The Meaning of LIfe--An Entreprenuer's Interpratation

As I sit on the train and contemplate the meaning of life on my way home from work, there is so much going through my minds. Life has so many mysterious meanings both good and bad. Everyone’s perception of the meaning of life is different according to his or her lifestyle(s) and individual personalities. For me though, I cannot put a definite answer to the meaning of life. I do think life is about being fortunate enough to give back what God as given you. Life is about chances and opportunities. However, it is what the individual does with those chances and opportunities that really makes the difference in this world.
Sure, life takes us down its bumpy roads and beat us until we can't bear its hardship anymore, but the only thing a person can do is dust himself off and continue down the same road life has shown us. My life for example endured a lot of bumps, yet I am still traveling down life’s roads and making the best of what I have. Someone I know always says, life is like a river that carries many streams, sometimes it may comes at you light, medium, and or even hard. However, whether you sink or swim it all depends on your choices. Life gives us path along its road and the individual build his or her destiny by taking careful steps and enduring whatever comes your way. No matter what the individual makes of his or her life, it all depends on that person. In other words, what you bring to the table is what you get—or what influences your life. When you bring positive attitude, self-confidence and determination then there is no way that you can fail. However, when you bring only negativity, uncertainty, and dishonesty then you are most likely setting yourself up for failure.
In terms of materialism, life is based on the ideology that it does not matter how much you have or what you have. It is simply based on the actions of the individual(s) involved. Good actions equal a good life and bad actions result in a bad life. Being able to give someone something without seeking anything in return is a prime example in this case. Many people feel that the more you have the richer you are—generally this is not the case. A person may have a lot of money and wealth but they may be the most miserable person in the world. In terms of life, what is money when you have no happiness?
On a personal note, I think the meaning of my life is about using the resources that friends and loved ones has given you to become successful in this world. I feel that they have given you a ‘chance’ to be someone. Hence, when I become someone of status, then I too will give an opportunity to someone else. Life in my opinion is about shaping your destiny and whatever decision you take to attain that destiny is influenced by your environment, your loved ones, you religion, and everything else that matters to you.

With that note, what do you think is the meaning of life?

March For Babies

The March of Dimes has changed the name of its biggest event to March for Babies. It's a great change because it makes it very clear exactly who I am walking for -- all babies. I am very excited to be a part of the “first” March for Babies; please support my participation.Although the name of this signature event changed, the mission did not. The March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will support lifesaving research, services, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start.Please help by donating today! The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

On April 27, 2008 at 9:30 AM, a newly organized family (including close friends, loved-one and collegues) will join Diane's Crew on 62nd Street to walk for a cause unlike any other. This is going to be my second year walking with Diane's Crew but, it feels like I have been doing this for years. The reason why I started doing this event is because I felt it is my duty to give any innocent child a fighting chance. Babie are the most helpess thing in this world and if we cannot fight for them, who will?

Diane Persaud, a good friend of mine persuaded me in walking the first year and ever since that first walk I think I will continue doing this for as long as I possibly can. Each year my goal is to raise money as well as recruit one more individual to our team. This year my personal goal for our team is to raise about $200 dollars. I am really excited to do this year's walk and I hope that you will help out by being a volunteer at the event, joining Diane's Crew, and or even making a donation on my page. Thanks you for consideration. This means everything to the millions of babies around the world. Hope to see you at March For Babies.

Team: Diane's CrewEvent

Location: Lincoln Center, 62nd Street & Columbus Avenue, New York

Date: 4/27/2008

Time: 9:30 AM

Make Doantions At: http://www.marchforbabies.org/bevannie_nerina_bharrat

India's Wedding District - Chandi Chauk

While visiting India over the last two weeks, I had a chance to walk through the wedding district of India, also known as Chandi Chauk. What intrigued me most about this section in addition the poverty level, is the fact that so much organization existed in such a chaotic place.

For those who do not know Chandi Chauk, let me give you a brief description. Think of a narrow lane stretched for miles immersed in the scent and sights of India. Chandi Chauk, is the happening place to find everything and anything for anyone whose planning his or her wedding--Indian style. On each side of this narrow lane, you can see store carved out in the very walls of buildings that seem to have emerged overnight. From the first to the last step, the eyes are always entertained (whether it may be from color or just the locals).

My experience in Chandi Chauk is a little different from a local seeking to buys goods for a wedding or upcoming party. My experience began by begin followed by local beggars and hagglers throughout the entire lane, until finally I had to abandon all thoughts of the wedding industry and flee for my very life. What little I gathered from this district of India is that even in such a chaotic place, order and organization can still exist. I was bewildered by the sight of Chandi Chauk. I never expected to see so much disorder in one place at one time. However, by some strange osmosis local buyers and merchants seems to function quite normally in this place. When I think wedding district I think a place where organization is keen and order is of the utmost importance. But, Chandi Chauk showed me how wrong my assumptions were.

Nevertheless, through all the disorder, I was able to gather the sense of organization the locals uses and what I would consider disorganization. When you enter Chandi Chauk, you see as well as smell the spices and herbs that locals use in their cooking. The spice section greets you with a most exotic smell and leaves your nose hungry for more. Moving through the spice section, you are next greeted by the food & meat section , followed by the household goods and necessity part of the lane. After passing this section you move in to the textile part of Chandi Chauk (the highlight of every brides dream), followed by the jewelery section (every brides fantasy). After leaving the jewelery section you are immersed in the shoes section of Chandi Chauk and finally you reach the end of Chandi Chauk--the end of chaos and the beginning of your wedding plans.

What I found most intriguing about this place is how easily one can get immerse in the the culture and sights. I also notice that prices were not only a steal but, can be brought down to mere cents compare to the wedding district of New York (Jackson Heights & Lefferts/Liberty). In New York, a typical Indian wedding outfit would cost you about $1000+ depending design and quality of the fabric but, in India something that cost you about $1000 would be sold at about $200 to $400 (something you can even barter to the point where something that is being sold for $400 American dollars can come out to be half of the asking price or less). Talk about cutting costs. I think any bride that's interest in a foreign wedding (especially an Indian wedding) should also invest some time and money in looking and buying from Chandi Chauk. There is really a great selection that is available for a fraction of the price.

Let me know, if you have any question or comments regard this posting.

Fordham University's India Study Tour

On March 10th, a group of 22 students departed on a journey to one of the most exotic place in the world. These 22 business students from Fordham embarked on a journey to the opposite side of the world with high expectations of what they thought would be India. As one of those student and an Indian as well, I too had very high expectations of what India would look like. However, little did we realize the India we envisioned would be completely different from what was anticipated.

The India we saw was not a poverty driven country as many makes it out to be but, a more modern driven country fueled by westernization. This India that we saw was by far one of the best developing country that I have seen. Changes can be seen from infrastructure down to the very cultural root of the country. The India I encountered did not match the one I had in mind. I did not expect high rise buildings and fast foods restaurants like McDonald. I did not expect to see women parading around in modern western attires instead of traditional garments. I did not expect sanitation trucks and highways.

It seems that India, like many other third world countries are jumping on the band wagon to change and innovation. Modernization and change are two of the main driving points in India. In addition, tourism is a main contribution to these changes. The more tourism the country had the more modern it is becoming to satisfy the needs of foreigners.

Preparing For the Summer - Fat Buring Tips

As spring rolls around the corner, the mass population is beginning to prepare for the summer. How so, you say...through that world's most evilest four letter word--DIET. What the average person does not realize is that in order to lose weight, you need to burn fat calories with leaner muscles instead of just dieting and just short intense exercise sessions. What actually happens during these sessions is that the body builds strength and burns calories, but not fat (what's actually needed to lose weight). During short exercise session the body just stores the fat as a way of surviving, thinking that the body is starving and needs to conserve energy for later.

So if you want to look good in that swim suit, jeans or is just seeking a way to be healthy--start burning those fat calories. I found this article titled "Your Body Can Burn Fat on Its Own," by Debbie Rocker very helpful in my preparation for the summer. Check it out at http://health.yahoo.com/experts/rockertraining/1899/your-body-can-burn-fat-on-its-own/

Let me know how it works for you.

How to Be Interested by Russell Davies

Having read Russell Davies' blog on "How to be Interested," I can't help but stress what an important and insightful piece that needs to be shared with the youth of today. Many of the business students today are being taught the fundamentals, but are not being given the tools to implement these fundamentals. I think what Russel Davies does is make these tools available at a click of the mouse.

Any one who wants to make a better impression or make any sort of lasting impression on a future employee, a business venture (whether theirs or not), etc needs to follow the ten simple rules set up by Davies. Simply stating the following are a short recap of these ten rules...

(1) Take a picture everyday and post it. This will help you later to create connections and help develope network opportunities.
(2) Create a blog. Blogging helps you express you ideas and gain insights from others. (Trust me. I am new to blogging but I have learned so much.)
(3) Keep a scrapbook.
(4) Phone interviews. These can be very helpful for your business and help you get new networking contacts.
(5) Read something new every week. Mae it something you have not ready before. Be open to new sources.
(6) Collect something. This may be any. Just do it without scaring anyone off.
(7) Designate a coffee day. Meet up with friends and collegues once a week and chat about what is going on in your industry. Invite a new person every week. Good networking opportunities are always available.
(8) Be open to other art form. Write about something your see. Since most of us are always on the run, this can be anything. It can be the art that you see on the train from your job or the ads in the paper. Just make it something that visually appealling.
(9) Make something. This helps to my personal experience alleviate stress and can be a good way to help you meet new people without relaizing your opening yourself up to new contacts. (Always a plus in my book.)
(10) Read. Read books about other people's experiences. This can help you understand what others find as pleasurable while we may think is boring, as well as give us insights into other industries.

I think any business student or professional that wants to be that one person that will swim instead of sink, then he or she needs to read this blog by Davies. Here is the link to the page...
http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2006/11/how_to_be_inter.html

Let me know what you think...do you agree or disagree?

Developing Your Style Through An Ideal Day

Often, an individuals' style is the biggest field of free play and free choice, that can help us understand the type of person we are. In an exercise from "Chapter Two: Wishing," I learned about various ways that you can find out what type of style you have through fun activities. These activities can help you to understand what makes you the type of person you are on a daily basis.

Style, can be anything that gives you motive to do what ever it is you do. Your choices matters the most and can help you to declare yourself, when declaring yourself is not easily done. The article states that one's style develops as you grow and is incomparable to another individuals' style. Each style is unique and when you become aware of your individuals' uniqueness, only then can you learn to respect and cherish yourself as well as others.

In Exercise 9 "Your Ideal Day," I was asked to write about my ideal perfect day. In my perfect ideal day, I would be on a countryside three story home overlooking the sea and with my the love of my life. My day would start at 7 am with morning yoga and or dance lesson. I would ease myself out of be careful not to wake Raja. Dance lesson would be following by a hardy homemade breakfast with Raja at 8 am after which he would head to work. Breakfast, would consist of my favorite Indian breakfast which is similar to pancakes, fruit and chai (tea). At about 9 am, I would clean my home, take my morning bath, and proceed to my garden filled with acres of pink flowers. After finishing in the garden, I would prepare a picnic lunch and head to the outskirts of my property under a tree or on the beach for a picnic lunch and relaxation. After lunch, I would head back to the house and take a book or the papers and lay on my patio with book/paper in hand, enjoying the afternoon and a stress free day. Sometime around 2pm, I head into my office and begin work for my events planning business. At around 5pm, I head inside and into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. After preparations have been make for dinner, I head upstairs and shower and await Raja's return from what he's doing. At 7:30 pm, I eat dinner with Raja, after which taking a book in hand head to by living room by the fireplace and sit down to read or have a lengthy conversation with Raja about his day or mine. Finally at around 10 pm head to bed and begin the next day fresh.

Exercise 9 as well as the various other exercise are very useful and in my opinion get down to business without all the hassle. They have helped me discover my style and I hope they will help you discover yours. These exercises were very interesting and I think this article may be beneficial to you. Take a look and let me know what you think. You can find the article at...http://www.wishcraft.com/wishcraft_ch3.pdf .

P.S. From Exercise 4: Pick a Color ("I am Blue.")

My color is...I am pink. I am uniquely exotic and serene like a rose. I am beautiful and tranquil like a lotus flower. What color are you?