It’s Your Life: Best of O-zone

Book review: It's Your Life!
Author: Vinita Dawra Nangia
Publisher: Times Group Books
Pages: 270

Inspirational books many a time lead us to believe that we are not smart enough to know what is best for us and lump us in a mumbo-jumbo of convoluted philosophical wisdom from which we emerge more delusional than inspired.

But It's Your Life is a refreshing take on relationships and contemporary living that breaks free from stereotypes and tells us that we are alright, even if a little guilt-ridden, or torn between two love interests. It's the earthy wisdom of the author, senior editor and columnist Vinita Dawra Nangia that infuses a sense of self, a sense of well-being even while dealing with life's most complex situations. In spiritual guru Deepak Chopra's words, "The book is a very clear guide to reflective self-awareness."
For those who have been following her column, O-zone in Times Life the Sunday supplement of The Times of India, this comes as a happy memory of some of her most popular writings, and as for the uninitiated, it still is a joyous read as you ponder 'Who am I? Am I a good human being? Did I choose my life or did life choose me? Am I really in love? Can I forgive a fling and give love another chance? Is it better to have loved and lost or never to have loved at all? Can I love two people at the same time? Why feel guilty?'
The issues addressed in the book are as real as they come, something each one of us have experienced at a given point in our lives. The title, It's Your Life, subtly reminds us that it is indeed our lives, and it will be what we make of it. Replete with anecdotes, inspirations that come from everyday experiences, conversations and discussions we hear around us, the articles push us to realise who we are, and how simple it is to be the best we can be. Divided in two categories, the book in the first part deals with the nuances of contemporary life and living, while in the second turns the spotlight on relationships, the finer aspect of parents growing up with kids, modern-day romance, mutual attraction, forgiving a fling outside marriage, and many more. Says columnist and novelist Shobhaa De, "Vinita Nangia's insights into the complexities of human affairs frequently startle and definitely delight readers who hang on to every word of her spunky, witty and often, tender weekly column, aptly titled 'O-Zone'."
In the chapter 'Can you forgive a fling?', Vinita raises a very pertinent question, 'Is a straying spouse reason enough to break a marriage?'. With anecdotes from friends and acquaintances, she builds a watertight case of gender prejudices in man-woman relationship, especially in marriage, where a woman can tolerate an affront to her dignity, but chooses to walk out when her husband shows an inclination for another woman. And with the author, we too introspect if such a wife can possibly love her husband enough to feel jealous of his extra-marital exploits.
'C'mon, grow up Mum!' is a heartwarming take on the dilemma most parents face on talking to their kids about the birds and bees, and how they end up embarrassed when their kids impart them a lesson or two in return. It was probably easier for the older generation to deal with adolescent children by just reprimanding them, but the current generation instantly stages a walk-out when their privacy is invaded, or at least threatened. With her lighthearted humour, Vinita tells parents, doting mothers in particular that they too need to change their style of parenting with time.
The best part about It's Your Life is, it is very 'today', making it contextual to a whole generation of people that are juggling work, parents, lovers, kids, failed relationships, boring marriages, demanding spouses, urging them to take a breather and rediscover their self worth, their true beauty, and their right to be happy.