Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on

I recently came across this article...and absolutely loved it. Even though it's from 2006 and many of you might have already read it, I thought of blogging it here, so that more people can read it and I can refer to it again in future.

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett
Sunday May 28, 2006, 10:13 AM

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Source: http://www.reginabrett.com/

Ending this post with a powerful quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"To laugh, often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

Coloma Rafting and Camping

Cooking and packing loads of food....

Stuffing the car with all camping gear.....

Slathering on the sunscreen before rafting....

Getting soaked in the cold American river water....

The strategy to steal a water gun....and the taste of success.....

The water fights with the green water gun....

The whitewater rapids and the adrenaline rush....

The cool icy taste of orange squirt at the end of rafting....

The dislike expressed at site #15 booked for camping.....

Setting up campsite #53....

The fire, the burgers, the grilled onions, and avocado....

Watching the stars from the tent while playing scrabble and falling asleep....

Waking up to the sound of the birds.....

Showering and then having dudhi theplas heated up on the fire for breakfast....

The drive to Foresthill bridge and back....

The pitstop at Raleys for Gatorade to quench our thirst....

The drive back home with soothing music.....

These are my memories from last weekend's rafting and camping trip. 

Details in a later post with more pictures :)

What's your favorite perfume?

Aaah Perfumes :)

I love them....I indulge in them.....

I need to buy a new perfume soon. I am currently using two - Ralph Lauren Summer Romance and Versace Bright Crystal, and very soon they will be over :(. Both of them are gifts from my favorite people!!!!

I am extremely picky when it comes to buying perfumes. When I go to a store to purchase one, I will only find a couple that I would like. I get testers for the ones I like to try them out, and then come back after a week or couple weeks to try them again. Usually, I will figure out quickly if I really like them or not. If I do, then I indulge.....else the search continues :)

I love coffee too - so a simple act of trying out a perfume, then smelling the coffee beans, and then trying out the next perfume - gives me a LOT of pleasure :)

Since I get disappointed often with what's available in the stores, I do some research online before going to the mall. I look at all the top brands and best selling ones, and look at the top, middle, base notes of some of the perfumes that interest me.

Then when I go to the store and smell them, I have a better idea of how the perfume will smell when I wear it all day.

Over a period of time I have realized that the base notes of any perfume are the most important to me - I love a lot of perfumes which have one of the base notes as Sandalwood.

I like light perfumes with a clean and fresh smell. I cannot tolerate heavy smell.

Some of the perfumes I have used in the recent past are - D&G Light Blue, Hugo Boss XX, Burberry London, Estee Lauder (most of them), Maria Sharapova (for tennis), etc.

I have tried Chanel a few times, but never bought it. I do like it.

So since I will be buying a new perfume soon, I would like to know which one is your favorite and/or which one are you currently using?

Thanks a lot for your suggestions :)

A sneak peek to say hello :)

How are ya'll doing? Hope everyone reading this post is doing fabulous :)

The last couple weeks have been extremely busy at work. I've been working long days....and I am exhausted by the time I get home. I've also had visitors at home from out of town the last couple weekends, so I have had very little time for myself. 

The good thing is - work is extremely challenging and rewarding....and weekends have been fun as well. So living the "work hard, play harder" kind of life right now :)

I am enjoying my evening walks around the neighbourhood - I love the cute rabbits that I spot everyday.

I enjoy the beautiful Folsom sunset every single day - and I can't seem to get enough of it.

Yesterday, it was poonam (or full moon day), and the sight of the moon from my backyard was just fantastic. We live up on a hill -above the rest of the city.....and there are no city/street lights around the house....so the moon and stars shine oh very bright :)

I went kayaking again at Lake Natoma with my husband and bro-in-law. Kayaking was relaxing as usual, but swimming & diving into the lake was much more fun....after which we went to a famous local creamery here, Leatherbys....and shared a huge banana split sundae. Bliss!!!!

I am currently reading the book "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. Everyone at work has read it, and we have a book discussion scheduled sometime soon....so I want to finish it ASAP.

I have also borrowed "Shantaram" from a friend - has anyone of you read it? Reviews? The book is 900+ pages, so I am not sure when I will be able to finish it (if at all).

I played poker with my gang last Friday after a long time....and it was a blast as usual.

I am also preparing for my housewarming party - which is tentatively scheduled for Aug 29th. I have yet to send out the evite though :(

I am waiting for Aug. 22nd, when my babie sis comes back to CA. She is doing an internship in Ohio, and I haven't met her since end of May....it seems just too long and I am missing her too much.

I am shopping around for furniture for my home office - desk, chair, monitor, etc. I have decided upon the desk now, and I know which chair I want so it will be easy for me to buy. I am still deciding which monitor to purchase....currently inclined towards a 24inch Samsung LCD with an HDTV tuner.....let's see.

I celebrated Rakhi yesterday with my rakhi brother who I met here in the US in 2006. We met at work for a diversity day dance meeting that I chaired....he came to help out. We clicked instantly. He helped me choreograph a garba dance that year, and I could participate in the dance as well coz he took over the choreography from me during the later stages. I cared for him as a younger brother (he is 4.5 years younger to me), and he is now family to me. So yesterday, him and my close friends took me to my favourite restaurant - Olive Garden - for lunch :) I made a card for him at home....and he loved it so much that he wrote a beautiful poem for me, thanking me for the card. 

I watched a movie - "The International" - with my hubby and close friend P. My review - Average.

My neighbour and friend, V, is back from India after a two month vacation. She was on sabbatical. I adore her two boys, A (6.5yrs) and R(4.5yrs) and I missed them while they were gone. I call R my munchkin and moto-moto, and R calls me his pinchkin and piggie-piggie :) I have known R since he was 6 months old, and have played with him regularly.....so he is very attached to me. He comes to my house and spends a lot of time with me...and he is my #1 stress buster :)

That's what I've been upto....I have a few topics in mind that I want to blog about....and I hope to find time this weekend and next to do so. 

Till then....take care.

Don't Forget to LIVE

My husband sent this to me yesterday. It's a powerful message so I am sharing it with all of you.

Yesterday morning when I woke up, I checked my email on my iphone. After that, as usual, I logged in to facebook (via an iphone app) to check the status updates.

I was shocked to find this message from an ex-colleague:

"CP is in shock and in so much pain at the sudden death last night of my husband, M. I would normally not post this so broadly, but so many of you knew him and I am asking everyone to spread the word for me so that all the lives he touched can know of this tragedy. It seems utterly impossible that I go thru these days without the person who loved me unconditionally. Please pray for our family during this time."

And another such message from her today morning:

"Nearly 24 hours w/out my M, our daddy, our son, our brother our cousin, our nephew and our friend. Such tremendous outpouring of support today from all of our friends, neighbors and family. I honestly don't know how to get through the next minute, other than to breathe and love on our kids. We will be setting GA and CA funeral / burial plans. Thanks you for ALL your messages, support & tears. I love EACH of you."

I could not digest this news. Even though I did not know my colleague's husband personally, its such a tragedy. I am still upset and very sad that she has to deal with this loss. She has 3 kids, the youngest only a year old, and I cannot even imagine how difficult it is for her and the kids.

As I read this, all my fears came alive. I was dreading everything that could happen to me.

Life is so fragile. I just simply assume that so many things will never happen to me....and when I read this post, I realized its not true.

I was suddenly thankful of having spoken to my parents the previous night, and to my sister the previous evening. These are routine things that I do but they felt special to me yesterday morning. I had spent a good weekend with my husband visiting a close friend who was sick. I suddenly felt grateful for that. 

I am praying for my friend CP and her family. And I hope they find the strength to go through this pain. And I hope somehow, with a lot of LOVE and with the passing of TIME, that they can lead a somewhat normal life. 

For all of us, I have this quote to share:

"Live each day as if it were your last, and Learn each day as if you live will forever."

Be blessed!

A visit to the local farmers' market

Hubby and I went to the Sunday morning Farmers' market last weekend in downtown Sacramento and it was so much fun.

Farmers' markets are places where farmers offer agricultural produce they grow themselves for direct sale to the public. By eliminating the middleman's additional costs and multiple product handling, both the farmers and the consumers benefit. Each farmer is inspected and certified before he/she is allowed to sell at the market. Most of the produce is vine or tree ripened. All the produce sold is from local farms. 

I used to visit this market frequently when I was single, but after getting married, I never went even once (don't ask why). Couple weeks ago, my husband went to the market with our neighbours to check it out, and he loved it. 

So last Sunday, we both woke up early, took a couple cloth shopping bags and cash in our wallets to go shopping. 

The first feeling I got upon reaching there is being in India. I used to go with my mom every Sunday morning to the city for buying fruits and vegetables. It reminded me of that experience.

Most of the shoppers were Asian, and some of the farmers were Asian too. 

We walked through the entire market once to see whats available, carefully observing the quality of produce and its price at every vendor. And then we started shopping!

We thoroughly  enjoyed our grocery shopping, and we brought home organic produce at very low prices. We were amazed to find fruits like fresh apricots and lychees which are rarely seen in the department grocery stores in our area.

What we bought:

- Blackberries

- Red Seedless Grapes

- Fresh apricots

- Melon

- White + Yellow peaches

- Plums

- Fresh Corn

- Red Potatoes

- Red Onions

- Green Beans

- Green Bell Pepper

- Okra

- Gourd

- Cilantro

- Basil Leaves

I also bought a small bag of dried lavender petals from a farmer, which I am using as my car freshener...and my car smells heavenly. It cost me only $2, versus a regular car freshener that I buy from Walmart costs $5. 

I could find rare items like bee pollen, local honey (for people with pollen allergy), and locally made olive oil at the market.

I am making a resolution to frequent this place more often now!

Enjoy the pics!

"Have patience with the growers. Smile at them and appreciate them. If you do, you will find them smiling back and appreciating you in return. That is what certified farmers' markets are really about. Smiles and mutual appreciation. Families growing food for families. Californians supporting California.". - From here

Congratulations DR. PP :)

We all wait for Friday. And most Friday's are just the usual.

Yesterday was a special Friday for me. My dearest, nearest, closest friend P successfully defended his PhD dissertation (on Friday, July 10, 2009).

It's just a matter of few days before P receives his official degree; it's just a matter of few months before he "walks" at his graduation ceremony, but for all practical purposes, P is done with all his PhD work, and I can now proudly call him DOCTOR!!!!

Yesterday morning, I prayed for everything to go well for him, and even though I was buried in work, I was anxious to hear from him in the afternoon.

This sooper busy and always forgetful friend of mine can easily forget to let me know how it all went, and keep me waiting until the end of the day when I finally run out of patience and call him. I'm so glad he didn't do that yesterday.

When he called me in the afternoon, I was so relieved to hear that everything went well. He got all the signatures of the committee, and sometime next week, he will submit his final dissertation and then it will be all over. I could sense the HUGE sigh of relief, and the tremendous happiness in his voice, from 3000 miles away. I am so so proud of him!

I met P in Summer of 2006. We lived in the same town and worked for the same company for a few months, and we became friends. I taught him how to play racquetball, and he taught me how to play poker. Whatever we did together, it was always a blast. It was not until he went back to his university to complete his PhD that we actually became such close friends.

P is THE hardest working individual I have known in my entire life. I saw him working tirelessly on his PhD, day in and day out. There was not a single day when I saw him slacking. His research was his passion, and I could see that zeal and enthusiasm in him to give his best to his passion every single day.

There are numerous sacrifices - small and huge, that have been made to achieve this goal. Dear P, I am really proud of you for your achievement. YOU DID IT and YOU ROCKKKK!

Once P was done with this research work, he accepted a job back in California, and I could not have been happier. I vividly remember the day he moved to CA for good. I was at a Bryan Adams concert, and as soon as it was over, I went and met him. We spent the night at his new apartment...all of us slept on the new carpet, with the security alarm beeping every few seconds, P being bothered by it and covering it with furniture pads, etc etc.

P continued to amaze me with the dedication he showed for his new job. Within weeks, he had made a mark in his small company. On an average, my buddy works more than 12 hours a day, including weekends. He never complains. He simply enjoys it. Hats off to you bud!

P, you are a HUGE inspiration to me, every single day. I always get motivated to do so much more when I think about you. I am extremely lucky and blessed to have you in my life.

Now that this huge stress is gone from his life, I look forward to spending more time with my buddy and having a blast, as always :)

Congratulations DR. PP :)

PS: Can't wait to give a huge bear huggie to my doc....hope we meet sometime soon :)

PPS: The graduation card that I picked for P has very beautiful words, which I would like to share here:

For the Graduate

We are all on a journey toward

becoming a complete person.

Along the way, we reach milestones - 

chances to step aside and 

take account of how far we've come

and where we still need to go.

This is a very special time - 

a time full of potential,

of unexplored paths,

of undreamed dreams....

Your graduation is

in some ways an ending,

but in more ways,

this is only the beginning.

Congratulations!!!!