Woman - Own your power !

I am writing my 31^st blog post, as Sundays is day off for me, I do not use the computer, hence tomorrow’s is posted today. While I am happy that I was able to complete the post for this month, and I enjoyed doing it, this exercise brought it a lot of motivation and also enthusiasm in wanting to write something to inspire and made me happy that I reached a goal of reaching 31 posts for the month of July, 2011. 

Now I want a small break, and relook at my blog and explore what other things I can do to give a new look, and make some small changes. While today I had a post ready, when I came across a beautiful article forwarded by my friend Genny, I thought I must post this especially for women in my life, and women in our country– it’s written specially for Indian women by Chetan Bhagat, in Times Of India and I enjoyed reading and now I am happy to share it with all the women!

A recent survey by Nielsen has revealed that Indian women are the most stressed out in the world: 87% of our women feel stressed out most of the time.  This statistic alone has caused me to stress out.  Even in workaholic America, only 53% women feel stressed.

What are we doing to our women? I’m biased, but Indian women are the most beautiful in the world. As mothers, sisters, daughters, colleagues, wives and girlfriends – we love them. Can you imagine life without the ladies?

For now, I want to give Indian women five suggestions to reduce their stress levels.

One, don’t ever think you are without power. Give it back to the mother-in-law.  Be who you are, not someone she wished you would be.  She doesn’t like you? That’s her problem.

Two, if you are doing a good job at work and your boss doesn’t value you – tell him that, or quit. Talented, hard working people are much in demand.

Three, educate yourself, learn skills, network –figure out ways to be economically independent, so next time your husband tells you that you are not a good enough wife, mother or daughter-in-law,you can tell him to take a hike. 

Four, do not ever feel stressed about having a dual responsibility of family and work.  It is difficult, but not impossible.  The trick is not to expect an A+ in every aspect of your life.   You are not taking an exam, and you frankly can’t score cent per cent (unless you are in SRCC of course). 

It is okay if you don’t make four dishes for lunch, one can fill their stomach with one.  It is okay if you don’t work until midnight and don’t get a promotion.  Nobody remembers their job designation on their dying day.  

Five, most important, don’t get competitive with other women.  Someone will make a better scrape book for her school project than you; another will lose more weight with a better diet.  Your neighbour may make six dabba tiffin for her husband, you don’t – big deal.  Do your best, but don’t keep looking out for the report card, and definitely don’t expect to top the class. 

There is no ideal woman in this world and if you strive to become one there will be one thing you will achieve for certain – stress. So breathe, chill, relax, tell yourself you are beautiful, do your best and deserve a peaceful life. Anybody trying to take that away from you is making a mistake, not you.  

Your purpose of coming to this earth is not to please everyone.  Your purpose is to offer what you have to the world, and have a good life in return.  The next time this survey comes, I don’t want to see Indian women on top of the list.  I want them to be the happiest women in the world.  Now smile, before your mother in law shouts at you for wasting your time reading the newspaper. 

Cherish Womanhood!

Life a series of Choice !

Life is as we have it

With will power, we can change its course.

Life is a series of choices,

The thoughts that we have any time are our own choices.

No one can enter into our mind

and make us think in  a particular way,

Similarly, our feelings are our own choice.

 Whether a person is depressed or happy

 is his own choice.

 

After all life is nothing,

But our own thought, feeling and actions.

Be Blessed & Be Happy !

The World is our Mirror

I found this short story interesting  bringing in  light about who we are, where ever we go, we shall find ourselves, for the world is a mirror reflecting us back.  Read on …..

A traveler nearing a great city asked a wise Man near the way side, “what are the people like in the city? And the wise man replied “How were the people where you came from “?

“A terrible lot, “the traveler responded. “Mean, untrustworthy, detestable in all respects”.   “Ah”, said the wise man, “you will find them the same in the city ahead.”

Scarcely was the first traveler gone when another one stopped and also inquired about the people in the city before him.  Again the wise old Man asked about the people in the place the traveler had left. And the traveler said “They were fine people; honest, industrious, and generous.  I was sorry to leave, “declared the second traveler.

Responded the wise Man: “So you will find them in the city ahead.

Be Blessed !

Blessings in Disguise

I was attending training on helping skills, wherein the first session of this training was focused on adolescents, characteristics and adjustment issues, where in the resource person was explaining about what happens during this stage, and how important this transitional phase is where physical and mental development occurs.  While I was listening to this, my thoughts wandered and I found myself thinking about my own development as an adolescent.

 – as for me, this was most difficult phase in my life, and I can never forget the problems I faced as a young girl, one of the challenge was I found it very difficult to accept my own sexuality as  girl/women because along with physical and mental development, this phase brought in other issues like I was not allowed to cycle, and I was gaining weight, and the  dresses where getting tight, and so I was advised to wear and full length dress, and every movement of mine was monitored, my mother was extra careful while I went out, and ensured that I returned before sun set, I had to make a choice with whom I played, I was encouraged to play with girls of my age, so I moved away from playing with boys. 

All these restrictions and Don’ts in my life angered me, and I cursed myself for being born a girl and was always upset and angry.  It took a lot of time for me to accept myself as I am, I needed to be affirmed, loved, appreciated and reminded that I am precious and valuable and I have a purpose here on this earth.

I thank God for the gift of faith, which made me cling to God, and for my friends who shared their faith experience with me, and inspired me to move on, and taught me to love, forgive and accept myself, as I am, and for the first time I began to understand that my mom was the product of her time, and so she did what she thought was best for me, and gradually I began to love myself, and the my journey continued with hope when I met many more young girls, who were also struggling like me, and I realized I am not alone in my life, for I have the company of so many young adolescents who are also facing hardships in their developmental stage, and I found in many ways I am lucky and feel grateful to God for leading me towards myself in becoming a proactive person.

My experience has made me compassionate, humane and sensitive towards young adolescents, and I am naturally drawn towards them, for I believe that if I had not experienced difficulties, I would not be drawn to young people, especially girls. 

“What seems to us bitter trials are often blessings in disguise”. Oscar Wilde

Be Blessed & Be a Blessing !

A Note of Encouragement

Today I decided to write a note of encouragement to myself, as I really want to appreciate myself for the commitment and dedication I had shown towards myself.  This is note is an affirmation for myself for all that I have accomplished in the last 3 months.

Dear Janet,

I am calling you Janet because, that’s your pet name,  and  I love  to hear this name, as this name was given by your  mother, and she was the first  person in your  life  who  called you by that name,  later on the other family members and friends started calling that name.  

Today I want to appreciate you for the commitment you have shown for learning to swim, and its 3 months now and it looks like you have mastered the art of swimming, I loved the way you are beginning to relax in the deep waters and have been consistently practicing every day for the last 3 months, and you have managed to swim 100 meters to and fro which has been your desire. You need to be appreciated for your will power and perseverance in this matter.

Another important aspect has been your decision to joining the ultimate blog challenge for the month of July, 2011 and have been disciplining yourself to write, even though it has been a challenging task – of thinking, planning and ensuring that there is a post, and also making sure that it is posted at the face book group, also to visit other blogs and leave one or two comments – sometimes you have managed to read some new bloggers, other than the regular ones, have left the comments, at other times you have even forgotten to post on face book group, at times systems(computer/internet) were troubling you.

Whatever it is, despite all the challenges, you have managed to  write upto 26 posts, and there is 5 more post for the challenge to complete.   I am sure you will with determination and discipline will complete it,  I am proud of the way you have been handling yourself – at home, at work place, and this month,  you were also busy with the trainings, keep it up ! Don’t give up! All the very best to you!

Great work!