Technology today

At WSJ's D: All Things Digital Conference, venture capitalist Mary Meeker outlined her annual Internet trends. She also talked about the changes so far with regards to technology. She made a statement that has stuck in my head. Technology today is the “re-imagination of everything.” I cannot stop thinking how aptly the  phrase describes technology, today.

Ten years back, when I had discovered my new obsession for jewelry and clothes I took up fashion scrap-booking, which was putting together pictures of celebrities and highlighting their fashion sense with my own captions. Now, there's Pinterest where we pin numerous clothes that we would never purchase in reality.

The loss of my grandparent made me take up writing. I realized that I felt calm when I wrote and  slowly that turned into a passion. I kept a leather-bound diary to pen my childish happiness and find peace by scribbling my squabbles. I have thus, five diaries that have captured all the memorable events and not so memorable thoughts. However, I recently stopped stopped using a pen and took to typing my thoughts in a Word document (I wouldn't do well in Spelling Bee). I found that it was easier to use technology since I could add photos, use spell-check(oh, thank Mr.Gates for that), and overall it was convenient as I could save it in iCloud (yes, I'm an Apple Fanboy) and open it on multiple devices.

 

After graduating, I commenced the dreaded task of hunting for jobs. Along with my resume I started linking my LinkedIn profile, which has my experiences, recommendations and skill sets listed on my profile page. Additionally, I was able to check people who viewed my profile and in turn I stalked them. If they were recruiters, I sent them a friendly email. 

Gone are the days where you printed out directions from the Web, or worse wrote directions on a piece of paper before heading out. The GPS app on smartphones is a blessing in disguise for people who have a poor sense of direction, like me. I'm sure everyone out there is aware of these technological inventions but just the same I want to highlight their importance. 

I am not one of those people who constantly crib how technology has changed everything for the worse and  need to shy away from them for a day while updating their Facebook status on their iPhone.  I love everything about technology, how they have made life easy and simple and yes, how reliant I'm on those devices. I depend on them and not ashamed to accept that fact. I feel incomplete if I step out of my house without my iPhone. I need my iPad to read books as e-books are the best format of books, ever! It’s cheap,convenient and I don't have to get up to turn-off the lights after my bedtime reading! Yes, I'm lazy but technology is not to be blamed for that. It has made my life easier. Now, if you agree with me like this post! ;)

Are you one to complain about the reliance on tech or do you proudly wave your smartphone?

Image courtesy: renatomitra

Words are powerful

One reason why I love writing is that words are powerful. It helps me feel better to put my thoughts into words and when I go back to read them, it makes me feel good to know what I was thinking at that particular time. I compiled a list of quotes that make me feel better when I am sad, heart-broken or just need some inspiration.

1. Sometimes in life, you end up falling for the person you thought you never would have feelings for.
2. If you truly want to be with a person, listen to your heart and not all the voices from all the people around you
3. Sometimes the things we can't change, end up changing us instead.
4. I'm done searching for my Prince Charming, He can get up off his lazy ass & find me.
5. Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. Let the challenges make you strong.
6. It may seem like the hardest thing to do, but you have to forget about the guy who forgot about you.
7. Life is about trusting your feelings, taking chances, losing/finding happiness, learning from the past, and realizing people change.
8. It sucks doesn't it? Feeling like you're always the second choice.
9. Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. Never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean.
10. God puts people in your life for a reason, and removes them from your life for a better reason.
11. Stop caring what people think. Stop taking caution in your actions, listen to what you want, do what you want, this is your life. Live it.
12. The only way to have a life is to commit to it like crazy. - Angelina Jolie
13. If you don't like how things are going, then change them. If you can't change them, change the way you think about them.
14. Sometimes God doesn’t give you what you think you want, not because you don’t deserve it, but because you deserve better.
15. Sometimes we have to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, and just see what happens.
16. Most people aren't worth crying over, the ones who are, will never make you cry.
17. No matter how hard things may seem, there is always something good coming around the corner.
18. Nobody really cares if you’re miserable, so you might as well be happy.

Life is colorful. It's up to you to see it the way you want it to look like!

My first guest post

Exciting day for me! My first guest post was published today on Polka Dot Coaching by Nailah Blades. Having worked with her before, it was amazing to be actually featured in her blog. Check out my first guest post on her blog.

Eat. Pray & love. Read & Write.

Elizabeth Gilbert may have travelled all around the world just to learn how to eat, pray and love. However, I managed to learn how to eat, pray, love, read and write just by leaving my home country.

I entered Los Angeles with expectations, dreams and desires. However, along with learning how to battle my problems, I understood how to live my life. The secret behind being happy is learning to let go of all guilt and give in to your craving, once in a while. When I craved for anything unhealthy, I did not think twice. Stopping yourself from doing something you love will end in regret, always. Initially, I stopped myself from bingeing on unhealthy snacks but then the craving became worse leading me to eat twice as much. This made me feel guilty and thus regret my decision of stopping myself. Truly, I learned to eat for myself and live happily.

Coming from a religious family, praying was habitual and a part of life. I did not question why we needed to pray or why we needed to be spiritual. I went with the flow.

When I was in India, I was showered with so much love from friends, family, neighbors, animals and acquaintances that I did not value it.

After living in the United States I realized how important it is to pray and love. I observed that people had no time to pray. Busy with work and making money, they were so consumed with themselves that they were left with no time to pray. I immediately understood why it is so important to take time out to pray. Praying helps us to be calm, peaceful and relaxed, especially in this busy life of ours. Just like praying, loving also gives satisfaction and makes us happy. You don't have to take time out just to love someone. Just calling someone you care about, petting a dog or even greeting your neighbor will make you feel good. I learned to appreciate the importance of praying and loving.

When you start to appreciate life, you tend to want to show your appreciation in some form. I did that by reading and writing. I read books that were meant to pass time, books that helped me gain knowledge and books that helped me open my eyes and learn about life. Reading always made me want to write. The writer in me coaxed me to continue writing (I have been writing since I was 8), but this time for everyone to read, so as to make them want to write. Now that I write/blog, I have started reading other blogs and contacting bloggers. I have learned so much by reading other's articles which has helped me improve my writing skills as well.

Sometimes, leaving will help you learn more than you imagined!

"The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving." 

- Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love