tarasharmashow

[tarasharmashow]

A v #HappyNewYear all! Gosh just realised yet again it is exactly this day one year ago I last posted..I am determined blog more often this year:) Lots of good wishes and love

A v #HappyNew Year! I notice it is one year ago that I last posted here and that is shocking!! I am determined to post more often but first good wishes for you everyone us all forever good health, joy, love, success, being kind, humble, good people. wealth and more touch wood:).

Any resolutions or special wishes? Do write in.

As mentioned, as I post regularly on @instagram @youtube @facebook and even @LinkedIn , I sort of find that a form of blogging so technically I do post consistently and often but as I enjoy writing and I hope you enjoy reading, I do. hope to blog more.

Lots of updates and loads to hear from all of you but as this is a hasty HNY post, zipping it now. Have a super rest of day all and do keep interating!

Tarataratara!

[tarasharmashow]

A v #HappyNewYear all! Gosh last posted yonks ago apologies! Here's to 2024 and forever being amazing for us all with great health joy love success wealth humility peace in the world and no suffering touch wood:)

A v #happynewyear all! 

Here's to 2024 and forever being amazing for us all with great health, joy, love, safety, success, wealth, humility, peace for all, and no suffering touch wood:). It's hard to say Happy NY when one is so aware of the suffering that exists in the world, but as an eternal optimist, hope and prayers for all to be well, pervade.

I notice my last post was wishing you last year with a similar photo! Gosh, apologies! Had no idea and had every intention to post more often. So I will from now on. But to be fair I guess it's also because I am regular on insta and other social media platforms so get lazy about longer updates here. So please do join our communities on those too!

Do write your news, would love to hear.

As for us, lots happening.

The Archies film released. I am only a little role, but grateful for the kind reviews and feedback I got as Mary Andrews. Do watch it on @netflix if you haven't yet. Mixed reviews, but we loved it, The kids too. Kudos all involved.

Working on trying to bring #TheTaraSharmaShow Season 6 back on.

Zen and Kai are growing fast and busy with school and sport and all else. Too much to update in one post so just a little one to say grateful they enjoy all they do and Kai got scouted into Mumbai City FC (Footballl Club) Youth squad so now plays for them and Zen lots of tennis. Both Zen and Kai love performing and Model UNs etc and enjoy their academics by and large and we enjoy watching them develop new interests and passionately pursue their passions.

And yep teenage years, so we all fight a lot too haaha, but love is at the core of it all. I go quite nuts often but guess that's all part of the incredible journey of parenting, as my show and this blog's first tag line, from over 12 years ago reiterates!

@roopaksaluja and #BANGBANG keep up the hard work ...with new and exciting paths being forged.

Mum aka Gaaga to our kids loves her farm time and art and museum interests and more.

Onward and upward for us all touch wood:).

So many more things to say, photos to post and more and of course so much to hear from all of you so do please share and whether anyone reads these or not I will attempt to write more. Ah and yes some progress on #MixedThatsUs , will update soon.

Back to wish number 1, may we all be fine forever touch wood:)..

In the midst of moving home, in the same building but still boxes and more to pack and unpack so getting on with it so once again going to make this short. Our best wishes all and stay in touch. TaraTaraTara!

[tarasharmashow]

A v HAPPY NEW YEAR and wishes for all good things for us all this year and forever touch wood:)...And Yipee just saw my #TheTaraSharmaShow YouTube Channel is almost at 14 MILLION view all organically Please SUBSCRIBE

Hi Hi! My Dear Blogamily and once again apologies for another long hiatus between posts but as social media is the immediate and consistent medium that has us all in touch we are constantly connected! HAPPY NEW YEAR to us all! Here is to wishes for good health, joy, love, success, kindness, empathy, success and all other good things for us all forever touch wood:)!

How are all of you? Do write in with news.. Would love to hear.

Here is our annual HNY photo...same location as the last several years and same resistance from all to stand and pose even when promised it will only be a few seconds haaha! The teller of time is our kids’ heights. Zen taller than me Kai getting there. There are 3 dogs in this picture but one seems to be hidden in there somewhere haaha!

As always I am bursting with so much to share and a desire to hear back from all of you too, but alas, rushing between things and as happens in posts after a while, not sure where to start, so suffice to say I really will write more regularly and in fact as I am trying to write a new show / book / film, not sure what it will be, there will be lots more writing on here henceforth.

Last year saw a return to normalcy for us all after the 21ish months of covid lockdowns and more. Needless to say it had been a very strange time yet as an eternal optimist I did look for the silver linings and we all got through but being back to real normal things is and was fab! Prayers for those who went through very touch time and tragedy.

School for our kids, real, physical school topped the back to life list. Then gradually letting go of masking when safe to do so. The long awaited amazing family trips and holidays. Travel. Me back acting in a big film, The Archies. My standard joke that goes with that revelation - ‘I am not Betty, I am not Veronica, I am the Mother!’ Haahha, took me a while to accept playing the role of Archie’s Mum in the film, but they are young stylish cool Mums and a film directed by fab Zoya Akhtar with the super cast and crew it has, was an immediate yes for me, when I got picked post auditioning. Will reveal more about it nearer release but yes, good to be back on the big screen and I hope you all like my work and it is all a success touch wood:)!

Now onto creating new work. Have a few things up my sleeve and hoping to make them happen successfully touch wood:).

@roopaksaluja and #BANGBANG continue to work hard and as they do more in the production and content creation space with long form global content potential blockbusters in development I hope they succeed too touch wood:).

Football has become an even bigger part of our lives. It helped us loads in lockdown being a release and surprisingly exciting regular source of joy and fitness as our family played lots. Kai plays football for BARCA Elite now and Zen and him for school and us managing to go to Qatar for a #WorldCup match reiterates the joy sport and football brings to us all. 

#YogaWithTara that I began at the start of lockdown and unexpectedly continued bi weekly for over 2 yrs and in fact still do at least once a week helped keep me going too and is and was a super way to stay in touch with my communities. #SaturdayNoonLiveWithTara too.

Again, as this began as a HNY wish, I hadn’t  intended to ramble, but clearly I have, so will zip it now, but will say au revoire with a bit of exciting news that only just came to me... Our #TheTaraSharmaShow @youtube​ channel is at almost 14 MILLION VIEWS all organically!!! Thank you all. The amazing guests, sponsors, our kids Zen and Kai, for being the inspiration behind me starting teh show over 12 years ago now, our fab Team TSS and all of you, our viewers The episodes are timeless and listening to people like #RohitSharma #ViratKohli #SunilChhetri and other inspiring guests now, I am just as motivated and moved and hope you are too. So please do head to the channel, watch, subscribe and share and yes I hope to bring more seasons with more exciting guests on successfully soon touch wood:). Same goes for all my platforms, do please join me there too. As mentioned as I post regularly on insta, YT and FB, I am guilty as charged of sometimes neglecting my blog, but will try and be more regular. Here are my links:

https://www.instagram.com/tarasharmasaluja/

https://www.youtube.com/@tarasharmashow/featured

https://www.facebook.com/tarasharmashow

Ah and something brewing with #MixedThat’sUs.. watch this space to find out :)

Have a wonderful year and beyond all! 

And until we meet again, 

Tarataratara!!!

[tarasharmashow]

Posted On My Blog After Yonks - A bit of this a bit of that including Happy New Year from all of us to all of you albeit a few months in:)!!

Once again my dear blog has been neglected and I find myself wanting to say -

Happy New Year from all of us to all of you.. as my first post of 2022 when in actual fact it is the 3rd day of the 3rd month of the year! 

Do you think me nuts or do you relate to the odd way time seems to be whizzing by?

I have so much to write and so much I want to hear from all of you, and as I mentioned earlier, with the advent of social media and all the seemingly more immediate update mechanisms, writing on my blog just seems a longer and perhaps more brain power needing exercise. Perhaps I am wrong? Either way, I won’t get into all the many things I have bursting within, just yet but will leave those for another time. 

For now just wishes for you all, everyone, us all to stay fine and safe forever and the good parts of normal to resume like physical school for our kids and other fun things, as they finally seem to be and the good parts of the new normal too touch wood:).

It has been a strange 23 months to say the least. With the pandemic and lockdowns and almost 23 months of homeschool. While as an optimist I always tried to look for the silver linings and of course prayers for all those who need it, even the relatively smooth passage of time through this period, now feels surreal. Where did almost 2 years go? watching the kids in their school uniforms, smilingly go back to class, a good few heads taller than when they were last there, has perhaps been the biggest sign of normalcy returning. 

Why education was not prioritised right after healthcare at a policy level,, as it should have been, is a rant and post for another day. For now, suffice to say we are grateful that covid seems to be ebbing and life as we knew it, or hopefully just the good parts being back again.

Impossible not to send prayers for peace in Ukraine in this post too. It is tragic what is happening and truly hope things are resolved and there is no suffering.

I told you I could write on and on. But to my new fiction show, that I am trying to create, I will now go. I hope it works out and you like it and it is a success touch wood:).

Ah and most of you on here may know I began my show and this blog as my diary as a New Mum. From discussing changing diapers to bathing babies to travel with kids and then chats with inspirational guests, in 12 years we have packed loads into the show. And now I find myself at perhaps the hardest part of parenting thus far. Parenting pre teens. A whole new zone. We adore our kids more than anything of course and hope they stay fine and happy and are good people always touch wood:), but one has so much self doubt as a Mum of teen kids. Or at least I do. Dealing with eye rolling, some aloofness, lots of move yes, but often shown in different ways. I would love to share and have your views on this phase too. Each age is amazing in it’s own way and has hiccups and fabulous bits, so I look forward to journeying together and helping each other in this phase and beyond too, in every phase.

Ok enough rambling, one kid going to football, one to tennis and me attempting to work haaha. Have a super day all. Back here, more often than before, promise!

Tarataratara

[tarasharmashow]

Welcome To Our Maldives Trip ...Amazing Stay at Soneva Fushi A lovely #family holiday & our first flight for in almost 2 yrs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40KA455DuVY Here is our first video in a series of 4 describing our wonderful family trip to the Maldives... We stayed at Soneva Fushi which is absolutely stunning and an incredible example of sustainable  luxury. 

While we continue to hope and pray we all, everyone stays fine and safe and covid becomes a thing or the past, and the good parts of normal like physical school for our kids resume safely soon touch wood:), and while we are always aware that so many people have had a really difficult time in these last two years, that it still does not feel fully right to post really happy things, but the truth is, I do think sharing joy also spreads joy and hopefully indicates better times for all. So, I am sharing this post and photos and videos of our wonderful trip as it really brought our kids, who have been in over 21 months of homeschooling now, and all of us such joy and I hope it does for you too and if you are planning a trip, whether near of far, expensive or not, with family or without, a little change really helps, re energise and revive! Here goes...

It was our first flight in almost 2 years, since lockdown began, and we were so excited. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUOzFmLIZRl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

We are a beach, sea and swimming loving family and had been dreaming of a trip to the Maldives for a long time, so were thrilled it worked out. Nothing could have prepared us for how beautiful it is. The blue blue blue crystal clear water, the turquoise rings around each island that one sees from the sky. We wondered if it seemed even more amazing because of the hard times all round due to the pandemic and whether, not having travelled much, except a few lovely local getaways, made this first international trip even more exciting, but truth be told, the next 5 days unfurled to prove this is a stunning place at any time. But yes, a great first trip after long lockdowns, for sure!

Day 1 saw us arrive and jump straight in the sea, soon after we were introduced to our lovely barefoot butler Faali, who explained the No News, No shoes, policy, where we would be barefoot for our whole stay. After we received our negative RTPCR test results, we went for a scrumptious dinner in the wonderful company of Sonu and Eva, the founders of Soneva Fushi, and an eclectic bunch of friends. Then back to our beautiful villa on our bicycles and to a comfortable night's sleep. Watch to find out what Day 2 and beyond have in store!

https://youtu.be/uTzo-SrWFUY

Days 2 and 3

It was a little rainy on day 2 but that didn't deter us from doing lots of fun and adventurous stuff anyway. After a scrumptious breakfast of literally everything, including visits to the chocolate room and ice cream room and lots of options for Roopak who is vegan, we had a snorkelling lesson in the water sports centre pool by the super instructors, followed by snorkelling in the crystal clear blue ocean. We saw some wonderful marine life, right there by the shore.

The next day being Monday, our kids did their online schooling and we then went in a boat to Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO protected Manta Ray zone, and had an incredible experience of snorkelling with hundreds of huge manta rays. The Manta Rays were magnificent and seemed unaffected by our presence though of course we had been briefed on how to behave and not to touch or spook them.  https://www.instagram.com/p/CURg_q5lElR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CUXDUn-lWA9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Fortunately a friend told us to get an underwater cover for our phones, so we were able to film these amazing underwater visuals. Wow what a day 3. Stay tuned for 4 and 5 coming up.

Video 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdLXjDnagSY

Day 4 - #ScubaDiving #EcoCentre #Sustainability and more..

Wearing all our fun beachwear against the stunning backdrop of the crystal clear blue sea and soft white sand of Soneva Fushi in the Madives, had me frequently doing little mini fashion shows haaha, with Roopak who is a loving but usually reluctant photographer of my mad antics, humouring me by obliging! 

The video begins with a montage of some of the lovely outfits I was gifted and or bought or was given to wear. We then went to the Eco Centre where Neela, the wonderful expert there explained how they recycle everything at Soneva Fushi and also all the other super work they do on conservation making Soneva Fushi a real example of walking the talk with sustainable luxury and being a truly eco friendly resort and way of life. 

The evening before, wonderful Bart had explained their mosquito traps and also given us details of their wonderful children’s programs at the Soneva Academy. Something we would love to try next time. We then went scuba diving. I have a Paddy one star license but as I got that a long time ago on a wonderful trip to Lakshwadeep with Lacadives, I had forgotten a lot, so our lovely instructors here, Francessca and Shian did a refresher come beginner session for us so Roopak and our kids could dive too. Wow, we all loved our diving experience. Of course wonderful meals were interspersed into the day as was chill time and online school for the kids. So all in all, another wonderful day full of new experiences.

Video 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XyisuvPfA

Day 4 & 5 #Watersports #Kayaking #SurfBoarding #DolphinSafari #Observatory Must admit we weren't ready to leave stunning Soneva Fushi and the gorgeous Maldives on day 4 of our trip, which is when we were meant to. So when our kids pleaded we stay a day, while initially for work and other reasons we weren't sure, when it all worked out, we were all thrilled. Especially as it was a bright, sunny day and as we had has a few rainy ones at the start, there were a few things we hadn't tried and this was the perfect way to try everything! But of course not compromising on school, so once the kids did their online classes, wi fi was good at the breakfast area too, so we were out and about, but still connected, we then went straight to the water sports centre and had a wonderful afternoon of learning to and then getting quite comfortable with kayaking and stand up paddle boarding and just relaxing and enjoying swimming in the gorgeous crystal clear blue sea. 

We then showered, changed, and went on the fabulous Dolphin Safari. Wow , we saw loads of jumping dolphins. The kids were so excited as were we, and watching dolphins against the stunning setting sun with our often bickering with each other kids, being all loving to each other, made it a quiet, peaceful, calm round up of the day. Well not quite goodnight yet, as bicycles to the beautiful Out of the Blue restaurant for a delicious dinner followed by a visit, again on our cycles to the Observatory to look at Saturn and Jupiter, amazing and then a cycle ride back to our lovely villa and to a sound night's sleep. 

We woke up on day 5 satisfies, the extra day had been a great surprise joy and now it felt good after a wonderful 5 day break to be heading home too. However fabulous a trip, it is lovely to be back home too. A loving welcome home by our doggie Tia, help and my Mum. The kids were full of stories to tell and all of us armed with wonderful memories and resolute to try and go back to Soneva Fushi again and often safely and successfully touch wood:)!

Now it’s back to routine and we hope school opens safely soon and all the good parts of the old normal and the good parts of the new normal too touch wood:). One of the silver linings of these times I think, is valuing everything so much more than before, perhaps. Memories of this trip are etched into our hearts and we hope you all have lovely things to do and experiences, as life, after all is a culmination of all these things, and more and as a teacher said to the children, travel is such a wonderful education.

Do write in and interact. Tarataratara!!

[tarasharmashow]

This really touched me.

Thank you @srbachchan ji for the kind words  

We so enjoyed meeting you on @roopaksaluja  ' s #BANGBANG set and when I gave you #dogdetectiveranjha written by #Daddy #PartapSharma to give to #Aaradhya I was happy to hear you thought she would enjoy it as our kids do.

A few days after the shoot to receive this physical letter of thanks and more was such a pleasant surprise and your thoughtful words and glowing tribute of Daddy moved me and makes me sure Daddy is smiling from above reading them too and in his beautiful booming voice saying thank you . From one wonderful, multifaceted voice and legacy to another.

It is gestures like this, along with all your talent and more that make you the superstar you are. Daddy did thoughtful things like this too. Must admit the note also made me a bit teary. Much as I know loved ones are always with us, and Daddy lives on, we miss his physical presence and I often wish our kids had had a chance to know and learn from him for longer. But letters like this remind us that legacy lives forever and our kids are also proud of their Naana, and smiled widely when I read them this touching note. Thank you #thankyou #voice #legacy #letter #AmitabhBachchan #Bachchan #Staysafe

[tarasharmashow]

Musings as #OJJ turns 19!!! In some ways it feels like yesterday and in others I wonder if that is me:) #MixedThatsUs Parallel Lives #19YearsOfOmJayaJagadish My 1st #film #19

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRf939KFQC0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Gosh in some ways this feels like yesterday

& in others I wonder if that is really me haaha. My somewhat parallel lives.. Acting and corporate. Outgoing and shy. Indian and English. Smart and dumb:). I guess we are all made up of so many mixes that it is fun to watch oneself do different things. Each to their own ofcourse but when I look back in time remembering sitting at my desk at @accenture in London with a well paying finance job but in my heart dreaming of acting and being on the silver screen, I feel grateful that I took the plunge. Gave up the security of that work to jump into the uncertainties of acting. I feel grateful for my amazing parents who encouraged me to follow my dreams but also stay practical. I am no big star and am honest about who I am but one thing that drove me back then was a desire never to have regrets. I did not want to wake up at 75 and say I wish I had acted in those films. Today I feel grateful for the opportunities and look forward to more and I also feel grateful to the amazing cast and crew and team that took me, a naive young not-great- at-Hindi-space-cadet -seeming-girl into this big budget film with superstars. My first film #omjaijagadish . And while it did not do great at the box office it will always hold a special place in my heart as do all the films and life experiences I have. Thank you all the amazing cast, crew and team #AnupamKher #AnilKapoor #AbhishekBachchan #Urmila #Mahima #Fardeen #Waheedaji .

Tarataratara!!! #staysafe

[tarasharmashow]

With the #vaccine shortage & gap between doses varying, what would be a ‘Yeh I’m 18 (haaha) & thrilled to have got a dose of the #vaccine & please do get it too’ post, is now a, I hope we all, everyone, get both vaccine doses & stay fine & safe touch wood:). Grateful to be vaxed but hope all get what should be everyone’s right. #staysafe

Quite frankly the #vaccine shortage issue makes a post that would have said 'Yipeee I am officially 18 now and got a jab' haaha😜, now a post saying I truly hope all of us everyone is able to get a vaccine and ideally both doses soon and stay fine and safe touch wood😀.

[tarasharmashow]

Calm after the storm. Prayers for us all everyone to be fine and safe touch wood:) & how our kids often teach us that in difficult times it is sometimes important to chose the smiling side of the pendulum of emotions what say?.

Calm after the #storm. 

Nothing like watching our #kids smile to make us smile too what say?. While of course we pray for us all everyone to stay fine and safe and my heart breaks for those suffering and these strange #Covid and #cyclonetauktae times are no doubt tragic, yet as always we have to try and stay #optimistic and it often fascinates me how #kids just seem to naturally get that. 

The minute the cyclonic winds and rain receded both our kids charged about in their raincoats and big #umbrella from #the120mc @bangbangmediacorp @jitbww in our safe garden space and had such fun. 

The Mummy in me was calling them back and wanted to ensure they do not get a cold. But the fun loving optimist within was learning to smile even in difficult times. To find the little things to laugh about. I let them play in the muck and they loved it. Gaaga (what our #children call my Mum) and @roopaksaluja​ allowed their rainy frolic too and soon we were all grinning and joining in, our #dog Tia too, after what had been a tragic day of sad news. 

Straight for hot showers after the wet m wild fun to avoid any sneezes etc , but well worth it. I took very few photos as it was still drizzling so this does not fully capture the joy, but it was genuinely so lovely to witness pure happiness. 

I am no expert but given I burst into tears easily these days (like on #YogaWithTara just this morning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iziGVTsv14w ) and find #fluctuatingemotions a new norm, I also realise sometimes it is important to chose the smiling side of the pendulum of emotions, and often the youngest ones show us the way. #staysafe

Tarataratara!!!

[tarasharmashow]

#CycloneTauktae going past our city...a need for #responsible #sustainable and not rash #development #SaveOurCoast #ClimateChange is real as times like this show #stayhome #staysafe

#cyclonetauktae

going past our city...#stayhome #staysafe https://www.instagram.com/p/CO9eUaXlrou/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

PS This used to be a gorgeous bay and sea now reclaimed for a dubious #coastalroad . No one is anti-development but just wish it could have been #responsibledevelopment  as with #climatechange , rising sea levels and more #cyclones like this t is clear that messing with #nature is not advised. Even this awful #pandemic at some level traces it's origins to man messing with nature. 

So please, powers that be before it is too late let us do all possible for #sustainabledevelopment . Why has 120 hectares been reclaimed when a road needed 20? 

Please let this not be a real estate project disguised as a transport one. We all love our city and these are not complaints but polite requests to do what is possible to save our city. and if these huge land masses created are to be open spaces let us please ensure they are gardens and safe . 

For those who say reclamation is how Bombay Mumbai was built or that other countries do it too, please understand times and geographies are different here and now so we need to pay heed to what we are witnessing which is a cyclone today and a #climatecrisis . 

And for anyone who thinks this is about views, the truth is one is often woken up to an issue when one witnesses it up close, so there is no denying that many of us got involved and started leaning more about the implications of this mass reclamation and it’s ecological disastrous impact, when one saw it out our windows, but as the wonderful conservationist Kalyan Varma just said on the #EarthChampions series I am hosting, most often something close to you touches you first and wakes you up to a larger issue, so it does not matter where or how it began, long as you are speaking up and trying to do something to help. And I personally do not claim to be an expert, major environmentalist or big activist, I am just a regular Mum, passionate to have a safe, happy and wonderful world for our kids and all of you, all of us, where humans and nature co exist and the natural balances enable all to stay healthy, peaceful and thrive together, touch wood:)

#saveourcoast #StaySafe

[tarasharmashow]

3 posts: Time for #HealthCare and #Education to be prioritised & once safe to, all our #Kids #Teachers and #Parents #vaccinated & Physical Schools opened safely hopefully soon touch wood:) ..before other non essentials #Cyclone #Warning & Post on our children doing a surprise concert & putting a smile on our faces #homeschooling #digitaldetox & staying #Optimistic We will all stay fine touch wood:)

While of course the priority in this dreadful 2nd wave and all of covid is health and all efforts have to be made to ensure there are enough resources for the wonderful frontline workers to ensure we all everyone are fine and safe and anyone suffering gets the help they need touch wood:). And all the tragedies are a terrible price to pay to learn a lesson, it would be even more tragic is lessons were not learnt from this tragic time.

Lessons for authorities to plan and ensure any potential 3rd wave is handled smoothly and safely with none of the atrocities of this time.

Children and education also have to be prioritised. While those of us whose kids are in super schools that have adapted to online schooling relatively seamlessly, while we praise our children for their amazing resilience and adaptability,  they too and us as parents are no doubt fed up of this home schooling, as we enter the 15th month of it, and we all long for physical schools to open safely soon touch wood:). However, we are aware that we are a tiny minority of our beautiful country India. We are the so called privileged lot, who have access to great schools that have the infrastructure to enable online learning, what about the vast majority, perhaps 95% of kids who have no access to gadgets let alone schools that are equipped to conduct distance learning. While we speak of the silver linings like family bonding and Dads working from home and us Mums too, giving our kids a secure and perhaps even stimulating learning environment, what about so many who are not able to work from home and or who are not able to provide safe homes for whatever reason. Horrific statistics of child abuse and more, shock us, but what about those innocent victims. All out of physical school and perhaps trapped in desperate situations.

When asked, I as an optimist always respond to the question of how is homeschooling going? With a glass half full response. While of course we miss kids playing together, we ensure our kids do some physical exercise each day, we play family football and we have a small safe open space where we are able to get some relatively fresh air. What about so many who are not able to?

Aware of these stark contrasts that make up India, if our kids so much as slightly complain, I find myself being quite tough and saying, look outside, look how hard it is for so many, and be grateful for what we have. But is that fair? Every child, everyone is allowed to feel what they feel. And while yes we all need to stay optimistic and grateful to get through these tough times, we should not also silence real moments of voicing displeasure, long as not constant complaints of course. So when answering that question on how is lockdown going for the kids, while I mainly focus on the positives, I also 15 months into it now demand that authorities change priorities.

As a young Mum, I think health care and education need to be top priorities. Yes, above economy. Of course everyone needs to make their most basic incomes, run their homes, but post this second waves, let’s focus on building strong healthcare systems and getting children back into physical school safely.

Most countries had terrible first and second waves, yet barring a few months, most managed ways for their children to be in physical school. Hybrid, smaller groups, testing twice a week, wearing masks, giving leave to teacher who are vulnerable, vaccinating educators and more. And now, some countries are moving fast with vaccinating children and we should too. Once trials happen and approvals are in we must fast track children being vaccinated. And before that as wonderful Doctor Balsekar said in a live interview I did with him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul1yEoSAvKo , parents need to be vaccinated as if kids are getting it God forbid, it is most likely though them.

Coincidentally a few hours after I wrote this post, and before I published it, I was invited to be on the news on a panel discussing just this. As always reiterating that I am no expert but just a regular Mum who feels that healthcare and eductaion need to be prioritised. So once things settle and things start opening up, let’s start with schools this time and now political rallies, melas, malls, and other non essentials. Yes, of course economics is important, and everyone getting their basic incomes, and that must happen too, but parallely children, once safe to, must be prioritised and back in school safely. A few links on the subject.

@India Tody panel with fab @Siv Aroor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIYcnnUm26U

@Linked In post https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tara-sharma-saluja-1757302_covid-vaccines-kids-activity-6798926068498604032-am80

As often happens this post was written in stops and starts over a few days as the usual hecticness of daily things took over so apologies if a bit garbled. And then a few new posts happened between this post and posting haaha so sharing those here too:

Cyclone warning. Please stay safe and careful.

And from last night...

While of course we pray we all everyone is fine & safe it is amazing how little things like our #kids doing a surprise little concert for us last night really put a smile on our lips and a song in our hearts...Thank you boys ❤️ and we managed this photo which @roopaksaluja​ says is quite #bluesbrothers like haaha! 

Yesterday was #digitaldetox day, something our kids' #school initiated when online schooling began. It happens every few months and as parents we, especially R tries hard to ensure our kids stick to. It is harder than one thinks as with 15 months of #homeschooling to be fair, #gadgets that used to be a 1 hour a week allowance are now a many hours a day, for most, thing. So a day with no screens has become a biggish deal. 

But thanks to Gaaga (what our #children call my #Mum ) living in the same building as us, for a change of scene they spent the day with her at the 'Gaaga School of Co Curricular Activities' haaha. Yoga, painting, cricket with me in the safe outdoor space we are very grateful to have, baking a cake and then a dinner party of the 5 of us. Our help, who are like family, loved watching the performance too. 

And wow we felt like we had had a night out at the best show and restaurant ever! So while times are hard and all of us no doubt are acutely aware of the tragedies that abound in this second wave of #covid , and are trying in our own ways to help where possible, I do find finding moments to smile and let optimism pervade, are really important. Kids naturally do that so I salute and thank them. 

Of course soon after this photo they were back to fighting and driving us bonkers too haaha but for any of you #parents or anyone perturbed by the extended homeschool, morbid situ & lockdown, know it will get better. We will all be fine touch wood😀 and these little moments and making a little effort to create special occasions even in simple things, really helps. Thanks Gaaga for helping and initiating the dinner party for 5 and thanks all kids for giving us reasons to keep smiling. Love Love Love You. PS thanks @hopscotch.in for their cool tuxes which they wore for that event 3 yrs ago so slightly tight and short now but still hip! #staysafe

#StaySafe Tarataratara

#StaySafe and Tarataratara

[tarasharmashow]

Kinda how I feel right now. Vulnerable & sometimes helpless, trying to help then optimistic and hopeful. Anyone else feeling Fluctuating Emotions?

This expression pretty much sums up how I feel. 

Prayers for us all everyone to be fine and safe #covid to go and the good parts of normal to resume like physical school for our kids and more  touch wood:) .. and a sense of #vulnerability. While I try and stay optimistic and have moments of knowing all will be well and in those moments I feel like posting regular fun posts and then a second later I oscillate to feeling a bit helpless and unsure and then to reading or hearing of a tragic situation and I feel consumed with sadness and a desire to help in whatever way possible . 

The pendulum of emotions re-calibrates to being back to a smile when for example watching the kids have a giggle with friends on a zoom online school session. Faith restored that all will be fine touch wood:) I once again decide to get on with day to day work, to post, to write, to create and bam another piece of news shocks and the cycle of fluctuating emotions turns. 

Each to their own and no judgement as everyone has their own way of dealing with these difficult times. Actively helping those one is able to makes one feel part of the collective recovery but then not being able to do enough, propels one back to feeling like we should do more. 

Grateful for the simple things. Us all being healthy and fine together, working and calm touch wood:), work resumes, then guilt waves in. We may feel safe, grateful and content, but look outside, look next door, so much suffering. How would I feel ok to post a smiling face. And so as a #contentcreator and usually regular poster, apologies for my somewhat sporadic posts at the moment. 

I intend to post, even almost do, then often rethink, rewrite, unless I just do things impulsively. Sorry for the ramble but if anyone else is feeling this range of fluctuating emotions at the moment , just a note to say hang in there. We will get through this time. Stay optimistic, help those we are able to, communicate how you feel and feel ok to feel what you feel, take guilt away, no judging, stay strong, and in moments that your kids or other loved ones make you smile or a random joke may, let it. #empathy does not mean we have always to be glum right? 

Many may not feel fluctuating emotions like this, and maybe more practical in their approach, and that’s ok too. Anything is ok as everyone has their own way, and I am a bit of a freak haaha as you may know if you have been following me on my various platforms, but again this is just to share, maybe help anyone else feeling fluctuating emotions and it is cathartic to write, so apologies if I am thinking aloud here. I am never quite sure if anyone reads this, so if you are and if you feel like interacting, do comment here or on any of my other handles. Always happy to interact. 

Almost #ThrowbackThursday Photo by Legendary Photographer Adrian Steven 

[tarasharmashow]

Prayers For Us all Everyone to be fine and safe and covid to go and those who need help to get it and the good parts of normal to resume soon touch wood:)...Between trying to stay optimistic to bursting into tears at the tragic situation in our India currently a post by a work from home Mum

A few photos that help keep me optimistic and or thoughtful of the times we are in. If low and languishing, do dig into your pleasant memories, try and stay optimistic and believe we will get through all this fine and safe touch wood:).

What was the gorgeous sea is now huge reclamation. Again a plea to save our coast or what is left of it..

Dreams of safe holidays again...for now looking at happy hol photos keeps us smiling

Hard not to feel gloomy with the news around...but help those we are able to and try and stay optimistic

I loved riding as a kid and recently restarted in the opening of lockdown...so lovely to start again

Continuing to teach and learn yog...

finding moments our family smiles...stays optimistic fine and safe touch wood:)

Sorry for such a long post, but as mentioned as they are sporadic hope you won’t mind.

Thinking of all of you...we will all stay fine and safe and deepest prayers for those suffering to get the help they need touch wood:).

Tarataratara Tarataratara Tarataratara

[tarasharmashow]

Deep prayers and help for all who are suffering

Deep prayers and help for all who are suffering.

Does not feel right to post much at this time.. just empathy and help for all who need it. Will post soon.

Stay safe

[tarasharmashow]

A v Happy New Year blog post and some ponderings on getting to know ourselves & our own priorities and paths & not comparing & competing in races that may not be ours’..Chill Be Happy & Each to their Own Do write in with any comments & apologies for the ramble haaha

Most often I spend about 3 months saying #HappyNewYear and then another few months questioning how is it already so many months in! In an attempt to keep wishes time sensitive and relevant I’m writing this post. Good health for us all forever and being humble, good, happy, empathetic, kind and successful people touch wood:) continue to be a line up of wishes. The list goes on, but I am trying to keep this brief as if you have been following my blog for the last 10 years or so of it’s existence you will know consistency is kinda my middle name and there is perhaps little difference in the values I hold dear and the wishes each year. 

Now that that’s out the way, how are you? How has the extended lockdown treated you or rather how have you adjusted to it? Not sure how one comments on here but if you figure it out please do write in. Never sure if there are readers on here or if this is an exercise of thinking aloud and writing to oneself haaha. Either way it is therapeutic. 

We are fine touch wood:). I assume you would have asked a question warranting that response if we were conversing face to face, hence I took the liberty of replying un prompted. Our new normal, as everyone describes it, has made virtual conversations the norm and going a step further anticipating the flow of a chat seems plausible.

I say this often on my lives, so if you follow those, apologies for the repetition, but for those who haven’t heard my mantra, here goes. Deep prayers and thoughts for those who have been directly affected by #covid. We all hope it goes and the good parts of normal resume touch wood:). But I also do see the silver linings that this time has brought for many. Bonding with family, reassessing priorities, focusing on things that really matter, appreciating nature, to name a few. With that comes often subconscious frustrations and perhaps some angst at what sometimes feels like a pausing of time. 

I for one, feel grateful for a lot. And almost in parallel I sometimes feel useless. Almost like a pendulum I find myself often oscillating between feeling great contentment and thankfulness for us all being healthy and together as a family and having created work, that enables us to work from home and earn and be with each other touch wood:), and then almost like Jekyll and Hyde emotions switch to self doubt and questioning if I shouldn’t be out acting more and doing bigger work things and earning more etc etc etc. Comparing myself to colleagues or random strangers that social media shows me. Once the wave of doubt flows, almost instantly I reprimand my mind for being so ridiculous and self pitying and I swing back to optimism, positivity and a few #YogaWithTara sessions, to re group and get back to my trademark optimistic self. Do not compare yourself to anyone else. Each to their own. Success and priorities are different for different people. Having a loving family and us all being together, healthy and happy with a good dose of work ambition to earn enough to be happy and comfortable and help those we are able to touch wood:), are values my rational side reminds me, are most important to me. Not climbing a comparative ladder whether in entertainment or business, but being aware that each of our paths are different and unique. And being happy, grateful and content in that awareness.

All the lives I do have perhaps made me more of a philosopher than I already was. Ponderer rather. As most of those are in the visual medium where I have the ability to interact real time with viewer comments rolling in, often helping me shape my often dichotomous thoughts. Apologies if translating those conversations to the written word, have turned this into a bit of a ramble, but I do find tremendous joy in writing, even if sporadically, and not very well.

Thank you. I have been helped greatly in lockdown and always, by my social media audiences. Whether reading this or not, whether listening or not, whether appreciative of my content, or not, you all have often given me the platform that back in the day, a person like me, may not have had. I am not a big shot actress and not a big corporate person, but a sort of mix of actor, entrepreneur, a devoted Mum, creator, yogi, fitness enthusiast, ponderer and more, trying to create and find ways to work and earn and stay relevant while being with my family. Your kind words and encouragement along the way, have always helped me, so thank you. And know that you are all super special in your own way. And your unique paths are just as important as anyone else’s.

I have been grateful to have received an offer to act in something and this post was sort of triggered by the games my mind was playing in trying to make the decision about how to respond to the potential offer. Would I be okay filming for 12 hours a day, away from home, although fortunately this one would be in the same city. With Covid cases much lower and hopefully covid on it’s way out and us all fine forever touch wood:), but still a need to stay safe, would I be ok going to a set with lots of people each day? If the money is good, is it worth sucking it up and doing it? I want to act more but the luxury of creating and co producing my own show for the last decade and working on my own terms creating what I like to believe is quality content which may not have a huge mass audience but does seem to have a loyal, engaged high quality one that respects the quality of our content #TheTaraSharmaShow and more. Is it time to create Season 6? Hunt and pitch to sponsors and try and woo more inspiring guests? It is hard to make it, as any good work often is. Or should I create that new fiction show I have been writing? Should I push myself and give myself the boost of confidence that has perhaps been holding me back? 

Sorry to be thinking aloud. Other parents out there probably have similarly divergent thoughts.. Cliched as it sounds, balancing it all is often not just hard but a lesson in learning who you are and what our priorities really are. I think for me creating work around my family was perhaps the main inspiration of my starting my show all that time ago, and yes unless an amazing role in an amazing film or show, perhaps I am actually content with the pace of work I have. Jobs come and go. Money and practicality are no doubt important, but the metric of valuing what matters most is often intangible, and only you know what that is for yourself. So I guess this post is about wishing us all and also saying chill, don’t stress, know yourself, do what’s right for you and your family and don’t compete in a race that’s not one you want to be in, but question, ask, ponder and create or choose your own path! 

Have a super day all and stay safe. Tarataratara!!

[tarasharmashow]

#Daddy ...In Our Hearts Always #DeathAnniversary #PartapSharma #Remembrance

In some ways time flies and sometimes it feels like yesterday

Loved ones are with us always ...Daddy our remembrance piece today

PARTAP SHARMA  (1939 �- 2011) ❤️

Daddy, Husband, Naana, Friend, ❤️

So much to so many. 9 years have passed. We miss your physical presence terribly, but somehow we know you are with us, always. Your amazing, inspiring, loving personality, brilliant legacy of work (books, plays, voice etc) and thoughts, keep you alive forever. We love you ❤️ Sue, Namrita, Tara, Andy, Roopak, Zen, Kai, Isabel and Tom and all the other numerous people whose lives you've touched.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIZ570g6i3A

Words From Daddy #PartapSharma ...always in our hearts ❤️ Today on #Daddy #PartapSharma 's death anniversary listening to

him.. Always in our hearts and even from above teaching and sharing his values thank you Daddy ❤️. This link was him receiving a #lifetimeachievementaward from @thespoindia from wonderful #VijayaMehta @anahitauberoi when he was in hospital battling emphysema, which he won over for 10 years longer than had been predicted. Being multifaceted as an author, playwright, #TheVoice , Dad, Husband, Naana, friend and more, these words refer to one part, but each time I hear them, I am inspired. 'Affirmativeness is the sign of the confidence of a people...Find the good parts to encourage someone to carry on.' Apologies if I am being a mushy daughter but the truth is when Daddy passed apart from being devastated I was afraid, will I forget? But the truth really is everyone deals with losing a loved one in their own way and for me I believe he is with us always and in fact values and teachings and so many everyday things make me believe those memories become even stronger with time and never go away. So if any of you have lost someone dear, and we all do as that is life, find your way of dealing but don't be afraid of forgetting as 9 years later I assure you , you don't .

#Daddy #deathanniversary #staysafe

[tarasharmashow]

Mixed. That’s Us. Respect for all, no forcing, unity in diversity and more, are values we hope our kids grow up with. What say? Celebrating all love, whether inter-faith, or within-faith, or whatever. Each to their own. Let’s judge less and love more.

A little collage of pix that only partially depicts how #mixed our #family is... We are human ❤️ like everyone else. 

We love across cultures and respect each other's beliefs. My mum is half English and half Jewish, my mother in law is Nepalese, my Dad Punjabi, my father in law Sikh. I am always so grateful for all we learn and imbibe from each part and while I always say each to their own with beliefs and more , I truly believe the values #children grow up with shape the future. Our kids like all of yours' I'm sure, learn about respect for all. 

And while some families and faiths may prefer love to blossom within a faith, for many like ours' similar values played a bigger factor in choosing a life partner than religion, faith or even geography. And respecting each other and celebrating each other's beliefs, festivals or customs together and not forcing anyone to do anything they do not want to and not forcing anyone to convert to anything they do not want to , has always been intrinsic to our all-festival-celebrating-family. 

So while we are mixed and love all aspects of being so, we also of course respect those who may choose to marry only within their faith . Not painting everyone with the same brush and not letting stereotypes frame our thoughts, I think is important . 

A recent ad by @tanishqjewellery​ was trolled for it's depiction of interfaith love and more and while I do not know enough to comment specifically on that , all I do know is every love story is different and perhaps the makers of that commercial chose to see the happy sides of what they created as I as a viewer did too. 

What one sees is influenced by how one thinks , so perhaps a little more respect for all and not judging just may make the world more full of love ❤️. Sorry for the ramble . Was just feeling a bit loved up ❤️. @roopaksaluja​ #mixedthatsus #staysafe