tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44671340688655153312024-03-21T21:58:58.207-04:00KittenheeldiariesPriya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-83673204190445231142021-12-31T08:27:00.000-05:002021-12-31T08:27:21.150-05:00CREATE - 10 YEARS TO THE DAY OF MY FIRST POST ON THIS BLOG.<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">CREATE<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">In some versions of Hindu mythology, the Goddess
Parvati creates her son Ganesh, out of her own body’s dirt. The name, Ganesh
means ‘Lord of the People’ and he is celebrated by the masses at every Hindu
festivity throughout the world. As he is the remover of obstacles, everyone
loves to celebrate Lord Ganesh. A prayer is offered for him before any other
prayer offering can be done for any other Deity in any Hindu Festival<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/5a5c7075fb527334/Documents/Gig%20to%20Big/Entry%201%20Create%20Your%20Alpha%20-%20Create.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">I first heard the story of how Ganesh was created as
a child, sitting on my grandmother’s lap during one of these Puja’s. My
memories of these celebrations as a child are now sweet glimpses of highlights
from an old movie reel. Blurry and hazy but full of nostalgia and warmth. If I
close my eyes I can picture myself there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;"><span> </span>Strings of bold orange
and yellow marigolds and white jasmine flowers strung together scallop the
threshold of homes in a festive and jubilant welcome to all guests. The sweet
fragrance of the flowers and freshly prepared savoury snacks permeate the air
and flirt with your senses. Black speakers spaced throughout the compound blast
the latest Hindi movie songs of the time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">Outside, laughter and shrieks take turns
intermittently while children and even some adults light firecrackers in the
street. Oil lamps light up entire neighbourhoods and people parade around in
their newly sewn attires all freshly pressed. As the day progresses, you notice
a few isolated grease spots from accidental touches to the clothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After indulging in the cornucopia of pakoras
friend in ghee, warm and fresh handmade samosas, orange laddus and white,
spongy rasgullas floating in sugar syrup, it is only inevitable to leave evidence
of some of the delicacies you’ve tried on your clothes! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">I remember eating mishti-dahi (sweet yogurt) out of
a small clay pot, listening to my Grandmother and being amazed by the fact that
Parvati (who was more like my aunty living in the upstairs flat, rather than a
Goddess) created something, some-one so special purely by herself. As mere
mortals we cannot even conceive of something like this, but it did plant a seed
in my saccharine-filled body about our ability and capacity to create something
out of nothing. This element in the story spoke to me most. And to be able to
create something meaningful and valuable that people around the world can celebrate,
relate to <i>and</i> that elevates their lives’, well wouldn’t that be a great
way to spend my life?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">As human beings we aspire to create, be it in the
form of a tangible object or an intangible service or feeling. Whether it is
building sandcastles on the beach, a snow fort in the schoolyard or a pick-up
game of soccer with the kids in the park, it is in these moments that we are bringing
and living in joy. Children understand this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">Yet as we grow older, rules, pedagogy and
institutional hierarchies come into focus. This, alongside our historical
evolution from an agrarian society to an industrialized one requires that we
each do our ‘part’ so society can be optimized. There is no arguing that the
industrial revolution required creativity and has been tremendously successful as
mass production has allowed us to fulfill necessities and luxuries at
unprecedented rates and helped to decrease mortality rates and increase our
longevity. But there is always a cost for any benefit, and multiple risks embedded
into any potential for reward. (As a previous Fixed Income rates and options
trader, I fully appreciate this as much of my success has been in identifying
the different risk/reward payoffs and how to manage them)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">In this case, as many societies saw higher
standards of living, others experienced worse livelihoods. It has left some sub-groups
alienated and others feeling hollow and empty. Now, as we evolve again from an
industrial civilization towards a technological and sustainable society the call
for creativity is once again in heightened demand. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">The time to respond and create is now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">As sentient beings driving this evolution, our success
lies in our motivation; our desire to create our best work to address this
moment. If we cannot be motivated from within, our work, our production, our
creativity will fall short of its potential.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">So, the question then becomes, how do I find or
create that fire in <i>my</i> belly? Since I’m talking about fire let me borrow
a little from science. I recall from middle school that the fire triangle includes
3 elements. Oxygen, heat and fuel. Put these elements together and you create a
fire. (Some refer to a fourth element, chemical chain reaction renaming the
shape to a fire tetrahedron<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/5a5c7075fb527334/Documents/Gig%20to%20Big/Entry%201%20Create%20Your%20Alpha%20-%20Create.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>).
Put another way, if we remove any one of the above 3 (or 4) elements, we destroy
the fire. Kill the oxygen, fire goes out. Neutralize the heat, fire goes out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">If we apply this analogy back to us, I see the oxygen
as the element that lies within us as we live and breathe. It is who we are and
the choices we make day in and day out. The second element, heat, is our effort.
It is the proactive energy that we invest towards building and creating.
Lastly, the third element, fuel. Our fuel is the stuff we are intrinsically
good at or naturally inclined to do better than other things. Some are called ‘natural
performers’ or ‘wired towards tech’. Others have photographic memories or a
flair for languages. WE all have a few natural talents and so we must use them.
(Finding them out and combining them will be discussed in further detail later).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">If we work these 3 internal elements together; our
choices, our labour and our talents we too can create the fire inside our
bellies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">The application of creating something out of
nothing but your decisions, effort, and skill, is what I refer to as <u>Creating
Your Alpha</u>. It is something we all have the capacity to do, and it brings us
great joy in being able to create and share our alpha with the world. It is
through this process that every one of us can bring value to others and in turn
receive feedback, gratitude and rewards. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Raavi;">There are real tangible ways to figure out your triangle
of fire, and physical tactical methods you can apply. We will go through them
step-by-step. But before we do, take some time to think about the Oxygen part
for you. Who are you? Do you make the right choices for you? How can you tell
if you do? We will discuss this next month.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/5a5c7075fb527334/Documents/Gig%20to%20Big/Entry%201%20Create%20Your%20Alpha%20-%20Create.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ganesha">Ganesha | Meaning, Symbolism,
& Facts | Britannica</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/5a5c7075fb527334/Documents/Gig%20to%20Big/Entry%201%20Create%20Your%20Alpha%20-%20Create.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.sc.edu/ehs/training/Fire/01_triangle.htm#:~:text=Oxygen%2C%20heat%2C%20and%20fuel%20are,the%20fire%20will%20be%20extinguished.">The
Fire Triangle (sc.edu)</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-86116490151305984912021-12-28T13:45:00.002-05:002021-12-28T13:45:30.345-05:00<p> </p><p style="background: white;"><strong><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Create Your Alpha</span></u></strong><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Ten years ago I started this blog after a tenuous bout with
Shingles. The pain was excruciating as it hit the side of my head near the
occipital area but thankfully left no physical damage afterwards. While I was
in isolation, I spent a lot of time thinking and writing (when I could) to
really filter out everything in my life that was ‘noise’ and focus only on what
matters most. </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Writing is my outlet. It has brought me
peace, calm and perspective and has seen me through much of my darkness. It
also brings me joy and has allowed me to be of service to others through my
experiences and observations. And so, after being asked by a few colleagues and
friends, I’m returning to my blog. </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">My observations and messages are far clearer
and more concise now than when I first created this blog. The increased and
continued focus on the things that matter has certainly helped me as has time.
It has taken 1 strong relationship, 2 children, multiple mini-career movies and
a decade since my first entry. My stories and lessons now are certainly more
purposeful and resolute.</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Namely, my experience on the trade floor
and how I have managed to find my voice and carve out a career within the
Capital Markets industry. It is a curiosity to many that I ever chose a trading
floor environment, and that I continue to choose it year upon year through the
volatility, macro and micro crises, prickly personalities and of course,
headline news and movies based on headline news! </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">I am not your typical Banker. In fact, in
a lot of ways I am an outsider; a contrarian. I don’t look or sound like Gordon
Gekko. Nor do I have or want to have the persona of Jordan Belfort. I am not
tied to upper-class European lineage or hail from a fancy prep college or
private school. I am a female professional from simple beginnings of Indian
origin, raised in a mixed-nuclear family (a few years joint) who was educated
in Singapore, India and Canada. </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">So how did I land up here? 17 years in
Sales and Trading is a deliberate choice and requires consistent effort and
results. And my career-path is one of </span><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">my</span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> decisions. I’ve
also made a few other purposeful choices to create the life I want to live. I
am here because I work everyday to Create my Alpha. </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Alpha, as defined in finance is the
ability to generate outsized returns. To take this market definition and
personalize it, I would say that it is the additive value I try to create
everyday to bring forth into the world, be it at work, at home or anywhere
in-between. And in exchange for that value, the universe has gifted me and
continues to give me exponentially more in return. Health, happiness and
prosperity. </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">What I hope to do through my writing is
focus on the concrete steps I have taken to create my alpha and provide
strategies and tactics on how you can do the same. Both professionally and
personally. </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The Capital Markets industry is open and
accessible. Especially now. Diversity and Inclusion aren’t just words used to
round out a marketing ad. The number of crises we have created on account of
being narrow-minded and giving into groupthink is why we need a variety of
thoughts, opinions and experiences at the table in every conversation and every
level and in multiple environments. </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">And, this isn’t just about understanding
and thriving in Finance. It is a journey inside yourself, to figure out who you
are and what you want to bring forth. We all have the potential to create our
alpha. We just need to invest some time to tap into it and present it to the
world. There are simple, tangible steps to make this happen. And if you learn
some financial tips and read some trade-floor stories along the way, it can't
hurt? Allow me to be your guide.</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-91509193066738656852018-06-11T22:55:00.003-04:002018-06-11T22:55:37.830-04:00Ugly Beauty<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ugly Beauty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Raging waters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Rocky shores<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The waves attack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">White and wide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Like an ugly army<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Invades my mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Only to retreat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Back to its womb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And the pull is deep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The pull is fierce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sediment usurped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Secrets of the sand splayed <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Across the sparkly shore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The sun shines<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No. She radiates<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Through the fuzzy grey-blue sheer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A welcome house-guest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Bringing with her a dear old friend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A warm, balmy beauty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sweeping through the leaves of the palm
trees<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">(The way Rain runs its fingers through my
hair)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The elegant wings of an eagle <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Glide through the open air<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Continuity or consequence?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Doesn’t matter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My home</span>Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com88tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-1821173342538405162018-04-28T05:36:00.000-04:002018-04-28T05:36:14.300-04:00The Train Station - Jaffna<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Estranged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Listless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Waiting for the exit train to arrive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Green grass seeps through the tracks, the
cracks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Abandoned by him, forsaken by her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Engulfed by the earth, the sun, the rain,
the wind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Life beneath the rails, asleep but not yet
dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Awaken. Awaken from your slumber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Break the fasteners, the ties, the tread<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The machines leave, the voices wane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The lights dim, the footsteps fade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That is the time to rise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Rise when they laugh. Rise when they sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Rise when they drink. Rise when they breathe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Soar like the sun aiming for her zenith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Stay like the moon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Forever present and still<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sway gently with the breeze, bend and vary
each passing day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yet sturdy like the tree – a banyan tree <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">With roots into the sky and branches deep
in the soil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Swallow them whole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The sly sneers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The illusive eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Take Judas’ kiss with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Knowing all the while it is Judas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For he won’t change; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But neither will You.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-35494955787097956902017-11-13T07:02:00.001-05:002017-11-13T07:02:46.007-05:00Keynote speech for York University Finance ClubIt isn't that I've stopped writing. I've just been writing different things. However, I have neglected my blog so I wanted to submit this.<br />
<br />
I was recently asked to speak at an event for the York University Finance Club. A co-worker recommended me and HR called me and we set this up. I was very honoured to be able to give back to my school in a meaningful way.<br />
<br />
I've attached the body of the speech below. I hope you find it useful, particularly the last part because it speaks to my lessons learned over the past few decades! Always open to listening to your thoughts.<br />
<br />
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Good evening everyone. Thank you for having me here. I am very honoured to be speaking here tonight as both the Schulich School of Business and Scotiabank have a very special place in my life. They have both synonymously been a significant part of my career journey. So to be able to give back on one night to both is a privilege and well…efficient!<u></u><u></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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I graduated with a double major in finance and marketing but really my interest was in finance. I applied through the Schulich Career Centre and landed a couple of offers. The one I took was with Scotiabank in their Commercial Banking Development Program. I gave it a solid year before I started to think this wasn’t for me. Then another 6months went by and I was sure it wasn’t. About 2 years in I decided I wanted to move into another part of the Finance Field. I just wasn’t sure what. So I did my GMAT and went back to Schulich for the Accelerated M.B.A. Program. <u></u><u></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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I took my M.B.A. year to learn about as many fields in finance as I possibly could. I spoke with different people in different professions and read and researched as much as I could. Then I targeted the avenues I wanted to focus on. Knowing which fields I wanted to enter was a function of the content and a function of my values.<u></u><u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
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I knew I wanted 2 things:</div>
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1) To surround myself with really smart people with whom I could learn from. I was thirsty for knowledge and wanted an environment where that was celebrated; a place where curiosity and questions are wanted, needed even. <u></u><u></u></div>
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2) I wanted to be working somewhere I couldn’t get bored. I wanted the work to be dynamic, the people to be dynamic, the opportunities to be dynamic.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Everything else I figured would fall into place. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Enter Capital Markets. Enter Sales and Trading with Scotiabank.<u></u><u></u></div>
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I was in the 2005-2006 Capital Ideas Class at Scotia and haven’t looked back since. My career has been predominantly on the Trading side. I started trading Euro and Sterling Swaps as a market maker and was successful at it. That led me to be seconded to a team where I represented Capital Markets in starting up the Emerging Markets platform at BNS. After that, I was asked to join the Canada Swap Trading Desk as one of two market makers. I traded Interest Rate Derivatives for Canada and the U.S. all through the financial crisis. In fact, my first day as Canada Swap Trader was the Monday after Bear Stearns blew up. It was intense and exhilarating.<u></u></div>
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As an eternal optimist always looking for the silver lining, I can tell you that as the financial markets collapsed my personal life flourished. In that same length of time (2007-2013) I got married and had both of my children. My daughter, Ellil who just turned 8 and my son Rohit who will be 5 in December. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Towards the end of 2013 as the markets calmed down somewhat and the worst of it was over, I was given the opportunity to resurrect the Fixed Income Options Business for Canada. There was a bit of trepidation and uncertainty given I would have to start a business from scratch but going back to my 2 things I wanted (thirst for knowledge and not get bored), there was no way I was going to not give it my best. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1920163472" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Within 6 months</span></span> I took the business from nothing into positive PL territory and was offered the chance to take over the US Options business as well. We’ve built out the business over the past almost 4 years and the profitability in the business has grown quite significantly in this time. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Scotiabank has 89,000 employees worldwide. There is plenty of opportunity to spread your wings. I have been fortunate to have been lined up with people who have provided me with that opportunity. And if there was a skill set or something specific I wanted to learn that my current role didn’t provide, I seek it out elsewhere.<u></u><u></u></div>
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That’s how I got involved with Women in Capital Markets, which is a non-profit organization that provides support for women in our industry. I ran their professional development program and currently sit on the steering committee for the Gender Diversity and Inclusion bringing men and women into the conversation at an effort to increase the talent pool within Capital Markets.<u></u><u></u></div>
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I also sit on a couple of different boards and am involved in aspects of board governance that only sitting on boards can teach. Again, a room with smart, talented people (who do outrageously different things) but come together to make things better for the community and its people. <u></u><u></u></div>
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With all this being said, there is plenty of room for my writing, for date nights with my husband, shuttling the kids to soccer and skating and piano, family nights in with pizza and a movie, bigger family celebrations for Diwali and Christmas, hosting dinner parties, girls weekends away in NYC, and afternoon tea and spa time with Mom.<u></u><u></u></div>
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I will leave you with 5 lessons that I’ve learned over the years. If there is anything you take from my talk today I hope it is at least one of these 5 takeaways. I’ve already started drilling it into my kids, fingers crossed that over time some of it will stick. <u></u><u></u></div>
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<u></u>1)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><u></u>Fall down 7 times, get up 8 (only diff b/w success and failure is the willingness to get back up just one more time)<u></u><u></u></div>
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<u></u>2)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><u></u>Your only competition is yourself (everything else is noise)<u></u><u></u></div>
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<u></u>3)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><u></u>Think 6 steps ahead (especially in a world of social media)<u></u><u></u></div>
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<u></u>4)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><u></u>Make decisions that are consistent with your values <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">à</span> Know your values.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<u></u>5)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><u></u>Forgive yourself. We are not meant to be perfect. We are meant to evolve. Evolve with purpose.<u></u><u></u></div>
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You are all at the start of a very exciting adventure. The opportunities afforded to you are endless. Living in this country. Attending a prestigious University, and having access to unbounded information and knowledge at the tip of your fingers. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Leverage your privilege. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Work hard. Play hard. Laugh out Loud.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Don’t Instagram your life. Live it.</div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-45739463446625567162017-08-07T17:34:00.001-04:002017-08-07T17:39:01.441-04:00A modified Renaissance - ITALY – Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Holidays to
different locales provide sustenance in different ways. Some vacations
de-clutter and relax the mind, while others fill a sense of adventure or
accomplishment. Some holidays provide time for families to enjoy each others
company and play together uninhibited whilst others are more solitary and feed
the inner-self. Italy did it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In all honesty,
I wasn’t sure what kind of holiday this was going to turn out to become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>11 people. 3 generations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>7 adults and 4 kids all with verbose
opinions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure we provide a lot of
fodder for the likes of Russell Peters and similar artists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">All kidding
aside however, the most unexpected and ergo marvelous part of this trip was my
serendipitous love-affair with all things Michelangelo. I knew very little of
this artist. Probably no more than my what I remembered from Mrs. Lloyd’s
Modern Western Civilization class back in High School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let’s be honest, Grade
12 was over 20 years ago and details on these types of stuff were at best,
fuzzy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So let me fill
you in on my own transformation or ‘re-birth’ if you will thanks to
Michelangelo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reason 1. DAVID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I know we’ve seen pictures of this on
postcards and advertisements and I’m not sure about you but I (and this is
really opening up about how ignorant I was prior to this trip) had NO idea that
the DAVID that Michelangelo sculpted more than 500 years ago, was the David
from David and Goliath. His stance with the slingshot over his left shoulder
and stones cradled in his right hand looking into the distance with his pensive
glance is supposed to represent the moment just prior to him confronting
Goliath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you know the story of David
and Goliath, you know the meaning. It is the triumph of the Underdog over the
Bully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve taken out the religious
context here and really oversimplified things but to me, this is the gist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When I walked
into the Academia and faced DAVID, I literally stopped in mid-stride in awe of
this sculpture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only other time this
has happened to me was when I was a teenager and went to see the Taj Mahal in
Agra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DAVID is a sight to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is 17 feet in height and is
physiologically about as descriptive as one can get with a marble medium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forget hair, eyes, contours of his body and
facial structure, the man has veins and ripples in his chest that are so
humanly accurate you have to wonder about how in the 1500’s a person was able
to learn, understand and apply the anatomical elements with such scrutiny onto
a marble structure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Second. The
Pieta. Again, one piece of marble to make an astonishing Mary and Christ. He
was 24 by the way when he sculpted this. Not sure about you, but I was barely
able to walk and chew gum at the same time when I was that age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pat ourselves on the back for getting a
University education or landing a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This guy was sculpting a piece of art that together with his other works
forged the course of humanity’s history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How’s that for jaw-dropping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Third. The
Sistine Chapel and the Last Judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
quote Goethe, “Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no
appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.” His work is raw,
powerful and controversial for reasons that are still argued about today. But
through it all he stood by his work from start to finish and did not waver from
his point of view. How can you not admire, respect and be in awe of such a
person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">What
Michelangelo has done for me is that he has given me hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a sign of what we can do if we choose
to apply ourselves to our craft with utter conviction, hard work and love. If I
can learn that lesson at this stage in my life and teach it to my kids at the
tender ages of 7 and 4, I think this holiday has paid for itself multiple times
over. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-27361326716567632512017-07-26T16:44:00.002-04:002017-07-26T16:44:48.409-04:00Breathe In. ITALY Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s 7 p.m. on a
weeknight, not sure which one since I’m on holiday and I prefer to keep it that
way. I’m sitting outside in the backyard on the patio with a glass of Chianti
(entire bottle under 5euro by the way. One of the benefits of vacationing in
the Chianti region; not by accident I assure you) and my almost 8 year old
daughter beside me with her journal and a pencil recounting her day including
whether or not she has ‘pooed’ (yes that is correct. Her bodily functions have
become a hot topic under the hot Tuscan sun as the time difference and changes
in water and food consumption have flipped her up internally.) I’m no stranger
to that so there’s been a lot of re-assuring, coaching and feeding of prunes
and fibre along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Holidays are
different with a caravan of 11. Spontaneous trips to cafes to sip cappuccino
and people watch are akin to hell freezing over as are 5 a.m. hikes up to some
hilltop to watch the sunrise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both
things for some uncanny reason I thought I’d be able to do. I say uncanny; you
say ignorant. Fine. I admit it. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might not be exactly as I imagined it but
there have been a lot of pleasant surprises on the way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Who thought I’d
be on a gelato mission with 4 kids to rank Venetian gelato over Tuscan gelato?
Or do a walking tour of Siena through the eyes of a babe? Siena was
fascinating. I would go back. Would I say the same thing if it were a 3 hour
walking tour with just a bunch of boring adults all pretending to know cute
tidbits of the Paleo horse race or the 17 competing contrade’s? Probably not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There have been
some magical moments so far. Driving around in Tuscany is a sight for sore
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rolling mountains in varied shades
of green. Vineyards carefully drawn out on some plots overlooking olive groves
that go on for miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the distance,
umbrella pine trees sway gently. Strong, sturdy, Cyprus trees flag the
landscape reminding you of what Van Gogh may have been inspired by while
painting Starry Night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is night now.
Kids are all asleep. Another thing about writing nowadays…I have to do it in
snippets. The sky is a blue-black freckled by tiny white sparkling specks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They surround me and glitter as far as the
eyes can see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above me. in front of me.
Behind me. The beauty is endless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear
crickets and other little insects in the darkness and the silhouette of the
beautiful green Cyprus trees are now a black façade jutting into the night sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I let out a sigh
and my eyes start to water. I wonder why we spend so many years of our lives
shielding ourselves from nature through brick homes and city streets and
metallic cars. Then we barricade ourselves in concrete buildings with windows
that don’t open and eat food in boxes and drink chemicals with artificial
sweeteners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when we realize we are suffocating
or drowning, we buy a ticket and fly away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We seek out remote, old places with trees, and water and stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We visit farms and make food with the crops
that are grown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We seek out
nature don’t we? We yearn to go back to the source from where we came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because that is where we can breathe again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-8795333793095653252017-02-11T12:28:00.003-05:002017-02-11T12:28:52.896-05:00February: I Heart Maui<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I Heart Maui<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Every year we go somewhere warm for a
family vacation. This includes the 4 of us, plus my brother and his family, my
younger brother and my parents. On this holiday, my Dad and younger brother
weren’t able to make it so it was just the 9 of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This year we ended up in Maui. Long story
as to how it was chosen, but suffice it to say that we were all on board! It
was definitely more expensive than any other one- week tropical holiday we’ve
been on, so I had higher expectations going in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Boy have I been pleasantly surprised! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This island is beautiful in every sense of
the word. Picture a vast ocean with a dozen shades of blue flanked by majestic
mountains on one side and a velvety blanket of golden sand surrounded by
coconut trees and banyan trees on the opposite coast. It is a place where
sunrises and sunsets are equally picturesque and the sound of the waves
slapping the sandy shores or volcanic black rocks beat to a rhythm of it’s own,
depending on the mood of the ocean of course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There is a wonderful trinity of a
laissez-faire hippie sub-culture, the classic American attention to expedient
customer service, and the warmth and affection of the native Hawaiian
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that irrespective of
where you are driving you will see random stretches of cars parked along the
coast as people jump out to walk, swim or surf on the water. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are more beaches than shopping malls,
although the shopping malls that are around are exquisite. Every designer you
can think of, side by side with art galleries from National Geographic to local
artisans who make their living off their craft. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There is a custard apple tree in our front
yard and wild bougainvillea vines of every colour line the homes of most
neighbourhoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can catch the sunsets
from sitting in the living room and go for a run to the nearby farmers market
for fruit, vegetables and fresh ground coffee. Did I mention there’s a bakery
that bakes fresh malasadas (Portuguese donuts) every morning from 6 – 9, baked
to order? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We’ve been on hikes that have ended up with
us swimming under a waterfall to strolls along the beach with spontaneous
viewings of whale breaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natural
wonders surround this island like traffic surrounds the city of Toronto. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes, this has been my life for the past
week and I am not ready to go back to -20 degrees with wind-chill that feels
like -30! Ugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If you haven’t been to Maui, go. If you
have, I’m sure you will go back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Mahalo Maui and Aloha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-79441183772951693602017-01-02T20:35:00.002-05:002017-01-02T20:36:19.765-05:00My ONE conscious change 2017 and onwards<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span>I’ve been giving the entire New Year's resolution idea, a lot of thought. I’ve been reading articles and blogs, talking to several
people and thinking through my recap of 2016 to see if I can add any value.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The one common thread in all the literature
I’ve read distills down to one simple thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Choose Love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Whether it’s love for your self (which is
very different than love for your ego), love for a specific person, people,
community, humanity. Choose Love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If you are at a crossroads and not sure
which way to go, pick the route where the source of it is love. Non-love can be
masked in several different ways to confuse us, be it ‘security’ or
‘comort-zone’ or ‘pity’, but if you look at decision making from a source of
love, trust that you will make it through ok. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Every year, resolutions begin with love. We
want to improve ourselves, better our lives, increase quality time, learn more,
give more. And yet as the year goes on, and we are asked to make decisions from
small ones like ‘should I hit the snooze button and sleep the extra 45 minutes
or just go to the gym?’ we choose non-love (or instant gratification in this
case), because it’s easier. And that’s just it with non-love decisions…they are
the easier choice to make. Doesn’t that suck even more?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes, it does! So when you choose love, be prepared
to make the tougher choice. The one that forces you to run faster, laugh
harder, sleep deeper, plan earlier, and manage time better. It is the spray of
cold water on your face that wakes you up and forces you to stop feeling sorry
for yourself and the same echo that tells you to not surrender your soul. It is
the big decisions, the small decisions and the everything in-between decisions.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is the seed that delivers forgiveness,
empathy, maturity and the ability to get up and move on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am not a poster child by any means. My
life up until today has been a cosmic display of discombobulated decision
making. Even I surprise myself sometimes with the decisions I've made! But I have tried
my best to choose love every time. And I will continue to do so, more consciously now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And, I am hopeful. No, I am certain. I am certain that it will work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If I value love and if I make decisions
based on love, can I go astray?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-40636032251577317472016-12-11T12:06:00.000-05:002016-12-11T16:41:48.690-05:00The cost of 'me to we'<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
throw around concepts like ‘me to we’ and it’s this global movement and the
idea behind it is quite interesting, noble even. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when you take those three words and
actually parse it out, the result of ‘we’ come at a cost to ‘me’. You have to
give something to get something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is where I think most of us break.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">In the past
30-40 years, in privileged society, from the time a baby is born, society is
always telling her how special ‘she’ is. She is Daddy’s little girl, the apple
of Mom’s eyes, the best daughter in the world, the fastest runner, the smartest
kid, the greatest gymnast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then as she hits puberty, those
around her continue with these measures of positive reinforcement, because as
we know, puberty is not an easy time for anybody, boys or girls. Then, when she
comes into her own and goes out into the world, she is reminded that she is
strong, and smart and bold and unstoppable. She is worthy of everything and if
she puts her mind to it, anything is achievable. Words of wisdom!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then
she meets a guy. He too was raised similarly and has been told all these
wonderful things growing up, albeit with a slightly different flavor. Different
adjectives were used and delivery methods were altered, but ultimately, the
same message was drilled into his mind, body and soul. He’s great. He’s the
best. He’s unstoppable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Herein
lies the tricky part. The couple get-together and decide on starting their
lives together, and part and parcel of that may be to have kids. So let’s say they
do. They get married, have a great honeymoon and have children. Now they start
espousing the same wonderful, positive reinforcing messages to their children.
But in this evolution, the dynamic of the couple has changed, or at least the
undercurrents of the relationship have shifted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
got a great job opportunity she might’ve said no to for him and the kids. He
met a co-worker who is his carbon copy and she doesn’t talk about diapers and
babies and throw-up. She talks about sports and travel and photography. She’s
also a cross-fit instructor on the weekends. But he is loyal and comes home to
his wife and his family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">So they both
come to some sort of compromise in order to make this work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This ‘me to we’ evolution then, comes at a hefty
cost. Every time we give up a part of ourselves for the better ‘we’ we are
losing ‘me’. And man have we been told to never lose ‘me’! Treasure it. Be
proud of it. And now we have to shed it in order for ‘we’?! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">And what if she
continues to give in and give in and lose herself and he doesn’t? How long does
she go making these sacrifices and compromises before she expects him to do the
same? Should she even expect him to do the same? And if he doesn’t, does she
call him out on it? Should she even remind him that he has to do it? And then
when she does talk to him, he’s shocked! He’s been doing the same too, only she
hasn’t noticed it as being very material. So both are giving up parts of
themselves, parts that they may really love about themselves, and neither can
believe the other hasn’t noticed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">And there are
some things that he just can’t give up, just like there are some things she
can’t give up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in fact, if she asks
him to change some of whom he is for ‘we’, then she’s effectively changing him,
isn’t she? Which may in turn make him resent her sometime in the future or
vice-versa? Does either one want to be responsible for that? Should these
changes be this difficult? Is that fair? Does the end justify the means? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">The older I get
the more questions I have and fewer answers. Axioms slide from black and white
to grey and then to different shades of grey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I think we each
have to come up with our own coping mechanism for this. It is more an art than
a science. The one thing I am sure of in all of this is that the answer is
constantly changing as we try our best to grow together instead of growing
apart. It’s this delicate dance that we have to perform and we have to risk our
hearts every step of the way. It’s scarier than anything else I can think of,
and yet when done right, it is nothing short of magic.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
I’m not saying I’ve figured it out by any
means. Far from it. It is a constant work in progress. A roller-coaster journey
that we’ve chosen to take together through the ups and downs. And we now have
to hold each other accountable.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fingers crossed,
we got this right! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-37525702417791588902016-08-22T20:50:00.001-04:002016-08-22T20:50:45.968-04:00An Ode to Rakhi: For brothers and sisters everywhere.<div class="MsoNormal">
Every summer, sometime in August we meet</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">To tie a rakhi around my two brothers’
wrists<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A symbol of love; a bond of protection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A sister’s prayer, a brother’s affection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The sacred thread is tied, a promise is
made<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The two are connected, a link none can
break<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The summer day is followed with food and
with glee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And as we grow older, with beer, wine and
cheese!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The ceremony is simple, it’s short and it’s
sweet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The message however, diffuses in deep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No one is an island, our lives intertwine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We grow up together, we live our own lives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But as we all journey, turning dreams to
memoirs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We marvel at our feats; look up to the
stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For me know deep inside, no matter how hard
we fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My brother will lift me up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve been through it all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">His promise is eternal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m reassured every summer,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">He won’t let me down. I’m his sister
forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-48999577489589925232016-08-13T06:45:00.000-04:002016-08-13T06:45:11.589-04:00The city that never sleeps – a journey inside my mind and NYC<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week I took my mother and daughter
to New York City for a short girls’ holiday. We did
the typical touristy stuff. Ate too much food, walked a lot and even saw the
city via a hop-on and hop-off ferry. And I somehow managed to get a sunburn on
the tip of my nose which is red, hot and super-sensitive right now!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">New York City is like Toronto on
crack. Take everything my wonderful city has and amp it up to the nth degree.
Then add 2.5 times the current population density and another 2.5 times the
construction and you start to get a feel of what I felt those few days. It was
electric and intense. A fantastic mess. Kind of like…my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was in fact, walking the terrain of
my brain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A thousand different priorities going 100
miles a minute in completely different directions. All good intended priorities,
some meandering, some with conviction, getting held up in massive gridlock. Is
it sheer volume that is the hold-up or some other bigger obstacle that is the
cause? Or perhaps it’s both. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sometimes there is a massive back-log somewhere
deep inside, like a corrugated pipe underground that has burst, spewing all
sorts of water and garbage onto the road. Other times it’s the re-surfacing of
the other buildings and ideas that are juxtaposed to the traffic. A collision
of what is important versus what is urgent. You need to man the traffic flow
and let everyone and everything take its course, which slows everything down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, there is no other alternative, is there? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I</span>t’s important and fascinating to be able
to step out of your head and watch your mind work. Because the mind unleashed
and unsupervised can become its own machine; its own loud, crowded, metropolis
that may or may not have any meaning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">T</span>he detachment from your thoughts, as
temporary as it may be, is critical to not burning out or breaking down. This I
know. I know this because I lived it and have been witness to it over the past
week (thanks in part to a mindfulness/meditation class I attended this week).</div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I love New York City, as I love my mind.
But you have to step outside of it all in order to breathe, forgive, gauge,
direct and figure out the journey you want to take. I’m trying. It’s all any of
us can do right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-30479079454025600092016-05-04T20:45:00.002-04:002016-05-04T20:45:46.008-04:00How Feminism helps men, women and childrenThere is a movement. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is the metamorphosis of Family. This
quiet revolution is becoming less quiet and more pronounced and men and women
in my generation are waking up to the fact that we want different things than
the generation before and it isn’t as easy as realising as we believe it should
be.<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take this word; Feminism. This isn’t just a word for
females. This isn’t just something women are trying to build inertia on. This
is a real-life urgent and important concept in order to move the frozen needle
on equal rights for women, men and children. For families. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week I have had 2 separate conversations with
professional men who have been marginally and not so marginally ostracized for
prioritizing their families ahead of their careers. For one it was a temporary
thing where his child was sick and he elected to stay home instead of his wife,
which is usually what happens. And the second is of a man who chose to share
parental leave with this wife; a move that was deemed ‘career limiting’ by one
of his direct managers. I find these stories are getting more and more common. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For every woman who has chosen to take the charge in the
professional<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>arena, there is a man who
if given the opportunity would choose to be the primary caregiver or even take
a step back from their careers and focus on family. Sometimes, we don’t have
extended family members we can count on to back us up when the children are too
small to take care of themselves, so juggling between work and family becomes a
game of ping-pong and the family has to figure it out themselves without being
bullied into certain stereotypes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is a fundamental right to be able to choose. And when an
institution, laws or a person, limits that choice, it makes us feel stuck,
unappreciated and looking for alternatives. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a shame. Countries,
companies and bosses have so much more to gain in the form of higher
productivity, loyalty and increase in profits, if they weren't so short-sighted.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-65822405895051373032016-03-20T18:20:00.002-04:002016-03-20T18:21:50.949-04:00March Madness: A Rant more than anything…<div class="MsoNormal">
For some, March Madness is about indulging
your love for basketball. For me, it has been a string of head-turning health
issues and shocking and surprising unraveling of events. It’s too much to
mention in a short blog, and nothing that is detrimental in any way (so you can
sigh now! Whew!), but suffice it to say that March isn’t quite over yet, so I
still have time to see how the rest of the next 11 days unfold.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was planning to do a piece on
International Women’s Day and what it means and how I was thinking to move
forward, but all that seems like something I will eventually get to, once all
the pressing things NOW are calling for my attention. This is ultimately the thing
isn’t it? The perpetual fight over what is urgent vs. what is important. It’s
very easy to sit back and philosophize over what intellectually would be the
right course of action (importance over urgent, no doubt!) but in reality, the
urgent stuff sneaks up on you in a way that only mould knows how. And before
you know it, you have all these things to tend to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Or, it isn’t always easy to decipher if
this urgent thing is also important or not? Perhaps it is and if you ignore it,
are you ignoring some other bigger message? So do you do it, to be safe? But if
you keep doing these urgent things and are constantly just reacting, there is a
huge opportunity cost associated with that as well, no? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Now enter Emotion and Politics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ugh and bleh!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am a lifetime member of the sandwich
generation. Are you? Sandwiched between caregiving for parents and
children. Sandwiched between the lifestyle and world I was born into (India)
and the life I am creating since having come to Canada (25+ years now…) and
sandwiched between the feminine balance of modesty and confidence/aggressiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In order to succeed, I have to be deliberate,
conscious, positive and thoughtful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And to help me do and be all these things, I
have 2 things going for me. One, there’s an Oprah and Deepak’s meditation
journey that starts tomorrow for free and runs for 21 days (yay! Perfect timing)
and two, I won’t give up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Other than that, I’ll write back with a
post-op recovery in April. Wish me luck! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-50379617121520561202016-02-07T22:40:00.000-05:002016-02-07T22:40:12.747-05:00Personal Income Statement - Finally!!My first post from out of town. Thank you technology! I needed some time but finally I have put together the income statement that you can pretty much replicate and keep with you in your files for a really really long time. Or at the very least, it's a starting point!<br />
<br />
I've bucketed them for simplicity's sake and I have also noted things that I think are high, medium or low in terms of importance (high = these are 'expenses' you want to keep as they help you; low = expenses you definitely want to try to minimize and even try to eliminate). Some expenses are inevitable.<br />
<br />
I've thought a lot about the best way to share this information and I really hope this works. But I really want to know if it doesn't. And if it doesn't, what would make it better? Please please tell me because I do want this to be useful.<br />
<br />
I know some of you have asked me to do seminars or classes to teach this stuff and I will at some point (still putting together lesson plans here...and very slowly at that!!). I'm hoping any input from these visits will help me to craft a better syllabus/book that I can actually publish and make part of my class.<br />
<br />
So use this link and create an Income Statement for your home. And remember,<br />
Revenues - Expenses = Net Income<br />
<br />
If you have any questions, please ask me. More than happy to help :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14h6CpvKNr6fQlMykjpxjdRo_8i1lFhL3v3xmIYHA6fo/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14h6CpvKNr6fQlMykjpxjdRo_8i1lFhL3v3xmIYHA6fo/edit?usp=sharing</a>Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-33494675613757249282016-01-03T07:18:00.005-05:002016-01-03T07:18:50.962-05:00Hello 2016! Create memories and Fulfill dreams!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sunday January 3, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As the first entry of 2016, I am at a loss
for what I should be writing about here. Reflect on 2015 or discuss my dreams
for 2016? Gratitude is important but so is goal setting. There seems to be a
definite ying and yang quality to all of this. An internal tug-of-war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Perhaps, it’s important to stew all memories
and dreams in one big pot and keep the flame underneath blue and bright. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order for me to have wonderful memories
that I can look back on fondly, I must create them first, right? And if I
follow my dreams/goals, then that should create the aforementioned memories? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So where to begin? Baby steps is the only
way I’m going to be able to do this. Otherwise, it seems too daunting. Work on
at least 1 of my 5 values everyday in some way. So, Family, Health, Marriage,
Independence, Personal Growth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">- Learn everyday at work. – Should be easy
to do; markets love teaching me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">- Spend time at gym and pre-planning meals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">- Take turns between 1 on 1 with different
family members and entire family gatherings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">- Date nights/trips with Raj<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">- Write more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">- Build-out F4F into a real, comprehensive
corporation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">- Make time for friends and acquaintances<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">- Sleep well <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">- Meditate and/or Pray<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">- Read books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">- Smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So plan is to do as many of the above
everyday for the next 363 days. Why don’t you do one and share it as well. It’ll
keep us all motivated!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-44599854029835663062015-12-29T20:53:00.001-05:002015-12-29T20:53:32.744-05:00Last Entry of 2015<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a month since my last entry so I
must apologize. I'm sorry. The truth is, it’s been quite a crazy roller-coaster ride of a
month and I’m only now able to discuss it. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It started with a call one late Sunday
night/Monday morning from my brother who just got off the phone with a Doctor
in India. Why India? Well, my parents decided to go for an extended trip to
Japan and India for 4 months! They left this past August and were due to come
back before Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother, had
fallen so ill, with an infection, that the Doctors there weren’t sure if she
was going to make it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was sudden, shocking and surreal all at
the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no warning
whatsoever; I was not ready for this at all. Not now. Not like this. Then
things started to unravel quite quickly so both my brothers and I decided to
take the earliest flight out we could to be in India as soon as possible. We
wanted to bring her back of course; but we had to brace ourselves for the fact
that we may not be that lucky. We even had a very painful and honest
conversation with my daughter and nephew that they may never see Grandma again.
Try having a conversation on death and dying with a couple of 6 year olds. Quite
possibly one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do. But it had to be done
because it would be cheating if we didn’t and then had to tell them upon our
return. Plus, my daughter had seen me spontaneously burst into tears a couple
of times already. I wasn’t going to be able to cover this one up. And frankly,
I didn’t have the energy to try. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We left promptly upon getting our visas
(Tuesday evening) and landed in Kolkata early Thursday morning, with no clue
what to expect. Our trip in India lasted 4 and a half days and in that time my
mother’s condition and status on her condition changed almost hourly. But she
did survive both surgeries and was making a turn for the better. Thank God for
my older brother, because he was able to navigate us through the dark, sinewy
maze of obscure medical reports and private hospital motivations and
conversations. Since he is the doctor in the family, I was telling him that one
of the 4 kids of the next generation had to become a physician as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes a huge difference to have someone
who knows this stuff at your side. I don’t know that I would’ve been able to
make it otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Now, we are all home, safe and sound. The
entire family spent Christmas together and we will all be here to ring in the
New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy and
happy 2016. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-64156265452374741402015-11-29T06:49:00.001-05:002015-11-29T06:58:43.868-05:00F4F: Calculating your Net Worth<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyijWsfJfWozqy78nwQFazhXstOa1ufBxaMBXzbNMU6h3nKKMg880lbe3mW0lhQWxfY39eG21b2u2nhx1sCAyX6Nch6RbPF4A0inn3NWWf_p-fN12iiN7iGzua7K9IYo6phHG5hgAz2g/s1600/finance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyijWsfJfWozqy78nwQFazhXstOa1ufBxaMBXzbNMU6h3nKKMg880lbe3mW0lhQWxfY39eG21b2u2nhx1sCAyX6Nch6RbPF4A0inn3NWWf_p-fN12iiN7iGzua7K9IYo6phHG5hgAz2g/s200/finance.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F4F</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u>Lesson 3:
Calculating your net worth</u></b><br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Wnh2Ayj4wZWzPuPRKB6Xdv2k1VW3fjZnt8fqnwTG6Po/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Net Worth Statement Template</a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve attached an excel-based template (see link above "Net Worth Statement template") which has a net worth statement and an accompanying schedule. Take the time and use it to figure out in your local currency what your net worth is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This is super important, because if you don’t know where you stand now you won’t know how to manoeuvre yourself to hit your goals and live your values. In fact, the sooner you know and start working towards your goals, you are already living your values because you are de-facto doing things and making decisions that are consistent with your values. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Remember your net worth statement is a financial picture of one moment in time. As of the time you are preparing your household net worth statement (now), what is the market value of all your assets, and your outstanding liabilities? The net of these two figures is your net worth. For some it’s positive and for some it’s negative. Don’t get too disappointed if it’s negative or lower than where you thought it would or should be. Awareness is key. Now that you know, you can plan towards a better snapshot for tomorrow and next month and next year. Tony Robbins aptly puts it in his latest book, “(Humans) often overestimate what we can do in 1 year and underestimate what we can do in 10 (years)”. This is an evolution. Don’t be hasty. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b><u>How do I increase my net worth?<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Simply put, if you hike your assets and or drop your liabilities, you will improve your net worth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This number is worth a thousand words. It’s your starting point and it’s a point you can monitor and track over the course of time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- You will be able to make decisions faster because you will know immediately if a certain purchasing decision increases your decreases your net worth. </div>
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- You will be more focused on eliminating your debt and accumulating assets. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- You will discuss as a family which routes to take to propel your forward. All really excellent standards of behaviour. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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So please take some time and put pen to paper. Figure out this number. Then we have one more exercise; <u><b>figuring out our monthly income and expenses</b></u>. With these 2 things, we can work towards a comprehensive financial plan! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-84057308616960438622015-11-21T15:08:00.002-05:002015-11-21T15:13:31.137-05:00An Evening with Susan Packard<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A few months ago I blogged about a
fantastic book I read titled “New Rules of the Game: 10 Strategies for Women in
the Workplace” by Susan Packard. I liked the book so much I bought a few extra
copies and gave them to some of my friends. I also did something else. I sent
Susan Packard an e-mail to thank her for writing such a great book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Imagine my surprise when she wrote back!
Yes, that’s right. A woman who has won accolades for her professional success
as well as her involvement and leadership with the community, personally
replied to my email! It would be an understatement to say I was beside myself!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Within a few exchanges we somehow figured
out a way to get Susan to speak for an event via Women in Capital Markets; a
non-profit organization I am actively involved with. The planning began
sometime in July and we had the event this past Tuesday, Novembr 17<sup>th</sup>.
I know I have an unusual number of exclamation points in this post but it’s
only because I still can’t believe all this has happened in the way that it
has!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The night was electric. The beautiful venue
was offered by a very generous sponsor (Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, LLP) and
the room, food and drink were perfect. The people present were excited and
happy to be there and there was a ton of energy and positive vibes floating
around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ms. Packard was an inspiration. She is so
grounded, modest, positive and …a whole person. She is a successful
professional and a wife and a mom and a genuinely good person. She shared some
of the insights from her book and the feedback after the event was tremendous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The reason this experience was so
astonishing and wonderful all at the same time is because we are constantly
told that to move up the professional ladder one has to compromise values and
integrity and heck, if you’re a psychopath, all the better! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I can’t say how refreshing (and
jaw-dropping) it was to meet someone who has risen in her ranks and kept her
values and family and friends intact. She is a real role model. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage all of you to check out her book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It applies to those who work for corporations
and even if you are an entrepreneur because her take-aways are concrete and
universally applicable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm4Ovosy5bnI4Jrp1KRqw-VTGk7aQIinRb5_9swsedlswL0RqVIBKzjujBIwdBfmcBYWuFs2K2p7ICEV3nfzN5zYp-fowBJHMVg-_HeL-5M2SYYUgIrn6PPcwVcy1-CjhKcr817Yh8SA/s1600/IMG_1814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm4Ovosy5bnI4Jrp1KRqw-VTGk7aQIinRb5_9swsedlswL0RqVIBKzjujBIwdBfmcBYWuFs2K2p7ICEV3nfzN5zYp-fowBJHMVg-_HeL-5M2SYYUgIrn6PPcwVcy1-CjhKcr817Yh8SA/s320/IMG_1814.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">Thank you Susan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-16140929361739541902015-11-12T20:39:00.002-05:002015-11-12T20:42:02.981-05:00F4F: LESSON 1 RE-CAP and LESSON 2: APPLY FINANCIAL GOALS TO YOUR VALUES<div class="MsoNormal">
I must discuss what happened last night at
the WBW meeting. We had a decent session on calculating your net worth. I had
handouts and gave everyone templates on how to build your own balance sheet
(per household really). But the discussion that ensued from it came right back
to VALUES and subscribing Financial Goals to your values.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This is the part most struggled with, so
the best way for me to illustrate what I meant was to discuss my process from
start to finish and hope you can apply it to yourself. It was a little daunting
as I am a very private person. But when I actually opened up with my process,
the feedback was overwhelmingly fantastic! So a big shout out and thank you to
all the ladies at Tuesday night’s event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">With that being said, I will lay it out on
this blog and hope for the best!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My five values are written on one side of a
post-it note. My husband’s five values are written on the other side. It wasn’t
as easy getting him to do this exercise but I wore him down, as I can be quite
persistent, and we talked about it and gave each other our list in our first
year of marriage. My post-it with both our values is kept in my wallet at all
times. I’ve had it for 8 years now. My 5 values in no particular order are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Marriage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Personal Growth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Financial Independence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Health<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My husbands 5 values are (with permission
from him, of course!):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Health<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Marriage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Security<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Independence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s important to know what your partner
values so that both your goals are aligned. There will be some values you both
share and some you don’t. By knowing them you can help each other stay on track
and it’s easier to make decisions if you know it ultimately takes you as a
couple/family closer towards both your values. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">LESSON
1 COMPLETE.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Now we have the difficult part of attaching
financial goals to all of these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
part takes some thinking and digging and introspection. But fun and productive
and has permanent benefits. I went about it like this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Marriage <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> 1 vacation a year before kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> After kids, 1 mini-vacation a year just the 2 of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> Date night once a month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Family <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> 1-2 family vacations a year. (At least 1 will be with my
parents/brothers’ and their families and we alternate by going to visit my
in-laws who are in Europe/Asia/Australia)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> 1 mother/daughter weekend with my mom. (+ my daughter when she is
older). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> Kids’ post-secondary education to be covered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I want to iterate that the financial goal
we give to each value is unique to us. It is important to me that if my
children really want to go to a specific university program, that lack of money
not be a barrier in them achieving that goal. If they work hard and get
accepted; money won’t stand in the way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Health<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> Eat well (Less restaurant. Cook more at home)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> Exercise regularly (Gym membership) and home gym set-up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> I hate debt, so the faster we pay off debt the better for my mental
health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Hope this helps give you some clarity on
the exercise. Now you try it! By Lesson 3 we will be calculating our net worth to
know where we are and how to get to fulfilling our goals and realizing our
values.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-29697300918749634422015-11-01T09:03:00.003-05:002015-11-29T07:09:53.712-05:00F4F: LESSON 1: WHAT ARE YOUR VALUES?<div class="MsoNormal">
Welcome to the first ‘edition’ of F4F! I will do my best to compose
this as a lesson plan. Together we will go through the necessary building
blocks to create a cohesive and permanent financial system that we can all be
proud of.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Let’s get started!<o:p></o:p></div>
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In order to make sure that this journey
is the start of a lifestyle change and not just a phase, we have to think about
the ‘end’ from the very beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
sure what the end is? Well, let’s begin by figuring that out. A method that has
worked for me and for numerous others is that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>of making decisions that are aligned with your values. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></u></b></div>
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My grandfather used to tell us that
Life is a sum total of all your decisions; if you don’t like your life you
have to make new decisions. This is not just important; it is critical. It is
critical because the regular practice of making decisions that are aligned with
your values will lead you to a grounded happiness that fills you inside out. it
will steer you the right way when you are super confused or torn. (Prominent
writers like Stephen Covey, David Bach and Tony Robbins discuss this aspect in
different ways in their literature).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe it is a fundamental stepping stone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is when we make decisions that deviate from
our value system that we find ourselves climbing a ladder that we don’t find
any fulfillment in once we reach the top. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now that we know this, we have to very succinctly write down
in black and white what our values are. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This
is Lesson #1. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<u>Lesson #1:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">START WITH YOUR VALUES</b><o:p></o:p></u></div>
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Your value system is essentially your moral code. These are
things that define who you are or rather emulate the ideal version of you,
according to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">YOU</b>. These are things
that are at the root of who you are as a person and without it, you would not
be you. What is important to you? How do you want to be remembered? What is the
legacy you want to leave behind? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Think of a time when you were most happy. And when I mean
happy, I mean complete and utter unadulterated bliss. A time when you caught
yourself being so happy that you said to yourself, “This is IT! This is what
life is supposed to be about!” Can you picture it? Was it after you received some
sort of an award? Or went heli-skiing in Austria? Maybe it was watching your
kids run towards you screaming with glee as you came home from a business trip?
Was it lying on a beach celebrating a girls’ weekend? Was it your wedding day?
Or looking at old photos of your mom when she was your age and reminiscing with
her over a cup of tea? They all sound good to me!<o:p></o:p></div>
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It can be any one memory or a bunch of different little
moments where you lived that element of <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
bliss. Don’t censor any of them. This
isn’t a judgment call. Just be true to yourself. Don’t feel guilty or panicked
or anything else. OK?<br />
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Great! Now, hone in on that feeling and try to extract what
value created that moment and feeling? Not sure what I mean? This might help. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My attached ‘Value List’ is just that.</b>
It is an alphabetized list of values. There are way more values than in my
list, so if after looking at them nothing seems appropriate it, then please
google ‘value list’ or something close and you will find a slew of hits. You
will find though that after you read the list, some will automatically pop out
for you. And chances are these values are what you were living in that blissful
memory that you just recounted for yourself! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiNIG8lcvU6HhoxPcQDROe7gIdvt5T5eZNn0tbrOIppOEBrMhQZQeyOY1m56Ng4YXC-JKILK6wUi7SQOTWrbXaNTqklPl2uCtUeIkAjiL8hNEPwGsTEtAuYmW7hVI_bVOxRXyi8M99WQ/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiNIG8lcvU6HhoxPcQDROe7gIdvt5T5eZNn0tbrOIppOEBrMhQZQeyOY1m56Ng4YXC-JKILK6wUi7SQOTWrbXaNTqklPl2uCtUeIkAjiL8hNEPwGsTEtAuYmW7hVI_bVOxRXyi8M99WQ/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Let’s go over the memories I
outlined above just to make sure:<o:p></o:p></div>
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> Presented an award: RECOGNITION<o:p></o:p></div>
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>Heli-skiing in Austria: ADVENTURE <o:p></o:p></div>
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>Watching your kids run towards you as you came home from a
business trip: FAMILY<o:p></o:p></div>
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>Girls weekend at a beach: FRIENDSHIP<o:p></o:p></div>
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>Wedding day: MARRIAGE <o:p></o:p></div>
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>Reminiscing with mom: FAMILY<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, take those memories and try to find a value that
describes it and jot it down. Then think of a few more values that round out
your value system. I would recommend 4-5 as too many will divert the focus and
just one is not sufficient. We are whole human beings and so we need
fulfillment from different aspects in life. One seldom does it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One memory however, can fulfill a bunch of different values.
You don’t need separate ones for each of your values. Take the ‘winning the
award’ memory as an example. If the award was for running a half-marathon, then
perhaps the value is HEALTH as well. Or, maybe the award was for hitting the
highest sales targets. Then maybe the value is ACCOMPLISHMENT or
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Perhaps that same memory has nothing to do with RECOGNITION.
Maybe you won the award for giving to a cause that you are passionate about and
they thanked you for it. So perhaps the value then is ALTRUISM or CHARITY or
BENEVOLENCE. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Play around with them and take the time to figure out your 4
or 5 values. This is one of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THE</b> most
important things you should be doing. And with that being said, you should also
have a lot of FUN with it! Dream and create scenarios in your head of how you
want to be remembered. Stephen Covey does a really interesting exercise in his
book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People’, where he asks the individual
to write his/her own obituary…sort of. </div>
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Ostensibly, it may sound a bit odd and perhaps
even off-putting but the benefits of doing that particular exercise really does
outweigh the costs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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PLEASE have your list ready and then we can move on to Lessons #2.</div>
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Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-47290206506877579472015-10-17T07:14:00.002-04:002015-10-17T07:14:36.453-04:002 Different paths; which one to take?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Thanks for all the comments ladies and
gents! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am finding that there are two distinct
flavours readers prefer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The first has to do with discussing our
values and dreams and then applying concrete exercises like making your own
balance sheet and income statement to help realize those values and dreams. Where
are we now and where do we want to be. By analyzing these financial statements
to see where the money is going, we can now re-route and deploy the funds more
effectively as well as pump up the revenues (via increased value proposition)
and decrease the expenses (discuss necessities vs. luxuries).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Next comes creating a budget and
strategizing ways to stay within it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
women, we think about things differently. There are things we are good at so
let’s take those skillsets and apply them to the world of investments. In fact,
studies are showing that women actually make better investors (see Globe and
Mail article from October 16, 2015, ‘Men are from Mars, women make better
investors) because of our natural tendency to be modest, keep things simple and
being very analytical and reflective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The second path readers discussed was
increasing our financial literacy. In other words, women want to know how to
become more financially savvy. If we open the pages of the financial newspaper,
what does all of it mean? Everything from definitions of ETF’s and dividends to
RRSPs, RESP’s and TFSAs. Of course, fees would have to go in this section as
well. And let’s not forget taxes! Ugh. I’ll admit it. Even I don’t like to talk
about that…but I must I suppose. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One really great suggestion was to discuss
how capital markets serve society and the factors that go into play that we
should we aware of when wanting to be more active with our portfolio. This, along
with the application of financial jargon to everyday analogies, should round
out part 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The question now is, which fork in the road
do I start with? The first suggestion of more broad-based values/dreams and
concrete strategies or the second suggestion of understanding the markets
better so there are more tools in the financial toolkit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-86052414951503588012015-10-03T16:21:00.001-04:002015-10-03T16:21:20.755-04:00Your help with a new idea PLEASE.<div class="MsoNormal">
I was recently asked to speak at an event for a Social Club
called Women Building Wealth. I spoke about the Stock Market in a very general
sense. What it is and how it works. I tried to make it general and non-specific
but what I realised while talking to this group of very talented and energetic
women is that certain parts worked really well and certain other parts did not.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The parts that seemed to resonate were the actual
‘take-aways’ or ‘homework’ type suggestions that I threw at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked them to think about their values and
write them down on a piece of paper. Then I suggested ways in which money can
help them live their values. This part worked well. Then came the part that
didn’t; I started to define the stock market, what it is and how it works. I
lost them when I went into the definitions and types of products that are
available in the field of finance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It dawned on me, that there was a big gap that I needed to
bridge to go from the values part and how money plays into these values, to the
stock market or general investment knowledge part. How does someone who does
not live and breathe the markets everyday (like me) begin this very harrowing
prospect? The acronyms in finance are bad enough, and that is just the
beginning!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I have an idea. I want to Make money make sense for
everyone! Would this be a valuable read for you or anyone in your circle of
concern?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need you to suggest what you would want to know when it
comes to your finances. Is it understanding stock jargon? Is it understanding
how to figure out your net worth? Or maybe create a budget for yourself? Is it
figuring out fees or tax implications? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please help me!! Let me know via comments here or on twitter or on fb
or via my personal email! Any and all suggestions help.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will compile a table of contents and write them and
publish on here first!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-52540723411735743912015-07-19T15:52:00.000-04:002015-07-19T15:52:22.529-04:00Book Review: New Rules of the Game – Susan Packard<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">If you’ve read any of my previous blogs you know that I often write about how books pick me to be read and not the other way around. Well a couple of months ago, I was perusing a local Indigo bookstore with my daughter and after she picked out a book, we went to the adult section as Mommy wanted a treat too! With no particular topic in mind, I came across Susan Packard’s book, ‘New Rules of the Game’. The elegant and bold Queen Chess piece was staring at me, daring me to pick it up. And so I did. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">As a career-driven person, I’m always on the lookout for successful women and men, who are willing to share their stories because each one I read or listen to, irrespective of the field, helps me to understand myself better, my terrain, and the interaction of all these relationships.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">The parallel of sports and business and how to transfer skill sets from the former to the latter is the crux of this book. There are so many overlays with sports and business that there are often water-cooler conversations about them. But to see the parallels succinctly laid out with examples, stories and an action plan tailored to a working woman, is what sets this book apart. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">The book eloquently articulates and reassures women that we don’t need to give up our femininity in order to rise up the ranks. If we strip out the emotion, think, train, and treat our workplace like a playing field where each day is game day, we can better navigate our career paths and move into leadership positions.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">Ms. Packard is extremely candid. She discusses a lot of the hypocrisies that exist, addresses them head on and offers strategies and tactics on how to stickhandle these issues. The book is filled with examples by numerous leaders, some of the sticky situations they were in and how they utilized their knowledge and gamesmanship to come out on top. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">I highly recommend this book to virtually anyone who cares about self-improvement and/or raising strong and mentally healthy children. There are so many take-aways, that you will need post-it notes and a highlighter!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">I suppose in some small way my blog tries to achieve the same thing. My kittenheels are my go-to shoes because they are the perfect balance of femininity and pragmatism. It gives me the freedom to go in the direction of my dreams without having to go about it like one of the guys. We are different and we must be proud. We add a unique perspective that is rich and valuable. Let’s figure out the rules of the game, excel in it and then raise the bar!</span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467134068865515331.post-83825474088234228322015-04-26T07:47:00.003-04:002015-04-26T07:47:59.270-04:00A Lucky Girl<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A lucky girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It has been a rather turbulent few weeks.
You know of Ro’s allergy diagnosis but hand in hand with that, my father went
in for a double bypass (open heart surgery) which was totally unexpected and
all at the same time! Not to worry, as the surgery went well but rehabilitation
takes months and my Mum has been the primary caregiver to Dad post surgery;
which is exacting a toll on her. They don’t want us to hire a nurse or
caregiver so it’s been my mother who has been doing virtually everything since
Dad’s surgery. Enter, Ste. Anne’s Spa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Mum and I went for a couple of days, which
was totally worth it! For her and also for me. I didn’t realize how badly I
needed a break until we got to Grafton and I changed into my robe to wait for
my massage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In all of this, two things I have learned.
Well, I learned one new thing and been reminded of another. The reminder being
that ‘when it rains it pours’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
things go nuts, they really go nuts and when you’re on a good roll, it just
keeps on going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Life experiences tend to trend. When work
is stressful, you are sick, or your kids are sick or your parents are sick…or
everyone is sick! And then the car breaks down and there is a crazy
thunderstorm and your basement gets flooded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did I mention you also lost power in the house and everything in your
fridge is rotting? Yes, that kind of nuts. It’s happened to us all right?! So
the one thing I remind myself of in times like this is a quote I read on the
cover of a card (the ones from Indigo/Chapters)…”if you’re going through hell,
keep going…” because the flurry of nonsense will pass and hopefully at some
point you will be far enough removed from it, to see the beauty in it and how
it has changed you for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not there yet but have confidence I will be at some point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The one thing I learned is that as we go
through life, we can’t manage these things ourselves. We need help. My rock in
all of this has been Raj. No word of a lie. I’m not one to brag about these
things and put people on pedestals but man oh man, has he been an unsung hero
in all of this mess. A quiet but firm support nudging me forward, holding me up
and sometimes pulling me kicking and screaming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There have been others too: good friends, my brothers, my mother... all without whom I'd be utterly useless. But Raj has to deal with me ALL of the time, so he gets an entire paragraph :)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I am a lucky girl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Priya Radhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338336796664881521noreply@blogger.com3