Preeti Shenoy's Blog, page 45

Bhubaneshwar again!! Blog marathon post 24

Am a speaker at Wessenaire 2015, an annual tecnho festival at IIT Bhubhaneshwar. So i am off tomorrow.


And since I have a very early start tomorrow and a flight to catch this is the song I am singing:
(I like this version the best though there are many versions)


Do listen to it. It's one of my favourite songs.

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Make yourself happy today (blog marathon post 23)

Today I read a well-written piece by Kavitha Rao which made me want to stand up and applaud her -- Why Indian women are never taught to be alone and why that is a problem.

Some time back I had read a piece 30 things every woman should have and know by the time she is 30.   I so loved that piece too.

The thing about Indian women, most of us are taught to put our husbands and children first. Today was one of the extremely rare days that I watched TV for 30 minutes. (Usually I cannot stand watching for more than 5 minutes). I was watching Two and a Half Men, and in between, during the commercial break, I happened to watch a few ads. One of them showed a husband and a child, sleeping in bed with a woman, and in the middle of the night, they wake up coughing. The woman immediately jumps up and applies Vicks on them and they instantly feel better. What about her sleep? Isn't that important?
There was another advert--I forget what product it was---where two hungry children who must be 12 and 14, run back from whatever activity they were doing and the woman is standing right there with a hot meal, waiting to serve them. That's expected of an Indian woman, you see--she is their mom after all. Noone asks her how she is, whether she wants something, how her day went or anything like that. Agreed this is a 30 second commercial--but the point I am making is the mindset behind it.

My book The Secret Wishlist struck a chord with many many Indian women. I have mails from hundreds of Indian women who wrote in saying I had crawled into their heads and written their stories.

I think three decades ago, when Indian parents raised their girl-child, they built in the guilt factor. They were indirectly taught to 'adjust'. to  'feel guilty about expressing their needs' and to 'keep everyone happy'.

Here is the thing: Unless you are happy, you won't be able to give any happiness to anyone. You need to take care of yourself first. You need to look after yourself, before you can give.

If you have a special woman in your life, who makes your world brighter, appreciate her today.
And if you are that woman, give yourself a pat on the back, and do something just for yourself today---not for your child, not for your husband, not for your parents, but just for you.

It is only YOU who can make you happy.
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Like what you read?
Buy my books, you will love them:   http://is.gd/preetibooks
 Get my latest non-fiction book on relationships at just Rs.175/- : Bit.ly/WhyWeLoveTheWayWeDo


http://preetishenoy.com/

Highest selling books of 2015. Why We Love The Way We Do is in TOP FIVE

The one thing I have never mentioned is that during blog marathons, there are always good days, bad days and really-bad-i-feel-like-throwing-the-laptop-out-of-the-window days. No prizes for guessing which category today fell into.
I was having a tummy ache the whole evening. I didnt even go for my yoga and was sleeping  5.30 pm to 7.00 pm as I was too exhausted and feeling unwell.

Then a reader. Karthick Balaraman, who calls himself a 'sincere fan', messages me on Facebook. Actually a few months back, he had bumped into me in person, and he was really happy to have recognised me. He sent me the link to the best-selling books of 2015.
I was elated to see that Why We Love The Way We Do was among the highest selling non-fiction titles of 2015.

Here is the link: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/books-revealed-the-books-india-read-in-2015/20160106.htm

My tiredness, my stomach pain and any discomfort that I was feeling instantly vanished! I was fine suddenly.

It is amazing how positive happenings affect our bodies.Uplift us. Transport us instantly to a better place.

Our emotions are  such powerful things. I saw it being demonstrated today.

I go to bed today, a happy and contented woman. Those closest to me know how hard I have worked for this book.
Am grateful.
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Buy the book: Bit.ly/WhyWeLoveTheWayWeDo
Download the first few chapters free!: http://is.gd/WhyWeLoveTheWayWeDohttp://preetishenoy.com/

A tale of two sea-horses (blog marathon post 21)

Every Saturday, in the Financial Chronicle, my column Sex and the city appears. To write this I research quite a bit and today I discovered about sea horses. Did you know that in sea horses, it is the males who carry the babies? The females deposit their eggs in the male's pouch and he carries them till they are ready to hatch.

After I wrote my column (I have a deadline of Wednesday.And I am proud to say that I have been writing this column for nearly two years now and I have never missed a deadline) I sat back and imagined a scenario between two sea-horses meeting at a bar, and decided to write a dialogue between them, just for fun and to amuse myself. After I wrote it, I couldn't stop chuckling :)  and so I decided to share it here.


Here's  what I wrote:


Deep down in the pacific ocean,between the coral reefs, two sea-horses meet at the sea-weed bar. She is nursing a blue-algae margarita while he walks up to her. She looks at him and looks away, pretending to be disinterested. She is checking him out with the corner of her eye though. He notices and walks up to her.
‘Wanna come back to my cave? Yay or neigh?’ he says.She instantly arches up her spine and sits up a bit more straight on the coral reef bar-stool.
‘Excuse me! I have heard far better lines than those.’But he is not one to be deterred easily.
‘I have a nice tight pouch. And I don’t charge too much,’ he tries again.
‘ Charge? I am not in the market for pouches.Pouches don’t interest me much. Seen too many.’
Her reply is  a bit too quick.
‘Ok, let’s go dancing then? You have a nice tail..was checking it out when you swam in.’
‘Hahahaha. What kind of dance do you do?’
'The horse trot. It’s like the fox trot, but for sea-horses. I’ll teach you. If you’re lucky you may even get to see my pouch later.”
‘I work in the International academy of horse dancing. I would teach YOU.But I don’t think you can afford me, mister. And I don’t wanna see no pouches.’
‘So dance just to dance? I want to practice our mating ritual!’
‘Ummmm...nah, Not interested. I come here to wind down. Dancing is work for me,’
Ms.sea horse starts checking out other horses at the algae bar.
‘What’s your favorite sex position?’
‘Why would I want to tell you that?’
Mr. Sea horse downs his seventh shot.‘I LIKE HORSIE STYLE..IT’S LIKE DOGGIE STYLE BUT FOR US.’
Ms.seahorse gets up and bolts.And looks at the bouncer (an orca whale) and gestures to him with her eyes. Bouncer steps in.
She swims for her life, swishing her cute tail furiously, getting away as fast as she can.
Mr. Seahorse is bewildered. Asks his male friends why he can’t get any tail.The last I heard he was still asking.

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If you find it as funny as I did--- despite saying so myself---do leave me a comment.  I take comments instead of cash for making you laugh :) And as an incentive for comments, I pay you back with more such posts!
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Like what you read?
Buy my books, you will love them:   http://is.gd/preetibooks
 Get my latest non-fiction book on relationships at just Rs.175/- : Bit.ly/WhyWeLoveTheWayWeDo


http://preetishenoy.com/

A review--Why We Love The Way we Do (Blog marathon post 20)

Just got to know that Sakal Times have given my latest book a really nice review.
I quote from the review:

The essays are peppered with a lot of real-life stories and practical advice about myriad matters related to love and marriage — from how to survive heartbreaks, to how to make relationships last.

Shenoy’s writing style is articulate, engaging and candid (she shares personal experiences of her marriage at several points in the book). The book is replete with references to social and psychological studies and cultural facts, which gives a welcome sense of authenticity to the reading experience. The author is careful not to come across as repetitive or preachy.

No matter how many books you have written, it always feels great to get a positive review. At the end of the day, we put in a lot of work to write a book. We do the best that we can. For this book, I had put in hours and hours of meticulous research. i had taken care to not sound preachy or like a ms.Know-it-all.

I am glad that, that has been recognised.

 For all of you who have bought it, read it and liked it---a heartfelt thank you. It was at No.7 on the Nieslsen listand was at No.5 on the Crossword best-seller list.

And it was you  who helped make it happen!
Thanks folks! Keep smiling.

See you tomorrow!
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Buy the book: Bit.ly/WhyWeLoveTheWayWedo


http://preetishenoy.com/

A good drive (blog marathon post 19)

On some days, nothing really beats a good drive.
And being driven around by your son, is icing on the cake.
The cherry, being the fact that it was I who had taught him how to drive.



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Pssst:
Like what you read?
Buy my books, you will love them:   http://is.gd/preetibooks
 Get my latest non-fiction book on relationships at just Rs.175/- : Bit.ly/WhyWeLoveTheWayWeDo


http://preetishenoy.com/

Get over your fears (Blog marathon post 18)

It's the 2nd of January 2016. Have you broken any resolutions yet? Or are you saving that for mid February or March when the steam runs out? :)

I think one of the biggest things that we an do for ourselves this year is to lose our fears. Ask yourself--what is the biggest thing you fear? Is it losing someone you love? Is it fear of public speaking? Is it not having enough money? Is it fear of failure?

Often, when it comes to living life to the fullest, it is our fears that hold us back. We are so afraid to go out there and give whatever we want to do a chance, because we fear the consequences. We fear rejection. We fear ridicule, scorn. We fear change.

But what if you were assured that you would succeed at whatever it is that you want to try but do not have the courage for? What if someone gave you a guarantee that no matter what it is, you wont fail?
What would you do?

Make a list.
Write it down.
Then cross off one off the list each month.

IF you fail, so be it. It is a valuable lesson learnt.
And if you don't it's an even more valuable lesson learnt.
That will make this a SPLENDID year.
 We can indeed fly, soar and touch the skies.It is only our fears that are holding us back.
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ps: if you want to share your list, I am listening. But I have an ulterior motive.
I just might use that in the novel I am writing :) My characters might  live your desires :))

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Like what you read?
Buy my books, you will love them:   http://is.gd/preetibooks
 Get my latest non-fiction book on relationships at just Rs.175/- : Bit.ly/WhyWeLoveTheWayWeDo


http://preetishenoy.com/

Beginning a new year with happy memories (Blog marathon post 17)

When I was a child, my mother used to always say that whatever you do on the first day of the new year will be that which would set the tone for the rest of the year. We took great care to make the first day a positive one, to be happy with what we have rather than focus on those issues that weren't right, and to do those things that brought us joy.

Even to this day, I take care to follow that on 1st of January, each year. 1st January always signifies hope and a new start.
I spent my day with my family, and my closest cousin (almost like a sister) whom I was meeting after 15 years, as we live in two different parts of the world,and out paths  in life have been very different. It is amazing how the bond formed in childhood still remains just as strong.


She was visiting me with her family and had been staying with us the last three days. We had thousands of things to talk about, and the laughter was non-stop as we recalled one thing after the other. With her, I can be totally myself--funny,goofy, sometimes sarcastic, clever, witty, kind, mad ,humorous, comical and self-deprecatory. She completely understands me.


We went out for lunch to a lovely place today (too) and here's a pic from today.

Among all the blessings that i cunt in my life, I am genuinely grateful for people who love me for who I am.
If you have such people in your life, hold on to them. Do everything you can to to keep that relationship going. It's a treasure to be cherished, and would also be the best gift that you can give yourself.

Till tomorrow, keep smiling.
I do hope you have a wonderful 2016,  where you have health, laughter and loads of time to make happy memories with your loved ones.
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Like what you read?
Buy my books, you will love them:   http://is.gd/preetibooks
 Get my latest non-fiction book on relationships at just Rs.175/- : Bit.ly/WhyWeLoveTheWayWeDo


http://preetishenoy.com/

Happy new Year!! (blog marathon post 16)

Remember the year gone by
But remember only the happy things
Look back at the year gone by
But consider only the sucesses
Remember the year gone by
Take what you want from it
Lessons and memories
Cherish it. Value it.
Each day comes only once.
And a new year can be a new beginning.
Start,
Begin,
Renew.

I wish you a WONDERFUL  new year.
May you have health, money, happiness and may you be surrounded by loved ones.


http://preetishenoy.com/

Why cats are worshipped in Kedar-Gouri temple (blog marathon post 15)

Yesterday, I told you that I would tell you that I would tell you the story of why cats are worshipped in Kedar-Gouri temple in Bhubhaneshwar and how a cat followed me around, even sleeping in my lap.


Many many years ago in a small village in Orissa there lived a very pious but extremely poor Brahmin  family. There was a husband, his wife and  the mother-in-law who followed all the rituals and religious ceremonies.  Every day before they ate their breakfast the mother-in-law would make an offering to the Goddess of milk. Then after she did the pooja, she would use that milk for coffee. One day the wife was really hungry as they had no food the previous night and had starved. So when she saw the milk the next morn she couldn't resist taking half a tumbler. Out of sheer hunger she gulped it down.  Then she panicked as the mother-in-law would now notice the reduced quantity and be furious as the wife had committed a sin by having the milk kept for the Goddess. She didn't know what to do. So to cover up her theft she dipped her fingers in the milk and smeared it around the mouth of their pet cat. The mother in law saw the milk around the mouth of the cat and the reduced quantity of the milk. She was so angry that she beat up the cat. The cat felt very sad and climbed up the tree outside their house and mewed in agony, piteously. Goddess kedar-gauri couldn't bear it. She descended on earth in disguise of an old woman and she took away the cat. She then kept the cat with her as her "vaahan". (Each of the Indian Gods have an animal as their 'vahaan'. The animal then gets divine rights and is worshipped and treated well, just a rung below the gods and goddesses.  So the cat lived happily ever after with Goddess  Kedar-Gauri. And that is why cats are revered and treated well and worshipped in that temple.  And this is why people gift a kitten to the Goddess when their wishes are fulfilled. 

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Like what you read?
Buy my books, you will love them:   http://is.gd/preetibooks
 Get my latest non-fiction book on relationships at just Rs.175/- : Bit.ly/WhyWeLoveTheWayWeDo


http://preetishenoy.com/