With the wishes rolling in, time having passed, age creeping up, no longer have the fascination or energy to make resolutions which are normally broken within a month of the new year; hence decided for the first month to pass by before I pen down some thoughts….for the new year.

The last year with a lot of time spent with self, family, friends led to quite a realization & thanks to that, am beginning the year on a focused note.

1. Clean up - Having done so in the last 6-9 months, have seriously decided to continue doing so in the coming year.

Life - try and continue keeping it simple. It shall always consist of Paradox, Humor, Change.

Mind - forsake - anger, worry; respect others; work hard; honestly; be grateful - All of this just for today!

House - keep it clean, rid it off old things that may be of use to others, gives you more satisfaction.

Wardrobe - clean it every 60-75 days. Do not hoard, you will always find a better use for things.

2. Negative People - Avoid them like the plague, ignore them if that does not work or be upfront, brutally honest to them once.

3. Remove the confusion between friends; business contacts; acquaintances. Make time to connect with friends & those who matter. Besides the SMS, brief birthday calls; catch up for a coffee, drink, movie, dinner.

4. Increase the % of reading, the more serious kind, whilst still enjoying fiction.

5. Spend less time online surfing & more reading, writing about what you love.

6. Stop trying out all the Fad diets; start work out (after all the wife’s given you a birthday gift - gym membership).

7. Decide where you wish to go professionally this year & over the next 3 years & implement.

A couple of weeks back, received a unique invitation from a dear friend Ian Pereira www.ianpereira.com an extremely talented & well known photographer heralding his turning the magic number, just when I was recovering from my long list of body damages over the past 6 months & wondering to myself if the year was going to be devoted to Doctors!

Though against doctor’s advice, decided to attend the Do; more from the perspective of wishing & participating in some enjoyment for the evening.

With the doctor’s & wife’s remonstrations ringing in my ears set out to the party, braving the Saturday traffic, reached the venue in Bandra!

And surprise……whilst there were the usual suspects, met up with a completely different set of people, some who had not met for the past couple of years. Whilst Ian had his friends, his son, a young strapping lad also had taken the liberty to invite his friends, making it a lovely mix of age. http://www.flickr.com/photos/91638357@N00/sets/72157606291686564/

Nursing a small drink, touched base with friends old & new on what was new in life for the past couple of months. Whilst the music went up & down, it was the lovely 70’s & 80’s that created a sense of nostalgia. Along with the conversation, since most of us were 40+ (not the jeetendra kind).

Finally staggering out (not me) we were pretty pleased with ourselves & promised to celebrate such events more often…..Since LIFE BEGINS AFTER 40!!!