Yet another year is over ...
I am now Twenty Eight years old!
I don't consciously feel it yet. But I know it has happened - know it not just from the number but also because of where and how I am in life.
The Twenty Seventh year was a testimony to that.

Prominent Achievements:

1. I bought a car - not a starting, base segment car, but a decent mid segment hatchback. FINALLY!
   AND, I've paid off the loan for it, so it's completely mine now!
2. The story I wrote got published (again, finally!) - Crystal Cacophony
   So I'm one step closer to the dream ;)
3. I switched jobs. I finished exactly 3 years with my last organization, and now I'm in yet another brilliant organization with an amazing multinational team, with a bigger scope of responsibility and getting to do all that I love!
4. I went as a Guest Speaker - to a university, to speak to a bunch of  MBA grad students.

Happy Things:

1. I have learned to drive comfortably now. (Thanks to very patient friend who helped expedite this process!)
2. I wrote and blogged more over the last year - happy to be writing a lot again!
3. I tasted some amazing yummy food - ate a lot!
4. Family, as always was there anytime needed :)
5. I have good friends - and I'm blessed to have them!

Major Regrets:

1. Having to let go of a few really amazing people who were in my life. For not being able to like/ love them as much as they did me, and the imbalance was obviously not fair on any of us.
2. No international travel last year
3. I didn't stand up strong enough for myself during a case of harassment.  
4. I ate too much :/ And didn't balance it with working out enough. 

Major Lessons Learnt:

1. Life goes on.
2. No point complaining if you're not going to do something about it!
3. If I want something, really want something, I can find it by all means available to me
4. Gifts don't necessarily buy love. Neither does good food. But Food is closer.

27

That was the year when I experienced an actual flood. Saw water surround the house. We were some of the lucky ones who didn't incur heavy damage. 

That was the year when the biggest awesome things that happened to me were almost all in my control - it made me realize that being a grown-up is not so bad after all. Being single and accomplished is something I am - something I am proud of. 

27

Personal life wise - very calm. Maintained status quo. Maybe I needed that stability there while I established professionally. And now I'm ready to make things happen in this arena as well. Maybe!

Twenty Seven ...in retrospect, you've been a good year!

You've helped me dig deep into myself to find the courage, resilience, will power and positivity to march on ahead. For that, thank you :)

Look forward to how the Twenty Eight is going to be!

Yours always,

Someday's Dreamer 

Stigmatized

I have been seen as a rebel. Especially where I work currently, as I stand up for or against quite a few things. As the corporate culture ambassador and an Anti Discrimination and Anti Harassment Committee member, I’ve always felt it is my duty. I know that there are some things I haven’t been able to change, but there are those I can at least try to change.

This morning, after an event, I put up the following status message on facebook:

Experienced first hand religious discrimination today, when I pointed out to my friend in the office bus that religious music should not be played, as we are a secular organization. He tells me “India is a Hindu country, ‘you’ people have encroached here”

#Issecularismdead ?

Sad state of affairs in the country.

That friend did not call to apologize or retract what he said. Or to say anything at all.

The post attracted many comments from many who supported my stance – some strongly, and some who asked me to just let it go. None of my colleagues who are on my fb list replied to it, or acknowledged it. Which was fine. That was expected.

However, as the friend in question and I usually have lunch together along with the rest of the friends gang in the main building, I decided to not eat lunch there, and go to the canteen instead. [I am the only girl in that gang]

What saddened me however was that when I called someone else to inform that I will not be coming to lunch with them, I got an “Ok” before he hung up, with no other questions asked. This from the same person who pesters me with “Why aren’t you eating?”s when I eat 90% my normal quantity. It was sad, but I let it go then.

The others from the group also didn’t smile at me when they saw me.

I got back from lunch. An hour and a half later, after no word yet from the second friend, who I consider myself quite close – I decided why should I show my ego here, after all, I had no fight with him. So I call him over the intercom and this is how that went:

Him: Hello

Me: Hello, are you angry at me or something?

Him: Why did you put it up on Facebook?

Me: I felt like it, so I did

Him: But that’s wrong no

Me: Boss, the one did the mistake was him

Him: I was sleeping then (in the office bus), and I didn’t know what happened between you two. You both should talk it out. You shouldn’t have put it on facebook.

Me: Well, he hasn’t tried to talk anything to me so far

Him: But you putting it on facebook was wrong no

Me: Anyway..okay..bye

Him: Okay bye

Now here I am, writing. Wondering

• -          What about what he said? Was it so insignificant to all of you(office gang), that you think it’s all my fault?! That, I’m making a big deal out of it?
• -          Did they ever consider me their friend at all? Nobody seems to care enough to even want to talk to me.
• -          Did the friend in question really think he could say something like that, and I would brush it off?
• -          To be a person with a social group, is it mandatory to be a social conformist who overlooks many flaws of the group, even those that sometimes personally attack individuals and groups?

There is a quote that goes “The person who wins an ego match is the one who loses”

Maybe some loses are worth the win. Collateral Damage. Or a sieve to find your real friends.

Who knows. Can’t tell.

The battle for Secularism will wage on.

I wonder how this more personal one will turn out though. 

27 Things To Do When 27

1. Travel to at least one foreign country
2. Become fitter
3. Get a boy friend
4. Figure out what next in life professionally
5. Help as many people as possible
6. Go on a vacation alone
7. Create a solid savings as a back up plan
8. Write at least 27 stories
9. Eat healthier
10. Be a nicer person
11. Get eye laser surgery done
12. Learn swimming
13. Read more
14. Learn to drive in the city - comfortably (in the day time ;) )
15. Get a car!!!
16. Learn to bake cookies
17. Learn to make different and complete cakes with icing
18. Learn to make a 3 course meal
19. Contribute to the society
20. Stitch more
21. Paintings: Acrylic, doodle & pastel
22. Record the happy memories
23. Learn to invest - and invest
24. Learn to use make up
25. Make time for people
26. Fight less
27. Be positive. Brush useless things off. Be happy.