New Year Resolutions (or not)

Happy New Year everybody!!! Welcome back from the holidays.

I love welcoming in the new year but hate making resolutions. I feel like we don't need Jan1st of 20XX to make the same promises to ourselves about things which we should be doing anyways. We get all excited and make resolutions at the beginning of the year but somewhere down the road the excitement fades, the resolutions are compromised and we are back to square one. So there you have it all. That's how I feel about New Year Resolutions!!

We are always so eager to make resolutions, to make it bigger, better and wanting more, that we forget to acknowledge and give ourselves credit for all that we have and all the good we did. This year I would like to start 2013 by giving myself credit for the all things that I did well last year.

Meditate More

Source: landsofwisdom.com

I've been meditating for over a year now and following the art of mindful living. Last year I took it up a notch and plunged into a 10 day silent meditation retreat called Vipassana. I observed " noble silence" - that is, silence of body, speech and mind for 10 days. It was the hardest challenge of my life and I emerged a winner, feeling happier, lighter and more at peace. I want to take a minute to acknowledge this wonderful experience and thank myself for my continued efforts to make my practice better.

Be Grateful

Source: google.com/images

This past year I have learnt to find joy in small things. To appreciate more of what I have and fret less about what I don't. We often have a long list of things we want, a better job, a bigger house, more money, more clothes, more of this and more of that. In the quest to achieve more, we forget to appreciate what we already have. Being grateful for what I have gives me immense happiness. This past year I made it a daily practice to remind myself of the small miracle in my life.

Slay your Dragons

Source: google.com/images

We all have our dragons (fears) that stop us from achieving what we want to achieve. That inner voice, that tells us, "you are not good at it", "it's too late to start", " are you sure you can do this" these are all our fears. Our ego wanting to keep us safe, to protect us. I had and still have plenty of dragons in my closet. Last year I decided to slay a few. I went on dates with my self to do things I was scared of the most. I took my camera and explored unknown territories. I drew more, i wrote poems and blogs, I accepted change. I silenced the voices in me that kept saying "I am not a good writer, that I suck at drawing, that there are much better photographers than me, that it's too late to learn how to dance". I slew my dragons and embarked on the unknown journey. I was scared but you what, it was fun to explore the artist in me.

And as we usher into 2013 I'd like to follow my bliss, take more chances and face my fears. There, that is my new year resolution if you will!

So, tell me did you make any new year resolutions? What's the thing you are proud of you did last year? What are you working on improving this year? I'd love to hear from you.

Hurricane Sandy

Pheeeww!!! It's been an eventful week. Hurricane Sandy paid us a visit and affected the lives of millions in almost 24 states. On the evening of October 29th, New York city was hit by the cyclone which flooded numerous streets, tunnels and subway lines. Lower Manhattan, Staten Island, Coney Island, the Rockaways, New Jersey were some areas severely hit by the storm.  Millions were without power, heat and running water for several days.

While we had prepared for the worst to come in terms of food supplies, water etc, no one knew what to expect. It was Siddharth's and my first time dealing with a hurricane. The winds started to pick up Sunday evening. By Monday morning, there was constant rain and the winds were all crazy. Trees danced like they were in a jam session. The winds howled like a beast in pain. It was loud and eerie. Things began to fly around and the rain poured like cats and dogs. By evening we got a call from our electricity company saying that they will shut our power. We ran to fill our tubs, pots and pans with water, made sure we had our flash light ready and candles all stocked. Charged all possible gadgets and informed our families.

We awaited with bated breath for the darkness to engulf us. The light flickered a bit, then our cable died, followed by the internet. We assumed the next would be our power. An hour, two hours and nothing happened. Soon we dozed off.

Tuesday morning, I woke up and stared out of the window,  it was bright and sunny. Was the worst over? Had the storm passed?? I looked outside and Manhattan was still standing tall. Unaware of the damage the storm had caused, I switched on the TV and was in for a rude shock - everywhere there was DEVASTATION!!! Several parts of NYC. NJ had been hit badly.

I decided to go out in my neighborhood to assess the situation and took my camera with me. I will forever be grateful for what I saw for the next 4 hours. While the internet and media was pouring with images of devastation, all I came across that day were beautiful pictures of my neighborhood. I went looking for trouble and devastation and all i could see was beauty everywhere. People and children were out on the streets and looked relieved and cheerful. And for that I am forever grateful!! Grateful for keeping me, my family and my neighborhood safe.

Here are the images I captured in my neighborhood (Park slope, Brooklyn) on the day after the hurricane. We are so lucky and grateful to have gotten through the hurricane unscathed.

Here and here are some incredible pictures of hurricane Sandy's destruction.

My heart goes out to the millions of people whose lives have changed because of this storm. Whose devastation knows no bound. All the best to you and your families as you come together to help and support each other.

How can you help?? 

- To volunteer immediately, email - nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name, email address and borough.
- The Red Cross is looking for shelter volunteers - visit nyredcross.org for sign-up information
- For other opportunities go to newyorkcares.org
- To donate money, visit salvationarmyusa.org
- The Humane Society is accepting donations (humanesociety.org)

Here are some other ways to help

My prayer for all:

May all be happy, may all be happy, may all be happy

May you be happy, may you be happy, may you be happy

Whether visible or invisible, may all beings be happy 

Of earth, of water, or of sky, may all be happy

Of all the direction may all be happy

May all be free from fear, animosity and insecurity

May all be happy, may all be happy, may all be happy