To Love what you Hate

After a really long time.....I felt like blogging again....Life has been moving so fast that I lost track of time and the motivation to blog slowly faded.....not that Life is busy.....we always have time for things we like to do and food we like to eat....Just that I became lazy to think and blog....You might say that my posts dont warrant any thinking :P Both while writing and reading...but then, I choose to stick to my own opinion here!!!

Anyway, to start off, this post was meant to discuss the point or rather the topic of loving or trying to love what we hate....I hardly discuss my work in my blog....In fact, I never post my job related stuff in my blogs....and I dont like to.....but today is different.....

Just like any other phases of our life, our work life teaches us a lot of things....things we hoped we learnt earlier....After moving to America, I did get to be a part of many projects for different clients.....and I enjoy that uncertainty and ambiguity in projects (not in life toh :P)....Every client I worked for and every project I was on, taught me something important, more important than the project itself.....I have to go back in time to start the story :P....

Going back to the days I was in IIT Madras, I loved my 2 years of MBA....I enjoyed every course I took and made some awesome memories for myself.....Amidst all this, there was one thing I very carefully avoided....and that was Finance....Yes, I hate Finance subjects and except for the mandatory ones, I completely opted out of all Fin related courses.....and its was a clear choice for me....I will never be in that domain and I dont need to get any deeper than I did.....

and when I fast-forward to today, I am working in an amazing project for a Finance team...and it deals a lot with P&L and Invoicing etc. which is basic stuff in Finance...and then I get to learn the complexities of business rules etc. etc. which define their core process....Initially, I was excited and motivated about the project, but that hatred for Finance stayed intact.....and after a solid 5 months into the project, I kinda started to like Finance....what changed me is an interesting story.....there is always a point or moment that changes or rather enlightens us.....

Read somewhere that when life gives you a Rahul, make a Dravid out of it, not Gandhi :P.....To enjoy what you are doing and to really contribute, there is always a passion you would need to share, not just for the project but for the people you are working for and what they truly value....Fortunately, I got an amazing manager to work with and they entire work revolved around Finance....its like trying to eat chocolate ice cream without chocolate in it....its still ice cream but then, without the chocolate....you are loosing the real flavor and taste....so I decided to explore a little more into the Finance space and to be honest, I started enjoying it.....in bits and pieces initially and now, I am very delighted that I made a choice to explore this domain....the basics of Finance are always simple, its humans who surrounded it with complexity :P.....

I was carefully making great progress on my project and learning what it takes, to implement what the client team wanted....and it was a good journey....but somewhere, there was a minor disconnect.....I would understand their process but not why they do it that way and why not another way....and what is their underlying reason for doing what they are doing......since my hatred for finance dominated everything else....I never went deeper into the domain....and after a point.....there was this moment....I can keep running away from it and still implement the project....but would that really make me any richer( in terms of knowledge, not money :P).....would that give me a sense of satisfaction when I look back in life....and I knew the answer is a No.....and to be honest, I wanted the answer to be a Yes and I knew I could turn it into a Yes since it had no dependencies on anything or anyone else.....

and after all these days, I realized that nothing in life is worth hating....and when I use the word Nothing....I literally mean NOTHING....there will be things you will like less of....but if you ever have things you completely hate....you should give it a shot.....When it comes to food, I will try everything....even things I hate eating.....but when it comes to people and opinions....Some of my perceptions are so strong that I dont want to think or give it another chance....and if I can give the food I eat, another chance, why not people and perceptions.....

Some of my first impressions were definitely not the best impressions and some of the first impressions on my bestest friends is so horrible that I wonder how did I end up where I am today....and I think, its all because I gave it another chance.....another chance to trust that things will be different and better this time, if I am sincere in my thoughts and deeds, that is....I always and still continue to believe that whatever happens, happens for a reason....and more often than not, for a good reason.....Its the learning from it that is more important than the event/persons/thing itself.....

So today, I choose to not hate anything....momentarily yes, but not for long....and certainly not forever.....Give everything a second, third and 4th chance if needed, because its not that Thing that needs to change, its your perception of that, which needs to change ....and it will....if not the first day, eventually it will....and with time flying by so quickly these days, the sooner you take chances, the faster it is, to turn your hatred to love...and if not love, may be a neutral state of indifference.....

I have to admit that I was not in complete flow today, I paused many a times....which is not the case when I talk :P....and I am still trying to get back to that original flow which I normally have, when I blog.....taking a second chance very soon......

Cheers,
Sahi

22nd August 2012, My Birthday in Amrika :P

Flashback @@@@@@@

On 23^rd Aug, 2011, we were leaving to USA and my birthday, which fell right before that was lost in the flow. I did have a cake cutting(which seems to be indispensable with birthdays!!) but nothing special.....we were too busy to celebrate..... My dear husband, Arjun, promised that next year will be very special and he will ensure I have a memorable time.

Present

Fast-forward to Aug 22^nd, 2012. My in-laws visited us from New Jersey and were here on my birthday. My husband planned a drive and dinner at home on that day, which I was just about okay with. I thought of having a nicer celebration over the weekend since my birthday was on a weekday.

One day before my birthday, I realized that I didnt have a new dress and nor any special celebration and was all dejected. Somehow, I love celebrating my birthday (dont know if it will last after my 30^th bday :P). I did make a mention of it with my husband, who pretty much knew the same and just nodded.

At 12am, we had the routine cake cutting and thanks to some of our friends (Sreedhar and Saraswathi) who planned a surprise visit to wish me, the event was quite memorable. Then started the actual fun. My dear hubby has a game planned for me. A Treasure Hunt!!! I love playing any games which involve clues and hunting them down. He started giving me clues, one at a time and I was taking time to decipher it and then run to that place, to find a card for me....and the card has something very genuine and nice thing written, about me that is!! :)....You hardly hear your husband praising you for what you are, so any simple statement from him meant a lot :D....Most of his messages were very well though of, which left me blushing and speechless :)

This saga continued and I ran all over the house, looking for cards and what messages they carried....I am sure many of you might have played this with friends and family or for birthdays itself....but for me, its very special since the clues Arjun gave were so original and true!!....There were moments where I blushed and wanted to give a big hug and kiss to him, but had to refrain due to the presence of others around :P 

Each card he left for me, had one pet name that he gave to me over the time, some of which I do like, though I always hated the concept of having pet names. I was quite excited for the time that I was searching  for cards, but I was definitely quick :P....Most of the clues were very personalized, stuff that he knew about me and it was easier for me to decipher them than others...or should a say, a few of them atleast! 

The final card was at the Puja Mandir and it had a check in it ;)......But the money really didnt matter to me(as much as the treasure hunt). In fact, I was so happy with what he already did that i didnt want any more gifts at all!! And the icing on the cake was the dress he pulled out from a cover, that he got for me. 

Its very rare that ALL your birthday wishes come true, but I am glad that I had all of mine come true, thanks to my dear hubby :) We spent the next day evening at Snoqualmie Falls and Muckelshoot Casino, which was fun too. I am so very glad that this birthday has been special and memorable, just the way I wanted it!!! 

As we keep growing older, the enthusiam to celebrate birthday might wane and hence, I always feel its important to celebrate that one day with all that you can and everyone around you has a responsibility of making you feel special on that day :D....atleast for those who take their birthday very seriously :P....

The Actual Clues:

1.We are Trend Setters! I guess many of these white folk must have been puzzled by the game we played on the boat!
2.You are a voracious avid reader stacking books all the time ;)
3.Most common breakfast! You call me boring for I don’t try too many!
4.Perfumes are one of the greatest ways to get going in this busy life
5.Typing is a daily activity we all do….I guess you got one external keyboard at your work recently!
6. Clothes dry in it, especially in places like Seattle! Oops, Look down!
7.Fire…..Fire….911….You may use this to get things under control ;)
8. Buggy gadu wants one hug!
9. Oooh, its freezing cold in here!
10.Lazy bees like you don’t like it, but everyone gets refreshed at this place!
11.You were amazed by a bunk bed at Lake Chelan, weren’t you?
12.I should search for this! I forgot this one myself! :P

And the Answers were:

1.       Sequence game…the card was inside the board
2.       The card was amidst the book I was reading!
3.       Cornflakes! Card was under the box
4.       Below the perfumes in our room
5.       Beneath the keyboard
6.       Dryer…..and then I look into the washer since the clue asked me to look down
7.       Behind the fire extinguisher
8.       The teddy bear soft toy named “Buggy” had a card in his lap
9.       Freezer
10.   Bath! The card was in the rack
11.   The side racks of the bed
12.   It was in the shoe rack and the hint was….u collect so many of these….

I wish I could post the content of the cards here…..but its very special and close to my heart and didn’t want to eulogize myself by posting them here :P

Today, I grow an year older and hopefully a lot wiser too. I did have birthday resolutions earlier but this year, I know I was doing well and didnt need any special resolutions to keep. Do reach out to me, if you feel otherwise :P

A new year has begun for me, and I am loving it!! :D

First Time in America!!

Yes! Its exciting to be here. I am here for the FIRST time ever! Somehow, first times are always special for me.....

Landing up in USA was not a completely cheerful idea for me initially....But I kinda fell in Love with the place and the kind of Independence that it offers :)....

I have started counting my so many first times that counting the first time for the first time also became special :P....

well here goes my list.....

1. Ate random dishes outside and thoroughly enjoyed it! I know few of u will say that I do it ALL the TIME but its my first time in USA, u see :P...anyway the good part is that I have tried beef and I kinda like it :)

2. I ran a dishwasher for the first time and I dont completely like it but I dont hate it either!

3. I have tried some really really weird canned foods for the first time and hated them completely!

4. Taking the local bus ride was equally special....though u have to wait really long to catch the next one if u missed the current one!

5. I drove for the first time, a second time n then a third time and so on....I am taking Driving classes, so...it is but obvious that I will be driving for quite sometime on the roads here....

6. I go grocery shopping big time and did go for the first time too :P(lame one but its alright...my first lame joke here)....I know you wont believe me but I haven't done much of grocery shopping in India :)....

7. I saw the rain here for the first time and felt like having tea....for the first time!!!! I know u wonder, what is so special about having tea.....but I don't have too much of tea in India(just once a day) and started having it here whenever the weather is romantic ;)

8. Arjun tried lending his jacket to me for the first time!!! He has done it before too but here, its always special....Its like a whole new life and that I am starting all over again....but with the same loving guy :)...btw "tried lending" is correct since I didnt take it :P

9. I play Live Pacman here for the first time....devouring anything and everything edible that comes my way :D....

10. I felt completely liberated and free while walking down the market areas....Somehow I feel like I belong here...

There are so many firsts and some of the very firsts ever.....with Arjun and without Arjun....I am always smiling and feeling content....Well, waiting for the rest of the first times to come by.....

Life is Beautiful.......Everytime!!!

Off to Sleep,
Sahithi

Dhobi Ghat - The movie

Went to Dhobi Ghat movie yesterday.....
My husband moved uneasily in his seat while I was immersed in the movie....
Its not a movie for everyone....not for ones who dont live in dreams, hope and destiny...
Its for people who treat "Mumbai" as their second love! - For me its the third, after my Husband and Hyderabad ;)

What I loved about the Movie:
The feel of Mumbai(Oh yes, I love that city for what it is!!)
Yasmin, the new bride and her story
The way Mumbai finds its way into their lives

Why I liked the Movie:
I have been to Mumbai for my summer internship and stayed there for about two months...
I have experieced a different sense of myself during those two months....
I was discovering myself through the short travels I made....to different places
There is a sense of magic and mystery in the city of Mumbai.....Mumbai meri Mehbooba toh nahi hai lekin mere liye ek Dost hai....
Though I have not been to the beach(into the water), the very view of beach was so relaxing....you watch it for too long and some sense ofturmoil grips ur heart and you wonder why!!! May be its the waves, may be the sound....may be the moon....but its there....
Though I like the characters and the way they evolved and emoted through....I like the way each of them see Mumbai in their own perspective....
I felt liberated and independent when I was in Mumbai....
I was learning a new way of life....
I guess I connect so well with the city as its fast paced and bustling with life, just like me ;)....

So many dreams....so much hope....but in the end, destiny takes over everything else....Cheers to Mumbai and to Dhobi Ghat for potraying Mumbai so beautifully.....

Signing Off,
Sahi

A Random day

Was sitting and reading "The Professional" by Subroto Bagchi...while my Mother-in-Law watched her favourite serials, back-to-back.....one of the scenes in one of those serials amused me a lot since I was sub consciously listening to it

Daughter: Daddy, are u going out
(Startling music in the Background)
Father: Yes ma, why ru asking so?
Daughter: I just wanted you to come home early. After a long time, all of us are home.
Father: Sure
Wife: Evandi(thr is no english equivalent for this)!!
(Horrifying music in the Background)
Father: Yes, tell me
Wife: Get some rice when ur coming back. rice is over
Father: yes, alright
Wife: Evandi
(The music in the Background gets more intense and deafening)
Father: yes, now what?
Wife: Come home soon. we all are home today after a long time!!!!
Father: Yes, alright!
Daughter: Now go daddy
Father: I am waiting for your mom to call me again! I am sure she will say something else now!
(Soothing music in the Background)
Daughter, Wife, Father: Ha ha ha ha!!!! (Very loudly and showing all their 32 teeth)...

I was smiling to myself how serials have transformed over the years! Gone were the days when scenes were pleasant and interesting to watch....when title songs were as good as movie songs....

I went and checked the karela fry that was getting fried on the stove....seems to be going well, just like the serial.... and now, I am back to reading the professional....

Signing off,
Sahi

A New Decade....Has Come!!

Well, it just feels like yesterday when I got my 10th results and jumped with joy....n today when I look back, it has been a decade since that happened and this wonderful decade is coming to end!....

Every new year is special for sure....stepping into a whole new future and remembering the eventful past(not everyon'e past is eventful, but mine definitely was :D)....

I have seen so much in the past decade....Studied too much(finished plus two, engg, mba...all in this decade)....Worked a little(18 months, if i include my internships in engg and mba)....Got MARRIED(Yeah! its a big thing for me).....

Have visited so many places and gone on so many trips....each place teaching me something new about itself and helping me discover something new about myself :D

The past decade has been the most evetful decade for me....Fully conscious activities and events happened during this time....and I dont regret a single thing that has happened in my life, in the past decade....toh I regret watching some very horrible movies during this decade(psssst, wont mention them now...wud leave horror memories if i start recollecting now)....

More to come as I collect my thoughts :)

A TRIP to Remember - Pune

A short trip to attend my friend's wedding in Pune has led to a series of plans around it....and here is the complete picture....

4th Dec, 2010:
Landed in Pune. Got ready at Hotel Meru. Had Poha for breakfast. Tasted good. Left to Lonavala-Khandala by road. The express highway was great to be on…..the tunnels were the best part….saw some random view points in Lonavala and Bushy dam…both places sucked!! I dunno why people go ga-ga over this place!!! Heard that its best visited during the monsoon season....Got some 6-7 varieties of Chikki here…famour thr, it seems…

Left to Durshet Forest Lodge(www.naturetrails.in) in Kolad region from Lonavala….ended up in a forest lodge, amidst the forest area….did Rappelling in the forest thr….not for too long toh…it was a small mountain….had dinner at the lodge and watched some locals perform the “Shivaji” era dance form….some 63 old guy doing stunts like a 20 year old!!!...the forest lodge was true to its name...thr were many insects in our room along with a frog that sat on the tap knob :P...i tried removing it but it jumped on me :D...then had to call some local guy to shoo it away!! my dear hubby didnt even try on the pretext of getting a yuck feeling when he sees frogs n lizards :)....

5th Dec, 2010:
Left to Kundalika river for rafting…..was at the river by 9am and waited till 11am!!! The dam gates have to open and no one knows when they will open!!! Generally before 11am is when they open…I was close to disappointment when it was 11am and the dam's siren didn’t ring!!......anyway, the dam gates opened and it was a sight to watch the water come and fill the river with such force!!....took our raft and started rafting….some 30kms stretch….1.5hours rafting….thoroughly enjoyed it!!!.....there was a no-rapid area in between where the water was almost still….our rafting guy pushed me into the water when I said, I really don’t want to get into water :P….Arjun had a great time in the rafting….he swam for quite some distance….I enjoyed the upar-neechey-aage-peechey of the raft :D…..when i was in the water floating along, it was a wonderful feeling...i felt like kareena kapoor of Anjaana Anjaani song in Yuva....i was exactly lying on my back like that....

Changed and left to mahabaleshwar from the rafting area…..the up-hill route to mahabaleshwar was totally exciting….kinda similar to tirumala hills but much more exciting!!!....finally landed in Mahab and checked-in into the hotel….we got ready to see the sunset points but got late!!...missed the sunset view….roamed in the local market n explored some local variants of honey…...Jella, Jamba, Kalla...blah blah being the varieties :)

6th Dec, 2010:
Left in the morning to see the sunrise….and we were late yet again!!! Missed the Sunrise too!! :P….then left to visit the various View points in mahab and Arthur’s seat was the best….we hired a local tourist guide who told us about the history of the place and all…visited Panchganga temple and Shiva’s temple…then visited various points….my Fav was the Echo-Point….I did shout n it works :P….quite a lot of you would be curious to know what i shouted....i said "aaaaaaa ooooooo eeeeee" :P.....Arthur’s seat is the most famous point of all…the view of sahyadri hill ranges from there was magnificient…many say, they are similar to the Grand Canyon of Colorado….Breathtaking view, it was….

Started to Panchgani from mahab….The down hill was definitely better than the uphill road…(to be read as “I was less scared”)…..saw some strawberry farms on the way and handpicked a few of them….I have always imagined strawberry tree to be a tree n u jump to pluck the fruits!! But they turned out to be small shrubs and u just bend down n pick them :P….got “Sweet Charlie” variety of strawberries….very sweet indeed!!....ate strawberry with cream and totally tasty!!

Landed at Mapro Garden where they manufacture varieties of slushes, jellies, jams, fruit concentrates etc….tasted atleast 10-12 varieties of those varieties there since its free for visitors to try them out :D….bought a few of those bottles since they were too tempting to not buy!!!....

Entered Panchgani and visited Table-Land…a plateau region on top of hills….took the horse ride there….he he…kinda funny with me n arjun on the same horse…when the horse started galloping, I was quite evidently scared…..i got down n then Arjun went on a long ride….i took few snaps n videos of it….we saw some gliders in the air there n the locals told us that there is Paragliding there….

Went to the hill top and decided to experience Paragliding…..Considering the Risk-Averse person that I am, I was kinda scared to try it…but decided to give it a shot anyway!.....the gilder took off with an instructor behind me…he was controlling the glider….I was SHIT SCARED, when the glider took off….Then, I did the mistake of looking below!!! GONE CASE!!! Meri toh puri tarah phati thi!!!!....The guy with me asked if I was Enjoying!!!!!! I said “Haan Bhayya, Lekin mujhe neechey utaro “ :P…..He got me down on the hill top…I stayed in the air for about 10mins, may be…Arjun was the Daredevil…he was there in the air around 20mins…gliding past the mountains….he went really far….the guy with him showed him a lot of Ariel views of places!!

Started back to pune, very tired and sleepy…Ate at a local Dhaba and food was amazingly tasty…or may be were were too hungry :P….Entered Pune by 6pm and checked-in into the hotel…quickly got ready n went to the wedding hall where my friend vaibhav’s wedding events were being held….Spent some quality time there@ the Haldi event……we put haldi on vaibhav’s hands, legs n face… some random aunty came n put off haldi on us…like u play holi, right…everybody started applying haldi forcefully on each other then..Arjun was also not spared!:)

7th Dec, 2010:
Got ready and visited the hall….The main ceremony or the wedding took place and I enjoyed being a part of yet another friend’s wedding :D….I enjoy weddings a lot…This is the first time I am attending a Maharastrian wedding…..had lunch and took rest for a while….

Roamed on the city roads of Pune till evening…Went to Pune Central and raved about how their food court had better ambiance but weaker food options :P….Finally took the Bus to Hyd at 8:30 and smiled at each other before we slipped into deep sleep …..

All in All, a TRIP to Remember for me and Arjun…..I hope, you guys had fun reading it….Its a very important trip for me, considering that I have let go, many a fears that I had, thru this trip!!!...getting into water, getting into air….I kinda dispelled myths that I am Risk-Averse :P….

I do hope, a lot of you visit the places that we have been to and have great memories there….

Signing Off,
Sahithi Nagarjun