The Ogre Sleep

The Ogre Sleep

There are times in lucky one’s life when 24 hours seem less and all days are Mondays. Sunrise and sunset happen at such a fast pace, so much so the calendar change seems to occur after every few days.

If you are currently in this phase, then you will resonate with the title. Generally, there is a goal and all efforts are targeted towards achieving it. Everything takes a back seat especially sleep. Though I know this should not occur. When the aim is set very high, sacrifices are bound to be huge.

A shout out to all children and their parents especially mothers who align themselves with their children’s goal. Once a while maybe after a fortnight or so, I sleep for around 8-10 hours at a stretch. I call this my Ogre sleep, after my favorite Shrek- Fiona.

This sleep time energizes recharges and rewires all my neurons. I call it a body maintenance therapy which every physical form needs.

I am eager to know who all take The Ogre Sleep. I welcome them to this club

( It’s important to sleep 6-8 hours every day as per medical world, However, there are souls like me who can function of 5 hours or less for days together before they take their Ogre sleep.)

Love,

Juju.

 

 

3 C’s of our life

Care #Control# Cure

This is a very special write up as the topic has been given by my Popsie. I feel blessed whenever he motivates me to write on a topic. A lot of brain storming goes before I pen down my thoughts.

If one goes by dictionary definitions then, Cure is defined as -To make somebody healthy again after an illness. Control means -power and ability to make somebody/something to do what you want; a way of keeping somebody/something within certain limits. Care means – looking after somebody / something so that he/she has what they need for their health and protection.

These are more often used in medical and health care domains. Over the years these words have percolated into all realms and are freely used. There are many things or areas in our lives which can be controlled, few which can be cured and rest can be taken care of. Out of these three, care can be associated with other two

From a medical angle, there are many diseases which can be controlled e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid, auto immune, arthropathies, to name a few, but never cured. Other diseases like aches in body, fever, infections, inflammatory pathologies and even certain types of carcinomas can be cured. However, Care is the most essential element in either case.

If we dwell upon human nature then, my take will be on Triple A - Anger, Arrogance and Alcohol. Here, one can control and even be cured of these habits. One can control anger outbursts, control alcohol intake. However, Cure is a tedious and long journey, requires grit and determination.  Arrogance differs in the sense. If one controls arrogance, I believe cure also occurs simultaneously. Out of triple A, in arrogance, being aware is the key to getting rid of it. Control leads to Cure with care all along to ensure there is no reversal.

3 C’s are akin to the basic X, Y, Z dimensions of this universe. All three C’s are interlinked and need to be viewed together as a unit. Lay man uses these words loosely and at times uses Cure and Control interchangeably. No offense intended. The basic idea is generate a feel good factor within. Everyone must have heard certain phrases (especially in India) like,

“ I have diabetes, I am taking medicines, eating bitter gourd and Indian blackberry ( jamun), my blood sugar report is normal and my diabetes is cured.” And they stop taking medicines only to come back with high blood sugar levels a couple of months later.

 “I have hypothyroidism; I took medicine for 3 months, now my thyroid levels are normal. I am cured.” And they stop taking medicine, only to come back.

Whether these phrases are spoken by patients to doctors or by friends, remember one thing, you are not here to correct them or make them aware. Just listen and ignore. The human mind is so wired that Denial tops the list. Acceptance comes much later. One should try to control the urge to counsel such people and help walk them under clear skies. Please remember the person who took the effort to wake mankind from slumber has usually been dealt in a bad way. 

My Popsie’s favorite line is “Yes, you are right.” This is his way of dismissing baseless, confronting situations and discussions. When we talk and he utters these four words, I often pause and check with to him, “Dad, are you dismissing me or you are actually with me?” Majority of times, I hear a chuckle and his wise words, “I leave it for you to decide.”

These things have helped me evolve and transform in all spheres.   

Happy to share, my 3^rd solo (15^th) book, a sequel of Momsie Popsie Diary 2.0 is in the publication process. Hoping to launch my book by next month.

Till then, control the things you can, cure the things which can be, with utmost care.

 

Love,

Juju          

I wish I was on the other side of phone!

 I wish I was on the other side of phone !

 

While talking to an old friend, our conversation drifted to the foundation of marriage. She remarked, “One has to give in a lot in a marriage to make it work.” I was surprised by this remark of give in . I replied, “In a marriage, both partners need to build it up. So, we use the word institution. It is not a sphere where one needs to give in or take out. If one feels one is giving in, then the expectations arise. Only when we build it together, do we realize the true essence of it. ”

These words knocked her out. I could hear silence. I patiently waited for her to come to present. In a couple of seconds, I could hear her hello and we were back on our track. With a feeling of giving in, one has an unseen baggage of expectations whereas in building up, one always strives to give their best without any returns. All the old sayings have deep meanings, although generations have lost on the actual meaning and just clanged on to phrases.

Our conversation steered towards a situation when one spouse takes the other for granted. This seemed to touch my friend’s Achilles point. Her voice quivered as she said, “How I wish I am always on the other side of my husband’s phone!” There was a pause and a palpable silence. I waited for her to continue. She sighed deeply and continued, “My husband is always talks politely to people who call him. And when it comes to me, he always talks in an arrogant, rude tone. I feel it’s best if we talk on the phone.”

This is a very common human behavior to be in their best form when they talk to people outside their home boundaries. When it comes to people living in the house, the tone is usually hurried, annoyed, arrogant or angry. To be the best for the rest! Is how I put it? My friend seemed to enter her shell and abruptly ended the conversation.

After a long time, I adorn my thinking cap. How ironical! One works for his family’s comfort and when time comes to spending time with them, there is always a paucity of time or patience. I am leaving this without a concluding remark as each one has to write his/ her own.

Time to introspect, in a pursuit to make a living for people close to us, one tends to get closer to people outside leading to creation of gaps in families.

Please mind the gap and try your best to fill it or let it not happen in the first place.

Love,

Juju