The common flu is part of every winter.  You get it for a few days or week, and it is surely a miserable yet temporary experience.

Now through some other natural phenomenon, last spring we were introduced to swine flu which ripped through Mexico.  The medical community swore it would come back with a vengeance once temperatures got colder, and here we are.

A 17 year old boy in New Jersey died last week from the disease.  So should we get vaccinated?  Not swine flu, but a Washington Redskins cheerleader was paralyzed a week after receiving an influenza vacation.  The odds of complications like that are something like 1 in a million, yet if that ends up being you I think you would agree that statistic would not seem so miniscule.

They tell you that as a kid that you should do what you want and live how you want.  It is possible to do anything if you really put your mind to it.  You can achieve anything you want. You can live the dream.  You can fly. SINK OR SWIM!  Its important to live your life otherwise you might as well go to sleep.  Times are challenging. Everyone has problems but there are solutions if you find what your looking for.  One of the biggest problems is the lack of a BLUEPRINT. A blueprint is essentially a step by step to where your getting to and what you need to get there and actually planning something. This is good practice in order to make something short term into long term.  The blueprint actually tells us a little more something about ourselves and adds integrity to what we say as in we’re gonna do what we actually say and of course, follow through.  The next step is specifications which tweaks and adjusts what we need for the individual.  This involves saying what YOU want as the individual and not necessarily copying someone else just because someone else is doing it.  Doing what YOU want because it makes you happy is key.  It is an understanding of self.  If you want to do what others do and live their lives make sure you do it right!  At least at the same level, otherwise you will lose out on all the essential elements including yourself.  The phrase “live today, die tomorrow” never sounded any better.  The problem is that if you never live, you’ll never live well. You’ll die obviously like everyone but like the phrase goes “ignorance is bliss.” You’ll never know what you missed out.  Nobody can ever have the same experiences as someone else but the individual having the experiences can usually foster better ideas of what the individual wants because of past experiences.  No experiences will let the mind wonder which could go either good or bad.  But, the consequences will have repercussions in the future. Therefore, what one person wants is usually different than what another person wants.  Its already different with people that share similar experiences so it has to be hugely different with people of no experiences and real experiences.  Its amazing what free will in this world will let people do.  You can live and experience, live vicariously through others, live with purpose, live without, live with necessity and purpose or just not live.  Some people will give up everything they have to live just one great experience that another would have. There’s value in things that you may not understand but you’ll never find out if you do not live. Living involves decision making everyday.  Its knowing there’s more beyond.  Its making others happy as well.  Helping others see the light. The ray. Not just bullshitting people. It makes knowing everyone has a purpose to your own self development and others.  It involves giving.  Some don’t give and will never give and never understand that their losing out on friendships and fraternity in others.  Its knowing that you can rely on others and still be strong without being so weak. Thats the strength in decision making. Knowing what you have in this world and HOW TO WORK WITH IT.

Children:  They’re Not Going to Be Cute Forever

To many, having children is just another chapter in life.  When the time is right, couples take the next step and bring their own child into the world.  To many, it is one of the greatest and most exciting moments in their lives.  Once that child is delivered, he or she becomes your entire world.  Parents fall simply head over heels for their child, and it really is beautiful thing.  However, will that happiness and euphoria last forever?  That is a question I constantly asks myself when I consider whether I want children or not.

Having a baby seems like being on cloud nine.  Aside from the lack of sleep, for many, life couldn’t be any happier.  Watching your baby start to crawl, then walk, and say its first word is probably one of the best feelings any parent would ever feel.  On Facebook, many parents have posted pictures of their children as babies.  Other people would comment on the pics with such comments as “awwww” or “soooo cute.”  I definitely agree that sharing your love for your children is quite endearing, but will this enthusiasm be there when your child is a rebellious teenager?  The flame might go out even earlier when your child is in grammar school and is an obnoxious brat that doesn’t listen.  Things could get more complicated if your child is diagnosed with a behavioral disorder such as ADHD. 

I definitely agree that a child’s behavior is a product of how they are raised and the values that they are taught, but I don’t necessarily agree that you can completely dictate how your child will behave.  A child is not a robot that you can program.  They are human beings, and if they want to yell at you until they get their way, they certainly will do that.  Teenagers are known to be rebellious and go against their parents.  Of course there are certain degrees of that, but parents are going to have to learn to deal with it.  At this point, will parents be bragging on Facebook about how much they love their kids, or are they going to pulling their hair out?

I definitely believe that kids can be put on the right path by their parents, but parents should expect that there are going to be many road blocks on the way.  I get the impression that there are many parents who aren’t prepared to deal with those difficulties.  I have a good friend that works as an after school counselor and he tells me many stories about how the children have behavioral problems, yet are in an after school program, and many times afterward, are sent to soccer practice or ballet practice, or any other activity.  It seems that many parents want to pass on children to someone else so they don’t have to deal with them for a given amount of time.  Does it occur to the parents that they might be part of the problem?  If you just want to pass your kids along, why did you have children to begin with? 

There is also the individuality of the child that parents are going to have to accept if they really love them.  I personally never understood the skater crowd that would just skate all day and alienate themselves from everyone else and complain about how they are not accepted.  If I had a child who became a part of that crowd, I honestly don’t know how I would react.  I personally know that many fathers look forward to being their son’s little league coach or be a part of any sport they play.  What happens if your son isn’t into that and happens to be gay?  How would you react then?  Would you love your son for who he is or would you harbor resentment towards him?

I might seem like quite the pessimist that is nit picking at every negative situation regarding having children, but I do believe I bring up many valid points.  I embrace parents that openly love their children, but I hope that the embrace is life long and not just until the kid develops a personality and isn’t that cute baby anymore.  If you want to bring a kid into this world, you better be 150% sure that you will unconditionally love your kid no matter what and make that kid the most important priority in your life no matter what road blocks you face.  I know my parents had that mentality when they brought my sister and me into this world.  If you don’t have that mentality, keep it in your pants.

It’s been years since I picked up a book and began reading.  Sure, I read a bit of the Times every day, but my days of reading novel after novel were long past me.

Which is a little odd considering I was an avid reader when I was a little kid. Back then, I had little interest in tv, or going outside for that matter.  All I needed was a good book and I would be content for the day.

So when I had a couple hours of down time last week, I walked into Barnes and Noble.  I’ll just browse a couple magazines, I said.  But the truth was I dying to get a chair, as I was standing all day and would be standing all evening.  It was crowded, and soon as I saw someone vacate a chair I made a dash for it.

Lo and behold, I was in the ‘fiction’ section.  Begrudgingly, I picked up one of those thick novels.  Ugh, I don’t have the patience, I told myself.

Ten minutes later, I was that little kid again, dying to know what was on that next page.  It was a great story set a couple hundred years ago.  I was captivated by the story, and reminded how the depths of a good novel eclipse even the best movies.

Next time, I won’t be as perturbed when I find myself in the fiction section.

written by an outside contributor exclusively for DesiExclusives.com

Five Questions That Will Piss off Any Indian

Being from the New York metro area, I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to many different ethnicities. From Asians to Hispanics to Eastern Europeans, it seems that each group has left its mark within the community, through various ethnic neighborhoods. I can honestly say that I am not culturally ignorant. I do not believe every stereotype that is conjured up by the media and other ignorant people. I learn about different cultures and ethnicities as I am exposed to them. I can’t lie and say I don’t have preconceived stereotypes, but I would not be foolish enough to expose that. However, there are still many ignorant people who will blatantly expose their ignorance. It can be classified as either stupid or innocent, depending how you look at it. As I write this article, I personally would like to clear up any ignorant beliefs regarding Indians. I have five questions that are frequently asked to Indians by many non-Indians that can be considered ignorant. I would like to answer those questions.

1. I know a person whose last name is Patel. Are you related to him?

If you don’t know that Patel is a widely common surname within the Indian community, you obviously don’t know many Indians. It’s almost as if I ask two Americans with the last name Smith if they are related.

1. What is with the red dot Indians wear on their forehead?

I honestly don’t understand what the big hoopla is over the red dot. Non-Indians love to call us Indians dot heads for some reason. There was always some fascination why Indians would wear it. First of all, it’s just a decorative piece that many women wear, and it also has a religious significance in Hinduism. It is believed to retain energy and strengthen concentration.

1. Why do Hindus worship cows?

As a quiet Indian kid in middle school, kids would love to make fun of my religion for worshipping cows. First of all, there is a reason behind it. In ancient times, the cows were relied on for dairy products, and cow dung was used as fuel and fertilizer to grow crops. Thus, the cow was looked as a caretaker, and took on the persona of a maternal figure.

1. Are people with turbans and beards Muslim?

Because of stupid ignorance like this, after 9/11 Sikhs were targets of many hate crimes. Yes, these people with beards and turbans are Sikh, not Muslim!! Yea, just because Bin Laden had a beard and turban, doesn’t mean everyone else who does is Muslim or a terrorist. Muslims typically keep their beards trimmed, whereas Sikhs grow out their hair completely.

1. What language do you speak….Indian?

Are you kidding me?? Indian!?!? India has over two hundred languages. The main languages are Hindi and English. There is no such language called Indian.

written by an outside contributor exclusively for DesiExclusives.com

It seems that today, anyone who is anyone is on Facebook.  Everyone from teenagers to young adults, to even middle aged men and women are active on the social networking site.  Facebook is definitely a great way to keep in touch with friends and family.  It’s a great way to find old acquaintances that you haven’t been in contact with for years.  Users can post pics and their friends can view and comment on these pics.  In a way, Facebook is great for connecting people together, but at the same time, its has created way too many obsessed Facebook whores, as I like to call them, who occupy themselves with pointless quizzes and applications, and update every single event in their life.

These facebook whores like to report on every single thing they do.  I would get an update on my news need such as “Joe is going to the gym then has class.”  My response is, do I honestly give a flying &%^!?  I mean seriously, why do you have to post that?  Other people like to brag about certain things like acing an exam, or going on vacation.  That is fine, but some people do it way too much.  Then there are those who like to complain about every little effing thing and use that ever so annoying phrase, FML (&%$# My Life).  An example would be something like, “John is walking outside in the pouring rain and he forgot his umbrella….FML”  I mean seriously, why expose yourself as a little bitch that is going to complain about every little inconvenience.

The other aspects of Facebook that drive me crazy are these pointless quizzes.  I get requests from other friends to take such quizzes as, “What day of the week are you?”, or “What color are you?”, or “What Saved By the Bell character are you?”  Honestly, I think I can smoke a pound of marijuana, kill millions of brain cells, and I’ll still feel less stupid than taking one of these quizzes.

As I write this article, I am bit biased, because I personally am an advocate of privacy.  I don’t want everyone to know my business.  If I post pictures, I would post them on Picasa and send them out to selected friends, rather than have some freak check out pics of me and my friends.  It almost seems that today, privacy is a lost value among many, who are willing to publicize their whole lives on Facebook and other social networking sites.  I guess its another way for people to gain attention.  That’s fine, but I’d rather have the real thing in person, than some comment on facebook.

“How the hell?”

“What merits this?”

What the f***?”

It seems a bit odd that a new President with hardly any accomplishments actually won this award.  My god…if I had to pick I would’ve chosen Bono, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and even Patrick Swayze.  What is all this OBAMA- MANIA about??? Hope really means just HOP! hOP! hOp!  You just hop to your next stop.  What the hell??? Where’s my stimulus? I was hoping to a get a piece of that $787 billion stimulus. Instead I just got HOPED on my the mad hatter! What is this? Oil Spiking, America suicidal, Mortgage and Unemployment Rising….yes yes you and you and you and you!!!!!!!! Thats hope to be hoped on for! Obama how about you change something otherwise your next hope will be your last hop out of office. Thats the change I believe in

2012 (R)  Contenders- Eric Cantor, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, and don’t forget the great Tim Pawlentry AH AHA HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA

We may have the worst diets.   The worst excuses to not go to the gym.  The worst genetics.  But all we really have are just the worst EXCUSES!!   Its sad but true!

Who cares if you weren’t born an Indian or non-Indian.  Who cares if you grew up without the knowledge of knowing whats the right thing or wrong thing to eat.  Who cares if your metabolism moves an inch slower than the guy next to you???

What about worry about yourself? What about taking responsibility! What about stop comparing yourself to other ethnicities?

i HAVE A BETTER IDEA…..What about WORKOUT! AND HARD AND WITH PURPOSE! What about saying yes every opportunity you get when someone wants to workout….that you also go too! What about doing the right exercises at the right tempo so your at the build muscle/lose fat phase. What about all the compound exercises that you may be depriving yourself of?? What about the fruits of the labor that took you to where you are today??  Why not initiate goals and objectives?  What about pushing yourself for five set and at least 12-15 reps to failure?  What about making a sweat?? What about hearing the weight hit each other and the scream coming from your voice?  Its not called muscle building…..its called working out!  REMEMBER THAT!

According to a new study by Emory University, Indians are 3 times more at risk for Type 2 diabetes than Caucasians living in America.

The reason- Indians tend to have more abdominal fat than most ethnicities, even other Asian ones.   While diabetes is associated usually with obesity, even normal weight Indians are showing a higher tendency to contract the disease.  This is another proof of the fitness industry truth that weight is not as accurate an indicator of healthiness as body fat percentage is.

As someone with a family history of the disease, this is disconcerting to say the least.  The only solution is to work all the more harder with exercise and a sound diet to keep the Killer Belly at bay.  So even if you said ’screw it, I don’t mind looking like a fatty’ before, perhaps the looming threat of a fatal middle-age heart attack like so many Indians have will give you some motivation to hit the gym.