When slow is good!

Living in big cities like Mumbai can be tough. Its like running on a treadmill except that this one doesn't ever stop. Busy lives are running through it every day at a frenetic pace...pushing, jostling, brushing, sliding, hopping, racing... it's a crazy routine 24/7. The only time when we probably slow down is to catch our breath but only to get back  to our relay race. Hoping we will find someone to pass our baton to...but alas it doesn't happen!
Right from early morning when the right palm slams down heavily on the alarm clock as if reprimanding it to shut up, its just one action mode all the way - Run, Run, Run!!!
Indeed, we live in a time where the Law of this (concrete) jungle has truly become - "Survival of the fastest." We are so obsessed with speed and getting things done 'right now' that anyone slower than us is looked down and frowned upon as a weakling. We no longer recognize patience as a virtue. In fact I would think its kind of become passe. The ad taglines very befittingly mirror our new attitudes. Take the case of Pepsi's ad campaign. In its efforts to woo the youth it proclaims Oh yes, Abhi! effectively echoing the values of the 'I want it it now!' generation.

The last two decades, what with a slew of break through in technology have truly been a super fast ride on the information highway and everything else cruising along with it.
Be it fast food, instant coffee, 2 minute noodles, instant gratification, fast 'friends' (yes they do change very often these days), tatkal passport, fast track visa, jaldi loans, speed dating, instant messaging, quick fixes, speed delivery, instant blood check, ready to eat recipes, speed dial, now or never offers, instant glue,  instant recharge and even the movie Fast and Furious has now moved into its 6th edition. A sign of times indeed!

I would be blatantly lying if I didn't agree that all the above have made my life more comfortable. And I am genuinely happy for their existence. They have simplified our lives and help focus on more important issues in the scheme of things.

However, in spite of all the suitable hype around all these being useful, apt and convenient, I some times wonder what the hell happened to the good old maxim 'Slow and steady wins the race' and what happened to the sensible tortoise which we so lovingly embodied during our school days. Sadly, looks like the story's end has changed somehow over the years. It appears that the carefree or rather careless hare of earlier years has now become the new hero of the current generation and tortoise is the nice guy who finishes last.
I secretly hope not though.
For all that our lifestyles have turned out to be with the changing times I still am a fool for the old fashioned trappings.
Somehow there are but some things in life which will always remain either useful, appropriate, advantageous, pertinent or even charming because of their slowness. Without their slow effects they may just cease to exist. Here are some which are slow and have rock steadily been in existence till now.

1. Yoga - Slow but powerful!
2. Ayurvedic medicines - Slow but very effective!
3. Slow eating/cooking - Very healthy!
4. Slow dance/music - Romantic ofcourse!
5. Talking slowly (which means, thinking and talking) - A sign of intelligence!
6. Dheere dheere/holay holay wala pyaar - Again romantic!
7. Creating Indian handicrafts - It takes painstaking efforts and long time to bring it to life but oh so beautiful is each piece
8. Building meaningful relationships - Slowly but for life!
9. Chivalry- Gently slow but oh so charming
10. Slow vacations - No sightseeing, shopping but relaxing and only relaxing!
11. Climbing steps (and not taking lift)- Again healthy
12. Growing and nurturing plants - Slow process but brings great joy
13. TLC - Tender Loving Care...whether kids, old parents, spouse, or anyone you care for. Slow and gentle but always works
14. Book reading - Aah, the pleasures are many.
15. Fishing - Yes, definitely slow but eventually rewarding (most times)
16. Sitting in a temple/mosque/church - Brings peace
17. Walking habit - as against riding in a car. Definitely healthy and therapeutic
18. Art of Breathing/ Pranayam - Focusing on our breath. A slow process but is beneficial for lifelong.

All of them are slow in nature but derive amazing benefits for us. And not surprisingly, they don't require technology at all.
For me slow and steady definitely wins the race. If not today, eventually it will! Because it's not about the destination, its the journey that matters most!

Groovy kind of love! (Reinvented for today's times)

(To sing in the tune of 'Groovy Kind of Love' by Phil Collins)

When I have no clue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, and then I feel so cool
When you're close to me, like to see you light up
And listen to your sweet ring in my ears

Any time I want to, I can turn you on too
Anything I want to, any time at all
When I miss your beeps, you help me to figure
Who could be the caller,  you are my slave!

Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me, we've got a groovy kind of love,

When I need to call, all I have to do
Is hold you cheek by jowl whether in office, home or mall
When you're in my palms, nothing seems to matter
My whole world could shatter, but not you I swear

When I am up in morn, just have to steal a glance
to know you're safely enconced, before I hurry, run or prance
And when I am off to work, I have to check your stance
I depend on you a lot, just cannot take a chance

Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me, we've got a groovy kind of love

When I am all by self, I have eyes for you, no one else
You truly complete me, and your presence is most felt
But when you are not with me, I quiver and I fear for you oh my sweet dear
Look for you here and there, hoping you are in safe hands

Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me, we've got a groovy kind of love

When I see you charged, the day goes flying by
without as such a sigh, there's nothing that gives more joy
But when you are drained and weak, I just cannot bear to see the fading light
And hear you whimper, my sweet boy.

By my side from dawn to dusk and in you I truly trust
You are the last and also my first, till the new one comes around
But I hope to see the day when there's no power and no range
You will fight the odds and be my true hero, inspite of it all.

Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me, we've got a groovy kind of love
We've got a groovy kind of love, we've got a groovy kind of love
Oho, we've got a groovy kind of love

P.s : With no offence to the original by Phil Collins :)

Seriously, not kidding!

The summer has been extremely unkind so far. Never has been the Mumbai heat so dehydrating and torturous as this year. To add to our sweltering woes, we (as in Ashish my hubby and me) have absolutely no escape plans to retreat from the heat of this summer. But hey, inspite of the situation and right in the midst of this unbecoming weather, we both (ashish and me)have a broad grin on our face since past few days. Grin which sometimes dissolves into hearty peals of laughter, on few ocassions leads to tears (of joy)strolling down our cheeks and other times complete bewilderment.

Confused?...Ask me why?

Like a fresh breeze of cool mint air, my niece has wafted into our lives to provide us just  the refreshing relief we were yearning for badly these past few weeks.
Though she is here only for couple of weeks to spend her summer holidays with her aajju (her grand mom) and aajja (her grandpa), I have not been able to contain (ironically) my childlike excitement since the time she has arrived. Her presence amongst us has not just enlivened and rejuvenated us into new beings but also every moment we spend with her is entertainment and freshness personified.

Like any other child her age, she is full of joie de vivre, with abundant energy and with a extra spring in her hurried steps. She talks nineteen to the dozen and regales us with her delightful puneri phrases (yes, she lives in Pune) and anecdotes. She is full of (camera worthy) expressions and dramebaazi. Never runs out of questions and counter questions. Keeps us on our toes and some times brings us to our knees. She is the energiser bunny, a stand up comedian, observant sherlock holmes, a demure barbie fan, mischievous elf,  and a very curious cat all characters rolled into one.
Ok, so that's my niece for you in a nutshell. And I am sure other kids her age would also show the same characteristics with a few plusses and minuses.

So what am I trying to say here!

This young girl within a short span of few days that she has spent with us has helped us to relearn a lot which we had left behind many years back. This blog post is all about what we secretly imbibed from our little niece when we were overtly reveling in her joyful company.

Below are those 8 virtues we realised we had forgotten as adults :

1. Pristine innocence tinged with naughtiness
2. Keen observation
3. Ability to forget the past (more so the negative)
4. Unbridled energy
5. Contentment in life's simple pleasures
6. Straightforward as an arrow
7. Curious as a cat
8. Fearlessness

If you look at all the above qualities, isn't it what we all yearn for and seek as adults. Its incredible that we sometimes don't have to read books, watch videos or look further for inspiration. The kids can be our best teachers and icons .
Seriously, not kidding!

Just another day - March 8th

And then there is March 8^th celebrated as ‘International Woman’s day’ around the world.

A day like any other day except that it’s inundated with SMSs, FB wall posts, and clichéd mail forwards.

E-Greetings, advertisement offers, special promotions, discounts are a real tease,

All of which are dedicated to my fraternity, who in their (including mine)moment of weakness become gullible and fall prey to these.

Beginning with RJ’s in their morning shows to evening TV anchors and their staged interviews,

Promos of jewellery and sarees, cosmetics to shoes of all sizes and hues,

Covering front page headlines to back page colourful news,

Women car rallies and marathon runs on this day are quite a few, at finishing line are scribes flippantly probing the feminine point of view.

There is a wide display of brouhaha, hedonism and indulgence in store for our ilk ….supposedly giving credit where’s it long over due.

Replace the garb of Woman’s day with that of Valentines or any festival day and there you are….

Same ol’ offers, discounts, promos and freebies will continue their run albeit in a different avatar.

It’s just lip service is what I feel and pretense that won’t take us very far  

Today is March 9^th and lo and behold…what have we got here,

Already are forgotten, promises that were made yesterday and so is our star.

So let not be just one day be remembered as our day in the years to come.

Surely the other 364 days we will celebrate, as so much is yet to be undone.

Required is change in mind set, biased culture and deep rooted point of view,

It’s the woman, mother, daughter, sister, wife alone who has the power within to make that difference to herself and build her life anew

And no one can else and truly no one else can deny her that, if she really wants it too.

Here’s wishing all the super fabulous ladies who have touched my life a happy woman’s day….

Today and every day! :)

The story of our life!

Here’s a small exercise for your brain. Flash back to the time in the past when you were a little kid. Go to that part of your sunny life when your mom would try to force feed you with the green veggies at lunch/ dinner. Now jump to that part when she used to (in vain) try to put you to bed.

'So what about it?' ...I hear you ask.

Now try to recollect, what was that one thing that you would 'bribe' your mother with each time? That’s for agreeing to her above 'requests'.

The most effective and lethal negotiating tool in the hands of that little kid then was... guess what!

'A story'

"Aai, mala aadhi ek goshta saang"..."Mother, tell me a story first and then I will go to bed". Or     “A story first then I will eat this palak sabji'

Nothing worked better than a 'story telling session' as a good negotiating tool in the hands of both the parties- mother and kid.

Yes, it was definitely a win-win situation for both. For both because the kid got her story and the mother was happy with her incredulous achievement.

Whether my mom invented the story on the fly, read it out from the book or worse still, recounted the story for the zillionth time, it always worked like a magic potion. The taste of the green veggies on my plate would suddenly become more palatable and yes, it would also calm down the overzealous hyper active kid and put her to bed at night.

I still remember vividly the story of Ramu and his flying white horse which my mother told me many times over as a kid. A story she may have weaved out of her imagination but a perennial in my classics even today. It was always with the same zeal that she narrated the story, like she was recounting it for the very first time. And even I as the kid used to listen to her wide eyed, with rapt attention as if was listening to it for the first time.

After so many years it’s still cozily ensconced in my memory logs.'Kalicha ghoda' it was called in Marathi. Those were the days, sigh!

“Ok, so what about it? Where are you leading us to?” - I hear a few of my impatient friends ask.



Since time immemorial, wise men have been communicating new learnings /philosophies of life through a story format which has been passed on from generations upon generations. Can you imagine how tough it would have been for them to communicate and for us to grasp if not for the interesting story format. Without the persuasive power of a story, the learnings would have remained just another piece of dispassionate paper document (or palm leaf in those days). With a story it moved the listener/reader emotionally to take the necessary action.

And now take the case today where nothing much has changed.

In our corporate life, a successful product presentation has to have a believable story to hold its audience's attention. Not bullet points and boring graphs.

An effective speaker has to have a compelling story to engage and connect with the audience.

Movies need to have a good script/story to have the box office registers ringing. Have you ever seen how the audience tumbles outside a theatre animatedly discussing the story of the movie they just saw.

Sales pitches and TV commercials make the most impact only with a good story supporting the product USP. 'New improved' claims don't work, they also need an emotional appeal through a good story.

At parties, the person with the most audience would probably be recounting an interesting story. We are always game for 'Once upon a time...' and yes, even when we are grown ups.

A good leader has to have great communication skills with a good story up his sleeve always (based on his experience) to inspire his team members. If you have heard Abdul Kalam ever speaking you would know what I am referring to. His speeches are laced with interesting anecdotes from his rich experience and never preachy in tone. That's what holds the attention of his audience and they are literally and figuratively moved by his words.

There are many examples from our everyday life where stories are essential to make maximum and desired impact. And if told with passion, simplicity and earnestness...believe me has the ability to stay with us for a long time. 'Once upon a time.....' will always remain a favourite regardless of age, class and education.
That my friends, is the story of our lives. So go ahead, let your story be heard!