I am a hard-core foodie. I confess I like eating everything edible, except for 'kardhi-chawal' and a few oil-and-spice-laced Indian dishes on a regular basis. But given no alternatives, I can manage to eat that too. My strongest guess says its a genetic trait passed on from my dad. Anyone who sees me eating unashamedly is usually shocked and amused by the quantity I can consume at a go and the amount of satisfaction that reflects on my face and eyes after I relish a meal. But to everyone's surprise and mine, my appetite and consumption capacity does not reflect on my physical frame at all... thank God! So I was saying, being fond of eating, I obviously like cooking and experimenting with various recipes. But there would be conditions attached... like I need a sparkling clean kitchen with enough moving space, fully equipped with all the right utensils and ingredients.. sharp knives, et al... a nicely stocked refrigerator and a never-ending supply of water. Oh, did I mention my (culinary) mood and the comfort-level of whose kitchen I'm using?!
So, the first place which qualifies my basic requirements, is my friend-Jeena's kitchen. Of-course my mom's kitchen would have been my first preferance (only if she was not always in a hurry to rustle up meals for the family and the ever-welcomed guests), but that's almost like a far-from-real fantasy, I have realised over the years. And my own kitchen? Well, if you really have to know, it is only equipped with the basic requirements of making fast-food... like the baking and grilling kinds and full-course meals only once in a blue moon. Excepting the occassional cooking at Jeena's, naga-cuisines at Naro's (my friend from Nagaland) and home-made food from my colleagues at the work-place, I more-or-less survive on zero-oil, zero-caloried grills, bakes, steams and boils on all the other moons. So, over these years of my stay in Delhi I used to consider 'cooking' as the last or second-last priority in the to-do list of things during my weekends. Takeaways, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, fruits & salads, steamed vegetables and boiled/poached eggs, though dull, are re-assuringly time-efficient staples of my daily diet. So, the only times I really relish eating my-kind-of homemade food, are the times I visit home and feast on my ma's (mostly dad's) cooking. Oh by the way, my dad is a better cook than my ma and all he needs to take over the kitchen and prepare yummy meals to fill up the dining table, is just a little mention of how much I miss his chicken-curry or duck-roast or any of the sticky-rice dishes that he specialises in.
Anyway, being bored of what I was eating here all this while and being recommended by the doctor to eat proper home-made meals after I fell ill sometime back, I resolved to do some real-time cooking on a daily basis in my very own kitchen. I learnt some easy-to-make recipes from my ma's collection, some naga-delicacies from Naro and a few yummylicious recipes from Manju Malhi's show-Cooking Isn't Rocket Science shown on NDTV Goodtimes. My belief about cooking full meals being a waste of valuable time, was disillusioned as I started to enjoy the process. Rather than being the dull utilitarian practice I imagined, cooking I realise, is the most creative of all art forms. And there is something deeply satisfying about taking separate ingredients and creating something new and unique, which pleases the tastebuds and hence instantly devoured.
The great appeal of cooking lies in the touch-feel-smell therapy. The sensation of chopping, slicing & stirring... the smell of crushed garlic and green chillies as it simmers with the olive oil, finely diced onions and chopped tomatoes... the varied natural colours of different vegetables combining into a multi-coloured dish one main colour of turmeric overpowering them all... and the final touch of fresh coriander leaves garnishing a dish... are all so glorious and demands one to be engaged in that 'cooking moment'.
Fortunately for me, cooking is now a choice rather than a chore or responsibility. And guess who is the happiest with my making this one sensible choice in what seemed to be a lifetime? No prizes for guessing... you are right. Its my ma. She has spent the best part of her life feeding my perfectionist-foodie of a father, the never-ending list of guests and relatives, and ofcourse her three notorious daughters with completely different tastes from each other. So I suspect she would be less persuaded to believe that cooking is as relaxing or liberating as I claim. Nonetheless, cooking is not only creative, it also encourages social interaction. Now that I cook, I sometimes carry meals to the office and share the food with my colleagues who had fed me with their home-made meals at some point of time. So I get a chance to return the favour. I also feel like inviting friends for lunches or dinners. Though its another story whether or not they like the taste of what I cook. But the satisfaction derived from others liking and appreciating your preparations is almost at par with the satisfaction derived from someone appreciating any other work of art created by you. When so much of modern life gets onto you, cooking at home demands an active engagement with your inner self and reminds us that life is there to be savoured. And the last tip from my end... always cook with fondness and lots of love. It really comes out in the food.
January 30, 2008
January 28, 2008
Little things which make you HAPPY
It seems slightly strange to talk about an individual's minimum requirements for being happy, as everyone has different requirements for happiness. Have you ever stopped doing something you really enjoy doing, just because you got too busy and forgot all about it? I think we have all done that once in a while. Remember, what it felt like to do this activity again? If it was a great thrill of the experience itself, coupled with a thought of 'oh yeah, this feels great' then you're on the right track.
A couple of examples from my own life this past weekend, might be helpful for you to connect with what I'm talking about...
Last friday (the 25th of Jan'08), our office had organised a painting competition for the employees on the event of the next day's Republic Day celebration. I had not planned to participate, but at the 11th hour I felt like taking in the plunge and found myself leaving my daily share of work, loitering around from floor to floor in search of the organizers, paper, paints, brushes, et al. Finally I managed all of them on the basis of the begging-borrowing-stealing that I could resort to. And then when I mixed the colours on the pallette and the first stroke of the sable-hair-brush hit the ivory cartridge sheet, mixed with water and the bright colours, all mixed and blended, I wondered why on earth hadn't I done this in ages. The smell of the paints and the view of the mixed colours on the paper, filled my heart and soul with a renewed pleasure I had forgotten behind. The painting turned out to be a beauty in my eye... and hopefully for the others, too. I'd only know it later in the week.
Again on saturday (the 26th of Jan), I gave a miss to my usual movie-watching routine. My almost zero-bank balance and the freezing cold waves doing their rounds in Delhi, were the major contributors for this. But being the outdoor person I am, I couldn't hold myself back in the confines of my room any longer than 6pm. So I went out for an evening walk in the neighbourhood. While coming back, I crossed several vegetable-vendors selling fresh, colourful vegetables. And I had to give in to the temptation of buying those beauties. Though I felt like bringing all of them home, I searched for and could fish out only 80 bucks from all that I had in my pocket and spent it all buying those yummy looking broccolis, celeries, button mushrooms, bitter-gourds, eggplants, spring-onions, beans, tomatoes, carrots and red-cabbages. They were just too irresistible to be spared from bringing back home to the kitchen.
Yesterday was a broody day for me. But thanks to all the vegetables bought in from the previous evening. I spent the whole day cooking. I baked pasta in white-sauce with some of the vegetables, on the other hand prepared a 3-course naga-meal with the other set of vegetables, greens and dried meat. And though I felt quite relaxed (mentally) and tired (physically) by the end of all the cooking, I realised that I wasn't even hungry... either for lunch or for dinner. So, I watched some television, talked on the phone, prepared myself a cocktail-blood on the rooftop-with redwine and apple juice, and drank myself to sleep.
A totally uneventful and boring weekend, you might feel, but it made me re-discover a few things I had totally forgotten doing. A slow weekend which brought some happiness to me. And the cooking came in handy for today's lunch and dinner at work.
A couple of examples from my own life this past weekend, might be helpful for you to connect with what I'm talking about...
Last friday (the 25th of Jan'08), our office had organised a painting competition for the employees on the event of the next day's Republic Day celebration. I had not planned to participate, but at the 11th hour I felt like taking in the plunge and found myself leaving my daily share of work, loitering around from floor to floor in search of the organizers, paper, paints, brushes, et al. Finally I managed all of them on the basis of the begging-borrowing-stealing that I could resort to. And then when I mixed the colours on the pallette and the first stroke of the sable-hair-brush hit the ivory cartridge sheet, mixed with water and the bright colours, all mixed and blended, I wondered why on earth hadn't I done this in ages. The smell of the paints and the view of the mixed colours on the paper, filled my heart and soul with a renewed pleasure I had forgotten behind. The painting turned out to be a beauty in my eye... and hopefully for the others, too. I'd only know it later in the week.
Again on saturday (the 26th of Jan), I gave a miss to my usual movie-watching routine. My almost zero-bank balance and the freezing cold waves doing their rounds in Delhi, were the major contributors for this. But being the outdoor person I am, I couldn't hold myself back in the confines of my room any longer than 6pm. So I went out for an evening walk in the neighbourhood. While coming back, I crossed several vegetable-vendors selling fresh, colourful vegetables. And I had to give in to the temptation of buying those beauties. Though I felt like bringing all of them home, I searched for and could fish out only 80 bucks from all that I had in my pocket and spent it all buying those yummy looking broccolis, celeries, button mushrooms, bitter-gourds, eggplants, spring-onions, beans, tomatoes, carrots and red-cabbages. They were just too irresistible to be spared from bringing back home to the kitchen.
Yesterday was a broody day for me. But thanks to all the vegetables bought in from the previous evening. I spent the whole day cooking. I baked pasta in white-sauce with some of the vegetables, on the other hand prepared a 3-course naga-meal with the other set of vegetables, greens and dried meat. And though I felt quite relaxed (mentally) and tired (physically) by the end of all the cooking, I realised that I wasn't even hungry... either for lunch or for dinner. So, I watched some television, talked on the phone, prepared myself a cocktail-blood on the rooftop-with redwine and apple juice, and drank myself to sleep.
A totally uneventful and boring weekend, you might feel, but it made me re-discover a few things I had totally forgotten doing. A slow weekend which brought some happiness to me. And the cooking came in handy for today's lunch and dinner at work.
January 10, 2008
LIFE'S LESSONS
Lessons I learnt in life...
01. Gossip, men, coffee and chocolates... some things are better dark and rich.
02. If you are a lady who knows to cook and drive, HUSH! Just keep it to yourself. After all, why do all the hard work if you can get away faking ignorance?!
03. Men come and men go, but friends are forever and nearly always outlast (superficial) lovers.
04. A not-so-goodlooking guy who is chivalrous, polished, good to you and genuinely cares about you is much more worthy than a good-looking guy who is insensitive to your feelings.
05. Not having a man in your life is not reason enough to go into a full-on crisis mode. Infact, to be single is better than to be stuck in a bad relationship.
06. Share everything with your mate... except the details of ex-s and the location of your porn stash...(wink!)
07. Men do make passes at girls who wear glasses or braces. Infact, some men even make passes at anything that moves, crawls and wears a skirt.
08. Dress up real nice on a dull and depressing day. Who knows, you might run into a cute guy who might ask you out or better yet, meet a woman you could make so jealous.
09. Exercise is a great excuse to wear clingy clothes, but it is something you do to keep fit, not to get thin.
10. There is no fight that can't be won when wearing sexy lingerie or only that.
11. A designer bikini can cost more than a whole outfit.
12. It IS possible to have too many shoes, bags or clothes.
13. A good haircut is well worth the investment. After all, you have to wear it everyday.
14. It is much better to spend your money on a vacation than on luxury items. The vacation will provide memories and lessons that will last a lifetime. The latter, only momentary pleasure and maybe a little chance to show off.
15. The world is a much better place after a glass of wine.
16. Nobody really cares that you have that ugly acne on your left cheek or nose or wherever. The truth be told, you are probably the only one aware of and annoyed with its existence.
17. Eat all the carbs-and-calories you want, while you still can. Soon, that spoonful of chocolate mousse or mayonnaise will travel straight to your mid-riff area.
18. After you reach a certain age, no matter how much you diet and however hard you exercise, you will never be twig-thin again like you were as a teenager. And clothes which looked good on you a decade ago, won't look that way ever again... even if the fashion is back.
19. No matter how many creams you rub into your problem zones, you can't stop the inexorable march of cellulite onto your thighs, arms and butts. Gravity will take its toll on you and everything that can sag, will sag. So, don't bother fighting it.
20. People who invest in LICs, Mutual Funds and Retirement Policies while still in their 20s, are NOT losers.
21. It is better to buy a property than to rent... even if it means living in an area that you don't consider entirely worthy of you.
22. Its difficult to soar high like eagles if you work with turkeys.
23. You will never be able (or willing) to work this hard again. So make the most while still at it. But don't lose sight of the fact that there is life outside your workplace.
24. You can only really make friends when you are young. After that, you're only stuck with chance acquaintances and work contacts whom you also socialize with.
25. There is a reason why you lost touch with so many 'friends' you made in school, high-school and college. You simply had nothing much in common, except for the fact that you were once together, somewhere, somehow. So, there's no need to feel guilty when charged with 'dropping' them.
26. If you want something, don't be afraid to ask.
27. Do not be afraid to speak out your mind... ever.
28. If you dare to do the impossible, it actually becomes possible, 'cause the 'impossibler' does not exist.
29. You can't change the world. But don't let it change you either.
30. Whatever you give to others, comes back to you... in this very life.
31. Nothing is as important as you think and everthing in life (good or bad) shall pass. Yes, it truly will!
01. Gossip, men, coffee and chocolates... some things are better dark and rich.
02. If you are a lady who knows to cook and drive, HUSH! Just keep it to yourself. After all, why do all the hard work if you can get away faking ignorance?!
03. Men come and men go, but friends are forever and nearly always outlast (superficial) lovers.
04. A not-so-goodlooking guy who is chivalrous, polished, good to you and genuinely cares about you is much more worthy than a good-looking guy who is insensitive to your feelings.
05. Not having a man in your life is not reason enough to go into a full-on crisis mode. Infact, to be single is better than to be stuck in a bad relationship.
06. Share everything with your mate... except the details of ex-s and the location of your porn stash...(wink!)
07. Men do make passes at girls who wear glasses or braces. Infact, some men even make passes at anything that moves, crawls and wears a skirt.
08. Dress up real nice on a dull and depressing day. Who knows, you might run into a cute guy who might ask you out or better yet, meet a woman you could make so jealous.
09. Exercise is a great excuse to wear clingy clothes, but it is something you do to keep fit, not to get thin.
10. There is no fight that can't be won when wearing sexy lingerie or only that.
11. A designer bikini can cost more than a whole outfit.
12. It IS possible to have too many shoes, bags or clothes.
13. A good haircut is well worth the investment. After all, you have to wear it everyday.
14. It is much better to spend your money on a vacation than on luxury items. The vacation will provide memories and lessons that will last a lifetime. The latter, only momentary pleasure and maybe a little chance to show off.
15. The world is a much better place after a glass of wine.
16. Nobody really cares that you have that ugly acne on your left cheek or nose or wherever. The truth be told, you are probably the only one aware of and annoyed with its existence.
17. Eat all the carbs-and-calories you want, while you still can. Soon, that spoonful of chocolate mousse or mayonnaise will travel straight to your mid-riff area.
18. After you reach a certain age, no matter how much you diet and however hard you exercise, you will never be twig-thin again like you were as a teenager. And clothes which looked good on you a decade ago, won't look that way ever again... even if the fashion is back.
19. No matter how many creams you rub into your problem zones, you can't stop the inexorable march of cellulite onto your thighs, arms and butts. Gravity will take its toll on you and everything that can sag, will sag. So, don't bother fighting it.
20. People who invest in LICs, Mutual Funds and Retirement Policies while still in their 20s, are NOT losers.
21. It is better to buy a property than to rent... even if it means living in an area that you don't consider entirely worthy of you.
22. Its difficult to soar high like eagles if you work with turkeys.
23. You will never be able (or willing) to work this hard again. So make the most while still at it. But don't lose sight of the fact that there is life outside your workplace.
24. You can only really make friends when you are young. After that, you're only stuck with chance acquaintances and work contacts whom you also socialize with.
25. There is a reason why you lost touch with so many 'friends' you made in school, high-school and college. You simply had nothing much in common, except for the fact that you were once together, somewhere, somehow. So, there's no need to feel guilty when charged with 'dropping' them.
26. If you want something, don't be afraid to ask.
27. Do not be afraid to speak out your mind... ever.
28. If you dare to do the impossible, it actually becomes possible, 'cause the 'impossibler' does not exist.
29. You can't change the world. But don't let it change you either.
30. Whatever you give to others, comes back to you... in this very life.
31. Nothing is as important as you think and everthing in life (good or bad) shall pass. Yes, it truly will!
January 04, 2008
MOVIES I watched in 2007
S.N. Date Time (hrs) Cinema Movie
1 06th Jan'07 11:10 PVR-Priya BHAGAM BHAG
2 06th Jan'07 14:20 PVR-Priya BABEL
3 23rd Jan'07 11:00 Anuradha-Ghy SALAAM-E-ISHQ
4 27th Jan'07 11:00 Anuradha-Ghy GURU
5 08th Feb'07 10:00 PVR-Saket DEJA VU
6 08th Feb'07 16:10 PVR-Saket PARZANIA
7 10th Feb'07 13:45 PVR-Priya THE HOLIDAY
8 10th Feb'07 16:30 PVR-Priya BLACK FRIDAY
9 17th Feb'07 11:15 PVR-Priya EKLAVYA
10 17th Feb'07 13:30 PVR-Priya MUSIC AND LYRICS
11 24th Feb'07 10:20 PVR-Priya GHOST RIDER
12 24th Feb'07 12:40 PVR-Priya HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT LTD
13 03rd Mar'07 10:00 PVR-Spice LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
14 03rd Mar'07 13:40 PVR-Spice BLOOD DIAMOND
15 03rd Mar'07 15:40 PVR-Spice NISHABD
16 10th Mar'07 10:00 PVR-Priya APOCALYPTO
17 10th Mar'07 15:15 PVR-Priya WATER
18 11th Mar'07 11:00 Chanakya RED
19 15th Mar'07 09:20 PVR-Saket PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
20 24th Mar'07 09:40 PVR-Priya 300
21 24th Mar'07 12:00 PVR-Priya NAMASTE LONDON
22 31th Mar'07 12:00 PVR-Saket THE NAMESAKE
23 14th Apr'07 11:30 PVR-Priya BHEJA FRY
24 14th Apr'07 13:30 PVR-Priya ERAGON
25 14th Apr'07 15:45 PVR-Priya PERFECT STRANGER
26 20th Apr'07 22:45 PVR-Spice THE REAPING
27 21st Apr'07 11:00 Chanakya KYA LOVE STORY HAI
28 27th Apr'07 22:45 PVR-Spice TARA RUM PUM
29 12th May'07 10:20 Chanakya LIFE IN A METRO
30 19th May'07 14:00 PVR-Priya SPIDERMAN 3
31 20th May'07 10:00 PVR-Saket MADAGASKAR
32 30th May'07 13:35 Chanakya CHEENI KUM
33 30th May'07 16:30 Chanakya SHOOTOUT AT LOKHAND
34 10th Jun'07 10:10 PVR-Priya OCEAN'S 13
35 10th Jun'07 12:20 PVR-Priya PIRATES OF THE CARIBEAN
36 23rd Jun'07 15:00 PVR-Saket THE QUEEN
37 23rd Jun'07 17:20 PVR-Saket SHREK THE THIRD
38 30th Jun'07 10:20 PVR-Priya DIE HARD 4.0
39 07th Jul'07 12:20 PVR-Saket THE GRUDGE 2
40 08th Jul'07 10:00 PVR-Saket THE BONG CONNECTION
41 08th Jul'07 12:15 PVR-Saket EPIC MOVIES
42 14th Jul'07 11:00 Chanakya NAQAAB
43 21st Jul'07 13:50 PVR-Priya HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF
44 21st Jul'07 16:40 PVR-Priya PARTNER
45 22ndJul'07 10:20 PVR-Saket VACANCY
46 04thAug'07 11:00 Chanakya CASH
47 05thAug'07 10:30 PVR-Saket THE SIMPSONS
48 05thAug'07 12:00 PVR-Saket BOW BARRACKS FOREVER
49 11th Aug'07 11:45 PVR-Saket SURF'S UP
50 11th Aug'07 18:30 Sapna CHAK DE INDIA
51 12th Aug'07 15:15 SATYAM-N.Plc GANDHI MY FATHER
52 26th Aug'07 11:00 Chanakya HEY BABYY
53 01st Sep'07 13:55 PVR-Priya RGV KI AAG
54 02ndSep'07 12:15 PVR-Saket THE INVASION
55 08th Sep'07 14:20 PVR-Priya DHAMAAL
56 08th Sep'07 17:00 PVR-Priya DARLING
57 09th Sep'07 11:00 SATYAM-N.Plc APNA ASMAAN
58 04th Oct'07 10:30 PVR-Priya JOHNNY GADDAAR
59 04th Oct'07 13:15 PVR-Priya DHOL
60 04th Oct'07 16:10 PVR-Priya LOINS OF PUNJAB
61 06th Oct'07 14:05 PVR-Saket DIL DOSTI ETC
62 07th Oct'07 12:30 PVR-Saket THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
63 07th Oct'07 15:45 PVR-Saket NO RESERVATION
64 13th Oct'07 13:10 Chanakya LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG
65 14th Oct'07 10:25 Chanakya BHOOL BHULAIYAA
66 20th oct'07 11:00 SATYAM-N.Plc HANNIBAL RISING
67 27th Oct'07 10:30 Chanakya JAB WE MET
68 28th Oct'07 13:10 PVR-Saket A MIGHTY HEART
69 28th Oct'07 15:10 PVR-Saket RESIDENT EVIL:EXTINCTION
70 28th Oct'07 19:10 PVR-Saket MUMBAI SALSA
71 03rd Nov'07 13:30 SATYAM-N.Plc SHOOT EM UP
72 03rd Nov'07 16:00 SATYAM-N.Plc THE BRAVE ONE
73 11th Nov'07 10:30 PVR-Priya OM SHANTI OM
74 11th Nov'07 13:45 PVR-Priya SAAWARIYA
75 17th Nov'07 11:00 SATYAM-N.Plc DECEMBER BOYS
76 17th Nov'07 13:15 SATYAM-N.Plc BREACH
77 23rd Nov'07 12:00 Sapna-EOK (Forgot)
78 25th Nov'07 19:30 PVR-Rivoli DHANDHANADHAN GOAL
79 01st Dec'07 11:50 SATYAM-N.Plc BEOWULF
80 01st Dec'07 14:00 SATYAM-N.Plc GAURI-THE UNBORN
81 01st Dec'07 16:20 SATYAM-N.Plc 30 DAYS OF NIGHTS
82 02nd Dec'07 10:40 PVR-Saket THE KINGDOM
83 02nd Dec'07 12:45 PVR-Saket LIONS FOR LAMBS
84 12th Dec'07 14:00 Anuradha-Ghy DUS KAHANIYAAN
85 22ndDec'07 10:35 PVR-Priya AIR BUDDIES
86 22ndDec'07 12:25 PVR-Priya TAARE ZAMEEN PAR
87 22ndDec'07 16:45 SATYAM-N.Plc WELCOME
88 23rdDec'07 10:00 PVR-Saket I AM LEGEND
89 29thDec'07 13:10 PVR-Saket 1408
90 30thDec'07 15:10 PVR-Saket RETURN OF HANUMAN
91 30thDec'07 17:20 PVR-Saket BEE MOVIE
January 02, 2008
Goodbye 2007, Welcome 2008
2007 had been a very exciting and eventful year for me. Lots of travelling, lots of movies, good friends, met interesting people, attended quite a few weddings, became an aunt. Also I discovered 'orkut' and got a little addicted to it, till the time I got caught red-handed while being online from work (oops! its a zero-tolerance, but they decided to tolerate me on for one last time). But then, what the heck? I made a couple of very good friends and it was worth the risk.
Well, now its time to analyse the resolutions which I had made for the past year.
Resolutions 007 status:
#1: Smoking-Did not smoke at all till the 15th August 2007, but then I smoked on and off once in a while.
#2: Organic life-Ate healthy, exercised, meditated and cut down on alchohol to a great extent. Only stuck to beer and red-wine when I had to drink. Also curbed down on meat, being strictly vegan on tuesdays & saturdays (even if that meant a lot of hassles and being the odd one out at social gatherings).
#3: Photography-Even though my uncle gifted me with his old Canon SLR, I couldn't bring myself to do a lot with it yet.
#4: Travel- Oh yes... and a lot. Visited my hometown 4 times in the year (thats the most I've done in all these ten years I have been here in Delhi). Also visited Mumbai, Rishikesh, Daman-Diu and Pushkar.
#5: Gadgets-Got a mixer-juicer-grinder and an oven, but not the i-pod, digicam or the much-required lappy.
#6: Painting-Did not paint at all. Blame it on the mood or the hectic outdoor life or simple laziness.
#7: Pray-Yes, that I did. Chanted 'the gayatri mantra' everyday and 'the hanuman chalisa' on tuesdays. And I feel that has brought in a lot of calm in me. I also realise now that prayer is not about asking God for things to happen, but to thank Him for all that I have and that I'm grateful for the good things that has happened to me.
Now, at the start of the New Year 2008, I promise myself 8 new things-
#1: To earn more money and while also investing for the future, to be able to indulge more.
#2: To upgrade my room and my mobile phone.
#3: To work harder and more sincerely 'coz I realise I've been a lazy bum in the whole last year.
#4: To laugh more, humour more and spread more happiness.
#5: To break more rules by doing crazier stuff than my usual.
#6: To try and travel to the remaining parts of the country I haven't covered yet.
#7: To be more forgiving and be a better human being.
#8: To get married (after I'm done with my travelling, ofcourse!)
Well, now its time to analyse the resolutions which I had made for the past year.
Resolutions 007 status:
#1: Smoking-Did not smoke at all till the 15th August 2007, but then I smoked on and off once in a while.
#2: Organic life-Ate healthy, exercised, meditated and cut down on alchohol to a great extent. Only stuck to beer and red-wine when I had to drink. Also curbed down on meat, being strictly vegan on tuesdays & saturdays (even if that meant a lot of hassles and being the odd one out at social gatherings).
#3: Photography-Even though my uncle gifted me with his old Canon SLR, I couldn't bring myself to do a lot with it yet.
#4: Travel- Oh yes... and a lot. Visited my hometown 4 times in the year (thats the most I've done in all these ten years I have been here in Delhi). Also visited Mumbai, Rishikesh, Daman-Diu and Pushkar.
#5: Gadgets-Got a mixer-juicer-grinder and an oven, but not the i-pod, digicam or the much-required lappy.
#6: Painting-Did not paint at all. Blame it on the mood or the hectic outdoor life or simple laziness.
#7: Pray-Yes, that I did. Chanted 'the gayatri mantra' everyday and 'the hanuman chalisa' on tuesdays. And I feel that has brought in a lot of calm in me. I also realise now that prayer is not about asking God for things to happen, but to thank Him for all that I have and that I'm grateful for the good things that has happened to me.
Now, at the start of the New Year 2008, I promise myself 8 new things-
#1: To earn more money and while also investing for the future, to be able to indulge more.
#2: To upgrade my room and my mobile phone.
#3: To work harder and more sincerely 'coz I realise I've been a lazy bum in the whole last year.
#4: To laugh more, humour more and spread more happiness.
#5: To break more rules by doing crazier stuff than my usual.
#6: To try and travel to the remaining parts of the country I haven't covered yet.
#7: To be more forgiving and be a better human being.
#8: To get married (after I'm done with my travelling, ofcourse!)
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