… because the new normal is more like the same old

Dealing with any form of uncertainty is hard. And as if we did not believe in the dictionary meaning of the word ‘uncertainty’, we have the new pandemic situation for clarity in its truest sense. The uncertainty linked to the global scale of this situation only makes it difficult to understand. What and how to deal with it with every passing day is something well beyond our limited understanding at the moment. But, making you think about this pandemic all over again is the last thing on my mind right now. We have enough worries to keep ourselves occupied and restless, hence let’s not get into the pandemic mode all over again.

Much before we all started talking about the new normal due to the pandemic, a chosen few of us were well acquainted with the idea. The idea that uncertainty is the new normal. The idea that life does not go as per plan. The idea that there is so much to life right now than thinking about what will it be a few years down the line. This uncertainty is such an integral part that maybe I cannot and will not like to part away from it. There is fun and frown at the thought of it. There is sorrow and smiles while we go about our lives as survivors. Battling the big C got us one step closer to the idea of mortality. It is unusually disturbing but at the same time, it makes us realize that life should not be taken for granted. We may not have those golden years we dream of because things are shinning and glittering right here, right now.

When I battled the big C, I was so excited to live in the moment. Though one expects pain and tears and that was a part of my process too, it did not feel difficult because all I had to do was focus on this one day. The idea that this one day is the most important got me through the process like an easy challenge. I will not exaggerate when I say this but the process of diagnosis and treatment did not seem difficult like the way it was meant to be. Living one day at a time erased every single ounce of pain, and trust me when I say this, it was flowing as streams at that moment.

The problem was not battling C, the problem is dealing with the new normal. After three years into the survival mode, there is a constant argument in the head up there. Should I continue to take it one day at a time or should I jump into the excitement of endless possibilities ahead? Am I selfish if I continue to attend to my emotional wounds or am I hopelessly positive if I believe it was a one-time thing to be erased easily? Living one day a time is not easy when you cross the line between the ‘battling’ and ‘surviving’ phase. We are nowhere close to the danger hence there is no need for limiting our dreams, hopes, and wishes. But at the same time, we are not certain because uncertainty is the new normal. This constant fight in the mind is a real thing. Though it is easy to wipe away those thoughts because positivity is the need of the hour, it is not easy to ignore its presence. Somewhere, somehow the mind does go to this dark place where everything is questioned all over again. It involves frustration when someone talks about the future as if it is easy, but at the same time it involves anger when someone ignores as if it never happened.

There is no harm in living as a survivor. The problem arises when I use or refuse it to my advantage. When it comes to expectations and plans of life, I like to hide behind the shield that I don’t know the future. I demand exclusion from life expectations due to my ‘condition’. On the other hand, when it comes to enjoyment and fun, I stand right in the front demanding that I deserve them. I refuse to accept my situation when someone points it to me or justifies my slow pace in the so-called expected phases of life.

Caught in the never-ending cycle of the new reality, I realized the answer is within me. I cannot complain when my loved ones ask me to ignore the past and look ahead because that is what we do as humans. We have the exceptional ability to be hopeful even when things do not seem to go as per plan. We know the chain of good and bad and hence refuse to leave hope till the very last bit. At the same time, I cannot blame my restless mind as it knows the reality too well. That this uncertainty is a part of me no matter what I think or feel gives me comfort to tackle life. And if you go to think about it, none of us are immune to uncertainties. It is our nature to zoom in into our problems as if they are bigger than us. I was happy to play the sympathy card, only to realize that it did nothing but self-harm. When I allow myself to dwell on self-pity, I open the door to misery. It is high time to realize that big C is not my escape plan to the realities of life. There is nothing that we cannot achieve if we allow our mind to think in that direction. And in the end, everything lies deep within.

Having said this, even if I have crossed the line to the other side, I am still a survivor. Happy to be one and delighted to see the world through this new lens. When I realize not everyone is fortunate in their battle, I understand I must value the membership to this club. The new normal is about balancing expectations and realities. A survivor who believes that every single day is just as important as the next one.

In the end, I have learned to accept that the new normal is beautiful indeed. I am enjoying the certain uncertainty because really what other choice do I have? And yes, I have the choice to be positive but somehow it does fall at certain vulnerable moments. I believe that I will pick myself up at those moments, and continue to smile because again, what other choice do I have?

Here is to living in the moment and taking it one day at a time. Though this experience has changed my life in many ways, I would not have it any other way. Complaints and tears are a part of it, but a much larger part is the joy of making the most of this process called ‘life’, while greeting it one day at a time.

My experiments with living in the moment, one day at a time

I have started believing in the concept of ‘perfect timing’. It is for not for nothing that I was suddenly prompted to repeat my usual process of pondering, writing, some more pondering, some more writing as soon as the first sip of coffee hit the right chords at the right moment.

No amount of resolutions can work wonders if we do not pause to reflect, introspect, analyze and make sure they are doing what they are supposed to do. It is important to pause and check if we can and should continue over the path rather than be happy about some long lost thought in mind. I am not one for regretting over lost chances of resolution because regrets are the easiest means of doing nothing. But I am definitely up for making sure I do what I intend to do. Before I slip into the fantastic world of self-praising where I can go on and on about the good I do (if you believe me, the list is quite long under the light of my self-claimed two minutes to fame).

On a serious note, the pondering about resolutions is about my desire to live one day at a time. After my unexpected, unlikely, adventurous but let’s call it memorable rendezvous with the big C, I was unknowingly pulled into significance of ‘being in the present’. I programmed my mind to do so as one of the most efficient steps to get through the rather most difficult times. Call it survival or adaptation, I enjoyed the blissful world of being in the here and now. No amount of worry seemed to stop me when all I had was to take care of the one thing in front. I can label it as blessing in disguise because it empowered me to focus over what is important.

 The useless habit of procrastinating about the future was neatly transformed into working in the present. All of a sudden as though a magic eraser worked its charm, there was no record of the past and no botheration about the future when I was contented with all the possibilities of the present. They say we shouldn’t dig into unpleasant past memories, hence the intention of this article is not to expose those occurrences, but rather to see how they help me today. I was happily living in the moment, taking one day at a time. 

With complete focus over the present, the significance of ‘this is it’ shone in bright colors. I was more receptive to the things around me in the present tense. I didn’t realize everything seemed so perfect in the here and now. Suddenly there was an unexplainable magic in observing the birds, sky, trees, clouds for they had never met me in the same way before. Or rather I didn’t make any efforts to meet them earlier. The new found urge of taking it one day a time made sure I was seizing every moment to the best of my abilities. There was a renewed sense of joy to do the same things but with a newer approach. As if all I had is just this and nothing else, I was contented to experience it in the rawest form.

Living one day at time made me happy to work in the present tense with accompanying happiness at the very same moment. It did not erase away sorrow or anger. It wasn’t a quick-fix to ensure unlimited stock of joy. But it was a successful attempt to not bother about something that made no difference to life as it unfolded. If you observe closely, you will realize the excessive usage of past tense. It was then that I chose to live in the moment, so how am I doing it today? Rather, am I even continuing it today to reap the innumerable benefits of here and now?

This post is to find out what significance it holds now? Am I able to live in the moment years after the experience or was it just a temporary solution to a permanent problem?

Should I continue to practice the act of not bothering about the future when all I have and possibly will ever have is ‘this’? Or should I quit ‘the one day at a time’ mission for the rather ambitious project of forever?

Is it necessary to use the one-time opportunity of uncertainty as the foundation or is it advisable to forget about it completely?

Years after the experience, it is difficult to be in the moment, yet it is not impossible to not do so. I enjoyed every moment of it back then and I hope to do so for the rest of the time. All the magic of appreciating the present and living a wholehearted life seemed to disappear into thin air as if the uncertainty vanished forever. But now as I pen down the benefits, I realize the need to continue over the path. Reflecting over the resolution has made me understand that the beneficial effects outweigh the primary cause that put me into it. All that matters is the happiness instilled into me as an unexpected side effect and I see no harm in continuing to do so.

I can live in the moment, one day a time for that is all I have and meant to have. You can disagree with the thought or you can apply a different viewpoint for we live different lives in a different set-up. I find happiness in sharing the experiences that make me, without the slightest intention to preach. Writing these thoughts is my way of sending it out to the universe, hoping to be reminded whenever and wherever I am off it.

I can only label them as experiments because that is what they will continue to be. Till I master the art of not drifting away, while keeping the ‘now’ in focus, there are many things to be accomplished. But I truly believe in the hidden motive of the universe. I owe it for putting a slight end though not a complete one to the unnecessary act of procrastinating. When unwanted worries are at bay, there is scope for productive thoughts in the present.

How do you succeed in staying true to what you believe in? Do you need frequent revisits to your resolutions or do you flawlessly adopt them into your system?  

Know-it-all or understand-it-none: the new age digital attention span

    I take the liberty of defining a new term in this post. Though ‘attention span’ is a recognized concept in our vocabulary pointing towards the kind, quality and duration of attention rendered by the receiver, ‘digital attention span’ is born out of the new age world of digital life. This form of attention is absolutely short, distracted and impatient- to define it in the shortest possible way. It happens to all of us. No matter how well you defend your stand, we all are guilty of being impatient while accessing information in today’s world of connectivity. We have all the necessary means to understand a concept from any end of the globe or learn about any phenomenon of any field at any time, but is it everything or are we lacking something? I cannot take your opinions for granted, but my digitally active, virtually available, constantly connected, and ever-inquisitive mind does not believe in not knowing it all but seems to understand only a tiny bit of everything.

 This is the result of having all types of accessible information within arms’ reach (or rather in this case finger’s reach) but not able to process it with patience right till the end. Let me explain this through couple of cases and see if it rings true for you.

1.       Case 1: You are reading or working on something. You come across an unknown concept – you google it to find out what it means. One link on the article takes you to another and another and another. Slowly and steadily you have access to numerous articles but manage to understand only a tiny bit. You either quit reading because it seems to make no sense at all or is irrelevant to your original search. Or as it happens in most situations- you are restless or distracted within one-third length of the article.

2.       Case 2- You are enjoying your daily dose of social media intake. While browsing through photos, posts and updates- you come across catchy articles with absolutely catchy headlines. Some of it seem totally related to your current situation in life. You read a bit, only to extract little sense or end up clicking other interesting links within it.

3.       Case 3- You subscribe to e-newspapers, newsletters and influential blogs (because you are not just all play and no work on social media!), you find an article relevant with an aim to seek some knowledge, learn new tips and tricks of the trade or to sound well informed in your social circle. Again you grasp a little, only to find yourself attracted to some other hidden concept or embedded article.

4.       Case 4- You are hanging out with your group of friends. You end up disagreeing over something and use google as your ultimate decision-maker. Each one of you open a website, read an article, get some information, and resolve the conflict, only to prove the point and not understand it completely.

 The underlying base of each of these scenarios is the same. Thanks to easily accessible internet on our smartphones, we can find out anything and everything with ease. But call it an ill side-effect or distracted attention span, I seem to know it all but understand just a little. It is easy to jump from one source of information to another and enjoy unlimited access to so many resources. Yet it is also easy to not understand it the way it is meant to be. 

 There is no harm in the unlimited access, the harm lies in not using it well. Also, there is no need to know it all, but rather it is important to stay focused and gain adequate knowledge. I find it similar to touching the surface of the soil and deciding what lies beneath instead of digging it to get the correct picture. As I pen this thought from my mind, I realize it is essential to make conscious efforts and stay focused to understand it better. Access to unlimited knowledge imparts a rather snobbish sense of knowing-it-all, only to realize the knowledge is surface deep. There is no depth to the knowledge base unless we invest adequate time to gather it through reliable sources.

  I am tempted to infer digital attention span is often about quantity and not quality. This pushes me to remember and avoid short attention spans as much as possible. It is not necessary to know everything. We cannot possibly be experts on every subject or gain degrees to every possible fields. But at the same time, we cannot justify the short attention span and not make any efforts to learn, understand or concentrate over matters that truly matter. If we allow digitally influenced attention span to cast its spell over other faculties of life, we will lose the essential ingredient of concentration. I do not intend to demotivate the influence of virtual access, but at the same time, I want to ensure adequate focus whenever and wherever it matters. I sense an ‘old-school-ish’ attitude in my thinking, but then not everything in the new school is perfectly correct!

 The key is to use digital access to our advantage. It is perfectly understandable to not know it all but it is not okay to lose our focus over something that we are supposed to comprehend in the first place. Distractions on digital media manage to whisk us to a faraway unknown territory, only to realize we are not meant to be everywhere, every time. Call it a new form of peer pressure or some kind of digital inclusiveness, we make attempts to sound knowledgeable about any trending thing on the internet- no matter how little we seem to care or how little we actually understand about it.

What is your take on the new age short lived digital attention span? 

Am I the only over-pondering blogger who believes in its existence or have you experienced it too? 

Are you guilty of not paying enough attention or are you convinced of understanding it well, just the way it is meant to be?

11 reasons why comedy genre rules my heart, screen and home….

…because it is funny. This one reason should be sufficient enough to describe my affection for comedy. But it is does not do justice to the enormous love in my heart. For a genre that makes life happy and moments pleasurable, comedy does a lot more than just break us into a few bouts of laughter. It is regarded as one of the most difficult forms of performing arts because it is challenging to make others laugh. Throw in some emotional dialogues or show a sad stressful picture and people can cry, but state one off-beat joke and no one laughs. Comedy genre is all about timing, meaning, situations and purpose. It is deeply rooted in the desire to spread happiness and joy within the otherwise usual moments of our routine life.

  I can regard myself as a strong advocate of the comedy genre. A die-hard fan who hunts for all things funny, I am attracted towards the magic of humor. When comedy gives us a chance to laugh, why miss the opportunity? I do not mean to disrespect other genres or label them as unnecessary. Every form of arts on screen is exceptionally brilliant and necessary for the audience. There are huge doses of efforts that go behind creating a single episode, let alone an entire series. Be it thriller or romance, satire or social drama, everything and anything is essential to create diversity on screen. But, if I ever get the impossibly possible opportunity to confer an award to the best genre, I will pick comedy with closed eyes. There is something about the possibility of just being happy that draws me towards comedy.

  While I was busy expressing my passionate love towards comedy all in the mind, an interesting thought stuck me. Why not honor its presence in my life with a dedicated blog post? These reasons arise straight from my heart as I thank comedy for everything it has done and will continue doing in the future. Thus without any doubt it rules my heart. I say screen in the title because apart from TV, the little screen on my phone is the appropriate platform too. Be it movies or television, my mind runs to the humorous pick whenever and wherever possible. My love for comedy started right since childhood. While picking a good program for the limited TV time in the evening, when my parents preferred comedy over other serious drama, I was glued to the laughter that followed. It forces one to forget the usual tensions of life for some mindless moments, no matter how short. If we cannot avoid the drama in our real plot, why pick the same on TV too? Why not dedicate some moments to humorous stories, when our own story is not so funny otherwise?

 Comedy is often regarded as a mindless genre. But if you think about the efforts behind it, it engages more mind than any other. Crafting jokes that click is the most difficult task. I detest comedy at the expense of offending others. Pure humor arises from the boldness to laugh at one’s own mistakes and blunders.

  Another major misconception about comedy points towards its silliness. It is regarded as a genre for the weak-hearted. People who refuse to accept the realities of life dive into the mindlessness of humor. It does not teach anything or is rather useless for the lack of a better word. But, I am yet to learn anything from the dark sides of thriller or so-called drama of a usual plot. If there are limited screen slots in my schedule, I rather laugh over some jokes than ponder about mind games of someone else.

  Comedy shows such as Frasier, The Office, Parks and recreation, Friends, and Hindi ones such as Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chasmah, Hum Paanch, Shriman Shrimati, and many others have pulled me into their charm, making me pen a long post in their honor.

  Having said this, I do not intend to demean any genre. Read it with a pinch of salt as I enlist my top 11 reasons with a smile. Laugh over the lighter notes and see if you can correlate. And never mind if you cannot, I welcome a diametrically opposite argument, after all we are products of our opinions!

I love comedy shows because….

1.       They show blunders of life are funny, common, usual and easy to deal with if we change the perspective. Humor arises when we accept our shortcomings and learn to loosen a bit.

2.       They force everyone to quit serious procrastination, heavy contemplation and unwanted complications. Stay happy for the moment that will compile into episodes of happiness.

3.       They make you realize laughter is the medicine to heal wounded mood. When life is full of otherwise hurdles, why not swim into the pool of laughter?

4.       The genre screams about the significance of simplicity. We make life overly complicated. And agreed, it cannot erase our troubles, but at least not add to the burden.

5.       They wipe off alien feelings in a new land and connect everyone on the same platform. Comedy succeeds in erasing home-sickness or boredom in an unknown place.

6.       They connect everyone on the universal mission of laughter. Though we may differ in our choices of favorite genres, we can be connected by comedy because everyone loves (and hopefully knows) to laugh.

7.       Comedy opens the mind to positivity. It is composed of jokes and humor that make it easier to approach things with a broader outlook.

8.       They pose as a foolproof mode of confirmed entertainment. Though some comedy shows fail horribly with poor-timed jokes and offensive content that irritate more than make you laugh, most of them do a perfect job.

9.       They remind you to stop worrying and start acting. Since problems cannot be dealt through over-thinking, they force you to be present in the moment and enjoy the show. If you miss a dialogue in some usual drama, you can still get the show, but if you miss a joke, you lose the punch!

10.   Comedy is the only thing that can make you laugh, it is capable of demanding laughter and smiles. No matter how serious your face appears most of the times, comedy can transform it within a minute.

11.   The genre tickles an otherwise serious mind. Our mind can be stern often, reminding us of everything that is wrong and unfair. Comedy has the power to take it towards simpler realities.

  As I read the post, I realize it has turned into a love letter for comedy. But that is exactly how I feel. I love you for bringing big smiles, I love you for all the episodes of laughter, I love you for making me sane in an otherwise insane world, and comforting me that life is beautiful indeed.

  A loyal fan to all shows comic, this funny soul will continue finding more and more reasons to laugh, love and smile.

What genre rules your heart? Does comedy ring a bell or is it something else- do think and share!

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.  

Sip 6: Color me calm, color me happy – experience of a simple, yet beneficial activity

 

  Yes, you saw it right. It is just a coloring book with pictures. It is that simple activity which every child engages into. It is nothing great to make a headline or star in a blog. Filling colors into a picture is no rocket science or a skillful task. Then why does it feature into my mug list? The answer is simple. Mug list is about experiences that bring out happiness and peace. It is about those unique adventures that make me realize that life is indeed in simple things.

  

    We all crave for overrated happening activities and highly famed amazing adventures. To be honest, I definitely did and still do. There is nothing wrong in experiencing those acts too. But, when you open your mind and heart to usual things around, you come closer to the joy of ‘being simple’. You realize that simple can be glamorous too.

    After some doses of philosophy, coming back to the title in question. Though I have colored numerous pictures in my childhood, getting back to that activity once again as an adult was wonderful to say the least. This coloring trend has gained lot of attention in recent times, where coloring books for adults are selling like hot cakes. It is believed to enhance concentration, focus, feelings and joy. Though this article is not designed to advocate about any form of color therapy, it is framed to share my recent experiences with colors.

How did it start?

  To think about it, this activity does not really need any reason to begin with. After all, what is so difficult about color pencils or pictures that it needs a formal and valid excuse? I could have engaged into it anytime as I wanted. But, only if our mind was so simple and innocent! Unless we justify it with a reason or present it well enough, it may not allow us to go ahead. Hence, it took one informal event in our local library to illuminate such a colorful bulb in my system. Two hours of ‘adult coloring club session’ and I was reintroduced back to the joy of coloring. Though the session was just coloring few pictures and patterns with pencils, it posed as the perfect reason to bring that joy home.

   So much was the happiness of this experience, that a coloring book and pencil kit gained royal entry into our house-hold. And this coloring book has not just helped me with some humble joy, it has made the better-half happy too. After all who doesn’t wish for a silent spouse lost in her colorful thoughts? It is not for nothing that he googled about the connection between calmness and colors or for how long the effects last? But apart from these jokes, coloring does help in lot many ways.

 First-hand experience:

    I am sure there is nothing to explain about the process of coloring. We all know, it is just picking up colors and filling it into pictures. And it is does not need any special skills. You do not need to be an artist to figure out a way (My dear Sister, hope you are reading too, just saying). Being a creative artist may help with color combinations and better effects, otherwise it is simply coloring the blanks.

 Though the process is usual for all, what sets it apart is the underlying feeling. What you experience during the activity can pave way for your customized happiness. There is nothing right or wrong about it or there are no rules to be followed. And lack of time cannot be an excuse as it does not demand any fixed hours of engagement. Few minutes can be good too as the purpose is personal. No one can judge you or give you some certificate for the same. As long as it delivers a sense of happiness, the purpose is achieved.

   While I will love to hear your comments and feedback about it, let me frame my first hand experiences with colors.

Color me calm: It does calm the senses, as it urges them to forget about things around and concentrate on the project. It takes you away from the background noise of the world and sends you someplace, silent and calm.

Focus, concentrate, look, observe: It forces you to focus as smaller areas and thin lines need greater attention. It is able to sharpen your concentration that reflects over other activities too.

‘Me’ time: Coloring is a fun way to experience some quality ‘me’ time. Lost in your thoughts, it allows you to talk to yourself.

Sense of achievement: It definitely delivers a sense of satisfaction and achievement as the final product appeals to the eyes.

Colorful happiness:  We all know about the power of colors. After all they make an entry into our wardrobe too for their unique sense of joy. This coloring does the same as bright colors glow happiness in their own way.

Experimental skills: It touches your organizational and decision making skills to a certain extent. What colors to choose? Whether to pick a color and fill it wherever needed or whether to complete it part by part? Whether to go for conventional sense of colors or whether to try out something new. It does allow you to experiment and rejoice.

Needless to say, this coloring activity has definitely delivered a unique sense of joy. What is your take over this simple, yet beneficial act? Do you believe it can be influential or you rather pass it for some other tasks? In either case, share your thoughts as together we grow, learn, feel, experience!

P.S: Though I said there is no judgement or certificate, we can make an exception. You can go ahead with your shower of praises for ‘my work of art’ in the pictures above. Do not opt for literal sense, ‘literally’.

Dear Husband: You have no choice but to appreciate every single picture generously, whether once, twice or ‘n’ number of times, so you can get back to it. 

Sip 5: because ‘the house’ needs a make-over too - Experience of reorganizing the humble nest

   

    Before I start with this off-beat post, I should give the entire credit of such a unique topic to my parents. The couple that loves to organize and reorganize their house for innumerable times, my parents deserve the title of ‘house make-over experts’. Even my grandparents will agree to this as all through my childhood, I have witnessed their keen observation when they spotted something different, every single time.

    And by make-overs, my parents did not mean spending huge amounts of money for renovation or redecoration of house. Their version of reorganization was something that could easily fit within a small pocket. Cardboard boxes turned into side tables are practical proof of this thought (Only if he had patented this idea before his blogger daughter revealed it all!).

 I shall attempt to define their ideas in my words.

Reorganization (noun.): making easy changes in the house that can bring convenience/ transforming the look of the house for a novel feel

    I am sure I must have inherited these re-organizational genes from them. Though genome-wise, these genes were right in my system, their expression was not until I started taking it seriously. It took frequent session with parents (read: lectures), days of contemplation and hours of discussion (read: one-sided announcements) with the better-half, when finally the re-organizational light lit to a bright glow.  Only then did I realize, it is necessary to make convenient changes in our house to make living simple, easy and happy. 

  

   Unless we take keen interest towards what is necessary or unnecessary for our own house, it shall never fix by itself. We can always continue with the same old style for years on end, dragging same amount of inconvenience to the next subsequent day, until it finally becomes a routine. Or we can audit our needs and make frequent changes that suit us.

    Changes do not mean major activities like breaking walls of the house or replacing old furniture with new one every passing year. It simply means moving things around, playing with the layout, recycling old items, trying out a new style and conducting frequent checks to see if things work. You may have lots of money to do such kind of reorganization or no budget at all. But that does not matter, because cost is not the primary factor here. The underlying idea is to make convenient transformation with existing system.

  And if you are wondering how this topic entered into my mug-list? The answer lies in the sense of happiness achieved after our recent efforts. With an aim to bring convenience and ease, as we started making little changes around, I knew it was something unique. By making it a part of my mug list, I wanted to pat my own back! Because till our make-over experts (read parents) visit us for an audit, we cannot expect any formal certificate.

  Our little changes are indeed too little to make any grand statement. Replacing plastic containers for sugar, tea, oil with smart glass ones or reorganizing containers in kitchen cabinet for a newer look are not some great things to talk about. Similarly, hunting for a shower stand for bathing items or conducting a reality check of what we actually use is not rocket science to say the least. But, these are definitely some necessary tasks for positive changes in the household.  As they offer the joy of looking at something different or satisfaction of trying out convenient options, it makes you realize that reorganization is indeed a fun activity. It is essential to engage in this project quite often to unlock the hidden gems of energy, enthusiasm, happiness and pleasure.

  With this thought, let me share the benefits of reorganization based on my recent experience. It may inspire you to follow suit. Do share your take over it, it may not resonate with my beliefs but it will definitely open a room for discussion.

1.       Reality check: Reorganization helps you to put things into perspective. It forces you to look around, weigh your needs and presents a true picture.

2.       Cleaning of a kind: As you look at the reality, it urges you to get rid of unnecessary items – things that sit around because you feel you need them but have no use whatsoever.

3.       Materialistic detox: Reorganization removes materialistic toxins from the system, as you recycle unused items. It inspires you to match purpose with things. Instead of buying something and then finding a way to use it, it forces the other way round.

4.       Same location, same walls, same floor – but new house! : Let’s face it, you cannot afford to change your house every single time you are bored of the same spot. If you stay in a rented paradise, this thought can still come to life, but if you are house-owners then simply forget about it. Rather than forcing yourself to greet the same house and its components daily, you can change its look with simple rearrangements.

5.       Stage your creativity: Reorganization can pose as a platform for your overflowing creative juices. You can experiment with some DIY ideas for making show pieces, racks, stands or anything than can decorate your house.

6.       Strengthen your homely bond: House transforms into a home only after you sprinkle it with love, care, affection, relations and bonds. But why restrict that affection to the members alone? With reorganization, you can show your love to the fort that holds you safe within its walls. It definitely deserves a simple make-over every now and then.

7.       Selfish happiness: When it comes to making ourselves happy, we need to think about ‘self’. Hence reorganization or some changes to the house can make that possible. Your small efforts may not bring noticeable changes when someone visits you. But they can deliver perfect doses of happiness to all the dwellers who spend maximum time with it.

 Invest time in loving your house because it does a lot that goes unnoticed. Start with simpler reorganizations for humbler fruits of joy. 

Sip 3: When you are almost home - Experience of visiting home city’s twin

   

    What can a person do if he/she is home sick, while being thousands of miles away from the humble paradise? While the obvious answer is to get to that home sweet home as soon as possible, there are other quick-fix choices in today’s world. For a generation that relies on hacks and innovative ideas to get their work done, there are many alternative options to achieve what one desires. Hence as an answer to the question, one can visit a nearest city that is exactly twin to one’s own. Though this was not the primary reason to plan our trip to New York, we were glad that the output erased away any traces of home-sickness from our system completely!

  With a desire to visit our home city’s twin, as we set for our mini-vacation to New York, the experience was extremely fantastic and worth enough to make its way into my mug-list. Close to Mumbai in several ways than I had imagined, New York can be rightly termed as its twin-sister. A city that never sleeps, New York is happening, busy, lively and energetic that refuses to halt for any reason. It oozes enthusiasm and energy in every mile of its radius, making it a center of attraction. Diverse cultures, languages, religions, occupations, lifestyle, cuisines combine into this melting pot. It has something for everyone that keeps each one occupied.

     This city refuses to discriminate among its folks. Whether you are rich or poor, salaried employee or businessman, student or retired, simple or fashionable, it will accept you for what you are. The inclination of holding every resident together brought back memories of Mumbai, as it welcomes everyone with open arms. 

    With dreams in eyes and energy in body as people head to this city, there is nothing that can hold one back. The rule of both these cities is very simple- if you are ready to work hard and make a name for yourself, it will set the perfect stage with spotlights and allow you to perform. But if you choose to laze around and just demand goodies, it shall scare you out with its fast pace. As everyone is running around to stay on their schedule, the energetic ambiance is amazing in its own way.

   Non-judgmental approach and open-mindedness are two aspects of New York that made me realize this twin relationship is absolutely true. As long as you are engrossed in your own project and happy with what you do, there is nothing to stop you. No one has the time to wait and analyze or judge and comment, making it a fair open platform for all. You do not need money, assets, power or name to prove your worth. Merit and skills alone shall keep you alive. Though this aspect is true for any city, village or town, there is something in both these cities that spells out ‘opportunities’.

    As we walked on the busy streets of New York as tourists, we could not help but notice the similarities with our own sweet home. Every passing moment, we were tempted to compare it with Mumbai, increasing our affection towards it. Every single individual is busy in their own unique world, yet united under the sky of the city. 

   

   Narrow lanes, crowded streets, parallel car parking, tall skyscrapers, numerous taxis, strong public transport, street food carts, exotic restaurants and many commercial spots were some of the aspects that unite these two cities. Experience of traveling in local train was the perfect ‘aha’ moment that confirmed my correlation between the two. Only after you travel in crowded trains with so many people –divided by purpose but united by the goal to just get there, you realize that it is actually Mumbai-in-disguise!

  People often complain about the hostile nature and unfriendly ambiance of these two places. As everyone is busy in their own sphere, there is no time for small talk, neighborly affection or friendly concerns. Though it is true to certain extent, there is friendliness among people when the need arises. People may appear drowned in their own pool, but they shall definitely swim to rescue if one calls for help. Switching between public and private domain through just one button is something that makes New York and Mumbai folks what they are today.

  With this, let me share those significant moments that gave way to the title of this article:

We knew we had reached Mumbai's twin when:

1.       We heard stories about expensive rent and housing in the city, hence people are forced to reside in suburbs and travel to their offices by public transport.

2.       We saw men and women in perfect formal attire sharing seat with casually dressed students in trains and sub-ways. 

3.       There were options of tasty street food and exotic restaurants both along the same lane. One could spend anything from $1 to $100 for a single lunch, yet find satisfying options depending on choice.

4.       The time-table of trains and buses make the final call about one’s schedule.

5.       We experienced that the setup of city was different on weekends and weekdays. While weekdays were filled with people leading their way to work, weekends were filled with enthusiastic tourists.

6.       We saw the struggle for finding car parking spaces on streets.

7.       We heard excessive honking all around the city.

8.       We realized that street smartness is the only way to survive in this place. Everyone has to make their own way and it is impossible to wait for others.

9.       We saw almost every building had commercial space for shops and restaurants on the ground floor.

10.   We observed several redevelopment projects - converting old buildings into posh towers.

11.   The GPS showed red marks of excessive traffic all around the city.

12.   We saw many old buildings with preserved heritage look in downtown.

13.   We observed several businesses share space in downtown- financial corporations, marketing hubs, tech companies, banking and retailing etc.

14.   We realized that the city is famous for its skyline of tall skyscrapers against backdrop of water like the Queen’s necklace of Mumbai.

15.   We were tempted to say ‘concrete jungle’ quite often.

16.   The crowded streets make you feel safe even late in the evening or almost mid-night.

And finally, when I heard my husband say ‘I belong here’ after almost every half mile in the city.

       Traffic and expensive rent are two things that apply to any big city around the world. There is nothing to complain or compare, but definitely fun in making interesting observations. If Mumbai has taught me something, it has to be ‘to each one its own’. Hence I believe every place is different, unique and amazing in its own way. ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ and enjoy every experience with open arms. No wonder I said ‘I belong here’, as I landed at the airport and entered my humble apartment at the end of our trip.

I can undoubtedly say, visiting my Mumbai’s twin gave me almost equal amount of happiness, love, energy and memories. Thus, it was completely justified to be featured in my mug-list. I can now say, when I was in New York, I was almost home…. 

P.S: This thought is purely based on my opinion. I do not intend to hurt sentiments of any city or its dwellers. Frequent usage of Mumbai or New York may disinterest some readers, but I have a solution to it. Call me to your city and I shall come over with my blogger lens to write an entire article about it too!