Football fever- Another take!

Funny conversation between me and my friend and a chance to create my first comic strip! :)

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You define yourself!

We grow up with certain believes. Believes that can make-or-break-us. As a child we are moulded by our parents, teachers, friends and family. Perceptions about society, about who we are, how they want to see us, what are their expectations, their age old believes they are grown up with, etc...etc, are consciously or subconsciously transferred to us.

Believes like-

• 'I can't do it.' This can be because one of your teachers, once choose someone else instead of you. She empathised to you saying that you are not that good as the other person is. That childhood belief is sown in your system. 
• Believes like girls like pink, guys like blue. Who says so? We believe it too that extent that if a guy wears pink, it's too gayish.
• 'I have a dark complexion, I feel inferior.' Even our advertisers make money selling this thought. We are surrounded by such stupid beliefs that do not hold true. Accept what God has given, cherish and enjoy in your skin.
• 'I lose people whom I love and care.' Sometimes people think this after a loss of someone very close.
• 'Nobody loves me.'
• 'Everyone I meet is selfish.' When people take undue advantage of you and then leave. This feeling develops.
• 'Everything I do is just not enough. What's wrong with me?' My question is- who defines that you are not good enough? Your exes, your siblings or your parents, or maybe someone else. NO. If you do not meet expectations of someone, it doesn't mean that you are not good enough. 
• 'If it's not perfection, then it's ordinary.'
• 'My sibling is better than me.' This is very common. Most of the siblings strongly feel that parents love the other one more than them. Where does this belief come from? For sure some actions or words from parents or sibling must have developed this.
• I am not healthy. One thing gets over and other starts.'

Can you relate to anyone of these? These are just a few thoughts that grow within us. Such thoughts are like plague, if not identified and cured they will eat us. Don't let people decide for you what you are. Our limitations should not be framed and cultivated for us from other's point of view.

I have a friend, whose parents gifted him a tee with a slogan, 'First class or no class.' Since childhood he has always been an extraordinary, full of perfection until lately he is bogged down by it. Whatever he does, he is never satisfied. It is difficult to lead a life of perfection. It was his parents insecurity that was passed on to him. Life's beauty is not in perfection, but to be imperfectly beautiful.

I am no preacher. Maybe, a friend with a big sign board saying, 'STOP, hear me out'. :) Identify the fears or other's insecurities poured upon you. YOU ARE WHAT YOU DEFINE YOURSELF!

To make it more crisp and clear, loud and promising. Just see the video. Live it. Soak it. Believe it.

P.S.- This is one of my favourite scenes from movie, 'The Pursuit of Happyness.'

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Being married to a Techie!

Being married to a techie guy, is a roller coaster ride. When I mention techie, it does not apply completely to all techies but to the real tech-savvy ones like the one I am married to. It’s full of thrills and skills. Difficult to understand, until you are a part of it. If you do not belong to the world of techies, then these few instances will help you get a hang on it, others just know it. 

Minimal use of paper and pen-‘Save paper’ the motto is best advertised by techies. :) From to- do lists to any diurnal stuff, you name a thing and it will all be in their laptop and phone, all synced up together. Make a change in any device and all the other devices will have updated information of what needs to be done next in the day. Playing hide-and-seek, looking around for a pen and paper is such a waste of energy, right? Be high tech!

Data can never be lost-You will never find a techie losing his data. It means a world to him. Just not the data he is dealing with on an everyday basis, but also all the documents, pictures, videos, etc…etc. There is a backup for everything. Plan A is always followed by plan B.

Engineering in every little thing-Once a techie always a techie. Their mind works in a unique way. For instance, just couple of weeks back, we (me and my husband) stopped to have coconut water. The seller handed over the coconut along with straw to me. I have this uncanny habit of cleaning for my own satisfaction any culinary I am using, this time it was a straw. With dust layers inside it was a turnoff. I asked for more straws. To my surprise all were the same. Very intelligently I blew inside straw, pretty confident that dust will blow off. But it didn’t. I tried couple of more times, blowing air out more heavily. No success. Arghhhh. Then, I noticed what my husband did. He sucked little water from coconut and threw it away. Did it twice and there you go, perfectly cleaned straws. I saw him in amusement. Gosh why such a simple thing didn't strike me?

Problem solving-This one is hilarious. Suddenly early before the sun breaks, he gets up in a jolt shaking up the bed. I am scandalised thinking, ‘Oh my God, it’s an earthquake!’ But it’s a false alarm. I see him jumping out of the bed and leaping for his laptop. I ask, ‘What happened? All well?’ Reply comes, ‘Yeah, maybe I have solved the problem I was stuck at.’ I blink in a fail attempt registering it. WHATTTTTTTT. I cannot solve my problems eyes open and alert, but here he solved it in his dreams!!! I rub my eyes in an attempt to stop hallucinating. But no luck.

To mention, the problem solving expertise is just not limited to work, it covers everything. If you are disturbed about something and you discuss with him. He has a tailor made, custom fit, just-for-you ready solution. For him if there is a problem, then there has to be a solution. You want him to just listen and he wants you to act upon it. 

App for grocery-Yes, you have an app for grocery shopping. :) Funny, but true! They have all the reasons in the world why to have one. First, no need to jot down weekly or fortnightly ‘the list of items’ to shop. Mostly they are already stored in the app, you just need to tick them up. Hustle bustle free. Second, if we go together to shop both our android phones are synced through which we are updated as to what one has bought if we are in different counters. The tick marked items are crossed showing the items purchased.

Family thinks he can repair anything-Well that’s most common. An engineer in family has to be jack of all trades. Anything that goes out of order, he is called to rescue. Specially laptops and phones. Can you fix my laptop? Though a software engineer, he is expected to fix hardware issues as well. :P He acts like Mr. Quick fix by hovering on your system through log me in or team viewer, doesn't matter which country you are in.

Old phones new software-Who wants a new phone when old one works like a newbie? Old phone will always be upgraded to new ROM and OS. New features, displays and functionality are a big high for them. It’s just like a joy of victory! Childlike happiness. Spending hours on exploring the entire new software, digging in all the apps can never be a waste of time. And, redoing entire activity all over again if he doesn't like the particular ROM, can never be painful.

Do not disturb mode-They are often lost in thoughts. Frequently a do-not-disturb-mode is on. As a wife you got to understand and live with it. :) It’s a zone they love to be in!

Filter listening-Not necessary he replies to you when you ask something. For sure he will when you say ‘this is not working’. It’ll be a task at hand for him. A mission to achieve! The listening power is concentrated to only few key words. One has to talk diligently focusing on the key words and tags, so that it doesn't filter when he hears. :P

Auto correct-Who says auto correct is only installed in your phones? It’s in build mechanism in the techie guys. Watch out when you say something missing out few facts, or maybe something incorrectly; instantly you will be corrected. Urgh it’s too disturbing sometimes. And, when you make him understand to stop being an auto correct, you will have good laughs seeing him curbing the switch on mode.

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Only if, God was a pedestrain - A Thought

Glitter path with a tint of red, fading away in the wavy water ripples. Droplets articulating irregular designs. Bells chiming in a temple around, melodic sound giving goose bumps. Pedestrians crossing the road through the junction, mining their way tactfully in the dark. Splashing water and trembling in the cold evening. Pants folded until knees, bags or handkerchief on the head, an instinctively unsuccessful attempt to cover oneself.

In a dilapidated bench (old and rustic), folding legs close to my chest, nestling in the warmth of my own. Cocoon in corner, I wait for the bus. Rare are these times when I am on my own, defining a state of perfect nullity. When there are no to-do lists running in my mind. When I don't keep gazing my phone and type rigorously. Rather, I notice small gestures of people around, their body language and smiles. It's so amazing to think how we all so many times are at cross roads yet are always oblivious of each other. 

Green replaces the shade of red. Cars speed down, then screeching as breaks pull hard steering away from the pits, judging and predicting, which is smaller in size. The traffic is moving in a shape of different alphabets.

A cosy couple stands next to me leaning on the pole, giggling while rubbing their hands together. Romantic moment lost in themselves with a disconnect from the surroundings. That's what this lovely weather of drizzle does! For some it's a moment of life, for some a struggle. A small boy trying to float his paper boat, beholds my attention. His subtle joy of sailing his boat in the ocean of rain water is immense. A proud mother claps cheering him up. Eyes full of pride and elation. Such innocent little things that make a difference. I smile.

Dark shadows of vehicles speeding down, spoiling the beautiful reflection of green on road. Street shins with headlights as the traffic increases, it’s an irony how road is lit up in the night. Our vehicles are the reasons to illuminate path, replacing street lamps! We have a quick fix, ready to accept attitude. Why to complain about full beam as they are as blind as we are. Street lights lit in mornings losing their essence, but never show up when required. We live in a funny world. 

Cars sludge on the pedestrians by the roadside, some of them yelling on the drivers others wiping off the marshy stains on their clothes and body. The other side of the road, a man wave in our direction. The son waves back, as mother holds his hand to cross the road. The moment they step down, a truck honks in ears and they jump backwards in the shed again. Zebra crossing is way underestimated here. After a long struggle to cross the road, seeing empty they start walking. 

A car comes from nowhere in a split second racing like a Ferrari in a track. Mother and son are stoned as they know it's too late. Car hits them and losing control bangs on a pole. The man waving from the other side, runs towards them. My heart missed a beat, the shade of road is nothing like before- it’s scary. The boat that sailed few minutes back is sinking. 

A continuous itchy thought arises, seeing daily risk for pedestrians on road. A struggle far more than imagined and believed. Can they be rescued? Only if God was a pedestrian, I suppose.

©AJP

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Something old, something new

Old is gold. It's rare, valuable and glued in memory. When something in the past, comes and visits in present with a newness, a fresh look and feel. It's always greeted cordially. We time travel and compare how innovatory its ornamented. The old magic cannot be recreated, they say. I agree, but a little change with time is perpetual. Also, the change should be a welcome one, living up to the standards laid earlier. Once it happens, you can relate, sink and dive into it.

The recent one that comes straight in mind is Evolution of Bollywood by Penn masala.

Beat boxing style with a mix of legendary songs from all the decades. Starting from black and white era carrying 'the then look' to batameez dil imitating Ranbir's style. You flow with it. Old famous soundtracks served in a brand new platter. It's peppy and catchy. The young lads have done a great job! Appreciation and applause for the innovation.

Hungama ho gaya, song filmed on Bindu in a night club. Brilliant music by R.D. Burman, it's rightly said he was ahead of his time. It's imbibed in one of my current favourite movie, Queen.  Same night club set up, but feel of 21st century. Kangana just bowled the audiences with mark of excellence. The way she danced, freaking out forgetting everything. Breaking all the shackles. Everyone's soul danced with her! For me, this one surely is better than the old one.

Har kisi ko nahi milta yahan pyaar zindagi mein, another famous song from movie Janbaaz. Sridevi smitten the show. None can beat her on screen presence in a saree. Gosh, the diva can outshine all. Even Feroz Khan, the man of hats and horses is overshadowed by Sridevi. With different music and lyrics it's featured in the movie Boss. Sung by Arijit Singh in his soul searching voice penetrates deep and strike every chord in your system. I liked the video as well, Akshay wooed me completely with this side pose of his in the hat. :) Though Sonakshi couldn't recreate the magic of Sridevi.

There are many more in the list and many more to come! Can the new ones replace the old songs? Of course that cannot be the tail. But it surely helps in revisiting the songs lost in the memories.

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A gift!

A shy introduction turned into an instant bonding. Where you don't have to make efforts to like someone, but it happens naturally. It’s difficult to understand how in a fraction of a second you become friends. Your wavelength matches like some magic. Whereas sometimes even after several get-togethers, you lack that tuning with some friends. Well, that’s the charm of friendship! 

We blabber a lot like non-stop chatter boxes. We talk so much that we disturb the rest of us around. Hehe. But it's fun. We help each other whenever we are stuck. Ask opinions like, 'How do you like it?' In chorus we reply making a face, 'Nahhhhhh'. :) The little extra efforts that we put in for each other makes us really good buddies! That's what you do when you care right? 

This blog is just not about the special bond we share. It's about how my new friend surprised me with a gift! Here is the glimpse of the awesome bouquet she made from polymer clay. Isn't it beautiful? Flowers with vibrant colours, gosh it just made my day. I love personalised gifts as one can feel the thought put into the whole creation. When I am super close to someone even I love to design and make something for them like a customised photo album, etc ...etc. A beautiful gift like this, takes a lot of time, patience and love. I was so excited to see it. I could very much feel the care and love through this hand made bouquet.

Thanks a ton my super talented friend! 

Much love! :)

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Birthdays!

Birthdays are always special. We make great plans, which are being orchestrated well before the special day. Big surprises are part and parcel of the whole day, adding more excitement. List of a few things that we normally do-

• Go for a trip or
• Have a luxurious party or
• To be on an extravaganza by being a complete shopaholic before Birthday or
• Maybe buy a big rock or beautiful jewellery as a remembrance (that specially goes for girls) or
• Watch a good movie followed by dining out with friends and family or
• Maybe, do all of the above!

But have you ever thought of Birthday with a difference? Like, striking a long-awaited item from your bucket list? Something that you really wanted to do since childhood. Something you always have been holding back. For instance, you always thought you have a great voice, but needs little training and polishing. You wanted to learn to play the guitar. Any creative stuff you always wanted to give it a shot, but didn't. Etc ... etc.

How about gifting yourself your childhood dream! Just imagine the satisfaction, the joy and fulfilment you will witness. The excitement will run in your blood through veins! Only an artist can understand the true meaning of creating something. It becomes your own baby! You have sleepless nights dreaming and creating it in your vision time over again. I can bet, it will be precious to you the same way a big rock is to any girl. Believe me when I say it! 

Sometimes because of time, or limited means or any other reasons we could not achieve it. Don't just think of unfinished things in our list as regrets, but with a highlighter tick them up. The tickling little happiness in your heart is beyond words. Gift yourself the pleasure of learning things you always wanted to. This is the time. One life to do what all we love! And, the best to start off on your birthday. :)

To the feeling well described in these lines from a song by Janelle Monae! Where in you don't feel one year older rather you are charged up illuminating like a bulb! 

Tonight we are young

So let's set the world on fire

We can burn brighter than the Sun
(I love these three lines, Super electrifying!)

P.S. - 

Feel young and feel free,

live your dreams,

celebrate for constantly learning and growing,

just not in years but as a knowledge house!

@AJP

Cheers!!! 

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