My New Year Resolutions

This is the first time I am resolving to do something at the beginning of a year. When I  googled ‘new year resolution’, it seemed that most of the people fail to keep them. This was no surprise, having procrastinated going to the gym endlessly, waiting for the 1st of next month, next monday to start writing that blog, it seemed very natural.

Then the challenge for a first timer is to ensure you don’t end up being on the side of the majority and I found this  piece by Robert Nahas very helpful. He suggests three things i) Set realistic goals ii)strategise and iii)write a plan. I have pondered over these points and my resolutions over the past couple of weeks; have tried to keep resolutions diverse, quantify the goals and looks like I have a plan.

1. Read works of atleast 12 Indian authors.

This resolution is inspired from @A_B_Morgan’s resolution to read a piece of literature from every country on the planet. In this TED, she talked of her experiences trying to find translated works from all different languages used. Given the geographical and cultural diversity of India, I think it will be interesting to read from all the 29 states. In this year, I will try to cover atleast 12 states and I will try my best to strike a balance in terms of  geography, genres and gender.

2. Use non-motorised mode of transport to commute to/from office for atleast 150 trips

I can easily cycle to office and though it’s a little effort to walk, I have tried both in the past. I never kept a track of it though. This year I will keep a track and positively revise the number during the course of the year.

3. Take Poonam out on a date atleast once a month.

Though we go out often, being a good wife she often complains that I don’t take interest in finding a new place or even choosing between the options she finds out. Besides, I don’t mind going to the same good known restaurant again and again, but she loves to explore new places. So I promise my better half that I’ll take interest in doing to required research and take her to a new place every single time.

4. Be in touch with family and friends. Call and meet more often

I know I fail miserably in keeping touch with my closed ones. I promise that I will try to improve. Between you can also help me keeping this resolution by calling me regularly 😉

5. 12 days of social service and a minimum weekly donation

I have been wanting to start volunteering with some NGO for some time but haven’t started as yet. Will gather all the steam this year and start.

I have been donating annually in memory of dad but wish to do this with more involvement. I am sure will not donate cash, but use this sum to provide food, clothing, stationery, etc. to less privileged people.

6. Click and post atleast 26 good pictures

As with my other hobbies, I haven’t seriously pursued photography. I hope to click more frequently this year and hopefully get some clicks exhibited.

7. Run a half/full Marathon

This is the most challenging of all my resolutions. I really hope to run for unity this year

Making lists is a great way to remember things and stay focussed. And letting your friends and family know what’s on your list  is also a good way to build a positive pressure to perform. Hopefully this positive pressure will help me fulfill my resolutions for 2016.

My Dad, My Hero

I have been thinking of this blog for quite a while now, somehow just could not get started. Now that I am finally taking the plunge decided to dedicate the first one to my very first teacher on his anniversary.

For any toddler, the first hero is generally his/her dad; same was with me. Though I always have considered myself less fortunate than my siblings who always had him besides when they were growing up. I could only be with him during vacations as I did stayed with my Nana as the school there was better. Nonetheless spending vacations with him was special and a new learning experience every single time. He didn’t have to take much efforts, he just had to live his way; that was itself the learning.

As a child though I found him very strict about our studies, our conduct and just about everything. I was never allowed to take a leave and go to spend weekends with mom and him. During vacations, it was absolutely compulsory to help him in the shop from noon to 5 once we were old enough.  However we also enjoyed all the freedom that was needed at that age; which tuitions to take or not to take, which exams (other than the compulsory ones) to appear for, extra-curricular activities, etc.  It was his way of preparing us for our life ahead.

As I grew he was more of a friend; could tell him almost everything and anything going in my mind, he was always there. His patience with me when I failed to clear an examination gave me a lot of strength not only to utilize the break positively but also come back strongly.

There are many more things that I could learn from his conduct, he made no distinction between my sister and brother; they had their turns on doing household work including cleaning and mopping our home, doing beds and everything. This was very ironical to the situation at my nana’s place where boys were abhorred from helping moms but were encouraged to help dads in their shops. He was always a businessman; spending wherever required but saving wherever possible. He was never short of resources for us but thought a hundred times before he spent a penny for himself.

But one thing that I failed to learn from him was to give time to people. He had time for everybody; family, friends, relatives, relatives of relatives, acquaintances of relatives and everybody on the earth. After we moved to Nasik, brother and I would prefer that one of us accompany him so that he is not needed to travel in shared autos or buses (ya he would never take a special auto; save wherever possible).  Then, I used to find this very annoying; our 15 minute walk/ride would never finish in time. It was only after he passed away that I realized the magnanimous number of friends and acquaintances he had gathered in his lifetime.

This quality of you Dad, I may never have. You were my hero dad and will always be. And I know I can always count on you..