Resolutions!

We've almost been brought up to believe that resolutions are bound to be broken. And that it's alright when it happens. Whatever happened to personal accountability and promises!

So I decided that this time around I was not going to break my own promises. I know it's early in the year - and all seems doable right now. But I'm done with denegerating as an individual as the days go by in a year and then making unattainable resolutions all over again. Here goes the list of promises made by yours truly to her esteemed self :

1) Workout: If it's 3 degress celsius in the morning and office starts early - then find a way to move while at work. I've decided to pretty much shun the elevators this year. I work on the 4th floor - if an exercise regima cannot be followed 10 trips up and down the stairs should take care of some part of my health. But everyday has to be an exercising day!

2) Read: 2012 slipped past without my mind and soul having explored other worlds. Movies are great - but reading has its own charm. The crazy amount of office work last year - very little of which was actually put into use - klled my appetite for reading. When the eyes are red and swollen from having stared non-stop for hours at end into the laptop - reading stops becoming a priority. Made up for some of that loss during my 15 days of core leaves in December - where I polished off the LOTR trilogy, The Hobbit, and Ashwin Sanghi's Chanakya's Chants and The Krishna Key. I am a much better person for having done this I feel.

On to the Romanovs at last, gifted by my best friend on my last birthday! It's one of the most intriguing pieces of historical fiction I've ever read - and will probably make me want to overcome my lack of knowledge on Russian history soon!

3) Meditate: The world and more importantly, going to work each day, tends to take a toll on the human mind and spirit. Sometimes, you get so lost in the pettiness of the situation, that you forget to look at things in perspective. That's where meditation helps. I have realised I am a much better person when I'm quieter deep down - agitation gets me no where. Besides, in sync with my belief that each human being needs to become in sync with the universe in order to make this world a truly survivable place, I need to be the change I want to see in others.

4) Write: Writing, in my view, gives a window to a person's soul. Things becomes so much clearer when you put them down on paper. Whether it's in the form of a journal (which I've started yet again this year - and intend to fill ~90% of) or blogging - writing is something that puts me in  a flow - and I intend to do more such things this year.

5) Travel: I start feeling restless if I don't travel. It's not that I'm not content with my life, it's just that I yearn to see other places, experience other cultures, every now and then. Last year, a trip to Ukraine went awry - but this year - a trip to France and maybe Spain seems likely as ever, thanks to someone moving base to a beautiful city for sometime :)

6) Cook: My Pinterest page has too many untried cooking pins that I swore I'd try last year! This year I plan to evolve into a Master Chef. And unlike other years - the resolve is stronger!

7) Stop Cribbing: Alright so I'm not really clear of my life's direction. I am doing well at work, but given a choice I'd rather do something else. But that does not mean that I turn into a full blown cribber and crib the ears off my poor family and some friends! The job isn't bad, my work is always recognised and rewarded, and not all people I work with are loons. If I don't know what I want to do with my life - I shouldn't take it out on others really. There is simply no justification. So 2013 will be a no-crib-zone as far as I'm concerned. And I intend to keep a distance from the negativity filled being that sometimes surround me - I'll pray for them and send them some light - but I WILL NOT CRIB!

8) Volunteer: I think I'm blessed to have a great family, awesome friends, a job and no debilitating illnesses. And I am multi talented - it's time to put all that to use and actually help people out. Each human being deserves dignity in life - I solemnly swear I will do something to help bring that into some lives this year.

9) Stop taking the environment for granted: Whether it's water running as I brush my teeth or lights on in another room - one tries to be careful as far as natural resources are concerned. However, I think there's a lot more scope as far as being more conscious about all of this is concerned. I will henceforth live life with greater deliberation and do my bit to not take more out of earth than I already have. And maybe take up gardening.
That's about it as far as resolutions are concerned. Laziness is in for a pounding this year - already I feel better for having taken the first steps towards my various resoultions (umm, except cooking - but that will change soon).

Looking forward to a spiritual, happy and exciting 2013!

2013 - The beginning of an era

The people who believed in Armageddon heaved a sigh of relief. Others just went on with their lives with an "I told you so" thrown at all and sundry. Then there were some who acknowledged the day for what it was - the beginning of the end of the world as we know it.

21st December was never supposed to be the last day for our planet and its myriad inhabitants. The Winter Solstice merely set into motion a series of events that will change the world as it stands today. And high time I say!

Planet earth has definitely reached an all time low. If we thought Hitler and Pol Pot were terrible people, then the politicians today are their brothers in arms. People are degenrating - financially, emotinally, mentally and spiritually. Corruption is at an all time high. Churches have problems with decent folks who are gay, but they think that the murder of innocent toddlers was justified since it was God's way of punishing people who believe in the right to love.

Rapes have marred my country - getting more and more heinous by the day. According to the idiots here and in various part of the world - the men are not at fault - it's the women who are enticing them. How does a 3 year old girl entice these perverts? How??

Some people have suddenly come into money, but forgotten the bit about coming into education first. They are the most dangerous of the lot.

Violence is ruling our mind, heart & spirit.

The country is blindly giving out perks to the so-called scheduled castes/tribes and other backward classes. These are being misused by the corrupt, while the actual people in need are forced into a corner that no one touches. Rapes among Dalit women have become a norm - and no one will ever raise that as an issue because "upper castes" in power think they have a right to show these women "their place".

Egyptian muftis in Australia are comparing women to meat on the road that is "bound to be attacked".

In short, YES, the world needs change. Desperately. A change in values (and not the vatican/all fundamentalist kind). A change in the way we look at other people - male or female. We need to develop a  basic respect for fellow humanbeings - irrespective of their financial status, nationality, caste, creed. Animals today are much better than 90% of the humans in this world.

I recently went to Auroville - the dream city set up by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. They have just one motto - equality among humans. Simple and yet, the need of the hour.

There's not much we can do about others at this point. The world needs quieter, more spiritually developed minds at work. Even God doesn't mess with free will, who are we to try. What we can do is change ourselves for the better. Be more considerate towards the environment. Respect people - or at least be polite to them. Meditate to be more in sync with the universe. Volunteer - try to empower as many people as you can. Like that old story - you may not be able to save the lives of all the fish by throwing them back into the sea, but your deeds will matter to those that you manage to.

So keep your chin up, find your 'why', dance to the celestial music and live to your highest standards each day. And stop expecting the world to change if you are loath to moving up your waking hours by half and hour even! You are your greatest challenge. Face it!

This is the age of spiritual awakening. It's everyone or no one. So believe in yourselves, believe in magic and work towards a better 'you'. As inside, so outside. As above, so below.

Have a blessed 2012 :)