thecoolreena

A smart, thin, tall teenage boy with specs enters into my consulting room along with his mom. Mom is dressed in a sari, a mangalsutra, a bindi and green bangles. He sits quietly while his mom starts talking to me. She talks to me in Hindi, asked me for permission to start in Marathi. Then the words and the expressions come in a flow and carry the emotions on top like waves in the ocean. Just as the waves come and go and it is a never-ending process, the mom wanted to go on and on pouring her heart out to me. I was getting very restless and agitated as I wanted her to stop talking. Something feels uneasy in my heart and I get this sinking kind of a feeling, energy around me starts feeling very prickly because the mom went into this flow of criticising the boy in front of me. I was transported to the time when I was bathing in this criticism as a child. It was too much to take and the inner child in me pleaded her to stop. I had made peace with my emotional wounds b

Here I was in this small little hospital with my beeji. I was barely 20 years old and trying to take care of my sick beeji who was admitted because she had fever. It was pitch dark and it must have been  2-2:30  at night and I was awake thinking about her. I had always thought that beeji is very strong. She never falls sick- no fever, hypertension or diabetes and was very proud of her. And now she got fever which didn't leave her for 3 days at 83 years of age. At this time when it was pitch dark, I could hear the sound of some patients snoring, distressing sounds of the very sick patients and their relatives and the chirping alarms and the nurses chatting. I could see my beeji's body shivering with fever which I brought to the notice of the nurse and she administered a medicine which I prayed should help her to sleep. It was a very small hospital and there was no place for the relative to rest or sleep. I was sitting on the floor next to beeji holding her hand. Aft

I really wanted to share this beautiful time that I spent with this child at Khushi last week. I believe every day is beautiful at my workplace and this one was an awesome day. I am blessed to be in a profession where pure souls come to me every day and make the energy around me saintly and pious. Kids are all wonderful.... So, I am working with my team with this little 3-year-old child who has a diagnosis of Autism. The first day I saw this boy, he did not even acknowledge my presence. I tried to interact with him but he seemed to be in an invisible cylinder around him. His entire focus and energy was directed within this invisible cylinder. I thought of all the tools that are there in my therapy toolbox (my brain) and we started working with him. We put him on various swings and he was enjoying the swings but would keep running away from the swing. He just ran from one corner of the room to the other flapping his hands, his face covered with long curly hair fallin

ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਦਿਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਇਆ !!! Since my childhood, my beeji used to tell me stories of Baba Nanak. I still remember sleeping on the nice strong floor next to my beeji. Every night, my personality was getting colored by these stories, night by night new colors of humility, standing up for yourself, stay focussed, equality and many more were added to my personality. And somewhere in my being, when I think of Baba Nanak, I feel the warmth of my beeji. I feel the extension of that unconditional love from beeji. I loved going to the gurudwaras and serving langar, helping with the shoes and cleaning of vessels. The environment of the gurudwaras used to feel pure, pristine, calm, relaxed and my brain waves used to transform into the slow steady and calm ones. It was addictive and I went every week to receive my dose of calmness. Baba Nanak and his name feels pure, pristine, relaxed, calm, source energy and also has the warmth and the unconditional love

A new day, a new week and a very good health.... what else can I ask for? Yayyyyyy........................feeling blessed!! Somewhere I read a statement, can’t remember the words exactly but what it meant was If it was your last day on this planet, would you be doing what you are doing right now? (Yes, yes because I love to express and I am doing that ...bang on!!) And if you know it is your last day on this planet, what would you regret not doing?(Oh!! I love to dance....I need to dance every day...just express myself through words and dance....) Another statement that came across (you know I believe in signs completely) is “How will you make your life better than what it is now? What are the things that need to change in your life now?” After a lovely night of recharging, I awaken.... while still choosing to get up after another five minutes, the recorder of my mind starts with the same questions... If it was your last day on this planet, would you

And the Diwali vacations come to an end and the school starts from Monday. While I sit on my nice soft bed recovering and taking care of my stomach, my teeth dig into the sandwich which I made for myself. I am really trying to be gentle with my stomach and practicing a good amount of self-compassion, loving myself and taking care of my physical body which feels a little tender and fragile now. With each bite of the sandwich, I feel the juices flowing into my mouth, and I wander deep into my thoughts. I am contemplating whether I created good opportunities OF GROWTH for my son for his vacation. He really was away from me but with his loved ones -his cousins, uncles, aunties, grandmoms, and grand-dad creating memories. He chose to and I supported him giving him the freedom to choose what he wants. I also support him if he makes wrong choices but making a decision is important!! I still remember when he was going away with his grand-mom in the bus. When we went

After effects of Diwali--- Okay, so here is an interesting dialogue inside me. Somewhat funny but equally serious Brain- (calmly) Oh, Diwali is coming. Reena, you need to be careful not to over-eat like how you do always when you go for a vacation and especially when it is Diwali. And then you are always down with food-poisoning!!! Sensible Reena (very coolly)- Oh!! Don’t worry, I am a balanced person and I never indulge in over-eating. Brain (mix of pride and suspicion) - Great!! Stay on your word Mom-in-law (excited)- So here are the amazing things that I have made. Keeping it on your dining table. Eat well and happy Diwali... Impulsive Reena (really excited) Oh my God....Oh my God... can’t wait to eat the yummy chakli, besan laddoo, and the poha chiwda. God bless my mom in law... oh there are shankarpallis also.... yum ....yum... Brain (somewhat angry)- Reena, are you forgetting something...????? Nose (very excited)- Reena the smell of the chakli

So yesterday there was bhau beej and there was big gathering at my in-laws place. It was lots of fun but the scene that has frozen in my mind’s eye really needs to be expressed. My father in law (77 years old) went to his sister who is 80 years. And then it was time to celebrate Bhaubeej. Just as we reached their house, aatya as I call her, came in her lovely green sari with a blue border. She was trying to see and recognise who has come and then her face and body language changed when she saw her brother. As she walked towards us, she was losing her balance a bit but her happiness knew no bounds. I was so sure that she will come to her brother. But she greeted all of us and acknowledged our presence. Lots of talks with all of us but when she spoke to her brother- the voice, the body language, the emotions and the feelings were different. She spoke to my father in law just as a mom would speak to her small baby. There was so much love flowing that even I c

So here’s another birthday…. The day when I started my journey on this planet Gaia…. A new day and a new beginning reminding me of my purpose on this planet As earth merrily dances “garba” around the sun….for the 38th time now since I was born!!! From a “beta” to “didi” to “aunty” …. Happy birthday to me… From school to college to following my passion Happy birthday to me… From a daughter to a wife to a mom… Happy birthday to me… From being a daddy’s princess to the queen of my prince… Happy birthday to me….. From eating the “kheer” made by my loving mom to eating the cake made by cake shop!!! Happy birthday to me…. From listening to songs on “chayageet” and “chitrahaar” to cassette to floppy to online music on the net… Happy birthday to me…. From watching movies on black and white TV to sometimes color TV to a movie screen in theatres… Happy birthday to me…. From playing in the lap of Mother Nature to playing computer games to mobile games…. Happy birthday to me…. From mee

Fashion changes every day...and so does the moon!! When I was little, there was this “Banjara” dress which was in fashion. My parents bought this white and red “Banjara” dress which had a red “Ghagra” and white blouse to it. It had a lot of mirror work on it. This used to be my favorite outfit when I was little -around 10 years old!!! I used to carry the chunari on my head and keep spinning watching my “ghagra” move with me.... And then there was a night of celebrations- “the moonlight party”. My friends and elder friends (we were the “chillar” party) were told that we will have a potluck party. Then, we will play Antakshari, dumb charades and also share jokes. It sounded like a lot of fun to me and I pleaded with my mom that she allows me to go to this party. This party was to be held under the moonlight in the big courtyard that the houses collectively had. We were planning to stay awake till 12 and then have the nectar “the Amrit”. I told my mom about the “the Amrit” and a

You know what sometimes I love to cry when I see sad movies... I initially used to think that I am so funny... But I really loved crying and felt light after that....so light.... and I love this quality about me...the tears are real... 100% pure....Shudh desi tears... I laugh a lot too when I watch movies... Too much...still remember the days when I and my sister would laugh on the stupidest of the joke and my dad used to shout at us... “Does anyone else laugh so loudly around here in our neighborhood?” We would look at each other, become quiet for a millisecond and be back to even louder laughter....while dad would look at us in frustration and his eyes would go towards our mom pleading her to control this laughing monster who was inside us. And we still laugh even today while mine and her husband exchange glance with each other when the laughing gas is in the room.... we laugh till we start crying!!! It is such a wonderful exercise !!! It feels like running

As I start writing these lines, I can listen to the wind gushing and the leaves rustling, sometimes scaring me and sometimes nourishing my soul. It is a very wet day today and there is water logging everywhere and also Ganpati Visarjan. These days take me back to the times when I and my sister were very little. My dad didn’t work on the days that there was Visarjan. I was hardly 10 years old and my sister barely 5. There we were near the beach at Seven Bunglows shivering to the wind that was slapping us while the rain lashed us till we were drenched along with mom and dad. And these memories keep coming back. Seeing one ganpati after the other, ready for Visarjan. I used to be mesmerized by the artist’s ability to carve such a beautiful form that the eyes of Ganpati would speak. I still remember those days when my dad also took me on his cycle’s back seat. Oh!!! How much I miss (no I think I remember) those days. There is this emotional pain which I fe

Ever since I was a little girl, I remember asking the universe (Waheguru/God/Allah/Almighty) for signs for everything I did in my life..... The universe is very very systematic in which nothing happens just by accident or just by chance or coincidence. Everything is for a reason which is what I believe..... My relation with the universe has grown just the way I have grown. The signs that the universe sends are mysterious and I always marvel at the ways things are communicated by the source. So now, I have decided to shift my Andheri centre of Khushi to a new place. The day I went for a meeting, angels sent me signs that I was on the right track and divinely guided. Next, I decided to get the place done before we shift and then came a series of things that have left my mouth wide open every time they happened. In my first visit I was finalising the contractor to get the repairs work done for the flat and was a little worked up. And there I saw a white butt