Musings By Ektaa

In these days of chaos keeping the mind calm can be a daunting task. A ‘Zen’ way of living would mean trying to achieve calmness of the mind with the help of a few practices. First of all, whatever a person is doing, he has to do with ‘mindfulness’ which means being completely involved in the activity. If you’re eating, eat with full mindfulness. Chew your food well and avoid eating while watching a show or surfing the net. Keep your mind on the ‘present’ rather than the past or the future. The past is history and the future is a mystery, hence live in the ‘now’ Meditation is another important tool to lead a ‘Zen’ way of life. An early start to the day, with music playing in the background or the chirping of birds can instantly have a calming effect on the mind. Letting ‘gratitude’ be your guiding force is another way to lead a ‘Zen’ life. Be grateful about what is good in your life and accepting of that which is not. Smile at people, and it will come bac

So what are you yearning for right now?  Walking bare foot on the beach?  Eating Pani Puri at a roadside stall?  Having coffee with your best friend?  Or hugging your sibling? The heart is yearning right now, because it is so deprived. The simple pleasures, right now seem like distant dreams.  We humans are social beings. And the call of the day is ‘social distancing’ so the yearning is bound to be there. Yet, one has to exercise restraint, think of the bigger picture, and wait for the situation to improve. Meanwhile, satisfy your yearning with a video call, a message and a promise to stay connected. Ciao!!

How often have we looked at a person admiringly and said that he/she has the X-factor? This is the inexplicable quality that sets a person apart from the others. That one quality that makes him/her a star. The X-factor has been defined as ‘a noteworthy special talent or quality.’ Or a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome. Very often, as soon as a person enters a room, he/she draws the attention of everyone present. It is as if the person has some magnetic pull that draws people. It may not be necessary that a person has to be extremely attractive physically to have the X factor, although many times that could be one of the reasons. Even an average looking person may sometimes have the much desired qualities like openness, warmth and vivacity that they convey through their body language, tone and gestures. This person may then be said to have the X-factor. The word X-factor originated in the U.K. and then went on to

Your wardrobe speaks volumes about you. Your clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories, all come together to create your wardrobe. So how can you make it a well- balanced one? To begin with, your wardrobe should have pieces that complement your body shape. Your clothes should be designed in such a way that they highlight your strengths and camouflage your weaknesses. Same goes for choosing your accessories. A woman with a round face should not wear hoops, as they will further reinforce the roundness of her face. She should in fact wear long earrings that counter the roundness and give her a sleek look. The same rule applies to for sunglasses. One should always keep in mind the shape of the face while choosing a pair of sunglasses; else the best pair will also not look good. The size of the bag you use should also be in proportion your body. A petite woman for instance would get consumed if she carried an oversized tote, while a tall and broad shouldered woman would n

A vibe or vibration has been defined as ‘a distinctive emotional aura experienced instinctively’. Basically it is an inexplicable feeling that one gets when one meets someone or enters a place. Very often we hear people say that they vibe well with one friend and not so well with another. Sometimes we may even meet a stranger and get drawn to his/her positive vibe or aura. In turbulent times like these, it is essential to keep our vibe positive. So how does one do that? Keeping one’s mind calm is the first step to spreading positivity. What we have is what we will impart. When the mind is in a state of calm, the vibe transmitted to others around will also be positive. A jittery person keeps everyone around him on edge. A person with a negative attitude too will make others uncomfortable with his critical words and gestures. A person’s demeanor gives out his vibe. A warm smile can be one of the biggest ice breakers and can put the other person instantly at eas

Unplug yourself from the world around, Rest, breathe, and rejuvenate. In these turbulent times, Meet your inner mate. Read an empowering book, Introspect while you read, Tune in to some soothing music, Rather than that scary news feed. Look at the beautiful blue sky, Hear the chirping of a bird on a tree, From the fear that is clutching your mind, Set yourself free. Let the mind meander to far off lands, That in the past you may have seen, Call some friends and let them know, To connect with them you’re keen. Family time is the way to go, Sit together and enjoy a simple meal, With small gestures let them know, The extent of what you feel. Let gratitude and generosity, Be your guiding force, Unplug yourself even if for a bit, Let go of life’s woes.

Music is therapeutic. The notes or swars as we call them in Hindustani classical music permeate one’s being and transcend one to a world far beyond the obvious. My love for music goes back to my childhood, when we used to listen to music on records that is huge round discs or cassettes. The sheer thrill of purchasing a new record or cassette was beyond compare. Today, we have come a long way, and can listen to music on our phones. But the effect on our minds is still the same. It has been scientifically proven that music calms the mind and releases stress. Soothing music relaxes us and can even help people with amnesia, fall asleep. While performing our daily jobs or for commuting from one place to another, music being played in the background can be a worthy companion, taking away from the drudgery of the task or the long hours of commute.   Music gives us the much required pep to complete our workouts and our long walks which may seem almost impossible without it.

The human race is strong and resilient. It is for this reason that it has stood the test of time, time and again. This is not the first time that human beings have been struck by something unfortunate. Wars, disease, tsunamis, draughts……. human beings have faced it all and each time they have risen like a phoenix. Today, the corona virus is a pandemic of immense magnitude. The world is facing an enemy that is not even visible to the human eye.   Its effects are such that lockdowns have been declared, and we are all cooped up in our homes. Suddenly, the days when we could roam around freely, shopping, dining out, socializing, meeting friends seem to be a distant dream. Our doctors, nurses, cleaners, social workers are holding fort and trying their best to protect us. In the process, many are themselves losing their lives. But the battle goes on. The effects of all this on the economy is unimaginable. People have stopped eating out, shopping, travelling …… there is

A speck in the universe you call yourself, And yet you’re the one, Who brings alive the near dead heart of a dear one. You’re the shoulder he cries on, When the world with him is done, The young child looks at you in awe, As his hero, his superman. The old man as his stick of hope, At the fag end of his life, Your lady curls up on the your lap and smiles, Bereft of any strife. You’re relevant, oh yes you are, In more ways than you know, Let not petty failures Ever take away your glow!! Be the one, who’s always there, For a friend in times of need Remember what will go with you  Is only that good deed. And then when you’re dead and gone And near your grave they stand, Someone there will surely say, He always held my hand. And you will live on my dear, In a smile, a song, a tear, Yes you’re relevant my friend, Today and forever!!

A huge question mark looms large in front of us today. What will life after the lockdown be like? Will things ever be ‘normal’? Will the concept of ‘normal’ change forever? What will be the new ‘normal’? What kind of hit will the economy take? How long will it take to limp back? Is there a vaccine anywhere in sight? The current scenario is something no one could have envisioned. Of course there have been sci-fi movies depicting this situation, but that this would become our reality is something no one ever imagined. We as a race are currently ill equipped to deal with this situation. Social distancing can delay or flatten the curve of the disease. But how long can we survive without human interaction? Will the virtual reality take over the ‘real world’? Will ‘work from home’ become the new way forward?   What about restaurants, movie theatres and travel? Will we ever be able to socialize and meet friends and family freely? Or will we celebrate our special occasions raising a t

He looked at her from the window, each day Bound as he was to his wheelchair Tall heels, smart dress, make up Getting into her sleek car and driving away, Beautiful and successful, he thought And oh so powerful. She looked at him from her window, Hiding behind the curtain as she put on her make up The scars of last night’s abuse had to be hidden. There he was, writing at his desk Intellectual and handsome, she thought And oh so committed. Neither the wheelchair nor the scars were visible to the other, Finally, it’s all about perception.

Just the other day I read a forward on whattsap, that asked us to imagine our state if the corona virus pandemic had occurred about eighteen years ago. We would all be stuck with phones that could only exchange text messages and make and receive calls. Today, our biggest savior is the internet. From keeping in touch with our loved ones, to shopping, to conducting or being part of various classes and workshops everything today is a virtual reality. In the absence of being able to set out of our homes to buy essentials, everything is available at the click of a button. Just today I downloaded ‘Big Basket’ an app for ordering grocery; toiletries etc. and my requirements are already on their way. Social distancing is a little more bearable because we can video call people we are close to, and see them if not meet them personally. An app called ‘house party’ facilitates video calling for a group of people at one go. The new ‘work from home’ situation is possible only and only be

His ego was his Nemesis Slowly he lost all who were close to him His love left, when there was no love left The kids turned their back when their dignity was challenged He stood there like a rock Unmoving, unrelenting Arms wrapped around his chest Not letting any warmth in Lest it melts his heart He may as well have been in a graveyard For there was no life left Truly his ego was his nemesis It knew how to defeat him so well.

The time is late evening. Hubby and I have just left from a fancy restaurant after meeting some friends. Instead of heading straight home, we decide to go for a long drive. Suddenly the mood changes. Instead of watching Netflix in silence, we are now all set to extend the evening and spend some quality time exclusively with each other. We switch on some of our favorite songs and drive towards the Sea Link. Once we touch the Sea Link, the temptation to speed is strong. The hubby, being the more conservative one, refrains saying that he doesn’t want a ticket. I am fine with the idea. I want the drive to stretch on, as long as possible. We cross Worli Sea Face and are headed towards the other end of town. We decide to take the road that leads to Walkeshwar. It’s a beautiful road that is quite quiet. Different from the noisy streets of our neighborhood. The conversation between us is restricted to a few words. The music and the comfortable silence seem to be a better option. I res

Do you remember the cardboard cylinder from your childhood days? The one that was filled with small pieces of glasses in myriad hues? And each time you turned the cylinder, a new pattern was formed. And the beauty of it was that every time, a new pattern was created, completely different form the previous one. These days, with the disruption caused to our lives by the now famous ‘corona virus’, the mind is in a rather reflective mood. And in this reflective mood, one compares life to a Kaleidoscope. We would all agree that life is made up of different aspects or metaphorically speaking, pieces of glass. Some of us get more of the bright pieces, while some get more of the dull ones. Why this happens, is still a mystery. Some call it destiny, some Karma; some call the bright pieces God’s blessings, and dull ones, his wrath. Why each person gets what he does, is unknown. However, one has to form the pattern of one’s life with the pieces he/she has received. Now imagine, if

The green eyed monster raises its ugly head again. Jealousy is an age old human emotion felt almost by everyone, at some point or the other in life. Wikipedia defines Jealousy as- The thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust. So what is the basis of jealousy? It’s basically a lack of confidence in one’s abilities and a poor self-image. When a person feels inadequate or lacking in some department, he/she begins to compare himself with those who are good and successful at that particular activity. When he sees others doing a great job of something that he/she is not able to, this gives rise to resentment and jealousy. Very often, people feel that others around them get things easily and their lives are much more comfortable than theirs. What they may not realize is that everyone has their share of good and bad in

When you look into the mirror, what you see is your image. What others perceive you to be is also your ‘image’. Essentially, image is ‘you’ in the minds of people. Let’s take some well-known personalities for instance. When we speak about our respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the image of a very disciplined and powerful person comes to mind. Similarly, when we think of Sadhguru, the image of a spiritually evolved and intelligent person comes to mind. The list is endless. Even amongst our peers, we generally have a certain image or impression about people and generally tend to stick to our beliefs about them. That’s the reason it is said that it’s very important to create the right first impression, because people like to believe that what they first thought when they met a particular person is actually the truth. Such impressions are generally very difficult to change. It has been aptly said, “In life you do not get a second chance to make a first impression.” E

Very often when a girl is asked what she is looking for in a prospective groom, in addition to well-educated and well off, she says that he should have a good sense of humor. Humor is a quality possessed by few. It needs a certain kind of wit and intelligence to be humorous. People who see humor in difficult situations are often able to find better solutions than those who panic in these situations. There is a vast difference however, between subtle humor and slapstick humor. Slapstick humor is the kind that can be seen. In essence it is ‘visual comedy’. For example, a bucket of water falling on a man’s head would be slapstick humor. In India, this form of humor is popular and movies that depict it, find a more appreciative audience than subtle humor. Subtle humor finds an appreciative audience in the educated lot. People who can understand the hidden humor conveyed through the play of words, are capable of giving a willing ear to it. In India, movies like Chupke Chupke

“If the little grey cells are not exercised, they grow the rust. This well-known quote by Agatha Christie, sheds light on how important it is to put our grey cells that is our brain to good use to get ahead in life. And who would have done it better than Hercule Poirot, the famous fictional character created by Christie? This short statured Belgian detective was unsurpassed in his understanding of the criminal mind, and used his razor sharp intellect to solve the most difficult cases. Our brain is the epicenter of all our activities. Our actions are governed by what we think. How we put our grey cells to use generally decides the course our life takes. A person who applies his/her mind can find opportunity even in crises and a person who doesn’t may even lose out on the best opportunities. As we grow older, it becomes even more imperative to put our grey cells to good use. Alzheimer being on the rise, the adage, ‘use it or lose it’ becomes extremely relevant. It has genera