Life is calling, where are you?

Remember the Smirnoff advert? A masked lady sensuosly beckons with her finger a man peering down from a high window....and the ad says....Life is calling, where are you?

This ad. line did a lot for me.

The first time I heard the line (About 10 years back), I felt a stirring in me.....where was I? The sidelines? Just watching while the world moved on! What was my contribution? The ad did wonders for me by making me question my role, my existence, my lifestyle, my wishes, my dreams, my physical appearance, my growth. It was my first true awakening....

I had had a bad traumatic sciatica and a traction a year before that incident, and that had made me a couch potato. I would not do any physical activity out of fear. And then one day, as I sat watching TV, this lady asked me so many questions with just one line.

Life is calling, where are you meant;

Q. Do you want to just sit there brooding while the world goes by?
A. No, I want to be part of it.

Q. You are not fit, what are you going to do about it?
A. I am going to do something better than just warming the sofa. (I started going for walks)

Q. You are not reading nowadays as much as before, why?
A. I started reading in the train on my way to the office.

Q. So when are you going to start reading those positive attitude books?
A. He...he gotcha.....I meant Erma Bombeck, P.G.Wodehouse and Bill Cosby - I have finished reading most of their books now!

Q. What did you learn?
A. Erma Bombeck taught me that a 'soap' should not be saved just because it has a good shape. Put it to use and enjoy the beauty of the suds that slip away. I now don't store beautiful crockery for the guests - I use them up for us. When something breaks, I don't really mind because I know it has served me well, and that the time for it to go has arrived! She taught me to 'let go'. It is the best way to relax. What happened to the stress? Ask him!!

Bill Cosby taught me that age changes perceptions - just be open to accept age gracefully but don't start giving messages to your body parts that they need to stay put and out of work, and you will never grow old in your heart and mind. [OK! I am half his age :)]

P.G.Wodehouse........He taught me to laugh, laugh, grin and look silly in public. I can't count the number of times when I had been reading a wodehouse on my way to work in the local train, and caught people looking at me weirdly when I would look up to check the station, and then suddenly realised that OMG! I am grinning again :). Don't worry about what others think - it honestly is of no consequence!

The other day, someone mentioned how much I have changed over the years - for the better, of course! It set me thinking - I have this habit of analyzing things a lot! It comes from a conscious effort I made after that ad. to be responsible for my acts.

This helps me to better myself and - as Gandhiji observed - 'Become the change you want to see'. That does not mean I am perfect - amply supported by the fact that I do not go the gym. as regularly as I should, and allow the blogging time to run beyond the set time etc.

That line made me change in these ways:

I want the world to be a clean place - I do not litter and don't mind picking up litter dropped by others;

I do not want drainage or choking problems during the rains - I don't use plastic bags;

I do not want to be part of unnecessary killing of animals - I am vegetarian and I have stopped using leather, silk and the like.

I decided long back that I won't lead my life by diktats, I dare to live with ideals!

There may some unavoidable wrongs I indulge in, I do not do it consciously. One doesn't have to discover new things, invent a new gadget, lead the country, or be brilliant or achieve fame. It's great if you are doing those things, of course, we need people doing that too! Irrespective of all that one needs to get in control of one's own life - live the change you want to see!

Take steps to save Earth today - adopt just one right practice for a year. Follow it resolutely, and make it a habit.

Make the change happen by living it!

The Oprah Winfrey Show had me in fits....

The children are playing on the computer, the husband is out to meet his buddies, and I am getting bored! The dust, clean and cook routine was done, and I was not in the mood to read the Dalai Lama's teachings - must return it and get something interesting! The birds are silent, and there is hardly any movement in 'the woods' - that precious little backyard with a few trees and many birds. I look outside to see two sleeping dogs, and since there is nothing else to do, I switched on the television. My daughter helpfully informs me that 'that's so Raven' - a program I enjoy watching is on air. I surf and stop at 'Hallmark' when I see Oprah Winfrey's show. She is haggard, older than her age and looks acutely sick - no, the heavy make up, the eerie rounds of kohl around her eyes, and the bouffant hair-do, do nothing to hide them, try as much!! (I hope I age more gracefully otherwise someone will definitely make me eat my words!)

There was a time, about 8 or 9 years back when my daughter was four and son was about 8 to 10 months old, and I used to have lot of free time on hands. In those days I was a big Oprah fan (She was plump and a lot more sympathetic looking then!). The craze ended when I saw this episode where counseling was being offered by Oprah and one of her endless experts to parents who did not know how to hire a nanny for their baby - who could not do without his mamma at night! Sucks - doesn't it? Now you tell me, which baby (The baby in question was about a year or two!) does not want its mother around at that age?

The funny portion is yet to come! A rather expensive nanny was brought on sets who offered her expert services to help the mother wean the baby - not from feeding but from sleeping with her!! There were recordings made of 'how the baby was weaned'. The program was recorded from the day of the problem, the coming of the nanny and how it was ultimately resolved and shown as though it was some kind of ideal way to bringing up kids......BAH!!

Initial portions - of the video showed the baby crying out for the mom, the mom and dad tired stiff and yet making their way to the baby and trying to stop it from crying and not succeeding.

Sometime later - enter the expert nanny who tells the mother and father to only look at the baby from a distance but not enter the room if the baby cries again. The 'oh so distressed' parents do it diligently - the baby cries, cries and cries itself to sleep. The 'terribly upset parents' cry outside but watch triumphantly as the baby falls asleep. Few more of such silly footings.

A week later - The expensive nanny watches triumphantly, the parents have big smiles, and the baby no longer bawls at night!!

The clippings end, Oprah and her team clap, the audience claps, some have tears in their eyes. The parents are looking proudly at their 'super nanny'!! Curtains down, program ends.

I knew that day that I had been a fool to follow her shows. When my kids cry even now, I cannot sit outside watching like a fool!! What kind of message was that show supposed to send? You leave your babies crying just because you want the night to yourselves - YUCK!!

That was my last Oprah until yesterday, but this time I had my camera, and took these for fun:
The topic for discussion: How overspending couples get into debts, and the steps Suze - one of the financial experts brought on the sets gives them counseling to get out it!

Here is Suze, she looks extra hard, clenches her teeth and looks at the 'overspending couple' like this:(Mind you - she is impressive and knows what she talks, and if you are one of those people who is deep in debt you should pay attention to her counseling - she was right and did come up with good suggestions and some hard hitting facts!)

Here is the look on the faces of the couples shown:- They look sad, dignified, sorry and then elated!

Here is Oprah looking stressed, sad and happy for the world:

My last words on this -
HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAA!! It was one big Comedy show....and yes - an idle mind is devil's workshop! Can't imagine me wasting time like this!!

[Disclaimer - This is only my opinion of the program and has absolutely nothing to do with any of the persons involved in it - I only hope the errant ppl there have regained their senses!]

A message and a beauty!

Here is what I thought was a sunbird until I sent to the group - Rays of hope - an NGO working towards creating awareness about nature among children. I have been with them only on one occasion, but Tejal had me impressed with her dedication, and love for nature. I too am a nature lover in my own way.

I do not use plastic covers (Since 1999!) - I have three nylon bags which can be scrunched and fit into even a wallet, so I prefer carrying them about me!

I do not use leather for footwear or for adornment (Would you, if you knew that snakes, crocodiles and deers are skinned alive so that we humans can adorn ourselves with their skins as a status symbol??!!)

I do not buy or accept silk! (Since the last year - I read about how they are extracted here!)

I do no litter (If I eat on my way I prefer to keep the wrapper in my bag)

These 'I's are not due to 'arrogance' or 'attitude' - they are listed so that anyone with a similar mindset can give me suggestions to improve in a positive manner! They are also here to remind me of the resolve!

They are there to implore my visitors to rethink if they have done so earlier, and think on these lines if they haven't done before.

Despite all these restrictions you can still be COOL, be TRENDY. Just remember we have only ONE EARTH! And what is available today to us may not be there for our coming generations UNLESS we preserve it. For me, not thinking of this is equivalent to my taking part in a massacre of innocent people - the people who are to live here after I leave!

I present here a little beauty I saw in passing, one sunny day - LOOK - do you not want it to be around for years to come?? Many thanks to Aadesh Shivkar for correcting me - I had mistaken this pretty thing for a sunbird!

ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTS, AND SAVE OUR WORLD!

Birds in my backyard - Chapter 2 - Crows are human!

My kitchen and my living room over look the pipeline as I have said in one of my earlier posts. Some of my happiest moments are spent at the living room window sill where I generally perch with my breakfast, a mug of coffee and the ubiquitous camera! I like to observe the flora and fauna in this habitat, follow nature as she changes her coats through the year, and sometimes I really wish I never had to look down. If only I just had to look at eye level, things wouldn't be so bad!

It is sad, the way people litter the backyard with hankies, wrappers, and even....undies!! Can we not limit the private stuff to our houses?

Getting carried away again - I had begun this post thinking of the birds, and sidetracked!!

The other day two crows were fighting - they were quite vocal. There was a lot of snapping, clicking sounds, and some feathers rustled! It reminded me of the kind of petty squabbles we see many times on road sides but it was what followed later that had me mesmerised. It convinced me that crows have the same behavioural patterns as human beings! It was a matter of seconds - suddenly from nowhere nearly 10 odd crows had collected. There was a lot of high pitched crowing for about 2minutes and silence afterwards. The group had split into two factions during the first minute, and in the second minute there was truce - all the crows including the fighters flew in different directions and the matter, whatever it was, was resolved!! I discovered that crows maybe noisy, but they are wise and diplomatic - qualities I still need to imbibe!!

I happen to be a remote member (remote because I am hardly able to attend all the activities) of an NGO group called 'Rays of hope' - its a group that is constantly thriving to get children to appreciate and respect nature through their regular nature related activities such as - a bird race, a nature trail, sowing seed competitions and the like! Tejal is one the enthusiastic organizers of these activities. I had been with them with my daughter and a neighbour for the my first nature trail at Yeoor - the 'insect-watch' which was an eye-opener! I came to know at least twenty new facts about an array of flora and fauna that day! I could only admire the wisdom of the children who were careful to remain still, not hurt but only observe nature - I wonder whether I was like that!

One world two wheels

Its still a remote dream.............nevertheless we are inching towards it!

The idea of forming a cycling club in Thane was mooted by Mr.J. who runs the Firefox shop. S told me about it before the start of the race. I thought it was good idea but did not give it a second thought until I got a call from J saying there was a meeting that would possibly result in a club. I still wasn't convinced until I heard again from J saying there were about 8 members!!

I attended the second meeting - there were 7 or 8 of us. A,J1,J2,R(The stuntsman!), S, a lady S who hasn't turned up till date, IK and me. Hope I haven't left anyone out! The ground rules were laid at the food court in H.M. The following Sunday I was up at 6:00a.m. and ready for my first cycling. Pedaled furiously till I realised that the brakes seemed to be giving a problem. I had to drag up the cycle half the way up and resumed cycling the rest of the way with all my might to H.M where we had decided to meet. The time was 7:00a.m. I had already cycled (with tight brakes) a distance of 5 to 6kms. and was out of breath. After complaining about the cycle to J1 (since he is the shop owner!!), and everyone giving their advice and ultimately setting the shoe brakes somewhat right, we started from H.M and moved towards Y.H - S & I bringing up the rear (OK! technically it was only me!), and J2 despite being older is a km. ahead of us and cycles back to check up on us!! (Arrgh......I felt so embarassed - didn't know I was so unfit!!)

Anyway - we reached the foothills, and thankfully R the stuntsman changed his bike with mine, since mine had again turned tough to handle!! He handled it like jello!! Hmmmmmm...... I am way out of shape!!

R for your information happens to be a skater, skateboarder, snowboarder, instructor and I hear head crasher - he's got 5 stitches on his head because he hit his head while snowboarding without a helmet on!! He leads the way and the group follows. IK is doing very well - these two are a decade younger than me so it doesn't worry me much!! IK is another enfield enthusiast, I hear! J1 and J2 do very well. A is obviously fit. S is better than me!!

We reached the top, and I fell and bruised myself rather badly twice. There was this huge valley kind of thing which R decided all of us should attempt cycling smoothly. Though I am not usually afraid, something snapped, and I buckled out!! It was good fun the rest of the way - I kept pace with the guys at least - and that is not bad at all - at 37, a female and being out of practice :). We also went to a farm house which had these different trees laden with fruits - mangoes, chikoos, something like water chestnuts, and different flowers like bamboo, hibiscus and what not! The log house was rather cute. It was good fun. I enjoyed the ride down the hill immensely - it freaks you out!!

At the foot hill J2 treated us all to healthy carrot juice and soup. S ends up with a punctured tyre. The rest of us are fine. I return home at 11.00a.m. and find my H preparing a good lunch!! All in all - A well spent Sunday, what say??