When a warm popcorn kernel hits you in the eye

And how to recover from it  People often say: a penny for your thoughts. How about popcorn instead? How many bagfuls of popcorn can you pack! My machine runneth over.   Let me explain: I decided to do a little experiment. Each time, my mind harkened a distant memory, squirmed at the thought of the future…

Some ancient secrets to stay motivated

Let’s face it. It’s not easy and is not going to be. It’s not possible to stay happy all the time. It’s not possible to have faith in yourself every day. And, it’s not possible to always believe in your dreams. Reality kicks in, obstacles surface and life is not as hunky-dory as we would…

A surprise discovery at India’s only Pashupatinath temple

Sometimes we get unknown perks just by flying by. A chance journey and a last minute plan. Well, that’s another story. But what happened was this. We decided to go on a road trip from Maharashtra to Rajasthan. As providence would have it, we passed by the little town called Mandsaur. I confess, I’ve never…

Why everyone needs to dive into the ocean

It is said that the ocean is a metaphor for many aspects of life. One could decide to explore the ocean by simply gazing at its beauty, sitting afar on its sandy shores. Hands buried deep in the sand, a few grains flickering on the hand, and a gentle, salty breeze caressing the face.  One…

‘I was here, I lived, I loved…’

I want to leave my footprints on the sand of time, Know there was something that, something that I left behind, When I leave this world, I’ll leave no regrets, Leave something to remember, so they won’t forget, I was here, I lived, I loved, I was here. The lyrics of Beyonce song, ‘I was…

Letter to my younger self: Don’t eat your will power. Pump it up.

To the one-who-resembles-a-puppy-staring-at-a-treat, Time can play many tricks, and here I am. You might not recognize me, but I am your reflection. Just an older one. Look at my greys, and wrinkles, and all. I still look beautiful, just 25 years older. I see you going about your work, your day with the energy that…

How I survived the Everest climb

Should we turn back or inch our way towards camp 4, the proverbial death valley and attempt the Everest summit? It had been a long journey for me. A 26-year-old civil engineer from Jomlo Mongku in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh to scaling Mount Everest, the highest peak of the world.

Give yourself a life performance review

Many corporates do an annual or half-yearly review to understand their employees, examine performance, and align themselves for the rest of the year. While the methods and nuances of such corporate reviews could be up for debate, there is no harm in simply examining ourselves in our personal space.

And like the wise said: life is not what happens to you, but for you. And only you can make it happen.

Staying healthy once you touch the magical 60

Aging is not necessarily becoming older and biologically retired. It is merely a journey of becoming “chronologically superior.” Becoming a senior citizen, crossing the golden threshold of 60 years is no longer what it used to be. Sixty does not necessarily mean retirement, sitting in a rocking chair and watching the sunset. Socially and culturally, communities around the world are defining the meaning of aging. 60 is no longer 60 years. It’s the new 40.

Somewhere I have never travelled gladly beyond

I’ve voyaged far and wide. Engaged with one-eyed pirates, been a swashbuckling hero to a damsel in distress, ventured down the streets of an era long over, and entered the mind of a criminal.

I’ve loved books. They have been my entry into fantastical worlds. Worlds that have scared me, people who felt strange, read words that I’ve never been aware of.

The wall

I was on a car ride a few months ago. Actually, I was driving. We were a group of ladies going to visit a Vithal Mandir in the gaushala behind our building. We can see the temple from our balcony, its just separated by a wall. Late evening, the heat was still sticking to the…

A little girl in a red slip

The mundane yet beautiful frangipani tree outside my window does look pretty. Usually filled with leaves, bunches of white flowers peering in between the green, the slender brown bark reaching for the sun…and a sturdy branch holding onto a swing. It’s a simple rickety, make-shift swing that can just about hold a little child’s weight…