What do I have to lose?

I laugh, I cry.

I smile and I try.

I stumble, I fall.

I procrastinate and I stall.

I love, I hate.

I move steps forward, I take two backwards.

I feel silly, I feel great.

I am fine.

Sometimes I pine.

I walk a mile.

I have reason to smile.

I am happy.

So what, if there is strife?

What do I have to lose? I have my life.

My journey has started well

Fingers crossed I had embarked on my journey to fitness. I had heard horror stories of sore muscles, aching and paining joints, severe diets… scared the hell out of me.

First few days I went to the gym each day like one enters a Dentist’s chambers, expecting to scream with pain. To be sore all over with aches and pains. I belied my expectations.

Was I plain lucky or was it my lifestyle of walking and exercising that was holding me in good stead? It was definitely my lifestyle. I had done a decent job on myself. A pat on my back…

I soon fell in love. With fitness. With the idea of staying fit. On my terms though. What else? How can I let this be a one-sided affair?

 I am still going strong. 

More on my love. Soon. 

My tryst with fitness continues…

I started dedicated exercises. But there was still a big big hiccup in my dream. I lacked sports shoes!! Unimaginable for some. Yes, I did get a lot of laughs.😀

I started with the closed shoes that I had, but it had to be sports shoes. A simple task, anyone would say. Not for me, no. Simply because I had never worn sports shoes and I had no idea what to look for!!! I have a problem with closed shoes. Imagine my mortification when I was told that sports shoes are the only acceptable gear for a gym.

I scoured many brands. Asked questions. I wanted a pair that was comfortable, suited my needs and was kind on my pocket (most important). I managed to get just the pair a few trips later. Voila!

How many steps I walked wearing different pairs, how I fretted over the shoe heels and colour (gone are the days of simple choices of black, grey and white), how many mirrors I preened into, how many times my eyes popped hearing the price of a shoe (shoes don’t even have resale value!!)!! 

Well, there is a first time for everything!!

My tryst with fitness

My mind told me I needed to be fit. Ok, just a wee bit fitter. And, I was telling myself (rather talking aloud to myself!) that I was in good shape. I did have some trouble spots. So what?? Why should I join a gym? Too many, I had just too many questions and answers.😎

My mind was playing games, as our mind is wont to. Now did I submit to my mind or my lazy self? The nagging monster that my mind is, forced me to listen and think. I deliberated. Ok, maybe a wee bit much.

Fear of twisting a few muscles and harming my back was at loggerheads with images of an hour-glass, perfectly curvaceous me.  But even such amazing images could not shut my ‘What if’ questions.

I decided to take the plunge, the ‘what if’ questions notwithstanding. Gave the fee. No looking back now if I knew better than wasting my money.

And, I landed at a gym.

My love affair started…

Story time...

I love stories. A well crafted story transports me into the world of its characters. Such is my fascination with stories that they could be in any form - written, spoken, enacted, or presented as a dance drama, they all enthrall me. Give me a good story, I am game for it.

I live with the characters of a story while I am going through it. I laugh and cry (No, I don't sob in a movie) with them, hurt when a favourite character hurts, feel the thrill, feel happy on victories, and a wee bit sad sometimes on failures. I am not averse to taking inspiration from characters. I sometimes also try to understand the reasons behind the actions of the characters. Makes me feel a part of a story.

If there is technology involved in the storytelling, I just might fall for it. I enjoyed 3D movies. But, my first 4D movie had me mesmerised.

Why am I so? Honestly, I don't know. I don't care. That's how I am. I simply love a good story.

Stories help me leave behind my worries and tensions. A good story takes me into the world of its reality - its intrigue, romance, love, smiles and laughter, success and failure, life lessons, and more. Stories have so much to offer, it's almost uncanny sometimes.

I love them even when they help me understand something deeper. Like tales from mythology. Those tales have layers of stories about who we were, who we are, and why. They are riveting accounts of the society that we formed and are inherently engrossing for the reason. It is a great stimulant to the mind and heart to know how we have changed, and what are the good, bad and maybe ugly of our existence. Mythological tales spur the mind to go back for the good that we had. Of course, without a twist in those tales by vested interest.

As for me, as I said, I love stories. Always will. They are my truest friends.


 

     

What is it with coffee?

‘Let’s meet over coffee, is an often heard refrain. Coffee is the quintessential accompaniment in business meetings, friendly discussions, meet-ups between friends, office grape-wine sessions, job interviews, romantic evenings, and special occasions.

While in India, it is traditionally the south where coffee is more popular, the burgeoning coffee chains have made it the ‘in-drink’ across the length and breadth of the our country. While, definitely, ‘tea’ is more our ‘cup of tea’ in the north, we have taken to coffee lovingly, with open arms. Though, many still consider it an upper-class cousin to tea, and selectively consume and serve it.

Many of us will have our coffee stories to share.  When friendships were formed, we caught up with old friends, our love stories bloomed, we met with prospective life partners in the typical Indian arranged marriage set-up, break-ups happened (yup, that too L), business deals were finalized, and we maybe appeared for job interviews too.

Let us meet over coffee…this sentence holds a promise of life. Some mystery, some hope, a bit of excitement, and something to look forward to.   

My world

What is my world coming to? Like a bad dream, my world disturbs me. Looks like sensitivity towards others, love for young and old, and respect for those who live among us, are all soon going to become memories of a bygone era. Something we will read about or hear from those of us still alive to relate tales about these qualities.

Yes, sad as it may sound, this seems to be fast becoming a reality. What is happening to my world as I know it? Children are being raped, people are being victimised for eating their food, there is political chaos, women are targeted for just being, people are being killed, people are violently angry on trivial issues, justice is denied, children are easy targets for vendetta, and there is a widespread division based on region, religion and gender.

Sometimes I wish I would get from this disturbing slumber, and laugh away my nightmare. Though it doesn't look like a possibility anytime soon.

Is it impending doom for mankind as we know it? Or is there a bright sunny day ahead of us? I hope it is the latter. I know Utopia is and will always be a dream. But, we sure could do with some love, understanding, and freedom for being what we are and what we want to be.

So, let there be light and a bright, shiny, sunny day in my world. Where my world will be a place that I shall be happy to be in.

I am alive with the hope.