless we make ourselves happy, we cannot expect any external source to do the needful. Relying over special days, loved ones or materials for our own joy is the easiest way to run away from the responsibility. Take charge of your own enjoyment and you will be surprised by the result. As I motivate myself to find good on a daily basis, it is my way of expressing gratitude towards the joy of living.

   Through this article, I want to prepare my own game plan for the quote in title. So far I may have addressed the ‘why’ part of celebration, but the ‘how’ portion is still pending. Let me take you over some of my ideas, as I strive to bring the quote to life. It is often easy to preach but difficult to materialize. Hence, I do not want to leave this thought hanging without offering any practical ideas. Stay with me as I brainstorm some ways. Do add your own ideas through comments to the post. 

Together let us find ways to celebrate the journey of a ‘day’.

In no particular order, here are some of the ideas of celebration on a daily basis.

1.       Admire the sight of sky when you look out of the window in the morning

2.       Enjoy your morning beverage as you head for the rush of the day

3.       Listen to your favorite song or music for few minutes

4.       Read a good book for sometime

5.       Spend time with family over a meal

6.       Talk to your friends

7.       Water plants at home

8.       Enjoy a hearty breakfast

9.       Eat healthy meals

10.   Smile at people around you

11.   Seek reasons to laugh

12.   Express gratitude

13.   Appreciate people for their efforts

14.   Wipe away anger as soon as it appears

15.   Watch your favorite show on television

16.   Introspect about the course of your day

17.   Sleep with happy thoughts

18.   Discard regrets, embrace happiness and fill positive thoughts before sleeping

19.   Engage into your hobby for at least five minutes

20.   Walk for short while

21.   Watch the sunset

22. Spend some 'me' time

23. Learn something new

Celebrate your daily routine too because only then can you experience joy for 365 days in a year. It will not wipe away sorrow, failure or disappointment, but it will definitely increase enthusiasm, determination and pleasure. If 24 hours of a day is one big course, why not fill it with smaller moments of celebration? 

B: Bothering about every single word directed at you is like banging your head against a wall; yet expecting to escape unhurt

Bothering (verb): allowing something to cause impact or influence

    I chose to start with my version of definition because I wanted to stress over the difference between ‘bothering’ and ‘listening’. In no way does this thought relate to not hearing or listening to people. While listening stands for an open approach towards new ideas- it definitely facilities growth, development and improvement. It is also one of the many means of showing respect to those around, as you exhibit interest in their words. Hence this article does not endorse ‘turning a deaf ear’ or ‘shutting off any channels of communication’. 

   Listening is the primary step towards forming relations and hence it is essential by all means. Then what do I mean by ‘bothering’? How can you ‘listen’ to people, yet not ‘bother’ about everything that reaches you? And why is it necessary?

   Answer to these questions leads us to the next article in my ‘A-Z’ series. If ‘A’ is the ace in the game of alphabets, ‘B’ follows suit with its ‘bossy’ attitude. With best and beautiful to its credit, it has to be wonderful. While framing a quote with this letter, ‘bothering’ was the first thing that popped in my mind. As these quotes relate to my story, it came across as a perfect lesson for me. By writing about it, I wanted to teach my own mind a thing or two or rather hear myself out.

  Often when we listen to people, we tend to frame our replies, even before the other person has stopped talking. Replying to the conversation becomes our primary job in order to present our stand as soon as possible. While this stresses over the listening part of a dialogue, the other aspect that needs attention is its impact. Not every word directed towards you is essential, useful, positive or necessary. Just because people offer their opinions or ideas with respect to a particular aspect, it is incorrect to let it impact you always.

  Many a times, these opinions or suggestions may seem inappropriate or unacceptable within your school of thought. That does not mean you can allow it to shake your belief system or disturb your approach in any way. As each one of us have an independent mindset and unique perspective about every single thing, it is impossible to entertain every word that reaches you. At the same time, it is also incorrect to argue, disrespect or blame someone for their individualistic opinions. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, there cannot be a right or wrong division about certain aspects. The way you look at something may not be the same for the person next to you, hence it is essential to respect differences too.

    This is when agreeing to disagree comes into the picture. If we accept this idea in life, it will lead to lesser disturbances in our path. While we all rejoice under the shower of praises, one negative comment or remark is enough to disturb our balance. At such times, it is essential to display an openness towards the thought. You may not agree with it, but you should acknowledge the difference. There is no harm in opening your mind to a new idea.

 Accepting or rejecting a thought lies in your hands. But if you allow it to cast an impact, it will do nothing but harm. Bothering or thinking about every word can only distract you from the goal. Unless you judge the situation and decide what is good for yourself, you cannot expect any help from an external source. The choice to accept a suggestion or discard it is at your disposal. Whether a negative remark does something good to your journey or whether it simply takes away your time is for you to decide. Being offended by what someone says is another example of bothering about unnecessary factors.

   If you allow every single word to cause an impact or effect, you may unknowingly open the door to self-harm. Listening to people forms our primary responsibility, but analyzing or allowing it to create an effect over our lives transforms into a decisive factor. Train your mind to adopt an authoritative role and you will feel the difference. Segregate words into useful and unnecessary categories to ensure peace and happiness. Love your mind for all it does and do not involve it into some useless energy-consuming process.

    Having said this, I do not intend to take away the value of suggestions and advice. When people offer their opinions or make comments, it does not equate to uselessness always. Words from our parents, siblings, teachers and friends are only meant for our happiness and joy. You may not agree with them to the ‘T’, but their words definitely glow with affection.

    Understanding the motive behind words can prompt us towards the correct direction. Bother only about thoughts that add value to your journey. Stay away from words that may pull you away from the goal. Distractions are easy, while determination is not.

  I do not expect complete agreement from all my readers over this thought. You may disagree with the difference between ‘bothering’ and ‘listening’ or you may resonate with this thought on some levels. In either ways, do send me your feedback. Till I come back with the next letter in series, happy reading, happy listening, happy talking, but remember no bothering! 

A-Z of what matters

    After blogging about some of the best unique experiences in my journey so far, it is time for another series in line. They say inspiration can come from any source and I can truly vouch for this fact. While enjoying the world with words, I am amazed by different things that inspire me. My writing and blogging has definitely attracted me to different places, making me realize that anything and everything can be useful in its own way.

     So before I begin this new series, I must offer credit to its inspirational source. A little master with an innocent look at life, my nephew has prompted this new idea into my system. His cute recitation of A-Z in a sing song manner (sometimes in a loop mode) has paved way for an interesting concept. Whether this series succeeds in entertaining my readers or passes off as just another attempt at playing with words; I will be delighted for its association with the cutest member in our lives.  

      This brings us to the next series of things that matter to me. By things, I do not mean materials or items. It is about all those factors that matter to me in one way or the other. By picking one alphabet every week, this A-Z series will mirror my thoughts and feelings with an original quote. Call it a diary or a journal, the aim is to touch every single letter and stress over a particular element that is significant. 

    If my confusing description has confused you enough, give this article a chance to clear the air. While I could have simply started a series to write about all my thoughts, inclusion of ‘A-Z’ will ensure systematic approach and total coverage. I shall be able to present my thoughts in a novel way, and also revise letters for the little cutie pie!

   Starting with A, join me as I move from one alphabet to the other, only to do what I enjoy the most- write, talk, write and talk again.

A-     Accept every situation and reality – happiness, peace and pleasure will follow suit

Functioning of our human mind is nothing less than a complex mechanism. Manipulations and adjustments run within its system in an attempt to change the situation. Though we are powerless as compared to the uncertainty of circumstances, we are tempted to turn the tables our way. 

   While it is good to work hard and invest efforts for our own success, doing so in the hope of fighting any particular unavoidable situation only invites disappointment. If you desire success and happiness at the end of a long journey, it is essential to accept whatever comes your way. Only after you accept the reality, you can decide the game plan ahead.

    Disillusion and false hopes will only complicate the process. Accepting the reality in front of you inspires you to move ahead. It motivates you with ideas to do what needs to be done. If you are always stuck between ‘I wish’ and ‘only if’, how can you expect to achieve all that is desired? 

Accepting every situation is like wining one quarter of the battle. Instead of disappointments and tears over the reality, acceptance can urge you to stay on track. Imaginations are endless, hence replacing the bitter truth with sweet illusion is absolutely pointless. Accept the present as that is exactly what is meant to be. You can always control your reactions and actions, but you cannot control the surrounding theme that forms the background.

    Failure is nothing but a byproduct of such uncertain situations. If you are able to accept reality, you can digest failure too. Such acceptance makes you realize that failure is not a permanent statement carved on rock, instead it is one of the many attempts, while dealing with a situation. Hence, accepting the situation can urge you to transform your approach, enhance efforts and make another attempt. Rather than giving up on the pretext of uncertain ground, you can make attempts to move yourself to a better setting. Blaming unfavorable situations and circumstances is often the easiest way out. But, accepting the reality and altering your plans to match it is the hardiest.

           Learn to embrace reality. Accept your situation and make peace, it will take you a long way to eternal happiness.

Relevance to my story: Long chain of philosophical thoughts is not the only aim of this series. Unless I relate it to my experiences, I cannot justify the real reason of framing such a quote. So, here is the golden moment that struck the thought.

“After my first session with the oncologist, as I walked home with loads of indigestible information and doses of uncertainty, I was greeted by the sight of a wonderful rainbow in the sky. Within minutes, as the sight of anxious patient chairs and dreadful doctor rooms were replaced by the clear image of seven beautiful colors, I realized that happy things were waiting at the other end. Only if I accepted the reality without a tear, would I meet those gems in disguise. That acceptance was all I needed to move ahead, with some glitches of course. So, I can only thank that rainbow and the wonderful moment for making me realize the value of acceptance.”

Stay tuned as I move to the next alphabet in series. Do share your views on acceptance and what aspect comes to your mind with the letter 'A'. 

Sip 8: When TV shows leave their impact- a teacher in disguise

   

      If I made such statements during my childhood or teen years; it would have been rejected even before completing it. But today as a responsible adult, I can take the liberty of using words such as television, teacher and impact in the same sentence. Though we all love this infamously famous ‘idiot’ box, there is more to it than just addictive doses of entertainment. For starters, it gives us company and delivers some good shows with meaning and purpose. Just as excess of anything is harmful, the same logic applies to this focal point of the house. Controlled watching of appropriate content can turn an otherwise useless activity into something good.

   But, why such sudden public display of affection towards television? The answer lies in two particular shows that connected with me. Beyond just pieces of entertainment, they have made a major impact in my life. And while thanking my stars for such good shows, I wondered why not pen them into words and express my gratitude in a totally different way? Giving way to the last sip in my mug list, these shows have made me realize that television can be a teacher too. It can leave an impact and be close to you in the least expected way.

  Whether you believe in the power of television and the joy it offers or whether you look at it as just sheer entertainment, there is no harm in recognizing the inspiration hidden deep within. Appreciating things is one of the ways of celebrating life and hence I want to continue the party. Before I lose you to your favorite shows and serials, let me continue my usual job of talking, writing and more talking.

    ‘Chasing life’ and ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ are two such gems that brought me closer to the thought in title. While the latter is an extremely popular show across the globe, the former is not well-known, yet amazing for its relevance with my journey. Though these two shows are not some recent flicks in the world of entertainment, Netflix has renewed its magic over and over again. And since ‘Chasing life’ will be pulled back from the streaming service in few days, the timing of this post could not be more perfect.

'They walk along with you, only to be there if you fall'- F.R.I.E.N.D.S 

   If you are a fan of ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’, I am sure there is no need for any kind of introduction. The name itself is sufficient to bring happy memories and doses of laughter, smile, affection and love. And if you are reading about this show for the first time, a little background information might help. A show that teaches us to accept our weaknesses and work on our strengths, it changed the way we look at these crazy bunch of people called ‘friends’. They are probably the only set of loved ones who can laugh ‘on’ you and ‘with’ you. In lines with this happiness, the entire cast of ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ brought the relationship to life. 

    From their sessions on orange couch to non-stop chatter in the apartment, from Monica’s obsession for systematic control to Rachael’s determination to stay away from ‘Daddy’s funds’, from Phoebe’s humbleness to accept everything with open arms to Chandler’s love for sarcasm, from Joey’s innocence to Ross’s confused maturity; everything about this series was wonderful in its own way.

'Sometimes you chase it, sometimes it chases you, c'est la vie '- Chasing life ....

   There is something in the universe that spells out ‘perfect timing’. It knows what you need at what point of time, empowering you in its own way. All this explains my affection for the next show in line ‘Chasing life’. It made an entry in my entertainment list, right when I was coming in terms with an unexpected, yet memorable chapter of my life.

     A young journalist’s encounter with cancer formed the plot of this show that related with me at every level. Perfect coincidence with my course made it an interesting walk as I went from one experience to the next. Be it strong family support or mystery of the course, be it caring affection of her doctor or the usual beliefs of people around, everything resembled my path. Her strong determination to enjoy the journey with a smile truly inspired me in more ways than one, making me realize that inspiration can come from any source.

    From her anger to tears, smile to carefree attitude, everything seemed to relate with me. Though it touched a sensitive topic of the ‘C’ domain, it did not come across as some serious show with dense cloud of worries. Instead, it highlighted the beauty that one can seek if one desires to. I looked at it as the practical example of ‘every cloud has a silver lining’.

   With this thought, let me list down the lessons learned.

1.       F.R.I.E.N.D.S

-          One should not be embarrassed by failure

-          Laughing at your failed attempts brings you closer to the confidence of working once more, all over again

-          Enjoy the confusion, misunderstanding and chaos, as everything happens for a reason

-          We all come across diverse experiences, instead of fussing over an uncertain path, learn to embrace it with open arms

-          With company of loved ones, it is absolutely possible to laugh at yourself.

-          Do not be serious all your life, life is a journey to be explored and not some assignment to be accomplished

2.       Chasing life

-          It’s all about the perspective. Nothing is right or wrong. All depends on how you look at it

-          There is a way out of everything, nothing is impossible

-          Follow your unique thought process and believe in yourself

-          Background noise is in the background for a reason, look deep within

-          If your experiences cannot teach you, nothing else can

-          If you cannot make peace with your situation, no one can help you in the same

-          You cannot wipe out your mistakes from the past, but you can fix your present to make up for it

-          Family and friends will stay by your side, shower them with love and affection

-          And finally, a doctor can be your good friend too

    With this, I shall conclude my mug list temporarily. As I come across more interesting experiences along the way, I will definitely get back to it again. Think about shows that made some impact in your life too. Books, curriculum, school and college are not the only things that can teach you. Look beyond the usual. Give some chance to entertainment too, it can be your teacher in disguise.

  Expand your horizon and gather some unique experiences because at the end that is what matters. 

Sip 7: When food can take you places- experience of savoring diverse cuisines

How do you get the feel of a city, country or region, without leaving your place or actually traveling several miles to be there?

Or besides language, culture, local folks and landscape, what is the next best thing that defines a region?

  There can be several appropriate answers to these questions, but considering the title in mind, I shall focus on food or cuisine. Cuisine of a country or region forms its permanent identity and certainly plays a significant role. It comes across as one of the key bricks in its foundation. Agricultural produce, raw ingredients, climate, geography, lifestyle, population and environment contribute their individual essence that give way to such a unique outcome. While in the good, old times - specific or special food preparations were limited within the boundaries of a region, the picture is totally different today.

   As the globe shrinks into one unit now, it is possible to enjoy any form of cuisine from any part of the world. With increase in tourism, culinary practices, virtual connectivity and transportation of raw materials, you can lay hands over any type of cuisine with ease. So, how do these cuisines relate to my mug list? Blame it on our experimental taste buds, relocation to a different continent, inquisitiveness and love for food (thanks to a foodie spouse), trying out diverse cuisines has been an interesting activity in our ‘to-do’ list.

    Though the experiences turn out to be wonderful and unique (making us a proud global citizen); it actually helps us aim two targets at once. Firstly, it crosses a cuisine from our desired list and secondly it increases the respect, love and admiration towards our own home food! In no way, is the taste of these cuisines responsible for the latter. They are truly interesting and flavorful in their own way. Yet, the mind and heart never fail to sing a patriotic song as soon as the food is relished, reminding us of our roots! It is, as if a mother mocks her kids for the attraction and affection towards outside restaurant food. Because, at the end, she knows they will return back home to the comfort of home cooked meals.

    But, keeping the spirit of patriotism aside, let me share my experiences of touching diverse cuisines. Uniqueness of its taste and enthusiasm to sample something novel score their way into my mug list. Whether we love the cuisine to get back to it again and again or whether we bid a humble good-bye to never return again, each of the experiences deserve an entry into this article. By savoring diverse cuisines, you can get a sneak-peek of their history and lifestyle. Though I could have framed this topic in my mug list earlier, our recent rendezvous with Greek cuisine seemed to be the perfect opportunity. As it made a proud entry in my food list at the seventh position, I was convinced to share this topic finally. 

  With this, let me take you on a ride to different regions based on my flavorful experiences. While these are highlights from my interviews with food, do share your end of experiences too. Do you embrace global exposure or choose to be loyal to your roots? In either case, the output will serve as fodder for some entertainment. 

Disclaimer: My knowledge about food and cuisines is as limited as a little kid’s IQ on financial matters or corporate business. So, kindly excuse any errors in my interpretation. Also, these experiences are through my lens, hence take it with a pinch of salt, sugar or whatever you like. I do not intend to make fun of any cuisine, region or country; but do feel free to laugh with my words.

1.       Mexican

In love with their crispy tacos, nachos and cheese dips, Mexican cuisine feels close to heart. Not to forget their affection for spices and flavors, as it does remind of Indian cuisine in several ways. After all there is a reason why tortillas are labelled as distant cousins of our ‘rotis’ or excessive involvement of kidney beans remind us of ‘rajma-chawal’. From burrito wraps (read: big frankies) to burrito bowls, tacos to quesadillas, they are flavorful in their own way. I do have a complaint though- Mexican cuisine does not offer anything for my sweet tooth.

2.       Italian

I always believe Italian cuisine has some elegance, mystery, class and value hidden behind its pastas and pizzas. Italian cuisine loves tomatoes and garlic as much as Indian cuisine loves its spices. Flavorful sauces, generous amounts of cheese, tasty herbs and ‘too good to resist pizzas’, what else can you ask for? Well, you could ask for a little more spice, if your taste buds are unsatisfied with their blandness.

3.       Chinese

Indo-Chinese cuisine is simply one of the best styles of food, let's be honest, we love our dear noodles, fried rice and Manchurian. But this fusion is nowhere close to the authentic style. Giant boiled vegetables, noodles and plain rice is all you can expect with this cuisine, perfectly designed for good health and a flat stomach. While I turn to Indo-Chinese for its garlic and ginger flavors during colder times, they seem to be simply lost or maybe well-hidden in authentic dishes.  

4.       Thai

If Italian cuisine is about tomatoes, Thai is about coconuts. Excessive involvement of coconut in almost every dish has been the sole reason I don’t have enough to write about (blame it on my recessive coconut genes.) Thai cuisine deserves special mention for preserving natural flavor of ingredients, without masking it with spices or artificial flavors.

5.       American

Though is no such thing as authentic ‘American’ cuisine, it does have some signature dishes to its credit. After all, I cannot ignore the land that has introduced me to so many cuisines so far. I particularly love American food for its breakfast menu- waffles, bagels, cookies, pancakes and burgers spell out ‘happiness’ in their recipes. They take care of my sweet tooth, which is what matters.

6.       Mediterranean

Though complicated to pronounce and spell, this cuisine is interesting and unique. If you love it, you cannot resist, but if you dislike it, there is no turning back. Well known for falafals and hummus, this meal makes best use of its local resources in a delicious way. It gives new look to our chickpeas and moong lentils. And if you are wondering what are 'falafels'? They are Middle-eastern friends of our very own moong bhajiyas.  

7.       Greek

Best friend of Mediterranean cuisine, Greek food is known for its salads, salty feta cheese, moussaka (layered dish) and sea food. Considering our affection for vegetarian dishes alone, the options boil down to eggplant moussaka and a salad. If you love eggplants (brinjals), you may love Mediterranean and Greek, as they seem to be in love with this infamously famous vegetable to a great extent.

  

             Besides these, there are many other cuisines to be ‘tried and tasted’. French, Vietnamese, Korean and Ethiopian are some contenders in the race. Until, I savor those and get back with a sequel, do share your experiences. Happy eating and traveling, after all food can take you places.