Monday, May 12, 2025

Now there is NO excuse !!! Accept the challenge!!

Copyright © 2008 - 2025 Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal A.K.A Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal A.K.A Ms. Gigi Sehgal. All rights reserved.


I got to tell you. This release was WAY quicker at my end than the previous one! Which makes sense as the 1st release was everything and the kitchen sink :D
This runs counter to common wisdom but I like it this way.
The majority of code is done. Now I tweak stuff quickly based on how users seem to be reacting :D More on this later.

Also fun was working with an LLM  to understand various possibilities of visual design towards App Modernization . It was wonderful. I could change my mind 10 times an hour and it would generate visual design elements for me to see with just as much energy as the 1st time 😁😁


So please check out the latest version of Accurate Misplaced on the Apple App Store 🙏🙏 Check out the newly added hints and emoji-tional support on the app! And we now have a Daily Challenge!!! 

And get ready for what comes next!!!! Bookmark https://AccurateMisplaced.com or https://Gigi-Sehgal.com for more :D





Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Challenge !!!! Accepted???

Copyright © 2008 - 2025 Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal A.K.A Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal A.K.A Ms. Gigi Sehgal. Los Altos California. All rights reserved.


Are you a brainiac? 
Is this EASY to solve for you?
Can you guess the secret number based on the guesses and instructions?

Solution will be posted on Wednesday AM PST at https://AccurateMisplaced.com/online-puzzles

Enjoy!! :D

FYI ( There is a serious impersonator claiming to be me via my nickname ( since 1992 marriage to ex ) "Gigi Sehgal" on Facebook and here on gmail. She is apparently in another country. Her name is no where near my nickname so it seems like a total grab! She also abused my email and I started getting emails from stores in that country!!!! What a con artist! I told them she was an impersonator and they banned her too. 
I think it is disgusting that Google Blogger is defaulting my blog location to Australia and I have to correct it each time to Los Altos. You'd think Google can scroll down my blog and see my previous blog posts? Anyway that is probably a whole ANOTHER blog for me to write! 





Onwards & Upwards!!!







Monday, March 10, 2025

Launched. Firing on all Cylinders. Brain Fried. ðŸĪŠ

Copyright © 2008 - 2025 Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal A.K.A Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal A.K.A Ms. Gigi Sehgal. All rights reserved.

I haven't posted a blog here in a long while as I have been busy ( it's been HECTIC ) working on both my startups Gigi Sehgal LLC and Ohmpye Cybersecurity

First of all my game "AccurateMisplaced" is LAUNCHED on iOS App Store. ( Android version coming soon )
I am thrilled to bits and hope you find your inner brainiac in this game!! Which will challenge your thinking like Sudoku does, but in a very different way!



In other news, I am also EXCITED that the experimental work I am doing for my startup Ohmpye  is coming close to a solid demonstration. Some thoughts here. 

ONWARDS and UPWARDS !!


Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Slandered by Hormonal Huli Blogger


Clearly, I  am a very sporadic blogger. What with working on my startup and devoting time to my personal life - family, friends etc., I haven't had a lot of time for blogging lately.

As some of you know, I have been dealing with a huge amount of online and offline harassment since 2009. Although I have committed nor created any problems, I have somehow (I suspect identity theft) been dragged into a huge flaming pile of poo from all over. I believe I have blogged about this in the past too. Not only was I being harassed online, I suspected (and still suspect occasionally) that I was being stalked offline & online ( Few examples: I have had strange cars follow then speed off , fake cops in uniform show up at my door, phone hacked to show incorrect current location, random apps opening as if they were under some MDM control etc.). I have also been mistaken for a muslim woman with an autistic son, although I am a born hindu woman (both me and my ex husband are born Hindus) and a US citizen for decades. Needless to say I get a LOT of irrelevant or worse data  tagged to my identity and sometimes I don't get credit for my original work.

Consequently, I went to the police (all 4 police departments with jurisdiction over Cupertino California), DA of Santa Clara County California,  FBI , DOJ, INS you name it, as relevant. FBI's opinion is my identity is being stolen and sold online.

Be as it may, I came across some flaming pile of poo from a purportedly "young woman" online who not only posted some shit, (gross misrepresentation of truth while hiding all evidence) but in a true knee-jerk-I'm-too-clueless-and-inexperienced-for-life-barely-can-keep-my-grey-cells-in-my-skull fashion went on to "beat me with experience" as ironically enough, SHE claimed I was doing.
 ( Cartman came to mind but he's way too smart to do such a shoddy job of it all.... )

Picture: Courtesy of  @SouthPark
Here's a link to that pile of poop (poop, as in not telling the truth) post.
Hormonal Huli: Crazy Lady Attack
( Also attached below are the screenshots of the blog post - this person has a tendency to hide true evidence when it works against its interests so I figured I'd add them ).

Now, points in order:
1. Given the background above, when I came across her blog, I was rightfully concerned about not only the same first name (which is common phenomenon) but also same nickname (In India there is no concept of specific nicknames to go with specific names unlike UK so yes it is a huge coincidence or suspicious). Additionally, she describes many events oddly parallel with mine.

2. Her blog used to claim back then that she was "18 year old student in Delhi" so I wrote a polite note to her (ask her to be decent enough to show the original note unless she chooses to edit it now - but the system will catch that and can be disproved) asking her about the coincidences and if she preferred communicating via family in Delhi ( I had some visiting family there at that time although I am from Bombay ) given her young age.

3. The note didn't seem to post so I may have accidentally posted the same thing twice.

4. Next day.. BAM! The self described "young un" suddenly is spewing garbage, (Simpsons, Margarita glasses bigger than my head - My manager at HP had sent me flowers in a Margarita glass vase as a joke and I had it at HOME but never posted it anywhere), claiming I was about 10-15 years older than I actually was and driveling on about irrelevant stuff like "Don Draper price is right" (WHY?) and calling me a dinosaur ( age joke I guess?) etc.

5. To truly show her colors she tags my first name, nickname (I have had it for decades), town, and whatever she could figure out about my work or last name to the page so that it'd show up in Google search results.  This means she could also be sued by the company (A powerful one as you can see) she tagged!
Seriously, who is the batshit crazy here?

Needless to say I'd never hire someone like this to my startup like EVER or to any company I happen to be working at:

First of all this person displays no patience or ability to read/comprehend.
Furthermore she/he/it (I say this because unlike my blog , her blog shows no names and gender bio etc. could be a total lie) escalates immediately without reason and has no ability to empathize let alone form connections with others.
I just hope she is never in a situation where she needs information or has to face a hater-without-a-cause like her own self online.

Finally, OF COURSE I reported her /him/it to the authorities. It takes time, but whoever and whatever has been trying to slander, libel and harass me for the past many years, WILL be apprehended and put away to cool their heels.

I just don't jump up and down reactively or willy nilly tag names etc. to a page, to raise viewership. That's just a cheap stunt.

Unfortunately I had seen a lot of this behavior directed to me on various other social media platforms as well from self described "young people" in the past. I myself have a daughter in her 20s. Which gives me hope that not all "young people" are beyond hope or raised without ingraining any sense of fairness or decency. But seriously, it happens far too many times. Also ageism ( In this case, hate against someone older than you), is an ugly thing. Unless of course it is some one else pretending to be a young woman. Anything is possible online.

The sad part is this kind of behavior normally doesn't even register with me anymore since I have become immune to the vast arsenal of screaming obscenities and/or accusing all manners of crimes via accusations of salacious nature all the way to homicide by haters that social media regularly gives birth (or voice) to. But this time I figured I will start letting them know how stupid they are being, one clueless slanderer at a time. And hey! If any are loaded, my startup may just fund itself this way. #Lemonade.

FYI :
 I had also posted on Linkedin my run-ins with the hackers, slanderers, stalkers and opinions on how to help law enforcement while balancing between privacy and security. Read the post at my linkedin profile if you want a greater, yet horrifying description of what I have been dealing with. My photo below.




 I do things on my time and I don't care if he/she/it further perjures itself. No worries :) . Scroll down for the screenshot of the blog post mentioned in the link above.








Written by Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal
Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali GulveSehgal All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Dear "Politically Conscious" "Influencers"

(My picture above : I am Miss Gigi Sehgal AKA Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal the born Hindu mom of an adult , divorced from a born Hindu man. I mention this because my identity has been stolen online / offline by a muslim woman amongst others for the past 11 years but never fear. I NEVER give up.  ) 

An Ode to an incorrigible Pendulum


You say you wish to visit new worlds,
 believing the fantasies woven
 by the prevaricating pied piper
 built on the manna from east
 (he as lost as everyone but differently)
 as I watch you 
 flip-flopping endlessly
 between the same tired polarities.

 Feet firmly on the ground
 between measured steps
 walking the same paths as before
 in the same line as always
 to or fro

 Unused sight, eyes inward
 Unused mind, thoughts inwards
 hands rubbing together in glee
 when your false choice wins
 over theirs

 Admit it!:
  Only long dead papers 
  stacked in your coffers
  make you happy.

How can you fly
  when you can't even jump?

 Endlessly "moo"netyzing while you circle
   the same two poles
   weighed down by ill-gotten expectations
   tracing a sideways figure eight
   is not the same
   as experiencing infinity.


Gigi AKA Gitanjali

An original poem by Ms Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal

Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal  All rights reserved.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Natural high

After my last update you'd be surprised I am back. But...

I get high on zen fumes. Mind you, zen ( not Zayn who I don't know anything about nor care ) fumes don't exist in the physical universe. It is just a phrase I've coined to describe a natural state of being that occasionally alights on my shoulder and envelopes me in a feeling of well being. I don't actually do anything to access this feeling.
It just arrives and stays - out of nowhere.

Today I felt its presence. The funny thing is my zen fumes are prescient. They arrive before I know that I may need them. It's magical. I'm not only not upset I'm high.

Looking down at you all

Written by: Ms Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal  A.K.A Ms Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal
Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal  All rights reserved.


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Give everyone a break

Hindus believe that each person has divinity inside of them. When one is quiet and the mind is at rest, we can access the inner divinity , the inner infinity where the everyday world does not exist. A place to recharge and redirect the self to a better way of being. It's a daily human struggle to be the best human while partaking in the daily machinery of life. That's probably why people recommend meditation as a daily practice.

I guess real life here in California,  has been keeping me too busy to be able to access this inner zen often. I access it mostly through music and nature. I recently attended the music festival Coachella in Palm Desert (2nd weekend), and as it turns out, I went alone. The music immersion was the best therapy anyone could have ordered. However the return back and the pace of daily life has very quickly caught hold of my rhythm. Since I blog for the pure pleasure I derive from it, I can (and do) afford to walk away and come back as the fancy takes me.

Today's giving idea is really about kindness. I sincerely believe that kindness and joy have the best chance at a long term relationship. Why? Because I find them together, everywhere :-)

Sappy? Perhaps. But I wasn't really referring to any actual human beings above. Just the concepts.
Today's giving idea is about exercising kindness in dealing with everyone. Give the gift of the benefit of doubt, give the gift of understanding, empathy or sympathy to someone struggling through something terrible.
This gift is especially needed when things break down severely or the object is especially undeserving in your estimation. This gift will be most appreciated when the going is at it's worst ,when the sense of doom and injury is at the greatest.

As a side note, I often blog these "giving" ideas as though I'm some kind of expert at it. The fact of the matter is the opposite. I'm a woman and I'd love to finally access some of the wisdom that is allegedly supposed to arrive as one gets older :)  This blog is mostly to motivate and inspire my own self. And when I struggle with one of these concepts, I blog about it to make myself accountable and follow through. In doing so, if someone somewhere out there, finds anything useful here, I'd consider that icing on the proverbial cake.

The truth is, we all derive energy from each other. Whether we realize it or not. Some stranger's goofy sense of humor appearing online makes my day brighter and makes my load a little lighter. Someone's kindness can give someone else an extra boost to go the extra mile in their own private struggle or a reason to hang on and eventually access the safe happy place they wish to be.

We will never truly know how we impact someone else. This is especially true online given that our words reach random corners in unforeseen ways.

A little bit of patience, a little dash of understanding, a little extra reaching to exercise empathy could go a long way. It's the giant world bank of good will and good energy. I intend to make my deposits, because I've been withdrawing too.

Hope you virtually join me in this.
āĨ ||




P.S. I'm a Hindu by birth but I consider myself unaffiliated to any particular religion and seek spirituality by practice
Written by:  Ms Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal
Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal  All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving


Time marches on inexorably each year: from flailing new year's resolutions via valentine's day (and the mad rush for a date or alternately, a good byline denying that valentine's day even matters - depending on where the year finds you), past spring flings, mother's day and father's day, the fantastic promise of summer which somehow never seems to reach it's full potential, winding down with the mad leaves fall dancing, traipsing through Diwali & Nav Ratri, just to get to the deliciously spooky creepiness of Halloween and then moving onwards now with the confidence of a sure thing to the crazy cluster of holidays - Thanksgiving (and Black Friday & Cyber Monday its unlikely cronies) where the final push to gift/shopping/visiting insanity is our constant friend all the way to Christmas and another new year's eve.

Each one of us sprinkles on important dates for garnish on this ratatouille dish of days and months - a birthday here, an anniversary there and if you are like me umpteen concerts all across the genre board.

Inexorably, we progress  this business of living and being. Each day we show up. Reinventing , learning, adjusting, changing and hopefully improving.

But today is Thanksgiving. And in this mad merry-go-round that spins us every year from one end of the diameter to another, the memories that stand out the most are the one's about giving and being grateful (even without cause).

There are people struggling with poverty, natural disasters and dictators.

There are those who are seeking: marrow donors, organs, blood transfusions, love, jobs.

There are those who have almost given up on finding an helping hand, a glimmer of recognition, an acknowledgement that they too exist or matter.

There are those who are attempting to be heard.

This planet is sure getting more and more crowded everyday. And our needs keep growing as well.
The question is, what are WE going to do about it?

May this holiday spark the giving & gratitude in all our hearts.
Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal = Gigi Sehgal = GG

 ( On a personal note, I'm glad I actually cooked a Thanksgiving dinner this year , after being in US this long!! )

Written by:  Miss Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Miss Gigi Sehgal 
Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal  All rights reserved.

Monday, November 5, 2012

November 6th


OF the people
BY the people
FOR the people

Today's giving idea is simple enough:

Give yourself a voice, give yourself a choice.

Vote.






Voter information: http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/30/

Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Be a lifetime superhero !

Sometimes we choose what things to vivify in our lives and sometimes, things choose to appear and bring us to life.

I've blogged often in the past many years, about my favorite cause - signing up people to the national marrow registry in an attempt to help people suffering from leukemia and worse diseases fight and conquer them.

Seeing your own young sibling battle something like this unsuccessfully at an early age, is an experience which will stick with you for the rest of your life. And so, this cause has chosen me from my childhood (which was a long long long time ago :-) )

This past weekend, in the midst of the usual costumed merriment I managed to stop over at the Asian American Donor Program's charity Halloween event. And I'm so glad I went!

I caught a marrow donor speak about his experience and a survivor talk about her experience.
And listening to these two brought home yet again, how important and critical this cause is.

To hear the young man who was a marrow donor speak about his experience and put the inconvenience and any temporary pain in perspective  by the benefit (a life saved) ought to help allay the fears faced by typical registrants and donors on the mechanics of marrow donation. Quite frankly, most of the time, the procedure does not require invasive techniques and can be managed via peripheral extraction (similar to the process used for blood donation) executed in an out patient procedure.

 On the flip side, to hear a young survivor speak to her experience of how her life was saved by a marrow donor and to hear the full thriving life she leads now, indeed rounds up the story of why this cause is so important.

To put it plainly:

  • The need is great. There are 1000s of critically ill leukemia patients awaiting a matched donor in bay area alone. 
  • Chances of a marrow match are one in million (unlike blood donations, marrow donation requires HLA typing match which is far more difficult)
  • Average potential registrants and donors are scared of the perceived pain. Any donor can share with you their story and put your concerns to rest - just ask them!
  • People wonder if marrow donation does work - yes it does. Just ask the survivors!
  • You. Yes YOU can be a superhero too. For real. 
Check out http://www.aadp.org

In my spare time, you will often find me working on some fun event to either raise funds for this cause, or register more people to the marrow donor registry. Interested in helping out? Message me. The more the merrier and the more lives we could save!

Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Blue Sky Holiday



Those who know me know my habit of walking outside with my gaze firmly trained up to the skies above. During daytime perfect azure skies bring an instant feeling of utter peace and bliss. At night time looking up garners a vision of million twinkling beacons and a moon which is in turns coy, grinning or just vanishing quicker than the Cheshire Cat. This is certainly not an affectation but a permanent chronic condition since childhood, and definitely not meant for any life actresses to now start emulating on the fly. (Walking around in high heels while simultaneously looking up to the skies can be hazardous to said model's health - I'm guessing)

Lately the skies around where I live are starting to force their attention on me even more than usual. There is a distinct feeling of something is in the air and about to erupt on the scene in a huge manner. As I said before, I am in love with inanimate objects. And the sky is one of the inanimate objects that enthrall me no matter where I am nor what I may be doing.


I am being fanciful. But I catch myself asking out loud to no one in particular -"AM I the only one seeing this?" Those clouds have been portentous to say the least, and extremely inspiring to say the most. After the heavy rain a few days ago the sky cleared up and all that remained of the solid-demanding-respect clouds up in the sky were fleeting nebulous fingers of the formally majestic clouds, chaotically pointing at no one in particular.

As I drove back home today from work I caught a shy moon peeking out at the bold late evening sun in its last dying golden glory. A doomed love from the start - since one fully rises only after the other fully sets, yet, it is a love so poetically fragile and dramatically marketable that I had to stop and catch my breath at both the whimsical beauty of my brain's synaptic misfire and the joy of having found yet another thing to make money out of, in addition to my full time job in the tech industry - (And that was sarcasm).

What am I even writing this drivel about? Well, drivel it is. But it is also honest drivel. This is how I felt and that is what I am recording here. If this somehow in some weird incredible manner matches something that is happening in one of my readers' life (Ha! like anyone reads this drivel!), I hope they realize that I don't even own a TV.

And the point of today's blog, if indeed there is any point to this blog, is about giving to yourself.
In all the giving you do, stop and savor a bit of giving to your own self. Give a moment's peace, a moment's mental vacation to catch a flight to whimsy (not as in Lord Peter Death ) and see what it does to your day. I for one felt refreshed and alive right after getting past the panic attack induced by wondering if clouds that were that seemingly low slung had any business being so, and if it meant that alien beings were hiding inside them ready to burst out and completely ruin my day.

They weren't. That happened in my non work email inbox. But that's a story for another day......





I post this really late in the night (2:11 AM PST My time) and to yes, this IS TOO real life.

Gigi=GG=Gitanjali


Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Believe in yourself


Life loves to throw us for a loop and like a boomerang we keep coming back for some more

I know what I'm looking for but I haven't found it yet and until I do, I'm going to keep trying
putting my hand into the water and praying for some fish instead of shark bites. It gets difficult when suddenly my hand turns into a paw or I change shape into a dude. I don't know, I don't have a mirror to peek into while I go fishing and the choppy waters don't make up the best reflective surfaces. Since I know I am the woman I am, it doesn't matter much what the fish think of me.

I've been disappointed before. You can say that in certain situations like right now, I've been tempted to give up. But hope keeps things afloat. Hopefully my goals and dreams are big enough for me to keep trying. Hopefully my goals and dreams are big enough for me to know when to quit to find another way.



Either way, I've spent too much time second guessing myself in the past. Since the past few years I've been focused and pursuing each of my dreams. It just doesn't show up on social media or online. At the moment, this is how I'd like to keep it.

Thank you world and life for the chance to keep trying. Thank you music for showing up to soothe and heal me each time. Thank you love for always being near. Thank you zen for always following the ire.

Thank you self for keeping on keeping on. Thank you sky for always being up there. You know, I do believe the trees, leaves and puffy clouds, the wind are flirting with me. I am in love with inanimate objects. Sometimes I get upset with living beings. But I find a way to get over it. And THAT thought is belief.

So finally, thank you whoever / whatever it is that gives me access to such a strong belief. And thank you to the perfection that is perfect and imperfect all at once.

Life can be an incredible adventure, let's make it so. We can lend our voice to a cause (it's election year!  have you registered?) , we can help those in need, we can do anything we want. As long as we don't hurt anyone we are adding back to the bank of good karma.

So ask this to everyone around you, just as I ask you all - How may I be of help?


Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Believe in abundance

I tend to use the word "abundance" in conversations with my daughter as a way to represent a state of mind which enables one to access optimism and the ability to see options or choices in everything we encounter and do.
       I am an Indian American woman in her downhill slide towards mortality ( like everyone else :D ) , who strongly believes in abundance. Perhaps I find it easy to believe in it because I grew up in India, surrounded by extreme contrasts. While extreme disparity in living conditions is not a pleasant thing to view, I believe that it was this very study of contrasts (skyscrapers near large slums, extreme wealth and extreme poverty, etc.) which gave me an easy assurance that all things are possible in life. Rightly or wrongly, I've come to believe that often, achieving a mental state of abundance is an internal job. No amount of external help: money, friends, well-being or lack of stress will magically lead you to the abundant mind set. At any given moment you either possess it, or you don't.
       I've also noticed that the simple yet powerful belief that: no matter the situation a solution exists, is enough fuel for an abundant mind. What kept the Wright brothers from giving up? What made M. Gandhi take on one of the most complicated freedom fights in the world? What keeps dreamers from stopping? Do they have access to more money or support than others? No. The key ingredient appears to be a simple belief that the problem is inherently solvable and with ample tries, they will be able to solve the problem they encounter.
       An attitude of optimism keeps the seeker seeking. And a motivated seeker will eventually access all the creative, far out, out of the box spaces. Thus improving their chances of success. An optimistic person will eventually attract all the support he/she requires to be successful. The glue to success is the belief that something is possible.
       I've often used the water metaphor before to demonstrate this tenacity of belief. I've gotten mocked about it. But I think this metaphor is apt. In nature, water manages to slip through any crevice no matter how narrow. Water always finds a way. An abundant mind is like water gushing through the tiniest crevice. So, be it a technical issue or a humanitarian one, one could be like water.
       Be abundant. Believe there is a resolution, believe that you will have access to whatever resources you need and be tenacious looking for every tiny opportunity. Be abundant. Believe that a solution is possible. I say this because I live this, each and every day. I may lose my belief occasionally but I always revert back to optimism sooner or later.
       There's a saying in sanskrit "āĪĩāΚāĪĻेāĪķु āĪ•िāĪŪ āĪĶāΰिāĪĶ्āΰāĪĪा ?" - Why exercise poverty in our thoughts and ideas? Everyone is free to exercise their imagination as long as we intend nor commit any harm. Imagine the possibilities.


Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

I already am


Who are you to tell me
who and how to be?
I already am.

Who are you to abuse
passwords and accounts
to portray
who and how I ought to be?
I already am.

Who are you to judge
my wishes and dreams?
They already are

and I already am.

I'm not your girl friend,
nor your ex
I don't know you or her or her or him
So who said you had permission
to creep and listen
and make up things to tell all your friends?

I'm not your shitty battleground
I am
I already am
much bigger than the thieves could ever be.

Who said I was dead
and to be treated like a seat?
Before you lower your significant weight on me,
you better realize there's room for only one human here
and
I already am.

There's an invisible line
that divides the dead from the living
the dead are dreaming, pretending, chasing in an effort to seem alive
the alive are living, being, struggling, out here - in the real world.

Don't tell me to truly live
I already am.
Are you?

Gitanjali G Sehgal - all rights reserved



Gitanjali G Sehgal - all rights reserved
Gitanjali G Sehgal - all rights reservedGitanjali G Sehgal - All rights reserved


Gitanjali G Sehgal - All rights reserved
Gitanjali G Sehgal - All rights reserved
Gitanjali G Sehgal - All rights reserved





Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Canvas of life


The sky and its various moods always inspire me. I look up and I am reminded that my life is my canvas. I get to be the artist and paint whatever I wish to. The good news is, each life is its own canvas. The picture is made up of your truth, actions, experiences, family, friends and whatever else is going on in your life at the moment.

In this moment there may be pain or euphoria. But eventually, when you look at it through the lens of time and perspective it will all come to seem only beautiful. Somehow the reds that pain painted near the momentarily serene blues and the occasional victorious gold will blend into something far more interesting than you'd have ever intended. Only death can snatch your brush away.

I wrote this without any intended euphemisms.

 Gigi = Gitanjali G = GG

Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The gift of honesty

I recently got into a random conversation online with someone I don't really know. Just one of those random chances where someone says something and it strikes a chord or hits a nerve, and you end up exchanging notes on different perspectives on the same situation.

As far as I'm concerned, this was a blog that was waiting to be written - the online random conversation served as a great catalyst.

The big questions about the practice of honesty always have been- is it always possible to be honest? Should one be honest in any/every scenario? Do the intended recipients cause blockage of honesty by their attitude and/or woolly eyed expectations of the real world? etc.

My thoughts on this - utterly based in my personal experience and point of view - are as follows.

Whether it is business or personal life, I would require honesty from others on matters that relate to myself. I also demand the same from myself, and I am happy to say, I haven't failed my principles so far.

Truth avoidance is a mighty exhausting activity: Often, it takes the same amount of effort to hide a fact as it does to state it clearly. In business situations: I'd rather know right away if I have a design flaw, or a huge bug or am about to slip my deadline significantly than find out after the fact. Finding out later usually entails greater pain given that the product may already be in the hands of the customer  or the product roll out gets significantly delayed. In personal situations, honesty becomes even more important. Truth eventually gets out and relationships suffer or, in some cases end. I don't know of a single relationship that has survived trust issues.

Truth avoidance delays solutions: Knowing as early as I can, that I indeed do have cancer, could help me kick it. Knowing about a schedule slip or a design flaw or bug at the earliest prepares a team to fix the issues satisfactorily before they get to the end user. Knowing earlier on, that the laughter I think sounds cute to others is really annoying my date (or vice versa) could move our conversation to a higher (and more promising) plane sooner.

What's the intention? Often times we speak a few little white lies here and there.
"No, that dress doesn't make you look fat".
"Yes, you sound great when you sing that note".
"I'm sure that your husband does love you even if he forgot your anniversary and decided to extend his Europe trip - by himself".

If you examine it closely, the intention to keep someone from feeling hurt often masks our own discomfort in the potential awkward situations speaking the truth can create. Sometimes the intention can be to avoid retribution. For example, children often lie to parents about events where they know they've broken the rules. Con artists lie habitually to their victims. Holding back the truth isn't always caused by noble intentions.


Oddly, all of the above reminds me of the attitude of parenting. Often times as parents, we are forced to choose a hard path - give a timeout to a three year old for instance. We dislike seeing them cry, we dislike being the "bad cop" but we know that without consequences and doing the right thing, our children won't grow up to be the individuals we know they are capable of being.

By withholding truth from someone, I'm keeping them from learning and growing. No matter how horrible the truth, the consequences of not knowing the truth and being conned over and over again, or being oblivious while everyone else passes meaningful glances or talks over your head, can hardly help the victim feel better or help themselves.

There are times when facing a hard truth head on enables the hero within to come out. Hiding the truth only brings about the feelings of self suffering martyrdom in those who'd keep it from you. Perhaps that's what *they* are seeking - to feel important and noble instead of seeing their friend/dear one battle it out with honor and self esteem.


If I have toilet paper stuck to my shoes, my friends better tell me about it. In fact, I believe I'll use that as a test of friendship and trust from here on out.

Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

5 things I wish all fortunate people knew..

I have come to believe that charity and peace begin with empathy. Yet I find myself facing these questions almost daily.

  • Do the fortunate know how truly fortunate they are? 
  • Are those who do not need to struggle for basic needs, aware that their peers are facing unimaginable hardships? 
  • Will this awareness build empathy?
I'm not sure. But I'd like to post a few items here which I'm labeling somewhat arbitrarily, "things every teen should see". Why? Because I believe they are the future. They get to inherit our mess. And with every day that passes, we seem to shrink the room for delay and errors heading towards a global resource crisis.

Please click on the following links:
  1. Education for the poor in US All the back and forth notwithstanding about "good" teachers "bad" teachers and re-hauling the education system, the fact remains that there are many kids in US who simply cannot go to school. Any school. Even terrible ones. Imagine what your life would be if you couldn't go to school. What would your future look like?
  2. Garbage island in the Pacific larger than the state of Texas There is a "garbage island" of floating plastic in the pacific ocean which has been measured to be greater than the state of Texas. Imagine this floating non biodegradable island and the damage it can do to the surrounding life & water. If you start counting all the items we routinely buy that are packaged in plastic. All that plastic has to go somewhere. If it gets recycled hopefully it gets reused. If not, it ends up somewhere on our planet negatively affecting the surrounding environment. And remember, even recycled plastic does not bio degrade. Ever. It will outlast us. And it is growing.
  3. Student and other loans amortization & payments This is one of many sites which would estimate the amount per payment, the number of payments and the schedule (the total time it would take while paying at those rates to close out on a loan) of payment. Students heading to college need to see this for multiple reasons. Not everyone's parents can afford college tuition fees without taking out a student loan nor can everyone receive a scholarship. Bear in mind the student loans are typically charged at lower interest rates than the usual ones. Regardless, a 4 year college education costs a pretty chunk of change. This may be one of the most important decisions of your and your parent's lives.
  4. Credit cards & college students: If as a student you sign up for credit cards you *really* need to understand how the loan payment system works. Credit card interest rates are typically the highest of all forms of loans, and the most punitive. For a student (and their cosigning parents) who is not financially able to begin with, this is going to cause additional squeeze on already thin resources. How can you make sure that you use your money wisely? 
  5. Our world: What we do impacts everyone. Not just our near neighbors and dear ones, it impacts everyone on this planet sooner or later in some shape or form. Personal responsibility and accountability will help us drive change. I have only one child. But could I ensure I only buy food we actually consume and never waste any of our precious resources? Yes. I have room to improve. Who knows. Every time I reduce the flow of water in my sink as I brush my teeth, I may have made that portion of clean water available to someone who doesn't have as much access to clean water as I do. Ditto for the food.
These are just a few of my favorite things to bring to my own teenager's attention. But there are plenty more. My point however is simple. I believe in you. I believe in the future. But it can only be achieved through action now. What can you - one individual - do to make a difference? There are plenty of things one person can do. I listed some of them in my blog in the paragraphs above. I am constantly learning and changing along with many others. Come join us. 

Any teenagers reading this blog may roll their eyes at the following. But the cliches are cliches for a reason: Remember, prevention is always better than a cure. And there for the grace of god go I.


Empathize. Please begin.

Please feel free to comment and add additional ideas on what an individual can do to be a change agent.


Gigi a.k.a Gitanjali
(If you wish to republish or cross post this article, please kindly include original link to http://www.123giving.blogspot.com and the copyright statement below)

Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Please consider.... saving a life

I have written several times about the need for registering more people to the national donor marrow registry on my blogs and other places.  As you may know, my own life has been touched by this - I lost a brother several years ago who didn't find a marrow match - and I'm heavily committed to this cause for the rest of my life.

But if possible, here's more information to make you want to understand the emergency of this situation. Every week, I come by several news items where some local (to bay area) patients are waiting for a marrow match. According to the National Marrow Donor registry numbers, there is a severe shortage of Asian, African American and mixed ethnic donors registered.

As you may know finding a bone marrow match literally makes a difference between living and dying to the patient. There is likely, no other charitable action you can do with a greater, direct and potentially immediate impact to a person in need. Additionally the registration process is non invasive and takes only 10 minutes. The donation process too, is easy, safe, cost free to the donor and an outpatient procedure.

Please see attached videos - also posted on my blog page (right hand side, scroll down) for more details on the process of registering and what happens next, if you do turn out to match a patient.




Today I heard from someone who's family member is in need. My sincere wish is that no other family goes through what our family went through in those trying times. And no one else need ever lose a family member to this. Make a miracle happen this Christmas. Please register, where ever you maybe and whichever racial ethnicity you belong to, as long as you meet their requirements for health.

Asian donors please start at http://www.aadp.org/pages/main.php?pageid=16&pagecategory=1
Other ethnicities please visit http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/index.html?src=tabjoin

My work on this will never end. I keep trying to get higher numbers of people to come register at the drives I host. In fact I am hosting one tomorrow in my near neighborhood.

But the most important thing to remember is, that we get people to register through any channel possible. Here's how you can help:

  • Check the links above, and find a way to register, wherever you may be. Every person registered is a potential life saved. 
  • Spread the word, be a champion for this cause and help get more people registered.


Happy Holidays!
Gigi A.K.A Gitanjali

Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal All rights reserved.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Tis the season of giving

The season of giving is fast approaching, but the season of need is year round.

As you may know from my prior blogs, I'm very committed to the cause of bone marrow donor drives since a personal tragedy touched my family's life. While I'm not personally affiliated to AADP , other than in a purely volunteer capacity, I can vouch for the work they are doing in filling this need and saving lives every day. I'm also swelled with pride that my local farmers' market continues to donate space for free for this worthy cause asking nothing in return. My mention on this blog, is purely voluntary as well.

On Friday Nov 19th, I'm hosting a bone marrow drive with the help of AADP an awesome non profit organization devoted to helping find matches for patients whom a bone marrow transplant is a last hope for life.

Location: Cupertino, California : Farmer's market (Vallco Mall)
When:     Nov 19th 9-1:00 PM PST

  • The need to find a match is very great. 
  • The actual process for registering to be a marrow donor is a simple cheek swab & a form to fill. It will take about 10 minutes of your time.
  • No money or donations will be collected. The cost is assumed by the organization.
  • Your information & sample will be stored with the national donor registry database in a manner which protects your privacy to the utmost. This database is used strictly to benefit patients in need of a marrow donation. 
  • Should you be a match to a needy patient, 
    • You will be contacted and have the benefit of a session with a doctor who's main focus will be to ensure you satisfy health requirements for a donor AND to answer any questions you may have.
    • The procedure of marrow donation is an outpatient procedure.
    • About 70% of the time (depending on the age of the patient) a simple blood transfusion like process is employed to extract marrow cells from your body.
    • For the remaining 30% of the cases, the marrow will be extracted from your bone. This too is an outpatient procedure. The pain involved has been described to me as something that enables you to go about your business, work as normal, right after.
    • For more information check out http://www.aadp.org



Bay area! Come on show your strength and compassion :) and get in the business of saving lives!

And besides the farmer's market has some really good lunch options. Check them out!


Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal
Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal  All rights reserved.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Marrow Donor Program

Hello readers
 I have been making some progress in trying to raise awareness of my favorite cause, which is the national and international marrow donor program. I have been twittering about it, I have made some new contacts who are already involved in this cause and had made some good traction at my place of work to get a donor drive going.

  Now I would like to extend my reach - if possible, farther out. I realize the biggest gap is in getting enough people signed up. Some statistics I came across. Only 30% of patients have a sibling with the same genetic makeup who can provide marrow transplants. For the remaining 70% the best chance of finding a match is via some one of their own race/ethnicity. Which means for minorities and mixed ethnicities (listed as multiracial), this becomes a bigger problem since fewer people are registered.  
Please check out http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124338408532856679.html for more details on this.

A gift of life is the best gift of all. And you could do this good deed in small steps. Register at the national marrow donor registry or international donor registry (all sites listed on the right hand side of this site). Then if you do get called, its a simple outpatient procedure to donate marrow.

As easy as 123. :-)

Love

Written by: Ms. Gitanjali GulveSehgal AKA Ms. Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal AKA Ms. Gigi Sehgal
Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Gigi Sehgal a.k.a G G Sehgal a.k.a Gitanjali Gulve Sehgal  All rights reserved.