Category: Journal

Food For Thought, Journal

Foodie Monster

Sanjay Sabarwal

So I spent a majority of my time this weekend beginning Thursday, eating different kinds of foods. From a boys night out at the Blind Rabbit (a hidden speakeasy at the Anaheim Packing District) to fast becoming one of my favorite breakfast restaurants No Toro, I spent indulging myself with intimate conversation and the relaxed view that I earned all those meals. I also managed to get the wife great dessert at Coffee Code while she treated me to amazing fish at Mariscos Choix. When people ask why I work out, I always reply to eat.  This is not to suggest that I gorge myself (although there are times I have), but my insistence that to live a life of legacy means enjoying the journey as well.

So finding new places, new conversations about interesting foods and drinks motivate me to push myself in other words. I mean what is the point of doing so much work when I do not give myself rewards. Bribing myself works, and I recommend everyone to become a foodie monster!

Food For Thought, Journal, Myself

Wait But Why

Sanjay Sabarwal

Arriving back from Jackson, Mississippi late last night, it hit me how it was good to change to your environment for a few days. It is easy to get caught up in the hum drum of daily life, and while that consistency has its benefits, what I found was that with each travel occasion, I had a chance to deepen my love of interaction with others, find new food and stay in moments of gratitude that I have the privilege and luxury of being able to have new experiences.

It is too easy to take for granted the opportunities for connection with others that  you do not see very often. Although I was a relation by marriage to many there, I was made to feel like immediate family and that comfort and care pushed me to want to create more moments and opportunities like this in the future. Also, my crazy desire to try the best food where ever I am also played a big part.

A friend sent me a great article while I was there, and it seemed as if the Universe conspired yet again to let me know Papa looked out for me as it emphasized that we have very little in person time left with loved ones. It is easy to get so caught up in pursuing our financial dreams that we lose sight of the real treasures in front of us. So today, take time to make spending time with loved ones an EMERGENCY. Trust me when I say you will drown in regret if you lose that opportunity/

Brownness, Food For Thought, Journal

Task Disorientation

Sanjay Sabarwal

03a50aaa6de20f2e334f7298d1524bcb Last week, my laptop stopped working, I had two flat tires, I was unable to get to the gym daily, and had a huge breakdown in communication with a loved one. I stewed about all the tasks I did not get to. Over and over, I kept scolding myself for not holding myself to getting my daily and weekly tasks to a point where I felt like a complete and utter failure. And then I took a breath.  I realized that yes I didn’t get to all my tasks, but how I handled what came up mattered more

I got a new laptop, got a great deal on the tires, and was able to have an intimate and vulnerable conversation with the loved one. Then there were other things, I hit 245lbs on my front squat, learned a bit about how to increase blog subscribers, discussed with my cousin about the podcast, revised a personal essay, saved the company from an HR mistake, and settled a claim for a client who was so grateful she hugged me 4 times.

It hit me that I still needed to not get so caught up in getting tasks done that I failed to accept what my overall goals were for myself. Too often, I lost myself in the to do list, and stopped living life when the whole point of the tasks was to live a life worth living. So I stopped and learned to be grateful for the blessings life threw my way. Thanked the universe for disorienting me, forcing me to slow down and know that no matter that I did not get to all my tasks the way I wanted, but I am still further from my starting point.

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Food For Thought, Inpsiration, Journal

The week in Review

Sanjay Sabarwal

9626bcc2e5db425aaff8e01956e0ad02Yesterday, I shared with my accountability buddy how I did for the week for my goals and habits. Initially, I felt like a failure because I only got to 80% of the things and missed a few days for daily habits until it hit me that perfection was never the goal. The goal was to do something about the things that bother me. It is very easy to get caught up in failure and beat oneself up, but really the entire point was that I tried, not every day, but it was still 1000 times better than not doing anything at all.

It is not an easy transformation to make from being content to say there is nothing I can do about my goals, habits and results to still giving it a shot. Fear rules that state of mind, but a good fear where I become more comfortable being uncomfortable. It is easy to criticize and point out what I am not going and to see that in others, but much harder to put things into practice. Too often, I look at what I missed rather than what I accomplished. It is a habit I intent to change because while being critical is good, it does me no good to make into a self-worth issue. That said, I am extremely proud of my progress. Just for some perspective, here are my January goals which touch upon New Year resolutions, but are geared towards creating habits. What are yours?

1)Drink 64 oz to gallon of Water Daily

2)Meditate Daily

3)Write Morning Pages Daily

4)Write 300 words daily

5)Date Night Weekly

6)Connect with 2 people Weekly

7)Work on Improving Memory

8)Work on Improving Handwriting

9)Work out 5 days a week

10)             One Hike and/or physical outing

11)              Drink no more than 2 drinks on weekdays

12)             Try a new activity/place this month

13)             2 Legal Blog Posts

14)             Begin Learning on how to do a podcast

15)             Begin learning on how to get more readers for blog

16)             One Boys Night

17)             One Friends Night at least (ideal 2)

18)              Hug and Kiss Daily

19)             Take one Weekday off a month,

20)             Lose 5 pounds

Inpsiration, Journal

Just Another Sunday?

Sanjay Sabarwal

not-just-another-SundayIt’s been a quiet week, but one with purpose. As I slowly get back into the rhythm of my LA life, I miss so many things about India, but more than anything else, it is the feeling of connecting and experiences.  I haven’t reached out to many while back, and it is on purpose. I needed the quiet time to process it all, and just be.  Just let the flow of the days come over me as I transition back to my daily life. There is so much to do, but really it comes down to what I want to experience.

I see so many opportunities to change as well add new things to my life. Yet for now, I am just being, taking in this beautiful Sunday. I mourn the loss of a good family friend just not for my parents for his beautiful wife and kids. Life continues to happen and while I could spend all my time complaining about it or just accepting it for what it is. I gaze out and watch the breeze gently move the trees, and I am struck in awe of how perfect the world is in its imperfection.

Sometimes it is just a day, but it is not just another Sunday. It is life. We can choose to accept it or waste time fighting it.

Journal

The Last Days

Sanjay Sabarwal

677d06c2294f6043f78ba26e9c6e85b1 I have settled into a routine different from the one from home. I wake up (usually 6 hours or less), get handed a coffee from someone who has worked with my family in some shape or another for the past 38 years.  Then after a bit, breakfast is made by him. And then the day begins which for me usually mean being open and observing and just letting things come as they are. It is a dramatic change from my life at home where I have almost all hours scheduled. It has been a huge learning opportunity as I learn to let go, and just be.

It has also been an exercise in letting go of judgement and impatience. Of not being in charge or being asked to make any decisions. I just got to let things unwrap as they occurred. It helped that I am reading Radical Acceptance, and I cannot help be amazed how much judgement and noise is in my head when things do not go as I wish them to go (which was constant).

Even the travel to the Golden Temple was hectic, chaotic, and done in a flash, but all that went into my mind is to trust and be thankful for the opportunity. Each moment in India has been unrepeatable and memorable, including the hours long traffic, the getting lost, the going to places where  I don’t know people, connecting with new loved ones and realizing that the trip to India is not about the country but about my own personal journey.

It is up to me what to make of it. I choose gratitude.