Serious,....are we ? !

Many believe that I am very serious.In other words meri #ConditionSeriousHai.I am argumentative about things close to my heart.And my heart is very wide.Yet others believe that is the wild side ..nopes the whole of me...no sides ! I believe that I am good at writing though no body reads them ! The problem is, my readers ( if any ) are not serious .


The teachers & Principal of my daughter 's school are very concerned about the progress of the students of their school .My daughter is in higher secondary.My daughter &  her classmates  have to appear for  confidence tests in all subjects just  before the annual exams.I am really lost, as I am still guessing ,whose confidence is being tested ...teachers,students or parents.Truly,#ConditionSeriousHai of the school,that is ! 

While ,I worked in an Insurance company ,one record clerk in particular ,was reporting on all others, in office, to the boss.As it became apparent that #ConditionSeriousHai,the said record clerk was nicknamed office wife of the  boss !

My neighbour is always on a borrowing spree.She borrows plastic carry bags,sugar,cucumbers,potatoes,onions,ginger,money ,etal.She is non -discriminatory in all this. She borrows cash  from the electrician,maid,neigbour,plumber in fact from all in the society.They all run for cover as soon as they spot her as uski #ConditionSeriousHai !  

One of my friends is a cleanliness freak.She feels I am unclean about my house & the like.She cleans her shelves,doors,windows,fans,all knick-knacks on a daily basis.She believes her house is dust free. She offered to cleanup my safety door as repeated pleas from her had not had the necessary effect on me.She tiptoes into  my house as she is afriad of getting her clean feet covered with dust & grime.It is debatable if her feet are getting dirty or my floor is getting dirtier ? ! She orders outside food stuff often.What I cannot follow is how squeaky clean people can eat unhygenic & unhealthy food ? Outside food ,even if cooked in starred restaurants is suspect as regards hygiene as also nutrition.Just suffice to say, that mere friend ki #ConditionSeriousHai. 

My dad practises yoga.He hardly reads & yet has brought numerous books on yoga.He has even gifted yoga books to yoga practitioners in the neighbourhood.Whenever he sees any kid sitting in any pose ,he exclaims,"See how flexible is his body .I cannot do this even now, after so much practice." I sigh ,as I realise #ConditionSeriousHai. 

Laptop,smartphone,I pad,etc are all scattered around my brother at all times.As soon as he gets up ,even before brushing his teeth,he puts his laptop on.Next, he will check his smartphone.Whenever he steps out ,the moment he spots a mobile phone shop,he enters it & grills the salespeople there He leaves them fuming as he rarely purchases anything.By now , all mobile phones sales personnel in the city know  that my brother ki #ConditionSeriousHai.

She is a regular at yoga as also the gym.Yet, she skips  shavasana as she cannot be still.Ever ! Yes, uski #ConditionSeriousHai.She is hyperactive to the core ! She drives me crazy & she is a neighbour who regards me as a friend.In fact,her whole family ka #ConditionSeriousHai.Hubby visits India every alternate month & is in the society committee.At home ,he has old parents who need care.And yet, hubby & wife are busy with their exercises,society meetings & the like. Kids are enrolled in classes round the clock 24X7.

Some time back ,a survey was done which concluded that Indians never take breaks from work ! It was opined that Indians ka #ConditionSeriousHai.Nothing could be further from the truth.As work is a paid holiday more often than not,who needs breaks ? ! Why do you think ,we make upmteen trips to & fro from shops,banks,offices & the like ? Work gets done ( that is if it ever gets done ) only after numerous visits.This remains the same, even if the bank is a private bank ,private sector insurance company etc.So much for customer (dis)service !
   
Selfie was the most word of the year gone by .The social media has been flooded by potraits of all & sundry by themselves ! Now facebook has gone ahead & allowed users to make movies from the information on their timelines ! All are stars now .Facebook wants all to stick to it just as the reports started trickling in that  many are leaving facebook.So this movie trick & how we all fell for it hook ,line & sinker ! Now, if this is not #ConditonSeriousHai,what is ? ! If facebook can be labelled as a condition or maybe, the condition ! ?



This post ka #ConditionSeriousHai as I will now let it loose on the net...vide email,social media & twitter.I would stalk all,by telling them to like comment & share ! I will take breaks  by biting into Cadbury 5 Star Bars which are so handy .They simply melt in the mouth & make life less serious.Now only  if Cadbury & Oglivy could agree that this blog post ka#ConditionSeriousHai as this is an earnest desire to be declared as the winner !

Writing is sharing.

In college,I wrote an article for the college magazine.Later, I wrote to the press, some  letters on some topics .They got published.Naturally ,I was on the moon ! Seeing my name in print was so overwhelming ! The two minutes of fame, just spurned me on !

After I left my job,I took to blogging.amidst cooking & caring for my little daughter . Initially ,my blog posts were just about readable.As time passed,they got better.This is my opinion.I would like to believe, that I have improved or rather, my writing has improved though readers are few & far between .Most of the times,I read & re read - not to edit - just to increase views of the blog posts ! I have read many other blogs & they are indeed better than mine.With such people around,I know I have to continue viewing my blog posts as before !

I joined some blogging networks so that some one will read my blog posts .And yet, my blog failed miserably.I am not the one to give up easily.Slowly ,I started taking part in blogging contests.I haven't won a single blogging contest so far. I believe, others need those prizes more than me -that way, my magnanimity is limitless.I was quite impressed by the food blogs & started one of my own.Still success has eluded my blog/s or rather my writing on food &ampfor quite some time; for that matter ,even on any topic.

And its hilarious to admit ,that though my near & dear ones love the recipes that are  posted on the food blog, my teenager has yet, to warm up to the food cooked by me !!!!! And as if that was not enough , I have competition at home .My  teenager's skills are way above mine ...so much ahead of me ! Though, I would love to, take credit , that her writing skills were inherited though   honed by herself !

I have links on my blog through which the readers can connect to NGOs like Akshaypatra,Sunitha Krishnan's Prajwala,etc.This is purely for selfish reasons, as I feel ,that those who search for the said NGOs may, by chance, stumble on to my blog once in a while !

Writing helps me stay calm & reflect on my thoughts.That is why ,I continue writing though others seem  hardly affected by my ideas.Writing to me is  being #MomAndMore.Writing is  sharing  my viewpoint ,my ideas & my creativity with others.Writing is a vent, through which I express  my anger,angst ,happiness, joy, et al to the world at large.

Writing on a subject means ,I must know something .This means, I must have read about that topic.So writing keeps me connected to reading.Unless I read much ,I don't think I can write.Yes,I know,I need to read much more ,before my writing can catch eyeballs.

I have made some inroads now .As my writing and blog posts have been published  online on ,Better India ,Counter Currents ,Women's Web , et al .This means that my writing is getting visible though it is as yet ,honorary.To make it pay, I need to work hartder & write even better .

I will continue writing till my hands are willing & my mind wants to.In this age of social networking ,I must continue"Like"ing,'Comment"ing & "Share"ng .This liking ,commenting & sharing sums up writing !Whenever anyone likes my blog posts,I  know my ideas have struck a chord.Comments on my blog posts inform that readers agree & sometimes disagree with my thoughts .Sharing of my blog posts means that the readers felt that my blog posts ought to be shared .For these reasons alone ,I think ,I need to continue pushing the letters on the keyboard !Because I am #MomAndMore 

Change is positive.

Change is progress.I believe in this.That is why ,I have changed & am a better person than I was.Unless,I change my attitude,I am lame to expect the world to change to suit me.

I have tried to become a calmer person & have succeeded to certain extent.There is, still a lot to achieve, on that front.I pray & try to meditate to overcome my urges to breathe fire every now & then on the smallest instance.I feel that I am slowly & surely inching towards that goal. Initially ,I would pray & complain that the Almighty was being partial towards the world & not me.Now,I know better- my prayers have made me stronger.I am able to face difficult situations unlike before.

I have become health conscious.I use less oil,salt ,refined foods,etc.I have tried to make my kid eat healthy by making her develop taste for lobhia,rajma in addition to chhole which she loves .I also include greens in parathas so that my kid can also eat green leafy veggies. I have developed a liking for baking in microwave .I keep trying new cake recipes from the net.This baking task has boosted my confidence so much that now,I have a cookery blog wherein I share my cooking experiments.

I regularly walk .I walk to the grocery store & for buying vegetables & fruits.I use public transport whenever feasible.

I left my job to take care of my kid.As I was getting bored,I took to penning down my thoughts & soon had my blog.I share my rangoli patterns on my blog as well.My Deepavali rangolis shared on face book were appreciated by many.

Now ,that I have changed myself,I can change others.I have joined PETA online & share vegan dishes with others so that the world becomes more caring towards other living beings.I do my bit for the environment by switching off lights when not needed.I switch off lights & fans in homes where I am visiting, if I feel ,they are not needed.I Take cold water baths in summers to save electricity.I try to carry  shopping bags when I am out shopping to prevent plastic pollution.

I try to use up fruits & vegetables.I have made it a point to buy less rather than buy more & waste.If I feel ,I have brought more than what I can consume ,I share with my maids & neighbours.In these days of high inflation ,it pays to avoid wastage .

I have taken up some NGO work to do my bit towards the society of which I am a part.Since I am blessed to be healthy & contented,I feel it is my sacred  duty to help others.If I want to change the world ,then I must change myself - meaning I must progress towards being a better person than before.After all ,change is the only constant, in this Jeevan Yatra !

Image courtesy Stayfree India (Albums ) on facebook.