Hopefulness of the downturned mind

Last night I was casually browsing the net when I stumbled upon the NDTV interview of Deepika Padokone. I had heard about her cause against battling with depression however had not paid much heed considering that I generally do not bother to keep a tab of the personal lives of celebrities and that more than often such activities are linked to some form of publicity yeahh!

I longed to glance through a couple of minutes of the video but ended up watching the entire 50 minutes video.

And I was taken aback.

The video moved me. Inspite of being from the educated and inculcated strata of the society, I had very limited understanding of the chronic ailment called Depression, it’s causes and effects, the associated hazards and symptoms. And I decided to pen down what I had learnt.

Would you believe?

India is said to be the most depressed country in the world. According to WHO, 36% of Indians are depressed which means every one person among four suffers from depression. And guess what? Indian women are found to be more depressed than any other women in the world. Not only that, we also happen to be the ones who do not realize or admit that we are suffering from depression. Growing ambitions, impulsive lifestyle, staying away from family for years, hectic schedules, stringent personal goal settings and abnormally long hours of work could be some of the reasons. We are facing dire consequences of the growing Indian Market in the face of globalization.

 Worst part?

You might be in constant battle with yourself everyday, trying to convince yourself that you are ok when you are not. You may not even know that you are suffering from depression. You are carrying a burden unknowingly and you are not able to reach your maximum potential. You lose interest in activities that you had once interest in. 

Often we term Depression as a luxurious disease, calling it a privilege of the rich and not the condition of the poor. We tell ourselves that this is nothing but a phase. We become reluctant to share our condition even with the closest of relations for the fear of rejection or lack of understanding. We are too proud of ourselves to seek professional help and consider it nothing but a waste of time and money. Aversion towards medication is also common.

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as Clinical Depression or Unipolar Depression is a disfunctioning of the brain causing extreme low moods, inability to experience the joys of life, insomnia or excessive sleep, lack of appetite or excessive hunger pangs, low self esteem, lack of concentration, helplessness, hopelessness, inability to manage relationships and the need to remain isolated, the necessity to break down frequently and suicidal in extreme cases.

At some point of the time in our lives, probably all of us have suffered from a disbalanced mental condition. Sometimes we have been able to decipher the reason and have been able to take charge of ourselves, sometimes maybe we have not, however have let it pass as just another phase of life. Sometimes we can trace back to the cause and take measures to rectify it, however, sometimes we might not be able to.

American poet Sylvia Plath lived her life and died of depression. Her constant struggle to cope up with life is explicitly captured in many of her confessional poetry.

“I didn’t want my picture taken because I was going to cry”, she says, “I didn’t know why I was going to cry, but I knew that if anybody spoke to me or looked at me too closely the tears would fly out of my eyes and the sobs would fly out of my throat and I’d cry for a week. I could feel the tears brimming and sloshing in me like water in a glass that is unsteady and too full.” 

Plath was perceived to have been living a loving life juggling fame and a beautiful family completed with children. Then what triggered her to end her life?

Similarly, Robin Williams, the person who earned immense popularity by tickling the funny bone of his audience all around the globe, ended his life in sheer exasperation. Closer home, Parveen Babi happened to suffer from acute depression before she committed suicide.

Therefore, Depression cannot be directly mapped with the social status of a person. It has nothing to do with financial security, wealth, fame or power. Also it cannot be confused with sadness. Sadness is situational, explainable and a part of human experience. Depression, on the other hand, is an involuntary disorder of the brain and eventually the hormones, triggering grave reactions in the mind and the body.

Why are we not able to shake off the fear?

That is because we think we are in control of our brains. But the fact is that we are not. Therefore, we have no control over depression.

We cannot prevent this deadly disease from affecting anyone. But we can certainly take preventive measures. The first and foremost requirement is to break free from the stigma. We must learn to confront our demons. We must educate ourselves and admit the fact that we are suffering from depression if we are. We must also be aware. We can seek help, build a strong support system in close friends and family and openly talk about how we feel. We must not hesitate to consult a psychiatrist and take medication if necessary.

A sincere plead, don’t let yourself or someone you care suffer from this hazardous mental condition, especially the women you love and care for. Be aware and keep an eye for symptoms. Aim towards maintaining a wholesome balanced life. Indulge is open conversations with closed ones, listen to them, pay attention. And never ever miss a chance to infuse moments of happiness and togetherness in the lives of your loved ones. Show them that you care.

At times, meetings and deadlines can wait. Life won't!

Keep brimming and blooming with life!

P.S. - If you'd like to watch Deepika's interview, here's the link

          

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwIOrxWT7Z8

          & here are some more insights on Depression on Webmd 

          http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/what-is-depression

Vocation 2015

I'm back...needless to say...11 months away from blogging...Would you believe?

With more than 7 unsure drafts awaiting the verdict, I take on the plunge to write again. No it is not a New Year Resolution as you think, it is simply such a day at home when you have less than usual work in hand and your friends are either busy at work or suffering from fever because of more-than-any-human-can-endure parties and get togethers (basically no one to hang around with you see). 

And why, I have been lazy all this while. I have been lazy to such an extent that I have not even posted a thank you mail to a couple of compliment emails on my blog sent to me. Bad!

I gaped at the date of the last post, was it February last year when I published a post for the last time? Bad! Bad! 

Here's hoping that you all had a great year. Personally, I have had a peaceful 2014. I have grown personally as a person. I have met a few extremely talented and hardworking people who have inspired me to a great extent. And I've had more than numerous moments of togetherness with loved ones. I feel blessed.

Well, 2015 has waltzed into our lives and I cannot but not acknowledge the presence of a beginning, an inception of untried and unexplored times.

And here's what I want to do this year. 

I want to run. 

I want to run fast and headlong. I want to run strong and with resilience. I want to embrace tirelessness and endurance.I want to be tough, I want to be resilient.

In the ease of the morning or the hustle of the evening, I want to run, pacing through statutory. I want to experience the sense of pride one generally feels, after a long tiresome run. 

Because once the little goals are achieved, every day will feel like an award worthy moment.

Likewise, I want to push my limits further in everything I do. I want to work more and party harder. I want to practice perseverance even in the most difficult times. I want to spend a little extra time with my parents, on my powerpoints, in the kitchen and at the gym. I want to read much much more than I have read in 2014. I want to feel accomplished, each and every day. 

“ They say a good love is one that sits you down, gives you a drink of water, and pats you on top of the head. But I say a good love is one that casts you into the wind, sets you ablaze, makes you burn through the skies and ignite the night like a phoenix; the kind that cuts you loose like a wildfire and you can't stop running simply because you keep on burning everything that you touch! I say that's a good love; one that burns and flies, and you run with it!” 

Have a sprinting 2015! Let Love find you.

Introspection of a Commoner

So here I am, once again, in all attempts to put my laziness at bay and get back to writing! I know I know...since December I have been away from my blog and to me, it almost seemed like I'll never write again!...Christmas and New Year's was great...and so was the first month of 2014! (What with a long holiday and lottsa parties and loadsa hangouts!)...and more than often, while I've been grooving to the music or laughing irresistibly, the thought of writing for my blog flashes in my mind! Those well- acquainted regretful sentiments come leaping from within, leaving me concerned...

Of course there are times, when emotions get the better of me...the longing to express myself through written words seems more explicable than speech. However...in the past two months a few  attempts have take shape in the form of scribbles saved in my drafts...as I read them later, the words which seemed so meaningful before, suddenly doesn't seem art worthy anymore!

There are these thoughts...the ones which are always there within you, they've been there for God knows how long, the ones which rests in your mind for a split second but then jiffy!...they are gone and forgotten soon!...

But at times when I sit in my living room in the evening, sipping my evening coffee, after a hard day's work, these thoughts come rushing back!...thoughts never been thoroughly thought upon, never been invested time on, never been action-ed upon!!!

I don't believe everything happens for a reason. But I still search for reasons anyway..

When I walk my way to work early morning, the sight of  the street dog's fresh waste on the roads, their constant barking and running around makes me nauseatic, scared!...Pardon me here I'm no animal hater however I am equally keen to breathe my mornings in a relatively fresher environment! I immediately decide to write to the Municipality in the evening after I get home...however, at a later time, a different set of preoccupations get the better of me...and the work never gets done!

I have always longed to click a family photograph of all my six aunts, four uncles and all my cousins and capture the moments of togetherness...but sadly the thought generally re-occurs after the get together is over and I'm left sulking everafter...#sigh

Sometimes there are days when I catch oddly behaving people on the roads, ready to cause harm to women passer-bys anytime, waiting and looking for opportunities to strike...I look at them and think, should I walk towards them and slap them? Should I attract attention of the other passer bys? The crisis is over, no harm is caused eventually and soon I find myself busy attending to the other important things in life! However I know that although the immediate situation is under control, the problem remains uncured and mostly unattended to! I shudder at the thought...resorting to do something about this! But there again...urgency when over, seldom creates the pressure to act!!!

Learning a western classical form of dance has always been my want and I'm sure I share this want with many of you there! Believe me I have gone as far as listing down the names of all the dance class schools, their timings and charges but I've still not been able to enrol myself into any of them yet! #shameful

Similarly the intention of joining a baking class has always been there...but the trickles of regret seeps in only during Christmas and New Years'! Hmmm....

There are so many such streams of thoughts I catch...unaware...like a heap of convoluted threads constantly winding and unwinding. Instances and circumstances leave a trail in the mind and the impulse to do something erupts, only to be overshadowed by another set of convictions, a little while later!

Sometimes the failure of acting on them makes me melancholic...a hint of regret mixed with the exasperation "How could I forget?"...but then my reflection says, "Life's like that I suppose...You cannot do everything you think you'd do and you want to do, together, all at the same time!"

And that makes me a little despondent...a little restless...

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.”  
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of being a WallFlower

Diary Scribbles of a Sibling...

I was always a happy child...the only daughter of my parents! I was the apple of their eye! Their world revolved around me. Every time I learnt a new word or some new antics, they would watch me with proud eyes!!!...Until one day I saw my friend's little sister, a little ball of fur, strutting across in pink, holding her elder sister's hand. "She is soo lucky ", I thought. "What a joy it must be to have a little living doll...", I wondered! Before long...I too wanted a baby sister, who I could keep for life and play with all day!

"Mamma...please I too want a little sister", I pleaded day and night. All the toys, games, friends started feeling trivial as the little me started longing for a sister....my own sister!

Dreams came true as Ma went away for a few days and came back after a days with a little thing wrapped in towel. "Here's your little sis"...she smiled! I had become an elder sister...I was overjoyed!!!! She was the most beautiful little thing I had ever seen! She had mesmerizing big jet black eyes and lovely black curls! Since she was so sweet we named her 'Mishti'! Mishti was a soft spoken lil girl, my sweetheart and was extremely attached to me...more than Ma n Baba! She would try and copy everything I did! :-) She started growing up fast and as she joined my school, my friends became all too busy looking after her and taking care of her needs!!! ...I was so proud...

That was twenty years ago....

Well well!!! Times change...Mishti is an all grown up girl now...in her BTech 3rd year! My little sister now lives life large...has clear ambitions, preaches some deep insights of life, gives me lessons on how to deal with guys and handle relationships, scrutinizes my dressing sense, advises me on my career and at times shows more presence of mind than any grown-up would imagine!!!

She wears my clothes (and my shoes, n my bags and my make up...n my jewellery, the list is endless!!!) and sometimes donates them uninhibitedly! She is point blank, speaks her mind and can give any MBA stiff competition with her convincing and negotiating skills...!

Of course there are days when she acts casually bitchy! Days when she wakes up in the morning making up her mind to take away my happiness! She will purposely do (rather not do) things she knows I'll get mad seeing! She'll act lazy...she won't listen...she won't budge...She will only speak sarcasm!...Sparks fly...and den we fight...Those terrible fights!...in mediocre English! hurling colloquial, spatting out secrets and hitting on the weaker spots!...It's terrible!

And then there are days, when you've had a bad bad day...You go home all sad. You are at a loss of your mind, you feel that there ain't no one who understands you. You hide how you feel...and there she is! A look at you and she not only knows what's wrong but has an immediate cure! That night you sleep...smiling...feeling happy and blessed...

She fights with you yeahhh but she also fights the world for you! She is protective and can go to any length for ya! Although she'll neva say it but she loves you the most!!!

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway…♥. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, your worst critic!...Someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your best friend, your defense attorney, your press agent as well as your personal stylist!!! Some days she's the reason you wish you were an only child but again the other days you cannot stop thanking God for your life’s more treasured gift!!!...

My sister is...indeed...my most treasured gift! The person I love most...my confidante, my best friend!

Cannot imagine how life would have been without my dearie lil sis!...Would have definitely been less exciting, less happening, less amusing, less adventurous, less fun!!!!

 #love #gossip #sisters #bonding

Sweet, crazy conversations full of half sentences, daydreams and misunderstandings more thrilling than understanding could ever be.” - Toni Morrison




P.S. - Oh she writes too...Here's the link to her blog!

http://pinkandpurplediaries.blogspot.in/



 

Is it November already ??

This morning I woke up to the sound of lights and decors being removed and dismantled from the roads outside my house...The season of festivals is finally over... & a bolt of a thought struck me...The year is coming to an end! OMG!!! It seems just a few months ago that 2013 came by...

With the year end sniffing close, I look back and think...What have I accomplished in all these months? My stomach churns...and I scratch my ear! Come next year, I become an year older...damn! Mum would again start complaining about how I am not seriously considering marriage and how I am not saving money year after year!!!

I sit up straight and review the New Year Resolutions chart in my room. I half smirk, half sigh! Some of my resolutions already have a smiley alongside, a few others are on their way to be smiled upon but there are a few which, down these months, I have somehow unconsciously lost hope on!!!

I reflect upon 2013...Well!...so far this year has been good to me! I have become the proud owner of a Master's Degree in English. I had been away from studies for a couple of years and thought I would never be able to make my way back to academics but yay! I not only managed to top my college but also secured a position in the University (some self- advertisement there, Lol! but I'm too happy! What can I say?). I have joined a gym and have given a better life to my body and metabolism (Bless meh!) And I have a driving license now! ;-)

I have made a lovely bunch of  friends with whom I enjoy chai on the roads, go on long drives and try out new eateries all over the city! I have spent blissful hours reading and have developed a profound love for Blogging! I'm a proud Blogger now...:-) ( Hell yeah!!!!)

Of course there were lows. I lost a close relative and went at loggerheads with one of my closest friends! I could not fare very well in a competitive exam and found myself sulking for a really long time thereafter!

And finally...after much perseverance I have managed to exercise strong control over my temper and have not, even for once this year, resorted to slapping anybody on the roads on grounds of misconduct or misbehavior! Instead, I have dealt with such situations in a stern, calm and composed manner. I've become more matured and wise!!!....

There there!!!...Haven't I got you into a self-appraisal mode? Tell me you are not weighing your realizations against the otherwise? OK...I'll let you ponder over for a minute...

No matter how you fared...Know this...

A New Year encourages hope for a better life, to make all wrong things go right...and to get, give and share happiness!

So gear up! Don't huff about what happened and what did not...Make a note of all your achievements, big & small and don't forget to include every little thing you did for yourself and others! I'm sure you will have loads of reasons to smile and be proud of !

Come on there now! Winter is here...Christmas is around the corner...Pull your Tuxes and your LBDs out...Let the Champagne spill! It's not the end, it's time for a new beginning...Time for Celebrations people!!!

#Ecstasy




 

Small things are the ones which make big differences...

Small things are the ones which make big differences...

Crossing miles...then and now!

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.”  

 - Robert Louis Stevenson

During those childhood days holidays always meant travelling which in turn always meant travelling by train. Tickets would be bought way in advance and we would start counting days!!! The night before the journey would generally be a sleepless one! Early morning Mum would pack luchis and sabji enough to last us for three days! The long wait for the train at the station would be so painful until we saw the train marching to the platform slowly, emitting white smoke and hooting! The sight would at once bring forth a skipped heartbeat and make me soo happy...As we boarded the freshly cleaned train, we would start eyeing the snacks and the crisps in Mum's biig shopper bag but were not allowed to touch them before the train began to move!!!

I remember waiting with baited breath for the feriwallas to come and display the various products from their kitty. The colourful drinks, the different eatables, the various kinds of toys, stationery, knick-knacks, comic books, magazines...everything seemed to be so attractive, so real and near-fetched! The journey itself would be so memorable...the train would meander past the green lands, the grey mountains, the sparkling rivers and the thatched houses! Mum would ask us to look out of the window, feel the warm air, witness the last orange and purple strokes of day light on the grey clouds.

 

It used to be beautiful...

Of course time has changed...and so have I. These days whenever I have to travel by train, I feel a tinge of disappointment within me! Who has the time to spend an entire day travelling when there is so much more to do? Why go on a tired and gruesome journey when I can reach a destination in a jiffy comfortably by air!

Train journeys now seem so long and boring! I get restless every time it takes longer than usual for the train to leave a platform. I dread the smelly washrooms in the train and deny myself of water through the entire journey! Sometimes when Mamma calls asking how far I have reached, that's when I look out of the window...because I have no clue...I was busy catching up on movies on my laptop! I do not talk to my co-passengers unless they do...and generally give them a cold shoulder if they get too chatty!!! The jhal muris and the bread omlettes do not leer me any more, in fact they give me jitters!!!... I bring my own salads and sandwiches neatly wrapped in aluminium foils!!! And at night, after a tiresome week at work, I sleep...

But I know this...

In the middle of the night when everybody else has drawn their curtains, turned off the lights and gone to a deep slumber (some snore!!), the noisy children have at last snuggled close to their mother...pass the dark long corridor and find yourself at the door...The train must be pacing real fast through an unknown land, through the dark meadows...you can see nothing except for a few speck of light at a far distance...You feel that you are the only one awake in the world, riding away from the hustle bustle of busy life into a eloquent peaceful paradise!

Or get up early morning...when the first gleam of sunlight have hit the horizon, when the train is rejuvenating at a junction after an incessant sprint...the chaiwallas have just opened their bundees, the smell of fresh boiling tea lingers throughout the platform. Step down and enjoy the serenity of being in a far unknown amidst strangers!

The train journeys do not stop marveling us...giving us those same reasons to enjoy a ride...again and again...The feriwallas, the scenery outside the window, the platforms and the co-passengers have not changed a bit!

We have...

 

Small things are the ones which make big differences...: Memoirs of a novice Blogger...

Some candid confessions! Fresh from the desk of a novice Blogger! Catch my latest content 'Memoirs of a novice Blogger' on youmelifeetc.blogspot.in! Cheers! Shayoni :-)

Small things are the ones which make big differences...: Memoirs of a novice Blogger...: For the past few days I have been searching for inspiration...Many of you bloggers might not agree with me here but I tell you...the job of...

Memoirs of a novice Blogger...

For the past few days I have been searching for inspiration...Many of you bloggers might not agree with me here but I tell you...the job of a Blogger is way too difficult! Sometimes I find it extremely challenging to write...to write about something which does not move my heart or stir my soul! Yeah it true...emotions need to flow for me to pour it out!
Some days I make all attempt...cancel my evening hangout with friends, take a quickie slumber, freshen up, grab a cup of coffee and switch on my laptop! My fingers eventually find its way to log onto Facebook...ohh no wait! I stop myself! "Get a grip girl! You are a blogger! Better behave like one!" I open my blog, scrutinize the layout and design and promise myself to come up with a better and customized one...ONLY after I write something! I create a new post and then...I start thinking! I stare at every possible objects in the room, try to think about anything interesting that might have happened over the past few days...I think hard...The itch to scribble increases, I write ramdom stuff...and delete and rewrite...I find them oddly pathetic and plain jane and before long I chuck my blogging plans and catch up on the last season of The Big Bang Theory!!! Past midnight...guilt drizzles in! I feel like killing myself for wasting half a day and not coming up with a content!

And then not to mention, the peer pressure!...my co-bloggers often ask me about what's cooking in my mind of late and sometimes all I say is, "Ummm...you know I have been really really caught up! Haven't had a chance to sit down at it! But I'm planning to...yeah...very soon...a superb thought has just struck me!"

And then...my Whats app status immediately changes from 'Online' to 'Last seen'!!!

Also there are my readers. Talk about them? I love my readers. A two thumbs up for my dearie friends who are extremely dedicated when it comes to reading my pieces....no matter how bad they might be! Some share the links on their fb timelines...How sweet! Some goes like, "Wow! Shayoni! What a content man! You are too good a writer...Why not try writing a book now!" (Lolzz...are you serious?) There are a few who take time to read, analyze and give me invaluable opinion. I find inspiration in what they say! Sometimes appreciation from unknown readers make my day! I check my daily visit graph. A soaring steady line makes me really happy. I feel proud of myself :-)

Then my Inner Goddess takes charge! " Heyy ", she says, " Chill! Slow down! You ain't a professional! You are a blogger by choice! You do, not an excellent but a somewhat ok job! Never give up, don't get pressed if you don't get enough food for thoughts all the time, just relax and keep writing!"

Phew! I heave a sigh of relief!....

Heyy...now that you know the blogger me better, don't go about shunning my blog altogether coz thats gonna make me feel real real bad! Just know that how much ever bad a blogger I am, whatever you say, whether you like my blog or not, I am grateful to you guys for atleast taking the time out to read and ponder over my scribbles! And I love and appreciate every single thing that you say to me...Pardon me! I am a novice blogger but I promise to give my best and resort to becoming a better blogger with each passing day! I will try and make you happy..which in turn will make me happy too! After all, happiness is life...isn't it? Tada!

Small things are the ones which make big differences...: Rumination of a bride...on her wedding day!

Small things are the ones which make big differences...: Rumination of a bride...on her wedding day!: The pink and the orange drapes, the golden marqee The smiling gerberas and the glittering lights Everything seems so perfect, so serene,...

Rumination of a bride...on her wedding day!

The pink and the orange drapes, the golden marqee

The smiling gerberas and the glittering lights
Everything seems so perfect, so serene, so beautiful

As I stand infront of the mirror, I see not me
But a shy bride ready to embark upon a new journey
The tangerine sari compliments my peach skin tone,
The carefully handpicked gold jewellery twinkles all over me
My hair dazzles with sheen!!!
Have I been this beautiful all along? I wonder...

Amidst the hussle and the celebration
A soft heart deep inside beats fast
It seems like it is a bit scared, a lot hopeful
"The groom is here!" shouted someone...
My heart skipped a beat, How will he be?

My Prince in his shining armour
Would he keep all the promises he made?
Would I be always treated like a Princess?
Would he love me, trust me, believe in me...
Would I have my happily ever after?...

Will I ever get to be my daddy's little girl again?
My sister's sweetheart, my mom's best friend

As I tiptoe out of my room, I take a look back...
One last time...everything will remain as it is
Except for me...
But I am not going anywhere, not alone
From now on, my memories will be my shadow
Nudging me, guiding me...

My life will change from tomorrow
My name will change too...
My soul gives a soft bellow
Every step I take...I get closer
to my future

Friends rush to be by my side
They walk me by
I see my mother wipe a tear
As she catches a glimpse of me

Countless faces fixed upon me
Numerous wishes fill my way
They marvel, wish, bless me
A princess that I feel I am...
I beam...yes! It's my day!

I walk down the aisle...and find him waiting
His hopeful eyes find their way upto me
I see him...I blush...
Crushing on my man...all over again
He winks and smiles...
"You'll do great baby! It's gonna be ok"
His eyes seemed to say...
I'll hold your hand and never let go
"Together we'll make it happen...you and me
Will build a world of us!

I catch his confidence
in sweet mutuality...as always
I feel no longer afraid, nor anticipate
Coz I know we'll be
Together forever and never apart
In mind and thoughts, in soul and heart!

The Perfect Imperfection!

The other day in my school I noticed a roly-poly cute child wandering in search of the venue of the afterschool tennis class. As I guided her, I pressed her cheeks and exclaimed how sweet she was! To my dismay, she replied , "No Ma'am! I'm not sweet! I am fat!"

I was taken aback! Such a small child with such low self-esteem! How come she felt this way? And then... this realization dawned upon me. It's not only the little girl! Many of us, at some point or the other suffer from this inferiority complex regarding our physical features!...a feeling that we are not enough good-looking or an apprehension with certain body parts or plainly when we feel we do not have the perfect features or a perfect skin-tone!!!

There is always something about us that we'd like to change...don't we? And I'm no different. I hate my nose coz I feel it's way too small as compared to my face! And my eyes?? Even a generous use of Maybelline Colossal cannot make them stand out! Phew! And my pale complexion makes me look like a white ghost in most of my pics (Lol!) . Gawwd! I lust for Nicole Kidman's nose oh so badly! :-P

My sister has always had problems with her curls! She gets all worked up and upset everytime she has to go to a party as she is never able to style her hair easily. The curls have become a source of constant worry and she just cannot stop whining and grumbling! Her aim in life is to have her straightened with her first salary! Personally I feel she looks great with those lovely jet black maggi like hair rolling down her face like waves. She looks too cute! Her hair lends her, her personality and style! But she'll never believe me!

Supermodel Cindy Crawford once said, "Even I do not wake up every morning looking like Cindy Crawford!"

Most of us crave for physical attractiveness, a standard that we subconsciously set for ourselves in our minds and constantly compare ourselves to this virtual image! The inspirations are drawn from other people we see or meet or know, or from page 3, posters, tv, movies and magazines! As we repeatedly compare, we deject ourselves and feel constantly low and demotivated. We start hating ourselves for who we are and forget to respect our body and mind! When we look at the mirror we do not like what it reflects! Some of us punish our body in the most impossible fashion (read usage of expensive creams and lotions, erratic diets and surgeries) denying it of all the care and affection it demands...Net result? We either gain the perfection or we don't! Either ways, and let me ask you this, does this bring about any change in the way you are loved by your near and dear ones?

The answer is that it doesn't! Coz they already love you for who you are irrespective of how perfect you are!!!

What we tend to forget is that our physical flaws become our individuality, our identity and our uniqueness. A scar or a mark denotes strength, a physical feature explains legacy and a bulge simply denotes prosperity! Every physical flaw is a sign of experience, accomplishment, and most important, what we perceive as ugly in us could actually seem attractive and praiseworthy in the eyes of others! You will realize that you will be known and appreciated for who your are!

“I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.”

How do you think it'll be if everybody had perfect features and looked gorgeous and possessed the most striking skin tone? Wouldn't we all lose ourselves amidst the crowd? Would we still appreciate beauty and uniqueness as we do now? And who can tell me what yardstick we use to measure how beautiful one is?

The first thing that one should do is to love oneself as one is! (Since I am saying this let me also tell you that even I have finally come to terms with my small nose and kind of errrr started liking it a wee bit now! No matter what, it's staying for good! lol)

Nothing's perfect, the world's not perfect. But it's there for us, trying the best it can; that's what makes it so damn beautiful.”


Love your flaws! Love others flaws too... And never never forget to love yourself! Only then, the others will love you!

Small things are the ones which make big differences...: The Perfect Imperfection!

Small things are the ones which make big differences...: The Perfect Imperfection!: The other day in my school I noticed a roly-poly cute child wandering in search of the venue of the afterschool tennis class. As I guide...

LOLing over Coffee !!!

                                        Coffee!!! Aaahh...

The favourite drink of the civilized world! That one word which is an immediate cure to my boredom, my worries, my trivia and my mood swings!

Either it is "Black as night, sweet as sin", or it is a "Rich frothy creamy chocolaty delight"...Well!however maybe, coffee pleases my taste buds and tingles my soul!...and I cannot help but sing love songs for coffee! The smell of freshly ground heaven...it makes me a poet, a philosopher, a confidante, a dreamer and a lover...all at the same time! (Wao!!!)

How can I explain the power of coffee in such a few words? ...You meet, greet, lounge, converse, laugh, drool, discuss, rejuvenate and fall in love...over Coffee! One serving of cuppa, which has the power to stir the World, uniting it and enveloping it into a delectable smoothie of pure bliss...

"I like my coffee with cream and my literature with optimism.” - Abigail Reynolds

Be it a chatty afternoon with my girlfriends or a cosy evening with my beloved or tete-a-tete with an ex collegue, I'm always up for coffee and I cannot have enough of it...(Gosshh! Bless the man who invented it!!!)

  "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." -  T.S. Eliot

Some coffee facts for the knowledge seeking souls! The vast majority of coffee beans in the world comes from two species of coffee: - Coffea Arabica and Coffea Robusta. More than three-quarters of the coffee beans sold in the world are a variety of Coffea Arabica, while the bulk of the remainder is Coffea Robusta, which is also known as Coffea Canephora!

Now here's some medical benefits!...Coffee when taken in moderate quantity can lower the risk of a variety of cancer and heart diseases, improves cholesterol health and reduces muscle stress! A cup of Black coffee with no sugar contains NO calories!!! (How cool is dat?)

"Coffee makes us severe, and grave, and philosophical." - Jonathan Swift

Additionally, I have listed down some tried and tested benefits (read more relevant yeah!) for you guys! Coffee can:

• Make you happy instantly
• Can get you a job!
• Help you in sorting out your differences with yourself and others
• Make you more productive at work
• Give you more tolerance to endure smarty pants and jerks
• Give you a slight innocent harmless little kick  ;-)
• Make it easier to hit on your crush!
• Help you turn strangers into friends!
• and...Make you fall in love!
• and also, at times, in a single glass you find all the four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat! (Irish coffee...anyone? ;-)) Bazinga!!!

Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love! Ohhhh!

Wherever coffee is grown, sold, brewed, and consumed, there will be lively controversy, strong opinions, and good conversation! Now if that's not reason enough to LOL over Coffee, I donno what is!!! ;-)

I'm done writing now...it's late afternoon and I feel like brewing some coffee... so I'm rushing to my nearest café...Till then, spill the bean...Love Coffee! Drink Coffee! Share Coffee!....and keep LOLing!!! :-) :-)

Small things are the ones which make big differences...: My tryst with the Luxury Labels!!!

Small things are the ones which make big differences...: My tryst with the Luxury Labels!!!: I have always been a keen observer (if not always a blind follower) of Fashion and Trends! I love  extravagancy, beauty and magnificence......

My tryst with the Luxury Labels!!!

I have always been a keen observer (if not always a blind follower) of Fashion and Trends! I love  extravagancy, beauty and magnificence...and it's needless to say that I find utmost comfort in turning over the glossy pages of Vogue and Elle every now and then ;-) and lose myself in the dreamworld of labels!!! The ever famous Blair Waldorf (of my favourite TV Series Gossip Girl) once said, " Those who say money can't buy happiness did not know where to shop!!!"..I did not believe her...trust me...until the other day I glanced through some of the top International Fashion Magazines in my library! (oh my!)...and pondered over her thought...well ;-)...

   

How much I am awed by the amazing photoshoots on those magazines...the models holding up the products or wearing them, their face exuding pride and gratification. Their skinny sculpted built, complemented with perfectly done make-up radiate vanity and persuasion. And boy! Am I impressed? Those models make me wanna shun pizzas and chocolates forever! Looking at those mesmerizing photographs, I can feel the touch of a designer leather or a rub of cashmere against my skin...aaahhmmazzingg! The World of Luxury labels seems like a glimpse of heaven, the models, angel in disguise...beseeching me with all its grandeur and ardour ...ooooooo!!! Sometimes to me, these magazines become a source of deriving utmost comfort during times of leisure, disappointment and mood swings and make me wonder, how many months of salary would I have to save to afford a pair of Fendi stilettoes or a Chanel Handbag!!!...Hmm...well...let's not go there ;-)

                     

I remember my first luxury buy...a 50ml  Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue which I had bought with my first salary. I had longed to buy it for at least 2 years before the tiny bottle of elixir landed in my palms. It's strange that such a small glass bottle could change your life for good and take your world by storm! In three days I had become the most famous girl in office and had already inspired a handful others to buy it!!! Oohhh la la!

But many a times, like many of you I have had to tussle with the pronunciation of some of the International Brands and boy! I have been utmost conscious while articulating them (at times I have googled, checked the phonetics and practiced articulation in the bathroom mirror early morning;-))... I mean how on earth would I know that the Italian brand BVLGARI was actually pronounced as bull-ga-ree!!!! I remember the very first International Brand I got acquainted with was Louis Vuitton but I never knew how one could pronounce it until I started watching Star World! ;-) Similarly, I mean how could you ever imagine that Yves Saint Laurent should be said as Eve - son- lo-ron !!!! Even worse is Dolce & Gabbana...I'd rather say D&G instead of Dolchee -ey -Gab -bana ! Poof!!!! Dear Italians, what have we ever done?? And even if you think you have heard the word Chanel, beware, it is pronounced not how you think but Sha-nell !!! Oh Dear God!!!

Have you ever seen those pwetty little red apple like perfume bottles lined in the Shopper Stop stores? Well...those Nina Riccis are amazing fragrance...the first time I had seen them, I could never muster up the courage and walk upto the seller, coz I feared that I will be made fun of if I did not pronounce the name correctly...sigh!

But that hardly discourages me anymore...In my secret notebook, I do have the pronunciation written down for some of these fashion brands for my reference. Sharing my little secret with you...lol! Check them out! U'd thank me...won't you? ;-)

Breguet - Brey-gay
Boglioli - Boh-lee-oh-lee
Calvin Klein - Cow-in Kly-in
Cerruti - Sheyrootee
Dior - Dee-or
Givenchy - Zhee-vah-shee
Gucci - Goo-chee
Hermes - Er-mez
Lacoste - Luh-cost
Longines  - Lawn- jeans
Louis Vuitton - Loo- ee, Vee -tou
Paco Rabbane - Puh-co-ruh-bon
Roberto Cavalli - Row-bear-toe. Ka-volley
Versace - Ver - satchey

     

So here's to all you wee-bit materialistic people and brand slaves out there...my content is dedicated to you guys! The next time you wanna shop, or maybe window shop or simply chit-chat about the Luxury Labels, pronouncing them correctly should be the last worry on your mind!!! So common people...be impulsive, love brands and shop till you drop!!! After all, we'd rather like to see our money safe in our closets infront of our eyes rather than keeping them in the bank!!!  Don't we? ;-)

Happiness & Shopping!!!...Bliss...

My Kolkata...

I love my city. I love Kolkata!There's something about my Kolkata which keeps me wanna snuggle up and live here for ever. Located on the eastern side of the country, cradling on the banks of river Hooghly lies my favourite place in the world. My city is my birthplace, my identity, my dream and my hideout. A seven year stint away from my city has evoked in me a strange warm love and affection...and even after spending the most part of my life here, I still cannot have enough of this city!

Everytime I travel back to Kolkata, the first glance of the Howrah Bridge fills my heart with pride, nostalgia and excitement! Each time, the city looks charming and inviting as ever! I can't help but marvel at it's rustic beauty and vintage grandeur...It feels as if I am about to explore Kolkata for the first time :-)

The early morning drive on Red Road has always been a one of the best drives I've ever been to...the mesmerizing Victoria Memorial looks beautiful and serene. The lush greenery of maidan can put the Irish countryside to shame. You might even notice beautiful horse driven carriages riding across this road and you can hop into one if you like.

If you are the mushy romantic type like me, take a boatride along the river Hoogly...the experience will linger with you for ever and ever.

How much I love strolling on the streets of Gariahat picking up knick knacks and bargaining with the vendors. I still can't do without buying at least scarf when I pass by the irresistible street stalls selling colourful garments, shoes, jewellery, handbags and décor items! The enthusiasm of the hawkers are infectious and trust me if not the impulse, their eagerness to sell their goods would make you wanna buy stuff from them!

Spending quite afternoons in the Oxford Store, the Starmark or the Crossword is the favourite pastime of the bookworms and the intellectuals, who are often termed as 'Aatels' ( lol ) and behold, you will not find any Calcuttan who cannot strike a conversation about anything under the Sun!!! That's what we do best!!! Talk!

I love trotting on Park Street with friends on a Friday night, not being able to decide where to dine in because the Chicken Tetrazzini of Mocambo would always pose a stiff competition to the Chello Kebab of Peter Cat or the Biriyani at Arsalan! Plus I also get to boost my knowledge of high-fashion and trends as I watch the hot girls and the cool guys ramping on the roads, lost in their world of FB and Whatsapp!!!

Sitting on the pavements of Vivekananda Park sipping hot chai and debating over Literature and History with my childhood buddies still remain as one of the most important task in my To Do List.

Many of my non Calcuttan friends might not be familiar with term 'Adda' and trust me it is a crime! In Calcutta adda forms a major part of our lives. An adda can happen anytime, anywhere among people of any age!!! Although CCDs and Baristas can found in every nook and corner of the city, youngsters still turn to the very old Coffee House for some realtime bonding over coffee!!!

If you have ever been to Kolkata you will notice quite often on the dukans, along the chai bandis on the benches strangers getting together and chatting up!...politics and football still raking as the most talked about topics!!! And if you ever happen to ask for help, be it on an unknown road or in an unknown destination, mark my words...at any point of time there will four different people to help you ways through, some of them even willing to walk you down till your destination ( lol )!!! Such is my city :-)

An afternoon tram-ride across the city is a must! The tram paves its way slowly across the roads, often twisting and turning like a lousy reptile making their signature ting-ting sound...Oooohhhh!

And how can I forget the famous yummy lip smacking fuchkaas!!! Those crispy fried hollows filled with alu kabli and imli water along with a pinch of lemon juice has absolutely no match in any part of the world...I swear!

Come September-October and you will find Kolkata dolled up in the festive grandeur. The first sight of Goddess Durga's eyes being rendered life by the artists of Kumatoli brings along a surge of happiness and hope. Durga Puja is celebrated across the city with pomp and vigour and it's fun to go Pandal Hopping with friends and family, dressed up from top to bottom in new clothes. All kinds of work come to a standstill for those five days and the overwhelmed Calcuttans throw themselves completely into the celebration!

The ever always tussle between the supporters of Mohunbagan and East Bengal, Bangals and Ghotis, Ilish and Chingri, Uttam and Soumitra and Hemanta and Manna would remain with the bangalis for ever and ever...and yes! we are not bengalis but Bangalis...It's true that we are lazy, our weekends are longer than weekdays, we make a mess while speaking hindi, we are emotional about Sourav Ganguly and Mamata Banerjee...but hey! where would you find more friendly people than us?

Don't believe what I say? Come to Kolkata and spend a day or two...or even better...make sure that you have a 'Bangali' co-passenger on your way...you'd know exactly what I mean ;-)

The Story of Little Kitty <3!

Many years ago when I was a child I had befriended a deserted kitten in my backyard. It mewed all day, maybe wanting to reunite with its mommy but all my frantic search to find her was in vain. I wondered where she was and how she must be feeling that her baby was missing! The little kitten was weak and scared. Bringing stray kittens at home was a strict no-no therefore I built a lil hut for the kitty in my backyard. I fed it milk and bread both times a day.

My neighbourhood pals became a part of the search party however there was no trace of the Mummy cat whatsoever. We decided to make a small house for the baby kitten and although it showed little signs of recovery, it was still not able to purr and hardly moved from one place to another. We took turns to guard the little one. It seemed like all of us had found a new reason to live...little kitty was friendly with us and looked like it enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed to be with it!!!

I still shudder at the thought of that day. It was barely a week after I had found the baby kitten. It rained heavily all night. The thunders and lightning battled with the dark sky as we slept peacefully in our rooms. When I woke up the following morning, the kitten was the first thing that flickered through my mind... I felt a jolt...I ran down the stairs and rushed to the back yard. Perhaps my friends had gone through similar emotions...I saw they had already gathered at my back yard. But instead of gathering around kitty's small hut they were standing at the end of the backyard! I was panic-stricken...and to my dismay...as I joined them, I saw...kitty lying on the ground...totally drenched. Its fur was shrivelled and curled against it's skin and there was no doubt that it was out in the open all night. But why would it come out of it's hut when it's raining?? We had no answer. My sister ran home and brought a bowl of hot milk. We rubbed it's body with a dry towel, held it in our hands to give warmth....but to no avail...

Little kitty was breathing it's last...No matter how hard we tried, it did not respond...We cried our hearts out but to no avail. The mummies and the daddies were summoned for emergency help. They tried to revive it...yielding no positive result. Little kitty left us for heavenly abode.

That day I vowed I will never ever keep any animal for a pet ever again for the rest of my life!!! I will not befriend them, feed them, play with them or show love. Kitty had ditched me. I felt cheated, betrayed.Why did it have to leave the hut and get wet in the rain all night? I did not know...

As always, the tragedy was soon forgotten and each of us resorted to our normal course of life. After more than almost two decades when I think about this incident...I do not feel bitter anymore. Perhaps my grown up conscience tells me that there was nothing more that I could have done to save the little animal and  it was supposed to be meant to happen that way.

There are certain unfortunate incidents which occur in our lives and more than often we tend to over-evaluate our performance and reason what we could have done to make things not the way it turned out to be! We tend to blame ourselves, feel miserable and shut ourselves completely out of the rest of the world!!! For some of us this could be a temporary phase but there are many of us who bear the burden of guilt all along their lives!

You know it's easy this way! What is difficult is to accept reality as it is and not look for a reason to justify it. Look out for those moments which made you happy, gave you reasons to live amidst those sad and unhappy ones...Happiness and sadness are two intertwined emotions. Each emotion cannot be felt in the absence of the other! We must experience pain and agony to appreciate joyousness!

Let go of the burden, abandon the pain, shun the agony…what you will be left with is a better and happier YOU! And if you are happy, you will make your near and dear ones happier! Dig out your happy times, relive them…watch old photographs, read old diaries, bring out that old rusty souvenir box or simply close your eyes and reminiscence…you will feel magical!

When I trace back to little kitty I only love to remember those few lovely afternoons I spent playing with it. It puts a smile on my face...! I will cherish every bit of time that I spent with the cute little sweetheart! I will forever keep the happy memories and will always turn towards them from time to time…

Happiness & Sunshine...always! Much love.