3...2...1.. Happy New Year 2014

As 2013 is marking its end, it’s time to travel through whole year, in a flash, to be thankful for good things this year blessed us with. Luckily, I have many to be thankful for, touchwood! When I reminisce into last year, I also remember some not so good incidents that happened. But I would thank those unwanted incidents as well since it taught me life lessons and made me stronger person like never before.

As we welcome 2014, time to make new resolution. No, seriously, this year I have not 1 but 14 new resolutions for year 2014.

Listing them below:

1. Smile to greet –making somebody’s day better with that curve on your face
2. Thank often – thanking others, for their good deeds, adds content in your life
3. Express gratitude – counting your blessings enhances sense of satisfaction that goes long ways
4. Say ‘You are the best’ – encouraging others
5. Say ‘I love you’ – express often how you feel about your loved ones. Definitely going to impact your relationship in positive way
6. Eat healthy, drink healthy and live healthy – has many benefits. To name one looking and feeling sexy ;-)
7. Exercise – not the rigorous one, simply dance for half an hour with kids, run behind them
8. Believe in ‘Whatever happens, happens for good’ - don’t get discouraged by small things that don’t go according to your plan, always believe that GOD has better things in store for you
9. Reduce electronics usage – must needed in today’s social networking world
10. Read – I love reading especially when all four of us (my two kids, my Hubby and I) sit in each corner of two sofas and read quietly, happens rarely though.
11. Spend more time with kids in nature – we love drawing, coloring and writing sitting under the tree. I will take advantage of being in Sunshine state.
12. Portion control with chocolates – I am good with chocolates until I don’t start eating them, otherwise I eat loads of them.
13. Make my husband follow at least half of the above actions – I need a partner in crime, can’t keep these resolutions alone ;-)
14. Last but not the least; gather the courage to chase my dream

OK ok…. I know what you are thinking. If I can keep half of them I will be smiling next year.

Bye bye 2013….

Welcome 2014! 

My Mantra for Happiness

There is no one fixed formula for happiness. Rather there is unique mantra for each and everybody that one has to explore for oneself.

In past, many people have asked me how I stay so energetic and positive i.e., even after two kids and these many years of marriage. I don’t understand what two kids and marriage has to do with happiness, other than Husband eating your brain out and kids sucking your blood 24/7. Yeah!, sometimes they get on your nerves, don’t they J? Couple of my friends (from Grand Rapids) also said “We see genuine happiness in your eyes. How do you manage that?” I would always say, “I don’t know.”

Now when I ponder on it, I think, I do so by -

• Counting my blessings. Positive things that my family and friends do for me almost every day.
• Encouraging people around me for new things they want to do but scared or little nervous to do so.
• Hugging and kissing (a lottt ;-)  ). I give loads of kisses and hugs to my kids, to the extent that daddy makes fun of it and kids start calling him, “you are jealous J”.
• Crying. I cry out loud when I am sad L, all unhappiness then gets out through those tears.
• Not thinking about things that are out of my control. Just let go of thoughts that are out of my control. I speak it out to my close family or friend, but I don’t ponder upon it much. It didn't come easily to me. But I kept practicing again and again. 
• Lately de-cluttering any relationship that adds chaos to my life. This definitely was the harder one for me.

Everybody goes through ups and downs, everyone has positives and some negatives. I do too. Thinking about good things, excellent moments, wonderful friends and family, I feel blessed. In certain ways, I feel the hunger for more, for things that I don’t have; but at the same time for most of the part, I am content with what I have. Stay positive, be thankful, be compassionate and love people. There is no one fixed formula for happiness. Rather there is unique mantra for each and everybody that one has to explore for oneself. But feel free to start with mine to find your own.

All I Want for Christmas is You

My nine years old, recently watched ‘The Polar Express ’ movie. This prompted her to write a letter to Santa. Hopeful that she would get to ride the polar express, she wrote a letter to him. Mr. Claus did replyJ. 'Dear Bhumi, the polar express is for kids who do not believe in Christmas. You have very high Christmas spirit. I want you to spread the spirit around'. 

I was thinking this would disappoint her. It surprised me when she said “It makes sense mommy; those kids who don’t believe in Christmas should ride the train so they can see the real Santa. I believe in Christmas so I am fine. I will try again next year, can I mommy?”

Understandingly, she wrote another letter to Santa. In this letter, she gave Santa the list of items he can choose to bring to her this Christmas. What surprised me was the last line in that letter. In her last line she wrote, 'p.s.: Please bring something for my parents as well'. She was concerned mommy and daddy will not get any gifts from Santa ;-). 

I am blessed to have her. She is very generous and caring. I distinctly remember on her 6th birthday, she saved half of her birthday gifts. She didn’t even open them. “Mommy, is it OK if I give my gifts to poor kids for Christmas (she is a December baby)?” “Off course darling”, I replied with tears in my eyes. Love her to pieces.

Wish you all Merry Christmas! My all-time favorite Christmas song...enjoy….

Not a Material Person

My husband is not a material person.

During first year of our marriage, whatever presents I gifted him, he accepted graciously. But he asked me not to gift him any material things going forward. He also mentioned if I still want to, then those things should be made by me or our family members. That’s it. Since then, I would think about ideas to do something new each time for him.

In last nine years,

• I wrote many romantic poetries and shayaries for him (yes, we are called love birds by our family and friends).
• I wrote him love letters as gifts.
• For past few years, kids and I made different kind of crafts for him.

On side note, I loved doing all that especially with kids. One of the best quality times that kids and I spend together is doing artwork without any rush. I still remember this year for his birthday we made vases from empty bottles of olive oil and pickle jars. And he simply loved it.

On our 10th anniversary, which was on (Dec 20th 2013), I wanted to make something special for him that I never did before. But, around that timeframe, so much was going on that I was afraid I won’t be able to make anything for him in time. I wanted to make 10 cards for him. With kids and I being sick, I decided to go for easy route. I entered Hallmark picked 10 greeting cards. At checkout counter I realized $47 is too much for those cards and on the top of that he won’t enjoy it as much compared to personalized cards. So I reduced it to 5 and I thought I will somehow manage to make 5 cards on my own. But I wanted to do 10 cards for sure as a way to look back and look ahead during this milestone. I talked to one of my friends from right then and there. I shared with her what was going on in my mind (I am thankful for such friends who I can call anytime for anything). She said, “Why don’t you buy fancy letter pad and write him letter.” I told her I have done it before. She said, “So what do it again”. Then I dropped those 5 hallmark cards and went to look for fancy letter pad that I couldn’t find. Instead I found one and only one pack of blank empty cards; as if it was sitting there on the shelf to be picked up by me. I picked it up without thinking twice. Then I turned it into the following:

One by one he opened it. With each card, I loved watching his expressions and emotions, it was priceless....

If you have that someone special in your life who is not a material person, please feel free to share your gift ideas in comments section. I would love to hear it.

First Time in Ten Years of Marriage

My first time!!
Personal blogging I mean :)

We (my husband and I) just completed beautiful ten years of marriage. I still feel that connection with him that I felt many years back (trust me there are some people out there that I know, after ten years of marriage they said, “We don’t feel anything anymore. We are living in an arrangement now.” I am thankful that I am not one of them.) It is not easy for either party to maintain that connection. But it’s not that difficult as well. I am starting this blog to note down all the positive things that happen in my life day to day, good things that my husband brings in my world and a smile that my kids, family and friends bring on my face.

The sole purpose of this blog is to pen down all my positive, loving and amusing experiences that might have some hint of sweet and sour, happy and sad moments. I want to come back to this space whenever I would feel down or sad. When my kids grow up, I want them to read my happy experiences of life. I want my brothers, friends and family, sitting in the other part of the world, to experience the positivity, sunshine and happiness of my life through these readings.

Can’t wait to write more…..