Morning Walk or Morning Walker? (Comes from a discussion with a friend…)

Yes, finally I am the proud owner of a Morning Walker!

For the elite audience who has never switched from Discovery, BBC, and NDTV Profits to the comical Teleshopping commercials @ 11PM, a Morning Walker by definition is “a scientifically designed, health machine based on the proven principle of goldfish movement. By using it for 15 minutes, you get the benefit of brisk walking 10000 steps.”
I had been having those guilt pangs of not being able to go for my regular walks from past 1+ year for various reasons. So, while surfing channels when one day I happened to see a attractive, size zero girl using this urbane looking equipment, it was magical – a eureka! I have a solution. I called up the dealer and ordered and its there!
Now, people say that this machine is not a proxy for those enlightening, early morning walks and nothing could match it. Agreed – because nothing can ever replace the plainness of nature. A morning walk is not a walk, but, an experience in itself… fragrance and colors of freshly blossomed flowers, greenery of the just watered plants & trees, smiles on those toddlers who are learning to walk, hope in the eyes of those old men & women who still see a long life ahead.

Sounds good!

But, how many times are you able to make it? I am not! Even if you make a promise to yourself to get up an hour earlier, you realize that very day the maid is not coming in, or it’s the day for an early meeting/call at office, or something something, and something else…
This machine comes to help then. Everyone has 15 minutes in a day and you just have to close your eyes, relax, stretch out, and enjoy! Yes, I am talking about 15 dedicated minutes of exercise. Also, if you do it just right, then you can have the same effects as that of a walk. Drink a glass of water before starting, close your eyes and visualize the park, the sunrise, the flowers, kids, the grass, and whatever you want too. Imagination is powerful and it can do wonders! After 15 mins, you will feel as revived and calmed as you would after the walk. It is atleast much much better than deciding to go for a walk, and not going for it and not doing anything else also.
So, when life is fast and you have technology for help…use it smart and get the results! I suggest going for the walks as much as possible, but, when it is not happening then going the “Morning Walker” way as Plan B is definitely productive.

Happy walking to everyone!

I am Facing the "Writer's Block"...a few good reads meanwhile....

1. Arianna Huffington, a Greek-American author and syndicated columnist. She is best known as co-founder of the progressive news website The Huffington Post. In 2003, she ran as an independent candidate for Governor in the California recall election. In 2009, Huffington was named as number 12 in Forbes' first ever list of the Most Influential Women In Media. Read her on http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
   
   
2. Marketing and Advertising News With Attitude by Steve Hall and Angela Natividad - http://www.adrants.com/
   
   
3. Thoughts on the intersection of search, media, technology, and more. Read John Battelle's Searchblog, http://battellemedia.com/
   
   
4. Wayne Hurlbert provides insightful information about marketing, promotions, search engine optimization and public relations for websites and business blogs on the popular Blog Business World. Check out Blog Business World for yourself @ http://www.blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com/

HAPPY READING!

Short & Sweet

This was a long due…..

A few days back, my mom called me up in an absolute state of panic….ok, it was not really that much, but, she was unquestionably hassled or puzzled. First, I thought it was earthquake as she is terrified of those. Then I thought it could be my little niece and nephew worrying her, and the troubled grandmother had called me for some break. But, it was something else. Something I did not contemplate, something much more serious which needed my instant consideration and assistance.

The position was like this. My dad (65 +), was using my mom’s cell phone to make a call and incidentally happened to see a SMS in her inbox, which read “Love You.” The SMS had come a few months back and none of them had even seen it before. But, now that he had seen it, he had been asking her about who this friend of hers was? Who had been sending such romantic messages to her? And all sort of related questions. Seems to me that he was suspicious ;)

Obviously she didn’t know and to figure this out she called the “clever me”.

It took me a while to understand the situation as this came to me a bit unexpectedly. For a moment, I could not make head or tail out of it and thought it must be some wrong number who had SMSed her. I asked her to check the date which was of last year. And then recall…recall…and I got it!!! Who else, but, I was the culprit here.

The story is…that last year during Diwali I went to Delhi, my home. Since, my phone is on roaming there, as I always do, this time also, I had borrowed my mom’s phone to be in touch with my friends there. One particular day, my friend A and I were making plans to have a get-together. She had been calling me up several times and I had been sending messages to her about our plan. Where? When? Who all to tell? Who all to not tell? All this and more.......When we make such important plans, it takes hours. After a point of time we were conversing over SMSes and during the end of one such conversation A sent me a message saying “Love you.” This is a usual way of saying bye for us and close the conversation for time being.

So, it was A’s message I had not bothered to delete from my mom’s cell, ignorant of the fact the one day such a situation could arise. I told my mother the entire thing and recited A’s number to her (987…….) to ask her to double check that the SMS is from this number. Of course it was. She breathed relief, but, what she could not understand was why two girls should say “Love you” to each other (generation gap there) and then finally ……...finally she laughed and my dad sitting behind her also laughed and anyone who ever heard this had laughed and would laugh!

All said and done, I am delighted that my dad is still so passionate about her that he questioned her on seeing the SMS.

I am also wondering what he would have done if he had seen some of the other SMSes from my female friends and many of them from A (She is going to kill me for this) which go like… “Will call you in a while sweetie,” I love you and miss you loads,” “Love you loads my dearie, Goodnight….sleep well” and so on…..

Go Green! Some Tips Collected for a Project....Reusables

• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
• Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
• Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
• Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
• Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
• Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
• Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
• Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

Inside story of Azim Premji's next billion-dollar plan

Posting it here as I feel proud of being part of the Wipro family......

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/forbes-india-inside-story-of-azim-premjis-next-billiondollar-plan/95978-7-single.html

A Royal Book BY Indu Sundaresan…Quick Review

Finally I finished reading the book of kings and queens, the book of the royal lady called Nur Jahan, the story of her life, her struggle, her passion, her desires, her love and her lust. A a new genre of romantic history.

The story begins with the birth of Mehrunnisa (commonly known as Nur Jahan), her entry into Emperor Akbar’s court, her love for Salim and her passion to get married to him.

The descriptions in the book are living and breathing, the words seem alive and the reader feels as if a time machine has taken us back to that era, that aura! When the author talks about the court, her description makes you feel if you are the one sitting right there and observing the proceedings. When she talks about the Women’s palace, you feel you are inside it and enjoying all the royal pleasures. When Salim betrays Akbar, you feel hatred for him and you would want to go and stop him!

Something different about the book is the fact that it does not dwell too much into the positive character of Mehrunnissa. It doesn’t all the time talk about her beauty, her charms. It also brings into light her not so positive shades.

Finally, this is a story of romance…..Merhunnissa's romance, her quest to conquer Salim and to become part of the royal heritage and history. That is what comes outright in the book.

A good read......"The Twentieth Wife"

Totaly fascinated by this new Coke Add....

The lyrics go here...

Strange love
Even though you hurt me I feel blessed love
Baby I'm your puppet on a string
Making me tumble and swing
Trouble's what you bring
Strange love
Strange love

Strange how
You control my every little move now
Hanging from your strings is all I know
Starring in your puppet show
Never let me go
Strange love

All the things you've said and done
There's no space for me to run
Baby I've lost and you have won
cause' all I really want is
Strange love

Even though you hurt me I feel blessed love
Baby I'm your puppet on a string
Making me tumble and swing
Trouble's what you bring
Strange love
Strange love
Strange love

Goodnight Thoughts

Life is fun, when things go your way. And things go your way, when you want them to be! I hope to have all the fun I can. 

SMS

Those asking me when would I restart blogging.....do wait and watch! I will be back, and that too with a bang!

Though I am anti-soft drinks, but, this line from a famous cold drink add does ignite me: 

Aage badhne ke liye sirf ek connection jaruri hai.........aapka, aapni pyaas se!! 

How true!!!

All is Fair.......

Now I am sitting in the comforts of my office, but, only minutes back I had found myself in the mother of all traffic jams, moving at the speed of a paraplegic snail. Being in Bangalore for past two years now, I can usually tolerate the frequent traffic since I’m always beside the driver’s seat and it the headache of the other person. For me, after being stuck for a while around the same cars, same buses, same trucks, I have now started to feel a bond growing between me and Bangalore traffic. My time pass is to study them all as if you're studying new roommates!

But, today, I could understand how annoying it is. The jam was visible as soon as I had started from home. Actually the news came to me much before that. In this fast paced technological world, you get to know what is happening outside sitting at home. (Anyways, that is a topic for different post). I was still getting ready at my usual tempo at home, when a perplexed and hassled friend of mine, decided to break the news to me. She was there, in it, trying to reach to our Electronic City Office! She called and told me how terrible it was and what all she had to face. Actually, thanks to her I was a bit mentally prepared to face the trauma. But, the positive me still thought it would be ok by the time I start. I decided to drop the idea of EC and go to the Madivala office, at least for the time being.

Under the sun, as I walked all the way from home to office, with my monster like laptop bag, I especially took notice of my surroundings. I could not see the road, it was only traffic and people were chaotically running here and there in the “Let-me-reach-office-or-let-me-commit-suicide” mode. It was a mad rush. People wanted to reach somewhere, they were walking or driving somewhere (yes, lanes don't exist here). Everyone wanted “speed” and “space”, but, where too???

These were the difficult times, when you need all the optimism stored in you to come out. I also did not give up.

For some time I tried to hire an auto. But, in vain. The auto drivers would look at me like zombies when I would say “Bhaiyya, (company name undisclosed) ke Madivala office chalna hai?” Some of those who managed to understand and comprehend the reason why I am asking this question, showed the courtesy of nodding their heads and moving away. Rest, who were more cognitive then others, thought and spoke only in their brains somewhere and moved away. But, me being me, could read that too. Their brains were shouting, “Look at this fool, how she can even ask this question? Doesn’t she know there is a massive jam near Silk Board?”

Now, I had no option, but, to walk up to my company’s Madivala office. I have always been thankful to my company for having offices at all locations. At least, if you do not reach your fixed location, you can swipe in and swipe out from somewhere (and work also if you wish too). The journey was another awesome one. It was hot, I was carrying my laptop and there was no space on the earth to walk! Most of the people were walking with an “I don’t care” attitude and a few, I noticed, were looking around with the kind of surprised expression I had. Whenever my eyes met someone in the second category, we would give each other a 'Can you believe these lunatics?' gesture.

And how can I forget that the honking was at its high and could have removed the stitching from my clothes.

For a few minutes now, I had begun to notice a how bikes, two-wheelers, cycles were trying to find their way through the tight traffic jam, fitting through the spaces between cars and buses, that directly violates all rules of physics. With every close pass or hit of someone else's side mirror, these little less equipped people would give an 'excuse me' expression, almost as if the matter was out of their hands and then slowly but surely would kept moving forward until they finally wedge and park themselves somewhere till the next move. It almost seemed like a game of chess between these small modes of transportation and the biggies on the road. I was wondering when all hell will break loose.

Now comes the climax, the cause of all this and I am so proud to say that I saw it! Only a few would have that pleasure as the rest would be busy in just crossing that damn traffic. I was walking at my own velocity and could spare some moments to see it all. Now, amongst many, I can boast of being the one who had visited the site of the problem and knows what it was.
As I walked, close to Silk board, I saw a truck that had about 20 people standing around it. This is one of those things that you must see to believe; a truck in the middle of a traffic jam, full of people tripping around like they're participating in Obama’s first Congress Speech. Incidentally, the truck decided to breakdown in the middle of the road and for some reason Bangalore doesn’t have a traffic disaster recovery system yet. So, the truck was still stuck there and of those 20 people standing there, 2 were trying hard to mend it. Rest, I thought were observers, supervisors, or moral boosters!

Interestingly, there was no sign of panic there. The restoration work was going slowly and soundly. Things seem to be under control. There was no sign of unrest also in those commuters who had crossed the truck breakdown point. In fact, they had the satisfied look of “Finally, I crossed it, now the traffic would be smooth for me”. So, only people who were uselessly panicking were those who were far behind on the road and had no clue of what had happened and when and how they would move ahead.

Well, then I walked down further and reached my office.

My plight is over there. As far as I am concerned, it is fine with me! How we could curb these jams or these traffic mis-managements is another discussion! Tomorrow I will hit another traffic jam which would have occurred because of another truck, or no traffic lights or an accident in that particular area and then we will again think.

“Kisi ka jeevan hai sapna, kisi ka sapna jeevan hai!!”

After “Balika Vadhu” made an impression and shaped its own special place in hearts of television viewers of all ages, another daily soap launched again on Colors grasped my attention last night. I had watched its promos before, but happened to watch the serial yesterday.

I was working late (from home) and in parallel watching television to keep myself awake. I happened to watch one episode of this serial named “UTRAN” at 10 PM, and really liked the way it has portrayed the life of economically weaker sections of our society from a small girl’s perspective.

The serial shows an innocent little girl, a maid’s daughter, who is confused why she cannot cut cakes, blow candles and wear new clothes on her Birthday. Iccha, the little kid, does not really understand or agrees to the disparities in the society and is persistently inquiring the same to her mother. She wants to be like the rich girls flaunting their nice-looking dresses and dolls which she sees at homes where her mother works. But she, at the end of the day, has to keep contented with all the used and worn-out things she gets once these kids chuck them away. And when her mother tells her that it is all about “kismaat”, she tries to find out if she can buy her “Kismaat” from a vegetable vendor.

Some people might feel bad as the serial rubs in the fact that maids or their kids are given discarded things. I respect this sentiment. But, I do not want to be negative personally. For me, not showing such things will not change facts. The program leaves me contemplating on three things for now: One, some petite things which we take for granted can be prized for someone else and if I can be a little insightful and sensitive, it could aid bring smile on someone’s face. Two, I can be once in a while grateful to the superpower which drives the world for giving me whatever I have. Three, every child has the right to get the best things in life….for that matter ever human being.

As the title says, “For someone, life is a beautiful dream, for other it’s a dream to be able to live!”

THINK NEGATIVE

You dont have to always think positive. Sometimes, THINK NEGATIVE: to corruption, to crime and to dirty politics.

What is worse then death is to realize that you only have a few moments of life left. 

When you have an inhaler in your bag, yet, you can take only a few breaths.

You have enough balance in your cell, yet you can make only a few SMSes. 

You have all the love in your heart, yet you cannot express.......

.

.

.

.

.

As the guns point to you and they shoot, you are still deciding which of the two can save your life....Bhagwaan or Allah?  

Conversation with the Dead

Today morning, I spent sometime in front of the Television. And when I say “sometime”, it means some emotional moments. I must accept I was at the verge of breakdown and tears rolled out of my eyes as I witnessed those funerals. I did not know any of them but as I write this post, my heart cries and thanks ITS chief Hemant Karkare, officer Kamte, officer Salaskar, and officer Sandeep Unnikrishnan and many more unidentified yet brave soldiers who laid their lives struggling to free Mumbai from the chains of those shameless animals who like an epidemic are destroying the society.

I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with these soldiers and tell them a few things:  

Officer Hemant Karkare, your funeral ceremony was shown across all news channels.In midst of this, a small yet very important piece of news reported by one news channel got lost by most of us. But, I somehow managed to remember and think over it. The news said that initial investigations have revealed that “officer Karakare's official bullet proof vest was of inferior quality”. Please tell me if this news was true? If yes, then then, it is both a shame and shock to me and I apologize to you on behalf of this nation. Why did you die for a county which can't even provide you bullet proof vests?

Dear dead soldiers, as the nation offers condolence to your families, we, the commoners, also need to ask ourselves…..do we deserve such ultimate acts of love and sacrifice from you, because, as you die the majority of us watch with apathy, but, are more concerned with sensex and match reschedules than law and order and national unity and pride. When will common people like me ask a simple question to our conscience “what can I do to change this?”

Officers, It is wasting your lives to die for a country so soft on terrorism where nothing changes except the numbers of you dying increases while for our leaders (be it the ruling party or the opposition) “India is STILL shining”. Even a child would understand that an attack of this magnitude had to be planned for months or over a period of time. This incident shows that Indian intelligence agencies have no intelligence gathering capabilities, so why die for it when there'll be nothing except a medal for your family as martyr after after martyr has died while opportunist fool after fool has prospered and ruled?

My only prayers now are that may your near ones live long and be proud that you had the courage in the land of the weak and may your name shine long in the land of the living dead.

Thanks!
Priya

If.....

If life was simple,
If the vision was straight,
If the fog was clear,
I would not wait....

I would not wait,
to laugh with you,
to see the birds,
to touch the dew....

To touch the dew,
and make hills of sand,
to dream all colors,
to hold your hand....

To hold your hand,
to reach the sky,
to make the rainbow,
and never say GOODBYE!!!

Motivational thoughts......by Me :)

Things were not always the same. They were worse.

We were a land of snake charmers, who had nothing to do with the rapid pace of developing world, where women were a means of producing children, were sati was not an evil , but, a "proud" ritual, where widow remarriage was a crime, where education was a delicacy and girl education was "not needed", where a handful of outsiders could come, divide, exploit and rule for nothing less than a 100 years.

Then, few amongst us decided to revolt. They did not agree to what was happening around us. They wanted to raise a voice. It was not difficult. A change is only a matter of making noise. If something is wrong and we decide to oppose it, sooner or later, the results are positive. It is all about believing in yourself and proving your point. The need is to "Take the Lead" and move ahead.

And so, revolutions happen and will keep happening in the world and in our lives.

Changing Perspective - "The Next Level"

I always want to reach to the next level.
I am never satisfied with the status quo.
I want to desire for greater heights.
I have a need for more to do.

How to reach the next level?

I thought, it is by implementing our ideas, desires, and aspirations.
I thought it is by our "Acts."
I thought the journey to the next level starts with a step forward.

But, in my journey I realized,

Going to the next level is hard and it is easier said then done
....grass is always greener on the other side.

So, I decide, I step back and I do not want the next level.

!!!

Sometimes I see a justful order
Behind the things that seem to be
Somewhat down the surface seen
I see some hidden games and schemes

I assure this fact through stances felt
It relaxes my heart and soul
When in life I do my bit
And leave results to your will.

Sometimes I see a justful order
In the way our lives arrange
Giving us what we deserve
Planned to stand and fall somehow

In a rightful manner, time, space

Inspiration - The X-Files

Life... is like a candy box - sweet yet harming, can be a pain in the tooth, perfect gift which you would enjoy only if you are a child, unreturnable. So, you're stuck with it. It is tempting and you always want a little more though you know its consequences in large doses. Sure, once in a while you get a the peanut one or your favorite flavor or an English toffee but it's gone too fast and the taste is fleeting. In the end, you are left with nothing but the useless empty wrappers which you have to throw into the dustbin......