Present.

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come.
Today is all we have, Let us begin.
- Mother Theresa

We often see inspiring quotes and/or hear encouraging stories of people that make you want to dream bigger and see what tomorrow will be. 

Is this wrong? 

No, Of course not! 

...However; recently I have been asked to ponder the thought of "Being Present".

Often society (and well, marketing) has turned our generation into tech-fad addicts waiting to pounce on the next big thing; the new iPhone that works twice as fast, the new dress & 9-inch heels, the new car with wi-fi inside the car (why you would need this to drive a car from A to B safetly.. I'm not even sure of), the new tablet that has triple the features than the previous OR that  app that can predict your future babies face by merging two people's faces together (like really?).

Then, if it isn't society telling you to chase your dream and reach the corporate ladder then its those moments of doubt and repeated thoughts about what you did/didn't do, how you should have changed that or how you could have done that better.

Don't get me wrong or misquote me here.. I am all for dreaming big and chasing them at any cost and loving people passionately even though it can often get you burnt; but what I'm focusing (and in some ways being constantly challenged about is) being present, actually (if you're being honest with yourself) take the time to arrest the day and be aware that it is the moment you have to make the difference that your heart is crying out for.

I get being busy in life. Trust me.

My current world consists of schedules and appointments starting from 6am til 1030pm (on an average weekday), building teams, working in new role and managing multiple (sometimes ridiculously difficult) stakeholders at a professional services firm, finding time for family and friends, gym, travelling... and oh yes, rest.

Despite all of the above, I have been challenged (and constantly am) to live a life that means I'm being present and living the dream, wherever I am.

I know (from experience) that the midst of everything life throws at you, it is easier to be reactive where often mere survival is a challenge enough......but what if (just let me humour you for a moment) you were made in a very image of the creator of time to live each moment with purposeful intent and rather than a victim of circumstance.

Choose to live the dream, choose to have your eyes/ears/attitude open for you to take this day, this hour, this moment and be totally aware of where you are and live it with such passion.

After all, all we have is today, the present.

Much love,

Meenal

PS: This post was inspired by my church and expectancy across 40days of revival

Sushi Me.

You can't help getting older.  But you don't have to get old.

This week has been a world-wind. I can honestly say I am so undeserving of this love but am going to embrace it! I have so eloquently labelled the past week #birthdayweek. The week went something like this:

• Sunday - Flowers, technically had to give these back and were only "temporarily given" due to a small glitche in logistics.. but something I am still laughing at today.

• Monday - Surprise Sushi eating contest! 36/50 pieces! (May never eat sushi again but definitely had a great laugh!)

• Tuesday - My actual birthday with some 400+ text messages/calls/facebook posts and emails! Yikes.. and if that wasn't enough - cake with friends at night with a serenaded birthday song labelled "Brown girl".

• Wednesday - Lunch with a view and oriental lillies at the Ivy pool.

• Thursday - After work dinner at a new cute restaurant labelled "Chalkboard cafe" on Young Street, Waterloo.

• Friday - After work drinks and dinner at one of my all time favourite places Al Aseel with enough food to feed an army! (Including their amazing garlic lemon chicken)

• Saturday - Woke up to go surfing up in Manly (probably the most fun you could have and seriously blessed to go surfing in the middle of Autumn!) and then finishing the best week ever off with dinner with some close friends at SugarCane followed by Karoke!

The funny thing is that despite this amazing week...  if I was completely honest, I had initially been dreading turning twenty-four & found myself a tad fearful of it.

Why? Good Question.

Well, being a girl - I tended to have 5 year plan.. and at twenty-four you realise that you're in your mid-twenties and no longer have the luxury of blaming (or excusing) your shortfalls and mistakes on being naive.

This being said, I have since realised - I can eat my own words..

1. I have an incredible family and amazing friends who love me (and for anyone reading this, don't ever get complacent in having those people that love you and care about you in your world - let them in)

2. I get to literally get to live the dream every morning; either getting to work in marketing strategy, doing college, church leadership & getting to choose to fight daily in following a God that lets me chase after the biggest dreams, with a hope and a future!

3. Twenty-four is seriously just the beginning; the world is my oyster! 

Much love,

Meenal

Ps: Biggest shout out to my family & friends 
who have seriously blown me away! xoxo

Fog.

Fog (verb): a cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the earth, appreciably reducing visibility.

Fog (Synonyms): blur, dim, obscure, mist, darken, haze.
On Sunday morning I woke up with this view as I was driving home from my cousin’s place:

  

The air was thick with a haze and I found myself struggling to drive down the main road, given the amount of light/haze about. This combined with lack of sleep got me thinking; how often do we live our lives with this obscured view and struggle to make a move in any direction because of the feeling we have to move forward.

Today, a few days after I have been pondering this for some time have realised that fog (metaphorically of course) is a choice that we choose daily.

Like it says in 1 Cor 13:12 (Message): 

“We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!”.

Fog (Antonyms): Clarity, clarify, clear.

This next season, whatever it looks like for you – I challenge you to not focus on the haze/possibilities of the what if or even look to the left or right with other choices you could make; but choose him. The God above all who loves you for who you are and he will show you the path that you (and me personally) need to take. 

Whether that means to drive straight in (use your high beams) and drive slowly with caution or Whether that means pausing on the side of the road (take a break and rest in him).

Choosing to Live the dream may not always be clear or cosy, but I know it is the best decision I’ve ever made.

Much love,

Meenal

PS: This post is dedicated to my friend, Charlotte x

Concrete Jungle.

Brooklyn Bridge, NYC

The Big Apple. 

Gotham. 

The City that never sleeps. 

...The list goes on...

Five months ago (over New Years eve), I ventured across North America and found myself in an empire state of mind: 

"One Hand in the air for the Big city, 

Street lights, big dreams, all looking pretty

No place in the world that can compare." Alicia Keys

My perception of New York was shaped through the likes of King Kong, Gossip Girl, Maid in Manhattan, Friends, Serendipity, Independence Day and (how can I forget) Sex in the City. 

From the moment I landed at JFK til my last night on 6th Avenue, everything from the food to shopping took my breath away. 

The best way to explain this journey was a love/hate relationship. My first night in New York started with my bags breaking off the baggage carousel to freezing cold rain and waiting for a taxi for 50 minutes with a phone that wouldn't work. Endless to say, it was a nightmare of a start - This combined with my lack of sleep, jetlag and culture shock on the tipping scene and no lift to take my bags up 4 flights of stairs... well and truly made me want to just pack up and leave that moment. 

Despite this rough start, my next 12 days were unbelievably life changing:

Madison Square Garden, NYC

It wasn't the cheap, greasy and incredibly tasting food;
Shakeshak burgers, red velvet cupcakes, hot dogs, warm salted bagels, hot Starbucks holiday flavours in Central Park or even eating in Gordon Ramsey's restaurant.

It wasn't the literally shop til you drop moments; 
including Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales, Macy's and cannot forget Century 21 (which took close to 6 hours of my time whilst venturing through Wall Street).

It wasn't even the crazy sights and experiences; 

Times Square, NYC

like bringing in 2014 inside the Empire State building and then celebrating on the street in Times Square, watching the Knicks play the Spurs at Madison Square Garden, feeling on top of the world whilst looking out at the skyline from Top of the rock early in the morning, walking through central park and seeing the last of Autumn's animals like squirrels running around near an ice skate rink with a coffee in hand, watching Wicked on Broadway, eating the famous Grimaldi's pizza in Brooklyn, sitting on the MET steps or walking through east village's markets or walking through the 9/11 memorial and remembering the day that impacted the world in my lifetime.

Although all those were amazing and possibly hold some of the best travel/food stories none of that compared to...

The moment I stopped on 7th Avenue when a tall African-american guy and Medium-height latino woman asked me for some food. Mind you, I have had homeless people ask me for money in the past before but this was different.

My heart was stirred, my eyes were wide open and a still God-whisper sounded. 

I turned looked at both of them and something in me, tad fearful asked "What's your story?" 

This conversation ended 45 minutes later inside a fast food joint (which had amazing hot chips, but for the life of me, I can't remember the name) giving them both my testimony of Jesus' love across my life. I gave them details of Hillsong NYC (which is incredible and totally home away from home!) and was on my way as I was running late by then to meet a friend. 

...The Moral: To this day, not really sure whether this couple got the help they needed or found Jesus - but I know that having someone ask and genuinely listen can be life-changing and not just for the person being asked.

New York. A city with bright lights, glamorous shopping, cars and sirens that never die down, food carts on every corner and a whirlwind culture that sucks you in. For me, "Living the dream" is a choice - despite my emotions, feelings or circumstance.

Skyline from Top of the Rock

Much love,

Meenal

Blank Page.

There is something so daunting about a blank white page. Despite the fact that our generation has changed this concept to white iPad screen, the blinking cursor still brings the flood of fear and doubt of "what will people think?" "what will they say?" or "will anyone even care?"

It is here, that I begin my blog journey. I have decided to title my blog Living the Dream or #LTD for social addicts across instagram, pininterest, Facebook or twitter. Living the dream for me sums up who I am today in my mid-20 somethings with disposable income, what I choose to be known for, what wakes me up in the morning and what keeps me up at night; from travel adventures, coffee catch-ups with friends, trampoline craziness with the nephews/neices, foodie adventures and God-breathed encounters.

Stacie Orrico back in 2004, put forward the question many of us have (or will)

at some point ponder:

"There's gotta be more to life

Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me

Cause the more that I'm Trippin' out thinkin' there must be more to life

Well it's life, but I'm sure There's gotta be more"

There's got to be more to life. This statement (or question, whichever you choose to believe) is one that I asked myself many times, until I met the God of the universe, through Jesus in year 9 (over 11 years ago).

This Jesus I speak of, knew me before I was in my mother's womb, could find me even in the darkest places and covered my inequities with an agape love that I still to this day cannot completely comprehend.

Despite life's ups & downs, it was that night in September 2003,

 that I decided that I would live the dream.

Much love,
Meenal