Annika Sharma's Blog, page 2

Book Review: Crazy Cupid Love, by Amanda Heger

Have I ever told you guys how I met author Amanda Heger?Twitter.Yeah. Twitter. I was this new author, who had no connections and I stumbled upon this incredible community online. One of those standouts who reached out (or maybe I did...truthfully, I don't even remember) with a snarky/funny/encouraging comment (this, I can almost guarantee) was Amanda. We founded a group of new authors, who eventually became close friends. Now, Amanda is my favorite person to share a bed with (at conferences, friends, get your heads out of the gutter...) and quite possibly one of the funniest people I've ever met. Her sarcasm, witticisms, and outrageously subtle (and not-so-subtle) one liners are something I look forward to every time I talk to her. She is not only one of the best human beings I know but one of the most exemplary storytellers I've ever met.It comes as no surprise, then, that I read her new book, Crazy Cupid Love, and once again marveled at her talent. "Eliza Herman has spent years avoiding her calling as a Descendant of Eros. After all, happily-ever-afters are a myth. But when a family crisis requires her to fill in at her family's Cupid-for-hire shop, Eliza finds herself enchanting couples under the watchful eye of her mentor, Jake Sanders. After Eliza accidentally enchants Jake instead, they set rules to keep his arrow-struck desire at bay. But some rules are meant to be broken, and before long Eliza is rethinking her stance on true love...until they discover a conspiracy that could destroy thousands of relationships--including their own."What I LOVE about this book (besides the character reminiscent of me, according to Amanda--see if you can find her!) is the way Greek History ties right into our world. Amanda creates possibility that walking among us are the descendants of Greek gods, and that the chaos and love and humanity in the world is often caused by their intention and mischief.Eliza, a descendent of Eros (or Cupid!) is a klutzy, non-believer in capital-L Love, with a giant crush on her childhood best friend and some insecurities about the power she's been born with...and the entire book is a hilarious, unpredictable, outrageous, and touching look at the way a character can develop and strengthen (Amanda makes this so real and so flawless), the crazy way life throws obstacles at you (let's say there's an interesting and exceptionally funny sex scene with a Mandroid in this book), all accompanied by a dose of Greek mythology that makes the world a little more magical.I've stayed away from romances over the last year because of my obsession with historical fiction and escapism, but this was a wonderful exception to my current reading phase. I thought the characters were well-developed, funny, and they came alive with every dialogue and action...as a writer, I can appreciate the art that Amanda has masterfully created. Walmart, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus...all HUGE names in publishing have highlighted Amanda's book and with good reason--it's amazing.You can find it on Amazon here.

Travel Diaries: Paris, France

I've been putting off this blog because I've been so lazy (with the blog--not life...upcoming projects TBA!), but today, as I daydreamed on a slow day at work, I figured it was time to tell you about my trip to Paris.Our family owns timeshares at Marriott, and we try to take a week a year. We can trade in our week at our Florida location for a week at any other available spot in the world, and we always talk about doing it...but my dad is a professor on an academic semester schedule, my mom works year round, my brother is a hedge fund trader who has to man his team and select his holidays so he's covered and I recently started a new job and didn't have any vacation time because of my probationary period.Miraculously, we all were able to take off a week before Christmas holidays. My mom suggested trading in our Florida week for Phoenix...which I would go to in January, so I vetoed that. A few other ideas were bounced around until I insisted we go international. Our options were Spain and France. I looked at my brother and we both went, "France."And we were all set. Our journey was a bit of a debacle. Our first flight had a fuel leak and they kept pushing back our departure. Luckily, my brother called the airlines after the first two delays and got us on the next day's flight. We lost a day of travel but we got to go sleep in our own beds in NYC/Stamford, and have a day of relaxation before travel, rather than coming off a day of work and red-eying a flight out. The next day, our flight was on the tarmac when they said the engine had an ignition problem! Eventually, however, we were in the air. I've never prayed so hard on a flight in my life but we landed safely in Paris on a Sunday morning.The hotel we stayed at, Marriott's Village D'Ile De France, is one of the cutest hotels I'veever stayed at. Rather than building apartments in rows and on top of each other, each apartment is built like a tiny chateau in a village, based on a Monet painting (based on what I gathered from the art, and the Monet garden and statue on the premises). Brick-lined paths lead across the resort, while each chateau is a two-story home, with bedrooms upstairs and a giant living room and beautiful kitchen below. It was the perfect place to come "home" and relax after a long day.Day one was spent watching movies, shopping for groceries and wandering the resort. Day two, however, we hit the ground running. Village D'Ile De France is a few miles from Disneyland Paris. We seriously contemplated going, as Disney has always been a family thing, but we're all old and not as amazed anymore by it...so we decided to wander Paris instead. We took the train into the city, and began at the Champs-Elysees and the Arc D'Triomphe. The yellow vests were only protesting on Saturday, and I was thoroughly impressed at how quickly the city rebounded from the activism and destruction happening...the area was clean, beautiful and a joy to wander through. We made a pit stop at La Duree, S's favorite macaron shop, which only has locations in Paris and New York, and then wandered through Place De La Concorde, the open public square where Louis XVI was beheaded. The obelisk there is often mistaken for a Roman artifact, however it's actually Egyption and over 3,000 years old (history geek here...).We walked through the Tuileries Garden and to the Louvre to check out the Pyramid, and then proceeded to wander in the direction of Notre Dame. It was mid-afternoon and we were starving, so we ducked into an Indian place to eat (parental preference...I can talk about that with you later). In a hugely pleasant surprise, the Delhicious dhaba on Rue De Bourdonnais was one of the best Punjabi places I have ever eaten. I did NOT see that one coming. If you guys have the opportunity to eat in Paris, take a break on the French food just to go to this place and dig in.We saw Notre Dame after that, which had its giant Nativity story on full display inside. I love old cathedrals and visiting Notre Dame again was like saying hello to an old friend. We took the train to the Eiffel Tower then afterward, and waited until the light show came on at 6:05 PM. We'd walked nine miles at this point so we were ready to go on home afterward.Day two was Versailles. I'd go on about the beauty of it but it's elaborate decor, gold-lined halls and Hall of MIrrors have been made famous through history and through the show, Versailles. For a history buff, I could see why the wealth and opulence across Versailles would have caused citizens to be upset enough to overthrow a monarchy. My favorite part of Versailles wasn't actually the palace itself--it was the hameau, or hamlet, that Marie Antoinette had built for herself on the grounds as a summer getaway. Of course, pretending to be a peasant while milking cows into a silver bucket didn't roll well with the actual poor, so she got her head lopped off too...however maintained and recreated homes exist from her time as a queen and I loved that area so much.Day three...we took a bus tour to the city, visiting the Eiffel during the day, and taking a river cruise of the Seine, floating by Notre Dame and historical district. We also floated under the Pont Marie, a bridge that is famed for its ability to grant wishes if you go under it, make a wish, and kiss the person next to you. After the cruise, we went to the Louvre...there aren't enough hours to cover it, and to be honest, it can be difficult to see all the pieces unless you find the English translation cards or get a tour guide. Is it worth it? Yes. But do you have to have a pretty spectacular attention span? Absolutely. I've already seen it in college, so I had to work at being interested in some parts.Our final day was spent shopping at Vallee Le Village, a shopping mall and shopping village near the hotel. It's famed for its size and the absolute charm of the shopping village. We stopped for crepes, and bought some gifts...but it was a super calm day.The trip was a lesson in traveling styles (a post I'll put up soon), and historical sights. I've gained more interest in history since I went to Paris last, so I really was able to appreciate the gravity of all that happened in the places we visited...but if I got a chance to visit again, I'd go on an adventure, not worry about the sights this time, and check out parts of France that I hadn't already. This was, however, a family trip and that was worth every second. We laughed until we cried, watched movies at night, and loved every second of seeing the places on shows we watch.

Book Review: This Is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel

Every once in a while, you read a book that changes your life...that forces your empathy to grow, challenges the things you were certain of, and makes you question how you'd respond.This Is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel, is one of those books."This is how a family keeps a secret…and how that secret ends up keeping them.This is how a family lives happily ever after…until happily ever after becomes complicated.This is how children change…and then change the world.This is Claude. He’s five years old, the youngest of five brothers, and loves peanut butter sandwiches. He also loves wearing a dress, and dreams of being a princess.When he grows up, Claude says, he wants to be a girl.Rosie and Penn want Claude to be whoever Claude wants to be. They’re just not sure they’re ready to share that with the world. Soon the entire family is keeping Claude’s secret. Until one day it explodes."But what would you do in that situation? Is everything as it seems?The story of Rosie and Penn caused me pause. In the chaos and turmoil of an airport, I sat transfixed. Rosie and Penn were the perfect parents--ones who didn't fight their child's desire to be a girl, who consulted therapists and allowed their child to be whoever she said she was...but even perfect can be too perfect.What happens when you raise your child like a girl so well that no one knows otherwise, and the secret explodes? Is it your fault for hiding it or did you do a flawless parenting job by making the transition as seamless as possible? What happens when you have other children, who are protective of their sibling and sensitive to a world that calls people by derogatory nicknames for being homosexual or transitioning?And what do you do as a parent when that situation arises? When your child is still a child...and their identity may develop further as time goes on? What caught my breath (and still does!) about this book was the realistic problems and joys any family faces when adjusting to a child's gender identity. The book covers things like Claude (now called Poppy) going to a public place in a dress and facing backlash. How the family responds when Poppy goes to her first sleepover with a group of girls and has to change in the bathroom. The anxiety that parents naturally have about their child being discovered to be different. And about the way siblings react to these changes.The characters are so realistic, I thought I could pull them off the street and put them in my house. I laughed out loud at the dialogue, which skillfully lifts heavy moments into humor. Laurie Frankel manages to make each character individualized, and raw as they grow through the years and face the obstacles and happiness that life hands them in this unique situation. Everything from childhood silliness, to teenage angst, was captured so accurately and naturally...her writing style and nuance took my breath away. Each sibling of Poppy's has their personality clearly defined...Rosie and Penn have very different thinking methodologies, both of which are relatable. Rosie is a doctor--medical concerns factor into this story plenty. Penn is a writer with a creative soul and empathy to boot--and how he handles his child's transition is with the open acceptance of a hippie. And sometimes...those clash.There were so many questions raised by this story. About what I'd do in that situation. Whether there was a right answer beyond letting your child grow to be what they are. Whether there was a perfect response. How I'd tell people about my child...and whether I had to!To read a book like this is once in a lifetime. It's the type of story that has you struck into silence when you flip the last page and it makes you reflect in the days afterward. It's been a month since I read this book...and I think about it every single day.

The Jagged Path to a Happy Career.

The list of career choices I've made has been long and tenuous, at best. I wanted to be an astronaut--until I saw the footage of the Challenger explosion from the 80s. I was prepped to be a nurse--until my dad told me I'd have to change diapers. I wanted to be a fashion designer, because I liked to draw. Okay, some of my decisions have been questionable. I was also five years old.But the fickle mindset of a child never completely goes away, and I'm convinced as we get older that the questions grow about what a job is, what a career should be, and how we arrive at the ever-elusive happiness that the self-help pundits claim exists. And what I've learned, through many trials and errors, is that a happy career doesn't have to be a linear one.Let me recap. I graduated high school in the middle of the pack. Better than about 70% of my class, but nothing to write home about. I was certain that I'd go to college and I'd blow my history out of the water. I'd be one of the exceptions to the rule that high school performance dictates college performance.Here's the catch: I went to college in the same hometown I grew up in. It was 13th grade when 500 of 575 in my graduating class went to the same school I did for university. I had no reason to grow...and off I continued on my completely average path, until junior year when I broke out of my shell and suddenly realized how much potential I was wasting. From there on, it was all about a stellar GPA, efforts at extracurriculars, trying to be the best. It was like Hermione Granger was born circa age 20. I also need to clarify something else: until then, I had wanted to be a doctor. Yes, mediocre me had wanted to become a doctor--a profession requiring 6-8 years of school, a damn near perfect GPA, an upper 90th-percentile MCAT score, and a flawless resume. Did you laugh? Yeah, I do too.But the beauty is in the adjustments. And I had caught onto the fact that my compassion was a superpower--as an RA, as a peer interventionist, as a friend...I consistently heard about my people skills. I wanted to use those talents and practice medicine in some form, so I decided upon becoming a nurse practitioner. I wanted to be a pediatric nurse practitioner or a women's health one, but I'd never even changed a diaper so I took on the challenge of working as a preschool teacher in an infant room, growing comfortable with young children, before I moved onto nursing school in an accelerated BSN/MSN program.And I hated it. I hated nursing. I loved what I learned but it was absolutely not for me.So I came home, bummed and letdown by the dream of hospital work. I went back to my job as a teacher, and thought about my next steps. Then, the mother of a child in my class (and professor at my alma mater) walked in, told me about how a program she worked in offered a full scholarship and a Master's, and mentioned I'd be good at it. I'd even get to work with babies and young children, my favorite age groups. I was in.Six months (and writing a book) later, I was enrolled in an M.Ed program, prepping to become an early childhood special education teacher. Immediately afterward, I got a job at a local preschool while I worked on my book--a side dream. I was agented, published, and worked with one and two year-olds for a couple of years. And then I missed healthcare. A lot. All the talk about babies and moms made me want to learn more about maternal health.Back to school I went...this time, for a Master's in Public Health. I interned in human resources at a healthcare leadership organization. I worked on a reproductive health access organization's staff as a communications intern. Then I graduated, with a thesis completed on preventing maternal deaths in childbirth through the use of an interdisciplinary approach including obstetric kits. And I landed a job...at one of the best medical school/research institution/hospital combinations in the world...as a Communications Project Manager.Wannabe doctor. Nurse Practitioner-In-Training. Early Childhood Teacher. Human Resources Intern. Communications Intern. Author. Communications Project Manager for Research. The dots connect now. Not a single one of those positions or achievements could have been achieved without the others. Even on days where I think, "I wasted time," and I race against my own clock, I can't take back any of those experiences without negating the rest. And there has been a thread of commonality between all those pathways--health, writing, people. And that's EXACTLY what I do now. I write about the research conducted at the inspiring university/medical school I work at, and lend a human touch to the people in the labs. I take their stories and put them out in various forms, allowing their tales to be told to different audiences. Sometimes I write like a scientist. Other times, I write like a columnist.It is my perfect job. And I couldn't have done it if I hadn't received two undergraduate degrees in sciences, been a teacher, received a master's in education, received another in public health, written a book, and interned at two very different non-profits related to health. Success has many forms; very rarely are they linear. I hardly know anyone who hasn't taken a year for research or to work, or who hasn't questioned their career before continuing to their next step. It's easy in the world of instagram and Facebook, the highlight reels to end all highlight reels, to look around and think everyone has their shit together and they're moving at the speed of light toward their dream...what those mediums don't tell you is that the dream shifts, and people adjust. Where you started isn't always where you'll end up.And sometimes, you're much better for it.

Making the Tough Call for the Long Haul.

"You have to lose the battle to win the war." You guys have heard that phrase, right? It reminds me of something they'd say on Suits (and probably have...) or a drama from the middle ages where strategy weaves into a lifechanging choice.Through my writing career, I've learned the saying is true. Whether it's delaying the release of a book to polish it until it shines.Whether it's holding back on writing because I need to focus on my day job.Whether I balance or topple.We all make those choices every day--the ones that have no satisfaction and hit your confidence now, because down the road they'll yield dividends.In late October, I had my (now former) publisher revert the rights to The Rearranged Life.When you publish a book, you sign over your rights to your writing--the publisher has the rights to put the words in the world. As you can imagine, reverting them takes those rights back and gives them to you again.What does that mean for The Rearranged Life? For now...it's not out in the world anymore. Congratulations--if you have a paperback, then you now have a limited edition! :)It's a long story about why I made that call. It's frustrating and exhausting now to think about the future. The Rearranged Life might need a new home--whether that's finding another traditional publisher (hard, because most don't want to touch a book that's been fiddled with by another company) or whether that involves me self-publishing it, there's uncertainty around my first book baby and where she'll go.I made the right choice. I am still a writer. My upcoming series, The Chai Masala Club, is still coming out in the next year, and I'm still working on more manuscripts to be printed through major publishers.But my decision is still less gratifying. It is a disappointing one that gives no fulfillment for now. Right now, I feel unpublished and sometimes, unsuccessful. But the truth is, this is a move made to protect a career that will be years long...far beyond this feeling in 2018. Saying I've lost this battle is not accurate. It's more like an unsatisfactory ceasefire when you're itching for action. But patience pays...and for now, to survive in this industry and to remain productive, I'll focus to the future when I'll win the fight.

The Heartbreak Manual.

Ladies (and gents)...you know exactly what I'm talking about when I say everyone has had a heartbreak legend will be written about. Tell me you didn't think of that one guy/girl who shattered you. The opportunity that passed you by. The road not taken.The one you thought of even more when you tried to drink it away (and possibly drunk texted. No judgment.)The one you tearfully told your friends, your parents, your cousins, your hair stylist, the neighbor, the mailman and the sweet retail girl at Express--who was just trying to help you choose a pair of revenge jeans--about.The one you wrote pages of anger about (and possibly to) so s/he could know exactly what s/he did wrong and could take responsibility (Rachel Green, I FEEL YOU GIRL!).Jokes aside, it's a garbage place to be. I mean...dating is hard enough nowadays. Call me a dinosaur if you want, but dating apps have a lot to do with it. It's easy in a world of instant gratification to swipe left or right and decide in a millisecond whether someone is worth pursuing. And more than that, the consistent quest for something better is at our fingertips. The options happen to be available, unlike when our parents were younger. Jobs, volunteering, significant others--hell, even Seamless--all at our fingertips when we want it.But here you are...you found your penguin or lobster or whatever else animal is out there that mates exclusively. You have won the romantic lottery. Suddenly, your social media posts aren't of you looking wistfully at the horizon but looking at them...maybe with a sweet little caption or quote about life was never the same after you met them. Every love song has a person associated with it. You are no longer the dateless guest at a wedding because YOU HAVE BECOME THE PERSON WITH A PERSON.And then it's over.Talk about a buzzkill. So, in my wise wisdom and from insight gained watching friends go through their own heartache...here are some things that won't necessarily heal your heartbreak but will hopefully support you through it.1) It really isn't you. It really is them.Fun story: that time I was ghosted by the love of my life, and received an apology months later. So, when I did exactly what hundreds of other dumpees do and texted him about giving it another go, I figured he wouldn't make the same heartless decision to cold shoulder me. He said it was a mistake, right? Obviously, it was an error in judgment, not a mark of his character...VOILA, he even texted back! Progress. I waited for the message he promised, half-expecting him not to send one because heartbreak does (sometimes) teach you things...and lo and behold, it's been months and there has been no message.What does that tell me? No. It's not me. I may have had a hand in our breakup--it nearly always takes two. But the decision to ignore, disrespect and generally be heartless...that's not me. That is all him. With the second time he ignored me, he proved that running from things he doesn't like is a characteristic of his personality. The bravery and dignity with which you handle someone else's heart is a mark of your character. Hold yourself to that standard--and just as importantly, hold others to it too.You, beautiful one, do not need to give someone a second chance who has already proven it is in their build to treat you as a lesser human being. You are officially off the hook for blaming yourself. Go and set yourself free. It's them, not you.2) The world keeps spinning.How many days have you spent wanting the world to stop while you deal with your many, many feelings? "I JUST NEED A DAY OFF TO GET IT TOGETHER!" you want to scream, but let's be honest...a day off isn't going to fix this and the world keeps turning despite your many pleas that it stop.But with that comes a little optimism if you let yourself see it...there's a little beauty in the idea that the sun keeps rising and the planet continues on with their lives. Everyone has been in your shoes...and somehow, things kept moving on. Which means that this horrible phase of pain is also transient. As the universal spin continues, so too shall you and your life.3) Wallow. Then make the decision to get up.You know how Bambi took tried to take his first steps and fell a couple times? You'll get up when you're ready. But determination is a significant part of survival. You'll have your rough days but the beginning comes with the decision to get up, and move forward. You don't have to throw yourself into anything you aren't ready for...but scheduling some laughter time with your friends, trying something new and throwing yourself into life? At the very least, you have some experiences worth remembering. They may even be wonderful distractions. But try...try to put yourself back into a normal routine of some sort.4) Gain something. For the long haul. For you.Almost all of my guy friends have told me that they've made career moves during a break up. Many of my girl friends agree. By not being impulsive, but throwing themselves into a work project, home project, drastic change, or investment, they have gained something for themselves. They have found a long-term satisfaction in the loss, and it'll make them proud. A little piece of light in a dark place--and sometimes, when you think back on the heartache, you remember the accomplishment as a beacon.5) I'm going to have a serious moment here. Be gentle with yourself.I tell friends that all the time on their quests for perfection--people will always fall short. Me, you, your family, our friends. There is always forward progress. Backwards steps also exist. Sometimes, it's okay to sleep off a weekend because it's easier than facing reality. It's okay to have a night with a bottle of wine, thinking about the job opportunity you passed up.It's okay to fall. It's okay to wallow. It's okay to feel sad, sorry and sentimental. Just don't make it a permanent home. You deserve better than living in misery.Are these methods fail-proof? Nope. If I had the art of getting over a letdown mastered, I'd be a millionaire who probably didn't need a blog to begin with. But everyone needs a first step...a place to start.As I put my life back together, and use these tactics everyday, I hope they come to use for you too. Cheers!

Mango Pie Recipe!

If there is one thing that I love doing, it's cooking for friends and family. Baking, however, is one of those things I don't focus on as much.Enter the mango pie recipe that non-bakers can make and still receive compliments for!There are a few things to note about this recipe, all written below under "Chef's notes." I'd be curious how this comes out for all of you! But for now...there's mango sweetness, a touch of creamy deliciousness, a great cinnamon-y graham cracker crust, and the best part: ONLY FOUR INGREDIENTS! The other best part: IT'S VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY! This recipe is a lazy girl's godsend.I'm so sorry I didn't get a ton of pictures while I was making it--I had to take them on my phone as I was in a rush and couldn't pause to take them every step of the way. I'll do better on the next one. :)Serving size: Makes two (2) piesIngredients8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)1/2 cup water1/2 tsp. agar powder (or1/2 tsp. gelatin, if you wish to use that instead and make it a non-vegetarian recipe)One can mango pulp (you can pick this up from a local Indian store--I love using alphonso mango pulp...it's already sweet)1 graham cracker crust*If you use unsweetened mango pulp or make your own, add a half cup sugar.DirectionsHeat the water in a pan until the water simmers. Add the agar (or gelatin) powder. Simmer until the powder dissolves then turn off the stove. Let the agar/water come to room temperature (it will turn gelatinous).While the agar/water is cooling, whip the cream cheese into a smooth consistency with no lumps (you can use a mixer. I used a fork!).Open the mango can using a can opener. Pour the mango into the cream cheese and mix until smooth.*As mentioned in the ingredients, if you used unsweetened mango or crushed some on your own, add the sugar here.*Once the agar/water is room temperature, add it to the mango and cream cheese mix.Stir in until smooth.Unwrap the graham cracker crusts and set on the counter. (Save the plastic covers!)Pour the mango mixture and evenly distribute between the two crusts.Use the plastic from the graham cracker crust packaging and cover the pies.Refrigerate for about three hours.Serve cold.Chef's NotesYou can add more sugar if you like your pie sweeter.The cream cheese adds a smidge of sourness to the mango. If you would rather taste it sweet, I would be curious to know how the mango pulp alone would respond to the agar and scrap the cream cheese completely from the recipe. I think making it 1 tsp. of agar would make up for the cream cheese consistency missing if you scrapped it.This recipe would be so great with whipped cream along the edges of the pie crust or topped with fruit!

The Book List

As some of you know, I bought a Kindle in February...for this devoted page-turning reader, buying an e-book device was an enormous development. But I commute a lot into the city, travel a lot, and carrying books along in an already-huge bag was not doable (or good for my poor back!).But now...books! At the push of a button! Goodbye, bank account...hello, hours of reading.I thought I'd share the books I've gotten through this year (about 40 as of June 2018!) and I will continue updating as I see fit. Have you read some of these? Do you want to? Let's talk! Get in touch.Note: I've tried to keep authors together and/or themes together as much as possible. Apologies if this list isn't perfectly organized--if you have questions, just ask!History/BiographyWe Two: Victoria and Albert, Rulers, Partners, Rivals, by Gillian GillA Magnificent Obsession, by Helen RappaportBecoming Queen Victoria, by Kate WilliamsThe Romanov Sisters, by Helen RappaportThe Last Day of the Romanovs, Helen RappaportEdward VIII, by Piers BrendonElizabeth of York, by Alison WeirThe Mahabharata, by Krishna DharmaHistorical FictionCleopatra's Daughter, by Michelle MoranThe Vatican Princess, by CW GortnerHarem, by Colin FalconerDaughter of Sand and Stone, by Abbie HawkeThe Romanov Empress, by CW GortnerThe Boleyn Inheritance, by Philippa GregoryThe Man Who Would Be King, by JP ReedmanThe Elephant Keeper's Daughter, by Julie DrostenFictionThe Man in the High Castle, by PK DickRomance/Women's FictionWhere We Fall, by Michelle B. WeinsteinAll the Little Lights, by Jamie McGuireBeneath an Indian Sky, by Renita D'SilvaWreckage, by Emily BleekerTen Year Dance, by Ara GrigorianAll We Ever Wanted, by Emily GiffinFrom a Paris Balcony, by Ella CareyOne Day in December, by Josie SilverThe Masterpiece, by Fiona DavisCampaign Widows, by Aimee AgrestiGood Luck With That, by Kristan HigginsThe Proposal, by Jasmine GuillorySisterhood Everlasting, by Ann BrasharesMystery/ThrillerHe Will Be My Ruin, by KA TuckerYoung AdultFairest of All, by Serena ValentinoThe Beast Within, by Serena ValentinoDumplin', by Julie MurphyTiny Pretty Things, by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle ClaytonShiny Little Pieces, by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle ClaytonMy So-Called Bollywood Life, by Nisha SharmaWhen Dimple Met Rishi, by Sandhya MenonThe Exact Opposite of Okay, by Laura StevenA Girl Like That, by Tanaz BhathenaTo All the Boys I've Loved Before, by Jenny HanP.S. I Still Love You, by Jenny HanBefore I Fall, Lauren OliverBusiness/Self-HelpThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. CoveyPresence, by Amy CuddyBuilding Brand Experiences, by Darren ColemanInfluencer Fast Track, by Gundi GabrielleInfluencer, by Brittany HennesseyWorkParty, by Jaclyn JohnsonThe Book of Beautiful Questions, by Warren BergerGirl Code, by Cara Alwill LeybaInstaStyle, by Tezza MBPoetryMilk and Honey, by Rupi Kaur

The Dreamchaser Series: Mamata Venkat, Heartfulness Meditation Superstar

Nearly 2 million YouTube views on her TEDx talk. A burgeoning health career. Gorgeous both inside and out...Thinking about her is already bringing a smile to my face.I'm introducing Mamata Venkat today--her TEDx Talk on Heartfulness Meditation and what it's done for her has accumulated nearly 2 million views on YouTube, and she is a proponent of meditation as a way to release stress and chill the heck out. At 25, Mamata has made her voice heard and it is extraordinary to hear a young woman with wisdom that sounds like it's come from someone much older...then again, she'd probably be the first one to tell you that at heart, she's a loving, sweet grandmotherly doll of a human.I'm so honored to feature her on the blog today. If you're interested in Mamata or Heartfulness Meditation, you can follow her at @hakuna.mamata or watch her TEDx video. She'll also be at the release of the book, The Heartfulness Way, a Q&A with the co-author of the book and complete with musical performances by some epic classical Indian music players on June 3rd, 2018 from 3-6 PM at the Hindu Temple Community Center Auditorium at 143-09 Holly Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355.What brought you to meditation? And specifically, what speaks to you about Heartfulness meditation versus other types?Heartfulness meditation has been a part of my life since before I was born. My dad started practicing Heartfulness when he was sixteen, and my mom started practicing shortly after they got married. I didn’t start meditating until I was seventeen (and I’ll be honest, I rebelled against it for quite a while), but growing up surrounded by it, I saw how much having a consistent, daily meditation practice that focused specifically on the heart benefitted both of my parents. They were always more thoughtful, more intentional, and they carried a sense of peace that specifically comes from daily self-centering. However, I didn’t truly understand its benefits until I began to practice it myself.Heartfulness Meditation is a heart-based meditation practice that encourages meditation upon the heart as a source of introspection and self-development. This system of meditation was founded in India in the 1800s as a method of balancing both the material and meditative wings of a practitioner's life, and has transcended the years to become the modern approach to heart-based meditation that it is now. There are two reasons why this practice encourages meditation upon the heart: 1) On a physical level, the heart is the organ that pumps purified blood to the rest of the body; it’s what keeps you alive. 2) On a more essential level, our hearts serve as an inherent source of inspiration that often remains untapped because we underestimate its potential.Think about any decision that you’ve made in your life, whether it be choosing to go to a specific university, taking or turning down a job, making the decision to end a relationship: when that decision was the wrong decision, you felt it in your gut, whether it be with a squirm in your stomach or an uncomfortable feeling. However, when you make a decision that is the absolute correct choice for yourself, you feel absolute stillness within. Both of those reactions are reactions of the heart.One of the purposes of Heartfulness Meditation is to dive deep into that inherent, internal energy of the heart, connect with it, ground it, and gradually cultivate it into a positive energy that can be used for both internal and external development through a daily meditation practice.So the reason I was drawn to and stuck with Heartfulness is simple: all of the answers that I had been searching for were within me: I just needed to be brave enough to dive inwards. The concept of meditation can be daunting to some who are just starting out. What are some of the ways you recommend people get started?Just like exercise, mastering a sport, getting the hang of a difficult math technique, or learning how to cook, meditation takes time and practice. The only way to really get the hang of meditation is by doing it consistently. Whenever I am doing introductory Heartfulness sessions, I always encourage people to do three things:Start small. Start with five minutes of meditation. Get comfortable with those five minutes, and when you feel comfortable with those five minutes, add on an additional five minutes, then another five, until you build up to the recommended thirty minutes of meditation.Keep a diary. Note down how you feel both before and after you meditate. Be consistent with tracking how your meditations go every day. This is a really great way to follow along with the progress of your meditation practice.Don’t give up! Here’s the truth: meditation IS hard. I have been meditating for nearly eight years, and there are still some weeks that I either don’t feel like doing my practice, or I will sit down to meditate, and a million unyielding thoughts will pop into my head, and I’ll just want to call it quits. We are trained to believe that we are only doing something if we are constantly thinking/moving/acting/being. But we don’t always have to moving in order to achieve! There is just as much power, if not more power, in silence. In the moments when you feel like giving up on meditation, keep at it. In the moments that you don’t want to meditate, meditate anyway. The more and more you practice, the more you continue to grow that personal power.You’ve met a ton of people through Heartfulness meditation and I’m sure many stories have been shared about how meditation changed lives. What are some of the changes you have seen in your own life or in the lives of others from adopting a meditation routine?There are so many ways that Heartfulness Meditation has changed my life. During the weeks in which I am consistently committed to my practice, I feel like I am my optimal self: I have a strong routine down, I sleep peacefully, I am more alert and sharp, and I am both efficient and accurate in the work that I do in all areas of my life. My emotions are more regulated: I lead with the more positive traits associated with the heart: kindness, empathy, thoughtfulness, humility, love. My communication with my friends and family are softer and more genuine, and I am less quick to anger.In comparison to the days I don’t meditate or my meditation feels weaker, overall, I just FEEL better. I feel like I have a better handle on my day, on my life, on any obstacle that my day or my life might throw at me. I feel more in control because I have let go of a need to be in control. I am able to tackle everything in my life with a more heartful intention, guaranteeing that the results of my actions will be all the more positive.On a more vulnerable note, as someone who deals with anxiety, meditation has been the best “medication” that I have been able to apply in order to gradually mitigate my anxious moods; it is my go-to tool at work or in life when I am feeling overwhelmed or I am overthinking. For much of my life, I had created this unattainable misconception in my mind that, in order to be successful and happy, I needed to be defined by external circumstances: being a straight-A student, making a lot of money, fitting in, seeming like I had it together. I was constantly disappointed in myself because I never felt like I lived up to the ridiculous standards that I had set for myself.Over the last few years (and especially in the last year), as I’ve deepened my meditation practice, I finally started letting go of those ridiculous standards, and I have come to learn that true success and happiness comes from learning to be content with yourself.What Heartfulness Meditation has done for me is allowed me to find that sense of peace within myself; layer by layer, I am slowly lifting the heavy, negative weight that I have laid upon my heart. Gradually, I am becoming both more normalized and at peace with the essence of myself. What are some of the challenges you face when talking about, practicing, or teaching meditation?A challenge that I’ve noticed with myself and with others is that they feel like they are failing at the practice if they have too many thoughts during a session. A common misconception about meditation is that it is a practice intended to rid your mind of thoughts. Our minds are machines that are trained to think, so preventing thoughts is impossible. Creating an internal sense of peace in spite of thoughts, however, IS possible. So as you’re meditating, if you feel thoughts coming up, just gently acknowledge them, then push them away. Pay no mind to them and keep moving forward. Easier said than done but, again, #practice.Another challenge is creating the willpower to meditate. It is always easier to avoid creating positive habits in order to stay up until 3AM watching Netflix on a work night (guilty!), or to skip a day of meditation because ‘there is always tomorrow, I can get to it tomorrow’ (guilty again!).The key to quashing the willpower problem is to ! It is completely okay to do this! Take interest in your growth, your self-development, your strengths, your weaknesses, your goals. Take interest in your meditation practice because, by the transitive property (I think it’s the transitive property? Math was never really my strong subject), you’re taking interest in yourself. Create that willpower through self-love and self-dedication. Do the work heartfully and intentionally, and watch yourself reap the benefits.What do you hope to bring to the world through Heartfulness?There is a lot of hate and animosity in the world right now, and a lot of it is bred from differences in opinions and perspectives, and an inability to create camaraderie amongst one another. For the most part, it can be okay that we all see the world through different lenses. But how can we coexist in spite of these differences? Here’s the thing: We’re all human. We all get mad, angry, jealous, bitter, frustrated, and feel negative. We all cry. We all love. We all dance, laugh, joke, eat, sleep, and breathe. And most of us are striving for the same thing: we want to find happiness. We often have more in common with one another than we realize. Sometimes, it just feels easier not to see it. I’m guilty of feeling/acting this way every single day. You know how during the safety tutorial on an airplane, the flight attendant always says to put your oxygen mask on first before helping someone else put on theirs? I think that’s what Heartfulness Meditation is all about: being able to allow yourself to breathe first so that you can have the ability to help others to breathe, as well. I hope that, through the practice of Heartfulness Meditation, I can continue to cultivate and apply the positive traits of the heart within myself first: kindness, compassion, empathy, happiness, warmth, joy, light, and love. And as I strengthen those positive traits within myself, I hope that I can share the wealth with others by example. I strongly believe that in order to create sustainable peace around the world, we must first start by creating peace within ourselves. And for anyone who gives Heartfulness Meditation a try, I hope they feel compelled to do exactly the same.Three weird facts about you that the public doesn't know...go!I have read the Harry Potter series 49 times each. I wish I were joking. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Harry Potter. When I was five-years-old, my favorite aunt gifted me with a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and I was immediately hooked. I always felt a bit left of center growing up, and the Harry Potter books and characters provided me with a sense of friendship, camaraderie, and relatability. As I grew up, Harry grew up along with me, and the books provided me with a sanctuary within which I could escape during the rough teenage/high school years. To this day, whenever I’m having a bad day and I need a pick-me-up, a Harry Potter book is one of my favorite go-tos. Side note: you’re looking at a proud Hufflepuff here. J Another side note, I highly recommend listening to Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, which is a phenomenal, thoughtful, and intentional podcast that views each chapter in the series through the lens of a sacred text.I love country music. My mom and I started listening to it together when I was three months (!) old, and for some crazy reason, I was hooked. If I weren’t in public health, I’d want to work as a record head for a country music label that focused specifically on female artists. I know that country music tends to be hit or miss for most music listeners, especially since most of the songs on the radio sound fairly identical these days (#sickofbrocountry). But if you are looking for some strong female country artists to fall in love with, I highly recommend: Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Cam, Lauren Alaina, Mickey Guyton, Ashley Monroe, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Carly Pearce, and of course, my musical hero, Carrie Underwood. I love, love, LOVE being Indian. I was almost always the only Indian kid in a predominantly white community growing up, so from a young age, I would do anything I could in order to assert my culture. When I was in the fourth grade, I sang, “God Bless the Child” by Shania Twain at my school’s talent show wearing a bright yellow churidaar, and in the fifth grade, I danced to, “Say Shava Shava”. When I was in high school, I ended up moving to a town where there were more Indian kids, and to celebrate Diwali, all of us went to school dressed up in Indian clothing. Now, I’m finally starting to learn how to cook Indian food, so it’s always fun to share whatever I make at home with my coworkers and friends. My Indian heritage is an integral part of who I am, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been born into a culture with so much light, color, joy, and FUN.It's five years from now, and you've achieved your dream. What does your vision look like?Oof. Thirty-year-old Mamata. I still look like I’m fifteen, so I wonder how old I’ll look when I’m thirty ha.Honestly, I have a thousand and one ideas of what I’d like to see for Future Mamata. I would love to have my Master’s in Public Health with a focus on Maternal and Child Health and Human Rights. I’d love to be in a managerial position with an organization that emphasizes the empowerment of women and children’s health and human rights, with room to climb the ladder. Within that, I’d like to be able to do a mix of the field work and the behind-the-scenes, operational work that I’m doing now.I’ll have finally buckled down and have written the book that I’ve always wanted to write, and it will have been published, with offers for additional books coming in. I’d love to still be living in New York City, in an apartment close to Central Park so that I can watch the leaves change in the fall. My job and life will allow me to travel to different countries and allow me to experience the world, but will also be flexible enough to allow me to visit my family and friends often.My meditation practice will be in a place in which it is consistent, but also evolving and growing as I continue to dive deeper into my inner self. Maybe I’m married, maybe I’m not. Maybe I have kids or am pregnant, maybe I’m not. For the things that I have some control over, I am committed to putting in the optimal effort to create a good life for myself. For the areas I’m not in control of, I’m just along for the ride. I strongly believe that everything will work out the way it is intended to, but that it’s important to put in the best effort possible.I’ve been learning the hard way this year that I can’t be perfect, and my hope is that thirty-year-old Mamata will have finally shaken off the ridiculous notion that she has to be that way. Overall, my hope and prayer is that Present Mamata makes decisions in the here and now that will allow Future Mamata to feel a sense of continuous happiness and confidence, in spite of the inevitably of growth and change. I would love to feel settled and content in some aspects of my life, but I am aware that life is one long journey of growth. But… it’s a journey that I’m happy to be on.And now it's your turn to be the wise one! What is advice you would give someone who is getting their vision off the ground?Growing up, my dad had one piece of advice that resonated so deeply with me: “Put your heart into everything you do, and it will be done with the right intention.” There are so many facets to a vision, some that are bright and sparkly, and others that feel a little more mundane. And for the items that tend to be more mundane, naturally, we have a tendency to approach them with less enthusiasm and effort.From watching both of my parents over the years, and from hearing this piece of advice from my dad, I have come to recognize how important it is to put your heart into everything. When you do, everything is done with love; and when things are done with love, then they will inevitably be done well, because they will have been done with the right intention.For me, sometimes even creating the motivation and willpower to do anything feels exhausting. But when I approach any scenario wholeheartedly, openheartedly, and as lovingly as possible, I know my efforts will be much stronger, and, more importantly, I know that my intention behind my actions will be much more positive. I’ve been trying to apply this advice to my lack of motivation to cook lol.So my advice is my dad’s advice. Put your heart into everything you do, and watch your whole world change for the better.Top three bucket list items:1. Write at least two New York Times bestsellers. 2. GO TO HARRY POTTER WORLD!3. Italy, Italy, Italy, Italy, Italy.Five people you recommend people follow (side note: or that I reach out to for this series!) and why they've influenced you.Annika Sharma – she’s a phenomenal writer, a phenomenal human, and even more phenomenal friend. Over the past year of knowing her, I’ve seen how beautiful, kind, relatable, and inspirational Annika is. She is a fierce and confident woman, and loyal, true friend. She has a way of making everyone she meets feel like she’s known them forever. FOLLOW HER. Cuz she’s rad. :) (Side note, y'all: I didn't pay her for this endorsement...it's all her. Teary Annika over here.)Reese Witherspoon – Reese has always been phenomenal, but lately, she is just KILLING the game. She is incredibly successful in her own right, and it is clear that she leads with compassion and empathy. She is also so supportive of all of her female peers, whether they be actresses, singers, or businesswomen. It always seems like women are pegged against one another, or are trying to tear one another down. It’s refreshing to see a woman that has had the ability to create her own power on a very large scale use that power to empower others.Maren Morris – Maren is one of my favorite new country singers. As a woman, breaking into the country music scene can be difficult. Not only has Maren done it with an enviable fierceness and great music, but she has also been incredibly supportive of all other women in country music, both the veterans and the up-and-comers. I love seeing her comments on other female artists’ Instagrams, or her mom-like posts when one of her female comrades puts on new music. Women should always be supporting other women, and in a genre where very few women are afforded a strong spotlight, it’s lovely to see Maren encourage camaraderie instead of competition.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text: Okay. So I know this is not a person. But I said it above – this is a PHENOMENAL podcast. The content is strong, smart, engaging, intentional, thoughtful, and provides a whole new perspective on such a beloved series. And the hosts, Casper and Vanessa, are wonderful humans who bring so much light, love, and realness to the Harry Potter series. I highly recommend checking this podcast out.Global Health Corps: Okay, also not a person, but my organization is amazing. We are a non-profit leadership development fellowship organization that puts young adults into the public health world for a thirteen-month fellowship, and watch as they help to make positive strides forward within broken public health systems utilizing the diversity of skills that they bring to the table. We work with a variety of partners both in the United States and in Africa, and our fellows are some of the most incredible individuals I have ever met. This space has been such a beautiful, challenging, empathetic, FUN space to grow and learn within, and I am so grateful to spend every day with the I get to work with. If you want to learn more about the incredible work our fellows are doing day in and day out, I highly encourage you to follow us on social media.

Book Review: My So-Called Bollywood Life, by Nisha Sharma

I never thought I'd see myself in a character so much--a little bit of a control freak, someone caught between destiny and choice, someone who has moments of grace but mostly moments of blurting out witty comments...Enter Winnie Mehta.Winnie has dated a boy named Raj, who she believed was the man who would fulfill a prophecy about her love life...until they break up. Caught between what destiny has predicted for her and what she wants in life, the story explores the life of a high school senior as she navigates her life as a Bollywood movie, relates everything back to Bollywood, and lives out her own destiny.Nisha Sharma knocks it out of the park, both with her descriptions of our culture and with the story itself. There's something so outlandish about Bollywood movies--the dancing, the songs, the melodrama, the overdone reactions, and the colors--and there's something so seamless about how she weaves it into the story. As she mentions time and again, the love of Bollywood isn't a love of melodrama--it's an admiration of the passion and full-hearted pursuit of desires that makes people relate.Bollywood is a character, in and of itself, in Winnie's tale.Winnie rates each movie she watches on a film blog, and makes constant references to movies I grew up with, eliciting both a warm reaction of familiarity and a chuckle at how these movies still impact our lives through a YA book or with the lessons concealed underneath the over-acting by veteran actors we still love despite their lack of subtlety. She frames her lessons and her failures within the context of these movies, which not only entertain the reader but enlighten them and give them more depth into the stress she's feeling. Bollywood and the context with which it is mentioned in the story act as a stabilizing force in an already solid story.I love how driven Winnie is to succeed in a field (filmmaking) that South Asian women are making strides in now and hopefully will continue to in the future. We needed a strong, sassy, sarcastic, semi-nerdy, impetuous Bollywood heroine who knows where her head is and has a set of steady shoulders to wear it on.More than anything, I loved the characterization of Winnie, her family, her friends and her loved ones. Each was flawed. Each was real. Each made me laugh, "aww" and anger at their actions. To see an Indian family not ripe with stereotypes (which even I am guilty of writing at times) was refreshing. Also, I needed a serious consultation with Pandit Ohmi (the astrologer) after reading this book! If I had a starring system on this blog, I would rate this book 5/5 stars. But I'll leave that to Winnie Mehta and her rating of Amar, Akbar, Anthony instead.