Day 24: Write About A lesson You have the Learnt The Hard Way

It has to be “Catch the signals and act on them” 

We often hear about “it was happening in front of me but I ignored and carried on” or “I could sense it but never thought it will happen to me”.  We often miss the signals and they are pretty much all around us.   That is a lesson I have learnt the hard way. 

I started this blog to describe my experience of deathly illness, and in it I have described extensively, how not catching the signals landed me in the trouble. When I think about my life in general, I lost many opportunities and just ignored the signals and could not achieve my potential to the fullest because of this. 

I will give you an example of my professional life. I worked with an IT company and my team had the maximum number of transformation projects. Every two year we had some or other transformation but one particular time, it got really tricky. We saw many execs leaving, restructuring was beyond our understanding, the new leadership had no passion and it was a signal. 

The time was right to make a move. I knew it was not going in right direction. I should have moved out but I didn’t . I loved my organisation and team that I worked with and I wanted to stay and thought I will always have a place here.

Its another thing I fell sick and I had to leave any ways but what would have happened if I had stayed? there were so many people asked to leave. Professionals always get into dilemma about professional loyalty, but we must be aware that same organisation lays you off once they cant afford you and you cannot afford to be unemployed. So catch the signals and act on them. 

At some level, we all get these signals  in our professional and personal life, but we don’t act on them thinking that worst things wont happen to us, or we will be able to mange it. But once they happen, they are devastating  and sets you back. So catch the signals and act! 

Day 23: Write A Letter to Someone

Dear Sansa,

I know you can’t read this butI have said many of the things I am mentioning in this letter, to you already.  When I say these things to you, you look at me with such a sweet face making me wish if you could talk. 

I wasn’t and I am still not a pet person, and if at all I was planning for a pet, it was certainly not from a feline variety. 

Sayali was after us for ages to get a pet and we resisted it for a really long time. However, the pandemic changed everything. We could see how isolated our daughter was feeling and we relented finally. The terms and conditions to get you home were set. Sayali will be looking after you and not us and big one we will not keep you home after a month or two. Your bed will move to the car park. 

When you came home, I was scared to touch you and be around you. It was very uncomfortable. I had never touched any animal before so you can imagine. Somehow I managed the courage and started touching you but still didn’t love or adored you. 

Then one day everything changed and I am lucky to have captured that moment. You were more comfortable with Dinesh and I didn’t mind it at all. That night when we were watching TV, you just jumped on the sofa on which I was sitting with my legs stretched. I was bit shocked and then you came and just put your head in my lap. I was taken aback and couldn’t shoo you away.  In fact I found it really sweet and managed to click your pic which I have attached below. 

This is that face that made me stop being scared of you and liked having you around. You are like a small child who can not talk and doesn’t cry. I don’t need to take care of your food and cleanliness and thats a bonus. I think I am having the best deal when it comes to having a pet. 

You are certainly a cute pet to have around and extremely frisky and playful. 

Thank you for blessing our family. 

Loads of love

Mama 

Day 22: Write About Your Favourite Restaurants

Now thats going to be a long list as I am a foodie and I ate out a lot! I do not eat out as much but still love to go out and have a good meal.  Here is my pick of my favourite restaurants. 

  1. Savya Rasa :  Nestled in a small Koregon Park lane , Savya Rasa tops my list.  It is a fine dine restaurant that serves authentic south Indian food. I first visited this restaurant during Navratri, and I am thankful that I visited during the time when I wasn’t eating meat. I would have simply missed it. This is one of the rare places where you feel bad for not eating their vegetarian selection, if you eat non vegetarian and vice versa. The food overall is so good, that even my daughter doesn’t mind eating their authentic vegetariansouth Indian food here. Their Panirappams, Chettinad food, the steamed fish in banana leaf and the appams, need dosa, malbari parathas. This was our choice of restaurant to visit when lockdown restrictions were lifted in Pune.
  1. Malaka Spice :  I have so many memories of this place. Just not about the food but countless memories I have about this place. When my sister was living in India, this was our go to restaurant when we couldn’t make up our mind about where to go. Their top hats, burnt garlic fried rice, Pad Thai are jut to die for. The best part of having a meal there was to have their red wine sangria pitcher. Malaka Spice is just a really good restaurant to make lovely memories over a meal.
  1. Mainland China:  For someone whose favourite cuisine is Chinese , this had to be on the list. I am eating here for last 25 years and they are as good as ever. One of the few restaurants who maintained their quality consistently. When I was unwell and in the hospital, my husband would order their sweet corn chicken soup for me in the hospital. It was such a mood lifter. I love their fried rice and these days their Drums of Heaven in chilly plum sauce really make me dance. 
  1. Barometer : This is fairly a new restaurant and I really enjoy eating here. The ambience, their service and mainly their food is really great. It is not really a specialty restaurant but they serve really good food. The place also has a good vibe. I love their lemon coriander soup, chicken tandoori and their Kerala paper chicken (Fiery!!
  1. Gulatis:  I lived in Delhi for 5 years and if you are foodie there is no place like Delhi to eat. If anybody is going to Delhi I always recommend them to go to Gulatis. It serves amazing kebabs, Tanduris and butter Nans and curries. The food here is just yummy! One has to be lucky to get a table there as its always so crowded 
  1. Om Sweets: If you think I am always polishing off meat then this is the place I would go for to enjoy the vegetarian food.  This eatery iwas near my place in Gurgaon.It is famous for sweets , chats and local North Indian delicacies like samosas, chola bhatura.  For me going to Gurgaon is incomplete without eating at Om Sweets. 

Day 21: What lessons Do You want Your Children To Learn From You?

Ethics Is What defines you : 

Good moral ethics should be your core value. Ethical conduct is often hard but thats the right way to lead life.

Invest In People: 

More and more people are isolating themselves are not giving enough importance of having people in their life. Be it family or friends, the trend is growing more towards “I like to be on my own”  You require people in life to love, trust, give and take advice, have fun and make life more fun. The reason people are suffering from depression is living in isolation. So I would like you to invest in friendships and family. They make the worst time bearable. 

Don’t Be In Comfort Zone: 

My biggest regret in life that I was in too much of comfort zone. I did not achieve my best being in comfort zone. I didn’t  utilise my potential. Success and greatness is rarely achieved by playing safe.  Take risks! 

Work Hard but smart: 

Hard work is non negotiable. One needs to be dedicated and focussed in achieving their goals. Be it in studies, health, work or any other area on which you are woking. You need not work like a donkey though. You need to work smart too to get maximum out of your effort. 

Have fun: 

Be open to new ideas and experiences, Go out and try new things and have fun. Live, laugh and love! 

Have an attitude of gratitude: 

There are many people in the world who are not as fortunate as you are. So be grateful and value what you have. 

Day 20: Post About 3 Celebrity Crush

Shah Rukh Khan:  My celebrity crush,  since school days.  I saw him first in the TV serial Fauji and I think most of the girls swooned over him.  Then he joined movies and delivered many hits especially romantic movies. I still like him but no longer just for his movies, but also for the way he comes across as a person, and he is an absolutely delightful speaker. I have seen most of his speeches and interviews and he certainly makes an interesting watch with his unmatched wit and intelligence. I have not met him, but he seems like one of those celebrities with whom you can have a conversation. I am not very big on approaching celebrities and clicking pics, but if I ever do it, it will be definitely for SRK. The king khan! 

Milind Soman : He was an eye candy and continues to do so in his mid 50s. He is very much made in India and continues make Indians mad about him. Extremely fit and handsome. He is my crush purely for the visual delight. 

Priyanka Chopra: Thats my girl crush.I admire this woman. She has fought against all odds and has gone to Hollywood to make a name for herself. She has worked hard and while doing so she believed in herself and wore confidence on her sleeves. She says, “confidence, is the best accessory a woman can wear”. I agree!