New Room, New Life?

So april was pretty hectic and I thought May would be really slow. But life always surprises you when are not ready. I came in Patiala in 2011 and since that day I was living with a family, until this month. My last home was very well equipped, it had  a double bed, fridge, big windows, TV and almost all the luxuries you need to have to live outside of your home. I had very warm relationship with the family and all was like little perfect. But then I shifted.

Here I am, right in the middle of May sitting in a room which doesn’t have all the luxuries. Frankly, I feel lonely here. I don’t know why but there is too much silence here that has a very strange feeling to it. But there are many good things about it, firstly it is very close to my office. Secondly, I can finally learn to live outside home like a pro. Thirdly, I will finally be cooking on my own.

This is just a short post to let you know why I was away, also to share that may be it is a beginning of a new life. Let’s see.

Life is Uncertain But Awesome

Life is uncertain and that is why it is awesome. No matter how hard you plan, it will always amaze you with its twist and turns. In recent years, April was kind of the most boring and hectic month because of the start of new financial year. You know how companies change too many policies in April projecting that it benefits the employees, however the truth is totally opposite.  So here I was in March not making any plans in April because I was over prepared for the changes to happen by my company which will surely change my whole plan of Holidays. On April 1, I was waiting for e-mail from HR department thinking inside that there is a reason it is called an April Fool’s day. Day passed and I didn’t receive the so-called plan-destroying-email. Life is uncertain, I told you that. This was the first April which was so silent from the side of HR department. My family knew that I also don’t make plans in April.

April 7

I was making conversations with one of my favourite cousin who came to meet me at my home after a very long time. In morning,  we discussed about all the trouble we had to make to buy our first woofer speaker. How we arranged the cassettes of popular songs. In evening, we made a short trip towards Kasauli hills and talked all night about girls,music, Facebook life and favourite porn star.

April 14

I was sitting in the car watching at green fields of Punjab thinking how awesomely different is the lifestyle of villagers and how we urbanists are so consumer-driven people. My family planned a trip to visit almost every relative we have in Punjab. I have not visited any of my relatives from last 5 years. Every home we went, the relatives were thinking that we are here to invite them to my marriage. Yes, in India you must get marry when you turn 25 otherwise you become the topic of discussion. Sadly for them and happily for me, we were there to invite them to the retirement function of one of our close relative.

April 21

High Bass Speakers were playing the Punjabi tracks in front of 35,000 people, where many of them dancing on the tunes, some were observing, some were smiling, some were glancing at girls, some were finding the best seat to sit on and everyone else was screaming. I was in the middle of one of the most wonderful cricket stadium of our region watching the nail-biting match of Kings XI Punjab and Pune Warriors India.

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Now if you observe it correctly, above mentioned days were all Sundays, the unplanned Sundays where everything happened so quickly. Life is like this, it gives you surprises when it is required not when you want. So all you crazy people who are just working, working and working; don’t be I-Am-Not-Interested to Count-Me-In guy. For me, April is not yet over and I have two big events to join in too.

Surrender to Uncertainty, Surrender to Life!

3 Reasons Why The Music Of Aashiqui 2 Won’t Be Ever Lasting Like Aashiqui

If you were born in late 80s or early 90s you must have been mad about the music of the film called Aashiqui. Being a radio host, I must tell you there is a huge number of people who still like the music of Aashiqui. I do too. It is very soothing and very romantic. Sadly, I can’t say the same with the album of its sequel Aashiqui 2.

Though I loved the first song ‘Tum Hi Ho’ a lot and the second song ‘Sunn Raha Hai’ has a good rhythm to it too.But, I still feel the album won’t be ever lasting like Aashiqui. And here are my 3 reasons to it:

Missing Feel Good Factor: There was an era when sad songs were liked by all, today things are different. People love songs which make them feel good about life. Sadly, not even a single song in the album has a positive romantic thing attached to it. As you listen to  the full album, you get into the sad space which is not a good idea for the album. I wondered there must be a song that takes me into good romantic mood but all in vain.

Not very Hummable: People still love simplicity in romantic songs. Ishq wala love was simple yet romantic. Simplicity in the songs of Aashiqui made the album truly remarkable. Sadly, this is missing in the songs of Aashiqui 2. They are very good to listen but not many people would like to sing them after a while because average person like me can’t sing them as good as the songs of Aashiqui.

Not a Celebration of Love: The music of Aashiqui was a celebration of love where every song had a different mood attached to it. From falling in love with the song Dheere Dheere Se Meri Zindagi Mein Aana, showing trust with Main Duniya Bhula Dunga, Sad-romantic with Tu Meri Zindagi. In fact every song had different mood of love. I wish I could feel the same with the music of Aashiqui 2. It is not a celebration of love, it is a celebration of broken heart.

Having said that, the music of Aashiqui 2 is pretty awesome but it will not ever lasting like it prequel Aashiqui.

 

Tail Of A Tale

When I was 7 years old, I used to go to my aunty’s home every evening for two reasons . Firstly, they had colour TV with the cable connection and secondly, they had a dog called Tuffy. There was a program that used to come on TV every evening called Disney Hour and that one hour of the day was like living in dreams, dreams of colours. After the cartoons, my favourite thing was to play with tuffy. He was a small dog, I don’t remember the breed but he was short, white and fluffy. His favourite food was mangoes. Yes, it’s not just humans who are mad about mangoes. He was crazy and adorable. His ears were pink from inside and I always liked to touch them. He was like a mystery to me and everything he used to do was magically delightful.

Once in every fortnight I used to ask from my mother to allow me to keep a dog. But talking about dog in my family was like talking about the political relationships of India and Pakistan. Not so pleasing. Mom was in bit favour or could say yes, but father was very fussy about dog. Cutting things short, we never had a dog. Today, things are totally changed. Mom, dad and sister want to have a dog. Next year, we are planning to move in a bigger and better home and the whole family is looking forward to have a dog. In the latest conversation we were talking about the different breeds and their characteristics. Time heals.

Talking about dogs, these days I am noticing dogs everywhere not because I am interested in them but because I am reading a book called HUCK. Which is about how a dog changes the life of a family. It is so lovely how you make incredible connection with a pet. This makes me remember the movie called HACHIKO: A DOG’S STORY, which I believe is a must watch for everyone.

 

My March Quest

As I am reading books these days, I am in the awe of these beautiful writers. They make my day, just with the words. Isn’t it a magic in itself that only words make us create the pictures in mind of the whole thing. I am thankful for this ability of humans.

When I decided to read 52 books in this year, my goal was not reading but to see how they write. I want to be a writer but I have zero knowledge about writing(almost zero). The only thing where I write, is this blog (which I don’t write daily but I am trying). When I read, I get so pumped up that I quickly try to write something and then after struggling with words and not making sense, I quit. Yes I quit, the worst feeling in the world.

But, I so want to be a writer. I need to learn. I need to write. Need? I want to learn and I want to write. Yes I WANT this! This want of mine has made me to signup for writing blogs and I am reading here and there about them. One evening I was so curious after reading a book on writing that I emailed the blog’s writer to know about one secret to write. He said, just write.

Just write? I shouted in my mind. Dude, I know that but how to write? I thought he is stupid but after being with this thought for a while, I understood of what he is saying. I need to write, daily, so that I get used to writing. Need to make it a habit. A habit of writing daily. Once again in my life, I am face to face with this word called habit.

This Book Made Me Feel Awful & Awkward

Disgusted to the core. Why did I waste my money on it? More than money, why did I waste my time in it? Argghhhh…

 I am in awful mood right now as I am writing this. There are tons of disgusted emotions that are fighting in my mind. And, it is all because of a book called FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. Sadly, there are no fifty shades but just a shade of SEX SEX SEX. There I said it. 

I really liked the start of this book when the girl goes to take interview of frigging Mr. Grey. Girl gets attracted towards him and also grey gets attracted to her. Some mushy things happen and as soon as they start dating. Oh hell! It seems I am reading an erotic book that we get on every Indian bus stand.

At the start of this book, E L James the writer says she always wanted to write stories that people fall in love with. I thought this book would be about love, sex and emotions. Hell no! It is about nothing but just a plain disaster. Disaster of love, sex and emotions. I got tired of reading just about sexual brutality. And, if she thinks people would fall in love with these books? I really want to know, who these people are?

In the tons of things I didn’t like, there are two things I liked. First, the adjectives used in every sentences are so proper that it makes you enjoy conversations(yes, the sexual ones too). Secondly, the detailing about every scene. The presentation of every part is really good.

I really wish the story could be anything different. I could only bear this book by fifty percent.

Did you read it? What do you suggest?

7 Things I Do To Keep Myself Happy & Productive

Happiness is the outcome of being productive or you can say; productivity is a state of being happy. It is so interlinked that if you understand it completely, it has the capability to transform your life. It did mine. It is only 6 months that I am doing the things I always wanted to do. Reading, writing, working productive, traveling and many more things. Previously, I wanted to do but I was not doing them and it all happened due to some of the things I started doing regularly. Following are those things that made me sane, loved, happy and productive.

Living the Relationships: There is nothing more satisfying than having good relationships. If your relationships are healthy, chances are that you will work on your work effectively. And, if they are not. Chances are that you can’t even work. So, if you have bad relationships, work on them. As you work on them, you will learn some of the best lessons of life which can work wonders in your work life.

Reading 2 Hours daily: This one truly transformed me. Truly, this is the only habit that did everything. I have the target of reading 52 books in 2013 and I’ve already read 12. And, it is only because of some of the books that today I am doing the things, the way I wanted to do. I’ve read novels, self-empowering, business, finance and I am trying to read as many genre as I can. I am becoming an avid reader and I always wanted to be. Previously, I thought I don’t have time. Today, I’ve immense of time that I am doing numerous things daily without getting exhausted. In fact, the only time I am not doing anything is when I am sleeping. Reading gives you knowledge and knowledge is the basis of a productive being.

Putting Things On Evernote: Like many geeks, I am also a huge fan of Evernote. In fact, I can’t imagine my life without it. It was always there on my laptop but never really used it effectively. After reading the GTD by David Allen, I started writing the things on it randomly. Soon, I started managing notes that made me create notebooks and today I have 7 seven notebooks that keep all of my things from my radio show, music notes, blogging, personal stuff, finances and many things more. My mind feels uncluttered and clear. It is a magic if you surrender to it. I really thank the developers of Evernote for creating it. This is in fact the best way you can use technology.

Writing Gratitude List: Now you may say, this is bit spiritual but I believe it is the one thing that keeps me happy all the time. Gratitude list is a list where I write 10 things that I am grateful for everyday. Recently, it was International Women’s day so I wrote 10 women in my life I am truly grateful for and as I started writing I realised how many women in different forms have helped in so many places. I was truly feeling blessed. Writing it daily makes you realise how beautiful your life already is.

If you really want to know the complete story behind gratitude list, I highly recommend reading THE MAGIC by Rhonda Byrne.

20 Minutes of on the Spot Jogging: This one is simple but magical. Nothing in the world can give you happiness if you are not healthy. In fact, health is the first step towards productivity because it can’t happen if you don’t have energy for the whole day. If you want to be productive, start doing healthy things. And, the first thing should be 20 minutes of on-the-spot jogging. 20 Minutes is minimum, rest depends on yourself. I lost 2 Kilograms by doing jogging and not eating the junk food and trust me I feel so nice, light and healthy.

Listening to Podcasts: There are tons of things you can do regularly while listening to a podcast. Like exercising, bathing or traveling. I recommend you start listening to the podcasts, today there are tons of awesome podcasts on tons of topics. If you want to be productive or live a life with passion, I highly recommend the podcast of Michael Hyatt.I am listening to him since January and I think he is the best one to follow right now. I also listen to a podcast called, Beyond The To-Do List but I guess they are repeating stuff. iTunes is the best way to listen to them but I’ve heard there are tons of other medium too like Soundcloud or Zune. Medium is very important in podcasting and that is why I recommend iTunes. It is available on windows too.

Entertainment: Now this one is a reward. Reward yourself when you do the things you wanted to do. Currently, I am watching all the movies that were nominated in Oscars. I have watched, Life of Pi, Brave, Silver Linings Playbook and looking forward to Argo, Lincoln and Lès Miserables(I heard they sing dialogues in it,weird?). I love movies so I watch them as a reward. You can do something else if you want but I feel entertainment is important in life, it makes you enjoy life.

What makes you productive? I would love to know about your tips. Please share.