Happy New Year

Dear Readers,

Happy New Year 2015.

Every year, we take a resolution. This resolution continues for days, months in exceptional cases even a year. I am here to talk about the difficulties that we face in order to complete the resolution. It requires a change in the way we think, in the way we work. It requires a change in mindset. Once you change your mindset, then everything will change, then New Year will be actually new for you. Otherwise it is gonna be the same old you and same Year  with a diff date and it’s also possible that nothing is happy in that.

Now the question is How to change the Mindset?

Let me take an easy example: Diet

Many people take New Year resolution of joining a gym, which they continue for a month or 2 and then again take U turn towards their old life. You have to remove this U turn from your life. Don’t set a very big goal that may become un-achieve-able and you have to turn back. 80% people goes to gym in order to lose weight and among them 70% returns by gaining weight. Since they stop going after some time. So set a goal that you can achieve.

Here are few simple resolutions that you might like to take.

No need to take a resolution on yearly basis, set small goals. Say, take one of the below resolution for just a month and then continue if you can.

1.     Get Physical

Physical exercises doesn’t mean only going gym. Include some physical exercise in day to day life. Use stairs, clean your house, etc.

2.     Eat smarter and Simpler

If you are a bachelor and cooking yourself, eat healthy foods like capsicum, leafy vegetables, and turmeric. If you are married, go with whatever your partner prepares, try to have less selective. In case you belong to a foody city like me, it’s difficult but necessary.

3.     Connect with People

Throw off your digital screens in one corner, go out, mingle with your neighbors. Be a social animal, not a screen maniac. I tried to put this one into practice today, it was a failed experiment, but considering my location constraints it’s understandable. I live in US, here people don’t even know who their neighbor is. Strange but true fact. We should talk to stranger and make a new friend at least weekly or monthly. Sometimes, it can turn out funny.

I think with this very important note, we should take leave for the day and make a new friend today. Post below if you really find one.

Trip to Bhutan: Dhai Ghante

Bhai Bhai

Remembering to remember is Mindfulness.

I was all set to catch my connecting train from Patna to NJP, but the scary- North East express train had new adventure waiting for me. Its a typical UP, Bihari train, its sleeper is like general coach with people falling here and there. I was welcomed by my friends in a confusing situation, they were happy to receive me on one and had sad situations of berth and Conference on the other. Our crew also had one less berth (thanks to Bhampi), somehow we managed to sleep for 2-3 hours. Since our train was running late, so it was difficult for us to clear border on time and in that case, we would reach the conference one day late. So we had a lot in our mind, one less berth, tension on loosing Conf in a heavy train with no water and charging points. All were tensed, but I was enjoying it, as to me Journey was important and not the destination. 

As Always, Style Me

From morning we started inquiring about the time to reach New Jalpaiguri. Whenever we asked anyone they used to say, its gonna take Dhai Ghante (2 and half hours) which almost took 5 hours to complete. When we completed the so called dhai ghante and reached NJP, we moved from there as soon as we can so that we may reach venue in time. Here comes the role of Military girl, as we were coming out of station, she caught 2 military personnel and started making Military arrangements for us to reach Jaigaon (Border station), she talked in such a strict way, as if she was their commanding Officer and ordering them to book a cab as soon as they can. We were again on the move. We still had a chance to make up to border and complete immigration formalities on time as their was an official letter sent for 6 of us by our mentor Hashi mam. On reaching Jaigaon we divided our team and started searching for forms and formalities to be completed.

Close UP

NOTE: Immigration forms are available on the side of the border gate (a gate with dragons) in a book 

shop, you have to fill the form, staple your photo (don’t stick), attach a photocopy of Govt. ID proof 

(Voter ID, Passport will work) and enter in Phuntsholing (border city on Bhutan’s side), go to 

immigration office, they will take down details and your photo. They will verify details from original 

cards and provide you the paper permit. Office closes at 4:30 P.M. 

As there was an official request placed for us, officials allowed us to complete formalities at 4:30 also. 

Again we divided our team, one team was looking for a cab from Phuntholing to Paro, another was getting money exchanged, and third was looking at the luggage. Although exchange is almost equal and not required, still I insists to use the local money wherever you are, it helps in markets and public services. We had our dinner in pure veg restaurant as we didn't had anything from a day, but that made us a little bit late to start and reach Paro in time. 

Gore Chehre pe kaala chashma

When we started the journey, Anna was sitting at front seat, but he was feeling sleepy so driver made him go back and obviously I had to take care of the front seat. Although, I also didn't slept much in last 2 days, but I was the only one. In addition to all of these, our driver wasn't experienced to drive in night, so he was also feeling sleepy after some time. 

Kya Kehne

It was a really scary situation, all in mood of sleep, we were driving in mountainous region, one side mountain, other side valley, and to spice all this, road was completely covered with clouds. We didn't had visibility of even 10 meters. Frankly speaking, I was scared to death at one point. Driver was able to cover the foggy track without feeling sleepy but as the night was moving on, he was feeling more and more sleepy, I kept on asking him some Qs about Bhutan, so that he doesn't feel sleepy. There was a time, when I was hell tired and exhausted of Qs, so I started asking him things that I already knew. Even I told him to stop at some place and take rest if he wishes to, else let me drive. That was a tough situation. 

In all such adverse situations, we reached Paro.