Go Goa Gone

I feel blessed that our family's religious abode is Goa. I have been there countless number of times and yet it surprises me in a different way, every time I go. One must always remember, when in Rome do as the Romans do and when in Goa do as the Goans do. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to enjoy it in true sense. You have to drop down your guard, stop being uptight and be yourself.

Goa is not about roaming in AC cars but is about wandering aimlessly like nomads and taking yourself wherever your mind takes you. Every tour to Goa is not just a holiday but a learning experience. It makes us realize that even in the smallest of things, happenings, or people, you get to learn. And such things change you.

For a Mumbaikar whose life runs ahead of time, Goa is an overly comforting place. The people there live as if today is the last day of their life. They live the laziest yet satisfactory life with no baggage brought forward and carried forward. They truly live in the moment. The spirit of life is one thing that I loved.

In spite of being one of the smallest states in India, Goa has managed to maintain its own separate identity amongst all. Being happy and satisfied in what we have and not wanting more is what Goa teaches us. The people there are the kindest of all and are always more than happy to help.

Goa is eating at random places, getting sun tanned (which happens anyway), going to city markets and trying and living the life of a Goan. The blend of Konkani and Portuguese culture is reflected in the lifestyle, the food, the language and nevertheless, the people.

It is a place where no one bothers whether your shirt is neatly ironed, whether your shoes are polished or do you come in a luxurious car or an auto. It lets you be you. It helps you rediscover and redefine yourself. Away from the hustle, close to our Mother Nature, you may even turn a poet or a philosopher.

Now I believe that every time I go there, it is going to be a new place. It is going to be as exciting and surprising as it was the first time.

Mayura Prabhudesai
September 13, 2016

Just shy, not anti-social. You can talk to me!

The person with whom an introvert talks the most is no one but his significant other self. It is quite convenient and easy to open up to someone where there is no awkward silence and small talk. We are often misunderstood as disinterested and we are left out of the group. How less do they know, we are happy and contented in our own world.

For those who are alien to such behavior, let me tell you, our minds talk more than your mouths do. If there is any count larger than infinity, that is precisely the number of times we think before we speak. Even after "We" (where "We" comprises of Me and my significant other self) agree on content about what to speak next, "We" have a round of discussion on the framing of questions and sentences. It may not happen always but definitely when we are with new people. Our heads are filled with thoughts and ideas about what common topic can we find to, if not initiate, at least contribute to a conversation. Sometimes during a conversation it also happens that we actually have nothing to talk about and there goes a period of absolute silence. But we have nothing to worry about as we are accustomed to such situations ( and make it through them by keeping quiet, AGAIN!) and successfully embarrass or make the other person at least uncomfortable .

There are a very few people with whom we click. They are those with whom we connect easily on all levels. God bless them for they make it so easy for us. We have a very small friend circle but a number of acquaintances. Our friends are such who know us in and out and probably the only ones who tell us to Shut up.

Beneath this shy, mute or sometimes even dumb personality there lies a beautiful mind whose creativity knows no bounds and is already flying high in the sky with its thoughts. Though alone, it is more than delighted. We introverts have a blessing in disguise of not fearing loneliness. We can very well spend time with ourselves without being restless or bored. Books come to our rescue most of the times. And there we go again into our virtual yet wonderful world.

Mayura Prabhudesai
August 30, 2016

An hour of badminton has a lot of impact

Sindhu made me nostalgic and I was a bit intimidated because of her height too ( I am not used to people being taller than me, and that too a girl? Never :-P). Not that I was playing at her level, but I did feel that why did I not pursue Basketball as my career. Life would have been completely different.

Basketball has taught me a lot in my life, even after I stopped practicing. A lot more later, perhaps. When I played regularly, it taught me to be in a team, practice hard, digest losses, enjoy our wins, literally pour your blood ( I have had bad knees hundreds of times and a broken nose once too :-P) and sweat, and always, always fight till the end, no matter what. Yes, I did cry sometimes on losing a match, or not making it into the team in spite of getting selected in the practice camp, but it was the part of the game and you had to face it one or the other day. The pressure is of a complete different kind. Your hear races faster than the ticking clock and your eyes constantly glued to the score board. The sound of the referee's whistle and the ball releasing out of your hand for a free shot. It is all felt inside. No words are good enough.

I never wanted to play Basketball professionally, and maybe that is why I never took it so seriously. Not that I was bad at it, but I never put my heart into it as much as I did while studying for my CA exams, which unfortunately, I am realizing now. But better late than never, right?  Now I always feel that had I took it more seriously then, I would have done more justice to it. Like as always, I had the best teacher anyone could have. He taught us so many things beyond the game which made it all more wonderful. Agradnyeya Vyayamshala (AVS) was the best team in Mumbai, and I am not bragging. He had once said, "AVS is not just about practicing Basketball for playing at State and National level. It is about values, discipline, a sportsman spirit, respect for seniors and a legacy to carry forward." I can never forget it. Never, ever. And to add to it, my team. They are the best. :-). 


Keep Smiling and keep playing.

Mayura Prabhudesai
August 22, 2016

Exactly a year ago, I crossed the line

When I was a CA student, I always had this imaginary big border line in my head between me and my teachers who were CAs, which constantly made me realise the difference between us.Just like a race, I had to cross it to win. Being on this side of the line, I always wondered how would it feel to be on the other side. A year before, on this day, at about 11.10am, I crossed the line and a dream came true.

I remember getting a shiver down my spine on the mere thought of being a CA when my teachers used to talk about clearing CA exams in first attempt and how wonderful it is to live your dream. And as I write, I relive the moment. If you clear the 'Golden attempt' as they referred it to as, there's nothing like it.

The journey always matters the most, even more than the end. It was a period of about 4-4 1/2 years that has changed me a lot. When I look back now, I realise how beautiful it was. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me learn 1000s of new things, it made me slog for my dream,it taught me many new things some of them out of my comfort zone, it made me meet so many wonderful people and most important of all is that I was blessed to have the best teachers.

Clearing CA exams was of course a dream come true but what makes it so special is that it did not come easy. It makes you fight hard for it, puts all your determination to test and perhaps this is the reason you value it so much.

Process is what is important because it is the process that gives you memories to cherish, that inspires you, that makes you feel good about yourself and last but not the least, the experiences both good and bad make you a better person.

There were so many realisations which made me grow up. Hard work always pays off. Efforts never go waste. And even your dream obeys you if you are ready to go an extra mile for it.

P.S: It is all always worth it.

Proud and happy to be,
CA Mayura Nishikant Prabhudesai
July 16, 2016

When I am with you

When I am with you,
I wish I could stop the time.
We walk a long way together,
with your hand in mine.

When I am with you,
even my demons want to stay.
They say they hate me,
but will accept you anyway.

When I'm not with you,
My life is like a mess.
You make things fall in place,
and God's there to bless.

When I'm not with you,
my heart beats faster than ever.
It kills me to think,
what if it's not us forever?

And if I'm not with you,
I wouldn't die for sure.
But the thing called magic,
that would certainly disappear.

Could you be the rains,
or will you be my summer?
Will you be my Ross,
if not my Chandler?

Mayura Prabhudesai
July 8th, 2016

Meant to be

I like being lost, if it's your world,
With your hands around me, being curled.

Your presence makes it all so much easier for me,
For all it's worth, a better place to be.

When you are around, the sorrows walk away,
Their heads down, hanging in dismay.

And then comes joy with might and pride,
It knows afterall, it's his turn to ride.

The Sun shines brighter, even he is happy for me,
Oh, yes darling, we were always meant to be.


Mayura Prabhudesai
June 28, 2016

The Future's Not Ours to See

You feel like you are drifting on a sea of dreary, unexciting, monotony and you cannot see the shoreline of the comforting, satisfying island where your raison d’être (a.k.a. your reason for being) is waiting for you. Don’t worry, you are not alone. In fact, you are a part of the largest group of people on this planet. You don’t know what to do with your life and you don’t know how to find out either.

The first thing to understand is that this is perfectly normal; people are not born knowing what their ultimate role in society is going to be. Instead, they are born with endless possibilities from which to discover their calling. The problem is that while the choice is immense, the choosing is ever so difficult.

What’s more, life is in constant flux and the right choice changes as your journey unravels. No wonder so many of us find ourselves with a nagging feeling that there might be so much more out there if we could only reach it. If you’ve stumbled across this article, chances are that you are one of these people. With this in mind, here are some pointers for you to follow that should steer you in the right direction to finally uncover the thing(s) you really want to achieve in life.

The Future’s Not Ours To See

“The future’s not ours to see” are lyrics from a famous Doris Day song and they are true to a large extent. We may only begin to imagine what life has in store for us and we shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking we need to plan for our entire lifetimes. You just can’t ever know what might be around the corner; your health, your work situation, your family, and the wider society may all see considerable change and many things cannot be planned for.

You can, however, look forward in the short term and try to do as many things that bring you joy as you can. Whether this involves your job or simply your hobbies, by chasing positive moments, we can at least make the journey more enjoyable.

A by-product of this approach is that you may discover hidden talents or desires purely by seeking out opportunities to experience true happiness. And for those things you aren’t able to foresee, you can only try to roll with the punches and take them as they come. Uncertainty cannot be avoided and some events will bring about great turmoil; one way to cope is to try and view each negative as a positive waiting to happen – if you make it one.

Embrace Discomfort to Achieve Happiness

Life’s road is rarely ever smooth, which means that you’re going to come across stretches of great discomfort. Whether that is a physical lack of money that prevents you from doing something or an emotional earthquake that turns your world upside down, you just have to accept that knocks and bumps cannot be totally avoided.

Each time you experience such discomfort, you will learn a little more about yourself and what your wishes are for the future. You will find out what you are and are not willing to endure and this will guide you towards more suitable waypoints along your journey.

For instance, you may initially want to become a lawyer, but find yourself 3 years into your training with many more years ahead of you, virtually penniless, working 70hrs a week and dreadfully unhappy.You have undergone a period of great discomfort, but you’ve learned where your limits are with regards to pushing your mind and body for the purpose of a career. You can now adjust your course and seek different opportunities that better fit with your mental and physical tolerances. 

Ditch The Distractions And Pull Away From Procrastination

Never forget that time waits for no man. You may want to discover and chase a dream, but you won’t be able to do so if you keep putting off the inevitable. Maintain your hobbies, your family time and other things that you truly value, but seize all of the otherwise wasted time and do something with it.

Uncovering your ideal path in life is not without its own hard work and effort. You need to put your mind to work, engage your body and utilize what time you have.Research potential avenues of work, speak to people with experience in the field, even volunteer if possible to get a sense of whether or not it is right for you. You can’t ever tell for sure how much you’ll enjoy something until you’ve got your hands dirty doing it for a while. And you can only do that if you stop making excuses and stop finding ways to waste your time.

Ask Questions (Both Big & Small)

You can’t gain knowledge without asking some questions, but when you are searching for a driving purpose to guide your future movements in life, you’ll often need to ask yourself and not others.Sometimes you’ll find the big questions helpful, such as what you are most passionate about, where you stand on major moral issues, what would you prioritize if money and time were no object – that sort of thing.

Other times, it might be the smaller questions that help you to refine your direction. Do you like working in an office environment? Do you prefer city, town, or country living? How many social activities is enough for you? Is downtime important to you?The more you explore these and other questions, the closer you come to understanding who you are and what your ideal calling is in life (or, at least, in your current stage of life).

Be Willing To Make Sacrifices In The Short Term

Right now you probably feel lost; you don’t know what to do with your life and you want to reach a place where you do. However, between where you are now and where you wish to be, there is a hard road to travel.

Discomfort is something that has already been mentioned, but something else that you might have to get used to is sacrifice.You see, we only have so much time and energy at our disposal and while you may currently find ways to use up both, if you want to take that leap to a life of more contentment, you will almost certainly have to give up some of the things you currently take for granted.

Perhaps, after doing your research and asking yourself the right questions, you decide that you want to start a business. But you don’t yet have the necessary money to get it off the ground. You may have to put in extra hours at your current job, be more frugal with your spending, and even give up current luxuries like flash cars and foreign holidays in order to make your dream a reality.

You must be willing to forego in the present to thrive in the future, because if you are not, you will struggle to change your situation and move along the path to happiness.

Knock Knock

Sometimes you have to spot the opportunities that come knocking at your door and you have to be willing to answer their call. Remember, trying something out is one of the most effective ways to discover how suitable it is for you, so when life seeks to show you the way, don’t ignore it – grab on with both hands and see where it takes you.

You might worry that it’s not the right time or the right opportunity, but you will never know unless you take a leap and find out.

Sitting on your hands and doing nothing is a choice, but it is one that you will most likely regret as you grow older. People rarely regret their adventures, but they often regret not going on one in the first place.

-Unknown source

It is all for the greater good

We have a plan. We also have an action plan. Step 1. Step 2. Step 3. And this is how my life is going to be. But then comes a moment when the cards begin to fall out. Your plan begins to fade away slowly and gradually. Before you know that it is falling out so that you can keep it from breaking, it is half dead. May be it was your dream plan with no back up and you were quite sure that it will go well like all the other ones till now. But it doesn't. And you have no choice but to accept the fact and move on.

You must move on. The show must go on. This has happened to me. And it has left me confused what to do now. Because of the circumstances, things somehow did not fall in place and my dream plan failed. I always believed that I am excellent at planning, for all my plans till now were bang on. If not perfect, they never ever disappointed me. They always got executed. But one did not.

So what did I do? Like a normal human being, I was sad. It was like I tasted faliure for the first time. I was unhappy and tried to blame the situation. All in vain.

It cannot always be a cakewalk. It shouldn't even be. Otherwise, you will not appreciate the good times. What I learned is no matter how much ever I avoid or delay accepting it, it is not going to change. Camouflaging is important.

There are going to be hundreds such times when your plan is going to fail. What you do is make a new one.

It is obviously not going to be easy, but it is going to be worth it. Things will fall in place eventually. Your accomplishments will take you to greater heights. Be patient and trust your journey.

Keep Smiling :-)

Mayura Prabhudesai
June 23, 2016

It is to be felt..and never forgotten..

So no one told you life was gonna be this way

Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.

It's like you're always stuck in second gear

When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but

I'll be there for you

(When the rain starts to pour)

I'll be there for you

(Like I've been there before)

I'll be there for you

('Cause you're there for me too)

You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight

You've burned your breakfast, so far things are going great

Your mother warned you there'd be days like these

But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees that

I'll be there for you

(When the rain starts to pour)

I'll be there for you

(Like I've been there before)

I'll be there for you

('Cause you're there for me too)

No one could ever know me

No one could ever see me

Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me

Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with

Someone I'll always laugh with

Even at my worst, I'm best with you, yeah!

It's like you're always stuck in second gear

When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year

I'll be there for you

(When the rain starts to pour)

I'll be there for you

(Like I've been there before)

I'll be there for you

('Cause you're there for me too)

I'll be there for you

(When the rain starts to pour)

I'll be there for you

(Like I've been there before)

I'll be there for you

('Cause you're there for me too)

The One that "could have been"

'If' is a very dangerous word. It takes us down the memory lane, into the fantasy world, where we potray the life as we wanted to have. That life is much prettier, much happier and that is because all the things fell in their exact place with no chance for repair. That is what we always wanted. Picture Perfect.

But. Yes, the grand, universally hated, famous 'BUT'.It screws up everything, doesn't it? It brings us back to the present and makes us realise that things are not as we had wished them to be. Infact, not even close. To our fortune or misfortune, the 'If' things did not happen, and that is why we are the way we are.

Everyone regrets something. That is where the 'If" story begins. The important thing to know is that these 'Ifs' are our past. We cannot change them, come what may (except if we have Hermione Granger's time turner :-P). Just as you are reading this, realise that you are living another moment, another minute, that you are never getting back again, and it has passed already till you have finished reading this sentence. So why are we wasting our time on what we cannot change? Remember always, Life does not allow us to give retrospective effect. We have to live in the moment.

This is one of the many realisations I have had in the recent days. I believe everyone has a list of things that they want in their life. It may be regarding our life partner, our career, why to think so big? Even about a stupid haircut. However, because of some circumstances, we fail to get them. We might end up getting even the exact opposite. That does not mean it is the end of the world. Accept these things with open arms. Welcome them into your lives. Things happen for a reason and for good. They come for a cause, for betterment. If you do this, believe me, you will start loving them.

The picture will be slightly different than you had potrayed, but the new will be a better one.You know why? Because when this new picture will be up for display, you will see yourself grown into it. You will see your happy and sad times, your struggles, your hardwork, your realisations, your life. And even if you still regret some things, you would have also learned to live with it.

Don't you worry, don't you worry.child. See heaven's got a plan for you. :-)

Keep Smiling.

Mayura Prabhudesai

March 12, 2016