Mumbai Marathon

If only I could have laid my hands on the entry forms I would have been there participating in the Mumbai Marathon and not regretting that I could not take part in it.

Yes, this is true. The entry forms submission ended in the month of August itself, months ahead before the actual event took place. The thought of running in the marathon occurred to me in the month of October. I thought it would be a good way to do something different in the coming new year. Alas, my plans were cut short. I had planned to be there as a spectator and cheer others but that too did not work out.

I hope that next year, I am able to participate. Who knows, I might come first from behind and break some records. Do you think they keep a track of those timings too?? :))

Exploring the World Around You

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel
until he comes home and
rests his head on his old, familiar pillow"

— Lin Yutang

Am I different or my friends don't have the zeal to explore the world? I came across this thought when I told one of my friends that we should take a trip to a hill station located near to his native place which happens to be in Uttranchal. The way he answered said it all. An affirmative just to appease and did not meant it.

This was not first time when I asked him about the trip. My friends can vouch that I keep pestering them to go out and explore the places around. Every time I say that, the only word that I hear is "No". I don't know if they have other plans but at times there are just not interested.

I know that I could go out with my family, but things are different with them. The fun you have with your friends is not the same with family around. Don't you want to get out of your routine and see places never seen before and come back refreshed? I don't know why my friends don't think alike.

I have a simple philosophy. You live only once so why not take a moment to explore the scenic beauty, ancient places and the world around you. Guess my friends have a different take on life.

I do have to admit though, that some times being persistent helps. I found a friend who also likes to travel. The two of us went to explore the beaches of Goa and had great fun. Initially, we were a group of three planning to see the Taj Mahal, but plans changed and we landed up in Goa with the two of us.

We came up with the thought that we would travel to a new destination once a year. Last year I would have visited Kashmir, but I had to cancel my trip on the last minute due to unavoidable circumstances. My friends had a great time over there.

This year, I am planning to do something different. Planning to go on a trip alone. Also promised my family that I will take them to Taj Mahal this year. That does not mean that I will stop bugging my friends.

After all its the company you are in that makes your journey worthwhile to remember. Then they are times when you have to be on your own so that you could enjoy what you admire.

The Good, the Bad and Ugly of 2008

As the year comes to an end, I have decided to look back at the year 2008 and see how good, bad and ugly it was :)

When the year started, I thought this was a year that would change my life (I read too much of horoscopes to think about that). It sure changed my life. In the first month itself I was getting a lot of flak when I was not at fault. It was a sign of what was coming on my way.

The first few months had been hell. I did everything that would ensure my survival. I sure did survive. The one thing that I am still yearning for is appreciation. I don't know what it will take for others to appreciate. I don't know when that will happen. When it does, it would have surely lost its importance in my life or may be I will cherish it a lot.

Then the day came, when I realized it's not worth it. Day when I thought, I had enough and its time that I should do what was on my mind all the time. I should have done this earlier. The signs were there for me to see, it was just that I was still clinging on the small ray of light at the end of the tunnel.

I moved on. This year also made me realize how good I am. I always underestimated myself, but not any more. I got to see things, that I did not see before me, but were in front of me all the time. It was like living life all again. I enjoyed that period. Also came to know of ways how I can resurrect my life for the better.

Change is one thing that I am not good at dealing with. Something that is good to talk about, but hard to follow. Still I knew that its better to face it than run away from it. That is what I am doing now.

My flair for writing is the one thing that came out this year. You might have noticed it in the blog. I also tried my hand at poems, thought only people who are sensitive could do that. Guess what, I am sensitive too.

I also made amends with GOD. I had stopped praying because I was angry at him. Over the years it seemed that I started believing in him again especially Sai Baba which restored my faith in him Still I did not visited temples unless my family drags me to one. Then there were times when I would make plans to travel temples outside the city. I realized that I was no longer angry and that I should stop fooling myself. That's what I did. When I was small, I told GOD something which I believe he turned into a reality. I don't know of all the other prayers I said to him, why he choose that. He surely reminds me of that day everyday.

I have my fair share of happiness, sadness, despair and other emotions. I also realized that when you look at the bad phases of your life, don't forget to look at the good phases too, it evens out. Life is not that bad at all. Life is not standing in your way, you are. Like they say,

BE THE CHANGE

Hope the year 2009 turns out better. I have a feeling it would (had peeked into 2009 horoscopes).

WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR

AND

GOD BLESS YOU ALL