Sunday, 14 September 2025

My dear boy...u will be a fine man one day!

There are many things that can rattle you up in a day. I go through this quite often and then end up in tears at times, with everything just accumulating in my head..thinking about things like, who will be there for me when I grow old, what companionship would I have , would I not. I feel scared at times..money definitely cant buy many things right? I of course know that, I dont run behind money ; infact I know how futile it is in moments when I dont get the support I need from people around, when I just look for someone who shares my wavelength to sit and talk, not judge me, not taunt me....lets me be who I am. and I dont find it many a time...I feel awful, but then God reminds me....of soooo many things that I have going fine in my life too while many dont have many things. So its always about- reminding oneself of HOW blessed we are and HOW many people dont have what we take for granted 


My own dad--- who lives in uncertainty every other day/night of what might come upon on the health front with my mom. 

My own mom...who is far from being ok. God knows when that sofa gets stained, when her cough kicks in, when her bladder pains, when her legs will ever stop paining.......

and so many more....why do I even need more ?My issues are petty

I have a lovely adorable son who brightens me up in so many days. He fills the void of the company I look for, of the human around whom Id like to be, of the person who is sensitive and of the person who Im certain and pray ..will grow up to be a FINE man one day



You do soo many cute things my dear one. You surprise me in ways I can never think of. You have a heart, you have a mind and above all ...a trait so missing in many...empathy. May you preserve this Gold treasure of yours.....you are BLESSED my cutie

Look at this!

Last evening, you insisted you'd come out to a brewery- I told u no- but I guess u wanted to come out to eat something. In the auto - u tried to make me feel better , after a small tiff with pappa and you kept saying, "dont worry ..see other people on the road...ur much better"..aww my cutie.. then u told me to come more inside and not get wet. When we were not allowed to come in, you had the courtesy to apologize...my ! it takes a heart chikki, to think this ..do u even know that ?!

Then we come home and I make a dinner for u..potato wrap ( I dont pride myself at all on food ! ) Yet you praised me so much , gave me such a thoughtful kiss and told me a thank you. I have seen that kuttu, every time you do realize these things, you ALWAYS say a thank you.💘 . You just rock

Then this Monday we had a bit of an argument..You did not let me use your room and then I left in a flurry to office. evening I was welcomed by this...... i cannot tell you how much Im proud ..i have so much to learn from you. Your GENEROUS with your apology and keep your little ego aside...its a gift da


And these little tit bit notes that you share asking for the phone


Or the really cutie songs that you say! 
About colleagues in my office.....
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zsC_6Aful6w

Or your insights about thatha :) so on point !!
https://youtube.com/shorts/S1EncFaa1HE

How IMPRESSIVELY you learnt the Bhagwad Gita chapter 15, 15 slokas
and even so beautifully recited it to Balavihar aunty 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFoiC3ROwvk

Or the cute patriotic song u sang :)
https://youtube.com/shorts/rVRRbz9mGWM

and you really tried hard to get this telugu stuff. !! Keep it up da sweety pie
https://youtube.com/shorts/BYfb07SEvPM

And so responsibly you call up and inform your whereabouts 🙏

You brighten me up ! thank you. !!!!!!💛💜💚💙💖





And in imperfection lies beauty- Aug 23rd 2025

There is a beautiful saying in my office as I enter the floor where I work. It reads "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in"

Its a wonderful reminder that nothing need be perfect...nothing is and only then one shines..

This weekend was mine...for my art..for my interest ..in the perfect place I find peace and happiness in...Mumbai Music Mridangam and Me. wow. 4Ms....seems like I have found my zen of life.

I posted about this on LinkedIn and bringing the same goodness here....after all its my experience right :) 


This week has been a magical one. It had 3 of the 4Ms that define my passion :) Mumbai, Music, Mridangam [the 4th M -Marghazhi season in Chennai!]. In a day filled with demands of work and home responsibilities, these passion areas add the much needed zing to keep the rest going. Music has always been my go to and more so Carnatic Classical, which I always fallback on for energy.

One of the more important accompaniments to a Carnatic vocal concert, the mridangam has been my favourite given my love for beats and rhythm. Aside from being my birthplace, Mumbai holds a special place in my heart with Mridangam. To channel my interest I (re)started learning this art form online from my Guru Rohit Prasad, based in Mumbai, during Covid in 2020. Learning a percussion instrument online isn't easy and more so maybe not the recommended way too. But then we can't always seek an ideal route to make things happen.
Its been close to 5 years now and this August marked 25 years of my Guru’s and his peer’s journey in this art form and we celebrated it with
hashtag
mridangarpanam. I had the honor of playing along with 23 other students in the famed halls of Shanmukhananda Sabha in Mumbai. While it was a 20 min collective rendering, it was a moment that filled my heart and is here to stay.

Why do I post this here? Well no good reason, but maybe gratitude? Maybe because there are many reasons behind why ‘we show up’ daily and to pay it back with a huge thanks to my Guru Rohit Prasad for enabling this one.
For, giving me an opportunity to play live on stage right in the front row, very well knowing it was my 1st time, having played online the last 5 yrs
For, that word of encouragement every other weekend when I attend classes without practice after a long exhausting week, telling me “ Don't worry- the fact that you turn up for class is good enough” or “Your finger placements have improved” or “Ho jayega, tension math lo”
Thank you sir 🙏 and to my family Mala Raj CLMP Raj Raman @Jaya who were part of my moment. And to Harish Krishnan, for encouraging Mumbai rain updates and tips to conquer imperfections while playing :)
The icing on the cake was a photograph with Carnatic stalwarts Malladi Brothers and a compliment on how I played.These memories make it all worthwhile!

A snippet https://lnkd.in/gwdjV-MX

Coverage in Mumbai’s Local news channel https://lnkd.in/gDxKiQwP

Wednesday, 1 January 2025

To a GRATEFUL and GREAT-FUL start 2025

It feels like this year went by really fast ! 2024..... but most often we say this ..and then the next year comes and then the next..... life goes by and eventually we realise there is no different LIFE..that we need /are waiting for..THIS IS it.....

2024 has been good to me... I have had my job intact, infact got an elevated role at work...my son has grown more emotionally mature, my parents are with me, touch wood and they are doing fine...we bought a new car ...I was able to go and spend time with Namitha in the US, had a good vacation in Tahoe...but above all a very fulfilling end to the year- November ..we raised close to 11.5 lacs from Google's donation drive for kutty Shreeram's trust 💗...and in December I had a fantastic time in Chennai listening to Marghazi concerts uninterrupted for 3 days !! So so so good !! 



                                                   @Vani Mahal. Ramakrishna Murthy
@Music Academy for Kruthi Bhatt
                                                        @Charsur w/ Ashwath Narayanan
And now to 2025

Instead of always "looking for" life to be good to me let me think of what I can do "better". Last year's post actually at the same time was good itself to serve relevant for this year- but no harm in repeating no?

a) Less time on Facebook and social media- maybe every Friday sounds ok?

b) I dont want to work myself up with office work...please God. I dont want to stress myself up and land up with a poor eyesight

c) I dont need to be "GOOD"...I need to get better. Every time let me not operate with "I will be in danger" mode at work. 

d) Your are a WHOLE- beyond work....there is so much to you as a person- So let me not try to be a version of someone else.....I AM ME...GOD MADE ME...let me be grateful for who I am

e) Let me not procrastinate....and put out tougher work for later...there is no point..what has to get done, has to.

f) Let me prioritize sleep over anything else non value adding- especially mobile phone browsing.....this is such a waste of time seriously

g) What is not in my control.....(not too tough to discern if i think a little)..let me not break my head over it. 

h) I DONT NEED to look good for someone...LET ME BE ME

i) Spiritual health over anything else .... keep time for a quiet prayer for 2 min atleast every day

j) 20 Surya Namaskarams every day to start 

Om sri Chinmaya sadguru ve Namah