Confessions of a 86 year old

My dear father, Shyam Bhave, has been an inspiration, a guide & a rock solid support in my life. He celebrated his 86th birthday today and this is what he had to tell me about the secrets of his long, happy & healthy life -

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5 Bollywood songs & 5 additional tips 😊

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(1) कुछ तो लोग कहेंगे, लोगोंका काम है कहना (Translation - Some people will talk, it is their job to talk)

I led a happy life because I did not pay attention to what people said about me

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(2) ज़िंदगी की यही रीत हैं, हार के बाद ही जीत है (Translation - This is the way of life, only after defeat is victory)

I had no worries even when I failed as I knew that failures are followed by success

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(3) में ज़िंदगी का साथ निभाता चला गया, हर फ़िक्र को धुएँ में उड़ाता चला गया (Translation - I went on partnering with life, blowing every worry into smoke)

I enjoyed my failures & did not worry too much about them as I knew that ups & downs are a part of life & follow each other

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(4) किसी की मुस्कुराहटों पे हो निसार, किसी का दर्द मिल सके तो ले उधार

किसी के वासते हो तेरे दिल में प्यार, जीना इसी का नाम है (Translation - Be on someone's smile, borrow someone's pain, have love in your heart for someone; this is the meaning of life)

Try not to hurt anybody, you will be happy.

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(5) यारी है मेरी ईमान, मेरा यार मेरी ज़िन्दगी (Translation - Friendship is my faith, friendship is my life)

Friends have been very important in my life. The friend circle formed in college days 70 years back is still active

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The other 5 tips included the following:

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(1) Health is Wealth, invest time & effort in that - I started exercising from college days, used to walk & use stairs as much as possible & still do.

(2) Daily discipline in life is important – I wake up early and have a daily schedule including tasks like cooking, listening to music, going out to do activities like shopping & banking work

(3) Be careful about what you eat - I do not do any diet but prefer vegetarian food with less spices and less sugar.

(4) Always have goals in life - My next goal in life is just to enjoy life & be happy, everyday

(5) Be independent - I started doing part time jobs during college days & have always been financially independent & physically too.

 

That’s it.

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Thank you so much & Happy Birthday Baba (that’s what I call him)