Empty calories or empty relations : How much is too much?

                    You have just completed an entire bucket of ice cream and yet you feel like having one more. You convince yourself to end with that last spoon, but deep down you know that it is not the end. You know it very well that you might end up finishing one more bucket. Well, that is the thing about ice creams. You can’t get enough of them. And yet, it will only make you feel guilty about it. They are sweet, they are chocolaty, they are comforting. Yet, the only thing they give is empty calories. No matter how much you try to control, you always go back for that comfort.

Those empty calories are not just restricted to ice creams. There are some people too, who can only bring empty calories to your life. These people, intentionally or unintentionally, only bring sadness into your life, that guilty feeling that is left after one bucket of ice cream. Be it past relationships or broken friendships, it might be comforting to go back and to mend things again. But some things are not meant to be, and the failed efforts leave behind traces of sorrow.

It is amazing how these ice creams are no good for you yet they are so tempting. Each day you decide to give up those unwanted calories, and lead a happy life. But it only takes a few days to start craving again. You go back to those ice creams again only to feel more and more disappointed with yourself. Well, they aren’t called ‘guilty pleasures’ for no reason. And with that the never-ending cycle of controlling and craving goes on.

But now it is time you break that cycle, let go of your cravings and get rid of anything that is not good for you. The same goes for your relations too. The whole idea of things working out is very tempting, it is very comforting. But then comes a time when you have to decide how much is too much. Accept the fact that some things are not meant to be and let go of those broken relations. Sometimes too much sweet can also be life threatening, there should be a limit to everything. Similarly, there should be a limit to which you get affected by a single person or a relation. Anything that only brings bad feelings to your life has no right to stay in it. It is time you get rid of all those things. It is time you start choosing positive people for your life, people who bring out the best in you. At the end, it is your life, and so who should stay and who should walk out is your decision. Never be so weak to get tempted by those empty calories. Be wise enough to know where to put an end…

‘Because some things are just meant to be, and the rest doesn’t matter’

It's 'high' time..

Do you remember that feeling of being high?  A time when you smile a little wider, or laugh a little louder, because you are too happy to care for the world. When everything around seems just perfect.  It is neither the past nor the future that you are worried about. You are living in the present. You sometimes choose to break the rules or do things you decided not to do, because at that time you are just living for yourself. You might get addicted to this feeling of high or you might miss it when you are sad. All because this feeling lets you be the person you are, without any fear of being judged.

So what would it be like to be high forever? Yes, but this time being high on a passion. One thing that drives you, that lets you be yourself. It could be anything, a hobby, a person, a bike, anything that makes you addicted, anything that defines you, anything that makes you feel. When you find this something, you will always have something to look forward to, something that makes you happy. You will not need someone’s company to escape the world, you will rather want to be alone with that addiction; getting high on it and forgetting the world.

People always find new ways of getting high, be it a quick cigarette or 60 ml vodka. But very few people know how to get high on things you love, that one passion that makes you different from others. Today you might not know what is that passion for you, but one day you will. And till then, you keep looking. It is not happiness that you are in search for. Happiness is just temporary, it comes and goes and the cycle continues. The journey is about looking for the passion, the passion that defines you.

You would have heard many experiences of people being drunk and their so-called stories of adventure. But instead listen to the stories of a person who has dedicated her life to dancing or a person who swears by his guitar or someone who has held a tennis racket since the age of 4. These people are drunk too; drunk on the idea of life.  It is this high that you are looking for. That feeling which does not cost anything, which does not leave you a hangover, instead it is something which makes you more and more drunk.It is time you start looking for things that make you go crazy or that one thing that is worth fighting the world for. It is time you start getting high, drunk on that thing called ‘passion’…

‘Because happiness is just temporary, it is your passion that drives you’

A perfect fit..

We have all had a pair of shoes that goes with every outfit. The size, the color, the heels, the design- everything makes it a perfect fit. When you bought them you did not know they will stay with you for such a long time. All you knew was, they are neither expensive nor cheap and they aren’t that bad after all. Gradually you realized that these are the shoes for you. This one pair, that is always there no matter what. So you convince yourself that you cannot find a better pair.

Just like that life sometimes blesses you with that one person who will always be there for you. You would not know this when you first meet them and it takes a really long time to realize how important that person has become. Suddenly you become so dependent on that person, just like that pair of shoes. Whenever you buy a new dress you just know those shoes will match. Similarly, you always know that that person is there for you. Sometimes you tend to take them for granted and other times you know that the only person you need is them.

But sooner or later that shoes get worn out. May be one of the accessories went missing, or the heels broke, or may be someone borrowed it, someone who did not fit in the shoe, and returned them back all torn up. And so does this happen, with that precious pearl of your life, your support, your strength. You know it is time to get rid of the shoes. They are no more adding value, in fact they are making you look ugly. But your heart never accepts this fact and it won’t let you throw them away. So you still go around wearing a broken pair of shoes, confident about how you are looking, just because once they made you look the most beautiful.

Finally a time comes when you start noticing that the life of the shoe has come to an end. It is time to replace them. So you decide to get rid of them and throw them away with a very heavy heart. And the same way, you need to let go off that person. Sure that person was very important to you, sure you thought nothing can change that. But just like shoes, sometimes relations also break. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you will find that new pair. It is not like you cannot live without them. You might have to wear a mismatch for some time, but eventually you will find that perfect fit again. It wasn’t your fault that the heel broke or that someone else was a misfit. But next time when you find that perfect fit, make sure you take care of them. Keep them close to your heart…

‘Because it is not everyday that you find a perfect fit for you’

Those few extra miles..

       You are running on a treadmill, 6mph.. 8mph.. 10mph.. your heart is racing and you feel like giving up. But you don’t. You push yourself for that extra 15 seconds and another 15 and another 15, till you are about to faint. And when you are done with that workout, there is a sense of content, a sense of achievement. You did it, you pushed your limits and now you are better than yesterday. You did it for all the times people called you fat, for all the times you hated looking in the mirror, for all the times you felt guilty for eating. You did it for yourself.

        So why don’t you do the same things outside the gym too? Why don’t you push yourself for all the little goals that are left unachieved every day? If those extra 15 seconds are so important to you, why aren’t those small dreams? Dreams as small as waking up early in the morning or giving that dance performance or approaching that long-time crush. These are the dreams that are most realistic and yet, you choose to give up on them or ignore them completely.

        When blood rushes through your entire body you know you have put in efforts and that you deserve the results. You know it was the last 15 seconds that made all the difference. And so the next day you give in 15 more to that workout. You are not happy because you will get the results; the results are yet to come. You are happy because you challenged yourself to do more than you could actually do. Each day is a new inspiration, a chance to make a difference, a chance to prove it to yourself that you are worth it.

        The same way, life is more about doing those small things that matter; the little things you promised yourself to do but never had the guts to do it. Remember all the times when people said you cannot do it, all the times you hated yourself for giving up too soon, all the times you regret not having tried. It is for all these times that you need to give in a little extra, push yourself a little further. It is not going to be easy but it will be fun. Just like those 15 seconds these little things will make a difference in your life. Every day it will keep adding to your workout, just to make you realize that you have reached too far. So start working on those goals, not thinking about the result, but making sure that it challenges you. Every time you feel like doing something just go ahead and do it. Don’t think about the consequences, don’t think about what people would say, start doing it because you want to do it. And just when you are about to reach your destination, you will realize…

‘It was those few extra miles that made the difference’