Blog Archives
Mind, Body, and Spirit
One Fine Day inspires readers to overcome adversity and embrace life by sharing candid but ultimately uplifting stories from your life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I felt grateful and thankful that I had survived the massive and rare stroke and was fortunate to have this second lease on life. I had done so many treatments/therapies in Western and Eastern medicine to help me heal my mind, body, and spirit. I wanted to give back to society somehow by sharing my stories, experiences, lessons learned from my journey to help others going through any adversity or life changes. I also wrote it as a letter of gratitude to the hundreds of compassionate caregivers, family, friends, colleagues, and supporters in both my adopted country and my country of birth. As I wrote the memoir, I also realized that doing it was also helping my healing.
I appreciated the personal stories you shared in the book. What was the hardest part of yourself to share with readers?
I am a very private person by nature. As I was documenting very openly many personal things in my life, it definitely made me anxious and that was the hardest part. The other thing which was hard for me was to decide on whether to use real or fictitious names for family, friends, and the various health care providers and caretakers in India and the US to ensure their privacy. In the end I decided to use real names for some – first or last names only, but for others used full names when it was required. It just did not feel right using fictitious names. Also I wanted to thank the many people who aided in my recovery and saved my life.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
There were many ideas,tips and suggestions I wanted to share based on my experience. So through out the book I included them in a grayed out text box.
Some ideas/tips were:
- The importance of enrolling in Long Term Disability Insurance (LTD) during Open enrollment. Many folks don’t do it or not aware of it.
Thank goodness I had signed up for it. It has kept me afloat. - The importance of talking with a clinical psychologist to help you heal from whatever adversity or life changes you are facing.
- The importance of doing yoga and meditation to give you the best chance to heal your mind, body and spirit.
- The importance of being independent in your healing – ordering online groceries using Instacart, and using Uber to go about doing your business.
- The importance of contributing to Social Security from your paycheck and how the benefits you receive are not a handout by the government, but based on what you pay in to the system.
- The importance of periodically eating and finishing food from the fridge and pantry first and then only order new groceries.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
That we all are one fine day from a new normal and we have to be prepared to accept those life changes with positivity, grace and gratitude.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
One fine day, unimaginable tragedy happened to Sameer Bhide. His entire life came crashing down, starting with a life-changing, debilitating stroke, the loss of work, and a divorce. One Fine Day is the amazing story of his struggle to come back from the brink with the help of a diverse community of friends and caretakers, as well as an integration of Western medicine with Eastern holistic care. Sameer’s example of positivity, gratitude, and grace will help you accept a new normal— whatever it may be—as a gift. In sharing his personal story, experiences, ideas, approaches, and suggestions, he hopes One Fine Day will help readers:
> build resilience to face any life change or adversity
> find positivity, express gratitude, and build perseverance in the healing process
> look at the unexpected benefits and find possibilities in any life change
> find possibility where most people would see none (the art of the possible)
> adjust to a new life that they may not have chosen
> supplement cutting-edge Western medicine with holistic Eastern medicine and care
How to Manage Food, Booze, Stress, Sex, Sleep, and Exercise on Campus
The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed provides readers with health tips and information they’ll need to manage the obstacles they face in college. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Taking care of yourself in college can be difficult because there’s no training for it! Most students are better prepared to pick their major or talk to strangers than they are to put themselves on a sleep schedule or navigate the dining hall three times a day. We both struggled with our health in college because we had no idea what to expect, which meant we couldn’t be proactive and didn’t know what to do when things got hard. Furthermore, the bad habits we developed in the early years of college were difficult to break! After a group of my senior runners (I’m a HS XC coach) expressed concern about the survival of their current good habits in the campus setting, Dave and I felt compelled to help them prepare.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about their health?
The biggest health concern many college students have before they get to campus is the “Freshman 15.” While weight gain can be a byproduct of unhealthy habits, taking care of yourself is so much larger than a number on a scale. A variety of factors can negatively affect the way we feel – stress, stagnation, lack of sleep, toxic relationships, overconsumption of alcohol – and it’s too limiting to assess how you’re faring in the college (or any) setting based simply on whether or not you can still fit into the pants you packed when you left home. Rather than focusing on how to change a number on the scale, students should be focusing instead on figuring out what routines and practices make them feel good physically, mentally and emotionally.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
We wanted to make it clear that “being healthy” isn’t a level you reach in life. Feeling good is fluid. Sometimes you’ll be able to prioritize yourself and other times you won’t. At various points and for various reasons, your health will get put on the backburner. And that’s OK! It’s NORMAL. We argue that getting off track and feeling physically, mentally, or emotionally terrible at some point is to be expected, but that also it’s also completely possible to turn things around when you’re there. It’s even easier when you have the tools. We wanted to offer college students tips for getting back back on track while also communicating the idea that starting again is nothing to be disappointed about or surprised by. In fact, learning how to course correct can help build your self-esteem and will ultimately become easier over time.
What was the writing collaboration process like with author Dave Henry?
Writing this book together definitely added a new dynamic to our marriage. To start, we have very different work styles. Dave is a creative right-brained thinker who likes to see the big picture before proceeding. I’m an A-type left-brainer all the way, so I work best on a rigid schedule. We struggled at times because of those differences, but the final product benefited tremendously from our respective strengths. For instance, Dave’s ability to patiently finesse sections improved the writing in many areas, and I made sure that we stayed on schedule and covered all of our talking points as we went. While we are opposites in a lot of ways, we are similar in that we both tend to bring an enormous amount of passion and energy to everything that we do – we met coaching sports after all! When we’re fired up, it’s hard to stop the train. This project was fueled by our love for the material and for the students who inspired it. It’s been life-changing getting to work together. Every exciting new development is ours to celebrate, and every disappointment is an excuse to eat ice cream and get over it. And frankly, whatever happens from here is just a bonus. We both feel like we’ve already won – we’re so proud of this book and are thrilled to have finished this race together.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Every fall, around eight million young adults crash into college fired up for the best four years of their lives, ready to experience campus life, take classes about things they’re interested in, and meet people from all over the world. Most students, however, are better prepared to pick their major or talk to strangers than they are to take care of themselves in the college setting. College students today are more depressed, anxious, and stressed than previous waves of students; they’re also more sedentary, not really exercising, and living in a meal-plan limbo supplemented with ramen and coffee.
In this comprehensive field guild, high school coaches Jill and Dave Henry break down the facts and deliver doable, no-BS strategies for managing physical and mental health on campus. In addition to helpful, interactive graphics, the coaches share their relatable true stories—ranging from the ridiculous to the serious—to discuss the five biggest health obstacles students face in college. On top of research-backed tips, The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed also features raw and personal advice from current students on college campuses across the country.
While simply figuring out what to eat and how to exercise can be completely overwhelming, this guide goes beyond a basic crash course on how to be healthy. Jill and Dave cover everything from crucial time-management skills to the complex sensitivity of self-doubt, sexual assault, and depression with humor, humility, and heart. The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed is a complete road map for how to take care of your mind and body that will not only set students up to crush the next four years, but will also provide a foundation they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Quick Quirks, A Quick Book
Quick Quirks a Quick Book is a book that will have you think about everything in life. The language you speak, your encounters, relations, things that you see on your way home, human interaction and everything in between. Benjamin Anderson came up with a variety of topics; some related, others not, and shared his thoughts on each of them. Reading the author’s thoughts and notes was stimulating as it gives one a different view of things. Benjamin Anderson is easy with his pen. He does not write complex and neither does he get technical with his work.
Benjamin Anderson is entertaining. The reader gets to chuckle after every few lines thanks to the author’s amusing takes when narrating. The author’s narration is captivating and gets one glued on the text. Each chapter has a different sense from the previous. Every topic is distinctly put and gives the reader something to think about. The author could be talking about something as simple as trees but his way of expressing his text will have you keen to follow the entire paragraph. One of the greatest elements in Benjamin Anderson’s writing is how he twists his texts while introducing new discussions and words. You enjoy reading Benjamin Anderson’s book because he includes interesting phrases and sayings that are not only witty but also educative.
The chapter on Sarcasm-ism was one of my favorite in the book. Wonder where sarcasm originated? Anderson will have you think about this and give you hints on how it started. He explains in detail what sarcasm is, how it is used and why it is an important element in language. The author asks questions, and answers them in the next line, giving one the satisfaction of understanding the topic being discussed. I loved this particular chapter the most as the author made sarcasm seem like a new topic to me. He explained the nitty gritties with this figure of speech and even used examples in sentence form to expound further. This topic also gets the reader to think about language in general and how fun simple elements of language are.
Other favorite chapters in the book included those that the author discussed include ‘For Argument’s Sake’, Of Jokes and Essay’, and ‘Use the Force of Nature’. These topics were the most hilarious and also the most enlightening for me. You get to discover new writing skills by the author when you read the chapters. Quick Quirks a Quick Book is a short but enlightening book that will make you feel smarter and keep you thinking long after you’ve put the book down.
Pages: 62
My Ironman 70.3 Dream
A Turbulent Mind: My Journey to Ironman 70.3 shares your inspiring story that will encourage triathletes and motivate any reader. Why was this an important book for you to write?
When I visited India in September 2018, after finishing my first Ironman 70.3 race, I was asked numerous questions by people about open water swimming and what it takes to do a triathlon. Many expressed their fear towards water which prohibited them from even learning how to swim. There were others who were keen to participate in a triathlon someday. I could empathie with their concerns since I too had similar inhibitions. At that time, I decided to pen down my triathlon journey-how I overcame my fear of open water swimming and went on to do a grueling race like the Ironman 70.3 in a year’s time. Barring one or two, there weren’t too many books on triathlons written by Indians and that too by recreational athletes. My purpose of penning down this book was a way to reach out to other aspiring triathletes to inspire them to overcome their fears and reach their goal. Incidentally even non-runners or non-triathletes have managed to resonate with the book.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you before training for a triathlon?
For a triathlon and especially Ironman 70.3 race, you end up doing two workouts in a day. At one point, I felt I had no time for anything else. I wish someone had advised me on how to balance your time between training and your personal and professional life.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What were some moments that were important for you to share in this book?
Thank you. Yes, while writing memoir, it’s important to be honest and authentic. Only then will readers be able to relate and empathize with your journey. Some of the most important moments that I wanted to share in this book was the loneliness that I experienced in the Bay Area, particularly amidst the Business School community. The feelings of depression and loneliness was what steered me towards a triathlon in the first place. Another important moment was to write about my childhood fears, my first open water swim and my decision to almost give up my Ironman 70.3 dream. These were also hard to write as there was always this fear of what reads would think of me. Would I seem too whiny? At the end of the day, I am glad I wrote them as these were some of the important moments in my journey.
What are your future triathlon plans?
I will continue doing Olympic distances and Ironman 70.3 races. My ultimate goal is to do a full Ironman which is the 140.6 distance. Maybe in a couple of years down the line. My target race is Ironman California.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
I wasn’t ready to put myself through a gruelling training regime. At the same time I had to conquer my fear of swimming in open water and lay those inner demons to rest. When I completed my first Sprint distance Triathlon, I was elated. It motivated me to pursue this sport called Triathlon for which I developed passion over time. Ultimately, I followed my dream of crossing the finish line of the Ironman 70.3, to consider myself worthy of something.
For those of you who are thinking about getting into this sport, this book
will motivate you to take that plunge. And for the rest of us triathletes, you will find a part of yourself in the chapters of this book.
Happy reading and keep ‘Tri’-ing!
One Fine Day
One fine day, is an exhilarating and inspiring autobiography of Sameer Bhide. The author chose to express his gratefulness to each and every person that has contributed in his recovery after suffering a debilitating weakness. Sameer Bhide’s life changes one fine day when he has a stroke. He was in a coma for about a month. Despite trying both eastern and western treatments, the question ‘why me?’ keeps striking him incessantly. As he progresses into recovery, he adopts a mantra, ‘it is what it is’. Surprisingly, it alters his ‘why me’ attitude to ‘try me’.
I found author Sameer Bhide to be an embodiment of optimism. He always looks at the brighter side of things. He is a loving father, affectionate husband, and a caring son. His gratefulness to life and every aspect associated with it makes him inspiring. When a bad or unpleasant event takes place people lament over it blaming everyone else except themselves. But Sameer was wise. When he and his wife got divorced he was of course sad, but he quickly recalls his mantra, it is what it is, and instead of crying over spilled milk, he cherished all the moments he spent with his dearest wife and wished her well from the bottom of his heart. This bears testimony to the universal fact that acceptance brings peace. Despite his firm belief in the aforementioned fact, he did not wish to write much about his divorce and it was clearly stated that he would not want to discuss it further. I found this a bit contradictory. Nevertheless, it’s a personal choice.
Despite a debilitating weakness, new normal, and a heart-wrenching divorce, Sameer Bhide remained happy portraying unparalled strength. Sameer’s case also bears testimony to the widely acknowledged truth that the love of family and friends is the best medicine especially to emotional trauma.
One Fine Day shows readers how everything is incumbent on your attitude toward life and that happiness is a deliberate choice. This book can prove to be a magnanimous asset to the people that need hope and strength in life. One Fine Day delivers a potent message of inspiration with riveting anecdotes, uplifting words, and thought-provoking ideas that will motivate you to embrace life.
Pages: 260 | ASIN: B08PZHJBTM
The Entrepreneurial Guide: The Key Principles of Building and Growing Your Business
![The Entrepreneurial Guide: The Key Principles of Building and Growing Your Business by [Dr. Srikanth Gaddam]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41FFszDamSL.jpg)
There are many ways a business venture can go wrong. Starting a business of your own requires much more than an idea and a dream to make it happen. Without thorough plans and the drive to follow through with each and every step, a business is bound for failure. Setting out to head up a successful business requires an entire set of steps many of us may never realize. From making sure you have a product that is both desirable and marketable to ensuring you have room for your business to grow and thrive, there is a lot to consider.
The Entrepreneurial Guide: The Key Principles of Building and Growing Your Business, by Dr. Srikanth Gaddam, is a concise handbook that brings together all the tips and reminders any entrepreneur would need. Gaddam answers every possible question one could have when initializing the steps to start a business. The author has gone to great lengths to address the specifics of planning, maintaining motivation, and examining risks. While all of the ins and and outs of starting a business can seem overwhelming, Gaddam has managed to make the steps readable, easily digestible, and tremendously helpful.
I appreciated the overall tone of Gaddam’s book–it’s a wonderfully positive one. Cover to cover, the author breaks down otherwise difficult concepts into segments readers can easily grasp. In addition, the focus on the entrepreneur and his/her role is a significant one. Gaddam succeeds in building up the budding business owner’s self-esteem and, possibly, stands as his/her first cheerleader.
One of the most important and powerful aspects of Gaddam’s writing is the emphasis placed on aligning one’s vision with others involved in the venture to create a truly successful business. I have seen many small businesses go under due to differences between stakeholders–there were just too many minds moving in too many different directions. Gaddam not only emphasizes the importance of a shared vision, he also provides readers with specific instructions and advice on how to do so.
The Entrepreneurial Guide: The Key Principles of Building and Growing Your Business is a succinct but powerful guide to building a business and realizing dreams. This book will serve as an important resource for anyone researching ways to build a profitable business from the ground up. I highly recommend this read to anyone still sitting on an idea, wondering if they have what it takes to make it.
Pages: 143 | ASIN: B08XTGMLWT
A Turbulent Mind
![A Turbulent Mind: My Journey to Ironman 70.3 by [Swetha Amit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41arIz1ybqL.jpg)
A Turbulent Mind: My Journey to Ironman 70.3 is a motivational book that will have you focus on your strengths and prioritize the most important things in life. The author uses experiences from her life and lessons learned to pass the message of hope and resilience to readers. Shweta Amit uses simple but inspiring language that speaks directly to readers. She is candid in her writing and tells it as it is. Not many people get to open up and be vulnerable to the world the ways Shweta Amit does. I particularly like her style of writing because she considers people from different backgrounds when discussing the various topics in the book. A Turbulent Mind: My Journey to Ironman 70.3 will make you feel like you belong and that your presence is felt.
Shweta Amit shares her journey to achieving the Ironman 70.3. It was never easy but she pushed through. What inspired me about Shweta’s journey was that she made her story relatable to many. She writes about every experience, even the most minute. For someone who had a fear of open water swimming, Shweta really outdid herself. Her story is heartening. Her words will touch that cycler who is afraid of trying the next challenge, runners that feel like giving up and that athlete who is not consistent with their training sessions, and anyone who wants more for themselves.
The author starts by introducing the basics before delving deeper into her life, making the reader understand where she is coming from. If you are looking for an inspirited memoir with amusing and uplifting stories then A Turbulent Mind: My Journey to Ironman 70.3 is the right book for you. Shweta Amit writes beautifully and gets to be funny when narrating some of her experiences. I liked the humor part as it brought levity to overall serious tone of the book, which makes agonizing stories a little less depressing. Her main message is don’t stop.
A Turbulent Mind: My Journey to Ironman 70.3 is a short but engaging memoir. Every experience chronicled is impactful. I liked that the author wrote about her wins, losses, and challenges candidly. This inspirational memoir has the potential to change your life and your outlook on life.
Pages: 162 | ASIN: B08FYWJK82
The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed
![The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed: How to Manage Food, Booze, Stress, Sex, Sleep, and Exercise on Campus by [Jill Henry, Dave Henry]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51EDKFItMwL.jpg)
The Greatest College Health Guide by authors Jill and Dave Henry is a resourceful health guide that will help readers maintain their physical and mental health during their college years. When students enter college life it becomes easy to lose yourself in your studies, and the parties, and forget about your health. With a crazy study schedule, long nights, early morning, fraternities, parties, and a poor lifestyle how can you make health a priority? This book breaks through all those barriers by providing simple but effective information and tips to help you stay happy and healthy. This guide to health will provide readers with healthy habits that will help them in college, and as adults.
Authors Jill and Dave Henry wrote this book to build health-awareness that students lose after awhile. A lot of the bad habits that are mentioned in this book are some that I myself have grown accustomed to during my time in college. These tips are helpful because they can eliminate a lot of stress that you have or will experience in college. The tone of this book is casual but is still perfect for someone to easily understand and take seriously.
I dove deep into the chapter about stress because I didn’t nurture my mental health until later on in my life. If I read a book like this during my time in school, I’m sure I would’ve saved myself from numerous panic attacks. Using healthy mental health practices is extremely important no matter what stage you are in your life. This chapter featured candid personal stories as well as handy stress management tips. These tips are useful because they’re simple and effective, perfect for the on-the-go student.
This health guide also touches on the effect that relationships have on a student’s mental health. From friendships to sexual relationships, this chapter explains why evaluating relationships are important. A lot of relationships that we’ve treasured in the past become meaningless in the future because we can only see people for who they are when we are no longer in a relationship with them. The authors write about relationships in a way that feels insightful yet conversational.
The Greatest College Health Guide delivers sagely advice with a bit of humor and lots of facts. This is a very handy guide that will ensure you live a happier and healthier life. Download it on your Kindle, keep it handy, and reference it often.
Pages: 264 | ASIN: B08BZWBRBR
