Concrete Words - The Coffee Mug - Part 2

This post is part of  a series where I choose and write about a particular "Concrete Word "

Concrete words are terms that identify things and events that can be measured and observed. Concrete words are tangible in some way. So I decided to write about such "concrete words ".

I enjoy my morning cup of tea in this beautiful mug . It has an elegant design and is beautifully crafted . It is a porcelain mug from Teavana. This mug holds a very special place in my heart. First because I received it last year as my graduation gift . It is undoubtedly the best gift I have received so far . It came in the mail as a total  surprise. It was neatly wrapped in a decorative box. The second reason that makes this mug special is even better. It was sent by a very special couple . They both are dear and near to me. So every single  time I sip my tea from this mug it reminds me of that special feeling . It gives me a sense of accomplishment . It reminds me of my achievements . It also makes me aware of my responsibilities since my graduation . It reminds me to be grateful for being surrounded by wonderful caring people in my life. And of course drinking caffeine has its own perks. I so need this mug and my dose of early morning caffeine especially now that I am a mommy on the go.

Inner Peace

" Peace of mind is not the absence of conflict from life, but the ability to cope with it . ".... Anonymous


We come across these words "INNER PEACE " every now and then. What is this inner peace ? Like most individuals I find inner peace to be transitory. The lasting inner peace, just as the monks and saints describe seems an impossible accomplishment. So I decided to ask myself  "What is it that makes inner peace so fleeting in my life? "

I started reflecting on this question for days and days. And that is when it dawned upon me that inner peace is a choice . I  (myself  ) have to make this choice . I  ( myself  ) need to and should choose to feel at peace, deep inside . But can I ? As I said earlier I felt that this inner peace was always fleeting. So what was making it so short lived ? The answer was simple. The biggest hindrance was the negativity inside me. The obstacle to this lasting inner peace was within myself . But where did the negativity come from ? I realized that it came from my surroundings . Sometimes it was due to the circumstances I was in . On some occasions it was the people around me that compelled me to think negatively .

 At first I thought that inner peace came to those who did not have to face day to day challenges. But we all face tough times at some point in our lives. No one can get rid of difficult situations unless you live a reclusive life . Actually tough times keep us going. Such experiences make us brave. Dealing with difficult people makes us stronger . It is hard to not react to anger or bad words. But by cultivating self control one can learn to stay calm. Hurt and grief will then be replaced by serenity. If we can face and overcome difficult situations with confidence and a smile on the face only then we can achieve lasting peace .  

Concrete Words - The Coffee Mug - Part 1

This post is part of  a series where I choose and write about a particular "Concrete Word "

Concrete words are terms that identify things and events that can be measured and observed. Concrete words are tangible in some way. So I decided to write about such "concrete words ".

I am a "chai" addict. I can never say "NO" to chai. Caffeine is an essential part in my life. If you have read my previous posts you probably know this by now. If not just click here , here and here . So enough said about my caffeine addiction.Well we have three different coffee makers at work. All 3 are different brands and different sizes. My favorite is the Keurig machine. Don't you love it ? Like the multiple coffee makers we also have numerous coffee mugs .They sit on a tray right beside the Keurig machine.These mugs have accumulated over years. Some of them were brought by residents, some by the office staff and attending physicians. And of course some are freebies too . Most of the times a kind soul (  read 'me' ) cleans them with generous amount of soap. Then I dry them and put them back on the tray. Some go in the cabinet while some take forever to make it back there. Anyways the motive of having these coffee mugs is to recycle . The whole point being to reduce the usage of paper cups and thereby the waste. This doesn't always work with everybody but I can at least try and do my part.So people please recycle. I said recycle.  

Among the several mugs at work I love the one that says - " Women are like teabags. We do not know our strength until we are in hot water ."  It stands out because it is the only one with a message / script on it.The rest have pictures or a decorative pattern on them. This particular message gives me inner strength.  Every single time I read it i feel empowered. This particular mug brings a smile on my face whenever I see it. It is like a friend whom I can count on to cheer me up.  And in addition it holds exactly the amount of chai I need to keep going .
Indeed a "winner " I must say. 

BBB - Baby, Books and Bumbo Seat

For years 4 pm has been my favorite time of the day . Once upon a time it used to be "chai time" . These days reading books to my 2 month old is the new 4 pm ritual. It is undoubtedly my favorite activity of the day . And hers( baby K ) too. She simply enjoys this time . 

Typically she is in her bumbo seat . I sit across from her and read the books aloud. I sometimes read the same book over and over again. It is never annoying but in fact a shared enjoyment . It is fun to watch as baby K gazes at the colorful pages with a sparkle in her tiny eyes . I intentionally turn the pages slowly so that she gets a good glimpse.  At times she smiles and coos as if she understands each and every word I read to her . It is a special bonding time for us. I see a curious little soul and a budding reader in the making. 

I encourage all parents out there to read to your babies. Reading not only improves speech and vocabulary but also helps develop a special bond . Your little ones love to hear you talk. They enjoy the rhythmic reading and listening to intonations. If you are wondering about the benefits of reading to your little one check out the AAP statement too.

 Recommendations by baby K for a starter library  - 

1. Brown Bear ,  Brown Bear , What do you see? - Bill Martin Jr/ Eric Carle

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle

3. Goodnight moon - Margaret Wise Brown

Working Physician Mom

Every working mom needs advice and support .This makes the transition into the new phase of life very smooth. I am glad I have a guiding star.

I met her during my residency . She was a year ahead of me . I spoke to her once I matched at the program. And our bond of friendship grew stronger and stronger since. 

During residency we always spoke about our future over chai time and occasional dinners . We shared our thoughts about starting a family . Her daughter was born a year before mine . Since then she has been like  road map to guide me through this journey. During residency I always asked her advice about reference books and articles  . Now it's about parenting and baby stuff. Our talks range from fever guidelines and otitis management to  swaddle blankets and baby clothes .

Both of us are working moms now. We are trying to juggle work and family life at the same time. Just like millions of moms out there. Sometimes its about the giggles and babbles .Sometimes its about the tired sighs and sacrifices. But day by day we are learning , trying to focus and prioritize. Sometimes easily and sometimes not so. But in the end its all about being a caring doctor and a loving mommy .

Dedicated to my physician mommy friend RD . Thank you for everything. Hope that our baby girls will also be buddies just like their moms. 

I translate spring season as ...

Spring means a fresh breath, fresh start

Time to get rid of all the heavy coats and thick sweaters
I think of spring as a perfect transition season
I love seeing that green grass, lush flowers and color everywhere
The days are warm and much longer
There is happiness all around with birds chirping and flowers in bloom everywhere
I am so ready to dress up in fun prints and vibrant colors
Time to wear those sunglasses and flip flops
It feels so liberating and rejuvenating
Spring brings back creativity and motivation
I am so looking forward to this spring
I  absolutely love spring
I cannot wait to spring in action

What about you ? What does spring season mean to you ?

3 Simple Steps to Declutter Your Closet

Needless to say I am a shopaholic. I have accumulated so much stuff over years. I never realized how much I had until I had to move recently. Packing and unpacking was a big task. So I decided to sort through my stuff as I was unpacking in my new apartment. It was hard to begin with. The decluttering journey was painful.  But gradually I was ok with letting things go. I know I have a long way to go still. But I am proud that I made huge progress. I was able to donate numerous boxes of stuff to a nearby goodwill store. I actually felt better about this whole process in the end.

The hardest phase was when I had to part with clothes.  Yes I am emotionally attached to my clothes. Also all the clothes were expensive, good brands and  rarely worn. The ones I had worn were also well maintained making it harder to let go. As I started sorting clothes I was astonished by the amount of clothes I had bought . But in the end my closet looked so much spacious and well organized.

So here are three simple steps I came up with  to declutter a closet -

1. Step by step approach

I first decided to get all my clothes out of my closet. But there was no way I could go through every piece of clothing in a day. I  had way too many clothes. So I started to scan one part of my closet and then another and then another. It took me few hours a day on consecutive days. But I was able to accomplish my goal in the end. Also it was not too tiring.  I was able to fill the donation bags slowly and steadily, one at a time. As I made progress I realized donation bags were being filled faster.

2. The 3 Box method

I had set up various bins that had following labels-
    "must keep"
                        "toss"
                                  "never worn"
In the end I realized I had almost the same amount of clothes in toss and never worn. I had a made a conscious decision to not have  a bin labelled - "may be". I knew I would never be able to sort through that  " may be " set of clothes later. So I decided to go with either "keep " or "toss ". It was very hard initially to put anything in the "toss" bin. But I had made up my mind.  In the end I sorted size wise through the "never worn" section. I actually now have new set of clothes to wear which I did not know even existed in my closet. Also I have some brand new clothes that I can use to give gifts and thereby save some money. And finally I feel good about donating brand new clothes. And through all this my mom was there who encouraged and helped me tremendously.

3. Act Quickly

I had a hard time sleeping the first night after I started this process. I kept thinking all night long about the "toss " bin. I was tempted to sort it again and transfer some clothes to "must keep".  I did grab one piece too. But then I stopped myself.  I was cheating. I was not staying true to my myself and my motive. So I decided to put it back in the "toss " bin. And with that experience I drove to the donation store that very day. I dropped off the bags full of clothes. I felt happy. I think getting rid of the donations the very next day helped me tremendously to overcome the temptation of holding on to stuff.

 These 3 strategies helped me remove unneeded clothes.  I challenged myself to get rid of as much as I can.  I was able to see my closet in a new light. There was a  fresh breath after the clutter was gone. I learnt so much from this experience.

I hope these 3 steps will help you declutter. But no matter how you decide to start this process it needs motivation, efforts and time. Trust me! nothing happens magically.  You have to take the leap.