Change the course of life

Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans. - John Lennon

.....or living life created by others for you or just living for others. 

It has been a few months since I left the corporate world. Whilst I used to enjoy my job, I wanted to break the shackles of 9 to 5 routine. I am loving my life so far, filled with absolutely everything that I enjoy and most of all - the flexibility of doing what I want to and when I want to. Like floodlights suddenly came out in a groping darkness. 


The other facet is like a riot has broken out. I have been facing other challenges since then - time management, discovering myself, discipline etc.  It's like weeding out thing after another which I didn't realise existed. But it's a self exploration journey to see what works for me. 


I am not sure why but people around me seem to have the perception that if you are not in a drudging,routine job and not paying homage to your boss everyday - you are not 'working'. You are not doing something worthwhile. Isn't living the way you want to, worth a while ? 


And let me tell you - I like to be my own boss is the biggest reason. 


I enjoy freedom, intelligent conversations, adventure, solitude, reading, arts, creating things, meeting interesting people, discovering myself, new challenges. 


Sometimes I spend hours explaining that it's like coming out of oppression of the corporate world and taking in charge of my own destiny, creating it myself. 


I love that I can create my own routine, fill it with things I always needed time to do. I love the variety of things I can get involved in.  To me, it's ultimate freedom and I am proud that I am brave enough to change the course of life when I want to. 

Merry Christmas !

The definition of the word 'tradition' is "handing over, passing on". Passing on something valuable - some great memories, meaning and beliefs. 

             Celebrating Christmas with a special family has certainly made me realise the true meaning and spirit behind festivals and traditions. In short, it's about having faith in an activity or action and bonding with the ones who you love. Having some fun together. Going back in history to reminiscence. Spending some time together and building memories. 

 

Appreciating each other and showing love. Hugging and sharing a meal together. We can make it as religious as we want or simply take joy in getting together with loved ones and having fun. 


That's all festivals are !
Hope you enjoy all the coming days just as Christmas is celebrated all around the world. Merry Christmas ! 

Life to me.....

is not about the colour of the skin but the colour of the heart,
is not about the bundle of notes but bundles of joy,
is not about the length of your car but depth of your heart,
is not about standing out but standing up,
is not about chatter but about conversations,
is not about pleasure but about happiness,
is not about racing ahead but about evolving in life,
is not about proving to someone else but to yourself,
is not just about my native traditions but my own values and beliefs,
is not just about liking but all about loving,
is not about owning a piece of land but conquering the world,
is not about the information but about the knowledge and wisdom,
is not about who you know but about who understands you,
is not about where but how you have grown up,
is not about what you want to be but what you are today,
is not about the gifts but about giving,
is not about being aspirational but about being inspirational
Is not about the nation you belong to but about the kind of person you are !


( I often revisit this note that I wrote sometime ago just to see if it's still true with me and it is )

How to make a simple Indian sweet in minutes?

Srikhand is an extremely popular dessert in central part of India, and I have several memories of hanging out with friends and eating Srikhand especially in the night markets in a city called Indore. The dish originally comes from western state in India - Gujarat. Made with yoghurt ~ it's an extremely simple sweet to make and yes it has sugar, but is much healthier than several other sweets. You might want to try making it...here's how.

Ingredients:

1. Full cream yoghurt ( Indian or Greek Yoghurt) - 1 kg
2. Sugar powder - appx 10-12 tbspns ( A bit more if yoghurt is slightly sour)
3. Amonds and Pistachios - appx 1 tbsp. (coarsely grounded)
4. Saffron (kesar) - strands 7-8 ( I haven't used it here )
5. Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

How to prepare:

1. Put the yoghurt in a muslin cloth, wrap it tight and squeeze it slighly. 
2. Hang it and let all the water strain out.
3. Keep it hung overnight or for atleast 7-8 hrs so that all the water is strained and you are left with creamy yoghurt. 
4. Then put the hung curd in a bowl add powdered sugar and whisk it with hand blender / mixer till it gets creamy. 
5. Add kesar, almonds, pistachios and cardamom powder and mix well. ( Feel free to use any other nuts if you like).
6. Sprinkle saffron strands and garnish with sliced almonds & pistachios.
7. Serve chilled. 

Variation: 

If you like you can add mango pulp, apple pulp, strawberries - pulped or chopped, to give it that fruity flavour. I just like it plain !! 

Do you suck the energy or pass some on?

I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.  ~Ancient Persian Saying

Attitude is really the key to a happy life. 

To those endless opportunities that we may miss while we are busy whinging and whining. When I was growing up, dad always reinforced how simply looking at the brighter side will mean attracting the same abundance. 

And I believe it's true. 

While we are busy complaining, dreaming about what we don't have ~ life's clock keep ticking. We attract negativity, and everything seems to spiral down. We receive love when we stand with open arms, open eyes and open heart. Childlike innocence in heart keeps the life so vibrant and alive. 

I truly believe that "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" and it's upto us to look at what we want to look at. 

I feel blessed to have such a husband, also my crtique who quickly brings me back to the positive state if ever my hormones kick in and I start to get jealous, envious or negative. It's more important to recognise that state and fix it rather than forcing not to ever feel any of those emotions. 

I am happy at this point, and I will be happy with what I get in future which will be even better.

Life to you ! 

Joy of baking

I am by no means a cook although I find cooking as one of the creative outlets and like to do something new everytime. and Baking ? I have always been skeptical of baking ...

...never understood the pleasure of baking. I always saw it as a messy, mammoth and difficult task. Recently, like many other beliefs - this belief is slowly changing too. 

I guess there is a certain beauty in procedures involved in baing ~ mixing, turning and estimating ......and then 'being patient' to experience the delight of the sweet in the oven.

Beauty in the wait, anticipation, eagerness to taste. Beauty in perfecting the art. 

I spent today baking cookies and cake - not the most perfect in shape but spectacular in taste and ....eggless . Yup ~ eggless chocolate and oats cookies and eggless chocolate cake. 

 I found a great idea for a gift too. 

Simple recipes made with lots of love. 

Multi-cultural Multi-coloured society

The beauty of living in a multicultural society is that you learn so much from different cultures and it helps you to become a better person. I learned the importance of knowing the art of living life, love for water and wine from Australians, poise in daily life from Japanese, inseparable family bonds from Greeks and Italians, their love for food is inspiring too.

Several of my interests have unsurfaced due to exposure to the different people from different walks of life and I think it's extremely enriching.

I learned things like how one gets inspired from music and create some extraordinary versions of food dishes, how one can lose a limb to shark and still go in water again to pursue their true passion, I learned how people can spend their whole life perfecting that boat or plane that they started building from scratch, how people finally make it after several knock-backs, how love is shared with people from all walks of life and how to embrace differences, and truly how to live everyday and realizing what's really important in life.

With the gorgeous sunlight trying to peek in my lounge room, I enjoy my banana cake in this moment....and ponder over how lucky I am to be surrounded with these lovely people who I share my precious life with.

A little window to my life...

I never liked reading blogs where people discuss their uninspiring mundane tasks during the day - whether they took their dog out today for a walk or not, whether they have had 'that' dress yet or not. 
You got my point ! 

But I recently realised that sometimes when people write those seemingly mundane things a little bit more in depth, from their heart, giving a real window to their real lives - it makes reading them so much more meaningful and exciting. As a reader then I have an opportunity to learn and to get inspired from their lives. 

So I have decided to open a little window ( actually a small door !) to my life too...my life as an artist, to my life as an immigrant, my life as an Indian, my life as an Australian, to my beliefs, to my journey as an amateur photographer, to my home, to my recent love for cooking,  to myself....

Why ? So that I can learn from you and can make my journey a bit more meaningful by offering something more to your life. 

It's risky, but I am an open book already - so what's more to fear ? I will give it a try for somone out there who might be reading this....

Some moments from Diwali...

Happy Diwali

 Eat sweets, pray, hug, burn some crackers, decorate, light up diyas, donate and remember loved ones.

Wishing you all an amazing and a safe Diwali.

For my friends who don't know about Diwali ~

Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning transalating into "the awareness of the inner light". 
It is celebrated with great zest all over India and all the houses and streets come alive with all the lights, decorations and crackers on this day. 

Shubh Diwali

There must be a great sense of excitement in the air in India today and the houses will be chaotic but very excitedly preparing for tomorrow. 

Gifts and hugs will be all around. These are the only days when I really miss India but nevertheless I believe in making home where I am. 

I must admit that I have never been a very homely person, but this year I did experience a shift and I decided to make all the sweets for Diwali myself. I have made it with love - I hope it will be enjoyed with the same spirit and will bring more of it to our home and lives. 

What a great day today is (that was...)

Such a beautiful day

Leaves are drenched

Flowers had their royal bath

Roads are paved with diamond drops

Sun is forced to tuck in for a while

Time for a hot coffee ( chocolate for some ! ;) )

Some people watching

Take a mini break

Yes go out of your office

Take your pen and paper with you

Watch outside

Be at peace

Rest a little

Work and dream what a great day today is.

Definition of love

If someone asked me for my definition of 'love', I would say it's my husband - Mehul. 

I feel blessed, everyday, every moment.

( I know not the best photo but a special one that I wanted to treasure !) 

Super Woman

I love her voice, I love her style and I have always loved her performances. 

This is what has been on my mind today...

A combination to die for...

"If coffee is my spinach, then sunlight is my kryptonite." 

-- Veronica Belmont

...and I agree. ;) 

There is nothing better than sipping coffee under the sun...marvelling over the beauty of the nature. 

Where are you going to have a coffee today ?

On another note - I am simply excited to have found one of my favourite pendants which I have had for years. I love that blue colour.....

Japan in Australia

'Matsuri' or Japanese festival was recently held just around the corner where I live.  

Beautiful Japanese girls in their beautiful kimonos, 

Japanese Art groups...

Lovely handmade ceramics... ( I loved it !!!!!!) 

Competition of painting the Japanese Umbrellas....

Amazing display of strength and skill at Taekwondo performance.....

Origami...( got more inspired to learn ... I have been planning to do this for a while !)

Of course..the poise of Japanese beauties... 

Japanese Calligraphy... or Shodo

..lots of laughs..

...and these drummers group called 'Taiko' were simply spectacular.

I just could not get enough of their performance and music. What a thunder they brought to the air...magical !! 

That's another reason I love Australia - so many people from variety of backgrounds adopt this country and make it their home...and as a result make it so exciting and colourful. 

We learn and grow together, eat different food, share each other's stories, exchange the experiences and live a rich life. 

Thank you Australia !