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One Dream that you Remember:WOW

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on August 11, 2018 11

One dream that you remember, is a Blogadda, write over weekend prompt.What’s it about dreams that make me happy?

I am a dreamer.I like day-dreaming with my book, curled up in the rocking chair while gazing out at my green balcony.

Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity – Khalil Gibran.

I have a dream.

Traveling by wishing.No packing, unpacking, booking tickets, nothing.No money worries, no hair tearing discussion about taking leave or getting late for the flight.

Only the fun of seeing new places, meeting new people and relaxing!

Long back when I was a child we could hardly afford frequent travel.Rarely once every 4 or 5 years.Studies, money troubles all made travel the least important priority.

The first thing I did when I got my first salary at Safdarjung Hospital was getting a fourteen inch Samsung Television.I still have it and it keeps reminding me what was and where I have come from.It also helped me travel vicariously through those glorious travel shows.

The next thing I did was plan trip to Shimla.The family traveled from Kolkata to Delhi.

I booked the Shatabdi to Kalka.But one thing was undecided.

How to reach the weird Nizamuddin station at 4 am at night?It was Delhi and we were females!God’s blessing and a kind elderly auto-driver helped when Ola and Uber were unheard of.Hiring a car was not in the budget!Thus my dream was a recurring one.

My dream has two very different sources of inspiration.The famous Goopi Bagha movie series by Satyajit Ray is the direct inspiration.In the movie, the two unlikely heroes get the gift of traveling anywhere, by wearing their magic slippers and wishing together while giving a high five!How cool is that?

While Harry Potter’s method of apparating, explained the hidden dangers and made it appear all the more possible.

Imagine wishing and blinking hard and you appear at your chosen destination.What fun if things would be as easy as that, with none of the risks of turning up without an ear or a nose.

I so wish scientists would discover special travel pods which could make this possible.A single pod and family pod.With options of zooming or zipping.Of one blink or two blinks.

The only payment needed would be your desire to travel and wishing really hard.Also, it could be linked to your Aadhar of good deeds and kind acts!

Clap your hands.

Wish hard and zoom!

Is this a dream.Is it wishful thinking?But isn’t all fiction and dream based on reality?

Maybe one day.

Have you ever dreamt an impossible dream?This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by Blogadda.

Linking this #WritingWednesdays

Linking up with Bloggers Pit stop .

Walking and Writing Connection:Treadmill Desk

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on August 11, 2018 23

During my UG days when I went out on a date with my then BF now hubby, we used to walk around and round and talk. Let me rephrase it was more often, I talked and he listened. For me, that was the direct line to my heart. I fell in love walking with him, while the poor dear bravely listened to all my random dreams and worries and carried my satchel.

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Health of the Nation Report — Apollo Pro Health

I even wrote a book about How to Walk Write and Garden for the Healthy Life You Want (Wellness series part 1)

Walking for me always had a special place.I used to walk after dinner for one hour inside the Safdarjung hospital campus. We were married, staying in the doctor’s hostel and the post-dinner walk was a great chance to meet and catch up with friends. So both mind and body refreshed. Studying acres of notes, tons of books and writing fresh notes, was easier with this one hour of relaxing walk.

[bctt tweet=”The best part of life comes when you are not watching. Amrita” username=”misra_amrita”]

In 2013 I started my new job and shifted to my hubby’s hometown with a 10-month-old baby and full-time job. Mad days but blessed ones. With a small child and no pedestrian walkways walking was anything but fun. Luckily I had a treadmill that was collecting dust for sometimes. My hubby suggested I start using it. That was 2014.

Walking and Writing:The Connection — Walking and Writing: The Connection

I have walked mainly on the treadmill since then. Park and nature walks are my favorite walks. But what to do?

[bctt tweet=”You play the cards you are dealt with.” username=”misra_amrita”]At home, I can look at my potted plants, put on my favorite nature sounds and walk away.

At home, I can look at my potted plants, put on my favorite nature sounds, and walk.

I started blogging in 2014 too.I wrote once a month and struggled with writing. Things changed when I clubbed my treadmill, with a DIY wooden plank and made it my writing spot too.

[bctt tweet=”Habits can make or break you.” username=”misra_amrita”]

That’s what I have learned. Writing while walking, makes me feel good and positive and avoid the traps of weak back and poor BMR due to endless sitting.

The treadmill cum standing desk hack

Multitasking is frowned upon. I like mindfulness for most things I do.
What if it prevents lifestyle diseases? This habit of mine lets me walk more and write more. I am clubbing something I resist doing(walking on Treadmill), with something I love doing(writing ).A result, I walk as much as I write, when I write.

That’s when I am on the treadmill I get more work done on the blog, than when I am sitting. Even if I walk slowly at 2 Km per hour, I am walking 2 Km in one hour and writing too. That’s exciting!

Sitting is bad for your health. While the treadmill desk is not for everyone, you should definitely think of using a standing desk. It’s not about calories it’s about your spine, back, and leg muscles. The stronger they are, they will help you more. The weaker they are, your brain will waste resources worrying about them.

Creativity needs nurturing. Walking is as much an exercise for your body as it is for your mind. Even now I go on trips to places with good nature walks. I feel starting walking again together with my gardening has both helped me write.

While walking, my brain becomes calmer and my thoughts more organized. The result is, I write more and quickly. Walking and typing on the laptop, somehow makes the writing quick.I edit and add pics later. But do all rough drafts on the treadmill. Working this way is easier for me.

Don’t believe me?

Read this excerpt from the Stanford research paper where the treadmill desk was also used.

This paper published by Stanford researchers supports, what I have experienced using the treadmill desk.

Walking led to an increase in analogical creativity.Walking,and not being outdoors, was the driver of novel, high-quality analogies. While research indicates that being outdoors has many cognitive benefits, walking has a very specific benefit—the improvement of creativity.

How to WALK, Write & Garden for the Healthy Life you want Podcast

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How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!

Thursdays Tree Love Orange Ixora

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on August 11, 2018 5

Last week I told you about my beautiful golden Ixora.today I will show you its sister, planted in the same pot.It’s been almost three years since they are with me.They are also the only plant where dual planting has not caused a problem with flowering.Most often one or the other takes more of the nutrients and both don’t flower!

I did this long before I had read in detail about co-planting and whats suitable and whats not.

After my last three years experience, I would suggest co-planting only if you are willing to work very hard.For flowering plants the nutrient need is high.In order for both plants to flower, you need a lot of sweat, nutrients, and prayers.

Since both the Ixora are of the same family and they are good-natured they bloom well together.

Don’t they look pretty together?It’s the same with humans.When we find our kind of people we bloom.When we love the soil around us we flower.When we like the weather at a place we are happy.If you want to be happy find the kind of people who share, who help, who know how to live together.But you will need to want this too!

(Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in the following parts which mean if you click on them and buy something I will get a small commission.This in no way affects the price you buy it at but helps support the website.Thank you for your kindness.I only recommend products I love !)

I really wish I had use an earthenware pot for this beautiful pair of Ixora.Then replantation would be easy.But currently, the only way I can get them to flower is to use liquid organic fertilizers, kitchen water from various food, my aquarium water, organic fertilizer, and bone meal every three weeks.

We are all God’s children and can live happily together, so too these plants.They need similar kinds to be happy.Have you found your kind of people?

I have on Thursday Tree love.

[bctt tweet=”“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.” ― Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam ” username=”misra_amrita”]

Link up here with Parul spreading Tree love we desperately need.

Eternal Question :Blogging or Vlogging?

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on August 11, 2018 15

The Eternal Question: Blogging or Vlogging? What will survive the test of time? Life death and everything in between is a myth. This life you see, has a past, present, future all running in parallel worlds. Truth and false all seems to be relative and so are Doomsday theories.

At least for me. With the digital world, the whole world is yours. But you must accept and adapt. Change some and still do the old things which work. Why have set rules and notions which don’t work? Instead, do more of what works for you and less of those that don’t! Print, video, blog everything in this world, will survive the test of time, if it’s useful. See, I didn’t use the word Quality. Because that can be paralyzing.A fear of not being good enough.

But useful, you can always be. Some people like reading some watching moving videos and some like listening, to cut down on digital screen time. You focus on what you want.Y ou focus on what you need to do. You focus on your plan, to make this world a little better. That’s when you will realize video, blogs, and print media only that which is useful and relatable survive!

[bctt tweet=”Useful and relatable are sustainable! #Writingwillsurvive” #amwriting username=”misra_amrita”]

My preference:

I love reading paperbacks, but my Kindle is perfect for reading anywhere! I buy digital and paperback versions of same books, if I want it as a family treasure, The Go-Giver and the Faraway tree series are two such. I like to watch videos to understand tech stuff, courtroom dramas on Amazon Prime, gardening tips and home decor how to’s. I enjoy speed reading blog posts when I have no time to watch videos. I also remember better when I read.

So for me, Text blogging is going to stay.

But should there be more options? My question is why not? On my own blog, I always like to explore options to reach more people. Just like my blog helped me reach more people than just those whom I met physically, Videos could increase the reach even more. Telehealth, tele-education, text blogging video, podcasting whatever it takes, I am willing to try them all. If it comes to making a difference, the medium is important. But people are different, so one medium fits all, may not work.

[bctt tweet=”When its a choice between good things, I choose both. What do you choose?#Healthwealthbridge ” username=”misra_amrita”]

Exciting topic whats your views on this?

[bctt tweet=”When someone asks: ‘Are videos going to kill text blogging?’ Will you say: ‘Has the television killed print media journalism?’ So, is the written word doomed?@arvindpassey #Indispire #WritingWillSurvive” username=”misra_amrita”]

MyFriendAlexa Blogging Challenge:Are you ready?(season 3.0)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on August 9, 2018 13

Are you ready for #MyFriendAlexa (season 3.0)? I stumbled upon #Blogchatter in 2016 and there has been no looking back. The first season of #MyFriendAlexa was outstanding and I made some great connections.

But the biggest takeaway from #MyFriend Alexa is the power of habits. Blogging is not a linear equation, but habits are an important variable.

Habit of writing
Habit of reading
Habit of sharing

[bctt tweet=”#MyFriendAlexa powered up my blogging strategy!@blogchatter ” username=”misra_amrita”]

I wrote about the best ways to power up your blog with #MyFriendAlexa in my Book 7 Challenges for a successful Blog and I will share a few here.

How to help yourself during MyfriendAlexa challenge

1)Have a content plan. The challenge starts in September and you still have time to plan your posts.

Most of the time you will need to write thrice a week and link up.I f you have a content strategy then good. If not,

make one. If you are reading this post later in August, then don’t worry you can still do it. My first season was like a free writing competition. I had plenty of challenges, but I did it.

2)Ask yourself one question.

Are you serious about writing? Blogging is fun. But its serious fun! It’s magical, blissful, fluid. It establishes a connection between the inner and outer worlds. Between your soul and brain. It sounds wonky but think about it. You will understand if you are a writer. Take the #Myfriend Alexa challenge, if you believe in the power of written words. Blogs, books anything you plan to write, will first start with writing. That’s the biggest way MyFriendAlexa helped me

3)What is Alexa rank and does it really help?

This is a fun topic, riddled with doubts, conjectures, myths, and truths. The Alexa rank measures relative traffic and not full traffic. It is the traffic received from bloggers and webmasters, with the Alexa toolbar installed on their laptop browser. The traffic stats are more accurate when it’s below 100,000 and gets better the lower it is.

This indicates there is a bias in the rank. If you write content for bloggers and bloggers read it, your Alexa should get better. But here’s the catch. If you write just for skewering Alexa it will not help in the long run. The traffic and ranking are temporary. As soon as you stop writing, reading and sharing there occurs a sharp rise in Alexa rank. In this case, lower the rank better it is. This is where a blog content plan and overall Blogging strategy helps. Since bloggers will read your blog posts, your Alexa will get better. Brands and PRs may ask for your Alexa rank, depending on their requirements.

You must read this: First 11 Steps to a better Alexa which stays down

Why do I always sign up for #MyFriendAlexa with Blogchatter?

I have three specific reasons. I love what Blogchatter does, with their Blogger friendly campaigns. It helps me find online friends who understand. Time, distance and personal complications aside, I connect with Bloggers! That’s powerful. The community spirit is contagious and one of the best.

It helps me write a lot. As a child, I learned about the power of muscle memory. My mom used to make me write and learn. The only way to write better is to write, there’s no other way.MyFriendAlexa helps to power up the blogging game.

The best Twitter chats, this side of the world, happens during #MyFriendAlexa.I adore the brainstorming and useful Twitter chats, Blogchatter organizes. I plan my schedule to participate in the chats, as much as possible. With #MyFriendAlexa, my 8.30pm slot on Twitter is booked every Wednesday.#MyFriendAlexa helps you power up your Twitter game!

Have you ever participated in #MyFriendAlexa?Comment below to let me know about your expectation with Blogging challenges.

3 Favourite Foods I am Thankful for:Thankful Thursdays 33

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on August 9, 2018 29

Food is any nutritious item which we eat or drink to help us grow and live.

If that’s true then I have a 2 favorite eats and a drink

A fortnight ago, when I wrote the childhood memories I was thankful for, there were several food memories.

That won the Bloggers Pit stop featured post award last week.

On Saturday I wrote about Kolkata the city I was thankful for.That was a food trip down memory lane and won the WOW badge from Blogadda!Entire July I have recollected the food which has helped me grow and become who I am today.

They deserve a thank you.

One

A fish Hilsa or Ilish. It’s more than a fish it’s like a cult!

If you are a Bengali and don’t like Ilish you may be put under a genetic scanner.

Bengali s love it adores it and makes it a part of every special occasion.

Ilish bhaja with Ilisher tel (the fish oil)
Ilish bhaja
Sorshe diye Ilish.
Ilish bhapa (steamed with mustard paste green chilies)
Ilish begun kumro kaccha lonkar jhol.
Doi Ilish(curd based dish)
Ilish Paturi(Steamed in banana leaves or sweet pumpkin leaves)

All these made my brain have enough omega 3 fatty acids to read through tons of books to clear my medical exams.I am deeply grateful for this fish which helped my brain process the difficult terrains of nonstop studying!

I enjoy Hilsa. Deep fried shallow fried or steamed. It’s delicious with steaming hot rice and an afternoon stretching lazily in front of you.The fine bones in this fish make the eating as much of an art as the cooking is.

I like it cooked in a rich mustard and green chili gravy or a light fragrant gravy with sweet pumpkin, brinjals and generously spiced with green chilies.Any way you serve it, makes me happy.

Two

Dark chocolate and Cadbury’s Silk.

The wiser I grow I am living the bitter undertones of dark chocolate.

Thankful for Chocolate:Thankful Thursdays Favourite Food

But I still can’t give up the gooey richness of Silk.Remember the Silk ad where the woman didn’t share with her hubby?That’s me too!Now my hubby hides chocolateS my daughter is gifted.He doesn’t hide it from Rai He is hiding them from me.On good days I don’t look for chocolates.On not so great days I have chocolate cravings.That’s when I can have an entire bar!Chocolates make me feel good any day.

Three

Love for tea I have written about many times.

Nowadays I am participating in a #TeaWithWriteTribe tribe contest and what can I say I love tea.Green Black White, gingery tea, masala tea.anything!

3 Favourite foods I am thankful for — 3 Favorite foods I am thankful for

Hot or chilled, tea is a childhood love.

When mom used to come back from office.My sister was in charge of making the perfect cup of tea.

Boil the water just right.Put in a few tea spoons of Darjeeling tea!Wait for 4 minutes.Stir it once.See if the color is just so.
Strain it.
3 spoons of milk or less and sugar.

Home made jhaalmuri (puffed rice lightly spiced, with onions and cucumber diced finely )and chai with TV watching! That was tea time!

In Dilli, I fell in love with the gingery milk tea and the occasional masala chai the canteen wala bhaiya served.

Over cups of it, we used to discuss work load, politics, the party on the weekend or the next mad trip to the hills.

Tea has innumerable memories.Life without tea would be sad.

This Thankful Thursdays remembering my favorite foods have put the midweek blues right out of the window.Absolutely loved this.

What are your favorite food s that make you thankful?Comment below to let me know.Or you can write and link up right here.Just click the big blue button at the end of the post and submit your link.

Thankful Thursdays prompt this week:(open for 2weeks now!)

Thankful Thursday prompt :3 Favourite Food you are Thankful for

Featured Blogger this week:

Neha Tambe ‘s post was our favorite.Read it here.

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One Dream that you Remember:WOW

Walking and Writing Connection:Treadmill Desk

Featured post

The treadmill cum standing desk hack

How to WALK, Write & Garden for the Healthy Life you want Podcast

Featured post

Thursdays Tree Love Orange Ixora