E: Experiences measure the ‘LIFE’ in your life, gain more to live more

   Taking the A-Z series ahead, letter ‘E’ is the next piece of my attention. When I thought about the appropriate word for this alphabet, I did not have to ponder for long. Experience is probably the most common word in our vocabulary circuit for a couple of reasons. Though this act of gathering experiences was common in the good, old years too, it has gained more attention in the recent times.

  Firstly, growing influence of social media has given us a royal privilege to present and visualize activities in greater details. From travel to food, adventure to hobbies, as this personalized broadcasting instrument allows you to download and upload, the value of ‘experiences’ has increased in the process.

   Secondly, carefree attitude of the millennial generation has promoted the domain of experiences. Unlike the previous clan that believed in a typical timeline with stress over stability, millennials choose to differ on several fronts. Instead of so-called fool-proof plans of a settled life, as younger generation tend to fall for unique experiences and novel adventures, there are several differences along the way.

   But, how does this new-age mantra of millennials relate to my post? Or what relevance does it hold with respect to my confusing title? How can someone measure the life in their life? And how do ‘experiences’ calculate our life quotient? To answer these questions, I will need your ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking. As creative arts tend to lean towards an abstract approach, I will urge you to think beyond the usual. When I write these pieces, I believe in experimentation and novelty, hence you may either disagree with the thought or end up relating with it at several levels.

    Experiences are classically defined as close encounters or practical contacts with a particular activity. They may be good, bad, desirable, undesirable, amazing, repeatable or simply worth attempting. These experiences measure our life quotient as they take us towards the diverse elements of the world. 

  

    Be it cuisine or travel, occupation or leisure, experiences pull us closer to the sea of adventures. It prompts us to try out something new, while embracing the joy behind uncertainty. If we only stick to a regular routine all our life, we cannot draw fun and happiness from the process of ‘living’. Experiences urge us to be bold, daring, confident and happy all at once. It evaluates our ability to survive in unexpected circumstances.

   Experiences definitely measure how well you live. While age measures the numerical aspect of one’s journey, experiences evaluate the fun associated with it. So, if age caters to the ‘how many’ part of the question, experiences address the ‘how well’ end of it. This makes it essential to gather numerous experiences along your way. And while you are at it, do so for your own happiness. 

  Though they measure how happening your journey is, it is for your own good. In the process of presenting a happy face, do not imitate someone else’s course. As each one of us have a unique route, our experiences and adventures are unique too. Comparing your life with others or expecting same amount of adventures will only add disappointment down the line. Find your own adventure fix and set on an eventful course to bag some more.

   While experiences are known for their vast doses of fun, they also pose as valuable lessons in disguise. Experiences push us away from our comfort zones, making us fearless. Another aspect of experience that deserves consideration is the ‘practical’ side of it. Though you can always learn from someone else’s encounters and seek guidance; it is unacceptable to draw conclusions, unless you try your own hands at it.

    In the classic war between assets and experiences, I always believe experiences have an upper hand. Though assets represent stability, investment and maturity, they cannot offer the same amount of happiness as experiences. This definitely calls for an optimum balance between the two. As long as you are able to segregate expenses between these two groups, you can expect a fun-filled and fulfilling picture.

  With this thought in mind, think about your unique experiences and calculate your ‘life’ quotient. Do this mental calculation for your own good, and come up with options to boost it. Do something fun, different, exciting and adventurous. Routine is for survival, while unique is for thrill and fun. There is no right or wrong way about it. Gather experiences to fill your lives with joy and spread the cheer around.

    Do share your thoughts and enlighten me with a feedback. Together we can measure, evaluate, analyze and rejoice, after all it boils down to our ‘life’. And going by the title, if it will evaluate how well you actually live, why take a chance? Buckle up, celebrate, experience and enjoy the roller coaster ride, because it only gets better and better! 

D: DOs and DON’Ts of an interesting joyride

    After A for acceptance, B for bothering and C for celebrate, it’s time for the next letter ‘D’. Taking my A-Z series ahead, I am back with my pondering, once again. For those of you who have not read the start of this series, my aim is to take one alphabet each time and talk about an important aspect that matters to me. And hence that brings us to the letter D.

  When I was thinking about this don of letters ‘D’, I could not resist the usage of word ‘Do’. After all doing is action and action is output. Hence, I was tempted to involve ‘dos and don’ts in an attempt to list out actions that are significant. I could have simply titled this article as ‘Dos and Don’ts of life (from my perspective, of course!) because that is exactly what I wish to pen down. Things that make life happy, joyous, adventurous and delightful versus things that make it miserable, boring, uneventful and dry.

     It is necessary to highlight ‘my perspective’ as these are some of the aspects that I truly care about. And since we all are entitled to our own opinion - you can agree, disagree, debate or nod over it, the way you like. Coming back to the title, I did not name it  DOs and DON'Ts of life, because life is just not as simple as it reads and spells. Four letters of two vowels and two consonants cannot describe this eventful process that has its own share of ups and downs. We laugh, cry, smile, joke, hate or get angry over it, yet we cannot truly explain what it stands for.

     While journey, story, plot and project are some of the commonly used synonyms for life, it is impossible to agree on a single word. Hence, when I call it a ‘joyride’, there is nothing right or wrong about it. After finding a correct noun, I could not leave it standing alone without any appropriate adjective and hence in comes the partner ‘interesting’.  I am simply in love with this word ‘interesting’ as there is lot of mystery behind it. It all depends on how you look at it because interesting can mean good, bad, imaginable, unpredictable or totally wonderful all at once. Talk about benefit of doubt as interesting truly takes the cake in that respect.

  Finally, after hunting a metaphor for life, it is time to list the DOs and DON’Ts. Such an article mirrors my thoughts and poses as a reminder for my own conduct. I do not intend to preach or be your next self-help guru. These DOs and DON'Ts are solely addressed to my little mind. If some of them do happen to match with your thoughts, I will be more than happy. As you read along, analyze and evaluate your take over the same. Prepare a matching score and let us see how well we resonate (If I reveal about a prize for the maximum matching score, will it count as a bribe?!?) Prize or no prize, do send your comments and feedback as we ponder about this joyride together.

DOs

1.       Live in the present - past is not in your hands anymore and you cannot put a claim over the future right away, so make the most of this present. Work hard today instead of fussing over what or how to work tomorrow.

2.       Have fun in everything you do. Enjoy your work, leisure, responsibilities, duties and chores. Extract colorful joy from every single act and you will be surprised by this difference in attitude.

3.       Respect the difference in opinions. Do agree to disagree. What you believe in or what belief you hold about something may not be same for all, hence enjoy these disagreements too.

4.       Find your passion and work on it. Figure out your hobbies and interests. Engage in activities you enjoy and spend that well deserved time for yourself. ‘Me-time’ is like a battery that charges you, hence it is unacceptable to ignore it.

5.       Listen to advice, suggestions, ideas and tips. Seek guidance from people around you. Be open to their experiences and adventures. Their situations may not mimic yours, but their lessons will definitely teach you something too.

6.       Respect people around you irrespective of their age, gender, nationality, occupation, religion or faith. Above all these invisible boundaries that separate us, we all are humans with eyes, ears, body, brain and a big heart.

7.       Respond to changing situations. Be flexible in your approach. Rigidity over certain aspects may not yield any good results. Accept the situation and find your way out, rather than crying over things beyond your reach.

8.       Love yourself, communicate with your thoughts. Listen to your inner voice and make yourself a priority too. It may be difficult in light of your responsibilities, duties, schedule and fast paced life, but definitely not impossible to say the least.

9.       Express your thoughts. Show what and how you feel. Express your emotions, feelings and ideas. Open your heart to people you love and let them share their feelings too. Bottling your feelings or agreeing to everything under the pretext of ‘being a good or sincere person’ will do more harm than expected.

DON’Ts

1.       Do not blame people or situations for your own course. Certain unavoidable changes may alter your plans but ultimately it is up to you to find a way out or sit and blame someone else for the rest of your time.

2.       Do not take relationships and friendships for granted. You may not have time for your people right away or may be stuck in some unavoidable job, in such cases revert back whenever you can. Do not play with their trust, patience, good will and love.

3.       Do not get distracted by unnecessary elements of disturbance. Take criticism positively and pay attention to feedback. You may disagree with what people think about you. It is not your responsibility to sit and defend yourself, every single time. At times, let your actions speak.

4.       Do not compare your life with others. It is absolutely novel, unique, different, one-of-a-kind,…add as many synonyms as you like. Just as your likes and dislikes about food or fashion are different, so are your priorities, goals and timelines.

5.       Do not pressurize yourself or be too hard over your course. It is fine to be lazy or bored sometimes. There is nothing wrong about your mistakes and failure, but it is absolutely wrong if you give up. Enjoy failure too, it will prepare you for the hardships ahead.

6.       Do not make judgments about people and their actions. You have not even walked a single step in their shoes, hence it is totally unacceptable to comment or draw conclusions.

7.       Do not limit or restrict your life within boundaries of your own city, country, culture or cuisine. Learn new languages, travel, read about diverse cultures or know interesting facts from people.

8.       Do not live like a robot, machine or tree. Move away if you don’t like something. There are no instruction manuals for your functioning. Do not obsess over your things or beliefs. It is acceptable to try out something new. Take risks and make the most of every opportunity.

9.       Do not worry about each and everything. Your worries, tensions and anxious thoughts will only fill the space with useless contents. It is impossible to train your mind to stop worrying, but you can definitely lower the volume, frequency and weight.

I completely agree that these dos and don’ts are easier said than done, or in this case easier written than followed. They sound fancy, amazing and completely appropriate as you read them in a blog or an article. But, when we make an attempt to implement them in our real lives- it is difficult, overwhelming and sometimes impossible; if we want to be absolutely true. Then again, there is no harm in making efforts. If we use them as guidelines and toil towards at least 10% of it, we may experience something colorful and bright. 

Until I return back with the next alphabet- happy reading, thinking and living!

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.  

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.