Thursday, 8 March 2012

On Woman's Day : Some ME Time !

If I were to delve into the life of a dozen women, it probably would be no different. We spent the whole of our lives ensuring every member in the family feels cared for, that people at work, truly are satisfied about having hired us to do our job, that the house is in order, the children have finished their homework, had their milk/banana and a zillion other things that may be relatively insignificant.
Then somewhere down the line, we loose sight of our own being. We keep telling ourselves that of course our lives are balanced, until it occurs to us that maybe one of the most important aspects of our lives got ignored : we allowed ourselves to age faster than a Rat !
And aging does not mean having a wrinkled face or grey hair, it goes beyond ! We stopped feeling alive due to the absence of wanting to pursue our hobbies. It was always about joining the 3 points to make the triangle : Family, Home, Career. There was never a ME in there. And while a lot of women a generation or a couple older might feel I sound Selfish, the truth is beyond a certain point we would truly end up feeling not too good about ourselves.
If I were to talk to the late 30's / mid 40's woman : she isn't too interested in her husband, she doesn't look too well, she doesn’t feel too happy, shez caught in a more mechanical way of living, life for her is more about duties than actually living each breath!!
Why ??? Because she missed out on learning to attach a greater importance to her own needs for the lack of time. But only if she set aside just that 1 extra hour by either getting up earlier or staying awake later or just shutting out communication to the world in an hour in between, that 1 hour everyday would eventually have added a decade to her life : and even if life cannot be measured by the number of days, she could've at least lived the same number of days - only a lot happier than now.
We all have work, we all have a family to care for, a career to progress in, a home to look after, children to raise, but if we don't take that time out for ourselves, no one will give it to us on a platter. Let's learn to make time : to maybe just go up the terrace and watch the sunrise, or read in silence with your favourite cuppa chai, or just plant a sapling, sketch / paint, write, knit, dance, bathe in relaxation, smell the flowers, go for a walk, talk to yourself, do anything that just involves U alone !!!

That truly is the best gift you will give yourself everyday : some time that is a Classified ME TIME !! I just did – Will You..?? :)
Have a Wonderful Woman’s Day ! :)
Luv as always,
- Sayli ! :)

Friday, 13 January 2012

On a Lighter Note - On Weight Loss

Hello!! :) & Herez wishing all my readers a very Happy 2012! This year for me, is going to be all about kick starting that sleeping metabolism, building strength & muscle, bettering my stamina and loosing fat & flab!

For the very 1st time in the 30 short years I’ve lived, “Weight Loss” has actually become a New Year Resolution! I am surprised at how fast I have piled up weight in the past 6 months!! I can’t wear those trousers to work nor dare to carry myself around in a simple round neck t-shirt with my favorite pair of Jeans. So I have resorted to Jackets & Blazers and while I enjoy wearing these very smart business casuals on Friday’s, I can’t wait to be ME!! :)
There are some thumb rules that I have always sworn by and will continue to stick to while I am at my goal:

1: Drinking plenty of Water : This year it’s going to be drinking plenty of WARM Water – makes me feel less bloated and it was a big help in getting rid of the post pregnancy belly.

2: Eating every 2-3 hours: This year it’s going to be substituting canteen food for homemade food, canteen snacks for 2 different fruits, hunger pangs are going to be satisfied by dried fruits.

3: Reducing Sugar, Oil & Salt: This year it’s going to be just 2 small cups of green tea without sugar, giving up on pickles, papad & pakodas no matter how tempting they appear & avoiding sprinkling my salad, butter milk & plain white rice with salt. I cannot give up on sweet, so that needs cutting down to a smaller portion. The trick is to always share the dessert with people around You. :)
4: Getting back to the GYM: Waking up while the rest of the house sleeps to hit the gym in that early hour, running on the treadmill to the sound of loud techno music, strength training along-side fellow gymmers gives you a high of a different kind!!! Reason enough for keeping up that 6 days a week exercise routine alternating between cardio & weight training. This year, if I miss a weekday, then Sunday morning will be my day to make up!
5: Ensuring a generally Active Routine: An afternoon walk in the office campus, taking the stairs, washing your pair of clothes etc etc (anything that ensures more motion ;) )
6: Relook your Wardrobe: CLOTHES are the biggest motivation for a Woman to stay fit ! Take a look at those amazing pairs of cocktail/maxi dresses, that pencil skirt, that waist coat !!! You’ve invested a hell lot on putting it all together. Now it’s time you reaped its benefits. Loose that FAT!!! Look Good Lady ! Because - “U’re worth it”!! :)


Happy Toning - Happy 2012 !

- Sayli :)

Thursday, 2 June 2011

June 2nd 2011 - My 1st Day @ Work

When I proudly took a sabbatical back in April 2008, little did I know that it was going to last for 3 long years ! I had a feeling that 5 years of working in the IT industry was a good enough reason for me to take a break - but only for a few months. But Life has it's own way of surprising us and while we may work real hard at making our Plan A work, it sometimes hints at you to implement your Plan B ! I was - job hunting in the right place at the wrong time - in the UK when the worst recession in the past 30 years finally peaked in 2008/2009 !

While I inherently started to enjoy motherhood, the fear of being unemployed loomed real large over my head. It was like this constant guilt that I was trying to overcome, the persistent feeling of failure that I was attempting to combat. Behind that gleefully beaming smile was a heart that cried for a job ! It was as if, being just Mom alone wasn't enough - I knew I was capable of a lot more ! When friends often reacted saying "Avani must be keeping you very busy", I always responded in my mind that I did have time on hand to work or talk technology atleast for a few hours of the day - but my problem was I had no one to talk technology with ! Other than my brother Anant, who works on the Oracle stack of the Integration products, and who kept me going, there really was no one who could take me back to those brain storming discussions that lead you to love a product enough to be able to solve critical Business Problems using technology!

Today, as I take on a new opportunity, I have enough challenges - both domestic and at work but what I do not have, is guilt and neither a feeling of failure... What transpires from this will depend upon how well I manage to balance the act of juggling a family, a home, and a career. A sense of fulfillment will not come with success/happiness in one arena alone. It will always be rewarding to see how all 3 are skillfully managed.