New Beginnings

Dear friends, family and wonderful readers. It has been a long long time since I wrote something here. As I give this blog a fresh beginning today, let me start by sharing some very personal thoughts and some very special news with you.

Beginnings are always exciting!

Whether it is the beginning of a new relationship, a new job or a new project. Whether it is the beginning of a new year, a new month or a new day. Whatever the beginning is about, it marks a fresh start. Something to look forward to. New beginnings also bring with them new hopes and a way to let go of the past. The month of January is one such time when I get excited about new beginnings. It is the time of the year when I, and a lot of people I know, get busy writing down resolutions. Around this time each year I start with a new diary to write down my goals, hopes and aspirations for the next twelve months.

As I started the one for 2014, I realized that this year marks the beginning of an extremely special and unique phase of my life. My husband and I are expecting a little one in the family who is due to arrive in about a month’s time now. Let me tell you that I am finding it very difficult to describe our feelings about this new phase of life that both of us are about to enter. However, if you can make a full sentence from words like extremely happy, elated, super excited, little nervous, out of the world, can’t wait, a different life, change of priorities, new hopes, new dreams, hundreds of questions and a million other emotions and thoughts, then you have just nailed what I am trying to say. Our families – parents, brother, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins have showered us with love and are super thrilled too. All in all it has been an amazing journey so far as we eagerly wait to embrace this new chapter of life.

I know life will be different – as a girl, as a woman, as a daughter-sister-wife, and as an entrepreneur who loves her work. I am aware of the fact that priorities will change. I also do realize that there are now going to be other responsibilities, longer to-do lists and shorter days. I know that the famous work-life-balance dynamic and debate, about which I only read, talked and perhaps partially understood, will become more relevant. I know that this has not changed my aspirations, my career goals and dreams and my burning desire to achieve loads of milestones in life. In fact I want to do better each day now than any point in my life. I want to continue inspiring people and facilitating interesting training programmes. I want to grow my company in leaps and bounds. I want to keep working with all the excellent and esteemed clients who have trusted and supported my work. 

At the same time, I also want to continue to cherish romantic dinner dates with my husband, give cooking lessons to my brother on skype, practice my yoga and fitness regime, travel and explore the world, sip on afternoon tea and have crazy evenings with friends. But most importantly, I want to continue to  be there for my family when it matters. I want to be the best mum to our little one. I want to do everything for our little bundle of joy which my mum did for me. Tough task. But I want to.

In short, with this new beginning, I want it ‘all’. Am I expecting too much – perhaps. Am I scared – definitely not! I am completely sure that while I strive to achieve my personal definition of ‘all’ I have the support of my family, friends, associates and clients. And I am looking forward to this new challenge. 

With the start of the year of the horse, I take a leap of faith (again) and welcome this dawn of a one more significant story of my life. Here’s raising a glass (of fresh coconut water) to new beginnings!

Cheers!

Kung Hei Fat Choi! 

The Last 9 Days of 2011

Hello!

How are you doing in the last week of 2011? Wow! Does it not sound a bit different when I put it like that, rather than a mere 'How are you?'

I am sure all of us are busy preparing for the big day - New Year's Eve! We have made that reservation, shopped for that perfect party look etc. All in all, we are all set to celebrate that second when the clock strikes 12!

However, have you planned anything for the last nine days of 2011, before that second comes! With so many things happening, it can be a little overwhelming and so to make it easy, let us think about what we would like to end the year with! Well, here is my list!

·     Write down at least one note, one diary entry, one letter or one page to describe whatever that you are feeling! It can be any memory of these last days which you want to stay with you forever!

·       Click! - Get your cameras ready! Whether you have a mini-pocket camera or an SLR - it doesn't matter! What we are going to capture are feelings and not the flora-fauna of Amazon forests! Take as many pictures as you can - not just of 31st evening, but anything fun which you might be doing in this week. Like dinner with friends, airport scene while taking that flight to home/holiday etc.

·         One thing for 1st Jan - Try and decide one thing which you would like to do on 1st Jan 2012, apart from getting rid of the hangover from last night! This way the celebration will not end on 31st night and you will have something good to start the new year with!

·         Connect - If you have not sent that Christmas / Year End / New Year greeting to your friends and family, do it now! Do not leave it for the last moment. Send that email/ card / or call, and now is a good time to start!

·         Traveling? - Most people I know are either taking a holiday right now or traveling to meet their family. Either way, try and take a memorable trip in the last week of 2011. Even if it is a short two day trip, I highly recommend to get out and move! You can even come back before the new year eve celebrations!

·         To-Do! - Chuck that To-Do list for a week! Don't worry about the hundred things which you might have mentioned in the list. It's the last week, so don't feel guilty about giving yourself a break! Rather, identify the few important things (like the above :) ) which you want to do and only think about completing those.

·         Celebrate - Most importantly, Celebrate! Trust me - you do not wish to end the year and begin the new year sitting on your bean-bag with popcorn watching a movie or a TV show! You can do this on any day of the year. Celebrate with  your family & friends, even if it is a dinner together - it is special!

·         Light up your room with candles, wear a new dress / jacket, go out for a special dinner or anything else which you like to do! Remember that you do not need to wait for special moments to happen to you, you can make them happen!

See you in 2012!

Reflections 2011 - Part 2; Ways to say Goodbye to 2011

Hi again!

I hope all of you enjoyed reading the first in the series of Reflections 2011. Well, I can tell you that I definitely enjoyed writing it because it brought back all the wonderful memories of 2011.

Today, continuing this a little further, I am going to write about the ways I have thought of, to end this year meaningfully and well, interestingly!

1. Thank you 2011-  Thinking about all the special, happy, funny memories of 2011, I realized how none of it would have happened without all the other people who made it happen. The interesting thing to note is that I was not alone in any of my happy memory and I can bet  that if you try and remember any of  yours, you would not be in it alone too! So, why not take out a minute to say thank you and show our gratitude to all the people who made our year wonderful. Tell them how much they mean to you! In the end, it is not about adding more friends on Facebook, but it is about adding more friendship to your existing friends.

2. Dreams 2012 -  I have always been a big believer in following one's own dreams and wishes. And although I have unlimited dreams, every year I try to fulfill some of them. And let me tell you something, it is working! Slowly and steadily, I am getting there! Things which make me happy are truly coming true! Isn't it amazing!

I know that it is not possible all the time to get everything that you want! However, we do not need to get everything at the same time.  Let us make it simple! This is what I do. Every year I write down at least 5 dreams, which I think I want, to come true in the coming year. And the target is to achieve at least 3 of them! Better still, write down 10. You have a greater sample to choose from. And then when you know that you just have to achieve 3 out of those 10, it does not look all that difficult at all!

So open your diaries, journals or laptops and write down these things which you think you want in 2012. And write down that you are going to get at least three of them. Start with the ones which you think are most feasible, but be reminded that life is indeed full of surprises and it will present you with something you never expected, but always wanted!

3. Challenges 2012 - I am not a big fan of New Year Resolutions! For starters,  I don't like anything binding. For me, I need adventure, spontaneity and surprises to live my life and not a 12 month agenda telling me what I should do! So I hardly make new year resolutions! However, what I do is that I think of a few challenges which I would like to throw upon myself for the next year! So, think of something. Something which you have contemplated doing, but never got to! Something which you were scared of maybe! Or simply something which seems challenging in itself. For me Challenge 2012 is going to be, 'learning fluent Mandarin'. Yeah, that's right! And I hope that next year when I am writing Reflections 2012, I can happily put it as one of my happy moments! So, have you thought of your Challenge 2012 yet?

4. Experiences 2011 - Experiences form the major part of our memories. Whether the experience is good or bad, it will register. And although the good ones will bring smiles later, the bad ones bring with them lessons. Now that I am done writing down my 'good' experiences, I am going to write down my bad and sad ones. It is not the easiest task, I know. However, after writing the not-so-good moments down, I am also going to add what I learnt from them and how I can avoid the mistakes in the years to come. And yes, those are not going to be posted on the blog!

Okay! So now that I have made my list to do before the calendar strikes 31st December, I better get started! Do you have your list? If you have more ideas, please share! Wishing you all the best for the year end!

Reflections 2011 - Part 1

 Hello my dear friends!

Wow! It has been such a long time since I posted anything on this blog and I know apologies will not be sufficient to make up for it. So I am back here with much more than just sweet sorrys.

 

Right now is an interesting time of the year. A mixture of holidays, Christmas cakes, sale shopping, family and friends gathering, snow, jingle bells, new year eve and new year resolutions. But welcoming the new, always means saying good bye to the previous. And that is not always easy. So, at a time when we are about to say goodbye to dear old 2011 and welcome the exciting 2012, I am going to bring for all of you a series of posts in this month. Thoughts & contemplations, tips & techniques and experiences and anecdotes for our simple souls.  

Looking back at the last eleven months of this year, what would you want to remember first. I am sure the memories that brought you smiles, laughter and of course happiness (and Facebook albums).  Can you list all the moments which made you do so? I am going to list mine. Why don't you create your own list and see how fulfilling the year will seem to you.

v    Rafting in the Ganga - Going on this fun adventure with my dear friends and diving into the cold waters of Ganga, was one of the most memorable experiences of the last year. Am not sure if it washed my sins, but definitely washed my fears away.

v    Band, Baaja & Baarat - It was definitely a year of Big Fat Indian Weddings - for both of us - Bollywood and me. Apart from the fact that I loved the movie, so many of my dear friends got married this year. Looking back, I was fortunate enough to be a part of their big day when they took their vows and promised each other a lifetime of happiness (& fights).

v    Trips with family - Once you are out of college, vacations look like a thing of fairy tales. But 2011 was kind enough to make this tale a reality. Between my last job and the move to Hong Kong, I could spend some quality time to spend with my family in my most loved city, Ahmedabad and refresh the memory of those school and college vacations. The fun picnics, playing Pictionary till late night with cousins, a trip to Bhavnagar, restaurants, movies and outings with friends, and the list is endless.

v    Moving to Hong Kong - This will remain one of the major interesting highlights of the last year. It was a huge step for my husband and me. Luckily the transition went smoothly and both of us are loving HK! Every bit of it! Everything from searching an apartment, getting our first furniture, touristy weekend outings, learning Cantonese, LKF, beaches and lots more have contributed to my 'dear-diary' moments!

v    Swimming pools and sea - After the rafting experience , I decided to get my swimming costume and get my swimming lessons! This was one of the new things I picked up (still learning actually) in this year. And with this came my first dip into the salty sea water at Shek O beach (HK). Even though I was no match for the waves, and the water flung me across different directions until my husband came to my rescue, the experience was completely exhilarating!

v    Master Chef of my kitchen -  Yes, this year also brought with it lots and lots of cooking experiments and lots of new yummy dishes which I prepared in my very own cute tiny kitchen! I love cooking and this year I took it to a new level trying different cuisines all the time, so much that I am contemplating starting a food blog in the next year! We will see!

v   Writing - Looking back, this has also been the year when I retrieved my long lost love - writing! Having a two months break between two jobs, gave me the time to re-start what I always wanted to do! Started two blogs (this one and www.nidhikushshah.blogspot.com) along with some other writing projects (top secret at the moment)! However, I hope to be better in 2012 with lot more posts on my blogs and many other things (again top secret at the moment)!

These are some of the key highlights which I could remember instantly. And as you must have realized, the ones which I have noted are nothing like stepping on the moon or building a robot or traveling the Amazon forests. These are my simple joys of life, which made 2011 a special year for me! Why don't you try and remember the good, significant and special memories of your 2011. I would love to read them if you would like to share. Write these memories down and be grateful to yourself and the people who made them happen!