Countdown to countdown finale!

I am writing the last countdown post, I know the people bikers, non bikers and bloggers who have been following my blog are expecting something important today. I am sure some of you might have already checked if I have posted something.

Here, I am ready to do just that, Last evening we had a get together to discuss the plan and just exchange ideas and get nostalgic about the journey that we have walked together so far. If you haven't been to a bikers meet do one ASAP as you'll simply love them. They are there purely to follow the passion of biking and love for the rides.

We all met, it was a bit late as everyone has day jobs and some of the jobs go a bit into the evening as well. It was the brotherhood... exchanging greeting! read it as hugs and a little punch that might go with it.

After a round of mango juice, tea, coffee and snacks followed. Then the action started, Bharadwaj Dayala, came up and showed us the video of his world tour. We felt immense pride in what he had achieved and more for how he had achieved it. Everyone had written him off but he never gave up.... went ahead and realised his dream of riding around the world on his motorcycle. Proving everyone wrong, not just that but inspiring the very same people to go after their own dreams. Break the shackles in their minds and get out of their inhibitions. The reception  he received on his arrival was from very unlikely sources, a chief minister of another state, priests of a large organisation, a supreme court judge and the many similar bodies. After seeing the video we felt honoured to be  in the company of such a super achiever and a great human being, who was going to be our inspiration.

Then came the topic of Dream Live, everyone was expecting Dayala to share the first information about the project and the very reason why we were there in the first place. He started speaking about something that was even deeper and bigger. Something that he had been thinking about in the past few days. He discussed with us and believe me it got each and everyone of us into the introspection mode! We somewhere agreed with him. It was indeed much bigger, much deeper and made a whole lot of sense. Another round of pin drop silence followed his remark.

He  spoke about what he intends to do and asked us what we thought of his idea. It was brainstormed and finally we all agreed on the 'Big plan'. His project dream live will follow the big plan. The Plan is a new Big Development. Which will be shared tomorrow, be there with us!

Another quick round of snacks, juices and thinking of a weekend ride and deciding the venue. Deciding the venue is always an issue, my suggestion is the team should place the chits and pick one! sounds easier and everyone takes it as a decision from Up there. Jokes apart, yes waiting for the next ride and waiting for the Big Announcement by Dayala tomorrow.

Then we bid goodbye to everyone and left for our homes, finally I got to ride on the bike, pillion ofcourse in the empty roads of Mumbai. Did that after years, simply loved the experience. Nothing makes you feel more liberated than riding on good roads and feeling that breeze and hearing just the thump of your machine. Thank you REO for the experience and my model biker for being the best that he could be, keeping the speed under control and asking if I was comfortable.

Everyone is gifted but some people never open their package.

~Wolfgang Riebe. (Live, Believe, Inspire)

Ordinary people have extraordinary talents within them, till you test yourself you won't know what you are capable of. Make that discovery, NOW is the time, if you haven't done it  yet. Open that package there's something specially for you wrapped in procrastination, open each layer and see the pleasant surprise that awaits you. Believe me you'll love it. The package is ready to be opened and the gift to be disclosed. Hear about it tomorrow from the horse's mouth!

If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far walk together!

~Ratan Tata

The plan will need all of us to walk together, watch this space for more tomorrow, 1st March.

Picture Courtesy: Rasika shetty and Sanjy Nair.

Countdown to countdown - Day 2

The lure of the open road never goes out of style!

Dream Live has been a great platform for new realisations for me, may be for some of you as well. We are just two days away from the real action to commence. Two fingers form the 'V' for victory! Yes we are going to pave way for Victory. We may not be there yet but we are closer than yesterday. My mind is thinking of the saying, "A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but its persistence". Persistence, perseverance, hope, belief and willingness to succeed are the keys to achieve that Big Dream. Here we are, ready to go!

I was talking about the realisations and facts I learnt, all thanks to the feedback from the bikers. 

• Biker is not a term within itself but a state of mind! 
• No matter how macho one may look, there's that little child inside.
• They believe in brotherhood and would embrace like minded people into the fellowship, I am an example!
• They are dreamers, some have even shared their dreams with me, thank them for making me an audience to things that are probably close to their hearts.
• They love their bikes, not saying that they don't love their women and care for the other relations, they do and beautifully! but they  believe that the Bike- their true love; is above all!
• They have their biker names, and love being called by them! I don't know some of the real names yet.
• They call each other, bro, brother, bhai and sometimes its buddy!
• They form clubs as small as having just 2 members and as big as going into a few hundreds.
• Have tattoos, some piercings too, sport aviators often.
• Respect the women riders and always allow them to lead. 

What does biking do to you?

Biking brings out the adventurous side of you, making you a better man (and woman)! The adventure builds self esteem and confidence. The Macho element is still loved by all, especially women. A great bike and an equally put- in place gears, is a style statement. Not to forget the jackets and the aviators. They are in control, bikes give that feeling of being liberated. Speed has to come with responsible riding, that in turn churns out responsible citizens who care for their city as well as support causes. Ride for road safety, women empowerment, against racism, ride for relief work are a few examples. They will find themselves in the lap of nature more often, as they love going for the rides, be it short ones over the weekend, may be breakfast at a particular place or longer trips touring the mountains, deserts and the likes. 

Have to do one of these to know what adrenaline rush is. The adrenaline pumping keeps you young, no matter what the age is. You enjoy the company of the fellow riders, do stuff that keeps you on your wits end at times. It has to do with the spirit and the love for biking and adventure.Going for rides also opens doors for new friendships and camaraderie. Every ride you attend you'll have atleast 50 new friends on your facebook! So many road trips happen these days, the best being on the bikes! fancy names are given to the rides. Some are hilarious but love them no matter what! 

Thoughts are an important part of your inner wisdom - and they are very powerful. A thought held long enough and repeated often enough becomes a belief. A belief then becomes your biology.

~Dr. Christiane Northrup.

This is what Dream live has been so far, an idea, a thought on its way to becoming  a Belief! Are you game? Lets enjoy this ride on the virtual world, support in spirit, even if we are not among those few who get to go and ride on this tour. This is for the brotherhood! experience dream turning into a reality, slowly and steadily.

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa, Dream Live takes off in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive

@letsdreamlive

Picture courtesy: RE Kailash Shinde, REO, Suraj Sharma Dbatg, Wanderers Bulleteers of Hyderabad

Countdown to countdown - Day 3

I thought I found a good place to stay for a great bike ride, but I found a great place to stay by a bike path. ~ Mike and Vicki

We are only 3 days away from Dream live to get into the 100 day countdown. A lot is going on in our minds, Bharadwaj Dayala did peep out a couple of times during the day from his hibernation but still his 48 hours solitude is on. What has he worked on we'll get to know real soon. In the mean while my mind has been occupied by something serious and it'll be wrong on my part if I don't share it here. This can be the story of any ordinary couple or any extra ordinary biker couple. I really don't want to spoil the cheer that's going on but I also wish you all to think, pause and revamp if you have come across something similar. Lets not run way from the issue but see how we can tackle it the best.

Apologise for bringing up something that's not concerning Dream Live, but its concerning human lives and relationships, so I am taking the liberty. Thanks for your patience!

I don't live in dreamland, I live in land of dreams.

~Anna Pereira

This weekend I met a very old friend of mine. We had an emotional chat, she was telling me about  a good friend of hers who she respected immensely.She sounded a bit disturbed when she told me that this friend was married had a 6 year old child but was staying away from her husband for the past couple of years.  She told me that both the husband and wife were well placed, doing very well for themselves but they were very different as individuals. The woman is homely and the man is adventurous, into biking, photography and the outdoors. This can be any couple. Infact know quite a few of them in our own circles.
They got married after good courtship days, both families are also in good terms, whatever that's supposed to mean! The marriage became stressful due to the different interests that these people followed. The woman tried committing suicide but was saved somehow. Now looking at her young child she decided to separate from her husband, shifted into a rented apartment. Not even staying with her own parents. Husband too took an assignment in another city and moved away.

Not a pleasant thing to happen I can understand, it must be difficult not just for the couple but for their families too. Here, what is the main concern? I see the interests and passions the couple follow  are very diverse. There are differences in all couples but there's a need to work a middle ground, an adjustment from both the parties. Such things need to be made clear before even considering marriage. It should never be  a hasty decision. No one goes in for a short term marriage, one looks at the bond to be permanent, making both the individuals feel settled. 

Marriage is a beautiful relationship bringing two individuals together. It is not about looking at each other but looking in the same direction. It also needs its space, otherwise can lead to suffocation. Individuals are bound to be different, even twins no matter how identical they are, will never be alike in their mental or emotional constitution. 

While I am recollecting the conversation that I had with my sister, I am thinking about the biker brigade, the guys who are so passionate about adventure, their bikes and love the brotherhood. Do they face something like my sister's colleague?May be may not be. But marriage is a commitment and everything has to be shared the responsibilities and even the individual's passions have to be married. The man cannot say that he loves his passion of biking and photography and is out every weekend. Similarly the lady cannot say that there's so much to do at home and ask the man to be with her and tag along every where. Respect and time for each other is required and so is the time for following ones passions and having that 'ME' time!

Choices are to be made and not forced on anyone. That's respect for the other person and also for the relationship. So bikers need not be permanent members of the singles club. Its a personal choice no doubt.

A key to happy marriage: Keeping separate lives

While a lot of independence can lead to either infidelity or workaholism, can be a marriage breaker. But too much dependence isn't the answer either. people need to have a separate life and existence to feel validated as individuals, one can't live solely as somebody's partner isn't it. (Ref. Web MD)

Respect the other half and his/ her dreams, the fun is in fulfilling the dreams together, standing besides each other.

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa, Dream Live takes off in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive

@letsdreamlive

Picture courtesy : Sanjay Nair and Why We Ride.,

Countdown to countdown - Day 4

(This post is special to me as after typing the entire post, I lost it and had to redo everything, a first time ever!)

Don't lead the pack if you don't know where you are heading!

Prioritise your life around spending time with passionate people, the passion rubs off! If you can't change your mind then you are not using it. So be passionate, be open to change- accept it and be the change!

Who are these passionate people?

Its very easy to identify them they exude an aura of enthusiasm and purpose. The smile clearly written over their faces. The body language is relaxed telling the world that they are confident and there's something amazing happening in their upper storey! A relaxed mind in a calm body. At the same time they have enormous energy that's captivating. They engulf everyone around them in the positivism. It's difficult to ignore their warm smiles that reflects their inner persona. We meet them, every now and them but it certainly takes a bit of our own experience and the eye for detail that's able to pick such people from the crowd. Its an art, such personalities may require a bit of an ice breaking from the others. But once you are in their inner circles, you are going to be benefited immensely, the company of such individuals enriches you. 

They need not always be super achievers, they can be just about anyone. I came across one such person who was so passionate about his life, very motivated and I have seen him grow from good to better every passing day. I got a call from one of my professors saying that he was sending a boy to me and that I should counsel him. He told me that the boy came from a humble background, had lost his father when he was young but a very nice person. With this background, I waited for this boy to come to my office on the appointed day and time. He was there dot on time. We got talking, I asked him a few details. I simply loved his attitude and the sparkle in his eyes, an 18 year old self motivated person who could do wonders given the right direction and inputs. He told me that he was working part time at a famous cake shop and the owners daughter who was from the hospitality industry suggested my college to him. We exchanged a few thoughts. I knew fee would be a bit of a concern for him but knew that if there's a will, there's certainly a way!

He took admission at the institute. Was focussed, took directions from his professors and constructively worked on the feedback given by them. He was not the most brilliant student but someone who was consistent and who worked hard. His attendance, was the best inspite of the fact that he worked in the evenings and weekends. He managed to get scholarship all three years of college. In academics, in the first year he was among the top 5 students, he improved on that,  was in the top 3 in the second year and in the final year he topped the college in the university examinations. He had his own benchmark that he kept improving on. He was one student that I kept a watch on, admiring his passion and the level of commitment he showcased. His batchmates loved him. He didn't sit for any of the campus placements, though he trained with one of the best hotels in the city during his internship.

There are two gold medals awarded to the graduating students at the institute (15 gm 24 caret, real gold). One is awarded to the academic topper and the other one is given to the student all rounder with best values and attitude. He was the academic topper but for the second medal too he was one of the top contenders. 

His employers wanted him to continue working with them. The moment he graduated from college, they promoted him as a manager in the company. His classmates were still management trainees he was a level higher than them. He has a passion for the sea and the cruise liners, I am sure he'll be working with one of the best soon. Before he graduated he came to my office and we sat down to talk, I wanted to let him know what we all observed about him in college. I also wanted to compliment him and wish him that he continues with the same level of enthusiasm and commitment. I told him that one day I'd write about him. Its not even one year and here I am talking about him.

What are the qualities of the passionate people?

Being motivated is their core value - It is intrinsic to them to be self motivated.

They surround themselves with the right people  

The company helps you to groom yourself into the person you aspire to be.

They recognise the opportunities and take them 

Seize the moment, when it approaches you! They are ready when an opportunity knocks on their doors and make the most of it. Infact emerge winners!

They want positive results, at times visualise results and work backwards.

They know how to succeed and also the ingredients required to make it work. They walk the talk.

They are willing to take risks

No pain no gain is the belief that they carry in their hearts and are willing to take calculated risks when their preparations gives them the green signal. Risks are backed with enormous preparations mentally, emotionally and physically.

They know to prioritise things in their life

 Prioritising is the key to human life, balance needs to be created and maintained every now and then. Beauty of human life lies in that balance.

Learn to be happy with your passion, make your dream your passion and see how you achieve it! 

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa, Dream Live takes off in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive

@letsdreamlive

Picture courtesy: Sanjay Nair, I loved this particular picture it speaks about my own attitude and was apt for today's topic.

Countdown to countdown - Day 5

Only 5 days to go, now the countdown fits in one palm, time flies and how! Also a reminder, a lot needs to be done so Dayala has gone into hibernation, the solitude that he needs at this moment in time. Till then let him wear his thinker's hat and be his own best friend. What did he think and what fruits did his mind bear will be shared with all of you when we get him back on target.

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations

This has been the thought on my mind today, what has prompted it, I have no clue. I happened to read the comments on the Dream Live page, where Dayala has shared his world tour route. Many people have supported him and cheered him on, some even making a few suggestions. What particularly caught my attention was a comment by one of the followers, "WHAT? on  two wheels... you are crazy!"
True! You need to be a bit crazy, there has to be an ingredient called 'madness' to even think of something big, something out of the ordinary even out of the box and dream big. The madness has to be so focussed that it doesn't rest till it has reached its destination.

Making a big change is pretty scary, but what's scarier?..... the word 'Regret'
Sometimes you get only one chance, there is no retake, that chance you take has to be your best ever! All of us have experienced such opportunities where there can't be a miss, the 'hit' has to be a HIT! Its not impossible to achieve that 'hit', the commitment and sincerity decides the result. That's about dreams too. You need to have it very clear in your mind, take all the time preparing for it and when you know from your heart and the logic clearly shows you the green flag; Embark on it! Its as simple, when going out to cut a tree, take time to sharpen your axe. The result is controlled by the sharpness of the axe  and not  the ability of the person alone. Preparations are like that, clearly directed towards the purpose and in the right amount. Not taking that chance at all creates regret that even the lifetime is not enough to accept and absorb it. Go ahead, identify that big change when it approaches you and take it in your stride.

Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect and mirror what you admire!
Simplify life, simplify vision and simplify your dreams.....nothing beats simplicity and clarity of purpose!

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa, Dream Live takes off in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive
@letsdreamlive

posters taken from google

Countdown to countdown - Day 6

Sunday evening, I am sitting recollecting my thoughts of the entire day. The day has been fruitful, as fruitful as it can be! Spent the weekend with my parents, kids like the change, spending time with their grand parents and getting pampered real silly. Had a  chat with my dad last evening about Dream Live, he always supports me but he was a bit apprehensive. He felt probably I was compromising on the time that I give to my children. I have  a full time job, two young kids, in laws, family. Dad had his point, but I was not pleased with it as he assumed things. What he probably didn't understand is, the time to the blog is up and above the family time. After the kids have gone to sleep I sit down to put my thoughts in my diary. As I said earlier that I am not a serious blogger but I wish to write regularly for Dream Live as I connect with it and want all my readers to feel the same. Its about people like you and me. Everyone has dreams but not all can take the risk that they demand. Its to show everyone the power of dreaming big and making it a reality.

Today two important things happened, one was the Royal Enfield Owners ride to support 'women empowerment'. Bharadwaj Dayala lead the ride with the women riders. I had to give it miss, couldn't afford to be out the whole day as I had commitment for the evening. Yes I do support the cause and I am an empowered woman! I connect with it by talking about it on various  platforms and writing about it as and when.

The second one was meeting Dayala, Finally managed exchanging ideas, opinions and sharing the Big dream. He has been travelling the length and breadth of the country very actively for the past one month and today he attended a ride but nowhere could you see any fatigue or lower level of enthusiasm. This man surely gives his hundred per cent. He will inspire you endless! Carter Road at Bandra, Mumbai was like a carnival today. It was'No vehicles day'. The place was buzzing with activities. Cafe Coffee Day was packed, overflowing the capacity. The entire stretch of the sea face road was indeed a sea of people who were on their bicycles. Young and old were all enjoying themselves and the atmosphere was truly exuberant. It was a sight to behold. Perfect place to discuss and visualise Dream Live that's about people, their synergy and dreams.

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa, Dream Live takes off in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive
@letsdreamlive

posters taken from google

Countdown to countdown - Day 7

Saturday evening, and I haven't updated the diary yet. Dayala sent me a message in the morning, saying that he was on his way to Mumbai, he also said that the kind of travelling that he was doing in the past few weeks needed him to take a break of altleast 48 hours to rid the exhaustion and unclutter his mind. Needed some solitude to think and decide the course of action. I can understand what he meant, anything first needs a lot of preparation, the plan needs to be clear in the mind first and then hit the paper with the same clarity and precision. And now I receive the second message from him saying that he is already here in Mumbai and attending  a get together of the bikers. This is certainly being on the move and getting some headway as well.

Since Bharadwaj Dayala talks about solitude, I wish to share what it has meant to me and how I perceive it. In fact I have learnt the meaning of solitude by observing my husband. He is a master mariner sailing on ships, mostly chemical and oil tankers. Certainly a very challenging job. I used to see him being a different person closer to the date of his joining back. He obviously would be missing home, family and his kids. He is an emotional personal very attached to the family  He doesn't express himself much. When we were newly married my mother in law told me, "He gets cranky and can behave differently when he is about to join so just see how you can deal with it and help him manage things". I started observing him closely would help him packing, talk to him and keep his mind as relaxed as I could. It would irritate me at times but over the years I understand that he needs some time just for himself when he clears his mind, his thinking and then gears up for his work and also to be away from home for he next few months. 

Solitude is spending time with oneself, observing, analyzing, critiquing, thinking ahead, planning, preparing oneself mentally, emotionally and physically. Once this is done, you are ready to take on the course of action, move ahead and then there's no looking back. As Salman Khan says in Dabangg, "Jab main commitment kar leta hoon toh main apni bhi nahi sunta." (When I make a commitment, I don't even listen to myself.) All of us need a bit of solitude every once in a while to take a stock of things. All achievers use it as a technique for their preparation for the major event they are embarking on.

When writers plan their new books, they are away, all to themselves probably that's where the new ideas are born. Some prefer staying away and at different places till the entire book is done. When I worked with Taj, there was one such writer, a foreigner, who would check into the hotel stay for about 2-3 months. He kept  to himself, not even asking for the housekeeping services. He would spend all his time in the room, very rarely seen in any public areas except for a swim early in the morning. This was his way of thinking on a new plot and doing a good job with his novels.

The solitude that Dayala is talking about will certainly make Dream Live a better focus for him as we are very close to 1st Of March. His followers and supporters also will get a bite of it.

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa, Dream Live takes off in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive
@letsdreamlive

posters taken from google

Countdown to countdown - Day 8

I was all out to write about the route map for the ride around the world that Bharadwaj Dayala has planned on Dream Live. I shall do it soon, we still have time till Dream Live starts on 1st of March, which is a 100 days assignment. On the 100th day, Dalaya takes off on his second world tour on motorcycle. He will take about 7 months to complete the tour. He is still in Bangalore and shall be in Mumbai on 22nd, he has been invited to lead the ride that supports the cause of 'Women Empowerment'  to be held on 23rd morning. I was in a mood of introspection yesterday and I wish to share with you all what occupied my mind.

Finding happiness, joy in the little things that you do.

Happiness is a state of mind, a well being! being in control of your life and looking at the positivism, even if you don't have the best of everything. It has nothing to do with what you have won and whom you have defeated.

Today Optimist Diary is my diary, I want to talk about myself, my life and what it has been like, in the last 37 years. I am suddenly in love with myself. I am at a stage in life, that everything gives me a reason to smile. My life may not be perfect but the journey that I have walked has given me the satisfaction of the choices that I have made. This may sound familiar to a lot of you. Believe me this state of 'nirvana', if you wish to call it at all! should not come at the fag end of the journey but well on time. That you can enjoy your path along while you are living this fulfilling life, of course you need to make that choice.

Yesterday, during the debate at the institute cultural fest, one of the topics for discussion was, 'Being conventional or risk taking'. I was particularly paying attention to the points raised by both the students supporting the different ideology. One of the students gave the example of his father saying that he was conventional whereas he is more opening to taking risks. I was thinking all of us get into both the modes at different stages in our lives. Some people start off with taking risks and then take up the conventional approach whereas some are conventional in the beginning, reach the security platform in their lives and then are open to taking risks. But important is take the risk at some stage in your life, test your limits at some stage otherwise you'll never know what you are capable of. But the contentment will always come from the little things that give us happiness. Not the huge risks you have taken or the Big achievements you have made. They are just milestones that you can be proud of.

What has made me find happiness in the little things in my life, wish to take you along with me as I look back.

I was born pre mature in a remote village in Uttarakhand and at home, could not be taken to the hospital immediately. My family especially my mother ensured that I fought all odds and became the survivor. Even later on in life, she always ensured that I took everything no matter what, head on! All of us have such stories, every human life is unique. I have heard from people what life has been to them and have been tremendously inspired by so many of them. I am sure my life too has touched others in a positive way. 

I was very competitive while in school, could not bear to be second in anything.... for me my yardsticks were being at the top no matter what I did, be it academics or others. No one asked me to be like that, my parents were not demanding. But some conditioning I must have received somewhere. Looking for happiness only from such things cannot be long lasting, its like the rat race. Then chose the field of professional study and work. At the campus placements it was cool to have the best 3-4 jobs, to choose from. At work, I was ambitious started my career with the top hotel group in the country and saw myself as the GM one day. Four years of working there I started liking the learning and development aspect, with that left the industry and joined academics, Yes I saw myself as the head of the institution someday. 

Got married, had kids and I started seeing life closer, felt responsible for the people in my life. My husband and the boys became a priority. I started to learn about the balance in life, the yin yan! Seeing myself at the top didn't matter. I won't say that the ambition is buried somewhere but prioritising has certainly happened. Happiness is making what my children love to have in their tiffin. Husband passing a casual remark that "tumne toh ghar ko chaar chand laga diye". In laws giving me more love than they would to their own children. At work, the appreciation from colleagues and being a confidante to a few of them who share their concerns with me and the students who I share a good bond apart from the professional relationship. This is what has been the wealth that I have gained. This happiness and the moments, no one can ever take from me. I live them and I enjoy them. The 200 + odd certificates that tell me how brilliant I was academically and in the extra curricular activities in school and college life are not the ones that bring me the moments of joy. I don't even remember what I got, where. One  needs to look for the balance in life and find happiness in the little things. Make a difference in your own circles, the neighbourhood, the society ,for the less privileged, That's where true happiness lies. It may take ages to realise this but is worth every bit as you'll find contentment and true self worth.

Have dreams that are close to your heart and go after them, that's where you'll find your happiness. Bikers find that happiness in riding with their group... they call the brotherhood. I have loved such rides, most of the time riding pillion.

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa, Dream Live takes off in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive
@letsdreamlive

Countdown to countdown - Day 9

Are you a troublemaker yet? Frankly most of us are not because we love routine, we love to stick to the familiarity, don't like the unusual things happening around us. Change makes us weary and we try everything possible to resist it. Does this sound familiar? If yes then sadly you are not the trouble maker! 

If you are already into your mid 30s and still this sounds familiar, my dear friends get up, get going and introspect! May be some wonders happen! given an opportunity wonders are in fact waiting to happen. Take that chance it is said that necessity is the mother of all inventions. Start looking for that necessity, believe me she is somewhere close by. 

One different thought that's launched yesterday is "Dream Live" Bharadwaj Dayala's pet project. That I happen to embark on and have been emotionally attached with. I couldn't be there with him in Bangalore when he presented Dream Live on the Social media platform in the ongoing Social Media Week. But yes in spirit I was very much there and I could also visualise what was to come. He told me that the session was impromptu, as he was running around and had some meetings. There was actually no preparation required as he lives his dream, he has lived it and is embarking on another big on in the form of Dream Live.

He left a message for me that the presentation was very well received and that he would speak to me the next morning. As promised, I got a call from him this morning. I was eager to hear the first account of things and he sounded equally exited to share his experiences. Dream Live was very well received. He infact had the organisers of the event attending his talk. They promised all support throughout the event in the course of his second world tour. There was a web designer who promised to do all media designs, and many others who wanted to connect with the project in their personal as well as professional capacity. All the support is voluntary. We are not talking money yet, its great to see people identifying with our vision and trying to chip-in in their own ways. We appreciate that. It gives strength to the project and a huge support to Dayala, who will take on the first assignment of Dream Live.

Dream Live takes off on a very positive note, now lets be the trouble makers, lets get on with the job taking you all on a fantastic ride, the ride of seeing your dreams and ideas take shape and finally they become 'the reality'. All this shall happen live and we will all be witness to that, Isn't it exciting?

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive
@letsdreamlive

posters taken from google

Countdown to countdown - Day 10

Number 10 has been the most famous number as par as the sporting heroes are concerned, my own favourites wore that as their jersey number. Be it football, cricket or even hockey. Ten days to go-more action, more hope, more aspirations and ofcourse that one Big dream!

Social media presentation updates shall come tomorrow as I need to discuss the developments, in the meanwhile, see what I have for today in my diary!

Human Spirit

Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.
~ E. E. Cummings

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion. The potential for greatness lives within each one of us.
~Wilma Rudolph

Today I wish to share some great stories of undying human spirit! To begin with, Let me speak about a biker lady! came in as a suggestion by one of the followers of the blog. Thank you so much Mr. Ravinder Bhatti.

Benka Pulko  is a Slovenian world traveller, Guinness World Record holder, motivational speaker, author and photographer. A very spirited human being!

Pulko is a former educator, has a degree in Biology, and specialized training in massage therapy, . She has travelled to all seven continents on her motorcycle. On June 19, 1997,  Pulko departed from her hometown of Ptuj, Slovenia on a BMW F650 motorcycle. She returned to Ptuj on December 10, 2002, having established a Guinness World Record for the longest solo motorcycle ride ever undertaken by a woman - in both distance, 111,856 miles (180,015 km), and duration, 2,000 days. She became the first motorcyclist to reach Antarctica, and the first woman to ride solo across Saudi Arabia.

After returning to her home, she was chosen as Slovenian Woman of the Year for 2003 by readers of Jana, Slovenia's oldest women's magazine.

She has experience in Journalism and her articles have appeared in almost 50 different  publications across different countries. The photographs that she took during here world tour, she has held more than 40 exhibitions of the same. She came out with her first coffee table book, Po Zemlji okoli Sonca (Around the World Circling the Sun). 

She launched the humanitarian organisation "Believe in Yourself and Kickstart the World". The primary goal of the foundation is to promote, encourage, and support the education of children with limited opportunities in different parts of the world.

Fauza Singh who is 102 runs marathons, he is the world's olderst runner, he ran the London Marathon recently. Another super example of the human spirit. 

Arunima Sinha -  is the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest. She is also the first Indian amputee to climb Mount Everest.
She was a national level volleyball player who was pushed out of a running train by thieves in 2011 while resisting them. One of her legs had to be amputated below the knee as a result. She fought all odds and and see how. A fine example of human spirit.

There are many such inspiring people who have time and again proved the fine, undying human spirit! Salute all of them. This is what dreams are made of.

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.

Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa, Dream Live takes off in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive

@letsdreamlive

Posters taken from google, information credits to Wikipedia.

Countdown to countdown - Day 11

The social media week is underway at Bangalore, Bharadwaj Dayala is making the most of the networking happening there during the events. He is addressing the audience in the inaugural session.

We are only 11 days away from the D day. A bit of anxiety the positive nervousness ofcourse, thinking aloud what Dayala must be going through. As far as everyone else is concerned, it all seems like some good surprise to spring out, isn't it?

I had a word with him this morning and he says the session shall be impromptu. He told me that a friend had come to Bangalore all the way from Australia just to meet him. 

Keeping the tradition of some pep talks, let me speak about the meaning of being focussed, that I learnt from some winners. This time want to speak from my own circle of friends. There was this classmate of mine in college. He was all fun but was also very focussed in whatever he said and did. After college, we were not in touch. There were no mobile phones that time, and then we all got busy with our own careers, family and similar other commitments. Then most of us connected through the various social media and caught up on what we missed in each others lives. But yeah it was only glancing through the profiles and learning about the major events in their lives.

Recently met a couple of my college friends, the get together was after 16 years... a long time had passed but when we met it was like catching up from where we left, 16 years didn't look any significant at all. You are your true self with your school and college buddies. Met this classmate also, the focussed one I mentioned earlier. We were chatting to our hearts content trying to catch up as much as we could. Then realised that he hadn't even married and we all got after him, as all of us are married and most have children. He very sportingly took all the digs at him. On our way back I just had a serious chat with him enquiring what was going on with him and life in general. He came from a family of restaurateurs, they owned a few restaurants but he didn't want to continue the family tradition. He gave an instance that his dad would get a call even in the middle of the night saying that a cylinder was leaking at one of the restaurants. He told his dad that he didn't want to do what he did for more than 25 years and before him his grandfather, wake up in the middle of the night and try to fix some cylinder issue.

He knew that he didn't want to work round the clock and not even manage proper sleep. He wanted his life to be different from them. He wanted to have some control and be able to enjoy the fruits of all the hard work that he put in the business. After his degree in Hotel Management, he worked in hotel industry for two years to get the exposure. He said that he came from a community of hoteliers and it was in his blood, he understood the business well. Afterwards, he started his own set up conducting restaurant audits. He also studied the feasibility of opening new restaurants.  It started with just him and then had some partners and finally started employing staff.  He worked very hard and now has offices in many cities in India and has more than 170 people working for him. Coming back to his marriage, it shall happen, hopefully soon. I am sure he has certain ideas even there. But the lady would surely be a lucky one, who gets to share her life and time with him. If not, what are friends for? We shall start match making! Jokes apart, This is certainly having clarity of vision and being focused on achieving that. This is one such example, I have a lot of such people in my own family and friends' circle. I am sure you too have come across some as well or that you may be one of them.

We have the dream and we are pretty strong about it. Now is the time to be focused on achieving what we aspire for. Let’s give wings to that big dream we have.

Would love to hear your dream stories. A lot of us believe in the magic of that secret. 

Tell us your stories too and will share them with others, you never know when someone gets inspired and your story changes a life.
Follow #DreamLive to witness how dreams become reality. Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on a motorcycle, will show us how to live our own dreams by realising his dream of riding from Russia to South Africa in just 100 days from 1st March 2014,starting with nothing.  He'll then help 12 to 24 passionate bikers to live their dream of riding in a foreign country by getting sponsors for them.

DreamLive: Dare to dream and care to achieve it.

https://www.facebook.com/BJsDreamLive
@letsdreamlive