And just like that January is gone! My strategy of sitting back and watching 2016 unfold is paying off so far. Things are already not going my way (LOL!) but at least I'm not stressing myself out over them. Instead I'm accepting things as they happen and moving on.

There's stress when there are expectations. 2015 was a mixed bag of a year for me (and that's much better than the last few years). It was mostly nice - I was on a break from work (a 365 day vacation!), I traveled extensively, I spent a lot of time with family & friends. I felt blessed and grateful. But I did not necessarily get the things I wanted and worked towards. Therefore I decided that my strategy for 2016 would be to do my bit towards my goals & desires, then sit back and watch the year unfold.

January has been a mixed bag already. I had a short but fun-filled vacation with family, and I became an aunt for the very first time! To a beautiful niece (born on Republic Day, so she'll never have to crib about having to work on her birthday)!! The downside was that something I was really hopeful about fell through :(

But onwards & upwards I go. I have a few things to look forward to over the next two months - my sister's visit, a holiday with my girl friends that I'm super excited about, and the beginning of a health initiative. Rest of the things will work out as they are meant to.

Here's to a heart-warming February for all of us.

   

Tag Time

I want to write. But I have nothing to say. So I've picked up this tag from Melee :)

What are you wearing right now?
Leggings, top & cardigan and cozily ensconced in my blanket. It's too cold brrrrr...

How tall are you?
5'3" and not happy with it at all! I would've liked another 3-4 inches :(

How much do you weigh?
Enough not to want to share with the whole world :)

Any tattoos?
None and hopefully will never have one either. I'm not a tattoo person AT ALL.

Piercings?
Ears and nose.

Favourite show?
'Friends' & 'Masterchef Australia' are all-time favourites. I can watch 'Friends' over & over and 'MC Aus' is just the most feel good show in the world for me. 'Big Bang Theory' is a close second.

Something you miss?
My undergraduate years - oh, what would I give to have those years back in the town I spent them in with the people I spent them with!
A few places where I've lived over the years - Chapel Hill, Chicago, Sydney
My first love - it's true, you never really forget your first love. Although I mostly miss the friendship.
Being 15 kilos lighter :D

Favourite song
There are many songs I love. I think we stop having A favourite song once life gets real :)

Zodian sign
Pisces. I'm quite a Piscean and I don't quite like it. I don't like the emotional and indecisive aspects of being a Piscean.

Quality you look for in a partner?
Kind, loyal, non-egoistic, non-self centered, sensitive, not too much of an extrovert but not too introverted either (I like men who are witty but have a mature aura about them :), liberal & progressive. Actually, this is a wrong question to ask a woman. Don't we want it all?!

Favourite actor?
Leo Leo Leo! And Tom Hanks. Amongst the women Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are always delightful.

Favourite colour?
Again, I like a lot of colours. Orange, yellow, mustard, pink (but not all shades of pink), fuschia, teal, sea green...but the colour that dominates my wardrobe is white. I'm not a big fan of rust & maroon.

Loud music or soft?
Preferably soft

Where do you go when you're sad?
Nowhere. I tend to internalize my sadness. That's my way of dealing with it.

How long does it take you to shower?
Oh, forever! 40-45 minutes if I'm shampooing & conditioning my hair, else 30-35 minutes. Don't ask me what I do in there for so long...I have no clue myself.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
2.5 hours from the time I get out of bed. The time I spend having my coffee and catching up on Facebook and the news is my me-time, and I just don't like rushing it at all. This is followed by ironing my clothes for the day, showering, pottering about doing God knows what, breakfast, and hurriedly getting ready in 5 minutes before I dart out the door!

Ever been in a physical fight?
Nope. Unless wrestling with your sibling when you're little counts.

Turn on?
Intelligence, wit, a man who smells nice, a stylish/well-dressed man. good manners.

Turn off?
Rude, cocky, arrogant people, self-centered people, lack of kindness, lack of manners.

Fears?
Losing my parents. I just absolutely can't imagine my life without them. Also, I'm bloody scared of having a baby...yikes!!

Last thing that made you cry?
Can't remember really. As a rule I cry whenever some intensely patriotic song comes on TV. And the 'Ma' song.

Last time you said you loved someone?
I tell someone or the other that I love them almost everyday (and I mean it of course!). Clearly I don't believe in  'let actions speak louder than words' when it comes to expressing my love for people :D

Last book you read?
Haruki Murakami's 'Norwegian Wood'

The book you're currently reading?
Something from the 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' series. I love going back to this series and Bridget Jones every once in a while. They're such pick-me-up books.

Last person you talked to?
My sister :)

The relationship between you and the person you last texted?
Friends

Place you want to visit?
Many! First on the list is Europe particularly Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic followed by the Scandinavian countries. Iceland - the pictures are simply breathtaking! Then South America and New Zealand. Yes, pretty much the whole world :P

Do you have a crush?
No?

Favourite piece of jewellery?
A pair of gold coloured earrings and bracelet that can jazz up pretty much any outfit.

Last song you sang?
Humein tumse pyaar kitna...

The Loss of Innocence

Innocence is bliss. You know the kind of people who don't really know much about this world...they've had a protected existence all their lives, have never been hurt by anyone, never got let down by a friend, never had their hearts broken, never had to fend for themselves in the big bad world, and therefore all they see is goodness in people and in the world around them, and all they know is to love and care?

I wonder how it's possible to remain untouched by the cruelty of life yet I know such people do exist. I know a few such people myself. I don't remember the last time I was that innocent and I wonder - how nice would it be to have that innocence back! To believe once again that the world is a beautiful place and people have only goodness in their hearts and love begets love.

If wishes were horses...

2016

2015 was kind to me. That's right, kind. The past few years have been difficult, brutal even. So having a year where nothing bad happened seemed like a small miracle. It was an year spent surrounded by family & friends in an emotionally nourishing environment, enjoying the small pleasures of life. It wasn't completely devoid of stress and I didn't get everything I wanted, but I had more than a lot of people have and this realization changed my attitude towards life.

2015 made me grateful for everything I have. There was a quote I read that impacted me deeply and changed my perspective - you always have SOMETHING to be grateful for. Whether it's family, a great set of friends or a well-paying job that let's us afford the things we want there is ALWAYS ALWAYS something to be thankful for. But we are so focused on being miserable over the things we don't have that we can't appreciate the things we have, and therefore end up being unhappy.

So I head in to 2016 with the following thoughts:

1. Trust the universe. It has plans for me. Things will come my way that are good for me. I realized that I didn't get certain things I wanted because they were not good for me. They wouldn't have led to a happy outcome in the long run anyway. So I have to believe that something better is on its way to me.

2. I need to be kinder to myself. I need to love and value myself more, and let go/walk away from people or situations that make me feel unhappy.

3. I need to be more grateful for everything I have. I have people in my life (parents, siblings, friends) who love me and would go to great lengths to see me happy. I have food to eat, a house to live in, clothes to wear. I can afford most of the things I want. That's much more than a lot of people have. Once I learn to be grateful for everything I do have I will be OK with things I don't have.

4. Just go with the flow. Stop fighting the flow. See what happens. I do believe that whatever happens is for the good. Remember the Universe? It has plans for me :)

So yes, 2015 was a year for a lot of contemplation, introspection, epiphanies and spiritual & emotional evolution. I can't wait to see what 2016 brings. Here's wishing you & your's a happy, healthy & fulfilling 2016.