Welcome 2017

Here’s wishing you all that is better and more…in 2017

The year passed me by, not in silence, but with a mix of emotions. While everything is just normal, felt blessed to experience the calm that I have always yearned for. With health coming back to track and gaining gradual clarity on my words, it’s a cherished time. Like everyone around me, I have aspirations, but I dote on contentment. I yearn for memories, with a record of my choices. I will share with all my heart, and hope not to demand anything in return. It’s a huge task to hope for selflessness, so that’s not for me.

I am a year older and wiser but thrilled with my madness and willingness to get excited. With every passing year, my kids become their own beings and friends in little sizes. Let their size not fool you, because they do more justice to that equation than many I know. And for that, I am truly blessed to have begun this experience, in such an unconditional relationship. As a daughter I continue to be blessed with a role model, whose experience and advise guides me every day. My bond in marriage, gives me reason every day to be grateful for this relationship. I had new experiences, new travels and milestones that mattered. My closest bonds have given me more reason to care, worry, love and cherish. Some relationships are just not defined by distance, time, frequency or definition. Its just there, and here to stay. If you have even one like this, count yourself lucky.
 Travel will always give me my wings and I state that without any hesitation. My struggle to create two confident caring individuals will sometimes be too apparent, but only because I am human. I will continue to value friendships that have become family, not by blood or being relatives, but just the strength of the bond! I will continue to be protective and sometimes possessive about the people who matter, and have nothing to feel sorry about. Detachment is a guided philosophy in several religious practices, but that is definitely not my mantra - I am thankful to be attached, emotional and often sensitive.

Excellence, competition and ambition will always tickle you for more, but embracing our priorities makes the change so welcoming. I continue to learn that we are served in equal platter all shades of life – either we take it or leave it! Time will not heal all our losses, so neither has this year done much in that regard. But it has taught us the strength of optimism and hope. Every day new challenges pushes retirement even further, but it doesn’t pull our willingness to try.

I will continue to explore hobbies that will speak my creativity. I will share with all my heart, as much as I can. I will dream for greater aspirations that can professionally make a difference. I have responsibilities towards all my relationships, but I owe myself the most...the faster I accept that, the better it is for everyone! I have philosophies and beliefs that will be of pivotal importance and will continue to guide my existence. While optimism is my guardian angel, reality will always be my friend. I will make many mistakes in all my roles, but have no regrets to make them. I hope to dare professionally and believe that being cautious should be packed with some risks.

So here’s wishing you and your families a wonderful year ahead with many reasons to rejoice, create and be thankful. May every day be more meaningful and be filled with gratitude. Thank you for making a difference in my life. With much love and words that inspire by C.S Lewis, “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream”.

Our new year blessing

Tanaaya ... her big 6 today....

Our Lil precious one has everyone doting on her. Tamara 's favorite and one she is clearly possessive about, she manages to boss and friend her sister all in one breath. Six years gone by and there is always something entertaining every day. In the most stressful situation she is able to lighten our minds. She has seen my best and my worst... yet she will not judge. I learn about unconditional from my girls who place family at such a pedastal.

Clear to speak as is her thoughts, open direct responses, loves with all her heart, quick to decide, bold with dance, singing and some drama, asks questions that has us perplexed and happy to share especially with Tamara. She is confident and caring, evaluates every situation and will not accept everyone blindly. Her energy, games and ideas in role play balance between what both boys and girls would like, so her friends are a fun mixed group. She can be a leader and follower all in a passing moment. She is cautious and will not get excited by activities with tremendous adventure. Her humor is amusing to anyone in the room. A bundle of energy in familiar surrounding and a calm, gentle quiet child in a formal scenario - she is both sides of a coin!

I do hope she gets all that she deserves and dreams of with all her hardwork. May there be happiness and innocence in every Lil time of your life.

She is our New Year blessing since 2011 and continues to sparkle in our home! Our New Year's cant get more festive, I hope yours is too!

Its a wonderful life!

We all dawned roles in the parody of Ramayana. We all had to act and embrace our parts with a lot of practice. But there was our ‘Suparnaka’ who glamorized a Helen and stole hearts as she kept the beats and created a character who no one would want to forget. While that was her role, in life too she has made the impressions that matter. She lives in hearts and showers joy. In sadness I write, as I know I will miss her, its been a privilege to have a friend in you – Kanchan. She is the birthday star today!

The room sparks up as she walks in. She radiates humor and calmness that gives an everyday boost. She has an understated glamor that she carries with so much poise. Western or Indian, she has a smart elegance. She is not the one who pretends, she keeps every moment real. She has her battles, yet she smiles her worries away. A friend to all, she keeps no sides, it’s ‘true character’ that makes her admirable. In her heart and her home, there is a system to her madness. A sportive person, ready to embrace, she makes jokes or is willing to be the joke, all in dignity and grace. She shares the same culinary imperfections as me and that makes me love her more. With mounting pressures and quick changes, she has shown optimism in every mode. Challenges are many, tasks are never ending, but she holds the fort like no one I know. Amidst all this chaos, as she ticks of her check list, she is ready to give you a helping hand without any hesitation. Her deepest love has been the monk, oh don’t be fooled, the Old Monk is what I meant! I love her zest for life, and willingness to change and see change. She sees people but doesn’t judge them. She stays grounded and defines humility. She has a remarkable husband who balances with utmost charm. Her affectionate daughter, spreads her warmth to one and all.

There is always that one friend, whose spontaneity and cool attitude teaches you more in life than the deepest philosophies. She has been the heart of our apartment complex and now she gets ready to embrace a new chapter in her life, where she has grown to be someone so remarkable. On her birthday, here’s wishing you all that is happy and more, and to let you know how much you would be missed at Harmony Homes. May you always keep your madness alive and remember the charm you are leaving behind here in Bangalore. Do make your visits to Bangalore atleast an annual agenda. Much love and hugs on your birthday!

Happy Republic Day

One nation. One vision. One identity.

No nation is perfect. It needs to be made perfect.

- MK Gandhi

Its one day for independence and other to mark a document. Well, the way I see this, it’s all year round marking India’s democracy and what we must actually stand for – integrity, respect, safety, progress, value system, culture, thought leaders and more. Generations have seen different variations of India shining and with every passing year we hope for a better tomorrow.

While progress has been remarkable, mindsets are yet to be impacted. The never ending debate over safety continues, but still the pride with which we stand for the national anthem gleaming at the tri colors of our national flag is remarkable. There is simplicity yet there is advancement. There is modern yet there is tradition. There are western influences yet there is culture. There are complaints, yet there is pride. There is interest, yet there is initiative. We are made for India, so let’s make more in India. We make our own benchmarks, so let’s be true aspirations. We have our shortfalls, but we are willing to learn. We make corrections slowly, but there is humility to do that. We are building a tomorrow for our kids, but we love the today we are basking in. We continue to point fingers, but we also pat in admiration. We are defined strongly with corruption, but we are admired for our warmth and hospitality.

Our generation has seen the blend of modern and tradition – the weave that we string with dedication. We have a history that keeps us grateful and grounded. We have a future that keeps us hopeful. We have a culture of togetherness, traditions that speak a 1000 words and the creativity that brings passion to life.

On this republic day, may we continue to shine in India, for India, like India, hope for India and cheer for India! So let’s fearlessly make the change, in the words of MK Gandhi, “This nation will remain the land of the free, only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

Happy Republic Day!