I was born with a flawed right side – a pronounced limp in my right leg and a right hand that has very little strength to grasp and grip. So that makes me a southpaw for which I have received flak. Many are scandalized by the fact that I eat with my left hand. A cranky rickshaw driver once asked me to hand him the fare with my right hand and not my left. I take it all in my stride now.  As a child, I was terribly conscious and embarrassed by the flaw, but that never stopped me from playing and running around.  I lack coordination of movement and hence have two left feet which means I cannot dance and just sit quietly at parties. I was also always eliminated from Sports Day March Past practice which made me feel bad. As a lector in church, I have to climb a couple of steps to reach the lectern and there again the limp is remarked upon.  I type with only my left hand and I’m doing well. Even today, I have people asking me about the limp and I patiently answer them, “...

 The Things I Love About Life   Despite the many forms of ugliness prevalent in the world and the curve balls and lemons that life throws at me, testing my resilience and strength I love that life is still good to me and offers me so much in terms of beauty, joy and connection which makes the journey worthwhile. I enjoy all the material trappings that life provides, but there is so much more that doesn’t’ cost a penny, that life allows me to enjoy. "What do I love about life?"   Family and friends: I was born into a family that loved and cared for me. My parents inculcated values that have held me in good stead. I have been blessed with a good spouse and two great children. Despite the many challenges that we have faced, we are still family. I can boast of some beautiful friendships that have stood the test of time, distance and other factors. Life is beautiful. Besides loved ones, life sometimes sends strangers in strangers to help you. Such memorable moments...

Best-selling author Robin Sharma drives home the importance of self-love when he says, “It is only when you have mastered the art of loving yourself that you can truly love others." Some folk opine that self-love may have a narcissistic quality, but self-love is certainly not narcissistic. It is an ongoing journey that one must embrace for all aspects of self-development.  Defining self-love:   Self-love is the practice of accepting, embracing, and treating your flawed self with kindness, compassion, and understanding and recognising your worth, values, and weaknesses while nurturing and maintaining a healthy and positive relationship with yourself. When you love yourself, you will take steps to care for yourself.   Self-love incorporates practising :   Self-acceptance—embracing  and accepting the whole package that is you, which includes your uniqueness and strengths together with your imperfections and flaws. You leave regrets behind and concentr...

  Forging Friendships   Once upon a time, in 1980, in Jamshedpur, a bunch of girls graduated from different high schools in the town and enrolled in the local women’s college to pursue a degree in Commerce. As they transitioned  from school to college life which was an entirely different culture, the girls were drawn to each other and friendships that have spanned distance and time were forged over Mills and Boon and mutual friends.   A Treasure trove of memories Their college years were marked by unforgettable moments and adventures   Bunking class for movies They sneaked out of class to watch the silliest of movies at the theatre a stone’s throw away from college. Chai and Confessions Gorging on deviled eggs and Jhaal muri and drinking endless cups of chai in the college canteen while making true confessions and having deep conversations marked those happy years. Rotary Phone conversations Endless conversations on rotary phones and letter...

  “Seriously? Do you need yet another bag?   Get rid of one before you buy another," is my significant other's constant refrain. He cannot get over my obsession with bags. "Why do you need so many bags?" he says. That a woman will always have a reason, or no reason at all to buy a bag is beyond male comprehension.   Except for a few, this is a precious accessory to most women.  Choosing the perfect bag So much care and attention goes into choosing a bag. The colour, the shape, the size, the length and thickness of the strap,  the number of pockets, and the kind of closure are all to be considered when choosing a bag. A woman's bag must complement her physique, her clothes, and the occasion. He doesn’t need a vast array of bags  A male will put his money, and keys into a wallet and he is ready to move.  He may carry a satchel, briefcase, or ever-popular backpack to work. The backpack is now a unisex accessory. I am remin...

  When Life Throws Lemons at You…   Life believes in raising us to be strong resilient individuals, and hence I believe, throws the odd lemon at us and asks us to turn the sour lemon into sweet lemonade. Like everybody else, life has given me my fair share of lemons and I understand that I will always have that stock of lemons. Every time I’m handed a lemon, I know there is a lesson to be learnt from the challenge.  When I first receive the lemons, lemonade is the last thing on my mind. I ‘m furious, agitated, depressed, worried and confused and I say it okay to feel that way.  Then slowly sanity and reason begin to prevail and thoughts about lemonade begin to surface. Then I’m hard at work trying to turn the lemons into lemonade.  I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned because of the lemons, whether it was health, relationships or money. The lessons have been painful but I know they will hold me in good stead for a lifetime. When life throws lemons at ...

    I recently celebrated my sixtieth birthday with some excitement and trepidation. It is a significant milestone and I am amazed by the swift passage of time.  As I begin a new chapter in my life, I’m given to reflection, introspection and gratitude.  Chronologically, I am sixty and grey-haired but I don’t feel sixty, except when that little voice in my head says to me, “Remember you are a little beyond middle-aged”. A cousin lightheartedly reminds me to avail myself of senior citizen discounts and bank interest rates. That will take some time to get used to. I ‘m enjoying that unique sense of freedom that comes with age. My Thoughts:   Reflection and Introspection : I look back on the life I lived,  the challenges I ‘ve overcome, the friends I made, the friends I’ve lost or drifted apart from, my thoughts, actions and reactions during each stage of life, the joys and sorrows experienced and the lessons I ‘ve learned.   Wisdom: Six dec...