It's Time

It’s 6:39 in the evening.

 

1. In case you are out, go home. Get fresh.
2. Have a cup of coffee or tea or whatever you like to have.
3. Open the door and go out in the balcony. Lean over the grill with the support of your elbow while holding that cup with both your hands.
4. Is the weather amazing? Great! Look up. Look around. Witness the world. Take in the surroundings.
5. Be thankful to what Mother Nature holds for you. The clear blue sky. Light orange color of the dusk gradually scattering all over above you. Take it all in.
6. And hold the cup easy; as it is a part of you. Feel the warmth. Let it flow inside out. Feel it. Don’t rush. Let the world as it is. Still. Things won’t go far.
7. Let your thoughts flow freely. Notice where your mind and heart takes you and enjoy the moment. Feel the joy. Embrace it.
8. Listen to smooth steady music. Be free from all the noise (for a few minutes though). But, it’s okay. You deserve a break. You need it – some quite time for yourself.
9. Go on. Assign a time slot for yourself. For you alone – just you and your thoughts. And enjoy that moment. Every single day, for the rest of your life.

Image on Flickr

Harmonious Independence | Guest Post from Colin Wright

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle.

It’s said that if you want a relationship to succeed — to last — you have to make sacrifices.

I strongly disagree.

It’s important to bend when dealing with other people on any level, sure, but that doesn’t mean you should break. If you have to give up what’s important to you in order to be with someone else, it’s very possible you’re with the wrong person. This applies to business relationships, friendships, and more-than-friendships equally. Why on earth would you want to give up what makes you, you, in order to be with someone? And why would you want anyone else to do the same?

There’s a phrase I use to describe what I look for in relationships: harmonious independence. It means that you are you, with or without anyone else. You are complete.

At the same time, your independent spirit plays well with others. You don’t expect anyone else to give up what makes them happy in order to be in your life, nor would you want them to expect it of you. Instead, you support each other in all things. Their personality traits, goals, idiosyncrasies, and other relationships are the reason you want them in your life.

Each of you being whole, independent people is what makes the relationship worthwhile in the first place. You have your own lives, but you meet in the middle because you want to. Your completeness supports their completeness and allows you to become an even better version of yourself in the exchange. As a result, you can be tied as loosely or closely as makes sense for your situation — in either case, you contribute to each other’s lives in a positive way.

"A relationship worth having does not require you to be anyone 
but the best possible version of yourself."

---

Colin Wright is an author, entrepreneur, and full-time traveler and his readers decide where he will go next every 4 months. Know more about Colin here.

Odyssey | Music Album

For the last few weeks I have been travelling a lot. Changing transports, visiting places and meeting relatives. It had been quite a time. And while travelling, my best time pass has always been music (I avoid reading while travelling - extremely straining for eyes). Whereas music can help boost our mood, relieve stress, reduce muscle tension, improve body movement and coordination, also reliefs pain.

Without the vibration of guitar strings, sound of the snare drum, notes of piano, it is hard to think of travelling or working - and travel+music kind of go together. I plug my earphones when am:

• travelling
• going to places
• reading something light
• doing mathematical operations
• working on some project
• resting
• sitting and enjoying the moment

In short, music occupies a major part of my daily routine and life.

Whenever I am travelling, I am either sleeping or listening to music. But, one day I thought it would be great if I compile a list of travel songs. Something from the back of my mind asserted too that I should. So, I started taking notes for songs which are most apt for travelling. Songs that set your mood and make you feel like travelling, which make you enjoy the scenes, appreciate your surroundings, watch trees sped by, wonder where these roads would take you, embrace delightful moments and after all, enjoy the journey. I even asked members of Art of The Muses - an open facebook group for music lovers and enthusiasts, to help me out and suggest some good travel songs. Thanks for their contributions!

So, here it is. Launching a compiled list of best travel songs that you would listen to many many times while travelling. The album is called, Odyssey, meaning a long exciting adventurous journey on which a lot of things happen. It consists of 13 tracks and 2 bonus tracks. First 13 are slow to medium tempo soothing music and I highly recommend that you listen to them with your earphones plugged in and the latter two bonus upbeat tracks. My cellphone, home printer, Google Docs, Trello (great tool for organizing things) and few publishing tools came handy in compiling and organizing the list. Hope you enjoy it. :)

"Odyssey"

Odyssey Album Art - Cover

Odyssey Back Cover - Track Listings

Tracks

1. I’m Yours - Jason Mraz: Starting the list with I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. One of the most soothing and beautiful songs I have ever heard. From the first note up to the last, you won't regret listening to this song while you are on the move - instead you would wonder why you haven't had this before until then. If you are driving along the open fields, country side or across the streets, this is your song. Nominated for Grammy Award for Song of the Year (2009), this should be a must in every travel song list in the planet!
2. Dead Man Walking - The Script: Fit for every road, highway, city. This is one of my favorite since I started listening to The Script. These guys are amazing and so are their songs - composition is damn great! Listen to this just one time and I bet you will listen to this everyday for it's that addictive!
3. All the Way/4U - Poets of the Fall: Slow tempo. Soothing to the ears. Poets of the Fall will always be one of my favorites!
4. Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day: "I walk a lonely road, The only one that I have ever known, Don't know where it goes, But it's only me, and I walk alone." This song doesn't need an intro. If you travel a lot, usually long distances, then this had to be in the list. One of the signature songs by Green Day, was ranked #1 on Rolling Stone's Reader's Choice: Singles of the Decade list in 2009.
5. Hey There Delilah - Plain White T’s: This one was submitted by one of the Muses. I didn't know about this track before; but kinda liked it afterwards - it's good. The lyrics is about a boy missing his girl who is thousand miles apart doing her school. Am sure you'll like it while travelling. Also, topped the Billboard Hot 100 (July 2007).
6. Why Georgia - John Mayer: Why Georgia is John Mayer autobiographic, and touches on Mayer's experience of having a 'quarterlife crisis' - a period of life after adolescence in which a person begins to feel doubtful about their own lives, brought on by the stress of becoming an adult. In the song, he questions his actions of moving to Atlanta after dropping out of Berklee College of Music, and while pursuing his dreams had doubts if he’s living his life right and whether he would be successful or not. Sets your mood like travelling from the moment you hit play - you'll enjoy the moment. Plus, its very relaxing. Recommended that after a heavy work schedule or busy stressful day, you plug it in while you are going back home. It will ease up your mood. :)
7. Paradise - Coldplay: A tale about a girl who dreamed of paradise in a difficult and hard struggled life. You could comprehend and relate more why it's in here in the travelling list, if you have seen the video. Life is also like a journey. In its ups and downs or storms and clear sky, we seek a smooth ride. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award and also featured in the trailer of Life of Pi.
8. Extreme Ways - Moby: Yes! It's here. Those who have seen the Bourne film series would be very much acquainted with this track - used as the end title theme in all the movies. Thrilling track (click for Bourne Ultimatum version of this song)! After listening to this once you will get to know why it's there in the movie - perfectly describes the protagonist, Jason Bourne (I love the character played by Matt Damon). I always listen to this at least once when am travelling somewhere. "Extreme ways are back again, Extreme places I didn't know..." You are to a new city? Or you are new to a city? Doesn't matter - this always fits in when you are walking down a city block and merging with the crowd. There will be a slight smile on your face. And you will start recalling a lot of strange past memories - memories of your living places, cities you have been, things you have seen and all that have happened to you. :)
9. If Ever I Could Love - Keith Urban: From one of the best country music singer I have heard till date, comes a song so harmonious that you will feel it all in and move with it. You will be able to relate this more with a rural expedition cause it has typical tastes of country side themes. Damn melodious! Complete 5 stars on my playlist. Best suited when you are travelling from cities to cities through the rural/countryside areas and landscapes in between. See an awesome live video of Keith Urban performing this song with John Mayer.
10. U.F.O - Coldplay: Again, one of my favorites. Love the notes played by guitar strings. It's about uncertainty about which way we might go. Just like travelling, going to places, but still, a long way to go. Sit next to a window, if you are riding a bus or train and listen to the lyrics carefully. All this while, take a look out of the window - see the trees, long roads, landscapes pass by... Trust me. You'll get lost. Sigh!
11. Storm Warning - Hunter Hayes: Turn this up when you are out for an adventurous ride. I like this line from the lyrics: "Have you ever noticed every hurricane gets it's name from a girl like this." 
12. I Still Haven't Found What I’m Looking For - U2: I have been a big fan of U2 since I started to listen to English music. In every song there would be something that I can relate myself with. It tells a story about how a man has climbed mountains, run through the fields, scaled big city walls but still haven't found what he is looking for. Similar to our world someway - we have known a lot, seen a lot, gone to a lot of places, traveled a lot, but still haven't found what we are looking for! Here is a live version you would regret missing - this is the power of music!
13. Tu Compania - Keith Urban: Fun track! Groovy! Your body will move with it, I bet. Whether you have just entered a city (familiar or a new one) or have just started exploring it and enjoying the whole surrounding, the customs, its people - here's the song. And... if you got a company as well, that's fine too my lady! Tu Compania! Sorry, couldn't get a better link for the song - please download it from somewhere.

Bonus Tracks

• Feel The Love - Rudimental: I asked one of my friends to suggest some tracks (Nishant is a DJ and he is good at it. love what he does with the tracks - big fan!). Being a DJ, he follows electronic music like techno and trance. He could have suggested me plenty of great trance tracks but I don't prefer listening to trance while travelling (preferably may be while working). What do you prefer? Still... there is this, that I think you should keep in your playlist if you like playing fast tempo songs in your car stereo while going somewhere (or in case if you are a fan of Rudimental - like I am). I heard this song first on Need For Speed Most Wanted (2012). See, playing games isn't that bad after all - I couldn't have known this song otherwise. Thanks NFS! BTW, have you felt the love?
• Leave You Far Behind - Lunatic Calm: "I wanna take you to a roller coaster... I want to push it right over the line!" Heard when I was in 8th standard (2006) - was in the soundtrack listing of Test Drive 6. It has also been featured in a number of game and movie titles. This should be out of the wishlist, in terms of tempo (fast), as compared to what I have included in the top 13 tracks - slow to medium paced tempo, soothing music. But this is different. Like electronic music with big beats (break beats)? May be rock or hard rock sometimes? Then, you should try this. Or like to play loud music in car stereo when you feel like racing or driving or travelling at a fast speed? Play this! It will boost up your energy and adrenaline levels.

That's all folks. You may use Songr to search and download songs. Wait for Side B - it's coming soon. For now, I hope you like the list. Tell me how you enjoy the tracks or what else would you like to add to your own travel playlist in the comments section below. Thanks!

Fear

We all fear something. We encounter something fearful everyday. And fear limits the way our lives are meant to be lived: fearfully.

How can one ask a farmer not to expect when he has worked too hard for the surplus? How can one ask a student not to hope for good grades if he has studied well all semester? How can one ask a investor not to expect decent return? With hope and expectations, comes fear. Fear is natural. It's inevitable.

"Fear is nothing but the product of thoughts we create."

Everybody has their own version of fear and hence definition of fear differs with demographics. A seven year old may fear spiders, a 18 year old teen may have a stage fear or an adult working in an MNC may have fear of career failure.

Out of all, these are the most profound fears we have:

• Fear of failure
• Fear of losing someone or something
• Fear of not-being-good-enough
• Fear of rejection
• Fear of missing out (FOMO)
• Fear of what lies in the future
• Fear of uncertainity

But, you have total control over your mind and thoughts. Nobody else other than you define the things you fear. Your fears have the power to hold you back from doing what you love, what matters most to you, what is important to you, what you desire to do, what you have been putting off for days, weeks or even years. It eventually stops you from living and enjoying your life to the optimum as you should be by stealing your peace and happiness.

Whatever your fear may be, you can either authorize these self-created-fears-of-yours stop you from living your life to the fullest or you can take on them one by one and live a more bold and braver life cherishing every moment. I recommend going with the latter one.

What should you do?

• Be strong: You have to be strong. It is a must. There is no other way to this. There cannot be a should. You have to say to yourself repeatedly all day long out loud, "I can do this. I must do it. I will not fear you." I do this all the time and vouch for this as it is extremely helpful in any situation you can imagine of. Trust me.
• Make a list of the things you fear: I made my own and named it as "Black Chart". Start with the small things you fear like spider or heights or darkness and then step down to the big ones. Highlight the important fears which you think need the most of your efforts to be put upon.
• Face them - one at a time: Take on the fears from your things-you-fear list one by one. Start with small fears. Work on them. Analyze why you have that fear. Ask yourself if you really need to be afraid of it. Is that thing a necessity for your happy living? Mostly the answer will be a negative. For example, if you have fear you might miss out on important notifications or news feed if you don't log in to your facebook account try asking yourself if you really need to check shitty updates from people whom you don't know or people who don't care about you. Does it really matter what are they doing with their lives? Instead why not focus on your life and try making the best of it. You yourself create and decide your life priorities, goals and needs. You can make or break any of it any second. It's all up in the mind. Move on to next step if the answer is otherwise.
• Suppress them and move on: This is the "action" step. If you don't execute this, you will always fear your fears. Once identified try to fight your fears. Suppress them. Simply say, "I will not fear you!" For the above case, you can limit your logins into facebook. Say no to shitty updates and unnecessary distractions for a more fearless and happier life. You will not die. I didn't. In fact I reduced my social networking footprints and am still alive, writing this post! And to be very frank, you have no reason to be afraid of anything. You can also seek help from your family members, friends, peers or even me!
• Do things you have been putting off til now: Time to do things you have been not doing because of the fears you had. Fears that have been holding you back.
• Shatter every boundary: You know no limits. No boundaries. It's just you and your fears. No one in between. And in the end it will only be you living a more braver and happier life.
• Claim things which are rightfully yours: Haven't got what you deserved? What you thought should be yours? Success, Love, Fame, Money, Happiness. You name it. And your fears always stopped you? Huh! Kick them out.
• Achieve the goals you have been setting offside: Had a long list to-dos which you haven't struck out? Wanted to start a learning class? But didn't do because you feared that you won't get enough admissions. Wanted to pass an interview? But feared rejection. It is time now.
• Make your dreams come true which you have been wishing for: Don't just dream. Get out and make them come true. You have nothing to fear about.

Go, grab things. Especially those you fear the most in the first place. Think how wonderful your life would be if you didn't fear what you do. Once you overcome one of your fears, you will be more confident than before in everything that you do afterwards. You will start to feel this energy of accomplishment; the energy you get after overcoming an obstacle. Cherish that feeling. Hold it for it will compel you to achieve the unachievable. And go for the next in the-things-you-fear list.

Let me know what you fear and how you overcame it.

Who Moved My Cheese | Book Review

Who Moved My Cheese? What? Is that even a book’s name! I looked at the cover and I said to myself, “NO I am not going to read this book at all! Why do I read a book with such a peculiar title! NEVER!” But, I did the opposite. Yes! I got my hands on its pages when I heard, “Read it!” my Dad and Brother exclaimed, “It’s a nice book.” So there I was, turning pages; trying to figure out what really is in there that everybody was talking about. They say it will help you anticipate changes, adapt to them and enjoy it. And so did the back cover presented with a phrase like this: Written for all ages, this story takes less than an hour to read, but its insights can last for a lifetime. In a nutshell, the book is all about getting adaptable to changes smartly.

In fact, when I decided to read the book, I was to judge how come a parable can teach you to deal with the changes you go by in your daily life. Even the critics do not understand how so many people could find it so valuable. However, if you google the reviews about Who Moved My Cheese? you can see by yourself people reporting that what they discovered in this story has improved their businesses, health, marriages and hence their social life! “The cheese story has found its way into homes, companies, schools, sports teams and almost everywhere. Its appeal is universal.” I was not going to believe it until I read it word by word.

Finally, even to my amazement, the book stood by its reviews and feedback. One really feels the change after finishing it. I did. It’s like having a new set of wear glasses on and watch opportunities, changes and life with a new perspective. The moment you are halfway reaching the last page, you will feel very light hearted as if now you know where you did the mistake. I can bet you will start associating main characters, points, with your real life situations. You will be able to recognize from your past the moments when you denied the change or accepted and moved on. You will now try more to accept the change as it arrives. And the fact you will also like it, is for the enticing illustrative images of the main lessons you ought to seek from the book along with Kenneth Blanchard, co-author of one of the other books by Dr. Spencer, The One Minute Manager, telling you the story behind the Cheese story.

Although the story is short; it is very simple revolving around four characters Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw who live in a maze and look for cheese. The Cheese in the story refers to what we want to have in life. It can be anything. Be it a job, a relationship, money, house, freedom or whatever. Each of us carries our own version of cheese and pursue because we believe it makes us happy. And the Maze represents where you spend time looking for what you want. It can be an organization, the community, etc. The spicy thing in the story is how different character reacts to the loss of their Cheese in their own way. The two mice Sniff and Scurry move on with the change as their Cheese moved/changed. Other two, Hem and Haw were Littlepeople with complex brain and emotions thought too much about the change, the reason behind it and they got so much attached to it that Hem denied the change and suffered. Then you come to know how overcoming your fear for changes can open doors for the new ones. And that’s the soul of the story. The story and language used is simple, but insightful. Dr. Spencer Johnson has himself admitted that there is nothing in the story but the way readers interpret and apply it to their own situation that gives value which will help them to move with the Cheese and find New Cheese.

So, go read this book. I don’t care whether you buy it or download a pdf version, just read it. I don’t think a book which has been the #1 bestselling business books ever since its release, selling over 24 million copies isn’t worth even a read! I am telling you again, it will change the way you behave. It will change the way you see things. It will get you ready, giving you strength to stand up the difficult changes in your life. It will tell you how to accept few changes even its hard to and move on for the better. Go. Read. It.

Breaking Into The Real World

Take a day off
Go to the Termagio Sea
Waves are high and silent
Aquatics breathe in the nature.

Take a day off
Visit the Avocet forest
Birds chirrup in tune
Trees shade the extincts.

Take a day off
Move to the Tuxedo’s highest peak
Witness marvelous scenes and fresh air
Experience the untold adventure.

Take a day off
Quit the virtual world
Step into nature’s wardrobe
Hear the silence and feel the relief.