The New Year Brew!

As I glare outside to the rising sun, I bask under the soft sun rays that filters through the trees.

A hot cup of brew in my hand and Sun- I couldn’t have wished for more, to make my morning lovely on this day.

While the year comes to an end, technology - Google photos, facebook, snapchat has been very kind to accumulate the smiles and memories of the year gone by. I do rejoice every moment, and in a lot of ways this year has been very special to me.

This year handed me a blank page and I have been able to fill it with mixed emotions, beautiful memories and words which I would cherish for a long, long time. What’s imperative to understand is that every incident that happens and all those moments we were in, irrespective of their nature transforms us in a beautiful way; and the only thing that matters is our attitude towards it.

Always remember “&” (ampersand) - It resembles broken infinity and reminds us “Nothing is forever” but then there is always an AND…

I have been fixated with my journey to discover myself, the person I’m and it has been a very special route to remember. 

I have grasped that unexpected things will always happen in life. And with this, the only control I have is how I choose to handle them. So, its going to be nothing less than Courage, Humor and Grace used for the decisions I would make. After all, I’m the queen of my life.

This blog has been a very integral part of the past year’s journey and it wouldn’t have been possible for me to continue if I hadn’t received all the feedback and positive vibes from all of you. So, Thank you for believing in me and inspiring me, and I do intend to go on at a steady pace and keep up.

So many of you have added so much to me as a person and I can’t be thankful enough to each one of you, for standing by me. Cheers to more beautiful times, love, laughter and hugs.

While I’m filled with gratitude for the year gone by, I seize a new blank page and the comfort of my pillow and pen to start filling it in. It would be a new year to meet, learn, unlearn and experience the magical journey called life!!

Looking forward to see you on the other side of the Rainbow!

To the Year gone by and the new to come.. Keeping Brewing!!

Let's Fly!

When the sun sets a day comes to an end, only to rise again with beaming shine.

And OH! How much do I love the warmth of the early morning rays!

Sunshine perhaps is the best thing every day, a reason for me to smile every morning. We have come across the “Rising Sun” quotes and have always requoted to anyone in a desperate situation about the possibilities, opportunities and hopes it brings.

But do we really believe in it ourselves, when the time comes?

It holds no relevance when you are in state of fear or are emotionally distressed and this state prevails over your true behavior. And how much you want to believe in the rising sun and hopes, but fear takes over when the things are beyond control. There can be no bigger fear than seeing our loved ones suffer and the sudden change of actions and personal conduct that follows.

When you find yourself in such situation where staying stressed and unfocused was one thing, but getting a chance to pour your feelings on a paper with different colours was entirely another. A dream I never spoke of and was never able to realise until I was told, “All you need is a Canvas”

With a small effort, I found the picture of the canvas I painted a few years ago which was of a rising sun. And in no time, I knew it was what I always wanted to do, but the fear of being judged and being rejected kept it at bay.

My partner in crime wasted no time, and with alacrity we started on a new journey of colours & white papers with simple agenda - to pour the feelings. At this busy stage of life where we all stand, I’m glad to get this opportunity to realise those small dreams that I left behind. All I ever needed to do was to make time. So a few sleepless nights are Ok with a big smile.

Those sheets of paper and colours have not made me overcome the sadness but they gave me wings of life for a certain amount of time, to be grateful and an opportunity to express it. With all the adventures I try to set the foot on, I have countered a very key point - “Acceptance is the key to happiness”.

A book I read recently, stated very beautifully- “We all are flawed, perhaps I’m more flawed than you and I’m ok with it”

There is a sense of freedom I get when I write, paint, dance, meet people, travel or do anything new- It’s a part of being freed from a cage & I want to learn to fly.. Once again!

Make time and do things you like. You would get the true meaning of  being elated.

Until the next brew!

Cutting the Long Story Short!

Happy Diwali and welcome to a New Year!

Here we are getting over the celebration of the festival and all I can think of is "how anyone can call gluttony a sin?" this is the only reason I love festivals. And also, cause its an occasion to connect with everyone we have once crossed our paths with.

Since the last blog, there have been so many stories I would communicate, cause they just brought a smile to me or took me down a memory lane. So here I try to fit everything in concise, cause its important to share:

• An opportunity to see a  7 year old boy traveling in the metro for the first time. He was elated for this ride. He dint look he would be doing this often. The ticket prices seemed to be steep for them. The excitement shone in his eyes and I couldn’t help but keep smiling as he tried to peep down the window in the semi crowded train. I was such an honour to offer him my seat. I was cherishing his smile to the fullest. And it did not take me long to realise, that how much we need to value everything we have and be content. But I still don't have enough shoes. 
• My obsession with my brothers and our crazy late night and drives. I just have never thanked them enough for being there for me. Honestly, we don’t care about the age gap. We are just a hell of a crazy bunch. 😊 
• A tête-à-tête over a coffee with bride to be. I am so excited for a iyer-catholic wedding.
• An impromptu plan for coffee and book indulgence with my beloved friend. It was indeed one of the best evenings with all smiles and big shopping bags
• An interesting conversation over a glass of wine discussing my favourite “Fountainhead” book. How much I loved reliving the story and walking down the memory lane. Though it has been sometime since I have read it, it was indeed refreshing to express my liking for Howard. How, he was just angry yet appeased, focused, with vision, believed in himself and so much more.
• I have had the privilege of falling in love with Jazz again. Thanks to the lovely duo who had heart moving voice and where just so lithe. I have been deprived of the best live band all my life. You want to treat yourself with this new love, just ask me 😉
• And last but not the least, message from my “afar” friend. How much has changed over the last 10 years, but still feels like yesterday. The best way I can ever quote our friend is calling it a “Book". Our friendship is like a book. It grows old, but still has the same beautiful story and words.

To cut the long stories short- Smile, love and just keep it. It’s really contagious and will come back you. I’m so glad to have friends who add so much value to my life and that I have learnt to make time for all.

Now I get back to my giant cup of happiness and look forward to my upcoming weekend. Guess I will just try to be indolent.

Until the next brew!

The Sunrise!

I have been away for a couple of weeks! No, I was not only drinking coffee and definitely not colored coffee (a new term I discovered over meeting a few new people)

Besides my regular and everyday life; I did happen to meet my ex-boss, set up my house, work till the wee hours on important projects, a two day celebration birthday of my brother, etc.. and that’s what made my schedule and life go bizarre

Between so many things in the last two weeks, I happen to have a very random thought which all of us have at some point: -  

         -How very mundane our lives are.

         -How our own thoughts have made our very perfect jobs so imperfect

         -How in general, we all are continuously looking for a change or someway to inject some excitement into our daily routine.

With this thought of getting some excitement, I decided to change the way I look.

No, I can’t come in shape overnight. So, I decided to change my look.

I have been carrying the same hairstyle for over 10 years and hence made a brazen attempt to colour them.

Though I did attract a few good compliments from friends; however, for my brothers (yes, it’s in plural) I’m merely a “Brown cat” and “Chicken chill” (a term to tease me for a look alike from far east-thanks to my small eyes)

After having spent a bomb on this, I also happen to want re-enroll myself for Zumba to channelize my energy in productive way and also to be guilt free from all the brilliant food I love to eat. More to add some newness such as briskness, brightness & purity. A pure indulgence.

But what really brightened me up was waking up at 4:30 am and driving to the beach side. Somehow, entire universe was in sync and making it impeccable.

Empty roads, Splendid weather, just the perfect sunlight, breeze, walk and a brilliant cup of coffee.

The same Bollywood moment, where the lead lady escapes into the silence and dances on her own tune- like no one is watching.  

How committed I’m to this memory.

Only if I would have experienced this a day prior, I could have saved myself from being a brown cat :P

However, I’m elated with my new look & joyful about the new experience.

Until the next brew.. This time soon!

Be You!

While I was posting my first blog my tummy was busy doing somersault and refusing to appease. Dint know how I would fair, would my friends reading be judgmental about what and how I write? There I gulp another giant mug of my brew in anticipation, and hit on Publish tab.

Judging my apprehension, my friend who helped me to publish my blog asked me two questions: Why did I choose to write?? And what do I have to loose, even if the world is judgmental??

Sometimes, its most imperative to have your basics answered in order to find yourself.

I write for myself, in need to express my thoughts and appease myself. Something I have been stalling for ages. I aspire to be candor with my thoughts and words & better at everything I do and bring a smile to anyone who chooses to read.

Experiencing the freedom from fear is UNIQUE and I want to keep reminding myself of that. 

A note from that momentary fear: Love yourself, be U, be true to yourself. There is nothing to fear. Don't loose yourself, Discover yourself. And this goes for both men and women. There cannot be anything like beautiful mind and heart and thank God that it's not gender specific. 

Remember: “All human beings are endowed with the ability to love and take care of others.”

I have been elated by the feedback I have received from all & I intend to continue.

Hence, here I’m ready to with my cup to write up my next spot.

Until then Keep it brewing!!

  

Not a curator of coffee, but I love the taste, the after taste and the thoughts that follow with it. Coffee, book, music, thoughts, idea.. anything that goes along with my cup of brew is actually is a bliss. As I call it zoning into amiable thoughts and cajoling to stay there for long.

Today as I see my brew being poured in my cup and I look out at the eloquent view of the Queens Necklace in Mumbai, I replay the enthralling “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” in my head. The story of the girl who is in the cage of her thoughts and is young and wild. Likes looking through the window and being elated and calm by just doing so.

She likes Tiffany’s store and hopes to own a piece one day, but it’s not her need. The material thought giving the comfort but deep down likes small things. A dream world she lives in and struggles to connect it with reality.

How trusting she is and how jaded she is with being always let down. But a strong woman that she is, she never gives up 😊 I extol her qualities and connect with her.

While Holly is on a journey to find herself, and is lucky to find Paul. Somewhere I desire the same. For a Paul to find me and accept me the way I am, while I’m still discovering myself Who knows, that he has to hang around with all the craziness in my head. It would not define my existence, but I would be glad to not having to fit in and just being accepted for who I am.

Guess that’s what a Romantic Movie does to you. Gives you best of the thoughts and ideas and makes you believe and hope for the best.

Lingering over the movie, makes me smile and gives another day to live with, so while my brew comes to an end, I play these beautiful lines featured in the movie

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style someday
You dream maker
You heartbreaker
Where ever you're going I'm going your way

Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon river and me

Keep Brewing!!