100 days to finding true happiness !

Nope, hopefully its not one those fad diets that I plan to take up only to eventually drift off out of sheer boredom. Or so I think. I’ve realized over that past few months (well actually years, but then I wouldn’t really admit that to myself quite yet) that I am transforming into the ‘un-happiest’ version of myself. And that’s beyond the sulking over traffic jams or my constant struggle to get rid of some x kgs that I really need to! Come to think of it, the last time I wrote (which makes me happy) about being happy – was when I won this contest on chillibreeze! Now that’s umm, not a happy thought, I’d say.

My constant effort to try new stuff , change things around me and taking huge chances while I do that ( which more often than not backfire ) are all after all to seek true happiness . And isn’t that what drives every one – who’s married or single, working or backpacking, taking a holiday or shopping their bank-balance to nill?

So over this weekend, as I was trying to figure the ‘ways in which I could be happier’ I realized – those answers were quite easy to figure out. But the larger question is would getting a new hair cut , or a some new clothes or even going away for a weekend to some place exotic or serene – make me happy in the real sense of the word?

So that’s the larger question. And that would need some time to answer! So I set myself on a journey of finding true happiness – in 100 days.

Now it might sound gimmicky, this chosen number – and well there was no logic really that was applied to zero in on it too. There’s this 100 heroes project girl – I so admire and yes, I came across this other person who’s taking a 100 day crash course towards becoming an editor. But all it takes some times is pure maths to discover some ‘strange connections’ in the most bizarre situations in life.

100 days from today would begin yet another new year. Just in time – I would say. So what’s in store? Am I going to start writing more often? Yes , I will. And am I going to finally triumph over the larger issues in life ( like move away from the radar of someone’s misguided ire, don’t know / can’t say or finally win over the constant battle with the bulge – or perhaps learn to live with it! Maybe) and would there be like a structure or format to it? A daily happiness-quotient say? hmm.Lots of questions to answer. But only one thought as I start this journey- this one’s going to be an honest attempt.

So let’s get down to work. 100 days to true happiness!

Memories in Mortar – Fascinating Monuments Series

A couple of days back, on a storytelling spree with D over a walk, I was reminded of this fascinating story that I had come across on my visits to Lucknow. It got me the one response we storytellers yearn to get at the end of the story – “oh ! you cant be serious ! Really, is that true!” . It had the makings of the perfect drama – money, power, intrigue, royalty, religion – all embroiled into the shape of a monument.

But then isn’t that the reason monuments are built? A stamp on the face of time by a ruler who sought his moment of glory in history.

I’ve been to a couple of ‘monuments’, some who’ve found their way into the must-visit- sections of tourist itineraries and some others which are now forgotten. And I’ve realized every time I wandered gaping at their otherworldly splendor or pondering over their lonesome demeanor, how they seemed like memories captured in mortar craving to tell their story. So I took a minute off and lent them an ear. And thus began this series of notes on the enchanting storytelling of the most fascinating monuments of our times. Lukhnow , Mcloedganj, Delhi , Udaipur – catch an eclectic mix of snapshots of an era in subsequent posts. Lucknow’s Bara Imambara , is where it all began.. and that’s up next!

Hotel Reviews On TripAdvisor

Been putting into action what i ve always believed , ‘Travel writing is the next best thing to travelling!’

and here are some of my recently published TripAdvisor Hotel Reviews!

Many more follow soon enough!

Read about Hotel Mount View @ Dalhousie Here

And Hotel Claridges , Surajkund here

Taj Khema @ Agra here

also,

Royal Elysees , Paris here
More follow …

One Step at a time!!

My very first published travelogue on Rediff Get Ahead…
http://getahead.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/jun/15/slide-show-1-travel-dalhousie-is-a-walkers-paradise.htm

Hope its the first one of many more to come…

When you lose , never lose the lesson!

Yup to begin  on that profound  , to the point of depressive note isnt a suggested thing to do .. but when one’s suggesting what to ‘not do’ when you are planning a job change .. one does get a little philosophically -introspective.

Sometimes , the simplest of questions – What to look for , when you are at the verge of a job change.. have more complicated replies than ‘ the salary package’!!

9. The Basics  – Cafeteria ?Coffee Machine? Weekly/Monthly – Birthday Parties? any parties? yes or no questions . need to have all affirmative answers.Very Very important.

8. The office temperature – and am not just referring to the Air conditioning! well yes , that’s imp too , but more importantly, how revved up , high-spirited , buzz in the air – kind of place it is. Hot or cold?

7. Parking- For those poor souls , who need to wade through the morning and evening traffic- this one can be the clincher. obviously once you ve worked out the match involved in the decision of change being a function of the distance one would need to travel from home and for work.that done ,  if you are worried about the parking guy going for a joy ride while you are at work .. or maybe helping himself with most of your fuel while you battle the petrol price hike AND with ALL that need to shell out big bucks for the ‘premium’ parking too .. then .. ahem ahem.. the hike in all imp P (‘pay’) doesnt matter .. right?

5. (un)Flexi – timings – One might boast of a splendid track record when it comes to ‘in’ time . There is always this one day once in a while , when one needs to step out before the dreaded 6 o’clock strikes. So check from whoever you can – if working till 2 in the night entitles you an hour extra in the morning without suffering a pay cut , or moving out early sometimes has got nothing to do with a formal ‘leave filing process’ – in short is your office clock in time etched in stone.

4. People- The second most important P of your career related decision influencers (first ofcourse and by a huge margin is PAY). Walk in to an office and simply look around . Soak in the faces , the conversations . walk into the elevator and make 5 rounds up and down (Tip : get off on various floors and get in so that the security guy doesnt wonder what you are up to ) If the terms that spring your mind are any or all of these – Dull/Rude/Drab/Bored looking /Boring. Stay away. If the ‘catch the expressions’ rule is hard to crack for you  – simply observe the actions – Are they all glued into their seats staring at their lappys like they are hypnotised , refuse any eye contact with each other and a stranger lurking around , if there is a quiet that would beat a 2 AM scenario at most civilised homes on any given night . What should you do ? right.. stay away!

3. The Rules . To get up and sit down. To come in and move out. To work and to not work . To speak , breathe , eat . If there is a rule , and the rule books are what you stay away from . Then.. its as simple as A B C..

2. Show me the money. self explanatory. :D

1. The Big B. The good ones and bad ones , the rude ones and the meddlesome ones . The over-bearing and the dictator kinds . The ones who’ll invite you to their kids 1st bday party & the one’s who wouldnt care if its your own bday today. We have all had our share of each and every one. The only thing that stays a constant at any given workplace – is how unperdictable the ‘next Big B ‘ is gonna be. Its said , one can choose one’s spouse , but one can never choose ones boss. But one can always make an informed decision . so go ahead – take a survey , hire a detective , get it in your contract , spend a day in invisible mode in the office before you join in. do what ever you can but yes … get to know which one are you gonna face up next .