How do you live in the moment & still plan for the future?

A moment is like a meal. When I'm enjoying my meal, I'm not thinking about my next. But I'm eating to ensure that it's tasty but doesn't harm me in the future, most days.

But I had some trying moments on the weekend. I was ill. Nothing serious, just an infection, but it wasn't a series of moments I enjoyed at all. Would've had a dull, drab weekend, if it wasn't for two things: our new SUV and daughter's reaction to it. She calmly told her father that she would get dropped to school in it, and he could take her cycle to work. By the time he had finished baulking over it, she had disappeared.

Now, as I feel better, I can't help but look forward to the end of tomorrow. As in, Tuesday, the 24th. Why? My 7-day antibiotics course finishes, and I can go back to enjoying the summer & rains with my favorite goblet of red wine - a forbidden liquid till tomorrow night. And the fact that it's forbidden has thrown up new light in my life. a) I don't drink wine everyday anyway, so why this feeling of restriction? b) Leads from a), is the theory of the forbidden fruit truly so entrenched in our lives? Did you ever always want to do what you were told not to? And if you did, did you get into some serious trouble?

I've done loads of 'forbidden' things in life - forbidden from the perspective of politically incorrect. But like the cat with nine lives, I seem to be unscathed - till now. And these range from innocent to retarded to wild. I sometimes look forward to my daughter defying me, and secretly revel in it. But then again, if she senses my happiness, could she turn into an exhibitionist, a bit like her mother? Wouldn't that make me happier still? Or would I have no way to draw the line?

I don't have any answers. Do you?

Leap of faith

Life isn't about holding your experiences back. It's about doing it, just right, and no more. Sadly, many of us hold back too much, and go to the other extreme too much, and end up burned, either way.

The balance is easy to draw. Just when you think it may not work out, think about what you'll lose if don't go ahead. Will you look back in regret? Will you thank your stars?

It's what I've done most of my life. And it's called the leap of faith.

I did it once - with the person I loved. 15 years ago. And because of that one decision, will continue to do it all over again in a hundred aspects of my life. Because that one leap of faith made me believe that going ahead is better than regretting.

And ten years ago, we were both blessed with a little girl, who literally defied the doctors and came into this world. It just cemented my beliefs more.

What's your story, then? Ever taken that leap of faith in people, in work, in doing something mad and nutty? I have, and have ended up being called, "Rach, you're too much." Hence, the name of my blog.

The good or bad part is, as we grow older, I continue to keep that flame alive. This blog is about sharing all that and more with all of you. And having you come forward and tell me what you did that seemed a bit mad, but turned out just right for you.

C'on. Start now.