I got the idea of this article thinking about my own birthday.

We all have birthdays; because we all have birth dates. We may or may not celebrate it but we have a day when we were born. Most of us celebrate this day with friends or family or with both. Most of the people coming over for these celebrations bring some gifts along. Some of these gifts are well thought. Many gifts are just stuff bought hurriedly.

One should appreciate both types of gifts. Thinking that people spend their hard-earned (mostly) money to get gift for a host. You can appreciate it better when you think about the time of your own gift purchases for others. Have there been no 27^th hour gift purchases in your life so far?

Have you ever thought why people gift things? Different people, different reasons; some do it – to appreciate the invite, others to impress or to just be happy – yes it is true giving makes some people happy. Then there are those who buy gifts just to avoid awkwardness of arriving without a gift. People also give gifts to tell that they are there and they care.

This is about when we buy things for others. How about getting something for your own birthday? Have you ever thought about giving yourself a gift – or you leave it to others to get you a gift of their choice. Of course you can make the tasks of your guests easy by sharing a wish-list. Still, a gift for your own birthday is not such a bad idea.

There are two reasons why you should gift yourself. First that it gets you into thinking about what makes you happy and secondly birthdays are small milestones in a person’s life. Most people will have around 70 to 100 of these in their lives. So it calls for a special celebration. You will find people who say a birthday is nothing special but just a date or one year closer to closing their final account. Choice is yours – how you want to see the glass – half full or half empty.

Those of you who think that gifting yourself makes sense (and I like to feel that this is the majority of readers); let us explore some gifting options.

Your gift, to yourself, on your birthday – You can get a gift for yourself whether your birthday is tomorrow or you have just celebrated your birthday. But what is the point of thinking of a gift one year or many months in advance. There is – because good things take time.  Just check this saying – “dig your well before you are thirsty.” This is one of my favorite sayings. So if you want to gift yourself something significant then better start now.

Depending on the time you have at your disposal, here are some ideas.

If you are celebrating your birthday tomorrow

Think in terms of feelings and not in terms of stuff. Think of a day for yourself – filled with joy, peace and calm – and also anything that you crave for everyday.

• Take a day-off from work. It is good to be a man of action but some days are better dedicated to your own self. There are people who do not celebrate their birthday. It is ok – to each its own. But if you want to take a small break from mindless living – birthday is a great day. Start your day early or just sleep in – choice is yours.
• De stress: If you are stressed then bring home your favorite music that you loved listening to and start your day with it. Spend part of your day at a spa for a full body message and a relaxation retreat.  You can also check in a private spa on the eve of your birthday to kick start the celebration early.
• Fans of cooking: If you love cooking then team-up with your life partner, friends or family and plan a dinner cooked by you. Get a professional photographer home for some special pictures.
• Foodies: If you love eating then start the day with a relaxed brunch and plan an exotic dinner with special people in your life.

Those who have (3-6 days) to plan

• Do the new: Give yourself a new wardrobe, a new haircut, a new pair of shoes (normally people do not gift shoes as these needs to be tried by person himself).
• Extended Holiday: If your birthday is on a weekend good. Even if it is in the middle of the week, plan a 3-4 day outdoor trip – that either starts with or ends with your birthday.
• Get your creative juices flowing: Write a poem on your life and record it in your own voice. Make your close friends listen to it or just get your headphones and enjoy your time with your creativity. You can also shoot a movie – with a handy cam titled – “8 hours of a special day in my life”.
• Give yourself an organized cupboard. If you struggle to find stuff in your own cupboard then show it some love. Clean it during days before your birthday and take a photo of your organized cupboard. It will inspire you to keep it that way.

When you have (3-6 weeks) to plan

• Gift yourself a new identity: Give yourself your own website.
• Memories in a book: Gather all your old photographs and make a photo-book with pictures from all parts of your life so far.
• Nostalgic Fun: If it has been many years since you came out of school then plan a meet-up with old friends going back to your school and celebrate your birthday with a dash of nostalgia.
• New robes for your room. Organize your room and paint it new. It will be good fun to wake up in a fresh-looking room on your birthday.
• Mind Matters: Take a ‘Vipassana’ meditation retreat.

You have more time (3-6 months+)

• Reinvent: Get into shape, be free of one addiction, and get into a new habit like writing 500-1000 words every day or calling a client once every fortnight or making 5 calls every day to connect with new clients.
• A new outlook and skill-set: For a stay-at-home mom this can be commitment to herself to take better care of her. Find a parallel path for yourself. Learn new skills that you wanted to learn for long – photography, creative writing – whatever it is.
• Give yourself an organized life. Gift yourself a life that has time and place for the most important people and activities in your life – without draining life out of you.
• More: If you are still lower down at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – then why not attempt to attain some more money, some new clients, and more connections on your professional network.

These ideas are just indicative. Just pick the ones you like and if you have more please share.

My offer still stands –send me an email with your birthday and I will love to send you my wishes.

I am giving myself a new start on my birthday. I have already started on that path. Tell the world what gift you are giving yourself on your next birthday?

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As the time passed by, individuals became more prosperous and resourceful and started relying less on outside help for living a comfortable life.  Later, we moved into 20^th and now into 21^st century – the need for community support apparently diminished. This was powered by an open information economy and technological innovations.

If you wanted a career opportunity – you need not ask your well settled relative for a better job. The leading job portal found that for you better than your relative. You need money, banks are there for you. You need to secure your house – latest security gadgets do that work for you. No need to plan travel with fellow travelers for a possible month long travel to reach another country. Today you book ticket online and reach overnight into a new country even thousand miles away – without any need to know who the person sitting next to you is.

These days we live a life in silo – wherever possible – because it is convenient for most of us.

At the same time – we talk about good old days when people were happier and healthier. Is there a reason why people in old times – enjoyed life more. Because they shared and valued long lasting bonds more than anything else.

Have you tried asking yourself why people flock so much over at social networking websites? Simple, because it gives them an opportunity to share and connect. We as social animals long to create lasting bonds. Lack of lasting bonds creates a void in our lives. These networks fill this void at least to some extent.

But do you think all this mindless social networking is a real replacement for relationships that we enjoyed in good old days. No, I say. Genuine relationships are irreplaceable and will continue to be as valuable as they were in earlier days. We need to water our relationships to make them last.

Watering, because relationships are similar to growing a tree. You plant a sapling, nurture it with water and nutrients and see it grow into a tree.

In a relationship – a chance meeting becomes an acquaintance, it turns into friendship when you meet often and a level of trust is developed. Then you continue nurturing the relationship through care, love, a feeling of mutual respect and comfort.

When you water the plant of your relationships they will turn into sturdy trees. Through long lasting relationships you will find people in your life that will be your pillars of strength.

Ask yourself do you have such people in your life that you can call at any hour and share anything which is on your mind – ask for help, seek advice and just speak your mind. If the answer is yes then you are lucky. If the answer is no then you need to figure out a way to nurture your friendships.

Most of the city-dwellers – many of them DINKs (double income, no kids) prefer to live their own life. They mostly get into weekend relationships. Meeting – people they call friends – over weekends. I am fine with this weekend relationship mode. But the problem comes when you change your friends every year.

Many people cite lack of time for not nurturing their relationships. Such people should explore 24×7 to 4×4.

You have read so far means you understand the value of genuine relationships and want to find a way to create relationships like that.

So here is a simple track for watering the plants of your relationships and creating long lasting bonds.

• Meet: “Out of sight, out of mind”. This saying is used mostly in romantic context but it is applicable in all kids of relationships. It is important to tell people that you are there. So take time out to meet people in person. Invite people over at home. Go visit their homes, meet outside – meet the way you all are comfortable.
• Call: Just to say hi or to ask how things have been and to share good news with them.
• Gifts: Give gifts – need not be very pricey but something which is useful for your friends.
• Email: You can send an email whenever you find something useful for your friends. This is different from sending an unending stream of email forwards. Do not send bulk emails. If you do not have time and intent to send a unique message to an individual then better not send it.
• Remember birthdays of friends and families: When you do that it tells people that you care for them and they have some importance in your life. Do not do it only for a year – but year after year. Great if you can do this for the families of your friends. Because when you do special things for people who matter to your friends – they will be happy and thankful to you.
• Send hand-written notes: There is so much of email these days and hand written notes make a distinct impact.

These are no tricks but just a small set of ideas to show that you genuinely care. Use these or use any of your special ways to tell people that you care and also that these people are important in your life.

To a beautiful life – for you and your loved ones.

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Take time to know yourself: This act alone will make your life easier and better at many fronts. You will be at ease with yourself and in such situation people around you will be happy being with you. When you know your talent and truth then you can help people better and provide genuine value.

Simple, if you do not have money how can you give it to somebody else. Also to share knowledge you first need to have some activated grey cells. Take time to know what is special about you and create your value offering around that.

If you are full of love then you will be able to give it other people. If you are full of hatred or negative energy then first realize this. Get a dose of love yourself from somebody who is flowing with it – a child or your guru. Then go out and change the world the way you want.

Do not make false promises: Deliver what you say you will. If you tell your friend that you will help him prepare the paper that you are good at then do it. Do not just walk back on your offer thinking that with your help his paper will become better than yours. You are right in thinking practically but there is no harm in finishing your paper first and then help your friend.

If you are making false promises on a regular basis then you are closing doors. What is the use of knowledge if you can’t share and spread it? Give joy and you get it back, same is true of love. Try it and your life will be never be the same, of course in a positive way.

Be a man of word if you want to be happy personally or grow professionally. Take your wife out on weekend on 15^th if you said so on 1^st. Email the presentation to your boss even if the meeting is postponed.

Only say that you will do it when you are 100% sure that you will be able to deliver. If you are too tired on weekend then share it with your friends who offered you to come and watch weekend movie. You can tell them this weekend you want to relax and be with family. You have no right to rob them of the joy they could have experienced if you were with them.

Be willing to help genuinely: If you have less time and want to help a lot of people them become a preacher or write a book. If what you have to offer is good then your words and ideas will and should reach out to a lot of people. Take time to gather your thoughts in an email, blog, PDF or create a video and send across to people who you think will appreciate getting it and will benefit from it.

Schedule time to give: In your day, week or month put set number of hours to help people and enrich their lives. Do not be overly sacrificing. Just keep a commonsensical number.

Secure your basic needs first: If you really want to give genuine value then you need to first secure you base. Do for your family first and think about the world later. It is not being self-centered but being responsible to people who rely on you for certain things.

Later when you have fulfilled your one major dream then go out on a mission to help.  Bill Gates did this. For close to 3 decades Microsoft was the main cause of his life. Having done his bit there he is now devoted to the cause of public service through “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation”.

This is not to suggest that you need to wait 30 years to show your philanthropic side to the world or you need to have the level of wealth Bill Gates has. But having secured your own and your family’s daily bread, you can focus better on causes that enrich soul.

Invest time in understanding human behavior and reach out: Before you can provide any value to a person you need to understand the real need. There are people out there who need help but do not ask. You need to reach out and share what can add value to their lives.

I am sure you will be able to find some workable ideas here and experience the REAL joy that comes from giving.

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You may be a student, a working professional, an entrepreneur or a retired lawyer. Whatever your profession or ‘karma’ (the divine duty) is; the fact remains that every one of us wants to be happy, healthy and successful.

You rush to your workplace in the morning, do a lot of grunt work throughout the day and sometimes work late in the evening trying to meet deadlines. While you are at work you somehow manage a hurried bite.

Day in and day out you follow this routine; to realize one day that you have gone out of shape. Chances are you will be affected by one of that deadly or not so deadly disease, if you follow the same routine for long.

These diseases can be avoided and you can be in state of Perfect Health. It is very simple, simple but not easy. It is not easy because it calls for breaking the moulds of old habits. Further, you will have to be friends with some new habits.

But before I share these habits with you, you should understand what Perfect Health is. Perfect Health means a state where you are free from all diseases physical or mental. When are in a state of Perfect Health, you have fair degree of enthusiasm towards life and ample energy to undertake your day to day tasks.

Now let’s get started on the journey of Perfect Health with 7 “golden” habits:

1. Eat Properly – “You become what you eat”, is an old saying and it is worth its weight in gold. So take a look at what you are eating. Eat properly.  It does not necessarily mean eating rich food. Right food is the one that is prepared with clean ingredients and in hygienic conditions. One must have ingredient is the love of the cook. Home cooked food tends to have all these ingredients – it is made with clean ingredients, in hygienic conditions with lots of love sprinkled (the cook here is mother or wife in most cases).

If you are eating outside you can say following prayer before you start eating.

“I thank you Mother Nature for giving me the best food on the planet, sprinkled with the love of people who made it.  With your blessings, it will give me a clear mind and healthy body.”

This prayer is important because the cooks in restaurants normally serve their duty and chances are they are tired when they are cooking for you. Add to it the meager salaries that are a norm in industry at all levels and you can be almost sure that the food you eat at a restaurant will be lacking the major ingredient of love. The above prayer may pacify that effect to some extent.

After the prayer, relish your food. Chew it properly. Better if you can avoid talking while you eat. Make sure that the restaurant you choose to eat is clean and provide a calm setting. Also remember not to overeat.

2. Take Proper Rest – This is very important if you wish your body and mind to be energetic. You should ensure proper sleep daily for yourself. 7-8 hours is fine. I suggest rising early and there is no denying the benefits; but use your common sense while practicing it. If you slept at 3:00 am then it does not make sense to get up at 5:00 or 6:00 am. The idea is to rise early but not at the cost of adequate sleep. Best strategy is to create a schedule where you can go to bed at a reasonable time (10-12 pm) depending on your situation and practice getting up early every day. A properly rested brain and body will result in increased energy levels, clarity of thoughts and ability to concentrate for longer duration. This will result in better academic performance for students and increased productivity and better results for professionals at work.

3. Exercise Regularly – Proper exercise is of utmost importance if you want to keep a healthy body. The logic is simple – exercise heats the blood, the heated blood is thinner and circulates freely in the body. Freely circulating heated blood creates sweat. This sweat helps eliminate toxins through skin. The best time to exercise is in the morning but you can choose time as per your convenience. Avoid eating a big meal at least 3-4 hours before you start exercising.