Parita - 2/177 - My Inner Shakti

2019 Reading List + 2020 Reading Goal

I’ve always loved to read. Ask my mom. My obsession was so intense that I used to try and read in the dark when I was supposed to be sleeping. Of course, back then, my books of choice were everything The Baby Sitters Club…man those were the days!

Over the years, I’ve evolved in my reading preferences. Now, I love everything from self-help/personal development to suspense to romance to historical fiction…and the list goes on. If my 2019 reading list reveals anything at all, it’s that my book choices don’t follow any real pattern. I just go by what I’m feeling at the time and try to find something that fits my mood and needs (re: toddler development books. HAHA!).

With that being said, let’s talk about 2019. I set a goal back in January to read 12 books over the course of the year, and I’m happy to report that I met it! No more, no less. And while I’m happy with how much and what I read, I know I can do better. That crazy, read-in-the-dark Par is still inside of me wanting to devour books left and right. And she’s making a comeback in 2020.

Soooo…in 2020, I plan to read 20 BOOKS! That’s eight more than this year, but it’s still not a ton. Little by little, people!

And I’m officially a City of Chicago public library card holder, so hopefully the means I’ll be able to access more great books! SO EXCITED!

Here’s my 2019 list of what I read…

Clickable links for easy access

*personal favorites

And as always, I’ll continue to share book reviews over on my Instagram page. Follow me! And don’t forget to share your favorite reads with me at any time. I’m always looking for suggestions from fellow book worms!

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

I Wasn’t Offended By The Peloton Ad

written by Parita 6 Comments

I recently polled my IG followers and asked if people were offended by the recent Peloton ad, and the vast majority of people weren’t. And I definitely consider myself to be part of that group. I watched the ad twice, read a few online articles, etc., and I still just didn’t get it. I truly didn’t see anything really wrong with it from a content perspective.

Do I think it was the greatest ad ever? No. Do I think there were probably a few different ways to showcase the bike and the point they were trying to make? Yes. Do I think a $3000 bike even needs an ad? Hmm…not so sure! Do I think the internet overreacted and should show this kind of passion toward things that really matter? Absolutely.

So that last point is really where I’m at. We, as a society, get so worked up over things like Peloton bike ads but not so worked up over the atrocities that are happening in our own country and around the world. Like, really? Priorities, people!

Ok, so I think hit that point on the head enough.

One of my IG friends shared a different perspective on the ad and all of the controversy, and I really appreciated her thoughtfulness. I love hearing the ‘other’ side of things, and we had a really great discussion…

We’re at a point in society where women still have to fight for equality on every front. And any little form of patriarchy, in a culture where women are already held to such unrealistic standards, doesn’t help the cause. She also talked about how this uproar really speaks to how we have a lot of emotionally, mentally, and physically scarred women out there for which this ad triggers something very personal.

But isn’t there something about her husband gifting her something he knows she’ll appreciate and love. If Vishnu gifted me a Peloton, I wouldn’t be mad about it!

I totally get all of that, and some of the other perspectives that were provided. And trust me, as someone who’s had her fair share of body issues over the last 20 or so years, I can see how something like this can trigger people.

With all that being said, one of the internet arguments was that an already fit person shouldn’t be highlighted in the ad as a Peloton user. So what? Are fit people not supposed to work out? If the ad had featured someone a little heavier set, people would have shouted about ‘fat shaming.’ You literally can’t win!

Also, there’s the argument about how this ad only speaks to a very specific demographic. Well, that’s what I would expect with such an expensive piece of exercise equipment! Also, don’t get me started on this only being targeted to Caucasian people. I’m pretty sure I’ve read about all kinds of people owning/loving Peloton equipment. I think we need to stop thinking of everything as a race issue, especially when it doesn’t need to. Again, this is one of those things where I would ask about why we don’t see so much uproar with actual race/inequality issues.

This post is a lot all over the place, and that’s because I found the controversy a little all over the place.

Regardless of what side you’re on, watch this and tell me it didn’t, at the very least, make you smile!

And that’s all she wrote, guys. Like I said, the first thought that pops up in my mind when I hear about the internet going crazy over something like this is, “Seriously? Where is this level of intensity with the ‘real’ stuff happening around the world?”

Anyways, this is of course my two cents. I get that there are two (or more) sides to things like this. This is me sharing my perspective.

What are your thoughts on this whole thing?

The Post That Was Supposed to Go Out on Friday…

written by Parita Leave a Comment

If the title of this post doesn’t speak to the state of my mind right now, I don’t know what does. Edited to be in the right tense!

You guys, the past few months have been so go-go-go. And while we’ve had some downtime, I still feel like I’m constantly playing catch up. But that’s how this season of life goes I suppose. Anyone else with me?

Anyways, I could go on and on about how fast this year flew by, but I’ll spare you. Let’s get to my five things for today…

ONE – We’re headed to Atlanta this Friday, and I can’t wait! This year will be extra special because Vishnu will actually be joining us. K and I will still fly down a little earlier, but that’s just a minor detail! In addition to squeezing in some quality family time, I have plans to see some of my good girl friends too! Like I said, I CAN’T WAIT!!

TWO – So that brings me to NYE. While K is still far too young to stay up until midnight, we found a solution to our ‘how do we celebrate this holiday in a fun way with a toddler in tow.’ A group of us (four couples) are renting a big house in Chicago. All of us have two-year-old boys, so this is going to be a total blast! The boys all go to sleep at the same time, so once they’re down, the adults can do their thing. A win for everyone!

THREE – My work’s Chicago holiday party was last Thursday, and I co-organized it with another colleague of mine. Let me start off my saying that I’m not an events person. I can’t even organize a proper four person get together, never mind a 30 person one. BUT, with that being said, it turned out beautifully. The food was delicious, the overall mood was festive and fun, and most importantly, everyone had a great time. Phew!

FOUR – I need to do a full review of this thing, but the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush (that’s a mouthful) is my favorite hair tool of all time. It took me like a month of using it to finally figure out how to dry my hair smooth, but it works! If you’re looking to put something on your Christmas list, this should be it. You won’t regret it…and it’s currently on sale on Amazon!

FIVE – Kaiden had his first school performance last Friday, and I was stoked! I loved seeing my little guy sing Jingle Bells and dance. This was the best holiday party to date that we’ve had at his school. Probably because he’s older now and has more fun himself!

HAPPY FRIDAY AND WEEKEND!

Daily Habits to Build Personal and Professional Resilience

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Every now and then, new corporate buzz words will pop up. Some are here to stay and actually have some substance, while others fade with time.

Personally, I think resilience is one of those concepts, and I definitely think it’s here to stay. It’s not something that can just fade way, especially given the way we live our lives now.

I learned more about what resilience means in terms of personal and professional development during the conference I attended in London back in October. One of the speakers for my team’s session was a resilience expert who talked to us about what it is, why it’s important, and how to create more of it on a daily basis. Since then, I’ve been keen to learn more. From what I know, resilience is one of those things that is the result of mindful habits/living.

Ok, first thing’s first. What is resilience? Well according to Alexia Michiels (the speaker) in her book, The Resilience Drive, it’s the range of skills that enable us to bounce back when faced with adversity. It helps us lead a successful and fulfilling life. “Resilient people demonstrate rapid bounce, courage, and creativity; they cultivate healthy connections with themselves, others, and the environment.”

I read The Resilience Drive on the way to London just last week. It’s not so much a true book as it is a pocket guide with over 100 ideas for how to cultivate resilience in our daily lives.

There are five sections based on different areas of self and life. And under each, there are ideas for how to be more resilient.

So, being the nerd that I am, I took notes while reading this on the plane. I wrote down the ideas under each of the five sections that I thought would work for me and/or things that I want to implement in 2020.

Stay calm and rejuvenate
1. Exhale – 4 seconds in and 6 seconds out
2. Close your eyes every now and then
3. Get in child’s pose a few times a day
4. Walk slower (been on my to-do list since I was like 1…ha!)
5. Disconnect from screens and limit screen time
6. Relax before bed (happy to note that I’m starting this in 2019…started meditating using the Head Space app!)

Stimulate your vitality
1. Stretch in the AM – right when you wake up
2. Adjust your posture throughout the day
3. Practice balancing exercises while doing everyday tasks/chores around the house (i.e. folding laundry)
4. Take real lunch breaks (without your laptop and/or phone)
5. Eat slowly
6. Create a sleep routine

Engage your emotions
1. Listen more actively
2. Think about and list out WWW (what went well) every day
3. Actively participate in discussions
4. Find and/or create quick wins for yourself every day

Train the mind
1. Set a daily/weekly intention
2. Schedule email breaks (only check email during specific times of the day)
3. Monotask
4. Keep things simple (stupid) – KISS!

Spirit in action
1. Do one random act of kindness a day
2. Be open to different opinions
3. Meditate (check!)

The book explains more about each of these daily resilience habits. If you’re interested, send me an email or buy the Kindle version off Amazon. It’s a great reference book to have, especially on those tough days where you feel anything but resilient!

Review – 2020 Passion Planner

written by Parita Leave a Comment

First and foremost, it may sound like it, but this post is not sponsored in any way. I found and bought this planner on my own. I love it so much (already!) that I just have to share.

Ok, a little context. I found this Passion Planner after researching unique planners online. I’m a huge paper planner person, but for 2020, I knew I wanted something different. Something to not only help me plan my days/weeks/months, but also something that allowed me to document my habits, my intentions, my dreams, etc. I also wanted something that would help me reduce the number of notebooks I use – blogging, personal, and planner.

The Passion Planner is honestly everything I could’ve asked for and more. Let’s get into why…

The monthly view

Look at this monthly view! I got the large planner, so it’s pretty huge. I have big handwriting, so this is super helpful. There’s also space for your monthly focus, people to see, places to go, and things to learn. I also love how you can list your personal as well as work projects. And the large whitespace at the bottom would be perfect for notes, accomplishments, goals, etc.

The weekly view

I’ve never used a planner with such a detailed weekly view before, but I’ve already started filling out appointments, events, etc. for 2020, and I love it. I think I’ll continue to use my virtual/online calendars as well, but I think this view and level of detail will help keep me uber organized. Like with the monthly view, I love the weekly focus + good things that happened spaces. Your to-do list space is built in, and again, the white space at the bottom is perfect for additional lists, notes, etc. And the quote lover in me loves having 52 awesome quotes to ponder on in 2020.

Monthly reflection questions

This monthly reflection section is completely new for me, but I love the idea of it. You can only improve and do better by reflecting on your past actions and the results. I’m going to make it a priority to sit down at the end of every month and answer these questions.

Extra blank pages

There are 24 big blank pages in the back. Personally, this will mostly be a blog notebook replacement for me where I jot down my ideas and plans for MIS. If you think about it, that’s two pages per month, which given the size of the planner itself, is a lot. Even for those of us with big handwriting!

So if my review doesn’t give it away, I LOVE this planner and am so ready to really use it in 2020. I feel like it’s setting me up for success and is going to help me capture everything in one place.

If you decide to get it, let me know. We can be Passion Planner nerds together!

P.S. I ordered the LARGE Forest Green Passion Planner with a Sunday start (you can also opt for a Monday start). It doesn’t look like the Forest Green option is available on Amazon anymore, but there are quite a few other ones in different sizes and colors.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2019

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Better late than never right?! I wrote this on my way to London, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I’m actually posting it a week after that. But I wrote it so I’m sharing it! Ha!

I’ve always loved this time of year – between November and December. It just feels magical and cozy. But now that we have K and he’s getting older; I think I’m going to love it more and more.

Let’s talk about Thanksgiving weekend 2019, because while it had its ups and downs, I wouldn’t change a single thing (well, maybe one, but I’ll get to that in a minute).

Wednesday was technically the first day of our weekend because K was home from school, and I took the day off. The first thing we did was go to the grocery store to pick up some Thanksgiving meal essentials. It may have taken us 20 minutes to get out the door between my toddler wanting to put his shoes on all by himself on the wrong feet and then protesting his jacket, but we did it! After that it was smooth sailing until we got home, and I had work to do. I put on some PBS for K to watch so that I could get 30 uninterrupted minutes of work time, but of course, he wanted me to sit next to him. I did that, but he couldn’t stay away from my laptop, so I moved back to the kitchen island. That was a no go for K, so I finished up what I could with a whimpering toddler on my hip and one free hand.

The rest of the day was honestly a bit of a blur. All I vividly remember is K waking up from his nap feeling a little warm. He didn’t have a fever, but something was up. I asked Vishnu to pick up dinner from a place down the street. When he got home, he took one look at Kaiden, and said that we needed to give him some Tylenol before bed. He was warm and very congested.

Thursday started off much like the way Wednesday ended. K woke up warm but with no fever. Just to be on the safe side, we continued with the Tylenol and Motrin, which in some ways was kind of nice because that helped Kaiden stay in a better mood.

I ended up prepping our Thanksgiving dinner throughout the day when I could find time, and this turned out to be a good plan because by dinnertime everything was fresh and ready! Of course, Kaiden ate lots of bread, some mac n’ cheese, some chicken and ice cream. Ha!

The day also included Facetime with family and lots of running around.

After Kaiden went down for the night, our friends came over for dessert and game night. This turned out to be ice cream, Codenames Pictures, and some deep discussion about gun control in this country. #adulting

Friday was a good day, and to be honest, I don’t remember much, except that Kaiden woke up with a slight fever. Poor bubs! But you wouldn’t really have been able to tell given how much energy he had. We were supposed to go to my friend’s place for dinner, but I nixed that because I didn’t want her entire household catching whatever Kaiden had. I also went to Target and Trader Joe’s…per usual. At Target, I found a couple of good deals on clothing for all three of us. And that was pretty much the end of my Black Friday shopping. We also watched Frozen at some point on Friday, which Kaiden liked and Vishnu and I loved. Funny how that works!

Saturday was a better day because Kaiden didn’t wake up warm and his snottyness was more manageable. We met Vishnu’s cousin and his family for breakfast at a place off Michigan Avenue. Even though it was kind of cold outside, we decided to walk, and I think Kaiden really appreciated the fresh air. After breakfast, we walked home and relaxed for a bit.

The rest of the day included packing, cleaning meal prep, and Coco. Oh and lots of cuddling (well, as much as he would let me) with my baby!

I was creeping on K from the airport, and I happened to see my other love on the floor next to his crib. Can you spot him!? LOL!

And now it’s Sunday. I’m on my flight to London, where I’ll be for the next four nights. We have a full team meeting this week which includes planning for next year. Should be a good one!

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving holiday filled with the people and foods that you love!

Diary of a Working Mom – Q&A with Rashmi Patel

written by Parita Leave a Comment

It’s been a minute since I’ve shared a Diary of a Working Mom Q&A post, and I’m so excited for today’s. Rashmi (of @rushmehome) is someone I connected with on Instagram. On her page, she shares home decor inspiration, products, tips, tricks, etc. She’s super creative (and sweet!), and it shows!

But of course, there’s another very important side to her as well…MOM! She’s the mom of two adorable kiddos, and I love seeing how she balances that role with her full-time Marketing job as well as her side hustle…not to mention the million other hats she wears.

Anyways, I’ll let Rashmi tell her story…

1. Tell me a little more about your family – number of kids, names, ages.
My name is Rashmi and I’ve been married to my husband Chirag for almost 9 years now (together for almost 13 years). We have two toddlers. A 4.5 year old boy and 3 year old girl. I call them my almost twins! They def keep us on our toes.

2. Tell me more about your line of work, role, responsibilities, etc.
I’m a Digital Marketer for a tech company, and my work involves personalization for our website. I manage a team of four that are offshore. I’m responsible for various project implementations for our B2B (Business to Business) customers. When I’m not at my 9 to 5, I run my blog at RushMeHome.com. I’m a company of one employee so far, me! I try my best to plan my content, but it’s not always easy when you’re a full time working mom. I try my best though! RushMeHome is a passion project of mine, so for me, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s something I love to do.

3. Walk me through a day in your life.
Gosh! This is a hard question. For us, it’s different every day. I wake up around 6:30 and get the kids ready for school (breakfast, lunches, etc.). I get to work around 8:45 am and typically leave around 4:30-5:00. My mom duties start the minute I get home. I prep dinner, get the kids to eat, etc. After that, my husband typically washes the dishes while I clean up. We play with the kids, watch some TV with them as well and then my husband and I trade off putting the kids to bed every day. One day I’ll put one to bed and he puts the other and the next night we switch. That way we both get time with each kid. It works out pretty nicely for us.

4. How has becoming a mom influenced your role at work?
I feel like becoming a mom has made me more patient at work and also more productive because I know once I get home I want to be with them instead of thinking about work. It’s hard sometimes, but I try my best. I think it’s also helped me want to do more and show them that you have to work hard for what you want.

5. What is your favorite tip on how to integrate work and life?
To be quite honest, I don’t know if I have the best tip. I will say to try and separate the two when you get home. It’s easier said than done because we know in reality something may have gone wrong at work and you sometimes bring home those feelings. I think it’s trying your best to evolve and know that work will always be there. And when it’s family time, it’s family time.

6. How do you handle mom guilt?
Mom guilt is hard. I remember when I first had my son and went through the baby blues. The first few months were hard. I didn’t want to leave the house because I felt like I was failing as a mom for other reasons such as not being able to breastfeed or the fact that somehow it was my fault he wouldn’t nap for more than 30 minutes at a time. But once I was out of that phase, I knew that for me to be away has helped me be a better mom. And since then, I’ve been better about mom guilt. I know that at the end of the day if I don’t get those breaks, it’s harder for me to be a happy mom to them. TAKE THE BREAK when needed.

7. What is the most surprising part of being a working mom? And the most rewarding?
That it makes me a better mom honestly. I felt like because I was very maternal growing up that I would want to be a stay at home mom. And for me, that is actually not something I wanted to do. I realized I needed to be away at work and be my own person outside of being a mom. It’s a VERY personal decision for a mom to make whether or not she wants to work or stay at home. Both are hard no matter what. But for me, that was the most surprising.

The most rewarding has been seeing little versions of me and my husband in them. The good and the bad, and that we have the ability to shape them to be the kind, caring humans beings I hope they become one day.

8. How do you carve out ‘me’ time? What does ‘me’ time look like for you? On that same note, what’s your guilty pleasure?
My husband and I make sure we have “me” time, especially because I naturally have a more anxiety driven personality. Whether it’s time away at Target or getting my nails done, I always make sure I take time for me.

My guilty pleasure is to literally eat nachos and watch the bachelor/bachelorette. I’m an OG fan of the show. Ha!

9. What’s your mama mantra?
Everything will work out the way its supposed to. And sometimes you have to let things go.

10. What’s the best piece of advice you received when returning back to work after having your baby?
The best advice I received was that it’s ok if things don’t always get done at home. If you’re expecting to cross everything off your to-do list then you are setting the wrong expectation. You will always have an ongoing list and THAT IS OK. You work through it one at a time and do your best.

11. What advice would you give to mamas-to-be about returning back to work?
Honestly, I would say to take your time to ease back into it. Your whole world feels different, and it takes time to get back into a routine. Definitely give yourself some credit and take it one step at a time. You will figure out what works best for you and your family.

Thank you so much, Rashmi, for sharing your life and thoughts with us! You are a true inspiration, and I admire all that you’re doing – at home, at work, and with RushMeHome! What an example you are to your babies!

2019 Reading List + 2020 Reading Goal

I Wasn’t Offended By The Peloton Ad

The Post That Was Supposed to Go Out on Friday…

Daily Habits to Build Personal and Professional Resilience

Review – 2020 Passion Planner

Thanksgiving Weekend 2019

Diary of a Working Mom – Q&A with Rashmi Patel

categories

Archives

Top Posts!

Follow me on Instagram!