For the last many years of adulting, I feel life’s driving me as it pleases. Like a dog forcing you into the forest in all its excitement, it’s made me question: are you walking her, or Read more… The post Slow Living Weekend Rituals And Why You Need Them appeared first on Someplace Else...

For the last many years of adulting, I feel life’s driving me as it pleases. Like a dog forcing you into the forest in all its excitement, it’s made me question: are you walking her, or is it the other way around?  Maybe the whole reason we have tough experiences is to learn how to let go, because we can’t control it all. At the same time, we often need weekend rituals to pace ourselves and slow down.

Spontaneity is romantic, but I’m increasingly liking the idea of slow living and weekend rituals that get into the self-care and the take your time domain. It’s not a controlled exercise, but a bunch of things that help me create happiness around me. A daily routine (or a weekend ritual) can have lasting impact on how you may live your days, and consequently, your entire life.

Slow Living Through Weekend Rituals

1. Creating a relationship with the objects in your life

I just finished reading two of Marie Kondo’s books, and understanding the transformational change the Konmari method can be. Although I’ve only just begun discarding and folding, it’s an exercise for the long term. I’ve tried and failed several times before. The fact that I’ve moved so often in the last few years seems to be the only thing that has helped. However, I associate a lot of nostalgia with things in my life, and it’s often tough to let go. The idea that you must only keep things that inspire or spark joy in your life is very compelling.

You begin with clothes, books, all the way through to your kitchen and miscellaneous objects. You discard/donate/re-sell, thanking objects for what they provided you while they were with you and move on. Instead of focusing merely on utility, this method focuses on internalized joy – which is personal. The method can take months, so every weekend I try, bird by bird, till I reach a critical comfort point. It’s so relaxing to declutter.

In my extreme excitement of tidying up as a result of this #book and the #konmarimethod I’ve packed clothes in a trash bag, thrown my house key away and thankfully had my husband bring it back. Konmari 1: Belongings 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . #konmari #books #justfinished #booklist #nowreading #readinglist #audiobooks #inspiredreading #bookstagram #inspired #midweekinspiration #tidyingup #tidying #intentionalliving

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2. Stillness- Because your attention is your soul spending yourself

It’s hard for me to not burn the candle from both sides, and I have often struggled to have any pockets of stillness. This has also meant that it’s easy to feel lost, lonely and just zoned out. A long walk, a long bath followed by an oil massage, listening to a book , sketching randomly, are all ways in which I am try to meditate. Giving myself the permission to not be hassled isn’t easy. It’s a practiced art form. Anytime I am investing in myself, is important.

3. Slow food and a seasonal cookbook

I’d love to make a cookbook at some time (please motivate me, someone :-)). For now, in line with my excessive attraction towards gardening and wanting to eat local/season for staying healthy, I bought my first cookbook. Instead of trying everything, every single weekday when I am exhausted, I am trying to use Sunday evenings for some prep work. This mostly includes making a little extra for lunches and snacks.

McFadden’s Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables is a slow food wonder. Not only does it let me know what’s seasonal (considering how Mangoes are available all year round in grocery stores here), it also gives me a related recipe. I love leafy greens but often cook them in a few, sparse ways (which I love). Learning a few new recipes is just something that makes choices a little more diverse. I hate having to look up my phone a thousand times while making anything, and am usually a visual learner (hello YouTube). This really is the first book I’ll refer to, but I think I feel a little more confident to launch into its promise of refreshing food.

How do you spend your slow weekends?

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Long work commutes mean that I’m often listening to a lot of radio and podcasts. I did a small list last year and have an update with my new favorites so far. Some of these Read more… The post Favorite Podcast Episodes: Languages Shape How We View the World appeared first on Someplace Else...

Long work commutes mean that I’m often listening to a lot of radio and podcasts. I did a small list last year and have an update with my new favorites so far. Some of these podcasts are old and I’ve just reached them slowly. Some of these made me cry, some just wonder. What would we do without stories well told?

Favorite Podcast Episodes of 2018

1. Lost In Translation, Hidden Brain

A few months ago, I heard a language podcast with interest. As a person who has struggled to adapt to multiple languages at different points in time, it was provoking. Languages stretch our brains and can alter how we see the world and ourselves.

At a recent women’s group event, as I introduced ideas to the community, I realized I had become a new version of myself. In Germany, language was often a deterrent in expressing myself in the best way possible. I struggled with the vocabulary of a 4 year old. In English, all the thoughts came alive. My husband often says I become a new person at home. It’s most definitely my switch into Kashmiri which owns me like no other.

2. So, a monkey and a horse walk into a bar, This American Life

All the stories in this episode are crazy. But thinking through our free, animalistic identities is heady. I ended up drawing a horse woman, being taken by the short story so intimately.

Heard the most amazing rendition of an excerpt from ‘The Wrong Heaven’ – from Amy Bonnaffons who inspired this #sketch . What a wild story! Would you want to ever turn into a horse ? . . . . . . . . . . #ifwisheswerehorses #thisamericanlife #thewrongheaven #books #shortstory #artwork #illustration #drawing #womenhorses #feminism #wildwomen

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3. What Gets Measured, Gets Managed, Hurry Slowly

There’s an alternate argument that questions this theory of management by measurement. But it blew my mind to think that there are more CEOs named John in the U.S. than women. The conditions are significantly worse for women of color. I had already started working on ideas for the Women Mentorship group with Brandanew, when I heard this podcast. It validated what I was feeling and reminded me that we’re not alone. I feel optimistic that more of us are talking these things through. I loved the idea of core hours. That may solve so many issues!

4. Debbie Millman talking with Kenny Fries about living with, and writing about disability, Design Matters

Sadly, we spend too much time on the latest news, and too little time on things that matter. I did not know much about Kenny Fries and this episode opened up this whole entire world of how the world deals with disability. It’s a very interesting insight into a life where you’re thrown into multiple issues beyond your control, and you come out with a deep understanding of who you are. Kenny is inherently inspiring.

5. On Death And Space Clouds, First Day Back

I have to begin listening to this show, but I am totally intrigued by this personal piece. So close to mother’s day, this is deeply moving. And makes me CRY about the need to document more. How do you keep people alive forever? I wish I knew my grandfathers better. I wish I understood why I begin so many unfinished stories with mothers named Baabi.

What are you listening to these days?

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I’ve done well if I reach home within forty-five minutes. A long commute like this means that I have infinite time to kill on my long drive. Often, this means, I am listening to radio, Read more… The post 2018 Winter Reading: The Movement from Physical to Digital Audio Books appeared first on Someplace Else...

I‘ve done well if I reach home within forty-five minutes. A long commute like this means that I have infinite time to kill on my long drive. Often, this means, I am listening to radio, podcasts and sundry other digital audio books. It doesn’t smell or feel like a physical book, but reading- I mean listening to- good books is just as mesmerizing. Here’s my 2018 winter reading list so far…

Books in red are for children (varying ages), so if you’re an adult into only adult books skip to the darker black titles instead. 

2018 Winter Reading List: What Have You Been Reading?

Previous lists here

1.  The Rules Do Not Apply- Ariel Levy

It’s amazing and an incredible read. This was the first audio book I heard while driving. Normally, I’d get exhausted but this one made me want to drive more. It’s a story of loss, personal insecurities, desperation and above all humanness in all its flawed ways. It’s by far the best thing I read last year (ok heard and maybe Jonathan Adler was my other close love).

2. Uprooted- Naomi Novik

Usually, I’d never listen to fantasy fiction, so this took me by surprise. It felt magical, dark and just like the wood, it pulls you in. I could NOT stop listening to it. So driving let to long walks to finally sitting on the couch with the headphones on. It’s addictive and such amazing storytelling!

3. The High Mountains of Portugal- Yann Martel

I feel like I’ve spent a lot of my life thinking about faith. Initially it felt necessary, then it became uncool and now I sometimes feel the need to express it. At varying times in life though- when going through loss, grief or anything deep, faith almost becomes the anchor which many of us cling to. I hadn’t read a magic realism book since The Last Song of Dusk. 

This book goes to places which I don’t want to respond to. It makes me question my faith, humanity and all else that comes in between. I felt dizzy when it ended, and have literally forced others at work to read it and let me know what they feel. I was compelled to share the experience of listening to Martel.

4. When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi

Naturally, I sobbed for hours. Read when you have time and the heart to take a very strong book that will leave you questioning everything about life. Things that happen are tragic, but with the elevated feeling you get, this will not feel like a tragedy, till it does. It’s beautifully written and lingers on for a long time.

5. A bevy of children’s books

Here’s my quota from Jan through March. I read far fewer children’s books this quarter, as I was focused on creating my own (woot! woot!) but they’re like the love of my life, I always come back to a few. My winter bounty is shared below. I felt disappointed that I can no longer enjoy Dr. Suess. Quick reviews:

Edn’a tale, Lisze Bechtold: When you’re teaching kids that they can be comfortable in who they are, and make friends with everyone

Fine as we are, Craig Hall: Especially nice when you raise siblings or when a new baby comes home!

The House Takes a Vacation, Hoberman/Cravath: Unique and curious just like all your little babies. It’ll answer all the questions they ask :-).

Stone Soup With Matzoh Balls, Galser: We’ve all read the stone soup story in different ways. This one adds a new twist but always opens up doors to why kindness and common sense wins (in a hopeful world).

The Two Sillies, Hoberman: Limerick-ish and breezy to read. Especially nice for its illustrations, farm life and wit.

The Perfect Nest, Friend/Manders: LOVED it. Sometimes I like children’s books that help define a home literally. Very much hits the concept home.

Rickie and Henri, Goodall/ Marks: Companionship and friendship doesn’t depend on our sizes, physical features and species. It depends on the openness of our hearts and our ability to see beyond ourselves. If Yann Martel writes a children’s book with illustration, he’d end up with something like this too. If you’re aware of Goodall’s work, it’ll mostly find its way to you.

Currently Reading: The Someday Suitcase and the HitchHiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

#Weekend bounty : always feel so energized when I go to #read more #childrensbooks . . . . . . . . #illustrated #picturebook #bookstagram #readinglist #readinglove #nowreading #art #love #instagood #weekendfun #bookworm

A post shared by Upasna Kakroo (@upasnakakroo) on Feb 18, 2018 at 7:25am PST

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Grateful to have been interviewed by Andrea Catherine, the host of the Fearless Self-Love Podcast. You can listen to the episode on iTunes or the link below. I’ve copied the show notes to help navigate as Read more… The post How Does Art Impact Our Life’s Work and Solve Problems? appeared first on Someplace Else...

Grateful to have been interviewed by Andrea Catherine, the host of the Fearless Self-Love Podcast. You can listen to the episode on iTunes or the link below. I’ve copied the show notes to help navigate as you listen. Let me know what you think and also, let me know if you feel the same way :-). Our stories have a collective effect on how we see lives. I talk about how art impacts our lives, in that it helps solve problems and stress. It’s my personal trail through the highs and lows of what life has become.

Thank you for listening and tuning in. Thanks for taking time to talk with me Andrea!

[Podcast] How does Art Impact Our Life?

When life hands us lemons, we make lemonade. Or in Upasna Kakroo’s case, use storytelling and art to make life’s difficulties a little bit sweeter. Our stories are important and they create connection between us and our consumers. Being fearless and authentic in our life, art, and business requires self-love and compassion toward the truth of our lives and experiences. Join me as I interview doodler, creative, and business leader, Upasna Kakroo, who shares how art inspires her life and helps her solve problems. Grab a cup of tea, a pencil, and a pad since you might just become more inspired with your life and find answers to the questions living within you.

• Why self-love requires you to prioritize your time and values
• How to use your life story in business and art
• Why creating always involves being your authentic self

The post How Does Art Impact Our Life’s Work and Solve Problems? appeared first on Someplace Else .

It used to be a running joke many moons ago when I was a young employee right out of school that if you had a female boss, you were ruined. This was supposed to be Read more… The post Female Leadership: Women Mentoring Women – Michigan Chapter appeared first on Someplace Else...

It used to be a running joke many moons ago when I was a young employee right out of school that if you had a female boss, you were ruined. This was supposed to be especially true for women employees. For the longest time I believed this to be true only of India. Not only was this view an open-secret in all countries I’ve lived in, it felt true at times. All this changed naturally, when I interacted with amazing women who continue to make me feel inspired, and challenge the narrow stereotypical views I even laughed at as a young associate, sadly against my own gender. How does female leadership get such bad rep? Can anything be done to make it supportive rather than a secret joke?

Designed by Kimothy Joy

The bad rep generated solely by female leadership

1. Most of these jokes were created by men: Why do we not hear jokes about men as leaders? It’s impossible that all men have Einstein’s IQ or Dalai Lama’s empathy. Many men have assumed leadership roles merely because they could. Some just got lucky despite their incompetence as leaders. So why don’t we hear more about men being poor leaders for men? Why is this solely a women-only category?

2. Where are the strong female mentors? Here’s a quote from Forbes, that’s very hard hitting.

Youngsters entering business and the professions have been looking ahead at their peers for forty or so years now and here’s what they see. One woman. Maybe two. They’re often childless and sometimes they have spouses who have taken on the female role of child and house-tending in a way that, let’s be frank, doesn’t float most women’s boat.

As a minority, being able to see people who look and talk like you, is essential to give you an inspired boost that you’re on the right track too. You can imagine things are possible when you see the potential come to fruition through someone else that you can relate to. Hello- Gal Gadot, WonderWoman. But not so far back in time, women could only be secretaries, teachers, mothers, and one man armies doing everything. All ambitious women were considered bossy, unfit to be marriageable (because they had an opinion and success) or taken as ‘one of the boys.’

Women worked really hard to be seen as a part of the boys gang creating disadvantages and unusual barriers for their own kind.

3. Workplace Bullying is Real: It’s happened again and again, and I have not found a magic potion to resolve the mean girl syndrome. Often insecure women get passive-aggressive in their fight to be the boss’s favorite. These girls may wear the girl power t-shirts but do not quite live the principals. We’ve all met them, from middle school through to college and in workplaces. Not to say that only women can be bullies, but women bullying other women is particularly bothersome. In some ways it reminds me of old mother-in-law stereotypes from Hindi movies, where women propagated the patriarchy themselves.

Women Mentoring Women

I feel like the more inspiring women we meet, the more inspired we feel as future leaders. Mentorship is a two-way relationship. It can only foster more growth on both sides. Women supporting each other and being role models helps both find a path that’s rewarding and meaningful. Here’s a Meet Up group that I hope to work on to get to meet these wonderful, amazing women who will inspire!

Come by, and share your stories!

The post Female Leadership: Women Mentoring Women – Michigan Chapter appeared first on Someplace Else .

If you know me even a little bit, you’ll know that 2017 was an unusually hard year for me, in any way that you look at it. Therefore, even one small calendar that I made Read more… The post Say Hello To Lil’ Danny And Meet His Gang! appeared first on Someplace Else...

If you know me even a little bit, you’ll know that 2017 was an unusually hard year for me, in any way that you look at it. Therefore, even one small calendar that I made a couple weeks ago was an accomplishment. This past week has been even more invigorating. With my friend Dave Murphy, I bring to you Lil’ Danny from Dearborn, Michigan. Danny really fell into my lap and I knew I was going to fall in love with him.

Why Lil’ Danny?

Writing about him and spending entire days thinking about the nocturnal lights he lived under, saved me from days that were dimly lit. His kindheartedness reminded me that not all was awry in the world and real beavers (or people) could still be nice. In my darkest and scariest moments, his lightheartedness gave me happiness.

Creativity IS the journey and an end in itself. In the words of Twyla Tharp (from Creative Habit),

“I start every dance with a box. I write the project name on the box, and as the piece progresses I fill it up with every item that went into the making of the dance.”

 

“Sadly, some people never get beyond the box stage in their creative life. We all know people who have announced that they’ve started work on a project– say, a book– but some time passes, and when you politely ask how it’s going, they tell you that they’re still researching. Weeks, months, years pass and they produce nothing. They have tons of research but it’s never enough to nudge them toward the actual process of writing the book.”

I’m glad to say that the first box named, Lil’ Danny is shipped and sorted. I am now looking for another box. There’s no question that this book is going to embarrass me a few months in, but I’m a Godin in that respect. If you aren’t embarrassed with what you shipped, you shipped it too late. I’m not pretending to make it my life’s work, but I know it’s a step towards it.

I hope you enjoy Danny’s adventures, if you choose to say hello to him.

P.S. It is a lot of work, but it’s also some of my most exciting work

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