The Runner in Me

Running is not my life but sure has become a part of it. For the past couple of years I had run just 10, 15 and 21 kms. The farthest I ran was a 25 km run. Yesterday was the first time I crossed the 30 km barrier. I did reasonably well for my first 32k and was even in third place for a good part of the run, until my legs tightened and the muscles began to spasm. I won't say I was disappointed. There was a good many things I can take away from the run. The first thing I so need to loose weight. Secondly, I need to go in with a good nutrition plan. And thirdly, I need to enjoy the run. I learnt yesterday that is always scope for learning and improving and growing. You feed on the challenge and soak in the cheering. I had so much of that yesterday. And that's what I am going to take away from yesterday's run.

But now it's time for me to get back to the drawing board if I want to complete my first full by the end of the year. That's going to be a challenge but it's a challenge I accept and going to complete.

I Lava You

Lava is a sweet animated short film from Pixar Animation studio that tells a sweet story of a volcano that overlooks his beautiful bay and all the beautiful flora and fauna. Seeing the creatures and their mates he too long for companionship.

What's beautiful is that the story is told through a beautiful song, played on a ukele. The movie takes you through a gamut of emotions, right from awe at the beautiful site of the bay, to feeling where you sense the loneliness,  to despair and sadness and finally ectasy. No wonder the movie plays before Inside Out.

The movie leave you with a big smile on your face, a lump on your throat and a stray teardrop in your eye. And yes the songs sticks in your head. And if you are someone like me, you would never ever want to let it go.

"I have a dream, I wish it will come true, that you'll grow old with me and I'll grow old with you. I thank the oceans and the skies up above-a for giving someone to lava... cause I Lava you...." :)

Being Sad Ain't that Bad

Is Sadness all that bad as we believe it is? Are so afraid of that we try to surpress as much as possible,  try to push it into deep abyss of our mind? Are we that worries about the tears it brings?

Well sadness is not a that bad, after all it is in those moments of sadness that we draw comfort towards us. Sadness from a loss teaches the true value of people and things. Sadness brings with it a promise to do better, to learn, to never ever face the situation again. Sadness leads to determination.  It is in sadness that we draw people to us to soothe our pain and help us to lift ourselves and begin again. Sadness is not the antagonist in this piece but a very important cast member.

Sadness helps remember forgotten moments and faces, of people we may no longer be in touch with, events in the past that have long been forgotten. Sadness let's us dust off the cobwebs in our mind.

Well if you are asking what is the catalyst to this write up... then let me tell you, it is a little movie called Inside Out. There you see, being sad doesn't have to be so bad.

Show a Bit of Sensitivity

A recent reality show included two contestants who were bisexual. One openly declared her orientation while in a pool with the other female the contestants and had not problem with her declaration. The other contestant was outed by the host while in the pool with the male contestants. Both these information were met with weird and uneasy looks and weirder comments from the contestants. But what got my goat was when one of the host went on the tin pull the contestant's leg based on his orientation, leaving the poor chap red faced and embarrassed.

In a world that is slowly crawling towards acceptance, what the host did, felt a bit insensitive. Yes the show maybe be scripted but at least the host needs to treat such situation with sensitivity and not make a joke of it. The choice to live or reveal one's orientation lies with the person themselves.  The others need to respect their decision even if they may not support it.

Pitching it Perfectly

You go to the movies to be entertained. For those couple of hours you want to loose yourself in the characters and world which you see on the screen. You want to laugh, you want cry laughing. You just want to enjoy yourself.  And that's exactly what Pitch Perfect 2 does.

The movie is light, fun, not heavy on the brain but at the same time it is not crass. It can be silly at times, but for the most part of it, the movie fun. With no social message (at least I didn't note any) the movie is a light breezy entertainer.

The story is pretty simple. The Bellas loose face due to a wardrobe malfunction and face a situation which could end them totally. Their only chance at redemption is the World Acapella Championship which they need to win to gain back their credibility.

You revisit the character which you met in the first part along some new blood. And also you have a stiffer competition this time.

There are many laugh-out-loud moments. The previously mentioned wardrobe malfunction in front of non other than President Obama, Fat Amy proposing to Bumper, the Treble maker performance at the college orientation, a mash up of two beloved carols, and what would be a Pitch Perfect movie without a riff-off. But what really takes the cake is the final competition performance of the Bellas that makes you want to wave along, sing-a-long and even have a moist eye. And if you are patient enough you will be rewarded with a special audition for a reality show (ala Marvel).

On the whole the movie might not be totally perfect, but while it  last you cannot help but smile. On a whole a good watch.

Of Love and Orientation

The 26th of June was a landmark day, at least in American history, when the Supreme Court of America legalised Same-Sex unions across all states. And soon the whole World Wide Web turned into hues of the rainbow in celebration of this landmark decision. People change their dps, knowingly or unknowingly, to support this decision.

But as there were joyous raptures, the Web also got flooded with hate and disapproval. People quoting scriptures and various other statements to show their disapproval.

No one, whether straight or gay, chooses the person they truly fall in love with. This something that just happens, something that's part of nature. Then what is unnatural about it. Love is something that happens no matter who you are. Love is not a children's game where one day you decide you will be boyfriend and girlfriend from now on.

Homosexuality is not the latest fad and in no way threatens anyone's straightness. All they ask is the right to love the person they truly love, the one they want to be  with for the rest of their life with, just like a straight couples. All they want is to be treated with equality and with dignity and not be discriminated and persecuted. They want to be seen as humans and be comfortable in their own skin, who they are.

Homosexuality is not a mental sickness. A gay  person suffers from no mental ailment that needs to be treated. A gay person is a normal person like anyone else.

It is not Homosexuality that threatens the sanctity of marriage. It is divorce and separation that does that. Marriage is threatened by people nor respecting the sanctity of the institution and not fully grasping the importance of the sacrament. This is the main danger to marriage and not the gender of the person you marry.

It is time we grow and move on and move towards a society that is more tolerant and accepting and inclusive. We don't discrimate on the basis of one's orientation and all live in harmony and respect, as equals. We need to change with time.

God is Love, and the one who lives in Love, live with God and God lives with him, no matter who they love.

Spirit of Mumbai

On 18th of Jan I witnessed the Spirit or Mumbai in all it regality. The spirit on full display for everyone to see and witness. People lining the roads, egging the runners on, cheering them, pushing them, giving them the nudge to make it over that finish line. It didn't matter who you are. Whether  you are someone they know, their family member, or a total stranger, Mumbaikar cheered on, held placards, offered water, snacks and encouragements. And we runners did our part. Appreciated them, gave them the thumbs, applauded their encouragement, but importantly soaked ourselves in this spirit and moved on,  striding mightly. Mumbai is a city that had to rebounded numerous times from riots and bomb blasts. But to see this true spirit is a very uplifting experience.

I distinctly remember this ine placard that said "Run stranger I cgeer for you." This made want to say that I am no stranger, I am a Mumbaikar just like you.

2014: A Reflection on the year gone by

We are already four days into the new year amd I know I am bit late to muse upon the year, but I am going to do it anyway.

2014, in many ways, has been a very trying year. There have emotional highs and lows, struggles, frustrations, sadness and goodbyes. But then there have been highs and personal bests and a discovery of new passion.

I thought that with the passing of my grandad, in 2012, I had seen the last of hospitals and medical bills and the stress that comes with it. However,  2014 has other things in store  for me. Cancer reared its head a3nf once again i found myself (still finding myself) battling a financial crisis.

If 2006 help me discover an inner strength, in 2014 I had to dig deeper. There have been so many times throughout the year i wanted to just give up, close my eyes and go deep into an internal sleep. But I coukd never give yp. Fight through my battles and find a way.

2014 also showed me a side of humanity that i seen with others but got a first hand experience of it myself. People do have their humanity, an inner goodness, a gratitude. I feel blessed to have seen it in abundance in the year gobe by. Feel grateful for all the people who came to our help.

2014 has been a year I got miles under my feet and futher my passion. I discovered  i could push  boundaries, push myself to greater heights and not limit myself. Impossible is just a word and i can always try , if I didn't suceed then there's always a next time, always a lesson to learn, room for improvement. But always it's a been a discovery of something you felt you never had.

Love too take some beating in  2014. Going through an emmotional and financial crisis is never easy on a relationship, especially in a relationship like mine. There have been emotional lows and struggles, misunderstanding and trials. But faces it and weathered and rallied together through it. Being independent-minded and  egotistical has no place. But through the trails your bonds grow stronger. And so we completed 7 years and look forward to many more years of togetherness and growing love and respect for each other, knowing that you always have a someone to see you through.

All in all, 2014 has been a year of discovery, of pushing limits, a year of reconciliation and strengthening bonds.

So now it is the time of 2015. A time to scale new heights and continuously push limits.