musings and more

Hi Everyone Sorry for not writing for a really long time now. The whole of last month went in re-locating and getting used to a new city (Chennai). Found a new job there and so decided to move. I've not found time for anything except fixing a quick meal and doing laundry outside work. But I promise to work out a schedule and post a few new recipes soon Sumi :)

Sometimes, we get too caught up in life's mundane routine so much that we let many opportunities to change it for the better slip by. And by the time we realise that, we are already caught up in a web of spouse, kids, job, gym, chores. Make sure you do have your share of fun along the way and that you don't miss out on other important/interesting things/ people life has to offer on the side. Try these big/small changes at least once and see how that goes. Try a new vocation

- switch jobs, apprentice/ intern for a different role. Take a long vacation- within the country, outside the country- the choices are endless 

Start saving small

- for travel, for a music class, or for that car you've always dreamt of owning. Spend more time with your loved ones

- because you can never have enough of it Talk positively to yourself- I am rich, I have great hair, I am a successful musician, dancer... say positive reinforcing things to yourself. It will give your confidence a bo...

What do you see when you look at the mirror? Fat arms, wide hips, stubby legs? Protruding teeth, uneven jaw, slanted eyes? Do you like many other women, including yours truly fail to see yourself in a better light in the mirror? Do you keep wondering if only my lips were fuller, eyes were bigger, cheek bones higher...etc. etc? But when it comes to describing other women you think of them as prettier, more beautiful, one with nice features? Why do we traumatize ourselves like this? Just the other day I met a friend who said she thinks she has fat Punjabi arms. I think of myself as fat whereas my mom likes to describe me as curvy and when I talk about my cousin I tell her that she is lean while she thinks she has wide hips. Do you notice the pattern here? Why are women so critical of their selves? And why instead of embracing our natural beauty do we try and correct what is not perfect?                  ...

Recently at a fund raising lunch while introducing the US Attorney general, President Obama called her by far the best looking law-maker of the country. The remark resulted in a huge outcry in the social blogging site, Twitter. And following that Obama called up Kamala Harris to apologise for his sexist remark. Sexist remark? really? Yes, commenting on a woman's personal appearance in a professional environment is a big no-no. But then, it is not like he made a derogatory remark. Apparently, the same day, in an interview, Mrs O made a slip-up and called herself a single mother. Apart from the can of worms that might open about their personal life, I feel that there is nothing wrong in noticing that your female colleague is well-dressed or good looking. It is not cocky when a Shah Rukh Khan or Saif Ali Khan does it while introducing their co-stars on stage at the many award shows they host! Nor is it considered to be sexist when TV show hosts use similar adjectives to introduce ...

In a recent report , it was stated that widows in Vrindavan will play holi with colours. Really, now? I mean, more than 100 years after the practice of sati was banned? Surely this change could've come about at least 50 years ago. Why is our attitude towards widows still regressive? Why is that the life of a widow is still pitiful in modern India? Why even today in urban societies, some families do not include widowed women in celebrations. There are communities living metros who still don't allow a widow to be a part of her own son/daughter's wedding. How unfair is that? And they aren't invited for certain functions though they might be educated, employed and financially independent just because her husband passed on before she did. Isn't that attitude just pathetic? Doesn't the society who inflicts such humiliation on them realise that anyone could be fated to lose a spouse and they shouldn't be punishing the woman for it? That their own daughter or da...

There are days we take up too much on ourselves. While it's a great idea to rise to a challenge occasionally, it is also important to slow down, smell the roses, head for a walk in the park, spend time with an old friend, move furniture around, read back issues of your favourite magazines, watch your favourite movies, or simply sit back and enjoy a cup of tea, coffee, smoothie, soup- whatever you fancy. And it's not everyday that we can slow down in competitive times like these. There are a lot of things that need our attention. So it becomes more important to make sure you take time off occasionally. In my case, kick back with a suleimani and a book in hand. All you need is a few mint leaves and a quarter of a lime and it makes for such a refreshing, yet calming drink. What's your idea of taking it easy?

According to a newspaper report , a lot of women are putting off motherhood till they entered their forties.  Reason- they are busy actualizing a career, chasing a dream job. According to the report, a lot of them turn to artificial methods of conception like IVF (in vitro fertilization) as their biological clocks have slowed down making it difficult for them to conceive. But is waiting till you are forty to have a baby a good idea? Don't label me to be conservative when I say this, but I think women should start planning to have babies by the time they hit mid-thirties or not have a child at all. Before you point out and say- easy for you to say this- you don't have a baby as yet, how do you know what you're talking about; let me tell you about a close family friend who has undergone innumerable treatments trying to conceive and has been unsuccessful till now. She tells me how painful it can be. The injections and medication leave her with very little energy ...