Are you treating life well?

 Are you treating life well ?

What a question to ask you would say. No I am serious. Life has its quirks and fancies and sometimes it brings us to a stage where we feel why me. We feel bogged down by stress in our life and modern life, believe me, has plenty of it.

It is here that my question becomes relevant. Life will give you pleasures and pains but are you handling it well? Or are you giving in to escapism? Worse, are you in denial? Are you always smiling, chirpy and enthusiastic on the surface but seething with rage inside? Do you take a drink or two with friends in the evening and think you are okay? Are you getting distanced from your loved ones because of stress? Are YOU treating life well ?

Most of us have a fight or flight response to conflict. We react instead of responding. The driver who just overtook you from wrong side, does he elicit an angry reaction from you? The boss who doesn’t value your suggestions, is he able to spoil your mood for the day ? Your significant other doesn’t understand you, do you get frustrated ? These are real day to day situations in our life. How you treat them is of essence. 

Do you whine all the time about your problems or do you take them in your stride ? We all have our moments of anger, jealousy and hate. To tackle them with patience is treating life well. 

All of us have different ways of dealing with our stress. For me it’s yoga and listening to classical music and writing. What is yours? How do you treat life? Do write to me. 

Be happy and safe.

So be it !!!

Mundane or exotic?

 Mundane or exotic ?

Summer is finally here and we are all planning our trips to cottages, beaches, foreign travel and bbq s with our friends and family. Away from the mundane routine. 

Ah, but there is grass to mown in our backyard and front lawn, flower and vegetable beds to be watered and weeding to be done. Not to forget protecting your cabbage, tomato and cucumber plants from rodents. Then there are grills to be clean for bbq, meats and veggies to be marinated and exotic salads to put together. 

So the mundane takes over. Well, the exotic tantalizes you, seduces you, gives you pleasure for a short while and then brings you down with a thud to mother earth. Mundane, on the other hand, keeps us busy, makes us tired, is boring and keeps us balanced and realistic. It gives us discipline to carry on. Occasional exotic is fine but mundane is permanent. 

What if we try and make a fusion from time to time? Pitching a tent in your backyard and cooking on a camp stove? Screening a movie there with a big screen and having popcorn or hot chocolate? In every city there are free shows, parks and pools. We can take advantage of these and turn our mundane exotic. 

Having a slice of bread is mundane, tuning it into a bread pizza can be exotic. Involving children in cleaning flower beds not only adds a zing to mundane but also teaches them life skills and gives them happy memories. Isn’t that exotic? You can think of numerous other ways to-make your mundane interesting. 

What is your formula of turning mundane into exotic? Do tell me, I’d like to hear from you.

Be happy and safe

So be it !!!

Take a chill pill

 Take a chill pill

We have all heard this phrase and have used it to when we want the other person to relax and calm down. But do you know the phrase originated in 1980s and is believed to be connected to ADHD medicine which were called chill pills. Today we use it metaphorically. 

Each one of us have their own chill pill. For some it’s music, for some it’s taking a walk and for others it’s watching a movie. It also depends on how agitated we are and what kind of stress we are facing. The chill pill can change from time to time. 

Modern life brings its own challenges and we try to cope but sometimes it becomes increasingly difficult to balance. Do take a chill pill literally or otherwise. 

I find meditation to be a great chill pill though it’s hard to meditate when one is flustered. Meditation is not a quick upper that will elevate your mood instantly. It has to be a part of your life style. Oh, but I don’t have time to close my eyes and meditate you could say. I agree. 

It is difficult to clear your mind of all negative thoughts and meditate. We need years of practice and patience for that. However, we can take baby steps starting with our breathing. Just watch your breathing. How many times do you breathe in a minute and how shallow or deep is your breath ? Do you always take small breaths? Or do you take deep breaths? 

When we take deep breath, our blood pressure drops down, our cortisol, the stress hormone takes a back seat and our parasympathetic nervous system works efficiently. This we one can do anytime, anywhere. Breathe deeply, if possible count seven to inhale , hold it for at least five seconds and exhale counting seven. Slowly you can increase the counting to ten. This can be done in your lunch break or sitting in car, subway or even while attending a meeting. In fact you can do this before starting that meeting and you will find yourself to be more relaxed and focused. 

There are some special megahertz waves music which relaxes you though you can’t use that everywhere. Deep breathing, according to me a great chill pill. Once you master that, meditation will be easier.

What is your chill pill? Do share with me, I’d love that.

Take chill pill !! 

So be it !!!

Too hot, too cold

 Too hot, too cold

Yesterday I went out for a picnic with my friends. It was hot, 35 degrees Celsius. felt like more than that. Though we met late in the afternoon, the weather was still sultry. We sat in a park for just two hours and came back. 

I thought to myself, here we are, waiting for the summer to come so we can go out without wearing layers of clothes to avoid cold, and come summer , we find it too hot. In winters it’s too cold. 

Human beings are never satisfied. This has been both a boon and bane for us. If we had been satisfied, all the scientific advances we made, architectural monuments we created wouldn’t have been there. In fact, becoming a food gatherer from food hunter was the first sign of our dissatisfaction with our state. Homo sapiens were always finding ways to improve their life. Today the humanity has all the comforts. The kind of life we enjoy was not available to even the richest in ancient times. And yet we are the most dissatisfied today.

That is our bane. Our dissatisfaction has affected our perspective. We have houses with manicured lawns but don’t sit there as it’s too hot. We go to the gym and walk on a track there but don’t walk on the trail as there are mosquitoes. Even if try to do this, we don’t have time. 

Human beings are so busy making a living that they now forget to live. Earning a living is a necessity, yes, living is too. 

So do we stop earning? No , not at all. But we can create a balance. 

What is your take on this? Do write to me

Stay happy and safe

Do be it !!!

Chanting !!!

 Chanting !!!

As I sat down for my blog today, I was drawn to Nirvan Shatakam being played by my husband on his phone. It’s a compilation of six verses written by one of the most brilliant visionaries of India, Adi Shankracharya. But I am not discussing that today.

What I do want to discuss is the importance of mantras in our life. Today science has acknowledged that mantras affect our parasympathetic nervous system and calm our mind. Chanting mantras leads to decreased heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormone levels. 

Mantras create specific vibrations that have the potential to influence brainwave patterns which take our mind from being anxious to feeling relaxed. In terms of science, from beta waves to theta waves.

Mantras if chanted correctly, help us focus our mind and create a state of peace within. The syllables in any mantras are arranged in a specific manner to create very specific sounds affecting different parts of our body and brain. Gayatri mantra 

 has all the 24 syllables, making it the most powerful mantra in the universe. It is the only known mantra that has all 24 of its constituent syllables as beej aksharas, the chanting of which releases a tremendous wave of energy and it affects the 24 marma or pressure points in our body. 

Mantras don’t have to be in Sanskrit. Their origin is not religious. Almost all ancient civilizations had their own sounds spoken in a rhythmic manner for centuries. Even today the tradition lives though not as actively as Sanskrit mantras in India.  In fact, we have a distinct branch of yoga called Nad Yoga which deals with sound and its healing capacity. Our ragas are basically mantras only. 

Do you chant a mantra? If yes, which one is your favourite? Do tell me.

Chant away to calmness.

So be it !!!

Seen, unseen

 Seen, unseen

Normally I don’t have writer’s block. I write in the morning while having my hot water. But I got distracted today by social media and lost track. When I started writing, I couldn’t. Then I read something a friend of mine had written in a WhatsApp group about how our efforts are not seen but our mistakes are. She also talked about carrying on and one day the right people would see. It resonated with me. Thank you Ritu.

It happens to us all. We spend hours in preparing a project in the office, even working late at night in home, making all those slides and one small glitch which may or may not be our fault brings tons of criticism from the management.

A mother prepares favourite food of her family and all she gets to hear is ‘it’s very spicy or it is bland. 

A father starts early from office so he can take his child for his activity classes, gets stuck in traffic and reaches late. All he hears is you are never there for me. Examples are endless. 

So what do we do ? My friend says to carry on as our consistency speaks louder than any applause. Here I would beg to differ from her. 

I would ask the family to cook one day just to make them realize how much effort goes in cooking. I would , as a father ask the child to complete a couple of house chore in limited time so they learn how difficult it is to always make it on time. With your boss you have to be more diplomatic. You could ask them at each step what to do so they won’t be able to question you later.

Are these simple or impractical solutions ? May be but these simple strategies turn out to be effective. Unless the other person goes through the process themselves, they can’t appreciate. That is why in army all young lieutenants have to dig poo holes in the time given so they realize the efforts of their soldiers. It also teaches them humility. 

Consistent effort is very important. Equally important is to make sure your efforts not taken for granted. 

What are your thoughts on this ? Do write to me.

Be happy and safe

So be it !!!

Big Wonders, Small Wonders

 Big Wonders, Small Wonders 

Taj Mahal, hanging  gardens of Babylonia, Pyramids, big wonders everyone talks about and want to visit. We can’t wait to see Italy with its great architecture, we want to take a selfie on the Eiffel Tower or the Great Wall of China. 

We wonder how these monuments were built without the technological advancement we have today. We feel awed and humble. But these are expensive tours not everyone can afford. 

There are, however, small wonders all around us. In our mundane life. Long hard winters turning into spring, with green shoots in trees, rustling of leaves and blooming of flowers in summer, a mother giving birth to her child and watching our babies take their first step, having friends who lend you their shoulders to cry and enjoy your happy moments, to watch sunset on a beach and to experience deep emotions. 

Aren’t they wonders, small but precious? 

To me human beings are a wonderful species. Human body is, in itself a marvel, a wonder. Apart from having all the senses, we have speech. Isn’t that a wonder? We can talk, sing and shout. Which other species can do that. 

Most of the time I have earned through my speaking ability. To me being able to speak is a wonder we don’t pay much attention to, we take it for granted.Try keeping a speech fast for a day. Write what you feel. 

What do you find wonderful? And why?do write to me

Enjoy a wonderful day

Do be it !!!

Ah!!! The sleep at last

Ah !!! Sleep at last 

Last night was a night after years that I slept for straight six hours. Yes, for me it’s a big thing. 

You see, I have been a light sleeper since childhood and as I am aging, I find it difficult to sleep before two or three in the morning. 

I have tried almost every trick, I.e., reading a book, listening to soothing music or some special megahertz’s music, putting away my phone, counting reverse, practically every thing. I don’t want to take sleeping pills though sometimes I make camomile tea which also doesn’t help. 

It’s not that I don’t want to sleep. The moment I feel drowsy, I go to bed. But to lie in bed and not able to sleep is something I can’t. 

I have been advised the long term side effects of less sleep on my mental and physical health but so far after sleeping for 4-5 hours for several years, I am still mentally alert and physically active. Yes, I have started taking a little nap in the afternoon now so I guess that compensates for my lack of sleep. Even if I don’t take a nap, I still can’t sleep before 2. 

So last night after finishing a movie, I felt drowsy and went to sleep without wasting a moment. For me, sleeping around midnight was early and I slept till six in the morning. I tried sleeping a little more but couldn’t so came down and here I am writing my blog early in the morning.

How long do you sleep ? Do you have any tips for sleeping early? Do write to me. I’d love that. 

Stay healthy and happy

So be it !!!

Music, food for soul

 Music, food for soul 

A friend of mine is a professional singer in indian classical music. Recently I attended her concert. 

As she sang, I was transported to another world. Her throaty voice, perfect rendition and the raga she chose were perfect. It was difficult to come out of my trance when the music ended. Thank you Ramneek for that wonderful experience. 

I am sure it happens to most of us. Whether we like classical, rock, folk or jazz, music transcends language, countries and time. I love Hindi film songs based on ragas and folk music and enjoy the fast beat also. 

I love jazz and whenever I drive my car radio is tuned to a jazz fm station. I like soft rock and country music too. But I always thought I couldn’t enjoy western classical music because I had not learnt it and didn’t understand it. But listening to Beethoven’s fifth symphony blew my mind. It is so powerful and provokes such emotions. I still don’t understand what they mean by four note motif it uses but I know that it impacted me very deep down. Now I’ll plan to attend a western classical concert. 

Have you had an experience where music really touched your inner core? Where you were shaken and had tears rolling down your cheek? Please share. 

Stay tuned and be safe

So be it !!!

A Dish and a Recipe

 A recipe and a dish

Master chef is very popular show these days. Every country has its own show where famous chefs judge dishes prepared by the contestants. Some chefs are friendly, some encouraging and some are very hard to please. The contestants prepare , sometimes traditional dishes with a twist or create dishes of their own. 

Then there are chefs who have come out with cook books. I have browsed through at least a hundred cookbooks. I have also tried recipes from them. 

To me a dish is not just a mixture of spices, meats, vegetables and herbs. A dish, specifically a traditional dish tells us a story. It conveys the climate of the place it was created in, its agriculture, its social structure and its cultural heritage. 

Our food is largely influenced by the crops we grow, how hot or cold the climate is, how busy people are. That determines the food choices. As a result we have more vegetables based dishes in countries with hot summers and not so hard winters. In countries like India, culturally, people eat less meat. 

Countries with long winters have developed varieties of preserving meat, I.e., sausages, salami etc. 

To me, a dish is a symphony to tantalize our senses, to create that bouquet of aromas, to stroke our hunger. A chef is a conductor of the orchestra where each ingredient works in perfect harmony with the other and satisfy not just our physical hunger but our soul. It doesn’t have to be a very complicated dish. A simple daal, made carefully with balancing the ingredients can be as tasty as any dish requiring different meats or vegetables with tons of herbs. 

What is your favourite dish to make and eat? Do tell me. You can also share it. 

Happy cooking and be safe

So be it !!!