Positive Parenting

 Super food of the month: Avocado       

Book of the month: If I have to tell you one more time

Movie of the month: To Sir with love

I hope everyone had a great school holidays season (I know what you thinking, tell me more about it ☺), as much as kids holidays could be pain for the parents. On the flip side, it is an opportunity to build some solid kids-parents bonding. Psychology today says, Just as it is important for both parents to play with the child for the child’s sake, both parents receive benefits from doing so. 

The hormone oxytocin plays a major role in parent-infant bonding and other social and emotional behaviours. Oxytocin levels increase when mothers engage in affectionate play with their infant and when fathers engage in stimulatory play with their infants. Here’s some even greater news: when parents play with children, oxytocin is release in them. Think of it as a relaxing massage for your mind that you don’t have to pay extra for!

Thankfully, we (me and wifey) have gone past the nappy change stage soon to realise Oxytocin has left us completely high and dry. Although we love our 6 year old, but it is quite bizarre to see how quickly sh**t hits the fan and you are yelling on your child over some mundane stuff. I know, I know… life is a hard thing and we all need to teach our kids how to survive in this ruthless world. So we teach them these rules and stuff they get to do before they are loved aka discipline. I remember, when I was a 13 year old and my mum use to lecture me over discipline I use to hum the song (we are in the army now! by status quo ☺).

Fast forward 25 years, I’m the on the other side of the fence lol… It got me thinking, why we (parents) do what we do (yelling)? Law of attraction was at work, and I saw this book (mentioned above in book of the month section). 

So folks the answer is (drum roll)… positive parenting!

Read the book it is self explanatory or for the internet savvy souls here is the website: https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/ until next blog adios! 

"To be in your children's memory tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today" - Barbara Johson.

Bradona - an online short play by Bollywood Central.

Bradona - an online short play by Bollywood Central.

To laugh or not to laugh?

They say laughter is the best medicine, I'm not entirely sure if that statement is true. It seems relative to the state of your mind. Isn't it? I mean you could only laugh if you were in the mood to laugh. Specially, during these trying times sitting at home away from the world. Your daily routine all topsy- turvey, no alarm bells, no quick showers, no rushing down to the station early morning. However, isn't this what we all wanted? Sometime off, time to rest, time to rewind, time for family? And when we have it, it seems a challenge.

Yesterday, I was chatting with my neighbor and she said she was utterly bored. Now how could you laugh if you are bored? Actually I have the answer for your... You ready? Did you think I'm going to reveal it so quick? Nah! Let me rant and rave a bit before giving you the key to laugh or not to laugh.

Let's rewind the clock a 100 years, let's say this was 23rd April 1920. Almost few years ago Titanic had sank (April, 1912) and Sai Baba was alive just a couple of years ago (Oct, 1918). So back then, if I had told you. I would be able to speak to you using something that looks like a mirror with few sticker like icons on it and you'll be able to press icons and tap into the "invisible waves" that surround the earth. You would think I'm certainly crazy!! But fast forward 100 years and smart phones are just a basic necessity.

What does this tell us? We have the power! Offcourse... we have the power! to not only press the icons of our smart phone and talk to anyone around the world instantly but also it is a reminder of how far we have grown as species. As culture, and as civilization. So what if we are bored or sad or angry or frustrated or disappointed and you took some time to laugh a bit?

Yes that's the answer, as simple as it may sound. Our brains are also like smart phones you could switch from using one app to another just with click of an icon. Sadness to laughter, just simply by using the power of your body over your mind. Simply you need to locate and press that icon in the brain. It is called - Choosing! yes ladies and gentlemen - you heard me. All you got to do is choose to laugh. Choose to be happy. It is not that easy but doable with practice! And to hone your skills we have made it simple and brought to you all online web series of Chat-Chat-Chat.

So would you choose to laugh?

How to push through in tough times

How to push through in tough times?? Tips on WFH Productivity...

I know most of us are feeling it along with rest of Australia and the world. In these testing times of pandemic outbreak. I’m not going to bore you with wash your hands, keep social distancing and cover your mouth etc. I think we all have heard and seen enough.

On contrary, let’s see what can we do while staying at home? How can we be more productive? How to push through?

Find your humour – A sense of humour is integral part of coping with setbacks. Ask me if you have any doubts? One certainty of life – “it is full of uncertainties”. Who knew 2020 would be like this?

Be one step ahead – It may sound cliché “when going gets tough – tough gets going” to survive in this ever changing business landscape we need to be proactive and plan for at least two checks and balances. Who knew Qantas employees would end up working at woolies?? I’m awaiting arrival of air-hostesses at my local woollies J

Don’t give up – Let’s see what we all can learn from this situation? from Albert Einstein to Opera Winfrey everyone one has stressed up the value to create drive in our lives. Find that thing and don't let it go.

Work in sprints – It applies to WFH scenarios as well. Energy management expert Tony Schwartz suggests, sustained high performance is best achieved by sprinter mentality not marathoner. So make sure you keep some lemon infused water in the kitchen and run up to kitchen to sip every hour.

Better food, better mood – To think, feel and be better we need to eat better. Add more veggies, fruit, lean protein and unrefined carbs to your diet. Remember to add as many colours to your plate as you could.

Finally, to ignite your engines sign up to online fitness challenges or Join me online for a burst of laughter at Chat-Chat-Chat. 

Together we can and we shall overcome this!

Help me raise funds to help locals in need: I'm raising money for keeping local businesses afloat

Yours, @amazing_arvind

Chat Chat Chat - Spicy Stand Up Comedy Online

Move Your Mind...

Since it is the month of Step-tember and talking to a colleague today morning, I realised we should start back on our Health & Wellbeing journey.

As the Greek adage goes “A sound mind is a sound body” it is evident that our ancestors had it clear. On contrary, we in the digital age are getting stuck with devices, desks, dings and rings of our smart devices. Recent study suggest an average office workers checks their smart phones 165 times a day! Where as the average for a non office worker is 80.

This clearly shows how important it is to get our regular doze of digital detox. Not only to keep our body fit but also our mind healthy. Brain scientists call this as “neuroplasticity” which in essence is the ability of brain’s neural network to change based on habitual routine. Now that’s an important piece of information when it comes to conditioning our body and mind.

The good part is it works both ways i.e. If you want to improve your health then boost your mobility. Movement nourishes your mind, body and spirit alike. You need to choose what method suits you best. Gym, Yoga, Tennis or a simple walk in the park.

This is mental health awareness week and RU-OK day on Thursday 12th of September. Let’s get into the groove and get to move our body and our minds!