TURNING A BLIND EYE

                                                       
Nature seems to be at its ferocious worst. Climate and local weather patterns are all going crazy not following the recorded data of decades. Are these warning signs which we humans are choosing to ignore or are they just another shift in the climatic conditions of the atmosphere? After all nothing can remain the same for ever. Change does happen.
My understanding is that this is bound to happen in due course of time. History of the Earth shows that it has bore witness to catastrophic events in the past which have forced all life forms to start afresh categorically those which have survived. It has been approximately 66 million years since the last disaster so the next one could be well on its way. My only concern is that our apathy towards nature and smug global growth powered by competition has accelerated the process. Warning signs are everywhere. Nature lovers and concerned organisations are doing their bit to repair the damage but sadly their efforts will come to nought if the governments of the world don't join hands. If the global growth machinery doesn't slow down small efforts in reducing individual carbon footprints will just be smaller carbon footprints in the sand.
The balm to soothe the mercilessly gored planet will come from judicious use of human intellect! Instead of finding ways and means to out do the other and have an upwards moving growth curve we should aim for equitable distribution and sensible use of resources at our disposal. Instead of 'wants' 'needs' should be addressed. Growth has to be sustainable even if we have to lower its speed. One Greta Thunberg will only become an award winning child activist, attending conferences and being applauded, if the action doesn't shift from individuals to nations (even those headed by foolhardy leaders)!

MADE IN HEAVEN.........

Marriages are made in heaven but solemnised on earth and witnessed by a crowd of people! Especially in India a marriage is not just between two consenting and 'very much in love' couple but between huge tentacled families and friends. Everybody is a stakeholder in the newfound relationship. Everybody has a say in the fortnight long (in the days of yore it was month long) medley of events. So its not just a union of a man and a woman but the creation of a united estate of strangers.

Before the actual ceremony the parents are the work horses. Getting everything ready - acquiring, gleaning and recovering information from around and within them so as not to leave any stone unturned lest stones of criticism are pelted on them for not having done enough. It is an unbroken cycle of purchases and list-making. and the parents are the guinea pigs who ride these cycles like lab rats - to be let off only once the unification is complete! 

The real work to keep the marriage healthy - alive and kicking- rests with the newly christened 'the husband' and 'the wife'. Their union was destined because God had already booked them for each other long before they were born. The panditji did the formal authorisation after a test by fire and the parents bore witness to the deed. Now it is their turn to pay the dividends by way of happiness and grandkids. 

Its the quintessential Hindu wedding. This is how its done in run-of-the-mill weddings (can't say about the new formats in the market today). But then even after following laid down rules there is always scope for trouble. Its not a cake walk for two individuals from absolutely different ecosystems to adapt to each other. Marriage requires lot of work and patience and the commitment to earnestly try for it to succeed. You grow into a marriage and blossom only when you give each other space and preserve your individuality. Two bodies and one soul- nope doesn't work that way....two bodies, two souls housed in one convivial home! Thats my understanding of a marriage.

A TIGER MAY LOOSE ITS STRIPES BUT NEVER ITS NATURE

                   A TIGER MAY LOOSE ITS STRIPES BUT NEVER ITS NATURE

This means that come what may one's nature is an unchangeable part of ones personality. I wanted to examine this. Is it really so? Do we have no control over who we intrinsically are? Can we never be what we desire to be just because we have a nature which does not lend itself to any tampering? Well I think and believe differently. Human will and determination have to be given some importance. If a person so desires and is willing to put in the effort he can shed his stripes and his nature.
This may sound a bit far fetched but small changes over time will lead to an alteration of personality traits. Whenever you feel that a certain facet of your nature is hampering your growth and comes in the way of true happiness you can do something about it. The key lies in becoming conscious of that facet and whenever it surfaces you should be able to curb it. By just being conscious lots can happen. You can convert your negatives into positives and vice versa. It has happened with me and is an ongoing process. Everytime I find something lacking I work upon acquiring that trait so that it adds to my personality and when I become conscious of an undesirable trait I work to overcome it, disown it.
Nature after all in its detailed understanding can be explained as sum total of all the major and minor characteristics of our personalilty. These characteristics make us think and act a certain way. And if we are able to break them up into their constituent parts we can surely and successfully bring desirable changes in our personality and consequently change our nature to a great degree.

IN THE NAME OF FITNESS

                               IN THE NAME OF FITNESS

Uff! In the name of fitness what all I didn’t try. My ears always ready to hear any tidbit about loosing those extra few (yes always a few) pounds. My eyes would come to rest on the 40 + heroines, their sexy outfits clinging to chiselled bodies. I would first google their age and then start stalking them. Their diet, fitness regimen, everything. I would make notes diligently in a diary and follow them religiously. Of course only for a day. It was more like karvachauth ka fast morning would start with enthusiasm and piety but by the evening every breath would wait for the moon to peek above the horizon. By the evening all that salad and coconut water, chia seeds and super foods would just do a disappearing act leaving me craving for that butter naan and butter chicken. 

I started with yoga in a heated room - hot yoga - they promised that the fat would simply melt out of my pores and that its a one way movement, there's no way for it to come back inside. But I realised that even a deep breath would add to my cumulative weight. Hath yoga, Iyengar yoga, power yoga, Patanjali yoga, the choice is daunting. And to top it pilates, TRX, Zumba, Tabata, aerobics, calisthenics, HIIT, strength training and I am sure these will spawn plenty more to keep me bewildered. After much contemplation and consternation I put on my 10000/- ka Adidas jogging shoes and went for a walk. 

And then I discovered the superfoods. Firstly it took me a bit of time to comprehend what would a superfood do- make me Wonder Woman. Goji berries, avocado, kale, oats, quinoa, blue berries, broccoli the names daunting and taste wanting , not pocket friendly either! Guess being Wonder Woman was going to be an expensive affair. A week's purchase burnt a hole, the size of a melon, in my pocket and made me google Indian superfoods. Desi ghee, turmeric, jowar and bajra, amla, Dalia,coconut, makhanaas. Now we were talking! It was time to stitch that hole back.

After much google research I realised that the best fitness is when all the love, blessings, goodwill and peace fit together in your life. Its the ability to be gentle and good to oneself and to others. Staying healthy , happy and humble should not be a battle but an integral part of our journey. After all we have but one life to live (even if you believe in the karmic cycle you don’t know what you will be in your next life. There are no carry forwards darling)!