Contentment- the STRESS debugger

I was just thinking why we have stress sometimes in our lives. In fact all us have been stressed or felt stressful at least 1 time in our life. I was wondering what is it that causes this stress. And just like how Newton got his answer just like a flash, I got mine too. Eureka!! There you go, I am going to try explain in detail that tiny bit of flash that I had.

Looking back at my own stressful times, I understood that culprit was "Expectation". Let us say in bold - EXPECTATION CAUSES STRESS. For example- If i have a very important and life-changing interview, I feel this tension and stress mainly because i want to do well in the interview and don't want to fail. And this thought when it is repeated in my mind again and again it becomes stress or tension. So the fear of result or the outcome of the event causes the stress, that is because I expect a lot from myself. For most of us our childhood days were the most beautiful days of our life, that was because we had a care-free life and didn't have anything to worry about; there was this RELAXED attitude which really made us feel liberated or free.

Now, how can we get rid of this stress. Just by remembering these simple principles and making it a part of your life,

1. Just do what has to be done. Accept the results whatever it may be. (Remember, failure means I will succeed one day. Nothing in life is so easily achievable)
2. Be positive.
3. Do not compare yourself with others. You are unique and this is what makes you special.
4. If you have a difficult goal to achieve then keep intermediate goals to achieve the final goal. So, once the intermediate goals are achieved you feel confident. (For example - If I am going to give a tough exam, then one of my intermediate goal would be to study for an hour everyday.)
5. How you achieve your goal is important as that is what builds your character - did you enjoy your journey to your goal or was it a stressful one that you forgot to enjoy every bit of it? So, ENJOY your journey.
6. Last one, ALWAYS STAY CONTENDED but HAVE ASPIRATIONS. Stay contended, happy and grateful with what you have or what you are even though it is not what you aspire to be. Work towards your aspirations with happiness.

I am sure all of us will achieve our goals, so lets enjoy this journey towards the goal. 

Moving from PC to Mac

Just like I mentioned in my previous posts, I had been a PC user for about 18 years before I started using Mac. Now when I look back and think why it took so much time to shift to Mac I found out that I was afraid coz I was completely ignorant of Linux/iOS. And being in the IT field one can surely say that one of the rules in this field is - One can arrogant but never ignorant :) . So, I had to really come out of this fear only by buying a Mac and start exploring it.

Back in 1990s when I first got my PC, I explored that stuff like crazy. I learnt how to hack that stuff. God knows, how many time I must have just formatted the system just coz I wanted to try something new. I was so fond of the defragmenting that I would just run the process and could just keep watching how the colors of the cells changed in the screen (lol). After using windows for sometime, I really had a feeling that I knew everything and I can do anything in that stuff. I felt I was Yoda (star wars);) . I presume it is this feeling that makes it in a way difficult to move on and try other OS. It was hard to move from comfort zone but I had to for my own good.

And trust me after moving to Mac I found that you can do lot of stuff in Mac as well. You can really hack the stuff. You can customize it and make it you own (precious). Even though it takes some time in the beginning, coz you have to learn everything form scratch, after some days I am sure you will feel - "Yes I am indeed Yoda". So this experience gave me the courage to try anything new. I will treasure the lesson learnt out of this experience - “Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.”(Benjamin Frankin) So when we throw this "Unwilling to learn" our of our mind-box, the learning begins. Good luck to all who want to learn something new.

PS- Take at look at the Video (It is really hilarious :)) )

Simple Make-up/Skin Care for Summer

I think the word skincare really scares most of the women :) (trust me guys, it is really scary). It is because we have so many products and we don't know what to buy, but yet we want to buy something and apply something on our skin to protect ourself. I was never a make-up savvy person neither am I till today. Basically I don't like too much make-up for 2 reason
1. It takes too much time.
2. I don't like anything that makes me look artificial. (I feel confortable on my skin :) )
I am sure most of the guys do not like girls wearing too much make up.

So, let's start with the basic products you will need
1. Sunscreen lotion (Water Proof)
There are many sunscreen lotions available in the market. Pick any product with SPF (Sun protection factor)15 or more. SPF 15 filters 92 percent of UVB and SPF 30 filters 97 percent. Basically there is no much difference between SPF 15 and SPF 30. Make sure you get a water proof one because, it doesn't make your make-up look saggy after sometime due to the sweat factor :). And you can wear it and hit the beach or pool and yet be protected.
2. Foundation (water proof)
First thing about beauty is that we must feel comfortable with our skin color. Buy a foundation (Water proof)which suits your skin color. Most of the Foundations these days comes with SPF formula.
3. Compact (Water proof)
Initially I was also cynical with these water resistant products but I was amazed that they do work.
Get a compact which matches your foundation.
4. Eyeliner/Eye Pencil.
Eyes are window to the soul - so remember to give them some attention, (I mean to your soul ;) ) When we do an eye make up it really makes a difference.
5. Lip Gloss
A simple basic lip gloss will do. Just to keep the lips from drying out.
Process
1. After washing and drying your face, apply sunscreen to neck/face/hands/legs/back of the ears.
2. After the sunscreen has settled down apply foundation on face and neck.
3. Use an eyeliner/eye pencil do draw your eyes.
4. Apply compact.
5. Apply lip gloss/Lip stick.

Things To remember (Skin care for summer)
1. Always carry your sunscreen with you and re-apply every 1 or 2 hours.
2. Drink lots of water.
3. If you get hold of an aloe-vera/cucumber/strawberry face wash, buy it.
4. Eat Cucumber and strawberries. They have nutritions which helps your skin glow.

I am sure, just by following some simple steps we can have a simple, yet a great look. But guess what makes us really beautiful, it is just a simple SMILE-WEAR IT ALWAYS. If we are really happy and contended from within it shows on our face. So be happy and stay healthy and beautiful.

iPAD 2 release in Tokyo Japan

Looking at myself few years back, I was such an ardent fan of Microsoft. My first experience with Apple was with MacBook Pro and since then I have become a big time fan of Apple and I personally own an iPOD touch, iPad, MacBook Pro, Apple TV and an iPhone. Since both my husband and I come from IT backgrounds we would often have heated up conversations which is good- APPLE or MICROSOFT. All that he would tell me was, "Use a Mac and you will know which is best." With all due respect to my first love (Microsoft), I tell you that I fell in love with Mac just after a week's use.

Apple had initially planned for a release of iPad2 around 25th March but due to the unexpected disastrous earthquake which struck Japan on March 11th 2011, the release was postponed. I always follow the blogs about Apple products and rumor was Apple would release iPad 2 in Japan on 28th April. Even the day before of the release of iPad 2 Apple did not make any announcements in its websites. So anyways we just wanted to give it a shot by just following the rumors about the release of iPad 2. So we went to the Apple Store at Ginza (Tokyo) at around 9 a.m. We waited for holy 3 hours to buy our iPad. It was a Thursday morning and the crowd was overwhelming. Japanese are work-dedicated people but to my surprise there was a long queue for iPad2 and most of them were office-goers. It was really a surprise for me to see so many people lining up for the iPad2 because Apple had not made any formal announcement about the release.

Apple Employees were kind enough to provide the tired fans with Water, Donuts and Umbrella. The queue kept moving and the excitement to hold the iPad was increasing exponentially. When our turn came, we went in and asked for a Black iPad 2 and a grey smart-cover. The device alone costed us around 48,000 Yen.  But she (iPad2) is definitely thinner and faster than the previous version. iPad 2 comes with a camera. Now I can do Facetime with my family and friends :). There are many good Apps which come for a free download.  

Within the first week all the iPad 2 at the Ginza Store was sold out. One of my friends ordered just a week later after the release now he has to wait for 3 more weeks to get this amazing gadget. I am glad we took the chance on April 28th to visit the Store. ;)