Phone should be out of sight during family time.

For example –

All restaurants should follow a practice of collecting the mobile phones or getting them switched off as soon as you enter. Pictures can be taken before you enter or after you leave.

Long drives should be without phone calls. Sometimes it’s good to be vocal to your friends, colleagues or even your boss – “out with my family on a long drive or lunch or dinner”. You earn respect both sides – sometimes an eye opener to some.We have lived in an era without social networks and gadgets and it wasn’t so bad.

Before the gadget era began kids would look out through the window read signboards and register routes whereas today’s kids either sit behind watch movies or are engrossed in their tabs.

GPS is there for sure but why are we so dependent?

Solving puzzles and crosswords that came with the morning newspaper along with a hot cup of tea was an enjoyable activity with parents which is sorely missed today in most households.

Talking to your family letting them know how your day was and hearing them out is no more a practice as everything is through “WhatsApp”.

When we were kids, we made our own games (more of creative thinking) we didn’t know what the word “bored” meant.

We would play word building with our siblings and parents – good way to increase the vocabulary. Name, Place, Animal, Thing was another game. Remember counting the trees or counting bogies of a goods train passing by.It may sound silly today but it was fun then.

Less distractions and more quality family time!

Lot of learning happened through play and daily conversations. Many games that we played on the ground or parks are easily available on our phones and tabs – why sweat then? How many phone numbers can you remember? Going to the supermarket and calculating the bill mentally before the cashier could was fun…

We earned less so ate more at home – healthy life style and contended too. Going to the restaurant once or twice in a year was valued and appreciated. Now you are bored and you order for food. 

Everything comes easy so it’s less valued.

Most commonly used word amongst all age groups is “BORED”.

As I write I am also thinking what are the immediate changes I need to bring in for a healthy family life…

Being overly connected to the social networking sites can cause psychological issues such as distraction, expectation of instant gratification and depression.

New trends like Binge TV watch negatively impacts our sleep. To help combat before-bed binging, turn off the TV in the middle of an episode instead of the end. This way you won’t be tempted to watch another episode when the show you are watching ends at a cliff-hanger.

Today we cannot do without our smart phones or tabs it’s a need to survive and cope but who stops us from taking breaks. Take regular breaks. Stretch your legs, move your neck, keep a bottle of water next to you and keeping sipping bit. You will remain hydrated throughout the day plus the regular toilet breaks will give you a forced break away from the tab. It’s a win win situation.

Technology has surely made the world a better place to live but at the same time its ruining humanity. Technology is so pervasive in our everyday life that its just impossible to stay away from it. It’s how we humans are using the technology that is devastating. It’s become an epidemic that is not allowing the newer generations to embrace humanity.

I feel like a magnet for people who open up to me about terrible things that may have happened in their lives .They tell me things they have never told anyone else.
Its normal when people you are close to come and open up.But when someone you barely know or a complete stranger shares their dark secrets or griefs, you just go numb.
They instinctively get comfortable and I can’t just turn them away.It makes me sad and helpless.
This happens often and I believe I
display the ability of being an empathetic listener in my sleeve or put out a subconscious vibe that gives people the comfort.
People don’t want an advice always sometimes they just want to be heard.
Embracing the gift,God has given me.I am at the right place at the right time.
“There is a sincerity in my listening” is something I often get to hear and I count it as a blessing.

See how far you’ve come
How far you have to go
See how amazingly you have
Beaten all of life’s lows
See how you’ve managed
To do the unthinkable
See how all your success
Has made you so exceptional
On your birthday I wish
More expectations you exceed
In life no matter what
May you always succeed
Cheers to you and to all your achievements, goals and adventures.

The boy’s parents visit his place first time after his marriage.They have come for a few months.

Morning wee hours (first day)
Mil wakes up and goes towards the kitchen –
Son and Dil getting the tea and breakfast ready for all.
Mil stands by the door and watches her son clean up,wipe utensils.
Getting stuff ready to set the table. Dil preparing the breakfast.
Dil notices Mil and wishes her “Good Morning” ,Mil wishes her back.Dil notices her Mil’s eyes were little damp and her voice confirmed it.
Son walks out to see his dad.
Dil switches the gas off and walks to her mil and says,”Ma mornings are crazy and so I take his help.”
Mil kept her hand on her Dil’s shoulder and said,”Don’t look at my damp eyes,look at the blush on my cheeks.” I am a proud mother today,I have raised a man!
Dont you think I deserve a pat on my back.
Both of them exchanged a warm hug.
Mil further said –
“Your parents parted with their diamond,gave her to a new family.Its our responsibility to treasure it for life.
I am contended to see you two are taking care of each other.You are as much mine as he is.
Remember one thing always, I am a woman first,then a wife and mother.You can count on me whenever you need me.I will be there for you”.
Dil was full of tears,but she was happy that she has moved out of her family into a family which is as much hers.
Son and Father come in and they enjoy their family breakfast together.

Hope New year brings a closure to what we all seek.

It’s that time of the year when you look back to see what you have accomplished this year.Here we only talk positives and hence “Happy jar” is something to look forward to.Happy jar – my treasure of 2019 only reminds me of all the good things that happened from the beginning of the year till the end of the year.

Each of us choose a colour for the chit.We write a chit with the date and capture the moment.Eagerly waiting for 31st to open up the jar and unfold the chits to recall -reminisce-relive once again.None of us know what the other has written 😊.

The colorful chits will remind us of the happiest memories.Few more days to go and then it will be a new beginning.

It’s not easy to remember all the happy moments but the jar makes it easy and each one is motivated to do something good to share…

It’s an amazing way to capture your happy moments so build your happy jar in 2020 👍😊

Friends tell me …

You are so lucky you are at home

You can plan the day,the way you wish

You can sleep and rest

You can go shopping

You have no tensions

You don’t have a boss

You don’t have targets

You can spend your husbands money

You can spend all your time with your kids

You can live the life of a Queen

You celebrate all festivals and you have all the time to dress up so well…

You are so lucky such a stress free life….

Just that I am unfortunate when it comes to friends…….

Every time I go to visit my mom, I get all these memories flooded back and you know, there is something profound about walking through your old neighborhood,exchanging smiles with so many known faces and visiting your school.No matter where I go with my travels throughout my life, there will never be another place in this universe that could hold a spot in my heart like this one.

Every corner of the road and the fast food stalls have a story to tell.

Some people find it hard to remember childhood experiences. For some, the past is more vivid, while for others, it is vague and unclear. Some remember what happened while others only remember what they felt about what happened.

Our parents generation was proud to be homeowners – they didn’t move around like we do today. The general sentiment in the 80’s was to buy a house and live there until you die –

Today, home ownership is viewed as much as an investment as it is a privilege, as the cost of housing is at an all-time high. We buy the minimum amount of space we need, expecting to move with each major life event.Our memories are scattered.

Where we grew up ,that’s our parents home,the buildings are very old and sooner or later will be demolished and a new construction with latest facilities for an improved quality of life will come up.Lot of positives no denial to that.

But there is an emotional aspect too -I am already forecasting the disoriented feeling where I would look at my house and the neighborhood where I have spent my entire childhood and hardly recognize it because the landscaping has changed.There are countless memories with the various holidays, birthdays, and special occasions that you celebrated there each year. Home is where you grew up, live life, and ultimately create your own haven.Bidding farewell to the dwelling you grew up in is a bittersweet.

Homes aren’t made of bricks but memories.

Having a growing child around is like a surveillance camera on you 24hrs.Your actions are noted,copied and followed.Beware!

Rakshabandan – As kids we were taught its a Brother-Sister festival.
We were too naive to think beyond that.
If you have two sons or two daughters how would you explain it? Won’t they celebrate? Suppose you have a single child then……
The emphasis was always on how a brother made a promise to his sister and all stories would revolve around that.
Why can’t it be celebrated with a close friend or a loved one who has stood by you in your worst times.
It should be a date with that one person who has been there with you during your thick and thin.
It’s a sacred thread just like a friendship band,keep it for that one special person in your life – can be your mother,father,friend,cousin anybody whose presence makes you feel “I am there with you always”.
All children should celebrate this festival,none should feel left out.
Stories need to change with time.
We should celebrate all our relations.
There should be no empty wrists.
Having a son and a daughter doesn’t mean it’s a complete family and being a single parent doesn’t make it an incomplete family.
The bond and the trust in one another completes the relationship ,nothing else matters.
Rakshabandan means a bond between two individuals to protect and stand by one another always.
Let us bring the change and share new stories with the next generation 😊

We all have hobbies and observation activities, one of mine is studying the mannerisms of people going in and coming out from the cinema halls.

Different sets of people you come across walking into the cinema halls-

some come with full energy and lot of expectations in their minds,

some come only for the hot caramel popcorns which is itself a good reason (that’s me),

some look fully stressed out and are looking for a de-stress,

some looking for lone times,

some have already made their views based on the trailer and have rated the movie even before it began………..

We find all of these inside the same cinema hall…

People no more go to the cinemas to watch every good movie. Watching a movie in a cinema hall has become a burden on the wallet and not many prefer wasting their hard-earned money. People patiently wait for the movies to come online. We cannot deny that watching something cinematic blown up on the big screen is a truly a feast for the eyes and still remains unique compared to watching it on a TV, tab or phone.

Preference of seat is also a very important parameter to enjoy the movie. A seat close to the screen leaves you with a bad neck, slouching down, tilting the head and rolling the eyeballs from side to side to catch the full screen leaves you with a bad headache\backache. Corner seats are mostly preferred by the lovebirds. Seats close to the exit path way are preferred by the people with small children.

One gets a wonderful feeling when the movie unfolds to their expectations. The enjoyment of laughing in unison at a golden comic moment is amazing in itself.

On the flip side, there is a uniquely unpleasant sensation of a person behind you kicking the back of your seat. Some people can be so annoying, they would be constantly checking their phone and the light can be so distracting.

We see people walking out of the cinema hall dejected, angry, frustrated, situational reasons – bad stomach, bad date. 

How can we forget the spoilers, going to watch thriller-suspense and some annoying random person blurts out the suspense? Have you ever done that?

Memories like these, whether good or bad, are all part of cinema-going experience, you will have lots more of your own.

We live in an era with infinite content, too many options like Netflix, Amazon prime etc. One doesn’t really need to go to the theatre and leave half way. He could sit at home and just conveniently change the movie.

The social networking sites are flooded with reviews even before the movie ends. The screenwriter isn’t sitting next to us on pins and needles awaiting an instant review. Enjoy the moment and let others experience it in their own away without having any preconceived notions.