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It’s MY Birthday!

January 17, 2013 By: Mehroo28 Comments

2nd January 1975. It is the day I was born, at 7:10 am. Mum said I was in a big hurry to come out barely giving her time to reach the hospital! I guess I was wanting to make the most of my day – my birthday!

I love my birthday and ever since I look forward to it every year.

02/01/1983
“Happy Birthday Mehra!” Mummy gently wakes me up. I stir and feel groggy, effects of having slept late the night before since I was too excited, wanting to help out in decorating for my party. As I slowly open my eyes and get a kiss on my forehead, my lips curl into a slow but a big, wide smile. Realisation dawns – I am turning 8 today! I hug my mother and jump out of bed ready to begin my day. After the traditional ‘dudh-ful’ (milk-flower) bath, I get ready for the traditional ‘sagan’ where mummy makes me stand on a ‘patlo’ (short stool) and along with all the traditional offerings of a tika, flowers, a coconut and rice, I get my birthday gift which in the later years was given as cash in a ‘parbidiya’ (envelope). I am wearing my pretty, new dress which as the birthday girl I am allowed to wear in school today. I grab my bag and more important my pack of sweets (Ravalgaon mixed flavours) and hurry down to the car to take me to school.

‘Sagan’ on my 8th birthday
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Mehroo, Happy Birthday to you”, that plus two different versions are sung by my classmates for me as the morning lecture starts. “Two sweets only for every girl,” my teacher announces as I go around offering the sweets with a big, shy smile. Of course two sweets are to be kept on the teacher’s desk even before the distribution began! In my break time I go around looking for my favourite teachers to offer them sweets too. As the school day is coming to an end, I can’t contain my excitement about my birthday party this evening!

School friends at my 9th birthday party

It usually starts at 6:00 pm with my pretty friends walking in with prettier looking gifts. I place all the gifts in my room trying my best not to take a peek through any of them while the party is on. Wafers, boiled eggs, chutney sandwiches all start coming out and when Mum is done with the kitchen and everyone gets busy, she comes out to make us play our party games. ‘Simon says..Do this- do that’, she shouts out.

Playing ‘Simon says…’

“Pass the parcel slowly girls,” she admonishes us when some of us try to rid of the parcel by almost throwing it at each other, but my personal favourite game is 4-corners which I think I am the best at. I am not fond of this game called ‘Statue’ where I always lose since I can never control my laughter! Then of course it is time for cake-cutting. Like all other years, I get to select my own cake design this time as well, which is in the shape of a house. I have had a doll, a puppy, a cat, and even a swimming pool over the years!  So its “Happy Birthday” time again at the end of which Mummy puts a big piece of cake into my mouth.

The hand behind all the effort


Bursting the balloon filled with confetti

 At the same time the extra-large balloon that Mummy carefully stuffed yesterday with all kinds of lovely things and which was waiting for this particular moment is burst over my head showering me and most others with all the confetti, candies, pencils, erasers, whistles, buttons and whatever else! A mad scramble ensues and we are down on all fours trying to collect as many as possible. Meanwhile mum tries to take the cake away before it is attacked upon for its characters, but I still manage to dive in and take a nice, big piece for my dog who has been greedily watching me so far, drooling all over the place.

On my 10th birthday with my dog, Andy.


Finally the table is cleared for the last part of the party – Dinner!  Big heavy dishes start walking out of the kitchen and laid down carefully. But I have already had my fill of wafers and cake, so food doesn’t interest me too much. Mummy’s fruit salad after that is always a treat though and I heavily tuck into it. By the time the last guest leaves our house it is already quite late but not late enough to open my presents and I run to my room to start unwrapping the first of my many marvellous gifts!

Yet another giggling moment!

As I was searching through old albums looking for party photographs for this blog, I realised that I did not have to try too hard. There were enough photos taken of every party, every birthday cake, every year for both us sisters. In fact I had a very tough time trying to decide which ones to add here from the whole collection, as every photo carried a memory of the fun, the excitement, the childhood that is now left behind. It is amazing how many friends from the photographs I am still in touch with. Is it thanks to the social networking of today or is it due to the close bond that the society once shared that needed no ‘external’ link to make them communicate!

Among all this, one thing that I am sure about is that none of this – not the memoires, nor the friendships would have been possible without the untiring effort and supreme dedication of this one person in my life – My Mother! It’s MY birthday today only thanks to her!

Me, my mum, my sis (my cousin peeping out in the foreground)

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  1. My Zoe's Mum says

    January 18, 2013 at 1:12 am

    Happy Birthday… Have been visiting this blog, but am commenting for the 1st time. Love the way you have taken us through ur day… Birthdays back then were so special and so much fun.

    Reply
  2. Mehroo Turel says

    January 18, 2013 at 1:54 am

    Hi Falak, thanks for following my blog. Nice to know that you have been reading and enjoying my posts. Yes birthdays in our times were so simple and yet so enjoyable! I have to plan one soon for my boys in March…gives me the jitters!

    Reply
  3. Kavita Sanghvi says

    January 19, 2013 at 2:50 am

    Wow Mehroo….loved reading the blog and seeing the pictures. It sure brought back some good old memories. Your birthday parties were awesome and enjoyed thoroughly. I remember I would rush my mom to get ready and get me ready so we could get there early!

    Reply
  4. Reena says

    January 19, 2013 at 6:06 am

    Happy birthday Mehroo! Lovely post here and how nice to remember your mom on this special day! You have had some wonderful birthday parties, I agree those childhood parties are so much fun and so memorable! Really enjoyed reading this. Hope you have a great day and a wonderful year ahead!

    Reply
  5. Mehroo Turel says

    January 19, 2013 at 6:33 am

    Hi Reena,
    Thanks so much. Yes the parties were so much fun, enough for me to write a blog upon! The best part is that even today most of my school friends remember my party, in fact some details out here were given thanks to their help! And my mum always invited the WHOLE class, no matter what.
    Keep reading…

    Reply
  6. Mehroo Turel says

    January 19, 2013 at 6:35 am

    Hey Kavita, I am so happy I finally got you to come here and comment. Thanks for taking the effort. I love the giggly photo where Preeti, Amanda and I are tickling you, it is you – right? Come for a visit to HK soon.

    Reply
  7. Sri Valli says

    January 20, 2013 at 2:56 am

    Many many many more happy returns of the day Mehroo. Sweet and lovely photographs! Thanks for sharing your memories 🙂

    Reply
  8. AmitAag says

    January 20, 2013 at 2:56 am

    Many Happy Returns, Mehroo:)

    Reply
  9. Arti says

    January 21, 2013 at 6:18 am

    This was a very sweet recollection from your childhood diary, Mehroo! I could hear the fun, the laughter and all those sweet little giggles in all your pictures. Mums always know best and never fail to make it the most special for us… Wish you many many happy returns of the day, God Bless You 🙂

    Reply
  10. Mehroo Turel says

    January 21, 2013 at 6:31 am

    Thank you Amit! Thank you for visiting my blog.

    Reply
  11. Mehroo Turel says

    January 21, 2013 at 6:34 am

    Hi Valli,
    Thanks so much for your good wishes. Glad to know that your enjoyed reading this post. Sometimes I just can't decide what gives me more happiness – writing posts or getting nice comments?

    Reply
  12. Mehroo Turel says

    January 21, 2013 at 6:42 am

    Dear Arti, this is such a wonderful compliment coming from an experienced blogger like you. When someone tells me that they laughed with my blog or had tears in their eyes like for 'In Fond memory of my Pappa' post, it gives me so much satisfaction and full motivation to write yet another one! Thank you for visiting, thank you for your comment and blessings.

    Reply
  13. Mehernaaz says

    January 21, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    Hi Mehroo, I just read this blog and it made me smile. You look absolutely adorable as a little girl… and full marks for diving in to swoop a piece of cake for Andy 😀

    Your blog was great to read and your happpiness celebrating your birthdays contagious and made me smile as I read it 🙂 Keep the happiness going and have fabulous and memorable birthday parties for your boys xxx

    Reply
  14. dianasmusings says

    January 21, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    This post brings back beautiful childhood memories. Infact it reminded me of my childhood birthday parties which I enjoyed so much :)Loved to see the beautiful family pics.

    Reply
  15. Mehroo Turel says

    January 21, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    Dear Mehernaaz,
    Thanks for such a sweet comment. Glad to know that I made you smile and gave you a relaxed moment in your hectic working day, were you having your coffee at the same time? Yes I do intend to keep the tradition going for the boys year-after-year. Thank you.

    Reply
  16. Mehroo Turel says

    January 21, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    Hi Diana, I loved going through my childhood albums over and over again and would be very happy if someone would come and sit next to me and give me a chance to talk about each memory, each photograph. Thanks to technology today I can do just that! Thanks for your comment and do keep visiting my blog often.

    Reply
  17. Fayaz Pasha says

    January 22, 2013 at 1:46 am

    Hi, Just popped in through Indiblogger but glad that I got to know more about your blog, your life and family. First of all, belated birthday greetings!. It was truly sentimental to read the post about your papa. You are lucky that you spent some quality time with him a month before.

    My perspective is that we are all given a chance to direct a movie called LIFE. At the end only we watch when we get old. So, there's no editing to it. Hence, we need to make learned choices in life.

    If time permits, please do visit my blog.

    Best of luck.

    Reply
  18. Mehroo Turel says

    January 22, 2013 at 3:23 am

    Hi Fayaz, Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment. As a blogger you would know how good it feels to get one, specially a nice one like yours! I like your perspective about life and while we do try to make the best choices, sometimes it is nice to go with the flow. After all we all like "masala" in our movies too 🙂
    Will surely try to see your blog soon. Thanks again.

    Reply
  19. Kriti Kandhari says

    January 23, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    Woww, even I have been always excited about my birthdays!1 And that excitement is something I will never give up even when I get old! Really enjoyed reading through and lovely photographs indeed! Kudos!!

    Reply
  20. Mehroo Turel says

    January 23, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Hi Kriti, welcome to my blog. I believe this is your first comment out here, so a big thank you! Thank you again for your lovely compliment and nice to know that someone else shares the 'birthday' passion too. Stay tuned for more 🙂

    Reply
  21. dianasmusings says

    January 28, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Hi Mehroo ! I have nominated your name for the Liebster Blog award. Please follow the instructions provided in the link below

    http://dianasmusings.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/liebster-blog-award/

    Congratulations Mehroo and Happy Blogging 🙂

    Reply
  22. Mehroo Turel says

    January 28, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Hi Diana,
    An award! WOW! My first one ever so thank you so much for nominating my blog. Since this is my very first I clicked into the link right away and read the instructions. If I am correct I am supposed to answer al those questions, etc and put it up as a post right and also nominate 11 others. Interesting! Is there any history or other information to this award? Is it ok to use that Liebster image that you have on your post? Sorry silly questions, just very excited and want to make sure I do the right thing. Thanks again!

    Reply
  23. KronosAphrodite says

    February 1, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    WoW, you made me completely nostalgic with your recount! Love the way you blend your emotions so beautifully into words! Great writing – simple and honest! 🙂 Thumbs Up!

    Reply
  24. Mehroo Turel says

    February 1, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Dear Karuna, Thanks so much. It is these kind of words and comments that encourage me to write better, to write more. Keep visiting!

    Reply
  25. belleplante says

    February 2, 2013 at 4:09 am

    Made me soooo nostalgic.. I had forgotten what birthdays were like in school! Thank u for bringing it all back!

    U look so pretty in all the pics. And the giggles pic is ADORABLE..

    Reply
  26. Mehroo Turel says

    February 2, 2013 at 5:04 am

    Hi there, glad to know you could relive your memories with mine! I had so much fun writing this one.

    Reply
  27. BIndi says

    February 8, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    This brought back so many sweet memories, Mehroo! I literally went back in time for a few moments. Loved reading it.. A big hug to you and give one to Arnavaz aunty on my behalf. I think of her every time I play “Do this Do that” with my kids in school 🙂

    Reply
    • Mehroo says

      February 10, 2020 at 3:58 am

      You play “Do This Do That” with your school kids! Will certainly let mum know that 🙂 Your kids are blessed to have you as their teacher. Thanks so much for reading!

      Reply

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mehrooturel

BUSINESS COACH FOR WOMEN | Mom of 2 boys 👬
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That's one of our core values at Mums@PLAY, as we gathered today as vendors, sponsors, entrepreneurs - with our passion for what we do and our combined positive energy to make things happen! 

See you on Sunday at The Mother's Day Market

Date: Sun, May 5 • 11-5. 

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REGISTER HERE. 

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Such an honor to collaborate with the Hive and be Such an honor to collaborate with the Hive and be a part of this engaging panel, sharing the stage with brilliant minds and accomplished women entrepreneurs at the 'Celebrate HER Stories' event last Thursday. 

Thank you to The Hive team for this collaboration and invitation to share our stories with authenticity. 

Thank you HER Fund 婦女動力基金 for daring to create a change and empowering women. 

Thank you to my Mums@PLAY community members for showing your support! 

And lastly a big thank you to the audience for your active listening, those nods and smiles, as you related with our ups and downs of running a business and balancing our lives as women, mums and professionals. 

Look forward to more powerful collaborations and opportunities to engage and motivate! 

#womenentrepreneurship #womenleaders #hkwomen #thehivehk
When you take the same route every day You tend to When you take the same route every day
You tend to lose sight of the details,
The flower that just bloomed
The leaf that just fell
You're oblivious to the present
Your mind is overworked
With baggage from the past
And future that is yet to occur. 

Today I said STOP
I woke up at 5:45 this morning. My head filled wit I woke up at 5:45 this morning. My head filled with Sabs.

Saboteurs or Sabs as we ”lovingly” call them in our family are the negative voices in our head that tend to overwhelm or sabotage us. They are the relentless inner critics that often overpower and undermine us. Typically, I assert control over my mind, not letting them overpower me, centering myself on my senses….but not today.

Read the full blog here https://mehrooturel.com/2024/04/21/saboteur-discovery/

#saboteurs #positiveintelligence #pqcoach #certifiedcoach #icfcoacheshk #icfpcc #emotionsmatter
Boredom brings brilliance, ....taps into the reces Boredom brings brilliance,
....taps into the recesses of our sub-conscious mind to bring about #creativity and #curiosity. But I also think that boredom could also lead us to dark dungeons of the past or apprehensions about the future, and if these thoughts are not controlled, they can lead to overwhelm and stress. 

Taking control of our thoughts becomes so important specially in the 45-sec attention span that we have.

Self-command, that is taking control of our own mind, in this fast-paced, tech driven world becomes not only important, but a necessity. 

Here are some examples of how you can practice command over your mind while still at work

- Take a walk to get your coffee (focus solely on your feet and the steps you are taking)

- Zone out of your computer by closing your eyes and taking two deep breaths, really focusing on the inhale-exhale pattern 

- Stare out of the window or stare into your laptop - really focusing on one thing and one thing only. 

- Close your eyes for ten seconds when you are having your lunch, and really taste your food or hear the ambient sounds around you. 

Just focus on your senses every few hours and see how differently you tend to handle your day and the challenges that are thrown in front of you. 

Have a great week ahead!
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In the chaos and constant stimulation of our world In the chaos and constant stimulation of our world, the mind often finds itself caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts, worries, and distractions. It seems as if it never rests, always churning with an incessant stream of internal dialogue. But amidst this perpetual motion, there lies a profound and transformative power—𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱

Imagine a vast, serene lake reflecting the beauty of its surroundings. Its surface is undisturbed, allowing the depths below to reveal their hidden treasures. In much the same way, the mind possesses an inherent stillness that, when cultivated, can lead to immense 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆.

Yet, achieving this stillness is no easy task. It requires practice, patience, and a gentle surrender to the present moment. We must 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 of our attachments, expectations, and the constant need to control. Only then can we begin to peel away the layers of mental noise and enter into a state of profound tranquility.

In this stillness, we discover that 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘂𝘀. We are not limited to the boundaries of our transient emotions or fleeting desires. Instead, we tap into the potential of pure awareness—an expansive, timeless space where the mind can rest and rejuvenate.

I often say that 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿, flowing, moving, splashing, having fun, but once in a while, the river needs to slow down and pause at an interim lake or pool to replenish its energy and nourish its waters. The pausing is not an end to its journey but a necessary part of its flow.

Learn to attain this stillness once every few hours. It will not take up your time, rather it will be the best investment of your time, as you get back to your work with renewed energy, vigour and creativity. 

Get in touch if you need help https://calendly.com/mehroo

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Wishing you a relaxing Sunday .... Enjoy your coff Wishing you a relaxing Sunday .... Enjoy your coffee, read the news, smile, laugh, take a nap.... just do what makes you feel good in the moment 🍹 😀 🌞 🌻 

#sunday
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