Hey Life! I'm happy :-)

Prayer to the universe / Wishes for January and 2014:

Wed. Jan. 22, 2014

- I want to more clearly and easily identify the wants, desires and elements that will contribute my overall long-lasting joy, peace and fulfillment.
- I want to have a profession towards which I can contribute and develop, for which I feel great love, passion and joy...
- I want to attract like-minded people into my life
- I want to spend all my time with like-minded, joyful, fun, kind people who appreciate and love me, and with whom I can be my very best, genuine self, and people who I appreciate sincerely as well.
- I want to continuously improve and strengthen my relationship with myself, my Inner Being, and to have an absolutely unshakeable, deep and love-filled relationship with myself.
- I want to have a constant flow of good-feeling thoughts, at all times.
- I want to feel good
- I want to appreciate myself and my life for all the beauty and greatness that it holds.
- I want to let go of limiting beliefs and old attitudes that are inconsistent with being free, easy-going, and joyful
- I want to live in the moment and love doing so!
- I want to let go of unhelpful attachments and feelings of ownevership towards any other person.
- I want to let go completely and fully of all feelings of jealousy, insecurity and doubt.
- I want to KNOW with all my heart and soul when I meet my wonderful, cool, fun and lovingly affectionate life partner - i want the bells and whistles, butterflies in my stomach and joyful passion/attraction when I see him - yes! :-D
Bells and whistles all the way hehe
- Let go
- To be such that my feelings are unbreakable and my feelings do not depend on others - not on how someone else treats me, not on elements that I cannot control or influence.

Vitality, Evolution & Gratitude - Key words to lead a happy life!

Today is far better day because I feel tons better as compared to yesterday. I am back to my normal well self. THANK GOD!!! :-)

I have my car back; all is well :)
Went yesterday evening to collect it and was fortunate enough to arrange a taxi service that works in this area and at a reasonable rate. During the drive there were serveral things that struck me:

- I was really appreciative of the "passenger" experience; once you drive yourself around for 97% of the time you don't get the chance to relax and take in the scenery. It reminded me of when I go on vacation, hire a taxi to take me around and explore the sights from the back seat. It's really wonderful, enjoyable and easy...Being a passenger entails an entirely different experience in getting from point A to point B.

- The driver asked me if I also required morning transport from home to work. Well, this struck me because it helped me realize that no matter what change in our situations, changes will open up new opportunities and ways to go about things. For instance, if I did not have personal vehicle and required daily transport to-from home-work, at first glance I would despair a bit, however, there are alternative services and means that will emerge once you find yourself in that situation.

There is always a way.

Find a Way

Don't give up

Being in a new location will open up new opportunities, new avenues, new modalities and novel experiences. I had almost forgotten this key reality of life.

It's like some spiritual teachers will says: "Once the problem emerges, the solution also automatically comes into creation". A problem is only defined as such because it precedes the solution. To label something a problem means there is a solution in the ether of the universe; it is already being manufactured.

Feeling Emotional

Hey there, good morning beautiful world!
Today is a unique day already, my gosh...Well, not the usually smooth experience getting to work.

Why?
I took my car for service yesterday and thus I don't have my car this morning for my usual commute to work. This has happened before for prior services and so I had envisioned that I would take a taxi as usual and reach work normally.
However, it was not the case!
The first taxi I hailed refused to bring me to Jebel Ali as they are currently in great construction. I was very distraught, upset and disappointed. I wanted to cry...I've been refused by Taxi drivers before due to either too short distance, or too much traffic, whatever stupid f'ing excuse - it never feels good and doesn't seem to get easier for me to stomach, although I did not actually release any tears - at least, lol.

The 2nd cab also expressed hesitation and doubt however less adamantly so; he mentioned "there is a lot of traffic, blah blah blah you can take metro, better" - I did not say anything and let him drive. There were no words for me to reply as
(1) I was already feeling emotional, jittery and didn't want to actually break down in tears OR snap with a mad woman's rage which has easily happened on necessary occasions. I am all about healthfully standing up for yourself and defending your right but in this case I wanted to reach the office in a graceful, peaceful state of mind and being - not a hot mess; AND
(2) I felt no desire whatsoever to have to convince anyone of anything or debate on the best mode of transport; I need you to take me to X destination, this is your job, you are getting paid for it, period. Yalla.

Anyhow, the experience was quite different than what I am used to and it left me feeling a bit off kilter. I feel jittery, emotional, like I want to bawl! That's so funny, though, bc there's no need for it. In fact, perhaps I am just being *hormonal*...there are such days and it is not necessarily because of the monthly cycle.



Sometimes, every couple of months I have a day of this like deep sadness or weird anger...when I just want to bawl, cry out loud and etc. Well, that's not really what i want to indulge or enhance. What I really want is feel good, relaxed, at peace, calm...happy and easy-going. Perhaps I am in need of a nap...and my cortisol is particularly elevated.

I feel my nerves on edge...Not sure why.

Since this weekend, Friday and Saturday, I woke up feeling fine yet within next 15-30mins of getting up and preparing my coffee, food, morning ritual...I felt sort of BLAH. However, on Friday it was dissipated since we had a lovely picnic in the park with friends and that was most joyful.
Yesterday Saturday I also felt a tired all over my body - I felt sort of lost, and confused...partly bc I had to take my car early morn to service and I just had this overall kind of lack of directionality or deep in-ness with the moment. I dropped the car for svc and came back home to take the towels out to dry. Fortunately, the day was quite active and it was so wonderful to be spending it with friends at a house BBQ and also on a date which was very nice.

These days I find I'm improving in my ability to cope with times when my mood seems to be off...I just tell myself, "Hang on, it'll be over soon." And I start counting to distract myself_1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8...
It works.

The truth is today I feel emotional, sensitive and edgy. I hope it will pass soon. I want to sleep deeply, peacefully and soundly tonight. I want to live today calmly and successfully.
I want to be joyous with the things that ARE.
I am constantly reminding myself of my multiple, countless, incredible blessings. Simple things like having plenty of drinkable water at my disposal, being able to exercise, having a healthy, strong and vibrant body; eating nutritiously; having a lovely apartment to call my own where I can enjoy my time.

However, I will accept and acknowledge that today (as always) I am where I am...And where am I? Feeling sensitive, feeling emotional, feeling like crying so, so very much. It's crazy.
I know it will pass eventually. It is the contrast of feeling good vs. feeling blah that reminds me how terrific it is to feel good.

I am where I am. Hang on it'll be over soon...

The Ups & Downs of Hormones. Image by: Kareem Iliya. Source: http://www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/dealing-with-hormones-00000000029960/

ps. I am always thankful for my car...I miss you, Ford Fiesta. See you l8r :-)

New Start 2014 - Sickness & Rebirth

Today is a brand new day…Wherever you are in the world, it was a new day or soon it is becoming a new day. A new birth, a fresh start, a reset to living this day in life.

Below are thoughts from a chat regarding the fact that I am home sick today recovering fully from a cold/flu. Winter season in Dubai also impacts the city's citizens, despite the overall pleasant and wonderful weather in the "Winter" months.

 Seasonal changes are felt by our bodies, apparently, no matter where we may be. 

Today is Thursday Jan. 9th 2014 - the first full week of the new year and I am home on sick leave as I visited the ER Last night. Visited City Hospital in Healthcare city and finished up at 1AM. Main issue was the worsening dry cough which I could no longer tolerate, esp since I live alone and having no one around for moral support seems to aggravate symptoms.

Being in the ER I became more aware and realized that there are so many maladies in life that affect us all. Some people have far worse situations than you or me. I am so grateful for the slight unwellness I have since it is curable and ordinary in the bigger scheme of things.

There are more things to appreciate from this experience:

Dear God, Dear Universe,

- Thank you because I live in a city with easy access to clean, hygienic and professional healthcare

- Thank you for my Health Insurance which is provided by my company and which allows me to pay a really minimal fee for several expensive treatments (Xray, MRI, blood tests, MD consultation, ER Visit, etc)

- Thank you for my car which reliably and comfortably allowed me to drive a long distance to see a medical professional to treat a bodily ailment at the moment I desired to do so.

- Thank you for the medicine that is easily available in the pharmacy which helps in the recovery process

- Thank you for the medicine which really makes a huge difference and helps to recover and sleep deeply

- Thank you because this experience of being alone in sickness shows me my true inner strength; I care about myself, I care about how I feel, I want to feel good, and I know the universe is helping me in meeting with the medical professionals who care about helping me get better. 

- Thank you for this day of rest and the fact that I am able to rest when it is necessary and helpful

- Thank you for the kind and thoughtful friends who express concern for my wellbeing.

- Thank you bc I have many modalities at my disposal to feel better, strengthen my immune system and become stronger.

Further thoughts stemming from the whole thing:

I am feeling better I think bc I have peace of mind from having seen the doctor. Once I got home I no longer had the pesky, nagging dry cough and rather felt more relaxed. The doc prescribed the same antibiotic (Amoxycillin) that I had already started taking the night prior - so my self-prescription was accurate and luckily I have a box of unfinished Amoxyl from some previous moment.

When we r alone w/o anyone at home i.e. family, it sometimes makes health conditions a bit aggravated, perhaps bc of psychological aspect of being sick and vulnerable, and thus you may exhibit symptoms bit more strongly. The reason I say it is bc the whole day I was at work I didn't cough or feel major discomfort. HOwever, as soon as I set foot in my apt and was having my dinner I started coughing up - grrrrrr. That's why I went to the hospital - I wanted help and immediate relief from people instead of the small bottles of cough suppressants and expectorants which seemed to have diminished in effectiveness.

Anyhow, I went to ER (first in Ibn Battuta and then Healthcare City) and he said it seems like the cold/flu that is affecting many people right now

Perhaps people in UAE climate, we are no longer used to being strongly immune to weather changes. So any slight coldness is more of a 'hit' to the system.

Plus, I think I was training too much, 2hr+ per day during vacation and then continued when work resumed, waking up at 5:30am to train thinking that by ignoring my symptoms I would push it away into oblivion. 

This strategy of ignoring does not seem to have worked. 

So now I have forced rest, which is fine too and probably necessary.

I've noticed that during periods when I have been intense with my training it eventually culminates in a brief span where I get some cold which obliges me to rest and recover for 2-3 days, perhaps 1 week. It tends to help I suppose to reset the body, muscles, and to come back stronger than ever.

Ironically, sometimes it's harder to be calm and still, as opposed to just going at it (training, etc) intensely, pushing hard and beating yourself up. That's what gym/fitness obsession can do to you!

Well, today is a whole day of wellness and I will visit the sauna and my friends at the gym in hopes of further boosting my immune and nervous system. Sauna is considered to have curative properties, and perhaps I will RDV with like-minded friends at the gym, which is always pleasant, enjoyable and welcome to me.

There is always something positive to be gleaned from any situation, regardless of the circumstances. I am still eternally thankful for the blessings that life shares with me. I hope to continue growing, expanding and enriching this positive mindset and to eternally develop my strength and to deepen the relationship with my Inner Being.  

Be your own best friend, and the rest will follow, line up, and align.

Love,

Jen <3 <3 <3 

Beautiful Aspects of Colombian Culture

My recent entry focusing on the Beautiful Aspects of Indian Culture fueled my inspirational juices. It got me generating views and ideas about the beauty in other things, and specifically my own parents' culture...

My family is Colombian - both my parents emigrated from Colombia nearly 29-30 years ago to the US. I was born two years later and thus became the first-generation child of immigrant parents, a situation that is ubiquitous and common throughout the United States. It really is the land of opportunity, especially considering their immigration policy - any person born on US soil is a US citizen. That's where my brother and I jump in. Having been born in New York and raised there our whole lives, we, like others in the same circumstances, became symbols of the bridge between old culture and new. In fact, when children of immigrants are born in the new country they undeniably give rise to a new culture. In our case it was the creation of an Americanized, hybrid version of Hispanic-American family and identity. Once you've been born, raised in the country, and thoroughly experienced the educational system, there is no going back :-).

As such, I definitely appreciate aspects of my family's culture for its really wonderful, joyous and positive traits. I am really grateful I was born into my family not only because we have an extremely strong, deep bond, but also because I feel that the qualities they personify from their own background transferred onto me in some degree. It is those qualities that enable me to enjoy life more deeply through dance, song, passion, love, affection, beauty and color.

Further below are a few elements that seem to represent the more wonderful traits of this nationality. It's not exhaustive and rather a basic sketch...

The Coat of Arms of Colombia - Interesting to note that it depicts a Cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty. Later in this post I use the term and illustrate it with a graphic from Wikipedia. Upon reading up on the Wiki page I see they present this Coat of Arms! Because it specifically has the cornucopia image. Very interesting how things work out! One unrelated item led me and tied directly back into the topic on which I was writing! Cool.

• Very friendly people. 

Mostly everyone in a town, neighborhood or surrounding environment in Colombia will know each other and greet each other at different times of the day: "Good morning" etc. Of course, this may be different in busy and more populous urban centers where the building matrix structure sort of limits the closeness and intimacy between neighbors. I haven't been to Colombia in almost 12 years so I am not necessarily atuned to the current realities of the country. However, from my summer trips there as a little girl I recall that this habit of greeting neighbors and knowing basically everyone (and their personal affairs! lol) was a quality ingrained in the genetic makeup throughout families and peers alike.
I remember as a little girl my father was very particular about me learning the politeness of greeting everyone in the morning with a chipper "Good Morning! and bidding farewell when leaving a family party/function. As a child I was shy and reserved and thus begrudgingly acted on these recommendations and etiquette pointers. Ironically, as I've gone through the years, today I am very enthusiastic about greeting all those I greet from morning to night as I too feel, now, that this is decent, polite, friendly and makes me feel connected with my counterparts and environment.

• Very festive, joyous and fun-loving.

Colombians generally love to have fun - they love dancing, drinking, sporting events, playing sports and especially soccer, which is a beloved national pastime. Colombians will gather amongst friends and families - there will always be music and alcohol. Most of the time, there will be food too, however, a party can easily thrive on good music and drinks. The cherished national alcoholic beverage is called Aguardiente:

Locally produce, national pride - One of the main spirits of choice: AGUARDIENTE CRISTAL DE CALDAS.

The other very much adored Alcohol is Aguardiente Antioqueño:

Spirits of Choice #2: AGUARDIENTE ANTIOQUENO. As you can see, various bottle sizes are available to cater to any party need, group size - or pant pocket - HA!

Colombians love alcohol, drinking and partying. This is a generalization, yes, and it's mostly true although not entirely applicable to ALL people. I will say that I don't think I've ever met a single Colombian who doesn't like to drink and party. Essentially, they just love having a great time, enjoying, and being in high spirits.
La Rumba = The Party.  
Donde es la Rumba? = Where's the party?

An example of how much enjoyment and appreciation goes into their drinks is finely illustrated by the following image, which has even a Tetrapak of Aguardiente Antioqueño!!!

The different bottle shapes, sizes and types of Aguardiente. There is even a Tetrapak pack option! Crazy. They have 1L box options, similar to the boxed wine in the USA.

Just a note that I don't drink alcohol due to the sugar content; since I prize my fitness and low-sugar consumption, drinks of any kind don't fit into my lifestyle. I love to dance and have fun and overall I will enjoy a party to the max yet I don't need spirits to enjoy deeply and fully.

I wouldn't consider the 'drinking' and alcohol predilection as a 'beautiful aspect' of the culture. It's just been linked with the party-loving, festive and jovial nature of the people. That convivial spirit somehow seems to be joined at the hip with drinking and party time. I guess anyone who gets a buzz and drunk will be festive and happy, more often than not... In sum, they are a bright and friendly, fun-loving, party-loving bunch.

• Colombia is a key world producer of Coffee. 

I love coffee, and so does 98% of the rest of the universe! :-) 

Colombia birthed the iconic Juan Valdez Cafe de Colombia image, easily spotted around most of the world.

Café de Colombia - Juan Valdez. El cafe mas amado de los Colombianos. The coffee most loved by Colombians. Juan Valdez is a fictional character created by the National Federation of Coffee (FNC - Federacion Nacional de Cafe).

From an early age coffee has been staple of our family morning routine. Coffee, milk, sugar...That's what revs the day for so many folks. Historically, Colombian coffee has ranked 2nd in global production, following Brazil. However, it now stands 3rd with Vietnam coming in 2nd place (International Coffee Organization Statistics).

• Flowers
  

Little-known fact: Colombia is the 2nd largest flower producer and exporter in the world, with The Netherlands being the top exporter  and producer worldwide, and especially in Europe (WikiRef-Flowers). In fact, Colombia is the top exporter of flowers to the United States which has led to a Free-Trade agreement resulting in lowered trade prices.

I was not aware of this fact and it's pretty cool!

• Emeralds 

  Colombia is the world's largest producer of Emeralds, representing 50-95% of world production (Emeralds)

• Colombians love soccer.

• They are sweet and affectionate; They are welcoming and enjoy having a good laugh.

Well, I will leave it at that for now. I think that sometimes when you are "in" the thing, it is a bit more challenging to objectively and analytically portray the various aspects that could be highlighted.

Every culture and nationality has its set of unique and vibrant qualities. The cornucopia of ethnicities, backgrounds, attitudes and customs is one of the factors that makes life on earth so fascinating and engaging. It's at the core of politics, international relations and globalism.

The cornucopia or horn of plenty is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, nuts, other edibles, or wealth in some form. (Cornucopia@Wiki)

Celebrating the abundance of perspectives ultimately leads to greater awareness; to a more optimistic, compassionate and peaceful outlook about life and the human experience.

Ironically, perceiving how different we are from one another makes us unavoidably also perceive all the qualities in which we are the very same.

By the way, today is Thanksgiving Day back home in the US. 

Very happy Turkey Day to all my beloved family, friends and acquaintances!!! :-)

The more things change, the more they stay the same! :-)

Beautiful Aspects of Indian Culture

 

Positively Inspired to Appreciate Indian Culture

 

For some spectacular and inexplicable reason last night I woke up mid-sleep for a sip of water and had a Eureka moment - I had the idea to dedicate a blog post on the beautiful aspects of Indian culture. Living in Dubai, there is a sizable Indian population, mostly all of my close girlfriends at work are Indian and we eat together every day. I also interact with many Indians outside of the office such as in my building and through social events/Meetups. All in all, these pleasant interactions, and mostly my lovely, caring and fun-loving girlfriends, motivated my desire to focus on the positive aspects of the pulsating and full-bodied Indian culture.

•  The cuisine is spectacularly, amazingly, remarkably, delectably, deliciously diverse!

Tons of flavors, spices, dishes, curries, masalas, veg and non-veg approaches. So much flavor. Furthermore, there is great depth to the philosophy behind food choices. Individuals and families choose to eat a particular way as influenced by their particular religion - Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism [Wiki Reference, Religion in India]. There are particular days of the month and year on which some foods are consumed and others are not.

Flavor and tastiness is the essence and at the heart of culinary fulfillment, at least from all that I have learned, observed and shared with/from my Indian friends. There is eagerness to share food, eat in community and to acknowledge the success of a well-prepared, tasty item: a curry, dal, paratha, biryani, chutney, chaat (savory snacks) and more.

Chicken Biryani from Hyderabad - looks amazing - wow! :)

Indian Dal Nirvana (Dal Makhani)

My Faves: Chicken Tikka Masala (mild), Palak Paneer - the spinach (beloved veggie) and cheese combo are delectable, plus with the spice you can feel the joyful party sensation in your mouth; mouthwatering cauliflower (another beloved veggie of mine) prepared with varied spices and flavor, yummo! Check this out:

Indian cauliflower, potatoes & peas. Wowzer! Save me a plate :-)

I also enjoy most dals and I really like parathas. *However*, my Indian girlfriends know me quite well already and know that, I don't eat these items because of the carb content...Alas. I've tasted the goodies yet don't normally indulge.

Nice-looking dish. Parathas, or Parotta, from Kerala. So much diversity and they can be eaten at any meal of the day, with either butter, a curry, dal, or yogurt.

 Oh, I almost forgot - I love the taste of samosas however those babies are deep-friend pastry dough so they are off-limits for me on multiple levels haha. I still appreciate 'em, though!

From Indian cuisine we can definitely appreciate the beauty of colors, fragrances, tastes, spices, food combinations, and textures (the mouth-feel). I think if you were to devise a matrix to list all the feasible food combinations for Indian dishes given the multitude of options, well, it would be a gigantic collection of resultant entries!!

I haven't even touched on desserts. Indian sweets are epic. 

They are rich, they are the real deal. Sugar, sugar and sugar :-). There are sundry dessert options which vary depending on the region and city; each area has its own particular food types, flavors and thus desserts. There are elaborate preparation processes, including use of chickpea flour, semolina, whole wheat, rice flour and GHEEEEEEEEE. The fabulous staple that is Ghee butter. An indispensable food item for any Indian home.

I have personally cooked with Ghee and enjoyed it - somewhat fragrant and tasty. I would use it again however I normally just keep Coconut Oil for cooking since it has a healthy fatty-acid composition and antibacterial, anti fungal properties.

That brings up another game-player: COCONUT.
Coconut plays a significant role in a much of Indian cuisine, which I think is so awesome because I Love Coconut. There is great usage of Coconut Oil and Coconut milk, the latter especially for creamy curries. Coconut use is also central to Thai and Sri Lankan cuisine.

Coconut rocks, in all forms and manifestations, so when you add it to dishes, well, that automatically elevates the quality and nutrition to be savored.

Food texture is significant in Indian culture not only in terms of mouth-feel, but also in the hands-feel. 

I mention this because a typical aspect of Indian dining etiquette is eating with your hands. It does not happen all the time, utensils are also used, and method depends on the region. Individuals can choose depending on location of meal consumption (perhaps at work in a multinational setting there is more knife-fork usage) and the circumstances. Meals eaten at home will tend to be with the hands. My friends tell me that eating with your hands makes food tastier :-). Just a note that this is not necessarily 100% applicable to ALL people...it just depends on personal preference and such.

Confession - there are quite a few times when I am dining at home alone and I LOVE eating with my hands, picking the chicken apart with my hands, etc. Most of the time though I prefer eating with chopsticks if the food befits such utensils.

To summarize, things I adore about Indian cuisine: the variety of flavors, colors, fragrances, spices, dishes - I cook with tons of spices and masalas; the coconut oil and coconut milk, which I consume on a regular basis; and the overall vibrant nature of the cuisine. It's almost like you can feel an energy and passion through the vast variety. Beautiful aspects indeed!

Now that I've thoroughly and lovingly fixated on Indian food, I will highlight other charming aspects :-).

• There are rich, complex and deeply rooted historic traditions that continue to be important pillars even in this 21st century.

• India is the birthplace of Buddhism -  a pivotal, life-altering philosophy that has undeniably shaped the development of human consciousness through the centuries. Buddhism has introduced and allowed us to contemplate notions of reincarnation, cycles of life, karma and dharma, and conscious awareness. I suppose for me, these are beliefs that resonate with my soul, which is why I deeply appreciate that they were formally introduced to the world in a structured, didactic, theological manner.

• India is the birthplace of YOGA. Need I say more? :)

• India is the birthplace of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Medicine, or alternative healing.  This one really speaks for itself!

• Many spices with curative health-promoting properties come from India including: Turmeric/Curcumin, Saffron, Cumin and Oregano, to name a few. By the way, I swear by Oil of Oregano in terms of staving off an impending cold/flu, it has anti-parasitic properties for intestinal and gut health, and is antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. I keep an ointment bottle of pure Oil of Oregano for daily use.

• There is great love and celebration of music and dance as we see through Bollywood. In fact, I think it's the only culture in the world that has full movies performed with song and dance throughout. 

• The people are generally friendly, amiable, and enjoy a good laugh and joking around.

• The traditional clothing, saris, are beautifully ornate, colorful, graceful and elegant.

• Education is highly valued, prized and encouraged. Indian children are taught from an early age to study well and to challenge themselves academically. Intelligence and academic pursuits are seen as valuable and respectable.

• Family centric and very devoted, especially the women. I've observed that mothers and wives are very devoted and do not think twice about completely prioritizing their family's needs. It is really sweet to see this type of dynamic, when there is no doubt and a complete knowing that their family comes first. This contrasts with the more individualistic societies of the West. Not that I am particularly preferring one side over the other (I am a typical embodiment of that Western self-focused, individualistic mindset), however, I feel and appreciate the beauty of that sincere, heartfelt devotion and sacrifice. Ultimately, the woman's devotion and hard work is the glue keeping families together and functioning; it upholds the longevity of the family unit. I really admire my lady friends who are living examples of this key trait.

 

Holding up the fort. Strong lady, she is.

Closing Words...

I feel so grateful I've met my friends and that they share so much of their world with me. I've learned to tolerate spicier food :-) and I appreciate much more the diversity and multiple layers that make up the Indian cultural identity.

National identity is changing around the world for many cultures and new generations are introducing their own unique set of values, views and behaviors into the mix. The cultural milieu of where we are raised and the degree of Westernization and Globalization also impacts how much of the traditions the new generations embrace and carry forward. Some elements of traditional cultural identity are being left behind in exchange for modern ideas and norms; and some aspects of tradition will remain fixed in their character for the rest of their lives. Both inclinations are OK and in fact they are inevitable and unavoidable. The more exposed we are to the ability to CHOOSE, the more we all realize we can powerfully shape the direction of our lives and our character. This is the thinking of those 'young people' (myself included).

I know I've only scratched the surface in terms of my awareness of Indian culture. I'm really pleased with this start! We all start somewhere and there is only greater room for expansion over time. I look forward to enjoying even more beautiful aspects of the abundant, lush, dynamic, soulful, historic and sparkling Indian culture.

Gorgeous artwork - Indian artistry at its best: Henna.

My Life Is All About Me - Self-Esteem

 Aloha! :-)

Lighthearted morning thoughts for self-esteem:

Captain of my soul, captain of my ship, captain of my life.

I can hardly wait for the next turn, something wonderful is awaiting me.

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."  —Confucius

I nourish the universe and the universe nourishes me.

I am the center of my universe. I am my own point of attraction. I am a creator and co-creator. I am divinely inspired.

Many of the above thoughts and reflections are borrowed from Abraham Hicks either verbatum or in summarized fashion, and I've also been inspired today by Deepak Chopra's 21-Day Meditation Challenge. Their messages are really beautiful and poignant; I recommend listening to them if you make some time.

As I was walking back home this morning from the gym something dawned on me...I understood that despite my attempts and desire to deeply connect with a partner and give my love to another, in the end, life keeps pointing me in a particular direction...Directing me towards myself.

That I should take the chance of this life and these somewhat formative years of my life to focus on my self-development and to do things for my own sake rather than being inspired by the love and passion that could be felt for and triggered by a romantic partner. For so long, I have not  explored deeply and consciously the things that make me happy and that feel fun to my inner child. It almost feels like living on standby "Adult person" mode, in a slight sense yet not completely.

In the past few weeks and months, I've been on a journey to understand and identify the things that give me joy, fun, happiness and satisfaction. This journey got kick-started by the end of a relationship, which is pretty standard. In terms of experiencing great fun, a big chunk of it is through exercise, for sure! I love to dance and take any opportunity at the gym studio after the weight session. I love being outdoors in nature and pampering myself. A key ingredient that is vital for my happiness is to feel like I have vibrant, warm friendships with kind, warm and well-meaning, like-minded friends. Relationships are probably at the top of my list, and the very top one and most crucial is the relationship I have with myself.

The experience of being a single woman, living alone overseas and being completely independent has clarified to me that I want and need to be my own best friend, to always support myself and have my back. I can always count on me and I can always look to myself for guidance and answers. I am that strong. We all are, deep inside.

I think that if any of us were to look back over the course of our lives so far we would appreciate that through thick and thin, through all the hardships, victories and obstacles, you have always been the constant. The one person that has ALWAYS been there - even when feeling depression, even feeling sadness and then of course in joy, happiness, bliss, passion, eagerness and excitement for things - that person has always been YOU. You have always been present and in attendance no matter what the occasion of your life. That is a constant and it will remain this way forevermore.

Isn't it wonderfully great to acknowledge and feel this truth, unmistakably and undeniably?

Beautiful wisdom. Soulful and helpful.