25 things about ME: An exercise

So there was this sweet lil activity spreading around on Facebook (dont know who started it!) One was supposed to write 25 random things about themselves and post it for the virtual world to know more about them. But while posting it, you needed to tag your friends who you would like to tell about themselves too. And they in turn would tag more people while posting about themselves. Sort of a chain thingy.

Whatever it was, I first thought it was very juvenile and didn't care about it. Until, I read my friend's post about herself. I thought it was really informative and thought it would be a fun exercise nevertheless. so I sat down digging into my memory pockets, trying to pull 25 facts about myself. It was like re-discovering myself all over again... sometimes we forget the little things of life, given that we have 'no time to stand and stare'.

And there I was surprising myself with all the things I could think of about myself. Well, its nothing out of the ordinary. But it still meant much for me to let my thoughts loose.... and write! sort of a catharsis.

so yes, when I posted it, first of all, I never thought anybody would even care to read it. But ironically, the response was astounding! Everyone said it helped them know me better. Some even said that it seemed like such a fun and interesting exercise that they were motivated to do the same. So seems like I started a little chain of my own.... So below, is a piece of the same.

Do read it if you can ..... or not.

But my sincere advice..... at least take some time out , think deep, pick a pen and paper or even the notepad on your comp. But start writing down 25 things about yourself. Anything you wish. Don't think about who's reading it (you dont need to share it). But let your mind wander into your childhood, let loose those thoughts that affected you the most. Get it down. And then read it carefully when you're done. And then, watch you surprise yourself.

Just try it. And i'm sure you'll feel good! :-)

Below is mine.

Ok..So got tagged in a couple of times and HAD to write about myself..
Feels like I’m writing an autobiography or something!...but what the heck…read if you care.

Here goes….

1. I have a very picturesque memory so I can remember ‘serious’ details from my childhood and my growing up..right from things I did as a very little kid to emotions I felt growing up..even dialogues I had with friends, music I listened to at a particular time related to a particular memory.
…and that surprises a lot of people.

2. I was extremely shy and hid behind my mom if anyone came up to talk to me for the longest time in my life, I got bullied by my lil’ cousin sis all the time and came back home crying almost everyday…Tru..are u reading this??!
It took me very long to actually stand up for myself and actually learn to not take crap from anyone…today it’s a whole new ballgame! :-)

3. I am a HUUGE foodie…love all kinds of cuisines, and almost always crave for different kinds of stuff. You can feed me a good Biryani everyday! Its my biggest weakness! And I have a large sweet tooth as well…and yes Shami Kebabs…don’t know why…im crazy abt those!

4. I have a mad, whacky sense of humor which very few people get. The others think im crazy.

5. I am very philosophical as a person, I believe that people come into your life for a reason, both good and bad and contribute a great deal in forming your persona. I can talk plenty on this but that will be another 125 things!

6. I have learnt a lot in life, by seeing my own family struggle through serious hardships. My parents are made of steel, and they faced a lot of tough times and amazingly shielded both my brother and me beautifully without even letting us realize it. They still do, only, they believe we are still the tiny kids who don’t see it….but we do.
They are my life!

7. My brother is one of my biggest pillars of strength. He’s been more of a daddy to me than a brother. Always telling me what to do, but I love him for setting me on the right track and cannot thank him enough for helping me step onto the right career and also make the right decisions in life. Phew! I almost fell victim to peer pressure and probably would have been doing nothing in life had it not been for his yelling which I resented at that time!

8. Now the 4th pillar’s gotta be Vik!..He chased me relentlessly and patiently till I finally said yes..and I love him for that! How we hooked up is another story!...His best friend, ‘gorgeous’ Raj had been singled out by my friends who wanted to see me hook up with SOMEONE considering I was the only single gal in the group. They tried to play cupid and planned this whole thingy where Raj and his friends were to drop in a ‘just passing by’ situation. And when they got out of the car, my gaze went straight to Vik and I asked “Is that Raj”?? The rest is history!

9. I still have those silly cards and letters that Vik wrote me/designed himself, actually I use those to embarrass him today! Haha!! (I knew they’d come handy!)

10. I had these profound thoughts when I read Dr Brian Weiss’ “Messages from the masters”, and since then have always analysed people’s presence in my life. I feel an instant connection with some and then again some not. This helps me realize that they were a part of my past life in some way. If you don’t get this one…skip to the next! (pun intended)

11. I love traveling….Egypt was one place I wanted to see all my life and when I did see it last year, nothing made me happier. Now if only France and London cld be added…(Vik! Are u reading this?!! ;-))

12. Rain makes me very happy..it brings back beautiful childhood memories where we trudged in deep water with our gumboots on, made paper boats and sailed them. And prayed hard for the floods so we didn’t have to go to school! Everytime it rains I stand by the window and watch it just like I did when I was kid.

13. I love to cook…and I make a mean Italian meal. The people who survived it will tell you about it. I love baking too..and have this mad thing of collecting recipes from everywhere! I have so much stuff (recipe books, cuttings etc.) that I don’t know where to keep them.

14. Friends to me are extremely important. I hold onto them very tightly through good times and bad. I have always ensured they are a huge part of my life…I work very hard towards staying connected as well. All of you are right here on FB with me as we read this. People from my childhood, people from my school, college, the several jobs I worked in, and the ones I met after, I hold onto them dearly.
Some I lost due to situations and silly egos etc..but I made sure that in time I grabbed that hand and pulled them back in my heart.
I can do anything for people who are my good buddies..and trust me..thats a large list!

15. I am a true-blue scorpion… I love with all my heart. Im possessive and extremely passionate about anything I do and guard the one’s I love with the might of a lioness.

16. I believe everyone’s essentially good…they are only bad to u because of circumstances. And if you care enough…go resolve it.

17. I have always had a very happy-go-lucky attitude…and that gives me strength to face anything.
Maybe that’s because I saw my parents always smile through the toughest times and learnt from it.

18. I never forget a favor done to me or a kind word spoken to me by somebody. And that person stays in my life always. Basically, I’ll do anything for u if ur nice to me.

19. I loved drawing/sketching and as a kid made amazing portraits of people. I kinda lost that art somewhere due to other things in life that kept me busy. Need to seriously revive it.

20. I Have a mad passion for photography, take fabulous pictures (Its all abt being at the right place at the right time!) and ull find my camera stuck to me all the time for any occasion or even when I randomly step out. This makes my friends tease me…but they usually shut up when they see my systemized record of pictures taken at different times since forever. I have almost every moment of my life captured..I even have a record of photos of every friend of mine in my life. Of close buddies and others, childhood until now.
Now how many ppl have that??

21. One of my all time favorite movies is French Kiss starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline…I have lost count of how many times I have watched it..I even know the dialogues by heart!

22. ‘I drove all night’ by Roy Orbison is one of my most fav songs ever!! I listen to it over and over again when im driving..it totally peps me up. Okok! I confess!...I sing with it too!!! Really loud.
Another one is “Don’t you (forget abt me)” by Simple minds.

23. I truly believe that staying fit is so important not only from a health perspective, but also for your self-confidence. I was paunchy, flabby and generally didn’t care abt it since Kashish was born. Then one day 2.5 yrs ago someone asked me how pregnant I was (I wasn’t!!!!!) and that hit me so hard, I dropped everything…literally..and started working out like crazy! Besides changing my body…it changed me completely. I felt a new high that I never did before..and that I wont let go forever now!

24. U guys still reading?? Hmm….
speaking of reading…I loved to read but now with the lack of time, I cant but still collect interesting books hoping I WILL read someday! Although I collect magazines like crazy and don’t junk it till I have scanned it cover to cover. So yeah, lack of time and all that…I end up having heaps of magazines which I stow away till I actually finish going thru them.

25. I believe that we make our own destiny. At every juncture in our life we face a two-way road which leads us to the future of our choice. Depending on the road we choose, our life takes that course, so blaming fate is not the done thing.
I certainly hope to god that besides absorbing all the good qualities in life, my daughter makes the right decisions for her future as well.

26. Lastly I have immense faith in the Supreme Being. Although I pray to Lord Ganesha at all times, I believe in every other form as well.
But we are here because somebody out there who wants us to be here. So make the most of what we have been given. Live and let live, make the most of each day. Go to bed happy and wake up charged the next day because it’s another new day that we get to enjoy.