Method. How do we communicate to effectively convey our message? Our intentions could be perfectly good but if it doesn’t come off the tongue right, the interpretation is what actually matters. 

To deconstruct why my method is the way it is: I grew up with an Indian father and Japanese mother. Both had entirely different methods. My mother (of Samurai decent) had a soothing, patient, accepting yet stern method. My father had the “tough love” (Indian style) method.

We grew up defending ourselves a lot (from our dad). I would say that it was our defiance that shaped us in a lot of ways. (By “us”, I mean my twin sister Radha and I. Yuri, our older sister, managed to obtain our mother’s method and didn’t get into nearly as much trouble as we did. Our strategy was way off back then.) :-)

I always say that I wish I had learned my mother’s method right from the start but I’m glad that my father gave us the fighting spirit, one that entrepreneurs absolutely have to have to make it in this competitive world, with the thickest of skins. Rads and I have the ability to get knocked down and very quickly pick ourselves back up and adapt, likely because of that fighting spirit. 

However, now that it’s about to become 2012 (the year of the Aquarian), I need to start truly embracing my mother’s method. Patience. Taking three deep breaths every hour to center myself and my entire nervous system. Thinking longer. Not reacting. To eat a proper breakfast so that I can think more clearly all day. To become a soothing Samurai. 

2012 is a big year for all of us. What method would you like to change?