Hakuna Matata

With so many challenges doing the rounds over social media these days, the quotes challenge had caught my fancy. When I saw a blogger friend taking this up, I decided to give it a shot too. The rules are pretty straightforward - 

• Post for three consecutive days
• Post one to three quotes each day
• Challenge three buddies each day to face the challenge.

I shall stick to rules 1 and 2, and skip tagging fellow bloggers. 

Day 1, Quote 1

Disney movies are multifaceted. A child enjoys the beautiful narratives and animation, while an adult delves deeper and receives a different perspective. One such movie is the Lion King, which first introduced me to this lovely phrase, Hakuna Matata. The phrase traces back its origin from Swahili, which loosely means 'no worries'. 

When Simba was sad, his friends sung to him, Hakuna Matata-it means no worries for the rest of your days!

A problem-free life is a utopia. In the troughs of life, if we adopt the motto of Hakuna Matata, where in we try to convince ourselves, that this is the worst situation that we can ever be in, and happiness is the only thing what lies ahead, I believe we can climb the crest quite smoothly.

As a kid, I used to shout out Hakuna Matata, each time my mother used to be unhappy about me doing something unpleasant. Not because I knew what it meant, but because I knew Simba had learnt to worry less by following this simple motto.

Disney movies, I believe are great teachers. You rediscover characters and dialogues as you grow older. I would want to believe and stick to the motto - Hakuna Matata - as long as I can!

R.I.P, Dear Nexus

My phone has died. A death bad enough for it to be replaced. The replacement won't arrive until tomorrow. So, today was a day when I had no phone on me. No, not even an old backup unsmart phone. The thought was initially crippling. A whole day without my favourite gadget seemed quite a daunting and impossible task. 

Now with the day almost closing, let me account how the phoneless day went.

Problem 1 : Before hitting the bed last night, I wondered how I would wake up without the alarm buzzing off on my phone. 

Realization : After cell phones have arrived, bedside alarm clocks have taken a back seat. I still remember getting a pretty pink alarm clock as one of my birthday gifts when I was small.

Resolution : We all are equipped with something wonderful called the body clock. I was up today slightly earlier than my daily alarm goes off. 

Conclusion : We should try being a little less dependent on a mobile phone.

Problem 2 : I was not able to book an Uber/Ola while going to work.

Realization : Travel has become so much simpler after it has become a one-click affair. Even a year ago, I would not have booked a cab via an app, rather taken the traditional means of transport.

Resolution : I had to wait for autos, struggle convincing multiple drivers, before one kind soul decided to drop me to work for a reasonable sum of money.

Conclusion : Travel apps have indeed made our lives simpler in cities like Hyderabad where the public transport scenario is pretty sad.

Problem 3 - I was not able to make/take calls, send/receive messages and/or surf the net or read books or do Anything at all!
Realization - : Being connected to the world has become a part and parcel of life. To that extent, that we don't realise it until we are missing it. It's like suddenly missing a finger!
Resolution - This had no resolution. I took no calls today, read no texts today. Logged on to the internet only at the end of the day when I reached home.
Conclusion - Surprisingly, it was a happy day. No unnecessary home loan calls, or BOGO pizza sms! Also, I had one less thing to carry while going out for tea breaks at work.

We have become too dependant on this small piece of gadget. Sometimes, such days are a welcome break!

LDR and All That Saga

There shall be an everlasting debate on whether long distance relationships work or are they the recipe for disaster. Some may say that they have survived the distance and come across as a strong, loving couple, while others may argue that romance and geographical distance do not go hand in hand. 

Without a second thought, we can come to the basic agreement that maintaining a long distance relation (LDR) is definitely not a cake walk. Whether it is a success or not, largely depends upon the actors in the relation. You can't go out for dinner dates or coffee breaks, you cannot snuggle together on the couch and watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S, you cannot hug, kiss or caress if you want to. You cannot rush to your loved one in times on distress or joy. You cannot spend lazy afternoons doing just nothing, yet feeling comfortable with the person's presence around you. It becomes a relationship sans any kind of physical intimacy. 

"Distance makes the heart grow fonder" - Simone Elkeles, Perfect Chemistry

"Distance makes the mind go cranky" - Apala Sengupta

The entire relationship revolves around how well you can communicate. That's the only pillar of survival for LDRs. Text messages, emails, phone calls, video calls...technology has provided us with all the possible modes to keep the lamp of love burning. How well we use it is the real challenge here. Emoticons are man's second best invention after the wheel! Loving, feeling loved, shy, angry, hungry, wicked, constipated you name it, it's there. And one click, it's there on your lover's notifications. You feel like hugging your partner, send an open armed emoticon. You want to kiss your lover, send the pout-lipped emoticon. And voila! you virtually get physically connected!

Jokes apart, LDRs are not something repulsive. All you need is the correct amalgamation of patience, trust, communication skills, respect and faith. LDRs are an experience in themselves and they are great teachers too. 

I have been in a long distance relationship with my seven-year-old boyfriend for the last four years. There have been sunny and rainy days. If I plot a graph of our journey so far, it will look quite like a sine curve - with its occasional highs and lows. We fight, we retract into our respective shells for some time (ranging from few hours to few days), we get back together again. It is all because of a promise that we had made to ourselves four years back, that whatever it takes, we shall make this relationship work out, in spite of the distance. 

I have friends around me who have had bitter experiences with LDRs. I have a handful of advice for them and those who would like to take!

How to make a Long Distance Relation work

1. Be verbal and expressive - Communication is the backbone of your relationship. Always share what's going on in your mind, how ever trivial the matter may be. Sometimes your partner may not be able to render you help because of the distance, but you shall be assured that there is that one person to encourage and support you emotionally in whatever you do.

2. Video chat at least once in a week - Take out a slice of your time from your busy schedule and connect through a video chat. It virtually makes you feel physically connected. Texts and chats are never enough to convey emotions. Being able to see each other while talking makes things slightly simpler. 

3. Send occasional letters and gifts - Letters may be old fashioned, but each one of us still love receiving them. Once in a while surprise your partner buy mailing them surprises like hand written letters or small hand made gifts, or any other thing that you think he/she may like. This small gesture shows your love and care and the connection that is shared between the partners.

4. Trust, Trust, Trust - Being in two different places will always lead to having your own group of friends. Do not soldier around each other when plans are made to hang out with friends. But also make sure your partner knows whom you are going out with, so that you do not leave behind any chance of misunderstanding. 

Four simple steps to keep the relationship alive. It is an investment with a high incentive - the immense joy when you get to see each other after days of separation! 

Do you still feel LDR is a bad monster that cannot be tackled?

...and for the love of Words!

He encouraged. He nagged. He chided.
She cribbed. She denied. She refused.

He wanted her to come out of the cocoon and paint the world with words.
And she abhorred the idea of leaving her warm abode and venture out.

He wanted her to write.
And she didn't know how to.

He retired for the night.
She sat at her desk.

He dreamt about her dancing letters forming a story. Their story.
She chewed the pen till it had ugly scars.

He slept with a calm countenance.
She doodled on the empty notebook.

--------

His slumber was interrupted by the morning sun.
She was gone.

He was happy. He smiled.
An open notebook, doodles all over. And...

"This story is about a little girl who couldn't write, and a little boy who made sure she did.
This story is about a little girl who thought she couldn't write, and a little boy who made sure she didn't feel so.
This story is about a little girl who learnt how to write, and a little boy who made sure she kept doing so.
This story is about a little girl and a little boy who shared the love for words."

He smile. Again. He knew he succeeded. Again.

Dear Diary - Page 1

THE ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 18

Dear Diary,

I am a little happy and a little sad. I will tell you why I am happy and also why I am sad. 

Happy first,ok?

1. I will turn six on Sunday. Mama says we shall have a party. I am happy.
2. Buster licked my face today. He does that everyday. And I am happy.
3. I got two As at school today. Mama kissed me for that. Yes yes, that made me happy.
4. Irene invited me to her place on friday night for a pyajama party! Yippee! I am so so happy.
5. I have finished all my homework for tomorrow and Mama said I can watch TV for a longer time today! Happy happy happy! 

Now sad, ok?

1. Mama got me a packet of M&Ms. Orange is my favourite colour. And the packet had no orange M&Ms. Can you believe it? I am so sad.
2. I pinched Liza because she pulled my hair. Mama said I am naughty. I cried. I am sad.
3. I had two pink butterfly hair clips. Now one is gone. Mama doesn't know, but I am sad. 

Ok, only 3 sad and 5 happy things. So, I am more happy, less sad. I know 3>5 3 < 5, I learnt it at school. Now I will go and watch cartoon. I painted today afternoon, pasting it below for you, dear diary. 

Bye bye,

Love,

Me.

This post is written for Write Tribe - The Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 18