So as all these websites/pages on facebook have come out with listicles of 'what to do in 2016', thought of sharing my list of what to do in the New Year based on my learnings from the year gone by.
1. Become money wise.
Save, invest and start making a corpus for your future. Don't think that you are single and living with parents, so you don't need to do that. Or because you can fund your needs, so you don't require savings. Even if you are a house wife, don't save the money that your husband gives you under the pillow. Keep it in a bank. I know money is not everything, but hell yeah, it's a means to get everything. Gain knowledge about money (hire a financial planner). If you are working, save up to gift your parents a trip or even a spa date. Trust me, it feels awesome to see them beaming with pride when they tell people that their child has gifted them this.
Save, invest and start making a corpus for your future. Don't think that you are single and living with parents, so you don't need to do that. Or because you can fund your needs, so you don't require savings. Even if you are a house wife, don't save the money that your husband gives you under the pillow. Keep it in a bank. I know money is not everything, but hell yeah, it's a means to get everything. Gain knowledge about money (hire a financial planner). If you are working, save up to gift your parents a trip or even a spa date. Trust me, it feels awesome to see them beaming with pride when they tell people that their child has gifted them this.
2. Get serious about your health for the long-term.
I know I know, me saying it can sound a lil' funny. But yes, I believe it and am seriously working towards it. But remember that being healthy does NOT mean being a particular size! If you have confidence in yourself, you can look gorgeous in size 2 or 20. Don't judge your body based on other people's rules. That weighing scale is just a device, don't let it rule your life. Don't get complacent about your body just coz you can still fit in that college time dress or have a 23 inch bicep. Get a full body check up done every six months. Don't abuse your body. If your body is telling you, you can't have that second glass of wine, politely but firmly refuse. Don't fall for, abey dost ke liye nahi piyega or one for the girls pack! If you want to have a salad have it, if you feel like having a gulab jamun, have it. But then know what you are feeding your body. Coz even if you're alone in Antarctica, it will be the only one you will have! Don't lose weight coz you're getting married in 4 months and then fall for the post-wedding overeating pressure (point in case me!). Hit the gym, yoga mat, bicycle, park, dance class, swimming pool for a long haul. And stop calling each other or yourself too fat or thin. Girls stop asking everyone if you are looking fat!!! Encourage with positive words not taunts.
I know I know, me saying it can sound a lil' funny. But yes, I believe it and am seriously working towards it. But remember that being healthy does NOT mean being a particular size! If you have confidence in yourself, you can look gorgeous in size 2 or 20. Don't judge your body based on other people's rules. That weighing scale is just a device, don't let it rule your life. Don't get complacent about your body just coz you can still fit in that college time dress or have a 23 inch bicep. Get a full body check up done every six months. Don't abuse your body. If your body is telling you, you can't have that second glass of wine, politely but firmly refuse. Don't fall for, abey dost ke liye nahi piyega or one for the girls pack! If you want to have a salad have it, if you feel like having a gulab jamun, have it. But then know what you are feeding your body. Coz even if you're alone in Antarctica, it will be the only one you will have! Don't lose weight coz you're getting married in 4 months and then fall for the post-wedding overeating pressure (point in case me!). Hit the gym, yoga mat, bicycle, park, dance class, swimming pool for a long haul. And stop calling each other or yourself too fat or thin. Girls stop asking everyone if you are looking fat!!! Encourage with positive words not taunts.
3. Give yourself a break...everyday.
Try and go easy on yourself for sometime everyday. So you messed up big time in office or your exam didn't go well or you unnecessarily fought with the partner. Kids broke the flower vase just before the guests arrived. Feel bad/guilty/sorry. Butttt.... give yourself some time to relax. Just me time! You can do anything. Read, write (I'm enjoying my me time right now :D), listen to music or something else. Use this time to get back to your normal self. Plan a solo trip!!! From someone who is a happy loner, trust me you can be good to spend time with :)
Try and go easy on yourself for sometime everyday. So you messed up big time in office or your exam didn't go well or you unnecessarily fought with the partner. Kids broke the flower vase just before the guests arrived. Feel bad/guilty/sorry. Butttt.... give yourself some time to relax. Just me time! You can do anything. Read, write (I'm enjoying my me time right now :D), listen to music or something else. Use this time to get back to your normal self. Plan a solo trip!!! From someone who is a happy loner, trust me you can be good to spend time with :)
4. Don't be afraid to fail.
The problem with our generations, those which grew up till the 90s, is that noone told us that it is OK to fail. Parents said what will you do if you don't get 80% and don't get Science. How will you get a decent job?? Teachers always told the kid who didn't score well in exams your future is dark. But we all know that these advices didn't hold true forever. When your boss told you that your power point presentation sucked, or your article was non-sense, all those science project trophies and essay competition prizes and debating competitions you won in school or college looked so futile. So just believe that it is OK to fail or fall. It can be a bad increment or job loss or anything else. Coz these are the times that will show you the strength of your character and make you see your real friends. Stick with them. Take risks and don't be scared to hit the rock bottom. You will only go up from there :)smile emoticon Get out of a relationship if it doesn't make you happy. Walk out on that job if you don't feel satisfied. Don't give a damn about log kya kahenge...
The problem with our generations, those which grew up till the 90s, is that noone told us that it is OK to fail. Parents said what will you do if you don't get 80% and don't get Science. How will you get a decent job?? Teachers always told the kid who didn't score well in exams your future is dark. But we all know that these advices didn't hold true forever. When your boss told you that your power point presentation sucked, or your article was non-sense, all those science project trophies and essay competition prizes and debating competitions you won in school or college looked so futile. So just believe that it is OK to fail or fall. It can be a bad increment or job loss or anything else. Coz these are the times that will show you the strength of your character and make you see your real friends. Stick with them. Take risks and don't be scared to hit the rock bottom. You will only go up from there :)smile emoticon Get out of a relationship if it doesn't make you happy. Walk out on that job if you don't feel satisfied. Don't give a damn about log kya kahenge...
5. Note to self: Doosron ke phate mein zyada taang mat adaao!!! Don't get too involved in other people's business.
Being the agony aunt type, I have been many a times at the receiving end of flak from people who sorted their issues with my advice for being the reason of their problems (especially those bickering couples). See these people never learn to own up to their mistakes and feel solace in blaming others for their mess. So stay away. Save your advice for people who you actually care for. Also stay away from those who always talk about themselves and their issues and never check on you. These are not friends but parasites (strong word but if you think of it, the behaviour remains the same).
Being the agony aunt type, I have been many a times at the receiving end of flak from people who sorted their issues with my advice for being the reason of their problems (especially those bickering couples). See these people never learn to own up to their mistakes and feel solace in blaming others for their mess. So stay away. Save your advice for people who you actually care for. Also stay away from those who always talk about themselves and their issues and never check on you. These are not friends but parasites (strong word but if you think of it, the behaviour remains the same).
6. Become independent!
I mean it. Start earning!!! If you are good at something, teach it to others and take money for it. Take stock of your situation. Being independent does NOT mean earning and spending your money on yourself while living at your parents' place. Then asking Dad for money when you want to make tax investments or taking a trip and bugging Mom for cooking a better sabzi for tiffin. Parents can't be expected to spend their entire lives looking after us just because they made the mistake of giving birth to us :-ptongue emoticon They took care of us in school, then sorted our finances in college and work life, took care of our kids and household when we go out to work. When will they get a break? Give them that break. We like everything English. Then why don't we learn this from the West? They are on their own so early in life. So, why do we become so Indian in this? Pamper them now. From someone who lost her folks early in life, you can't begin to imagine what you have in lives. Those two (Mom and Dad) are the only ones, in most cases, who will protect you from everything they find evil (can be your spouse as well ;)wink emoticon ). So push them to take that break, from you!
I mean it. Start earning!!! If you are good at something, teach it to others and take money for it. Take stock of your situation. Being independent does NOT mean earning and spending your money on yourself while living at your parents' place. Then asking Dad for money when you want to make tax investments or taking a trip and bugging Mom for cooking a better sabzi for tiffin. Parents can't be expected to spend their entire lives looking after us just because they made the mistake of giving birth to us :-ptongue emoticon They took care of us in school, then sorted our finances in college and work life, took care of our kids and household when we go out to work. When will they get a break? Give them that break. We like everything English. Then why don't we learn this from the West? They are on their own so early in life. So, why do we become so Indian in this? Pamper them now. From someone who lost her folks early in life, you can't begin to imagine what you have in lives. Those two (Mom and Dad) are the only ones, in most cases, who will protect you from everything they find evil (can be your spouse as well ;)wink emoticon ). So push them to take that break, from you!
7. Do good for someone without any expectations.
Don't donate to a charity just for getting a nice facebook post or exemption under section 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (if you don't know this, please refer to point no. 1 again). Do it for actually wanting to make a change. Don't share posts about saving the nature but go out there and do something about it. Stop that moron from throwing garbage in Yamuna river or that guy/girl in a bus/metro who gropes someone and teach them a lesson (use words in the former case and whatever else you can grab in the latter). Don't do good for appreciation but for feeling good about it. Karke dekho, it feels nice :)
Don't donate to a charity just for getting a nice facebook post or exemption under section 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (if you don't know this, please refer to point no. 1 again). Do it for actually wanting to make a change. Don't share posts about saving the nature but go out there and do something about it. Stop that moron from throwing garbage in Yamuna river or that guy/girl in a bus/metro who gropes someone and teach them a lesson (use words in the former case and whatever else you can grab in the latter). Don't do good for appreciation but for feeling good about it. Karke dekho, it feels nice :)
So make this year a better one! Happy New Year all :)smile emoticon Make sure to have new beginnings in life!
Disclaimer: Follow these at your own risk! Don't come chasing after me if they don't work :-p
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