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. Af...

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 ...