MAGNIFICENT MAY
SERIES 5 - VOL 4
MAY 2024
Health Contribution
Anupama Nair
Inspiring Story
Shreen Vardhan Sharma
Fin- Guru
Manas Wealth
Corporate Gyan
Monica Goel Diwan
Akta Sehgal 1. Anupama Nair 2.
Aparna Ghosh 3. Aparna Sharma 4. Archana Joshi 5.
Arunima Bahadur Khare 6. Hamida Hakim 7. Himani Varpe Patil 8. Ila Pachauri 9. Jayashree Sriram 10. Kamal Nimodia 11. Kavita Drona 12. Monica Goel Diwan 13
Monika Daga 14. Mukesh Bhatnagar 15. Neelam Dwivedi ( Neel) 16. Poonam Bhatnagar 17. Poonam Saxena 18
Rashmi Goswami 19.
Ratan Kumar Agarwala 20. Shreen Vardhan Sharma 21. Shubhada Bharvaga 22.
Suraksha Pruthi Khurana 23. Swetha Sundar 24. Tapasaya Surekha 25. Contributors of the Month 1. Guest Editorial 2. Advertisers Page 3. Health Corner 4. Book Review 5. Go Green Initiative 6. Corporate Gyan 7. Parenting Corner 8. Fin-Guru Contribution 9. Poetry Corner 10. Articles ,Blogs & Stories
The three pillars on which Motherhood Club stands tall. All our conversations and social drives are around these themes
When on a weight loss journey, it’s common to think that hitting the gym hard and often is the key to dropping those unwanted kilos. However, the true path to effective weight loss is more nuanced, integrating both dietary adjustments and a well-considered exercise regimen.
The initial step in a successful weight loss plan isn’t to increase your exercise intensity, but rather to reevaluate and correct your eating habits. For those who are overweight, the first focus should be on consuming balanced nutrition that supports body function and enhances metabolism. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains can kickstart your metabolism and begin the process of fat burning without the immediate need for intensive physical exercise. This approach not only minimizes the risk of injury but also enhances the sustainability of the fitness routine you may later integrate.
Once your body begins to adjust to better nutritional habits, incorporating exercise can help accelerate weight loss and lead to more permanent results. Exercise, at this stage, serves primarily to tone muscles and improve overall physical health rather than solely driving weight loss.
For those new to regular physical activity, here are some tips on getting started:
Start Slow: Begin with low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, or yoga. These activities are less stressful on your body and a great way to build endurance.
Set Realistic Goals: Set achievable goals that foster a sense of accomplishment. For instance, aim for a 30-minute walk five days a week before tackling more strenuous workouts.
Consistency is Key: The benefits of exercise are greatly increased by regularity. Try to set a routine that fits easily into your daily schedule.
Maintaining an exercise routine is crucial for long-term weight management. Here’s how you can keep up the momentum:
Mix It Up: Incorporate different types of workouts to keep the routine interesting and cover all aspects of fitness, such as cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility.
Track Progress: Use a journal or an app to track your exercise routines and progress towards your weight loss goals. Seeing improvement over time can serve as a powerful motivator.
Find a Workout Buddy: Exercising with a friend can increase your commitment and make exercising more enjoyable. The Importance of Weight Training
Weight training is particularly important in a weight loss program because it helps build muscle mass, which can increase your resting metabolic rate. Higher muscle mass means your body burns more calories even when at rest, making weight training a powerful component of any weight loss strategy.
For beginners, the importance of getting professional help cannot be overstressed. A Health coach or personal trainer can provide valuable guidance on proper eating habits, exercise techniques and routines that maximize results and minimize the risk of injury. Additionally, a holistic approach that addresses lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise habits, is essential for sustained weight loss. Adjusting your lifestyle to incorporate healthy eating and regular physical activity will lead to better weight management and improved overall health.
Anupama Nair
Digital Fatloss Coach
Anupamanair.com
A 12 year old boy enters a magic shop with the hope of getting some items to play magic and entertain friends. But what in turn he got from the mother of the shop owner, who happened to be there, were some different magical tips that turned out to be the turning point in his life. What were those tips and how he applied and practiced them in his own life to become a world renowned Neurosurgeon is the book all about.
“Into The Magic Shop' is a captivating memoir of James Doty that explores the transformative power of mindfulness and compassion. With its inspiring true story and practical insights, the book shows how anyone can overcome adversity and find inner peace. 'As a child Doty saw an obsessively drunkard father and a helplessly depressed mother, who wanted to escape from the drudgery of family situations but in Ruth he found a god sent foster mother
Ruth taught him - Why is there the need to keep the heart open, the mind in control and the soul as master? Doty discovered in the course of life, the true meaning of Ruth's teaching more particularly while performing the most complex brain surgery. Doty found - "Events themselves have no power. It is your response to the events that determine your power. " He found that one can create anything one wants but that is possible only by the intelligence of the heart, which tells us what is worth creating. He confesses - "The brain has its mysteries, but the heart holds the secrets that I was determined to uncover. My quest that began in the magic shop had taken me on a journey inward, but my journey wasn't over and I went on discovering myself, till I found what is in giving whatever you have." Doty lost $75 million in the stock market crash, but undeterred he later went on to give in charity his $1.3 billion trust and founded - "Centre for Compassion and Altruism, Research & Education' in California and got the patronage of HH Dalai Lama and Noble Laureates.
As you read the book, you can't help but feel yourself in Doty's place. It is as if you are beside him and facing the situations with similar intensity. He takes us on a remarkable journey, starting in his hometown in California as a 12 year old through his years as a struggling student and eventually becoming a Professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University. Doty's reflections are beautifully and refreshingly honest. And I feel that is the brilliance behind the book and the man as well. The book was recommended to me by a former civil servant recently and I found it so immensely engrossing and inspiring that I could not resist the temptation of completing it within two days and made a deep impact on me. Some of the World's renowned Spiritual Leaders too have found the book as a soulful journey to better one self.
The book is published by Penguin Random House, New York, 276 pages, US $18.00 and is available on Amazon and other portals.
I would suggest the book for every person to become a true human being.
What is a workplace environment? Is it the employer’s premises where an employee goes and works – brick and mortar? Or , does it comprise of the multitude of experiences which and employee undergoes while delivering his responsibilities. It is definitely the latter, often replaced by the word ‘culture’.
It is imperative to have a positive work environment, not only for employees to be productive and flourish, but also for building brand image and reputation in the market. How do you do so? What can be various factors which promote it or which are an impediment in creating a constructive work environment.
As an organization, we need to think of having a workplace which has trust, collaboration, accountability, equity, and equality. Again, the question comes, how? For an employee, the critical people in an organization are – Manager, peers, team members Out of this list, the person who stands has the maximum influence on an employee’s journey in the organization, is the Manager.
A manager is the one who helps an employee know his potential and lead him to growth. It is well known statement, ‘Employee do not leave companies, but managers. ’ So its clear that a manager has a huge role to play in the overall stint of an employee in an organization A good manager would the tenure enriching and worthwhile however a toxic manager can make it difficult for an employee to have a productive stint. How do you identify the managers and their traits. Sharing few inputs.
As an employee, do pay attention to all behaviour aspects around you and make a decision to continue your journey with a specific organization accordingly. Positive environment leads to employee growth and motivation. A happy employee is a productive employee.
Monika Diwan HR ProfessionalAs Parents, we always keep wondering whether our child is learning anything or not . You try your best to tell your child, but they are distracted and more interested in playing , this leads to you getting frustrated.
You fear putting responsibility, as you are not sure if they would be able to . The fears continued until a situation arises, where without a choice you need to transfer the responsibility to your child. However the fear lingers until.......
Let me share a story here ----
I taught my daughter how to make sandwiches she made once, but there after when I ever I asked her , she would dilly dally, until one day - I had to leave for an early morning meeting, and my husband and daughter were home. I told my daughter I have done all the cutting, will you make breakfast for Papa and yourself. She agreed .
When I came back home , my husband told me how my daughter made the sandwich , cleared the table , cleaned the kitchen slab, and she did it the way you do it. I was pleasantly surprised , the child who didn’t want to do it, did it so well.
It was evident that she had always been observing , how her mother does things.
What I learnt from this is , that at times just let them observe and you will see wonders happening around you.
As a practice once a month she makes sandwich for us and more so on special days like my birthday, anniversary and mother’s day .
Happy Parent
Akta Sehgal
The Sandwich she made
Buddha's teachings are known as “dharma.” He taught that wisdom, kindness, patience, generosity and compassion were important virtues.
Imagine using the teachings appended below for investment management -
Wisdom – To build knowledge, to educate and empower yourself with the right tools helps you gain wisdom. In addition to this, wisdom comes from experience of life and by shedding the baggage of the past.
As a human being, we are exposed to many challenges and tough situation in life and the way we are conditioned right from our childhood, has an everlasting impact on our approach towards money. We have to learn to overcome those barriers that are engrained basis our past experiences and we have to be prudent in our approach, as it’s said past performance may or may not be repeated. Similarly to always piggy bank on your past laurels or failures is a cardinal sin in the field of investment.
Hence wisdom in any and every form is imperative to have sound decision making.
Kindness – to be nice and be empathetic towards ourselves and towards the service provider. Whenever we make investment, we are always in a rush and are not kind towards ourselves, the service provider and above all your hard earned money. We take decisions as if it’s not important for us and we forget the very first teaching of Buddha - Wisdom. Spending quality time in understanding what you really want out of your investments. What’s your attitude towards money and dwelling on our goals is imperative to be kind towards yourself , service provider and your hard earned money. Always remember Money reads your attitude and makes you experience, exactly how you feel about it.
Patience – This teaching is perhaps my favorite and encompasses the above two learning. You can be kind and have wisdom only if you have Patience. Patience to learn, spend time with self and your investment process alongside your advisor. Rome wasn’t built in a day, we didn’t become an adult in one day and neither did seeds grow into plants in a day. It takes years for companies to reach a level of sustenance, for portfolios to yield the requisite return. As we don’t spend time on building our wisdom or being kind, we don’t have patience. For anything to grow it needs to be nurtured, given time to grow and all that eventually leads to the objectives being met
Wisdom+kindness = Patience
Generosity – Give generous amount of time or your money to work for you, after all you gave yourself enough time to make money. So isn’t it fair to follow the same principle . Wisdom+ kindness+ generosity = Patience
Compassion: Lastly Compassion for yourself and your money. Many times, the decision taken may be wrong and may lead to you booking losses, but that doesn’t mean you forget your Wisdom, Kindness , Generosity & Patience , as all this and their true meaning would lead to compassion towards self and your attitude towards money and service provider. These virtues will help you have a positive, enriching, and process oriented investment experience and that shall eventually yield you the returns to meet your objective. Whenever, our goals change, we need to revisit all of the above teachings and evaluate the changes and implement the revised plan and again stress upon patience and compassion. All in all Wisdom+ Kindness+ Generosity+ Patience+ Compassion = Happy Investment Journey.
Akta Sehgal Founder & Mentor Manas Wealth
I was happy in my bubble I'm keeping him out of trouble. Giving him everything he needs. Even before he pleads. He is growing up as good. As a young man should I gave him privacy and space Took that closed door with grace. There were times he would laugh out loud. Then there were times he would shut me out. His mind, his temper, his nature estrange. Teen age I thought is planning a change Suddenly one day my bubble bursted He was hanging behind the closed door I trusted. Can a mother be more helpless then this. Accusing herself for what she had miss.
- Hamida Hakim
Trudging along the verdant river bank, tracing the river's majestic and fertile history.
I converse with the riverbank who played a silent but crucial part, in chores, wars and scripting unforgettable stories.
The riverbank is a canvas where time stands still now, in a tranquil embrace.
And looking at the gurgling water caressing pebbles and depositing silt makes my worries vanish without a trace.
The riverbank is like a mother's loving lap where trees reach out with leafy hands.
And sunlight peeping through the tree canopy, massages your soul and paints the shifting sands.
Birds sing carefree melodies, flitting and hopping like sunbeams along the river's edge
Their songs speak of love, soothe heartbreak and their refrain is a timeless pledge.
The mighty roaring river that originated in the mighty peaks and gushing waterfalls.
Becomes placid with the gentle caress of the riverbank and it's comforting call.
"Wherever you come from, however you are, angry or calm, I will be there", the river bank to the river seems to say.
Each ripple of the river is a page in its mightily story, untold.
And the riverbank is a spectator, a listener recording the events that the river agelessly unfurled.
Each moment spent is a rejuvenation and lesson, such is the river shore.
Allowing us to let go effortlessly while the river, it's ageless wisdom gently pours.
The riverbank is my Manna, my Mecca, my Kashi, allowing me, my soul depths to discover.
A few minutes everyday on the riverbank connects me to myself and makes me cherish my bond with nature forever.
- Swetha Sundar
Could not save her ailing son from the cruel jaws of death.
Came directly from the graveyard to the market to sell the vegetables on the footpath.
The piercing remarks of the people around were like someone pouring hot oil into her ears.
Holding her daughter in her lap
Wearing torn soiled frock and running nose like a tap.
Bouts of feeble cry could be heard of a pale lill girl...
Whose hunger couldn't be satiated with the few drops of milk from her squeezed breasts.
"This lady's heart is like a stone. Selling veggies while her only son has gone. "
"
"
Shameless, hardhearted were the adjectives with whom she was adorned. Wiping her tears with her torn dhoti, thinking..."I have to arrange food for my hungry child.
Not stone hearted, strong headed, I am. In any situation ready to fight to save my child."
- Suraksha Khurana
Keshav was a moneylender and as is common in their tribe he was always interested in earning profit by squeezing people. He would lend money at exorbitant rates and woe the men who could not pay back in time. It so happened that one day Manoj a middle class clerk came to him for a loan for his son Rakesh's education. As usual Keshav put forward all his conditions. After five years when Manoj defaulted, Keshav went to his neighbourhood and insulted Manoj. "Why do you have such lofty dreams for your children when you are unable to pay for it? Your son could have taken up a job and helped you. " Manoj was humiliated and mumbled "He is in his final year and after his exams he will be interned to a good hospital. I will surely pay back all your loan with interest." But Keshav didn't pay any heed to his utterance and carried away some of his assets.
After some years, Keshav rushed into the emergency ward of 'Holy Faith Hospital' with his son in his arms. The boy was bleeding profusely from a head wound. He had met with an accident. No doctor was ready to even look at him as it was a police case. As Keshav walked dejectedly, a voice stopped him in his tracks."Bring the boy here". He turned round. A young doctor was ordering the hospital staff to take the child to the Operation Theatre. After a couple of hours, the doctor stepped out and said - "The boy is out of danger but has to be kept under observation."
However much Keshav tried to speak to the doctor and convey his gratitude, the doctor ignored him. On the day of discharge, Keshav stood with folded hands and said - "Ddoctor, have I done something wrong? You never answer my questions but my son adores you. " Dr Rakesh replied- "Do you remember Manoj? I am his son. According to you one time we should not have aimed high when my father could not afford it. Your words stung my dad so much that he gave up his life. Today you too would have lost your son ' s life had I been like the other doctors. But I cannot allow my sentiments to come in the way of the Hippocratic oath. Remember Sir, there is a God above, who manages our accounts. He is the master of the mathematics of life."
Keshav was at a loss of his words and realised the deeper meaning of life.
Jayashree Sriram
Mr. Amar Biswas
An inspiration for one and all
A self-taught skating coach who previously competed nationally in both roller and ice skating earning accolades twice in roller skating and once in ice skating had pursued formal education in physical education. With an extensive 27 years tenure in teaching skating to children. Currently he is serving in Kotari International School, Noida. His expertise has led many of his students to triumph in national and international tournaments. Notably, one of his female students is set to represent India in an upcoming skating event. Beyond his coaching prowess, he is recognized for his dedication to teaching children with special needs.
When questioned about his decision to focus on such students despite his numerous accomplishments, his response was both simple and poignant: "I can teach anyone. " Viewing it as a personal challenge to empower these children and offer hope to their parents, he believes in the potential beyond therapies and treatments. While none of his special-need students have yet participated or achieved in tournaments, the shared practice sessions between teacher and student bring immeasurable joy an inherent reward in itself.
Mr. Amar Viswas not only imparts skating skills but also fosters social development through playful interactions. Despite occasional frustrations from parents over perceived lack of progress, he remains steadfast in his optimism and unwavering commitment. His indomitable spirit and genuine dedication to serving children stand as a testament to his noble endeavors, making a profound difference in their lives.
- Shreen Vardhan Sharma
Teenagers often have things to say to adults, but get frustrated at the lack of opportunity. Ironically adults in turn get frustrated at teenagers not communicating or sharing anything with them. Listening carefully and asking helpful questions will often illicit far more information from a teenager, than trying to set the agenda and focus on topics that you think are important. This tendency of adults to speak more than listen is responsible for generating unnecessary conflict. Adults will often react based on assumptions to teenagers. By asking questions and exploring reasons behind teen behavior, adults will be in a much better position to respond appropriately. While young teens aren’t perfect and still need guidance, communicating in a more adult manner with them through discussion and negotiation, will provide much better outcomes as opposed to lecturing them. There is a lot to be said for the notion of self-fulfilling prophecies. The way we speak can often result in the outcomes we are trying to avoid. Adults whose instructions to teens are constantly negative not only come across as nagging and authoritarian, but also are more likely to produce the very behavior they are trying to prevent.
If you consider, or are worried about, your teenager being rebellious, troublesome, or untrustworthy, the language you use will often reflect your fears and assumptions. Comments and instructions will be couched in negative language, with excessive use of words like “don’t”, “stop”, “ never ” , and “ no ” . Choosing to use positive rather than negative forms of expression can make a genuine difference. Focusing on the desired positive outcomes, rather than unwanted negative outcomes reshapes what teenagers hear and hence what they focus on. Similarly being more willing to praise and affirm rather than criticize and pick on teen performance is important. Positive instructions and genuine encouragement can significantly change a teen’s outlook and behavior. Perspective makes a big difference. The way an adult perceives a problem is often very different to the way a teen perceives the same problem. As adults we have lived through the many trials and tribulations of adolescence. What appears like a major life altering decision to a 14 year old often looks a lot less significant to a 40 year old. Trying to offer a broader perspective to a teenager with the intention of helping them through a tough time can be counter- productive, simply because teenagers cannot take on an adult’s perspective. Developmentally they are not yet proficient at being able to take on another person ’ s point of view. Experientially they have not experienced life on the other side of many problems so are unable to see the situation as anything other than life changing. All a teenager perceives when adults try to put their perspective on a problem is “ you don’t get me ” or “ you not taking me seriously” or “ you don’t think this important, therefore I’m not important.”
The challenge of negotiating the path to adulthood is challenging enough for teens without having adults who refuse to acknowledge that they are growing up making it harder. As adults, and particularly parents, it is easy to view our kids as always younger than they are. It can be hard to admit that they are growing up. But as teens get older they need opportunities to take on more responsibility and independence.
Procrastination is the tendency to delay an intended action or decision. It is defined as the act of needlessly delaying tasks to the point of experiencing subjective discomfort. It’s human nature to procrastinate, but it can be devastating for your future goals if you continue to procrastinate on projects that are important but not urgent. People delay tasks for various reasons, such as fear of criticism, fear of failure, lack of interest, boredom and want of perfectionism. Other causes for putting off tasks can include feeling overwhelmed by the task or struggling with mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression.
Chronic procrastination may be linked to certain mental health conditions, such as: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression.
Others delay starting new tasks or taking action because they’re not interested in a project or assignment. For example, if you dread making power point presentations and were assigned to prepare one for a Thursday morning meeting, if you didn’t start until Wednesday night, you likely procrastinated because you were task averse. Similarly filing your taxes doesn't excite you, so you keep pushing it till the last date approaches. Whereas you would binge watch a TV series or party with your friends as this excites you and makes you happy.
Perfectionism can also give rise to procrastination. Leonardo da Vinci famously spent 16 years working on the Mona Lisa and left many other works unfinished.
While persistent procrastination can lead to stress and sub standard performance, research indicates that intentional stalling may not always be bad. Sometimes, delaying a deadline may render a positive result. It gives you more time to think, plan and execute a project effectively. Delaying an action also allows you to focus on other projects.
If procrastination is negatively affecting your life, you might want to set up a schedule for your projects and stick to it. Prioritizing your to-do list is another way to avoid postponing important tasks.
- Ila Pachauri
Lippan Art by Poonam Saxena
Art by Archana Joshi
Soft pastel colour palette
The figure and design is made of sand on glass! Kavita Drona
This beautiful Buddha Tray has been created with a broken earthen pot By Shubhada Bhargava
WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT if any MHC member wishes to join hands or collaborate with either of our associates or Partners, s/he can please get in touch with team Motherhood Club for the same.
