Too #BadAss to be a conventional blogger - Interview

Too #BadAss to be a conventional blogger, featured in the list of top Indian bloggers fighting body shaming. A year back, I was told 'your blog is interesting, but different', which meant you won't survive. I fought fiercely to prove them wrong and this listing is a proof that women are redefining beauty for themselves, thank you for so much positivity.

I am proud to represent women who are unapologetic about their definition of self love, strong women empower each other.

Interview Link: Featured in the list of top Indian bloggers talking about body positivity.

Eves'dropping - The joy of making audacious plans

Women benefit from many changes in their life, work and beyond. We share our vulnerabilities and experiences to form support groups for each other. This is extremely personal, each one is an important member of the circle. Listen and inspire each other through experience and love.  Confidence gives us what we want, builds us, protects us, hold it tight like your life depends on it, because it does.

Life Hack: Eves'dropping is going to listen to you with a woman's sensibilities 

 Visit: poojakochar.in

 What is Eves'dropping?

Eves'dropping is an initiative that connects and empowers women entrepreneurs, it took a community to get here. Every start-up has its own struggles and path, but there is lots we can learn from each other. We unite women on their core strength of character and desire to disrupt boundaries. I am creating a space which allows you to experiment and grow your network through strong conversations and interesting workshops.

Our first workshop was hosted this March'2016, 

Eves'dropping is on a multi city tour, we are visiting Hyderabad on 29th April. I am in awe of women who look beyond themselves because my purpose is bigger than me. You can drop an email  at 30ish.blogging@gmail.com to be a part of our May workshop in Mumbai.

  

Mom @30ish, congratulations you a warrior

Featured by #YouthKiAwaaz, 30ish and PhotoblogHER are challenging conventional beauty through photography 

Article Link: http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2015/11/photographing-young-mothers/ 

Every mother is fighting a silent battle. I am very attached to one of my projects #PhotoblogHER, where  I narrate the story of her motherhood through photographs. Moments of her holding the baby, telling them stories, building their dreams is what stays back as a priceless memory. This post is a reflection of my interactions with all the mothers in the past 6 months. 

#Life Hack: Imperfections make us unforgettable, they remind us of our struggles and our victory. Ask a mother to define her stretch marks and she will say, ‘a beautiful battle’ where I won. 

New mom’s apologise “Sorry I am not in the best shape, but can you make me look slimmer, prettier, sexier”. My reply surely, we can work on the lighting and angles. But the fact is that no photoshop will hide her battle lines. They are her identity. 

It’s a very difficult space, food, career, relationships and social pressure are always playing hide and seek. The only way to fight back is to accept it. Your beauty is beyond your insecurities and the texture of your skin. As a woman, I love your stretch marks, dark circles, love handles and cellulite..because thats life.

Bloggers are supposed to be influencers. This power should be used to tell women across the globe that their body type does not need a stamp from the society. You are not a fruit basket.. apples and pears are for the farmers market. A mother will always choose strength, thats your reality.

Leave your comments & share the post, it will inspire other women. 

Love and Grace

30ish

  

Intellectual Freedom, I am the change - Living Local

This article has been published in Living Local, August 2015 Issue

http://www.livinglocalmag.com/articles/patriotism-is-progressive-30ish-blog.html

Patriotism in 2015, expects us to lay the foundation of Intellectual Freedom for generations to come. India is striding towards a positive society, according to market trend studies India’s strength is our youth. Ever thought, what makes them so powerful? They are progressive.

#Life Hack: If each one of us accepts the challenge of progress being a personal responsibility then our nation will never have to look back. 

Earlier parents influenced our career choices, now they trust our decision. This generation is not waiting to join MNC’s, they dream about start-ups and building their future. They want to be entrepreneurs, and redefine their boundaries.

30ish is a cusp age group, You are well aware about the expectations of the previous generation, and still in sync with Gen-Y. This makes us more powerful and capable to drive change. Match this to a situation 100 years back, when our freedom fighters took the ownership of fighting for their rights. They did not wait for political leaders to take a step, instead formed power groups and chased every opportunity to stand for the pride of our motherland. A century back, they screamed “I am the change” now its our responsibility to own their legacy.  Endorse ‘I am the change’.

We have the capability and strength, there will be no modi-fication, unless you modify yourself. Collaborate and grow, there is so much talent around us, the first step could be to support each other. The virtual world gives us the liberty of time and space, believe in people.

Its not about big promises, but small steps in the right direction. Our Yuva* has the potential to take India to the next level, all we need to do is channelise their energy. 

Respect your individuality, its precious.

Jai Hind, 30ish

  

Am'Bitchious by choice

You are too Ambitious! 

First Reaction - I do not want to be judged,  its very unsettling (back foot)

Second Reaction - Screw you, I refuse to be an invisible woman 

Our Society is averse to change. This is not a gender issue we are intimidated by someone who challenges life, probably a reflection of our own fear.

#Life Hack : You will grow, only if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Before setting out on my own every time I went for an interview, they asked me "where do you see yourself 5 years from now". I tried having a standard answer but the interviewers attitude changed my response, I did not see myself working with him. My interviews were on the borderline of being tagged as rebellious, I had too many ideas that challenged their rules.

30ish and an entrepreneur is a deadly combination, you just challenged the entire universe to have an opinion about your life.  Not that I care, but when someone tells me to ‘slowdown’ I want to punch their face. Keeping this post short, giving you time to think of how every time you thought 'out of the box', you were shoved back in the box and locked.

I write this post to all those friends and readers who at some point felt judged for dreaming big. Be stubborn about what matters to you, it feels great to prove everyone wrong. Sometimes you have to be fierce to protect your sparkle, its justified.
  

Warli - Art Attack

Art is never finished, only abandoned.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Art is not just a nice thing to have or do in your free time, it defines our lineage and provides an account of history to the next generation. Warlis is the name of the largest tribe found in western Maharashtra inspite of being in such close proximity to Mumbai, Warlis tribesmen shun all influences of modern urbanisation. 

#Life Hack: As humans, one of our strongest emotion is to empathise. I witnessed the most genuine smiles, hospitality and human spirit in this village. 

I decided to visit the village, for an average Mumbaikar its like a weekend get-away. 

Mumbai — (Train)Thane —(Maharashtra ST Bus)Taluka Bhiwandi —Ambadi Junction — If your bones are still intact after the bumpy ride, you will witness nature at its best. 

These villages do not need urbanisation, they need our support to retain their roots. Warlis belong to the villages. 

Warli is a pictorial language matched by rudimentary technique. The central motif in these ritual paintings is surrounded by scenes portraying hunting, fishing, farming, festivals, animals. In order to sustain they start moving to nearby cities, this is obviously leaving the Warli tradition hollow. If there could be a way to commercialise their art without hurting tradition we can do them good. 

Learning Space Foundation is the vision of Mr. Nitin Orayan, his team is investing phenomenal time and effort to restore the Warli culture. http://www.learningspace.org.in

The Warli umbrella(image above) is classic yet quirky, I am sure you won't mind ordering for one. If the artisans have a constant source of income, they will not have to leave their villages in search of a living. They are open to new ideas and challenges, just a little faith could do wonders.

Warli art form has been showcased by international fashion designers and art connoisseurs. All the fashion and lifestyle junkies following 30ish, give a shout to your communities and spread the word.

I love the good that others do, for their activity is an assurance that good stands for itself.

With gratitude and hope.

  

MBA - Master of Bag-pack Administration

To a man, ‘travelling’ is like that hot flirtatious babe who says "do what you like, I love everything about you".

To a woman, ‘travelling’ is the gentleman who looks straight into her eyes and says, "go chase your dreams, I am right here".

What appeals to both the sexes is an unbiased raw energy, exactly what a traveller experiences. 

#Life Hack: “I CAN”, is more important than “IQ”.

I think 20's is too early for us to pick a career and stick to it for life, but most of us anyway follow the norms and go for the kill. Sadly it’s you who’s being killed!

The Real world demands you to be sharp, street smart, easy going and always hungry to learn and grow. No classroom can prepare you for this, but real experiences surely do. 

When you travel alone, even if it’s to Ladakh, you plan everything from scratch, evalate multiple sites, pick the cheapest tickets, explore best deals, network with friends who have travelled to the same place, make an itenary, eat at random places, make friends on the way, learn about their life and culture.

If I could, I would exchange my 2 years of MBA with travelling, I can bet the traveller will have better finance skills, he will give you extra ordinary marketing ideas because he has seen so much and will definitely deal with people much better than any one of us.

Roughly the cost of preparing for these entrace exams and course fees comes to almost 8-10 lakhs (In India).What if some one gave you the same amount to travel for 2 years. Would you be wiser? At 30ish, when you have “been there, done that” does a Master of Bag-pack Administration promise you super powers?

What did my MBA teach me? RACE , do not look around just run. Run for placements, run for promotions, run against time… keep running.

What did travelling teach me? BREATHE, look around you, feel yourself, listen to your surroundings, smile, observe, trust.

In short if you consider this degree on self development, its stocks will only rise as you explore more. I am not saying chuck your job… but even if you do, it’s no big deal. 

As a travel blogger, I have come to a conclusion that the only thing you possess your entire life is yourself. So fly free.  

  

Meet my latest obsession: Steve Jobs

I am at that stage in life, where I have million questions and zillion options. There's one man who's pace and vision can inspire any entrepreneur. His stories have been here long but somehow, just followed him like any other “non-apple user", until I got one myself. Known to be a follower of Zen Buddism. Regarded as “difficult yet valuable” by co-workers. He was complicated, but he sparked innovation and changed the way we spend 10 hours at work.

"What makes Steve's methodology different from everyone else's is that he always believed the most important decisions you make are not the things you do, but the things you decide not to do."

#Life Hack: "I believe life is an intelligent thing, that things aren't random," – Steve Jobs

How was Steve Jobs childhood?

Steve Jobs was adopted at birth by Paul Reinhold Jobs and Clara Jobs an Armenian American couple. His father was the one, who introduced him to working on electronics in the family garage. It all started as a hobby, that would be the foundation of his future empire.

Do you know who introduced typography?

Steve Jobs had dropped out of college, with so much time on hand he decided to take calligraphy and that’s where he started experimenting with serif and san serif typefaces. Mac was the first to introduce multiple fonts. This was obviously copied by Windows.

What was his personal style?

Steve usually wore a black long sleeved mock turtleneck by Issey Miyake, with a pair of Levis jeans and New Balance sneakers. He liked this dress code as it was a matter of daily convenience and a classic signature style.

Do you know, about his connection with India?

Jobs traveled to India and stayed here for almost 7 months while he became a serious practitioner of Zen Buddism. Meditation was his way to calming his mind.

Was his room messy?

He was a minimalist, his house had no furniture. Just a painting of Einstein, who he admired greatly. A Tiffany lamp, chair and bed. Too many things made him feel chaotic within.

I love knowing tiny details about people, it’s what shapes their personality. This post is an amalgamation of various things I read about him. He gave us a lesson on “how to anticipate change”. Can we use the same vision for ourselves too?

30ish started as a personal blog, today I have readers from all over the world checking my posts and writing to me. I anticipate something very exciting for the blog, and that's why I am ready to trust my gut and leap forward. Leave a comment and tell me if this makes sense to you as my reader.

Hugs, 30ish.

When 30ish seems complicated - Yoddhas, a true story.

This post is a part of the #madeofgreat contest hosted by #indiblogger and tatamotors

Check their page: http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com

#Life Hack: Nothing makes you feel more alive than your world turning upside down.                                                                                                Malcolm Gladwell.
Now keep this quote in mind as the story unfolds…

Title: Yoddha
Main Protagonist: Rahul Yadav
Supporting Cast: Wife and Close Friends
Actors in Negative Role: Cancer Myeloma, Chemotherapy & Emotional Turmoil
Statutory Warning: All characters are real and as inspiring in person. This might make you question your purpose in life.

Scene 1(2013) – Rahul has just got married, is in between jumping jobs and looking forward to a blissful future but is diagnosed with Myeloma Cancer at the age of 28. SCREACHIINNGG BREAK!
Scene 2 – Self-doubt, a feeling of the entire world sinking, uncertainty. He definitely did not plan this for his 30ies. So what happens if being 30ish seems complicated and uncertain?

"It was like being hit by a 300 mph train. I had never even heard of the name Myeloma before. I was lost and trust me at this moment the internet is the worst place to be in".                                                                                                                              Quoting Rahul.
Everyone looks up to Rahul as being a survivor, an inspiration to thousands but how does it feel to be absolutely vulnerable and scared. He faces the world like nothing happened, but trust me lots happened within. He challenged his fears, his tears, and his life.

Meet the Real Yoddha, someone who is as human as us, yet a terrific personality to learn from.

• Rahul is an IT professional. Believes technology should be used to simplify life, not complicate.
• Rahul is passionate about his social initiative, Yoddhas
• Rahul loves Bollywood, he gave me an example from the movie “Border” to explain his state of mind, and we connect instantly in true filmi style.
• Rahul adores his wife (A rare quality in husbands)
• Rahul is inspired by Lisa Ray, she not only fought the dreaded disease but also is actively supporting cancer survivors.

Meet the Super Hero

• Rahul recently celebrated his 100 days, post Bone Marrow transplant.
• Rahul won the People's Choice Award as well as the second rank for projects at the Unesco Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition for his efforts via Yoddhas.
• Rahul wants to be a pillar of strength by building communities that center primarily on promoting cancer awareness among the youth and providing a platform for Indian patients to connect with each other for information and emotional support

One of the main issues is, lack of “constructive emotional support”.  They want the right human touch and not a self-help mobile App. Rahul’s story has been covered by various publications and websites, he specifically asked me to not go the regular way. This is my humble attempt to write about a soul that deserves a standing ovation for his spirit and audacity. He is a survivor in more ways than we know.

Rahul is 30ish and a game changer, Respect! #WATCH Rahul's message to 30ish followers

If anyone of you would like to support Yoddhas being a donor or pitching in as a volunteer connect with me. You can also tweet and spread the word. 

Visit - Yoddhas official Facebook page

** Rahul Yadav, needs a matching donor for further treatment. Leave a comment on the blog, team Yoddhas will reach out to you.

Follow me :

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/30ish.blogging

Twitter - https://twitter.com/30ishblogging

Instagram - http://instagram.com/poojakochar2013/