Breathe Easy....1 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 1......

Ok...we all know this...life is stressful...Which probably explains all the money 'stress management' programs generate - although they coz stress when you are actually payin for them...but watever!

But what I dont understand is why do WE take the stress....i mean yeah life gives it to you...but like everything else this world gives you, you have a choice to accept it.

Its like when you get nagged at by your parents....or bullied by a co-worker / boss / client....they keep going on at you...the more they know it effects you the more you get it. What we tend to forget is...that the choice is ours!

Time and agian ive been told "....you wont understand....you have it easy in life..." I would like to take this oppportunity to CORRECT everyone who has ever said this that 'I DONT HAVE IT EASY....ITS HOW I CHOOSE TO REACT!!!'

I go through stress on a day to day basis.....my day starts with a lot of noise being generated by either of the following options:
a) my mom and dad
b) my bro and dad
c)my bro and mom
..............im usually outta it, coz im still in bed, but on days when im really lucky....im makin noise with them while im still in bed....

Once i get outta the house I find myself beatin traffic to pick up my collegues and then to work.

Work starts with hitting the 'outlook' and keepin fingers crossed....and then - Bang! Bang! Bang! ...mail shots from clients ... all marked URGENT. The day continues as such with an ever-expanding to-do list....and this is only for to-day! In between we have our daily moments of crisis when we huddle as a team and look for solutions for 'cover-ass-activities'

And as the day progresses i can feel the energy being drained outta me....

So you see....i dont have it easy either...but there are some secrets I have to avoid stress which is any day better than de-stressing

Lemme share those tips...

- On most days i have an easy morning with breakfast in front of martha stewart....(shes so dumb...its actually funny!)

- Ok...didnt think i'd EVER admit this....but i listen to bhajans (hindu religious hyms) in the morning. Somehow they REALLY work...they are sooooo calming....and this is only till i pick my collegues....

- Slap a huge smile on your face and wish people 'good-morning'...trust me this works...have been told that my 'good-morning' helps people smile (thats coz im late while they have already checked their mails)

- Have some music around while your working...really really really works. I dont usually notice what is playin...but whenever i take a break...i sing along!

- Order lunch early....this makes a hughe difference.....saves you the trouble of thinkin what to have for lunch during the busiest time of day and also ensures you have your lunch on time

- Take time to walk around the office and stop by desks to say 'hi'...helps you AND the people around you (mind you...dont barge into meetings or when you know people have deadlines to keep)

- Try and make your workspace fun...i have quite a bit of mess on my desk....but atleast its all colourful!!

- Generate positive energy around you...and im not reffering to Feng Shui or Vastu....if your chirpy...so will everyone else around you be

- Buzz a friend...ok i know this might be breech of company policy, but lets be honest everyone does this. As long as you do your work, meet deadlines and keep the calls short...buzz away!

- Keep in touch with the child within you...this is a must! Its amazing how we all try our best to appear smart and mature, but in turn end up creating more stress....take things easy, let the playful child in you loose...probably explains why im considered a mischieveous brat!

- Take a deep breathe....walk around and think clearly...this is what you need to do in times of crisis

- Keep a to-do list handy.....scribble things as the day goes by, in fact scribble everything! Really helps on a busy day.

Well, thats all for now...try these ...they really work. Can think of one person in particular who needs this. To indicate who he is - his nick name on msn is followed by 'Wanna Break Free...' (explains why he needs this)

National ID card in UAE...just the beginning!!

The national ID card is increasingly becoming a issue of debate....well atleast amongst the people I know.

Its not a very uncommon scenario in the west, however, I personally feel it intrudes into your privacy.

I mean....think about it....one card that has every possible information about you!

Ok....i know the size of your wallets might shrink...and for once it wont be the ever-increasing cost of living in this country....

But, what if you lose your card....the person who finds it gets every possible bit of information about you...and to make things easier for him....its a photo-id

In addition to that 'worst-case-scenario' bit, there is also the concern over numerous companies having access to this data by payin a nominal fee which will tell them you annual household income, your expenses, blah blah blah which they might use for direct marketing (I am in market research....I know!!)

In addition to that...the way that I drive, Im worried the number of traffic offences that will get registered on my card...Yikes!

This brings another thought to mind....Is it fair for people who have spent a major chunk of their lives in the country, and are still denied citizenship, to disclose their details so that the government can keep a closer eye on the expariates??!

This is only going to make it easier for the governemnt to keep track of the number of expatriates in the country, the nationality of expariates, their monthly household incomes, etc...which will be translated into figuers that will then be used to strengthen the emiratization drive and also further increase the cost of living

With the housing taxes already being levied...this is only a start for things to come.

Anyways...it is inevitable....lets just hope its not as bad as imagined!

7 Days ... writing teasers...

I picked up a copy of 7 days on my way to office after lunch.

Amazin, how the news in 7 days is always 'dynamic' and 'unheard' of.

Headline : 'Mudered for Dhs 10'.
Verdict : Capable of generating adequate amount of interest amongst readers
Subtitle : Gang strangles man to rob him after he brags of money
Main story : (Source - 7 Days; edited)
A man was strangled to death by a gang who stole just dhs10, a court heard.
Three Iranian men appeared in the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday accused of murdering the victim, also Iranian, in his flat and stealing dhs10 and $56 in foreign currency. According to police, the accused were drinking alcohol with their victim in his flat in Al Qusais when he told them he had received a large amount of money from Iran...

...One of the accused allegedly used a piece of white cloth to strangle the victim, while the other two held him down. After finishing the crime the three searched the flat for money, and also stole the victim’s mobile phone, the court heard...

...One of the accused claimed that the victim was gay and was having an affair with another of his attackers. The trial was adjourned until later this month.

Ok...realisation strikes....it wan not 'just dHS10' and it was probably not 'only' coz the guy 'bragged' he had received money from home.

If you want to be critical you can say its 'twisting and meddling with the facts' ....but I would choose to call it 'marketing'.

However, if you are a serious news-reader, this probably explains why 7 Days is a free distribution publication!!

How the hell can you close the kitchen at 11pm on a Thursday nite??!

I've been in this country all my life but still fail to understand......How can you close the kitchen when the rest of Dubai is still partying?

Went out with friends over the weekend which left us all hungry.

The evening started will all of us being picked by a friend, who is not yet comfortable with driving around Dubai. Which meant we were all in the car around 9.45pm.....with our parents warning us it was too late and we should probably drop the plan....

Anyways, we drove to Jumeriah (and when I say 'we' it is inclusive of everyone giving directions) and reached there about 10.45pm....not bad at all

Then it took us ages to get a parking. I fail to understand how can the municipality dig up the whole city at the same time??!!

Went into Dubai Marine and realised they had valet parking...oops!

Walked towards Sho Cho - the restaurant was closed.... I mean....HELLO!!!....its the weekend....how can the kitchen close at 11pm?!! Couldnt get into the club coz one of my friends was dressed in an ethenic outfit....
We then go to the Cuban restaurant....the kitchen is open....but FYI - bout to close (incase you think its any better) and no tables!
We then go to the Thai restaurant...kitchen closed but the place it open till 3am....many thanks for that!
And then move to the Mexican restaurant...first issue...2 of my friends dont have ids....when we finally make our way in....same story! Kitchen is closed but place is open till 3!

How can these resturants be such duds....? Im guessin that even if you wanna have a drink you might want something to munch on besides nuts and chips!??!

By the time we got outta there we were just about starving! ...and we didnt wanna eat at a fast food.......nope it had to be a nice swanky restaurant...

And then the cherry on the top....a friend of mine gives up and says...'lets jus get home...' another one remembers 'my mom had made poha...have some left that i can have for dinner'

Poor ol starving me....get home hopin for some food...and guess wat?! My fridge has already been stripped of food....!

Got to bed....wake up the next morning and realise have to go to someone's place for a pooja....meaning no breakfast (coz i woke up at 12 noon) and i have to rush and take a shower.

But, back to my question...........How the hell can you close the kitchen at 11pm on a Thursday nite??!