Portal of Midlife

The portal of midlife,
is a delicate difficult junction,
of change and challenges.
Lets give each other
another chance
to greet our older selves
with new eyes.
Hold my hand
and cross this threshold together…
Let’s renew “our space” again.

Over the years we have learnt, there cannot be two alphas in a relationship. When both partners have a strong individual identity, they often need to balance between playing alpha and beta as per the need of their life’s situation.

Marriage and Family cannot be an individual championship. It's a team sport, where each member needs to play at multiple positions.

When one partner gets to enjoy the limelight of playing center forward, the other partner shall guard the goal and play goalkeeper, at times filling in to be the defender as well. Grown up children eventually step in to play at mid level, helping both partners as required.

Currently, I think I am the goal keeper and sometimes, the referee. I got my chance to play center forward and be in the limelight. I will give the boys a chance to shine now at their positions.

Generally, males are programmed to have more 'doing’ energy while females to have more of a ‘receiving’ energy. If the woman has very strong beliefs and opinions, she sometimes needs to deliberately switch on her receiving energy in a marriage yet continue her 'giving energy’ in a family.

This is the delicate challenge that midlife presents in a marriage. As we count 19 years of married life, it's the portal of midlife which we must cross carefully together, helping each other along the way.

I hope this year steers us to the direction that aligns with our life’s true purpose.

:: Our 19th Anniversary pictures began at the Lempuyang Temple , Bali this Spring,  but the real celebration was a cycle ride date night in Abu Dhabi. We went to the posh hotel on our cycles, had a drink at the rooftop bar that windy evening in September and then cycled back, me, wearing a dress with trainers and a helmet, French style! This has been my favourite so far! Perfectly age-appropriate!:: 

:: Lempuyang Temple, Bali :: 

:: The Portal of Midlife ::

Through Thick and Thin

Eighteen years ago, 

the delicate golden rings we exchanged,
have now turned into thick robust copper bands!

#eighteenyearstogether #throughthickandthin #happyanniversary #souvenirsfromsarajevo 

Creative Collaboration

Khalil Gibran has said - - - “Let there be spaces in your togetherness.  Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup…”  

As we celebrate 17 years of married life and 22 years of togetherness, I can say, it's the ‘SPACES in our togetherness’ that have kept us together all these years. Like being in the same room, but dancing to your own heart’s tune…

My idea of love was never the goody-goody type. Definitely NOT about the guy going down on his knees, offering diamonds to the girl. It was more about having a creative life partner, you want to grow old with. Someone who could give me constructive criticism about my work, with whom I could discuss design, art, photography and everything creative; who could push me into doing more than I thought I could. It was about making beautiful handcrafted things for each other, cooking for each other…And with Krishna, it's been exactly this! 

Once during our dating times, I had asked Krishna to make a portrait of me, just like he used to for our professors and friends. When I saw my completed sketch portrait, it highlighted my thin eyebrows, crooked nose, pimples, not the most flattering hairstyle and dark circles under my eyes!!! A part of me was angry, but the other half was actually happy. I had received my mirror of reality! This was one solid guy, who I knew , would never try to impress me with fake compliments. He would keep me grounded. He would be my best critic. And that day I asked him to be my architect partner for our future dream home!!!

Since then, we have had a healthy, creative competition going on.  The latest is about who makes better chicken? Or who is better at sketching! 

I am winning at the chicken one these days. Our boys are the judges, also bitten by the creative bug that architecture has sown in our minds back in college days. 

I cannot imagine my mornings without the best steamy cup of tea that Krishna has been making for the past 17 years!! There is no competition at tea making…I am willing to lose each time!

With increasing wrinkles,

smiles seem wider.

Hair salt-n-pepper,

but conversations, spicier.

Celebrations, simpler;

Experiences, richer.

Drinks become milder,

but Life’s half full cup, 

bigger and better!

Looking forward to a continued creative collaboration. 

Cheers to the spaces in our togetherness.

#happyanniversary #17years #spacesinourtogetherness #creativecollaboration

:: Creative Collaboration ::

Better by the Dozen

Celebrating twelve years of good times...

Mykonos Terrace

1 Landscape Architect + 1 Architect = 11 Years Celebration Space !!

Drama By Night

Festival of Lights at Mykonos Terrace!

...I paint you a little bit of Greece!