NRI Voting Rights

By iamcommittee, August 30, 2010 8:19 am

Padma Bhupatiraju, NRI Absentee Voting Rights Campaign – Central Team Member  writes:

Sign Online Petition – Support Absentee Voting for NRIs

Are you aware of NRI Voting rights bill that is going to be introduced in the Indian Parliament this Monsoon session 2010? This draft bill is going to extend voting right to NRIs, so that you can cast your vote by 2014 elections. But – you need to be physically present in India during the Election Day.
Shortfall of the bill is there is NO Absentee Voting provision for NRIs.
Please let us make our voice be heard by supporting Absentee Voting for NRIs, and one elegant solution of Absentee Voting is – “PROXY” voting.

Signing online petition @ http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/proxyvotingfornris/ takes less than 15 sec but adds infinite value and spread the awareness.

For more info, please visit www.nrivotingrights.info

Or watch video clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2wndEi-Myk

IAM Annual Sports Event

By Vikram Narayana, August 5, 2010 8:17 pm

IAM Annual Sports event 2010

 September is for Sports !!!

Registrations are now open for Soccer Camp and Tournament, Hard Tennis ball Cricket Tournment and Volleyball Tournament!!!!

Click here to know more

2 people like this post.

IAM Newsletter, Samachar: May-June 2010

By Bryan DSouza, August 2, 2010 8:50 am

The May-June edition of the IAM Newsletter is now available online at:

May – June Samachar

It includes among other things:

Remembering CK Prahalad by CP Chadra Das

Confessions of an occasional do-gooder by Arun Kumtha

Kerala Trip by Akbar Sharief

Becoming Empty Nesters by TOWSNBN

Check it out and send us an email at samachar@iamemphis.org if you would like to contribute to the next edition of the newsletter.

newsletter2The hard copy of the newsletter should have been mailed by the printer late last week and should reach our readers sometime this week. Enjoy!

1 person likes this post.

A Message from the India Fest 2010 Event Director

By iamcommittee, July 26, 2010 2:50 pm

Sharan Salian, the immensely organized, fantastic motivator and outside-the-box thinking director of India Fest 2010 has sent us this message that we would like to communicate to folks within our community:

Are you ready to provide MADATH (Memphis Area Desi’s Accomplishing Tremendous Help) for IndiaFest?

To energize the world leaders, industry tycoons and celebrities in a conference not too long ago, Bill Gates released a mosquito as part of his presentation. The Gates Foundation had been dealing with the health issues around malaria and the very simple, inexpensive preventive measures available but progress was stymied in Africa and Asia. The single mosquito (a clean non-malarial one albeit that fact was unknown to the room) created the buzz (no pun intended) providing the necessary governmental and corporate support to renew the focus on malaria across the globe.

As Festival Director for IndiaFest 2010, I have no such “macchar” to release – all I have are the fantastic achievements since 2003 that we as a community have achieved with that single idea “to showcase India and it’s heritage for the benefit of our fellow Memphians”. I would like to send a call to my fellow citizens to step forward as we begin the last mile in executing yet another fun & fantastic IndiaFest.

The success of IndiaFest lies in the fact that many community volunteers step forward to provide support in many ways. As we begin the last weeks of effort, we would love to have you help us in any manner possible.

How you can help (2 ways you can help) –

1. Ongoing – if you can help from now till August 27th for 30-60 minutes/week; we can use your help as we make final plans and work on specific details for the event

2. Day-of – On August 27th, 28th and 29th it will be all hands on deck and we can use your help to ensure the smooth execution of the festival. If you can help us with a 2 hour shift (minimum) we can use your help across the various event areas. On 27th we will be setting up, on 28th it will be for the event and 29th will be for takedown – you can then enjoy the rest of the festival at your leisure

Places you can help based on your interest –

Your Area of Interest Ongoing (until August 27th) August 27th August 28th August 29th
Marketing Distributing flyers/posters, putting yard signs, event survey, pre-analysis, coordinate guest/special invitees planning, hospitality for VIP’s Manage media, guest relations, VIP management Manage media, manage survey teams, guest relations, VIP management Manage media, survey analysis
Sales & Finance Distributing wristbands to sale points (Indian stores, restaurants, etc), manage wristband inventory, coordinate Cash control, assist with guest admissions
Business Development Follow-up phone calls to Memphis businesses targeted for special focus by leveraging India community profile based on the recent demographic survey.
Festival Administration Assist with managing the volunteer signups, identify special needs, engage youth, drum up support in the non-Indian community Coordinate volunteers Coordinate volunteers
Creative Assist with stage management planning, event management planning, performer coordination, prep work for decorations, prep work for Kids Corner crafts and fun activities Assist with stage management planning, event management planning, performer coordination, prep work for decorations, prep work for Kids Corner crafts and fun activities Assist with stage management planning, event management planning, performer coordination, Kids Corner crafts and fun activities Takedown
Operations Assist with vendor management planning, event management planning, audio/visual coordination Assist with vendor management, event management, audio/visual coordination Assist with vendor management, event management, audio/visual coordination Takedown

- Sharan Salian

Now don’t you agree that was a very well written call for help? Weren’t you inspired by it? We certainly were and we hope you were too. So please come forward and lend us you helping hand in making India Fest a grand success! Contact us at memphis.indiafest@iamemphis.org

- The IAM Committee

1 person likes this post.

Taal 2011 – Call for Auditions

By iamcommittee, July 22, 2010 10:04 am

So, you think you can sing? You have what it takes to elicit wows, oohs and aahs from a crowd? The folks at Musipals are looking for talented singers within our community….here’s their call for auditions:

Taal 2011 Auditions

8 people like this post.

India Fest Volunteer Sign-ups

By Bryan DSouza, June 25, 2010 8:18 am

Given that India Fest has grown to be a large scale event and considered as one of the annual traditions in Memphis, it is only natural that we will always be in need of helping hands. It is only through the efforts of many volunteers that we have been able to take India Fest to new heights and make new experiences possible. So we humbly call upon you to donate some of your time in making India Fest a success this year too.

Helping Hands Needed!
Helping Hands Needed!

The festival admin group has put together a volunteer sign up page. Each task has been assigned a date, duration and the number of people required. Browse through the requirements list and sign up if you think you might enjoy working on a particular task.

We thank each and every one of you for generously donating your time and effort towards making India Fest a truly enjoyable experience for all.

Click Here to View the Tasks List, Volunteer Requirements and the Sign-up Sheet

5 people like this post.

Presenting the Memphis India Fest 2010 Website

By Bryan DSouza, June 18, 2010 12:18 pm

“When is India Fest? Where is it being held this year? Who do I contact about cultural events? How do I get a booth at India Fest? What are the deadlines for various activities? What’s new during this India Fest? Is it kid friendly? Will I be able to buy some Samosas, Chaat, (insert your favorite delicacy here) and some Madras Coffee?”

Have you been pondering such significant questions? Well, fear not! The answers are just a click away. We have been working behind the scenes to put together a one-stop shop for everything India Fest. And it is an interactive website at that. You will be able to provide suggestions and feedback on almost everything that we post on the website. In fact, we hope to rely on you on making it glitch free!

Visit the India Fest Website Now!

So, when you find some time, saunter over to our website and take a peek as to what we have to offer. While we are still in the process of adding content, the layout of the website is pretty much a done deal. There are sections about Booths, Sponsporship, Volunteers, Photos, Contact etc. We also have a section on India! Yeah, our Incredible India! If you find a story or fact about India that someone who wants to learn about India might enjoy, just send it across and we will put it up there for everyone to enjoy.

We hope to make India Fest a continued success story. It is through the ardent support from people within our community that we are able to put up a such a marquee event within the Memphis Community. Like in the past, we know we can count on you when we need your time and energy. We have many places where we need helping hands. We have a dedicated volunteer management website where we will post our needs. Please take your time in perusing through the list and if you find something that you think you will enjoy working on, come, lend us your shoulder. Having you on our side will make the herculean task of pulling off India Fest that much more easier, rewarding and fun!

Sincerely,
The India Fest Committee

7 people like this post.

In anticipation of Friday..The World Cup Edition

By Bryan DSouza, June 17, 2010 3:18 pm

When England’s  goalkeeper Robert Green fumbled the ball to give the US the equalizer against England in the ongoing World Cup, no one was more astonished than this poor cat:

Me thinks he lost a lot of money on the game…;)

And since we are all against oppression, we should find humor in this sign:

Photo Credit: thechive.com

And of course, we have all heard about the incessant horn blowing at the World Cup:

Most Ignored Sign in Sports History??

1 person likes this post.

India Fest 2010 Culturals Guidelines & Registration – Update

By iamcommittee, June 14, 2010 12:51 pm

Posted below are the updated rules and guidelines for all cultural acts performed at IF 2010:

Possible Talent Opportunities

The call for registration covers the August 28th event at Agricenter and possible other local events in the community. As part of IndiaFest goal to showcase India and it’s culture within the Memphis community, we are building alliances & partnerships with some local organizations. If selected, you will have the opportunity to showcase your “Indian” talent at these organizations such as library, bookstores, performing centers & business offices.

For August 28th at Agricenter, the current plan is to have a competitive segment and the open segment. We plan to have 2-3 stages for these events. Finalized registrants will be notified by the IndiaFest Cultural Committee.

Rules and Regulations

1. IF 2010 is looking for talent in the local community – we are looking for artistic talent that is Indian in origin. This is a registration form only – filling it and completing your registration does not constitute confirmation of your entry as a performer in any IndiaFest 2010 event.

2. The IF Cultural Committee (IFCC) will determine the order of the performances & location of the performance. By registering your self or group, you acknowledge your understanding that IFCC can schedule your performance/talent on any date available and if chosen for 8/28 any stage available.

3. We are seeking all types of cultural activities – initial slots for 8/28 may be filled with group dance events keeping in mind the high level of interest within the community.

4. Each act is limited to a maximum performance time of 3-4 minutes for Solo Acts and 5-6 minutes for Group Acts. Performances are also restricted to a total of 3 minutes for set up and breakdown time combined.

5. The event is open to individuals/performers of any descent (You do not need to be of Indian descent to participate).

6. Each Group Act must identify a Group Leader who will act as the main contact for the group and is responsible for coordinating with and responding to Talent Show Organizing Committee. Group leader should be an adult if most participants are under 16.

7. We will provide a standard sound system. You must provide any additional instruments, props, audiovisual support, etc. that will be used during your performance.

8. All contestants must arrive on time and be ready to perform as necessary for the event & location selected. All performances must be in good taste and reflect India’s culture & arts. The Talent Show Organizing Committee has final decision to decline applications deemed inappropriate.

9. Audition will be conducted to ensure highest quality of programming.

10. Deadline for registering teams is July 7th 2010.

11. If you have any queries, please contact Leena Wagle at if2010opencultural@gmail.com or Anil Nair /Tracy Haldar at memphis.indiafest.creative@gmail.com

* The cultural committee reserves the right to change any of these rules based on circumstances.

Do you have what it takes – lead an interactive session ?

To make the festival more engaging and interactive, we are seeking individuals with ideas that will engage the festival attendees with something fun while also “educating” about India. If you have such an idea and are willing to conduct, please use the form and check radio button for “Interactive”

Click Here to Fill the Online Registration Form

1 person likes this post.

Friday Musing…

By Bryan DSouza, June 11, 2010 3:07 pm

Well, it’s Friday…and the oil in the Gulf still continues to pour out into the waters…so for those of you who are distressed by this episode, here’s something to get back at BP.

Ah, the Irony!

And what happens when BP spills a cup of Coffee?? Some great critical thinking kicks into action…watch..

3 people like this post.

The Spelling Bee and South Asian Kids…

By Bryan DSouza, June 9, 2010 2:10 pm

Santosh at Uberdesi has this post that tries to decipher why Indian-Americans seem to excel at spelling bees. Especially the Scripps National spelling bee. For those unaware, Anamika Veeramani of Ohio spelt “stromuhr” to claim the National Spelling Bee championship a few days ago. This was a three-peat since her victory follows that of Kavya Shivashankar and Sameer Mishra.

Anamika Veeramani - Winner 2010 National Spelling Bee

Santosh writes:

The NSF circuit consists of 75 chapters run by close to 1,000 volunteers. The competitions, which began in 1993, function as a nerd Olympiad for Indian-Americans—there are separate divisions for math, science, vocab, geography, essay writing, and even public speaking—and a way to raise money for college scholarships for underprivileged students in India. There is little financial reward for winners (just a few thousand dollars in college scholarships) compared with the $40,000 winning purse handed out each year by Scripps.

The seeds for this current wave of domination by Indian kids was sown by Nupur Lala the 1999 winner who was featured in a documentary Spellbound. The Indian domination over the past decade and half can be chronicled in two parts: before and after Spellbound.

Just as Kavya Shivashankar has inspired the next wave of Indian spellers, Kavya found her bee mojo during the post-Spellbound boom. Before Spellbound, the 2002 documentary that featured Indian-American Nupur Lala’s run to the 1999 Scripps title, many first-generation South Asian parents saw NSF as a way for their children to assimilate—the best way to understand a culture, after all, is to learn its language. They used the North South Foundation events as a sort of SAT prep, teaching their children to use phonetics, etymology, and word roots to suss out answers.

After Spellbound, that changed a bit. After Balu Natarajan (winning word: milieu) became the first Indian-American to win Scripps back in 1985, he went on to a career in sports medicine. When Lala did it in 1999 with logorrhea, she became a movie star. (OK, a movie star and a neuroscientist.) Kavya has called Lala an inspiration—the license plate of Mirle’s teal minivan reads “SPL BND.” She’s far from alone. In 2002, NSF had less than 20 chapters pulling in about 500 mostly middle-school-age spellers. Then pop culture galvanized an expansion to elementary schoolers; today, six times as many students compete in North South Foundation spelling events.

Click here to read the entire article.

India Fest 2010 Culturals – Open Segment Guidelines & Registration

By iamcommittee, June 8, 2010 7:47 am

Here’s a casting call for all you performers and creative folk out there! The creative team for India Fest 2010 has released its guidelines for the open segment of the cultural program. So get your team and act together and send in your entries to us.

IF 2009

INDIAFEST
DANCE DHAMAAKA 2010

As the title suggests the idea is to have Energy packed, Fun-filled performances. We encourage Group Dances and no solo performance to ensure maximum participation opportunity.

Rules and Regulations:

  1. The audition for Dance Dhamaaka will be open to contestants over the age of 6.
  2. You do not need to be of Indian descent to participate.
  3. The group should comprise of at least 4 participants.
  4. The dance routine should be between 3-4 minutes and the maximum time allotted will be 5 minutes including setup/removal of props.
  5. Entry should include program name, duration, theme, number of people participating, and song title (to avoid duplication).
  6. Audition will be done to ensure highest quality of programming.
  7. The Cultural committee will determine the order of the performances.
  8. Deadline for registering teams for Dance Dhamaaka is June 26th 2010
  9. If you have any queries, please contact Leena Wagle at if2010opencultural@gmail.com or Anil Nair /Tracy Haldar at memphis.indiafest.creative@gmail.com

* The cultural committee reserves the right to change any of these rules based on circumstances.

Register Online at: Click Here to Register Online

2 people like this post.

Chithirai Galatta 2010 – Saturday June 5th

By iamcommittee, June 4, 2010 10:59 pm

Memphis Tamil Association invites our readers to Chithirai Galatta 2010 !!!!  Vignesh from MTA writes………

“A.R Rahman… APJ Abdul Kalam… Vishwanathan Anand… Mahesh Bhupathi… Sir C V Raman… Indra Nooyi… 
Do these names ring a bell? Yep, they all hail from our temple-rich land of Tamil Nadu.

tamilnadu 
Come join us in experiencing our enchanting heritage and talents through the performances of our fellow Memphian Tamilians! We have packaged a lot of energetic entertainment – music, dance and drama… AND traditional Tamil Nadu style food – to enrich your experience. We hope to see you all at Chithirai Galatta 2010 tomorrow! ”
 

When: 5 PM on Jun 5, 2010
Where: Lausanne High School Auditorium (1381 West Massey Rd, Memphis)

Ticket Price: $10 (Inclusive of Dinner Box)

The Reading List…for boys

By Bryan DSouza, June 3, 2010 10:59 am

So you have this little boy(s) who loves to read but is rather picky about what he likes to get his hands on? Well, fear not.  Amodini at the Review Room has some suggestions that might just get your little man to sit still and devour through.

She writes:

Now while my daughter is a book-lover, which means that once she gets hold of a good book, I won’t see her again until she needs something from me or it is a mealtime, my son is a different matter altogether. His favorite activity is running around. Running around in circles around his book-engrossed sister, and intermittently tapping her on the head. Which annoys enrages her and which, if you’re a parent, you know is a potentially problematic situation. Although I can’t really fault him for the running around part. He has, you see, a spring attached to his bottom.He does try to sit down, and the spring gets squashed underneath. He wriggles around after a few minutes, and (whoa !) the spring releases and all that pent-up energy forces him out of the chair again.

I have tried to take him to the library and show him books online, but while some books he considers “boring”, others are too “girly”. So what exactly interests him ? After extensive research and lots of trial and error, I find that the following topics meet his approval (the hallmark of a real man ?) : snot, poop, pee, (apparently excreta by a different name is still fun, just like a rose by any other name is still a rose or some such addled philosophy) underpants, farts, slime, explosions of slime/poop/pee/farts/snot. Graphics are a big hit. Disgusting sounding facts, which means stuff which makes my daughter go Ewww (and me too sometimes, although technically speaking being a Mom means being consistently Ewww-less), are considered worth-it reading. Lately, books about magic tricks and simple card games have also garnered interest. Origami he likes.

Record books – who/what/fastest/most/best is stuff he’s curious about, and asks about. I have tried to read such books with him. The conversation goes thusly :

Me : Oh look, the cheetah is the fastest animal !
He : Do cheetahs fart ?
Me : What ?
He, exasperatedly, repeating : Do cheetahs fart ?

The First Captain Underpants Collection (Books 1-4)1.Captain Underpants : This is a series, thankfully, and features a Super Hero in his – you guessed it, you genius, you! – underpants. These books also have lovely things like Talking Toilets and a nemesis called Dr. Diaper, among other “funny” stuff. My sophisticated reader enjoys these very much.

Geronimo Stilton Adventurer's Boxed Set2.  Geronimo Stilton : This is also a series, about Stilton, a mouse detective. The author of these books is also, interestingly, Geronimo Stilton, who according to the author page on Amazon spends his time “collecting antique cheese rinds, playing golf and reading stories to his nephew Benjamin”. Both my kids loved these books.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid3. Diary of a wimpy kid :These are a set of 5 books featuring the life of Middle Schooler Greg Heffley. This is full of Heffley’s thoughts on his life, school, friends and nicely illustrated. The first book was recently made into a movie.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)4. Harry Potter series : These have been around for a while, and my son, inspired by his sister, asked for the set for his birthday. He has since read them all and liked them. These are 7 books, all pretty hefty and wordy, so may not be suitable for a younger/early reader.


Percy Jackson and the Olympians Paperback Boxed Set (Books 1-3)5. Percy Jackson : Unlike my daughter who wants to have read the book before she sees the movie, my son wants to see the movie first, and then maybe he might read the book. So once we had all seen “Percy Jackson and the Lighning thief”, he was a bonafide fan, and has since been working his way through this 7 part series, based upon Greek Mythology. He’s also now badgering us to buy him “The Red Pyramid” by the same author, which is based on Egyptian mythology.

Click here to read the entire post and the suggested reading list.

of stuff – books, films, music, green tea …

Welcome ! If you are a movie buff, head on over to my other blog Amodini’s Movie Reviews. If not, explore the links in the side-bar, or just browse through. If you like what you read, please bookmark/subscribe to my feed or follow me on Twitter (buttons on sidebar) !

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Summer reading for antsy little boys

Summer is here, and schools are about to close, giving us parents the opportunity to be the sole entertainers for our little bundles of joy for a whole three months. Yippee-ki-yay! as someone would say. Needless to say I am on the lookout for wonderful things for them to do (read fun for them and restful for me). And besides the swimming and the outdoors and the movies there’s the reading.

Now while my daughter is a book-lover, which means that once she gets hold of a good book, I won’t see her again until she needs something from me or it is a mealtime, my son is a different matter altogether. His favorite activity is running around. Running around in circles around his book-engrossed sister, and intermittently tapping her on the head. Which annoys enrages her and which, if you’re a parent, you know is a potentially problematic situation. Although I can’t really fault him for the running around part. He has, you see, a spring attached to his bottom.He does try to sit down, and the spring gets squashed underneath. He wriggles around after a few minutes, and (whoa !) the spring releases and all that pent-up energy forces him out of the chair again.

I have tried to take him to the library and show him books online, but while some books he considers “boring”, others are too “girly”. So what exactly interests him ? After extensive research and lots of trial and error, I find that the following topics meet his approval (the hallmark of a real man ?) : snot, poop, pee, (apparently excreta by a different name is still fun, just like a rose by any other name is still a rose or some such addled philosophy) underpants, farts, slime, explosions of slime/poop/pee/farts/snot. Graphics are a big hit. Disgusting sounding facts, which means stuff which makes my daughter go Ewww (and me too sometimes, although technically speaking being a Mom means being consistently Ewww-less), are considered worth-it reading. Lately, books about magic tricks and simple card games have also garnered interest. Origami he likes.

Record books – who/what/fastest/most/best is stuff he’s curious about, and asks about. I have tried to read such books with him. The conversation goes thusly :

Me : Oh look, the cheetah is the fastest animal !
He : Do cheetahs fart ?
Me : What ?
He, exasperatedly, repeating : Do cheetahs fart ?

If Google told you to jump off a cliff, would you?

By Bryan DSouza, June 2, 2010 1:06 pm

A Utah woman is suing Google for giving her walking directions on her blackberry that led her to a highway where she ended up getting hit by a car. And now she is suing Google for damages.

Hmm…you know there is something called common sense. Some say it is rather uncommon but still, it’s not like she was blind and couldn’t see where she was headed towards.  It could be that this is all a ruse to get some moolah from Google but I would caution her from using electronic gadgets of any kind. Until she gets a replacement brain that is.

route4-500x489

As someone mentioned in the comments, this could just be natural selection at its best!

That’s Cheesy

By Bryan DSouza, June 2, 2010 7:20 am

Now I know a lot of us out there love to go eat at Subway and I know that there are quite a few desis who own Subway establishments. While those factors did influence my decision to post this, it is because I am a Logophile (go ahead, look it up) at heart that I decided to post this.

I had no idea that they had a specific word to describe how cheese is laid out. It seems that Subway has agreed to Tessellate cheese on their sandwiches…

Hmm...that does look prettier ;)

Hmm...that does look prettier ;)

For you full story enthusiasts, more on this at Gawker

College Degree Density

By Bryan DSouza, June 1, 2010 2:22 pm

As a community that gives much importance and emphasis to having a good education (not that I equate having a degree to having an education), here is a chart from the US Census Bureau that I thought would be of interest.

Oh Look, There's Memphis...no not up there, look further down!

Oh Look, There's Memphis...no not up there, look further down!

Like most positive lists, it looks like Memphis has much work to do. So get the kids working on their college degrees…

P.S: I am surprised that Nashville ranks below Memphis. For some reason I did not expect that. Could it be that Nashville is much bigger in area? I haven’t looked up that part yet…

1 person likes this post.

Small Things in Life

By Bryan DSouza, June 1, 2010 10:45 am

If you think about it, there are many things in life that we take for granted. Simple things that don’t merit us giving them any attention. We are too busy thinking about things that complicate our lives rather than feel thankful for the little but crucial things we do have. So, when you get some time today, think of all the wonderful things that you have been blessed with. And you will see that most of your other worries will fade away.

And the reason I thought about this today is because of this video that I came across where a baby’s Cochlear ear implant is turned on and he hears his mother’s voice. The reaction is priceless!

1 person likes this post.

MRTC Annual Summer Race Series

By Bryan DSouza, June 1, 2010 9:45 am

Ace runner Santosh Kumar sends us this info on Memphis Runners racing series. For many of us out there that are looking for something to do during the summer (kids and adults alike) this may be of interest:

Santosh writes:

Its summer and MRTC ( memphis runners track club) organizes the 10 race series that starts in Jul and ends in Nov, with 2 races in each distance category. Its starts with 5k, 8k and half marathon. A GREAT way to build up to a half-marathon, make new friends, and receive encouragement!
Registrations can be do through the following link:

How we make life harder…

By Bryan DSouza, May 11, 2010 12:24 pm

Reader Maya Nair sends us this thought provoking writeup on avoiding stress thorough simple changes. Thank you Maya for penning down something for all of us to read.

It has been a bit slow around here so I urge all of you out there who frequent this blog to submit your creations and tips to keep this space interesting!

Maya writes:

The season has changed for the better. The grass is greener and the flowers are blooming, you get to see sun and rain every now and then.  But I was feeling very gloomy, just one of those days when you just don’t feel good about yourself, still went around doing the daily routine putting my mood on the backburner…!

Our thoughts are so responsible for this…sometimes you feel that you are on the top of the world and other times you feel you have no control over your life. It is human nature to worry over silly things or long for more, trying to control things. We get stressed and curse life over small things whether it is a long check out line at the grocery store, or home/work pressure. It is true that stress makes us do things when it needs to be done. But at times it can be overwhelming…making us tired, angry, paranoid and cry over small things.

I don’t like stress to get to me, but somehow it manages and wiggles its way. Chances are we are not even aware of how we put ourselves under stress.

Small things like getting up late in the morning can make our day go haywire. This always happens at my house. The alarm clock goes off but we snooze it. It goes off again we hit snooze again, until we are on time to be running late. And we spend the rest of the day running behind even though we know that we will be happier if we get up on time. Having to rush, forgetting things in haste…it’s no fun.

Be it family matters, friends, finance, work or health issues… some things are constantly tugging at us. When you feel you got over them, something new pops up unexpectedly and leaves you out of balance. Life is hard at times but sometimes we make it harder and sometimes people we know make it harder for us. I always like to think that I am not alone…this must be the case with everyone we come across the street, grocery store or work. Everyone is carrying a different baggage…we just don’t know. Some people seem to have no problems at all while others have ‘I’m having a bad day’ look most of the time!! It’s the way we respond to stress. Some blame the world for their problems and some approach it bravely.

It is true that some of us have more obstacles thrown our way than others. Some people have lost their jobs, some lost their houses, and some lost both! Although it’s tragic, it is not the end. What you don’t want to do is lose your health, mental or physical. Without health, you are unable to do anything about your situation. Houses and jobs are replaceable but health and loved ones are not. It’s easy to point out the problem, but what’s the solution?

Think positive thoughts – most stress are temporary and give it your best effort to figure out a solution…just don’t give up in frustration. I think we all know to an extent that we shouldn’t be doing them, but we can’t help it and end up doing it. While reading on the topic, I came across a catchy solution – when you are feeling the effects of stress, remember to deal with it in “AAA” manner – Alter It, Accept It or Avoid It depending on how you view the situation. It’s important to remember that problems are only as big as we make them and take it one day at a time.

Reading this may not solve your problems but if it helps bring even a small positive outlook, mission accomplished!!

If you still look forward to making life harder, here are some simple tips:

  1. Live for tomorrow.
  2. Try to control everything
  3. Remind yourself that life is supposed to be difficult.
  4. Resist all temptation to meditate or exercise

-Maya Nair

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