Offbeat Spirituality

Waking Up the Inner Child

2012-01-19T11:44:00.002+05:30

When I was a child

I listened to my mother

She taught me how to walk and talk

Above all, how to create a good thought.

I believed in nature

Made it my best friend

I played with my dog

Which I thought to be godsend

Now that I am grown

The innocence has flown

The mind has developed

It’s easy to make it corrupt

From pure to defensive

It forgets to be festive

I was taught the dream of compassion

Somehow it became weaken

Not anymore, I tell myself

I am going to lead by example

The world is hard and cold

But then I have good friends to hold

It’s time to wake up the purity inside

That’ll help me when things go wild

This moment I am not going to subside

‘Coz now I know, I am God’s most beautiful child

This just came to my mind this morning. If a writing professional is what you seek, please visit Writing Routes. Chao. Nitima

My New Year Resolutions for 2012

2011-12-26T11:28:00.000+05:30

It is time to stop making plans. Let’s get into action now. Let’s make time for time.

Last week of December is like any other holiday season. There’s less inflow of work. The clients seem to be too busy with their own vacation arrangements to send any work to me. So I have enough time to reflect on my plans and start doing the things I’ve procrastinated since long. Here is my five-chartered. Feel free to create yours

I’ll buy “that” book on advertising. I’ll invest in Ogilvy’s treasured writings.
I’ll visit two new places this holiday season. Since I am in Mumbai, Pune and Masjes Ghat are the ones on agenda.
I’ll create a new web page on translation services.
Will sleep for two days at a stretch – last few months have been crazy with construction and work.
And lastly, I’ll not feel bad for anything. Things happen, they will happen. I will not waste any moment frowning upon what, why, who and where. I’ll stay happy.

The Golden Trick of Staying Constantly Cheerful

2011-11-26T09:01:00.008+05:30

Smile at whatever happens. Even if something has gone wrong, find something to learn from it or something positive and be happy for it. Even if you can't find it right away, at least take the thought that this has happened for a reason. Start believing whatever happens, happens for the best.

When people see someone with positive qualities, even during negative situations, they really admire their positivity. It could be patience, wisdom or any other positive quality that comes across.But much more than that, it is the happiness or contentment that is visible in the form of a cheerful face. This is the true personality of royalty, that each one of us too needs to make an attempt to imbibe.

Life is short. People are dying. There's too much unhappiness around. Why waste time in sulking when you can make it BETTER? Stay cheerful. There's no other way of living.

Celebrating the Spirit of Diwali, even after it...!

2011-10-25T22:40:00.003+05:30

Let the spirit of love

gently fill our hearts & homes.

In this loveliest of seasons

May your heart gets filled of all the hopes.

Let's observe "Thamasomaa jyotirgamaya" this Diwali (even after it...!) and make these post Diwali days special. Literal meaning of this Sanskrit phase is "lead me from darkness to light". So where there is darkness light Is needed? What is this darkness?

Sorrow

No Peace

Loss

Disappointment

Misery

Lack of enthusiasm

Anger

Lust Greed

Hatred

Jealousy

Become your judge and find out which ones of these painful elements "YOU" possess. You know how to get rid of them? Do it by using meditation. Trust me - it's just the matter of belief that "I can do it". Rest - as they say - will become history.
Lets not wait anymore to burn our inner darkness with the Light of Diwali

Wishing You All A Very Happy n Prosperous Diwali and a
very Happy, Bright and Stressfree and Self-Controlled New Year

Would you do good to someone you don't like?

2011-09-15T11:39:00.002+05:30

Managing self is overrated. Knowing what you are going to do and how to do it — approach — is everything. But many mull over too much doing and do not spend enough time on thinking. That’s what I am doing right now.

I know what is right; just don’t have the courage to do it. May be writing it aloud will help me staying on the morally correct path. The only challenge is to stop the excessive thinking and focus on the big picture. Though managing self-attention is not as simple as blocking out time and turning off your devices, but mind can be shifted. I can do it.

My Anna's Leadership Values

2011-08-31T15:55:00.002+05:30

Anna Hazare and the Indian Government

The vision of "Let’s change India" by Anna Hazare are not three words anymore. It represents the power of people, the intoxication of patriotism and the future after tomorrow. There is much more to learn from Anna’s actions. The second Gandhi, who lived on nothing more than water for a week, delivered a performance that shook everyone from the Prime minister’s office to farmers of the tribal village of Orissa from where someone in our family is from.

His stint at Ramlila Maidan attracted record-breaking supporters in their quest of forwarding a bill aimed at bringing people who favor dishonesty to books. It provided impetus for passage of greater rights and the dismantling of dubious ways of some people.

There’s so much to learn from this. This is what I am taking, pick your choose:

Indian government as I see it!

Inclusive change
Better coalitions
Beliefs worth the risk
United we stand
Live to serve

Learning Creativity from Madonna

2011-07-25T18:20:00.002+05:30

My generation has grown-up watching Madonna. The Madonna. Her face reminds me that nearly every great creative mankind has ever known was/is a perfectionist. Yes, I agree perfectionism is not considered a healthy attribute in the world ‘coz it drives people crazy, but what is the fun of living a life that’s not near to it?

If you ever read the superstars of creativity and imagination, you’ll find that none of them stood for anything less than ideal work. Watch Madonna’s documentary “I’m Going to Tell You a Secret.” It will inspire you. At every point, Madonna sweats and demands that every moment of her performance is perfect. Really makes me think - why work on something if it wouldn’t get close to as perfect as possible?

Coping with Uncertain Times

2011-07-03T23:25:00.002+05:30

When I quit my regular job seven years back, there was no economic crisis in sight – well, at least not in India. Life was good and since I was relatively younger, never even once I had to repent my decision.

Though the carefree attitude has not changed over these years, I have started the experiments to keep myself more secure financially. The world all over, there are simply too many varieties of crisis looming. The sheer populace on the planet practically guarantees new challenges. A common reaction by most people has been to ignore the tough times we live in today as these can be depressing to contemplate.

Social graces, light humor, and genuine curiosity always play a big part in reducing people's discomfort with difficult subjects. A lot of them like to invest in bullion and gold bullion to make sure that in case of eventualities – they’ll be ready to fight them over. Once people buy bullion and buy gold bullion, a sense of relief comes over them. Buying gold must always be done through authorized gold IRA dealers as this market sometimes navigates through rough waters and to tell the differentiation from the original and duplicate becomes an issue.

Practical meditation in Action

2011-06-27T17:00:00.003+05:30

Being a spiritual seeker is a blissful experience. It lets you stay energetic the whole day and no matter what you do, the liveliness doesn’t drain out from your nervous system.

Everyone faces deadlocks, crisis - whether they last a day or a number of years, it is in your hands to decide what you take from the experience. Rather than shedding our fears, we get engrossed in our tough times and let our weakness of not being able to see beyond the clouds dominate our thoughts.

Were we given life to live in despair? If no is your answer, so where are your adjustments to it? Help yourself. Here are some tips for practical meditation. Use them and see the difference.

Take one minute break every hour and observe your thoughts. Do a SOS – Stand, Observe and Steer for them. It will help you in managing your inner resources better and become a better manager of the self. Steering them in the right direction helps because our thoughts are very accustomed to wander off on different tracks.
Write what you want to do in a day and then divert your attention from it. Don’t go on repeating it in your mind unnecessary.
Sit with yourself for five minutes every day. Minus mobile, newspaper, television or any other diversion from this meeting. Decide on the purpose for that day.
Use practical meditation to help you in prioritizing your work. Have the courage to say “No Thanks” to any activity that doesn’t add value to your living.
Whatever you want to do, DO. Don’t PROCRASTINATE.
Turn away from technology for few minutes every day. Take up a creative project and work on it. (paint pots, sow plants, create envelops, clean your stuff, make your laptop shine, arrange your shoes, give out clothes, ride a cycle, talk to trees, watch the sky, help your neighbor, read a book, make bookmarks, repair a clock…do you need more ideas?)

This is my list. You want to add something – be my guest. But my request is – Check & Change.

The Time is Now.

Kasab - Our National Guest

2011-05-29T22:12:00.001+05:30

Mumbai attacks, The Burning Taj and Kasab

Our national guest - Ajmal Amir Kasab has turned 2 in our custody. People celebrate birthdays but we will celebrate this anniversary by opening our borders, by applauding our enemies and by sending a lists of wanted terrorists to our dear neighbour, most of whom are already with us.

Well folks, that's India. We'll keep Ajmal Amir Kasab as our guest. Who cares if he killed people. They get killed everyday. India loves you darling. Our slogan is - "Atithi Devo Bhava". Your stay expenses are on us. Please eat, sleep and live a relaxed life. After all, how many of your brothers get a chance to shed innocent blood?

Kasab ji and his wishes

India is a rich state. We have given you lawyer for free. We will give you all the comforts till you live. We don't have money to feed our own people but don't worry. You are our nation's priority so we give you security which is more than what 99% of Indians & foreigners get. India is a big country and we have other problems, so please sit on a high chair and we promise never to hang you in public. Ever!

The Royal Wedding Mania

2011-04-29T22:42:00.000+05:30

Royal Wedding

On the day of this gala event, how could I sleep without putting my thoughts into words? Dunno for others but I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. Although they say a man in love is incomplete until he has married...then he's finished, I still think there's lot to be said about this delicate subject.

Wedding

My idea of a royal marriage is of a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters written in prose. Looks like Kate and Will have come up with a perfect understanding. He won't try to run her life, and he won't try to run his, either because an amiable arrangement has already been agreed on whereby she'll be allowed to have her own way, every time and what we'll see is a happy royal marriage.

Earthquake in Japan, the Nuclear Crisis & Me

2011-03-28T10:18:00.002+05:30

Earthquake in Japa

Last one month has been phenomenal – there have been quakes, fights, eruption of anger, and the mother of all crises – nuclear catastrophe. Surrounding all this are we – The People. What is my part in saving Japan and the rest of the world from something that big?

Situations like these bring the best out of people. Oneness, ingenuity springs up when the times are tough, making the power of community remarkable. Bravo to those courageous folks who have contributed in easing the pain of suffering.

Nuclear Reactor, Russia

What am I doing? That’s a question I have asked myself time and again? I want to do my bit too and that I do by sitting in peace few minutes every one hour and sending the vibrations of pure love, good wishes and positivity. There’s a lot needs to be done and I haven’t become strong enough to remain glued to one thought for more than few minutes but the process of learning is on.

Care to join?

Is Facebook Worth $67.5 Billion?

2011-02-19T22:43:00.000+05:30

Some say Facebook is worth much more than $67 billion. Facebook is no longer just a social networking site; it is steadily becoming a better way to search the internet. Last night, I was desperately trying to find a phone number for an art gallery. I checked Google, Yahoo, Ask, Bing, Delhi Buzz and couple of other websites but nowhere I could find the right info. Also, the art gallery's own website was down. Finding myself out of options, I tried out Facebook. The art gallery did have its own Facebook page, and not only they had listed the correct phone number, but it also had the information I was looking for. I did not even have to call the gallery. Basically, the old www. internet is broken and outdated. There was a gigantic need for a more organized/easy way to access the right information on the internet and Facebook was the answer.

Is Skill On War?

2011-02-06T20:19:00.003+05:30

I met a group of entrepreneurs last week, all gathered to talk about building a more civilized work place. During the course of our conversation, almost all of them emphasized that much more important than building teams is to retain them.

Skill sells like hot cake in today’s job market and even though it is nonsense, the war of talent has become time-consuming. For someone eager to win the “war of skills”, two lessons can define the whole strategy:

Do not believe in single superstars – because all of them can perform – seriously. Just give them time, space and confidence.

Create systems that are greater than people - because even the most talented person can fail in a bad system, and seemingly mediocre individuals can become shining stars in a great system.

The Art of Detachment

2011-02-03T12:18:00.003+05:30

Almost a year ago, on a flight from Maldives to New Delhi, I surprisingly found myself sitting next to my ex-colleague who looked seemingly pleasant carrying her two year old son. We had an exciting exchange of ‘who is where and doing what’, shared a few details of what we have been doing over the past five years and how life has changed for both of us. After an hour of conversation, I reached for my book signaling the 'let’s take a break from talking and do something productive with time' kind of look. But she failed to take the hint. Instead of winding down gracefully, she went on telling me how her life is evolving around her baby, how she has been managing everything on her own and remains so busy that she can’t even answer phone calls. The monologue lasted for the entire journey and gave the co-passengers headache for a day.

So strong was her wave of ‘I should tell everything’ that she cleared her mind with a pressure. There were times when I tried to stop her but she kept cutting me short, so I just let her continue. Till now I can’t forget her stressed face.

Sometimes we get consumed by our work (taking care of home in this case) so much that we simply forget there is life after that. We are not the only ones living, working, having children, maintaining a standard of living. Countless people have done that before and will keep on doing all the work they can patiently. For most of us, life has become a compilation of activities and when we find that rare window of undivided attention, the opportunity is grabbed instantly to tell what all we have been doing.

Attaching ourselves to the work brings ego (I did right; you should have done it that way, why should I always suffer?) and hinders our self-growth. Whenever you find yourself in a situation where you are describing what you do, always stay honest. Remind yourself that your identity is bigger than your work, take time to refresh your mind frequently and stay healthy by doing exercise.

In short - speak less; practice the art of detachment more.

The strength of honesty

2011-01-13T20:59:00.000+05:30

Wise men say that honesty makes you stronger. With honesty comes enthusiasm and zeal. It lets you stay away from competition and unnecessary comparison. By criticising others, we become impure and spread the vibes of negativity.

We need to learn how to work on creating good atmosphere. Sometimes only a single thought can take us down. The key is to never get disturbed and stay in sync with your inner feelings. There is always uniqueness in unity...and unity comes with honesty.

So this lorhi, promise yourself to stay honest – not only with others but with yourself. Stay honest to your feelings and spread positivity.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-24T21:31:00.001+05:30

The nights between the Christmas & the New year

...and all across the map,

Not an entrepreneur will rest,

Not even a quick nap.

They have work to be done,

Opportunities never sleep.

With visions of better lives,

Their commitment runs deep.

This holiday season,

God simply wishes to say:

Of you are living your life truthfully,

He is proud of you every day.

Wishing you Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a safe and healthy New Year.

PS. It's not too late call your parents, siblings, friends and neighbors and wish them new year!

Being Humble

2010-12-06T15:09:00.000+05:30

The more you are humble, the more will be your success.

Contemplation:

Humility gives you the wings to fly. It gives you enthusiasm based on your inner truth and you can easily move forward. When there is no humility you will find yourself being pulled back again and again.

Application:

When you do something, remind yourself of how much you are enjoying it. Let there be no desire for recognition or praise. Then you will find yourself succeeding in the task that you undertake and you will be appreciated too.

Facebook & Me

2010-11-16T12:49:00.001+05:30

Making Your Thoughts Count

2010-11-07T09:39:00.003+05:30

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

“A human is a product of the thoughts he keeps.” – We know that and yet we choose to think rubbish. Take a moment to visualize your thoughts and you’ll see more than 98% of your thoughts would be either of the days that has gone by or of the future. Yesterday & Tomorrow.

And here we forget one of the most venerable teachings of life “Present is a PRESENT.” Why must we choose to endure pain long after the incident has happened? Why we worry about what is yet to come? Why must we give tit for tat? Why can’t we practice patience?

Let’s not be ordinary. Let’s do something special and make our good thoughts count. Let’s spread peace by being at peace with ourselves because with our thoughts, we make the world.

Knowing Thy Spirit

2010-11-03T16:11:00.003+05:30

“Err...What?”

“Why?”

This is how a typical answer to the post topic will be like. Spirituality, when mixed with religion, can evoke responses like these.

The word ‘Spirituality’ is made from Latin ‘Spiritus’ meaning – “Self”.

Christian Science uses "Spirit" as one of the seven synonyms for God, as in: "Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love.

Hinduism uses “Spirit” to refer to “Soul” or “Atman”.

Greek perceived it as the entity that leaves body when someone dies.

On exploring the relationship between spiritual points of view about health and healing, you’ll find that knowing about “Self” is probably one of the biggest discovery you can do about yourself. Today we have gone to moon, exploring Mars, have gone under sea, into the deepest locations on earth and try to find what happens there – but what happens in our mind, we don’t know. And if we know, we can’t control.

Hatred, jealousy, insecurity, anger and frustration – each of us can identify our self with these intimidating emotions. People feel more comfortable telling stories of their pain rather than happiness. Why? Because we fear our happiness might get lost if we share. If that is how you feel too, trust me – it is the time for self discovery.

Just spare few thoughts and think who you are, where you from, what is life and what is death. I’ll be writing about these topics in detail, so if you have anything to add, let me know. Will put it here along with your link.

Making everyday a Perfect Day

2010-10-29T14:20:00.002+05:30

Making a usual day a perfect day can be a struggle. But for most us, what to do to make it perfect isn’t the hard part.

Come on, think about it.

You normally don’t struggle (too much) over what to do. The question is when to do to make your day reasonably good.

Here are four pointers that help me making my day better than others. They are yours to use –

Get up early

Almost 85% of people sleep till 8 and miss the wonderfulness that an early morning has to offer. One of the best gifts you can give to yourself is ‘getting up early’. Of course, trying it suddenly is going to be difficult but if you make it a habit, you’ll have so much extra time to think, read, exercise or anything you like to do. I meditate, cook, and go for a walk when people around are sleeping and enjoy it thoroughly.

Appreciate & Learn

Try this – spend 5 minutes twice a day in gratitude – it will reshape the way you perceive your day. With appreciation will come the desire to learn. Focus on what is best right now and block the rest.

Have a schedule

When we write our thoughts, we become conscious of doing them on priority. Success doesn’t happen by accident but through conscious choice. Plan out what is most important to you so that you can get them done.

Accept changes gracefully

Change in the only constant thing in our universe. To live perfect days, get rid of your attachment with things (my home, my car, my laptop, my idea etc.), situations (at home, work, financial, emotional) and people (parents, children, friends, spouses) – love them just like you love everyone else. Attachment doesn’t let you move out of your comfort zone and your growth becomes ZERO. It costs you your happiness.

John Wooden (American basketball coach) once said “You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

How will you alter your choices to make your days perfect is on you.

Pleasant Birthday Wishes

2010-10-23T09:56:00.012+05:30

It's somebody's birthday every week and every time I spend considerable amount of time on the Internet looking for that perfect wish - which not many people have heard of. This morning I had a thought - why not create my own list and post it online. I can categorize it according to how people search and they may get what they are looking for here.

So here a "Cheers" to a new start!

May this year be your best ever.
I hope all your birthday dreams and wishes come true.
Not just a year older, but a year better.
Here's to another

Pleased look forward,
pleased to look behind,
And count each birthday with a grateful mind.

Happy Birthday, you're not getting older you're just a little closer to death.To the nation's best kept secret; Your true age.

Birthdays are like boogers, the more you have the harder it is to breathe.

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that people who have the most live the longest!

Money's tight
Times are hard
Here's you frigging birthday card

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

Better to be over the hill than buried under it.

You are only as old as you act.

So many candles... so little cake.

Happy Birthday to you,
you live in a zoo,
you smell like a monkey,
and you look like one too.

We know we're getting old when the only thing we want for our birthday is not to be reminded of it.

Happy Birthday on your very special day, I hope that you don't die before you eat your cake.

Wishing you all the great things in life, hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest.

Wish u many many Happy returns of the day

Smiles and laughter, joy and cheer
New happiness that stays throughout the year
Hope your birthday brings that to you my dear

On your birthday I wish you much pleasure and joy;

I hope all of your wishes come true.
May each hour and minute be filled with delight

I already gave you my heart 1 years ago—this year all I can give you is a simple wish: Happy Birthday. And I hope you’re happier and more in love with me of course!

Today, on your special day,
My heart reaches out to you and pray,
May He blesses you with happiness
Today, tomorrow and forever

A prayer: 2 bless ur way

A wish : 2 lighten ur moments
A cheer: 2 perfect ur day
A text: 2 say HAPPY BIRTH DAY
Because it is your Birthday,
You get an extra hug,
You also are entitled to,
Another year of love.

I’m so blessed 2 have a friend like u

This comes with many
Loving thoughts & warm wishes
I send 2 u,
May ur day be filled with laughter
On this ur special day & may the finest things
In life always come
Ur way happy birthday!

May you have all the joy your heart can hold,

All the smiles a day can bring,
All the blessings a life can unfold,
May you have Gods best in everything.

Happy birthday to you,

Even though i wish it earlier i dun cared.
Dun forget bout our friendship, that we’ve shared.
You can spend
hundreds on birthdays,
thousands on festivals,
lakhs on weddings,
but to celebrate
all you have to spend is your TIME….
Life is very short,
So enjoy every moment,
Dont lose your confidence
Go always ahead.

For the world, i’s just another day,

But for me today is the best day of the year!
.
.
.
.
Happy Birthday my love.
Before the clock strikes 12,
let me take the opportunity,
to let you know that you,
have grown a year more…
Happy birthday
“The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.Happy Birthday

Each year your birthday reminds me

That I really want to say
I’m very glad I know you;
I think of you each day.
I hope you enjoy your birthday

May today be filled with sunshine and smiles, laughter and love. Happy Birthday to someone who is forever young.

This brings a birthday greeting
and a wish for nothing less
than good luck in the future
and special happiness.
Happy Birthday

You're another year older and another year wiser
So put your brain to work
And figure out there ain't no gift for you.

Two tips on your birthday:
1) Forget the past, you can't change it.
2) Forget the present, I didn't get you one.

Some words of wisdom for your birthday, "Smile while you still have teeth!"

Happy Birthday you old fart.
You would have loved the gift I didn't bother getting you.
Another year, another new place thet aches.
One more year of existence down the drain. Happy Birthday!

The only reason you hate your birthday is because people give you odd gifts, scary cards with weird messages in them, and because you're getting older. Anyway, Happy Birthday!

It's ok to light the candles on your birthday cake now; I've already alerted the fire department.

With age comes wisdom. (You're one of the wisest people I know!)

I was trying to think of what to get you for your birthday but nothing came to mind.

You're not old until you can't read this writing anymore. (written in real small text)

9 Habits That Can Help You in Managing Self the Better Way and Control Stress

2010-10-16T13:12:00.004+05:30

We are so used to doing things that we simply forget the ones that we shouldn't. Here's a list of what crossed my mind - if there's anything else you'd like to add, be my guest.

1. Trying to do everything

Yes, we have been brought up with the notion that we shouldn't pass over any of our works to others but have you heard the word “delegation”?

I understood its importance when I realised that people are always willing to help but I should know how to take it. by rule, 80% of our time gets wasted in doing 20% of work. So how about slashing that unproductive time from 80% of low value work and making the best of your day?

2. Answering all emails (or calls and messages for that matter)

Ahhhhh! Another silly notion that I had – I used to think I have to reply to all emails until I noticed that not all my emails were replied to. In fact, many weren’t, even when they were follow-up replies to reader mails asking for help. Seemingly, all the effort that go into meticulously typing, wording and formatting my mails wasn’t really getting me anywhere. I would be stuck in email land the whole day long with no output to claim of my own except for an increase in mails in my sent box. So I began to selectively reply to higher priority emails, and the world didn’t stop. In fact, I now have more time to create more high value content and articles for readers, which is a big win for everyone.

3. Thinking you have to do everything immediately

Apart from my to-do list and not-do list, I also have a do-later list. This is to collect the items that drop in mid-way through the day, usually administrative, nitty gritty tasks that don’t take much time but aren’t majorly important too. If I drop what I’m doing at the moment to work on them it can be disruptive, so instead I put them in my do-later list. Then at the end of the day, I batch and process everything at one go. It’s a lot more effective.

4. Putting important tasks off

Procrastination is the mind killer. It may seem like a good idea to put off that task now, but that’s just setting yourself for a jam later on, and it’s not worth it. Get started on your most important projects now and stop putting them off. Out of all the people I’ve met in all my life, I’ve never come across anyone who gets authentic joy and happiness from procrastination. The ones who claim to be happy procrastinating are usually living in an illusion, alternating from “Oh I’m happy the way I am” to “I wish I don’t have to do this” to “Sigh I wish I started earlier” in a matter of seconds.

5. Trying to get things perfect the first time round

Interesting, it’s the perfectionist in us that causes many of us to procrastinate. If the perfectionist side of you is hindering you from getting things done in the first place and makes you feel stressed, that’s something you should look into. Get into the notion of ‘drafts’ – let yourself work on a 1st draft, where you work on the core content, then return for a 2nd or 3rd draft where you iron out the little details. Give yourself the permission to make mistakes which you can correct later on.

6. Being hung up over details

Being detail oriented is good. However, don’t be so obsessed with details that it holds you back. Does this matter a year from now? 3 years from now? 5 years? If not, then maybe it’s not worth worrying so much about it now. Go for the bigger picture; that’s more important to you and that’s what is going to keep you motivated.

7. Not having clear goals

Do you know your goals for this month? How about your goals for this year? And the next year? If you can answer these 3 questions with absolute certainty and conciseness, then you’re good to go. Otherwise, perhaps it’s good to spend some time to think over them or else you’ll start getting stressed out.

8. Not taking breaks

Humans are not robots. While robots can sustain constant output over a long period of time, we need to rest and recharge otherwise we come under stress. So schedule a short break in between your work hours, say for 5 or 10 minutes, take a breather and say no to stress. You’ll find your focus markedly higher when you return.

9. Trying to please everyone

I like this quote by Colin Powell, which says “Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity”. You’re never going to be able to control what others think, so don’t spend too much time sweating over it and stress yourself. Instead, work on the things you have control over – yourself, your emotions, your thoughts, your actions and feel happy about it. Spend your energy in the creation process, and on people who do deserve your attention and love. Try it for a week – You’ll find it’s a lot more rewarding this way.

The Big, Bold & Beautiful Commonwealth Extravaganza

2010-10-03T23:29:00.003+05:30

Against the backdrop of an early October sun set, the spanking new Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium turned into a golden hue as the Rs 44 crore aerostat lifted into the skies and a bevy of puppets danced and over 800 drummers heralded the event.

A spectacular laser fireworks show lit up the evening sky and India took a giant leap, 28 years after it hosted the Asian Games.

In a neat diplomatic compromise, Prince Charles, representing Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth, and President Pratibha Patil did the honours at the inaugural ceremony, amid thunderous cheers from the capacity 60,000 crowd.

"I have much pleasure in declaring the 19th Commonwealth Games open", the Prince said reading out a message from the British monarch.

This was followed by the address of President Patil, who concluded by saying " the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are now open. Let the Games begin", signalling the formal commencement of the sporting extravaganza.
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his cabinet colleagues, former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Maldives President Mohammed Nashid, Prince of Monaco Albert II, Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell, Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and a host of dignitaries were present at the ceremony.

It was a mix of both cheers and jeers for Kalmadi when he made his speech while references to Dikshit were received by loud cheers in the audience. commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,

After brief speeches by Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell and Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, the Queen's Baton, which traversed through all the 71 Commonwealth nations made a grand entry with Bindra being given the honour.commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,

Badminton star Saina Nehwal, Beijing Olympic Games bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar were the others who carried the baton.

It was followed by the arrival of the Games flags of all the participating countries and the oath-taking ceremony by the Indian captain Bindra.

There was also a section dedicated to the great tradition of learning which unfolded under the Knowledge Tree - a sacred space of Learning - presenting the Indian Classical dance and music that have been passed on through the Guru shishya Parampara.

The production comprised six classical dances of India, including Odissi from Orissa, Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu, Kathak from North India, Manipuri from Manipur, Mohiniattam from Kerala and Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh. commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,

Each classical dance represented a season -- Odissi (Spring), Bharatnatyam (Summer), Kathak (Monsoon), Manipuri (Autumn), Mohiniattam (Fall), Kuchipudi (Winter).

Through dance, music and projections on the aerostat of tree leaves, the production captured the emotions as experienced through changing seasons.

India's Yogic way of life was also on display with a presentation of the practice of YOGA - the ultimate union of the body, mind and soul.

All along the ceremony, the moving lights on the helium balloon continued to change their hues, projecting life size revolving images of the action on the ground.

The past few weeks of negative publicity that had dogged the nearly Rs 70,000 crore mega-event was quickly forgotten as the glittering opening ceremony, which encapsulated a fascinating mix of culture and modernity, kept the spectators enthralled for more than two hours.

The ceremony, which set the stage for 12 days of intense competition will see over 7000 athletes from 71 countries vying for honours.

The aerostat, a giant helium balloon was dramatically lifted to its full height amid the sounds of Nagada drums.

A spectacular display of drummers from various parts of India then took centrestage and Keshav, a child prodigy from Auroville, Puducherry, was the cynosure of all eyes. commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,

The musical production of Swagatam, a rendition of a blend of Hindustani and Carnatic that finally climaxed into a Quawalli, was performed by Hariharan.
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1050 school children performed a choreography of the Namaste sign, which presented the 23 officially recognised languages of India through projections on the aerostat.
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The athletes parade began in which 71 women, dressed in sarees that not only represents different designs form the various Indian corners but also myriad patterns, colours and styles, carried their country's placards.

The 619-member strong Indian contingent, which had Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra as the flag-bearer, drew the loudest cheers as it walked into the jam-packed stadium in the presence of a host of dignitaries, International Olympic Committee and CGF officials.

The Pakistani contingent drew a heavy round of applause from the crowd, notwithstanding the irritants in the bilateral ties.

816 performers together performed a choreography that formed the shape of a sun doing the Suryanmaskar - a series of Yoga postures done in salutation to the sun. Performers on the center stage also displayed some of the most complicated asanas.

The performers then dramatically changed the choreography and began to spiral, representing the kundalini - the coiled energy, an instinctive force that lies at the base of the spine.commonwealth,

Then there was the Great Indian Journey, where a train made a grand arrival as the Cheraw dancers from Mizoram did the Bamboo dance to give the Rhythm for the train.

There was also a segment on Mahatma Gandhi, where the Father of nation was paid rich tribute through a simplistic, humanistic form, depicted through sand animation based on the historic moment of the Dandi March with Mahatma's favourite hymn - Vaishnavo Janato played at the background.

Folk dancers from various corners of the country also came together to rejoice and dance in celebration of the message of the Mahatma, showcasing the ultimate richness in India's folk culture.

The opening ceremony finally culminated with the rendition of Oscar winning music composer AR Rahman's CWG 2010 Anthem -- Jeeyo, Utho, Badho, Jeeto (Live, Rise, Move, Win) -- to inspire all the athletes to give them the push to victory.

In his address Kalmadi, widely criticised for the controversies that surrounded the delayed preparations to the Games, said "India is ready to host a great Commonwealth Games."
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"Despite the bad publicity, all the Commonwealth nations stood by India as Delhi becomes the largest ever in the history of the Commonwealth Games," he said.

"We are prepared to deliver a great Games," he concluded. In his brief address, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "Welcome to India. Welcome to the Games. Millions are waiting eagerly to watch the Games unfold".

The formalities, with the march past forming the major chunk, were followed by a 40-minute cultural display in which classical Indian dances, a fine yoga display and a Bollywood-style show.
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The Indian railway train was pulled by the age-old steam engine to the strains of the Rahman-hit 'Chayya Chayya' from the film 'Dil Se'.

A giant figure of Lord Buddha was created and rose up from the centre stage to rise up to the canopy.

Instrumental rendering of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite song 'Vaishnavo Janato' was done with a figure of the Father of the nation also created through technology in the middle of the stage.

The stadium reverberated with Rahman's Games theme song "Yaaro, India Bula Liya" and his famous "Jai Ho" number from his Oscar-winning " Slumdog Millionaire" album, in the midst of a spectacular fireworks display, before the curtains came down on the spectacular ceremony.commonwealth, commonwealth,

For the first time in Games history the athletes who took part in the march past were later seated on the periphery to watch the remaining part of the pageant.

Keeping the focus...

2010-09-24T09:20:00.001+05:30

Why do some people fail while others succeed? Why students from a same class may find themselves at complete opposite ends years after they have left the school? Why businesses fail to pick up or go through a dry run after a successful period?

Because the focus is lost.

Focus is the key to suceed. Masters are good only in one thing because they foucs hard on it. Sometimes we meet people who like to do everything and that is why they are good at nothing. Businesses/freelancers like to be busy and that's why they pick up everything that comes across their path, without giving it a thought whether the opportunity is in sync with their core philosphy or not and they fail not because they didn't have opportunities but because they had too many of them.

So, what's the solution?

Build your work around selective things and say "no"to the rest. Ditto for the personal life. Pick 4 values and stict to them. At work, build your team around 4 key result areas and say no to rest. If you try to do everything all the time, you wouldn't stand anywhere.

So, the thought of the day is - Stay Focused. If you want to succeed, it is the only way to go.

Rules Of Being A Human

2010-09-15T17:10:00.003+05:30

Something I read yesterday and really linked it, so posting it here

1.     You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.

2.     You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."

3.     There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."

4.     Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5.     Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

6.     "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."

7.     Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

8.     What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9.     Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

10.     You will forget all this.

Never let anyone turn you around

2010-08-28T18:35:00.002+05:30

Life is full of surprises. At one moment you could have everything and at other - nothing. Having worked as a freelancer for years, I have learned a lesson - If you want to live happily, never let anyone turn you around".

When you take a step towards new heights, you'll meet people willing to pull you down - simply for the fun of watching you scramble. In the world we live in, only the true leaders can see situations as a challenge. Only one belief keeps them running - Life has a very fair accounting system. Caring for others is always going to pay. The difficult times are the exact times to be generous. Be generous with your time, money, feelings, emotions, care, car, home, people - everything! Don't lock what you don't use behind the cupboards. Give away your gifts. Be philanthropic with your attention. When the whole world is shrinking its vision, its the time for some to play it forward. Begin the reinvestment in simple acts of kindness and see your efforts getting logged into the social accounting system.

Falling in line doesn't mean giving up personal convictions. Design your own terms. Watch your WATCH - Wishes, A - actions, T - time, C - Character, H - Habits

The A, B, C & D of life

2010-07-31T11:44:00.006+05:30

Image: www.tigerbreath.com

When hardship hits, our instinctive reaction is “what will happen to me? My home? My family? My work?”

It has become natural to start pulling in. Some people, you must have noticed, immediately get into protective mode. They try to pull in and preserve their domains. It has become human nature today.
Is this living the life as it comes? How about not acting on fears and narrowing our vision but standing for what we believe is right and getting rid of our own limitations? The simplest way to do it is by learning the basics again. So, let’s begin

A: is for accuracy. We must try and deliver everything with unmatched accuracy not only when we are working professionally but at home, with people as well. Remember, if no one’s ever going to see, it doesn’t make leaving the table messy after you’ve had food is alright. No – it isn’t. Just imagine – if someone would pay you to do it, would you then also leave it like that? No, isn’t it? Yes! I know money is a great driving force but is it ethical to be lazy?

A is also for alertness. The more alert a person would get, the better will be accuracy and of course – the end product. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you are doing it with accuracy and alertness, you are bound to make it perfect.

Maintaining Balance Between Head & Heart

2010-07-21T09:59:00.005+05:30

Its a delicate balance that most of us fail to maintain.

In our interactions with others, we sometimes only use the head, i.e., my logic. Yes, that does bring us to a logical level and enables us to understand the facts very clearly. But if you keep myself limited only to the facts, you tend to forget to use your heart. Then we are not available to the other person and fail to understand them.

So, what's the solution?

In order to be successful in all our interactions with others, have the right balance between your head and my heart. See beyond the facts, say and try to listen and understand the other person too. When you do this you will not hurt people with your attitude but will be able to maintain harmonious relationships.

The Change Management of Life

2010-07-09T15:07:00.000+05:30

How often you feel angry on others? If something unpleasant happens, are you able to control your mind at the right time or do you keep on thinking about it the whole day?

Generally, our thoughts drive us. It is our perception about other people; situations etc. that make us react. We are so used to keeping thoughts running on our mind that we don’t even realise how much wasteful things is happening inside us. Have you ever noticed how easily we get affected by outside scenario? When we meet an irritating person, we get irritated too.

Have you ever noticed why?

Because we have become takers of negativity, ego, anger, frustration and waste. This needs to be changed. The thinking has to become positive. With the power of positivity, we refuse to give up. Remember, though situations don’t last but tough people do.

Let us try to be a better person. It will change everything around you, because change always begins from inside. If I’ll change, the WORLD will change with me.

What is Honesty?

2010-06-27T10:27:00.002+05:30

Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty
People often limit honesty to speaking truth. It is however much more than that. Honesty means being clear with own intentions and inner self. It is then it will bring clarity of thoughts and understanding of own capabilities. This clear understanding enables one to do the best according to the capacity. It gives the recognition of a higher step that can be climbed and brings the humility to learn from the different lessons of life.

When we become honest, we are able to know our own limitations and accept them with love. This acceptance keeps us busy with what we can do without creating the unnecessary confusion about future. We are able to do right things at the right time. We are prepared not to let situations demand more from us because there is total clarity within.

Global Warming

2010-06-16T22:54:00.006+05:30

Global Warming is so nineties

Fight for a new cause

Water and toilets for all

Principles of positive thinking:

2010-05-31T10:42:00.001+05:30

1. The foundation of positive thinking is to have self-respect and to be contented.

2. Self-respect in positive thinking means to be assertive and to set boundaries about what is acceptable and what is not.

3. The aim of positive thinking is to reach a stage of neutrality where your mind is purely positive because your thoughts are completely free from the opposition or resistance of negativity.

4. Positive thinking is about seeing the negative for what it is and thereby neutralizing its power over you. If you don’t identify the negativity clearly, then you are influenced by it.

5. Positive thinking is the consistent refusal to engage in projection. That means to refuse to project onto others the lures and entrapments of negative which lurk in your inner world. It also means that you refrain from seeing the world through rose coloured glasses and getting dazzled and impressed. Projection distorts your perception and skews your vision of the world.

6. Positive thinking is to be free from worrying about others.

7. Positive thinking is to develop an attitude of enlightened self interest. This is the opposite of selfishness. It means to come to terms with yourself and not be deceived by your own weaknesses.

8. Spirituality identifies you as a pure, peaceful, powerful jewel in the heart of God. Positive thinking is to respect yourself by refusing to adopt some one else’s negative vision of you. In this way you also avoid the powerful negative force of self-doubt.

9. A positive thought is produced in the face of many things that are negative. Sustained positive thoughts lead to neutrality. A neutral thought is produced when there is no further negativity to contend with.

10. Self-respect means that you consider it inappropriate to criticize others. You consider it cowardly to feel threatened by someone else. You view everyone as responsible for their own behaviour.

11. Self-respect is to affirm that you are a pure and peaceful soul. From this spiritual sense of identity you resist prerogative thoughts about your personal value and integrity from within and from without.

12. Self-respect implies self-confidence. You maintain regard for yourself independently of praise or defamation, success or failure. You maintain an attitude of love, peace, faith, courage, perseverance, enthusiasm and happiness.

13. Your contentment allows you to have a large heart, magnanimous feelings towards others and a comfortable relationship with the social environment, free from fear.

14. Respecting yourself gives you the power to discern, when someone wants you to buy you into a lie: but you don’t.

15. A positive thinker has a personal ethical policy of honesty. This ensures that the faculties of intuition and perception are reliable. An honest person can detect when someone is lying. You have regard for your discernment and therefore are hard to deceive. At the same time of deception the other’s effort will be to persuade you to disregard what you know don’t exist.

16. You are not deceived by things that you feel positive but are in fact negative. Negativity is subtle and invisible. It occurs both within the self ad through other people. Your thoughts of contentment are not based on appearances.

17. Positive thinking is independent thinking based on higher principles and values. It is not a reaction to appearances or being dependent on people, places ad things being as you expect.

18. Thinking a positive thought in a simplistic way is a form of denial because it ignores the web of negativity and the selfish motives of others around you. Unless you discern others selfish motives, you will get duped.

Why Birthdays Are a Big Deal?

2010-05-21T16:16:00.007+05:30

People throw birthday parties, like to go out, shop, eat and have fun on their birthdays. Yes, it is the day they were born but what’s the big deal about it? Why can’t we be so cheery all the days in the year? Why do we need a special occasion for celebration?

How about making your whole life special? How about having a vision for the entire humankind and contributing into it daily through good wishes? How about leaving our meanness and extending our love to others selflessly? How about picking up the phone and calling your estranged sibling, with whom you haven’t spoken in the years and pretend that things are okay?

Why do we have limited visions, I don’t understand. Why we find it easy to talk to people sitting thousands of miles away from us on Facebook but have cold-wars at home? Life doesn’t need to be so complicated. We don’t have to be afraid because someone will snub us. We just have to be powerful enough to make our happiness becomes contagious.

And that’s what I am going to do on my birthday. That’s my vision for the next year – Give more than what people expect so that I can be happy that I did something good.

When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Gets Going

2010-05-12T12:15:00.010+05:30

Truly admire these words. Life is full of struggles. We can either sit back and let them take their toll on us or do take an action so that they feel weaken. Somehow, the second choice suits me more.

Every day I get up, I only have one thought in mind – “How to make today a better day than yesterday?” and so, I navigate my ideas to push me in doing something different at every moment, so as to ensure that things always look bright and different.

Life is a hungry beast. It is going to eat us up if we don’t do something about it. So, if you ever feel low, remember - when the going gets tough the tough gets going.

Patience – The Biggest Virtue

2010-05-03T10:13:00.002+05:30

Slow but the steady one always wins. Success is not the result of how fast or shrewd you are, but how diligently you work.

We have got so much used to thinking that everything should happen fast. Even with little on our part, we expect high results. Isn’t it easy to say that “you didn’t work according to what I told you”, rather than “I am sorry, I realise that I didn’t explain things properly to you”.

Since impatience is so deeply rooted in us, we just can't wait and therefore jump to conclusions and react immediately without understanding the problem. Thus we find it difficult to experience success in whatever we do.

So what’s the solution?

The understanding starts with the fact when we realise that fruits of seeds that we sow in will come at their own time. This will give you the patience to wait without expecting results too fast. And it’s the patience that will let you stay calm even in the most negative/adverse situations.

Staying healthy from mind

2010-04-25T20:05:00.003+05:30

In this world of uncertainty, keeping your body fit can sometimes be a challenge. From morning till night, we are so engrossed in our routines that sometimes we even forget what the body requires.

My post is not about promoting self indulgence in such a way that there’s nothing else to do. To have a healthy body, a healthy thinking is what we need. We would never eat rotten food because we know what it is not healthy and eating it would give rise to problems. But how many of us notice the thoughts that we feed into our mind throughout the day? Our whole day is spent in creating negativity and the feeling of jealously, hatred, fear, ignorance and anger – all the wasteful thoughts – and then at the end of our day, we get a feeling that “I don’t know why, but I don’t feel happy”.

Why is sadness, low self esteem and depression is on high? Why do we feel lonely even when we are surrounded with people? And for that matter, why have our nights become sleepless?

The answer my friends is not the candle in the wind but it is to watch what we feed our mind. We reap what we sow and if someone is reaping wrong feelings for others, how can he or she expect happiness in return?

What is Leadership?

2010-04-17T19:15:00.010+05:30

On my way back from office today, I pulled over a cafe to have a cup of coffee. Read a quote in The Economic Times where an elf mentions to a Hobbit: "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Wonderful advice, simple enough to be remembered by all of us.

Leadership Poster

Sometimes we tend to postpone taking initiative and drive a change until we officially receive more responsibility and get a bigger title against our names. But isn’t today the best time to enact like a leader?

No matter what you do in the organization you're in: Lead Where You Are Planted. Start from where you are. Your bold act of leadership just might transform your organization. And if you get super lucky, the course of the future will change to fit you in.

Feeling stronger Everyday...

2010-04-08T19:49:00.007+05:30

Had a chance to meet few ladies from a nearby village today. Man, I was amazed by their quest for life. Their life stories are unbelievably true. They believe in taking care of not only their family but 10 other homes in addition to that. There's something called "pure love" that perhaps God has gifted them.

Why we educate ourselves? To gain knowledge, right? And what do we do with it? We become rational. We start analysing everything from our tiny brain and forget what that 'inner voice' is saying.

Having met this group, I feel I rather unlearn everything and spend some time in knowing humanity. There is so much suffering around and if we take a step in curing it through our thoughts, positivity and liveliness, what can we not achieve?

My India Today

2010-04-07T17:34:00.003+05:30

State of Affairs in today's world is disturbing. I can't believe I live in a country where parts of it are so affected by terrorism.

We talk of saving tigers, we have socialists dressed up in khadi and blabbering all the useless things, but where is it all leading to? My first reaction is when I see such discussions on TV - "Do hell with it". What about saving humanity? Are we even inclined to do that?

Yesterday, there was a massacre and 75 of my brave countrymen were killed – they left behind 75 families in despair, parents, wives, children - all asking just one question - "What is our fault?" And indeed, what is their fault? We have no doubt on our infantry services. We know they believe in tit for tat. I just hope government wakes up and does something worthwhile and the ever hyped media, for a change forget what Sania Mirza is doing and cover something substantial... And I hope my countrymen realise there is something more to life that cricket and IPL.

How To React When Relationships Demand Compromise?

2010-03-20T08:44:00.004+05:30

Maintaining relationships with extended family is not easy. You may have a good synchronization with few of them, but keeping everyone contented sometimes becomes tough.

I don’t know about other countries but in India, many of us have lost the value of the word “FAMILY”. We have forgotten what it’s like to be in a lovable relationship, to give without worrying about taking and to compromise on your happiness for the sake of family.

When you are on a path of becoming better, problems do come. Situations take you test at every instance. So, if something happens with you that you don’t like, what do you do? Chances are that most of us REACT than ACT. We immediately let our disappointment show without giving a thought to the other person’s feeling.

And this is what ‘Karma Philosophy’ has taught me – “Always do you good, best things will follow”. Trust me; it’s not too painful to have a big heart. Just believe in giving. Promise yourself to give something to everyone you meet, don’t worry if you don’t have anything because if nothing else, then give Happiness. It would be your biggest virtue and you will never suffer for it. This is what I am learning; hope to become better along the way.

Love you guys!

Nitima

What have Human Beings Become?

2010-03-08T20:49:00.001+05:30

There’s an earth-quake coming every week. Countries like Nigeria, Afghanistan, Congo are on verge of breaking into pieces. Can’t believe that on one side of the world people are dying in hundreds, some countries don’t have legislature to protect their citizen’s basic right of living and then there are those who are worried about Oscars, Rahul Mahajan’s incredibly stupid acts, IPL, weapons, Paris Hilton’s dresses – It’s amazing – the insensitiveness of individuals makes me wonder – ARE WE HUMANS? Animals are better– at least they are away from the feelings of hypocrisy, jealously and hatred.

Come-on people, wake up. This world needs thinkers; it needs those can think of a world governed not by selfish interests but by love, peace and harmony.

Or we want nature to shake us...

FEW TIPS ON HEALTHY LIVING

2010-02-19T22:59:00.002+05:30

A friend sent me these; I thought I'll share it with my extended family of readers from all over the world

Healthy Living Tip 1. Enjoy a pint of water first thing in the morning.

If you haven’t got time for anything else in the morning, make time to drink a big glass of water. We lose a lot of oxygen through the night and to rejuvenate our cells, we need to supply them with water and oxygen. Drink a glass of water and within a week you’ll begin to feel less tired. I like the taste of water, but I know some people do not so if you’re one of them, squeeze some fresh lime into your water to give it taste and drink up.

Healthy Living Tip 2. Grab a few fresh fruits on your way out.

Wherever you are travelling, pick up one or two fruits and eat them. If you leave for work in the morning and return in evening, take a few fruits and eat them throughout the day. Fruits are great for their nutrients, vitamins and sugars that are required in our body.

Healthy Living Tip 3. Avoid going to junk food shops

If your work mates are going and you want to go along, go ahead but don’t order the burger or French fries. Go for a nice salad instead. Or any other healthy meal that takes your fancy. Junk food is full of “empty calories” that do nothing for your body but put on extra unneeded and unhealthy fat. Opt for more organic, whole foods. Ease up on animal fats. And, start reading labels on eatables. You are what you eat!

Healthy Living Tip 4. Exercise on the go.

If you work in an office, get up every 30 minutes and go for a walk. If you have an office with stairs, run up and down the stairs every couple of hours. Get your blood flowing and your muscles moving.

Healthy Living Tip 5. Drink herbal teas.

When at work or home, many people love to get a cup of tea or coffee. Decide that you’ll be healthier and get a warm cup of herbal tea. The selection available today is absolutely massive, so you’re guaranteed to find one you enjoy.

Healthy Living Tip 6. Eat a handful of nuts.

Get your favorite selection of nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.) and raisins and have a big handful of them at around 3pm. This has been shown to increase afternoon energy and productivity.

Healthy Living Tip 7. Say yes to freshly squeezed juice.

Say “yes” to freshly squeezed juice every morning. Your energy, body, health and vitality will increase ten-fold.

Healthy Living Tip 8. Deep breathing.

When you’ve got time – at your desk, driving the car, cooking food – do some deep breathing. Inhale and count up to 5 seconds, hold it for a few seconds, and release slowly. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is one of the best things we can do for our blood and cells.

Not Letting The Motivation Disappear...

2010-02-09T10:51:00.003+05:30

Motivation disappears when we start seeing ourselves as ‘ordinary’. We begin to see every day as a routine, cooking, laundry, cleaning, working – everything starts looking monotonous after a while. Yes, variety is the spice of life and who says we should not live a spicy life? Get inspired to get motivated. Think of ways you can sketch you day in a more colourful way, take a break from what you do continuously and Thank God for not giving you what you never wanted, be a giver rather than taker and if you can’t give anything else, give people motivation, love and peace.

My leadership is giving my best when no one is watching because I know that I want to excel not because people appreciate it but because I am made to do things in the best way.

Words written by a friend...

2010-02-07T18:17:00.002+05:30

One of my good friends has written a very thought provoking poem. I wish I had talent to write like this...

There used to be a glacier,
There used to be a lake,
There used to be a sea-shore,
Now its all fake.

We have eaten the treas,
We have melted the ice caps
We have leveled the mountains.
Now the earth shakes.

Read the entire poem here on Life Motivations

My Country, My Vision

2010-01-27T10:34:00.002+05:30

On a recent trip to the interiors of India, I was once again reminded of the diversity my country has. The lives we all are living today, we need to see things from our eyes to appreciate them and I am no different.

A day after 26th Jan, I want to share my vision for my country.

My vision for India is to make it a better country to live and work. I don’t want to wait till 2020 to be part of a developed nation, I want everything now. I want cleaner roads, better government accountability, civilised countrymen and unlimited opportunities to take talent to next level. I understand my responsibilities, I know evading tax or electricity bills won’t make me rich and I must pay for what I use. I want a break from idiotic television serials, sickening media coverage and senseless realty shows. I want to watch cricket for the love of the game and not for the glamour stage it has become. I want the power to sue a company if it doesn’t treat me right. I want people to be more active – learn sports and yoga and not copy west blindly. I want families to be more united and not run madly in the race to earn more money....

Let us preserve what is good within us, so that we can give a better tomorrow to our children.... let us be happy and spread joy, even if our neighbours don’t like because I can be what I want; and so can be my country.

Practical spirituality – learning the art of passing smile

2010-01-14T16:04:00.003+05:30

Corporate offices are full of people running in the mad race of showing each other down. In the language of a consummate, this is called ‘beating the competition’. Do we have time for ourselves? The answer is “NO”

And that’s why, we are not happy. There is something missing badly from our lives – and that is laughter.

Yes, people do laugh but most of the time it is on sarcastic comments that we all pass to each other casually. Where has the smile gone, I fail to see...

But we are smart – aren’t we? Whatever is going missing from our lives, we are nominating days to make up for that. Father’s day to express love for fathers, mother’s day to tell how amazing our mothers are – isn’t this irony of life that we need special days to remember all those special people who have shaped our lives? And have loved us beyond calculations to make us what we are today?

And on heights of all these days, there is laugher day – 16th Jan. Do we need a special day to remember that smile is costless, easy, helps us in making friends and is a gift in itself? If you are wise, tell me - why can’t everyday be the laughter day?

Spiritual quotient and me!

2010-01-09T14:09:00.006+05:30

Recently a reader sent me an email asking “how to maintain spiritual quotient during the day?”

People, by default, relate spirituality with religion. However, the reality is something else. Spirituality means “being in peace with yourself and experience the state of bliss.” Seeing every moment as a new opportunity and living it completely. To be able to see the freshness that every second, minute, hour and day brings. Isn’t every moment full of promises, just as the thousand before that you missed? Spirituality makes you completely free of passing any judgment whatsoever. It makes you feel "light" all the time. You cannot carry over something if you don’t want. You don’t have to pass a ‘be a good person’ exam before you start on the path of spirituality - its completely unconditional.

It’s like every moment is saying… “Okay, so you missed me the last ten thousand times, but look! I am here again… and again… and again...and again!” And there time is – welcoming you with open arms.

New year resolution – let’s smile more

2010-01-03T14:39:00.004+05:30

When we know it doesn’t cost anything, then why are we so shy about smiling? Okay, i understand grinning always will make you look like a fool but smiling wouldn’t harm, would it?

Why is smile disappearing nowadays?

Have we become too busy with our lives that we have forgotten to smile? For some, it doesn’t have any value now? Many people say that with the mobile culture, smile doesn’t match. And it holds so true isn’t it? People have time for friends but the distance between siblings is deepening. Not many realise that friends can be more but siblings are very few. Sometimes, even we can be wrong. So, if there’s anything you regret, this is the time to gather all your guts and face it. get over with the past so that you can have a lovely today.

Goodbye 2009

2009-12-30T13:10:00.000+05:30

2009 is saying goodbye,

Blow the blues away in the sky,

Forget to cry, don't be shy,

2010 is calling to 'come & fly'.

Time to stop being a donkey!

2009-12-28T11:17:00.006+05:30

Sticking to past is an easy task. We have become so used to it to even realize that most of the time our thoughts are dominated by things of past. Is it learning from mistakes or living them all over again?

Look into the mirror of introspection – we are carrying the weight of past so tightly on our shoulders that our heart aches. So cheerless has become the ways of living that some people are wasting their lives of it. Sad – isn’t it?

Here’s a basic funda that I have learnt from spirituality – see you life as a movie. You see, then I get this feeling that ups and downs are part of every movie. What is the fun of it when it is all very very good and there’s no villain or problem? When we watch, we know that the hero will come out of everything ultimately. Same way, life of each of us should be seen as a motion picture in which every one of us is playing the most important part. Simple – no strings attached!

Now, let’s stop being a donkey. Let’s stop smiling at ourselves that we are the so called ‘smart’ people on this earth who are living our lives in the best possible way. Darling, this is the time to change – if we are good, let’s become better. Let us mould our characters and imbibe more values. Let us show to the world who we are and let us become more will powered.

Forgive, Forget and Move on

2009-12-19T14:10:00.008+05:30

We live in a world directed by feelings of people towards each other. ‘Selfish interests’ have become so prominent in our lives that our every action is filled by it. There are many who practise a very limited compassion for others. In their quest of growing, they overlook the ethics. Wise men tell us that “money can get us everything but a character” – some things are so true and they remain so as long as we live.

And that teaches me a lesson – forgive, forget and move on. There are so many things happening around – people dying of hunger, countries are at risk of getting drowned, earthquakes rattling homes, children getting born on streets and what not. It just takes a second to change your feelings from annoyance to gratitude – and thank God, I am good in this.

Stress Management through Worry Management

2009-12-17T12:28:00.003+05:30

We worry too much, don’t we? “What happened yesterday?”, “What will happen tomorrow?” “Why me?” In the “Whats” and “Whys” of our life, we are losing precious time of today. Yesterday is the history, tomorrow is the mystery but today is a gift, that’s why it’s called present.

There is a very fine line of division between worrying and reflection. It is definitely good to go back in past and remember the moments of delight and happiness. Reflection is when I am free from the negative effects of past and I only ponder on memories which are good.

This brings us to worry versus reflection. Worrying is when you dwell in ugly past and express remote over things you cannot change, feel the pain of yesteryears and get bitter. You know it is not useful but you like to do that because you are so much blinded by your habits. To think something negative also sometimes gives a pleasant feeling, isn’t it?

The times are changing. Global warming, nuclear weapons and natural calamities are increasing. Aren’t you getting the message of time? Change yourself before it gets too late. Change the way you think, speak and act, for even a thought is an act. If I change, the whole world is bound to change with me. I know where I am wrong and I have to control my stress and my habit to worry all the time. Any moment can be my last moment; I want to live a perfect life before that moment comes, so that I know I lived better life than millions of other people on this earth!

Spiritual Quotient Learning III

2009-12-12T12:34:00.003+05:30

Ask anyone what is spirituality and they will talk about religion. What is the difference between religion and spirituality, no one would know.

Our life has become so unpredictable but does that mean we also have to be? Spiritual quotient is all about knowing what we don’t know existed and implementing changes in life, the changes that will make us a better person, more humane. In other words, we can also call it changing the unpredictable in us to something more regular.

Spiritual quotient means not becoming sad due to small disruptions but be in a position to ‘see the bigger picture’, altering our whole perspective towards life and then helping others in doing that. Life is beautiful because I am!

Let’s today.......

2009-12-09T20:05:00.007+05:30

Take out a minute to run from fear
Tell our loved ones how much we adore them
Smile at every neighbour we see
Take an appointment with ourselves to sit in peace for 10 minutes
Call our parents and enquire if they have been keeping well
Promise to help a human being in need today
Make our life’s best day!

Trust your Guts

2009-12-08T14:54:00.001+05:30

People like to take others opinion when they start something new. Many often feel dejected on receiving criticism. The founders of Google tried to sell their patented technology for $1 million. Everyone they approached passed on their offer – companies didn't get the chance to connect with the opportunity. They failed to see The Bigger Picture of how search engines would shape up the technology of tomorrow. However the founders did not give up and result is in front of us – who doesn’t know Google today? It is worth a cool $141 billion today.

It is high time that we start trusting our guts. Practise listening to your heart and then follow it. Don’t get too much used to taking the easy way out, raise up to the kind of person you would like to be. There are people like Nelson Mandela and Gandhi who resisted the way things were and trusted their guts to take forward the light of hope. This world wasn't put together by people with small vision and minor thoughts. It was built by the eccentrics like Einstein and oddballs who had the courage to passionately follow their dreams. So what are you waiting for? Each of us has desires to be a better human being and to be a part of a wonderful tomorrow. Let’s start today on the beautiful path in pursuit of doing something great.

ATOZ... FOR LIFE

2009-11-30T11:42:00.000+05:30

A--Accept

Accept others for who they are and for the choices they've made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.

B--Break Away

Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.

C--Create

Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.

D--Decide

Decide that you'll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.

E--Explore

Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you'll learn more about yourself.

F--Forgive

Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.

G--Grow

Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.

H--Hope

Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.

I--Ignore

Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.

J--Journey

Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you'll grow.

K--Know

Know that no matter how bad things seem, they'll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.

L--Love

Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there's room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there's room for endless happiness.

M--Manage

Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you'll suffer less stress and worry. Then you'll be able to focus on the important things in life.

N--Notice

Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.

O--Open

Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there's still much to be thankful for.

P--Play

Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.

Q--Question

Ask many questions, because you're here to learn. We Learn By Doing, And Teach By Being.

R--Relax

Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.

S--Share

Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.

T--Try

Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You'll be amazed by what you can accomplish.

U--Use

Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that's wasted has no value. Talent that's used will bring unexpected rewards.

V--Value

Value the friends and family members who've supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.

W--Work

Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.

X--X-Ray

Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you'll see the goodness and beauty within.

Y--Yield

Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you'll find success at the end of the road.

Z--Zoom
Have a bigger prespective of life

Food for thought

2009-11-19T10:38:00.003+05:30

I met a middle aged couple, both of them serving at the board positions in different countries. Loved their zest for work and life. The way they truly love and repect each other is remarkable. They have a wonderful aura of positivity around them and its difficult not to get impressed my them. I asked them what their secret was and they replied

"When making your choice in life, do not neglect to live".

Beautiful!

Thought Conditioning And Stress Management

2009-11-12T19:52:00.003+05:30

Why do we feel stressed? Why sometimes there is a sudden desire of shouting on someone to tell people that I am right and they are wrong? Why sometimes motivation from life suddenly disappears?

The answer lies in thoughts and their conditioning. Thought power drives us, makes us feel delighted or saddens us. When something happens according to us, our thoughts condition the mind to feel happy. If someone says something to us that we don’t like, our thoughts start to run with such a speed that it usually gives us a headache.

Motivation is a very refined feeling of thoughts when your mind programming becomes positive. One of the most successful ways of doing that is to meditate. It now only calms our mind but also puts a brake on our thoughts which otherwise just flow unconditionally. By the way, do you know that on an average how many thoughts come into our mind in a day? 25,000 – 30,000. Amazed?

A Beautiful Quote on Quality

2009-11-08T20:05:00.000+05:30

While working yesterday, my husband said a very funny liner on 'Quality at Work' that I'd like to share with you all

"Quality involves both heart and mind – one drives you ahead, the other keeps you kind."

Stress Management

2009-11-06T21:21:00.006+05:30

I had a chance to speak at a conference today which was full of working professionals, age group 20- 50 years. Hearing them discuss the issues of their companies, teams, products, deadlines, meetings and God knows what else; it was worth noticing that how individuals are shaping the future of organizations. The surprise element was however the stress level that each of them carried. Almost each of them reported problems of constant headache, blood pressure or high temperament.

Stress is a silent killer, it kills without warning. Don’t forget that “stress is not what happens to us. It is our response TO what happens, and RESPONSE is something we can choose.” When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter in 5 years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go.

Winters & me!

2009-11-01T18:40:00.015+05:30

Winters are setting in here at India. I love this weather mainly because the sky is clear and it’s also the time of planting flowers. From November to March, things are beautiful here. We go out for long walks every morning just to see who is growing what. There is a unspoken competition among all the residents on whose flowers are the best.

I love the way air smells and the beds of different coloured pansies. I grow them every year to remind myself of the vibrant life that we all are given. See your daily living as a sketch book, and on whom does it depend to make it colourful? YOU!

Value of Time

2009-10-26T10:33:00.014+05:30

“Know the value of time” – A very common proverb but the most ignored proverb. Time passes with every moment. If I am not making use of it right now, I am wasting the most prized possession of mine. Time is an entity which is common and equal for all. No matter which country, cast, religion we are from, we all get 24 hours in a day. Some people spend their day in sleeping and doing activities which does not add any value to the humanity as a whole while others work hard to make their ends meet.

If you want to be stress free and live an extraordinary life, you will have to get ahead of time. Here are some pointers that can help:

Give up laziness – just give it up
Don’t postpone work, do it now.
Don’t involvement yourself in enjoyable activities such as watching TV, listening music, relaxing or a get together with friends till the time you have completed your work.
Be truthful to yourself. You have to be your own teacher.
Make a timetable for the day and stick with it.
Be strong willed.
Know what is right and then do IT

I can go on like this but I guess everybody else is smarter than me. I hope you have got the message - Know the Value of Time

Spiritual Quotient Lesson II

2009-10-21T09:51:00.008+05:30

Human beings have 4 levels of interaction – physical, mental, social and spiritual. The physical level constitutes the kind of person you are and characteristics like what you are fond of, what you hate, your passions, values you stand for etc.

Metal level is the foundation of your intelligence quotient. It is all about your capabilities as a human being, your strengths and weaknesses. Next one, social level constitutes our communication with the rest of the world in general.

The fourth level – spiritual is totally neglected. We are so tied up with the first three levels of interaction that most of us do not even realise that the intellect inside us has its own needs. Spiritual quotient is used to judge this realization and on the basis of it, the ‘humanity’ factor in you can be determined.

‘Humanity’ is one of the most confused words in today’s language. For most of us, it means helping others in any way we can. To be of assistance is certainly good but where is the compassion? For others as well as for self? Aren’t most of our actions are driven by the perception that others have about us?

You see, we human beings have fallen to such a level of deteriotiation that self interest has become the biggest thing. You may care about global warming, wars, terrorisms but if you are not caring for your parents and family selflessly then your living is a waste.
And this, my friends, is what spiritual quotient teaches us.

Identify the Leader in You

2009-10-16T11:08:00.017+05:30

If you want to be great in life, know thyself and live in present. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery but today is a gift and that is why it is called “Present”. Live in the moment, it will help you in two ways:

What you are doing right now will pave a way for your future. So if your thoughts are of best quality and you are doing with work with utmost sincerity, the future will become like that. According to the Karmic Philosophy, we reap what we sow. So, sow good deeds and reap their benefits.
Use your creative power to get rid of old habits, unsolved issues. Let the past go, only then you will be able to make the place for future. See it like this – If you have a cabinet which is filled with old clothes and junk, where will you keep the new stuff? And since you will not be able to make space for the new things, you will keep on looking at the junk and feel bad about it or carry a feeling of guilt within. To make yourself happy, give yourself this one gift on Diwali – give away the junk of your mind or a bad habit that you know will do you harm later. Enjoy the newness around because the world needs people like YOU who are different that the rest and possess the inner strongness that no one else has.

BTW: Diwali is the biggest festival in India and its tomorrow, 17th Oct. It is also known as the festival of light and I must say to those who haven’t seen Diwali in India – You are missing something too big in life. Visit us once to see what humans who are lit with happiness from mind can do. The scene at night is worth thousands of dollars. Every home sparkles with lights, colourful lights and candles. It is WONDERFUL.

Monday Blues!

2009-10-12T14:26:00.019+05:30

I’ve got cough today and my nose is running. Couldn’t get up early because of my laziness and had to drive in the morning to somewhere – so missed meditation class –one hour practice that opens my mind to a new world of possibilities. It’s around 2 pm now and I haven’t had the chance to nibble the breakfast and work seems to be happening too slow. I have to go out for shopping with my mother this week (have been postponing that for over a month but can’t do that anymore) and one of my clients is not paying for the work I did for him two months back. I have to complete a pile of articles today and I know it would take me another 10-12 hours to do those and I want to go for a meeting tomorrow so badly, not sure if I would be allowed to!

Well, that’s how my Monday is going so far but I still love it when things get too jumbled-up. It becomes the test of my patience and like everyone else, I don’t like to fail. So, as I plan my day ahead, I feel cheerful from inside and I know that if I can keep myself calm now – I can keep myself composed under any situation.

I am writing this on my blog so that it acts as a constant reminder of what I need to be – A Calm Person.

What’s your spiritual quotient?

2009-10-06T10:02:00.007+05:30

We all have come across terms like intelligence quotient – used to measure presence of mind of an individual, emotional quotient – tells us about the sensitivity and demonstrative power, memory quotient – name itself suggests what it reports..... And then there comes spiritual quotient.

Spiritual quotient has been given such a low importance that many people do not even know about it. Thankfully, I live in a country like India where a lot of importance is given to spirituality. Many see spirituality as a way to lead a prosperous life.

Spirituality is a way of living. It is NOT LIMITED to idol worship, chanting mantras or listening to discourse. And I repeat – spirituality is NOT any of these.

IT IS ABOUT knowing your true self, having a contented state of mind and being someone who is strong from inside, no matter what the circumstances are. The practical aspect of spirituality covers meditation, which introduces you to your true self and makes you realise that you are blessed to have a life worth living. People are dying somewhere; floods are eroding houses, quakes are shattering dreams, thousands are becoming orphans due to nonsense wars and terrorism and then there are people like us – who are cosily sitting at our desk while reading this. It is time when we can make a choice of what I want to be – ordinary or extraordinary – and remember – the route to becoming an ordinary person is very well written but to become extraordinary, there has to be sacrifice, discipline and motivation. Do you have them?

Never say Sometimes...

2009-09-24T10:25:00.022+05:30

Say Always. I am always victorious, not sometimes victorious. I can control my feelings, anger, ego always, not sometimes. “Always” is a key to do wonders. Discipline is about always doing the right things at the right time.

This is how a smallest effort can change our future. Never postpone, do what you have to do “NOW”. Sluggishness is the enemy number 1, just get rid of it – “NOW”. Because if you can’t give up your weaknesses, you will never be able to climb up the ladder of satisfaction & happiness. We have so much of raw power and we don’t even realise how energy is getting wasted within us. So, drive the change now. Today is the time to become a leader – of your own thoughts – and not the other way round. Future is right here, waiting for you to see it in the eye but the BIG question is “Are you ready for it?”

Living with Courage

2009-09-15T15:53:00.012+05:30

I just saw a beautiful program on Discovery. It was a documentary on a man from Congo who lost his wife, job, estate and home to the rebellions. He has three kids and nothing to feed them. What struck me hard was this man’s will to survive and to raise his children successfully. He doesn’t have a place to live but his eyes still sparkle of hope, of a better tomorrow. When the interviewer asked him how he plans to live now, he said that as long as he can walk on his own foot, he doesn’t fear future and will work hard to begin his life again from a new edge.
What an amazing fellow!

It’s being said that “Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to walk through it.”

There are many among us who are ready to devote their energies to the positivity in life. We all have troubles in our own way but how are we helping those who live around us? What are we giving the world each day? How do we inspire others? Why can’t we be different from others who just know how to take, how to crib and how to gain self importance? Let’s be a ‘giver’, let’s all give peace, smile and good wishes to others and Mother Nature and let us all be incredible citizens. We have lot to be thankful about; start feeling grateful about gifts of life before it gets too late and you miss your chance to do so.

On the way to success

2009-09-07T12:17:00.020+05:30

There is nothing like “overnight success”.

Behind flashy smiles, there is years of hard work and yes – route to success isn’t sexy. It takes time and you need patience.

Most of the time, the right thing to do is the hardest thing to do. Generally people give up there only. To be successful in something, you need to be passionate enough to stick to it everyday, week, month and year of your life.

It’s really amazing to see how far you can get just by staying with something long enough. Giving up too early is a sign of running away and alas – some of us are like that. We are guided by our fears and faith takes a back seat.

Thought for the day is "Greatness is not about revolution but about evolution. It comes to you naturally with those small yet consistent wins. To be great, you only need to have a viewpoint and the will to stick with it."

Lessons That I Learnt From Indian Army

2009-09-03T20:42:00.008+05:30

One of my childhood wishes was to join Army. Unfortunately, my eyesight did not support this wish and I had to drop the idea at the age of 10. But Indian Army still inspires me to the core and not a single day passes when I don’t think about men & women in green.

There is so much that it has for which I adore it – first being the team spirit and selflessness with which people in it work. I don’t think anyone can display better team spirit than the brave soldiers, who are the only ones who dare to put their lives in risk for their countrymen.

There is a “young force”, the people who represent generation Y in the Indian army and their motivation is worth noticing. They are the ones who don’t have worldly longings like us, those who never complain of aching, who can sacrifice comfort of home beds for sub zero temperatures of Siyachin , leaders who fight against all odds and those who know that to achieve something, you have to give up a lot.

Love them for what they are.

Do you have a kid in you?

2009-08-29T15:42:00.010+05:30

Its 7 p.m. here in India right now. While coming from office today (yes! We work on Saturdays) I bumped into neighbourhood kids. I asked them that what they did today and pat came the reply – “we played”.

It made me think – as adults, how often do we play? By playing I mean it in true sense - in the playground -a cricket, football or rugby match? Why do we adults think that we have hundreds of responsibilities on our head? Why are we always stress? Why is our enjoyment limited to going out for movies, shopping, parties, eating out, chatting unnecessary with people around?

True that we need these activities as well to let our presence known and stand tall in the social arena, but where has the kid in all of us gone? The kid who wanted to steal every opportunity to play, to get dirty on the ground, the kid who knew no boundaries, no tensions, no stress .........

In the Search of Passion

2009-08-25T23:29:00.011+05:30

Last night we went out for a dinner. It wasn’t on any occasion, but felt like eating Thai. 15 minutes into the restaurant the meal service began. It was simply an excellent meal I’ve had in years - fantastic salad, tasty dishes and brilliant soup. For my own personal development, I have recently started working on gratitude more than ever before. I do so by practising a vote of thanks at every single opportunity. The list includes being grateful towards a rag picker who takes out trash from our compartment, the fruit vendor across the street, the courier guy among others. There are so many people working in the background to make life better for us, the least we can do is to say ‘thanks’. So I took a piece of paper and write out a thank you note to the serving members and the chef. I wrote it sincerely without expectation of any type of a reward. While moving out of the place, I handed the paper to the waiter who collected our bill, saying

“This is what I can return you for your superb services”. He was a young guy of 20, simply smiled.

Then something incredible happened. One by one, each of the serving members appeared from kitchen and paid me a little visit. I could see that they were touched by a simple note, reminding them that their hard work mattered and it was due to their combined efforts the restaurant was flourishing.

So my dear friends, let’s not the passion go away from our lives. Keep it alive, it shows you the way to live!

2009-08-25T23:16:00.002+05:30

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About Leadership

2009-08-25T17:37:00.024+05:30

Leadership means that you do everything thinking that you are zero. Its only then you begin to see the bigger picture. And if you ever get a feeling that you know everything – start counting your days to gloom.
To be a leader, you need to –

Let go of your past.

Leadership makes you forgive others for their mistakes and love them as your own

Maintain your health – it is your biggest asset.

Leaders are authentic communicators

Read and read more. Books are our best friends, really and they make leaders.

Develop a habit of writing journals to record good ideas, lessons learned and dreams to be executed on.

Run your own race. Leadership isn't about following the mob and being like everyone else. That's followership.

Be ethical – maintain immaculate reputation
Micheal adds: Try to keep friends with all people. Everyone has a right to an opinion.

That’s my list for being a leader – add if you know anything worth mentioning about leadership.

Controlling Your Thoughts

2009-08-18T06:07:00.002+05:30

“Do you know who I am?” Last night I heard someone shouting these words at a glossary store. The speaker of these words was a tall man who looked like someone from a very rich family, and he was shouting at a boy aged 14-15 years. This man was so full of ego that it overflowed in his every action. Someone interfered and sorted out the matter within the two within minutes.

Just after 10-15 minutes I saw the same man driving away his car rashly, as if wanted to show his anger to the world around and the boy on the other hand was back to his cheerful jokes.

Time and again we come across people who are always ready to pick up an arguments or fights. They only need a slight indication. These so called ‘hyper sensitive’ and ‘temperamental’ people can be seen at every corner– in the departmental store, on roads, within movie halls, at parties etc. They do not have a control on their feelings do have tendencies to burst out with anger on others. Our reaction, when we see a incident like these, is often none. And chances are, that we will react in the same way under a similar situation. So the result is that we do not have a control on ourselves and give out the ‘remote control’ of our mood to others. We react and not act within circumstances. Now how much correct is that approach?

Are you a God Follower?

2009-08-06T15:11:00.009+05:30

Being a writer, I have developed a habit of observing situations– something that few people consider strange. I was at a conference yesterday where someone from the audience asked if I believe in God in a religious way. For two minutes I just couldn’t answer – I am not a religionist but I do believe that there is a Supreme Force called God. It’s just that I refuse to limit my vision of GOD.

So what followed was a detailed discussion which made me write this post today – “What is God?” and “Is it possible to Find Him?”.

Science says that everything that originates has an end. So that means whatever we see with our two eyes will become extinct after few years or decades. Since nothing including us is permanent in this universe, how can God be? So it makes sense to realise that God is not like how we perceive HIM (I am talking about Hinduism here). Science also says that the only thing that never dies out is energy. One of the properties of energy that I read in ninth standard stated that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. So here is my answer – I believe in GOD as long as you consider him to a source of energy, a positive energy. And finding HIM, experiencing HIS powers and following the route showed by HIM is not difficult provided you have the will power.

Thought of the Day

2009-07-28T14:19:00.005+05:30

Read a beautiful quote and thought of sharing with you all!

" It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about." --- Dale Carnegie

The WOW factor of Life

2009-07-18T05:55:00.017+05:30

Everything in life offers us a platform to learn – from a simple argument to the fights– there is something valuable to learn from each of them. Some great men encourage this value of incidents of life and encourage us to appreciate everything that we have got and consider the practice of striving for more as a sign of materialism. And there are others who say that as human beings, we are made to push our limits and discover more to reach for something higher and become a WINNER.

Having struggled a lot with this issue, I have realised that the WOW factor of life is about maintaining a balance in between these two. I remember a beautiful lesson that once I heard on Discovery:

“After climbing a steep hill, you will find that there are many more hills to be climbed. Take a moment to rest there, steal a view of the glorious scene that surrounds you and look back on the distance you have come. But you can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities and the long walk of life has yet not ended.”

Remarkable comment!

Ways to Get Up Early...

2009-07-13T21:51:00.010+05:30

While I was a kid, my parents used to say
Early to bed
Early to Rise
Makes a man
Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
Its strange how the very first things learnt in childhood remain true for the whole of your life. Waking up early is a gift to yourself that each one of use should preset to the self. We have seen how leaders win their fight against time..There is so much to achieve and influence and so less hours in a day....

So what is the solution? Wake up early, see the morning sun rising and feel its power charing you up for the whole day. I thought it might be a good idea to share how to get up early and you can follow if you like:

1. Exercise:
Never miss exercise of the day. A good work out always keeps us active, when we need to.

2. Meditate:
Take out 30 minutes of your time and meditate. Meditation, if done correctly, can help you to control wasteful but time consuming thoughts and you can concentrate in a better way.

3. Take a massage:
I don’t take it regularly but it might help YOU. Massage can relax your body muscles and control your blood pressure. Let the negativity move out through it.

4. Spare a thought to your core values
‘Who you are?’ and ‘What do you stand for?’ Think about the values on which you would like to base your life and evaluate if what you are doing currently is helping you in achieving it. It isn’t tough but you have to learn to sit with yourself sometimes.

Giving 1-2 hours to these activities will ensure that you remain more productive during your working hours and who wouldn’t want that?

It’s all About Leading the Way!

2009-07-05T22:38:00.060+05:30

I sometimes feel shivers down my spine when I look at people who have failed to understand the value of life.
Seeing how people waste their time & life sends shivers down my spine. Some of us get too much that we simply fail to understand their values.

Here’s a little test for those who say they are out of this trap

How do you react if someone doesn’t talk to you nicely? What is your first reaction? Do you let the situation go or you react by saying something equally disrespectful?

(I could have asked you something more displeasing like ‘what would you do if someone rejects your work’ but since I myself have not still learnt to take such a situation calmly, I can’t talk about that right now!)

Think about it and if you are on the side of majority, it’s time to reform. These days are such that most of us ride on the wave of impatience. They say ‘God made human is HIS own reflection’, so think: how we counter circumstances – is it the right way to react?
This world has too many commoners, what it requires is leaders. Life is all about leading the way, it’s about managing your stresses with elegance & grace and becoming a person who paves his own way!

Learning From the Courage & Compassion from Indian Army

2009-07-01T09:10:00.065+05:30

Whenever I am down, I read stories of Indian Army. Knowing that people can sacrifice so much, live in sub zero temperature, leave their newly born kids to a single whistle of duty, guide expeditions to places where no one has gone so far – all for the love of country – is amazing.

India was born rich but unfortunately our neighbours weren’t. Being surrounded by countries like China, Pakistan & Bangladesh there is not much scope to rest for these brave men. When we talk of stress, we fail to consider those who eat, sleep & work in stress, the stress of life, not knowing what would tomorrow bring and still they manage to spread the good cheer around– there is so much to be learnt from life, literally.

In management, we offer talk about ‘mindset’ of doing things & of getting them done. But what about ‘heartset’? Heartset is not even a word in English – isn’t it necessary for leaders to have heartset as well? A high performing individual operates with articulated strategy and displays mental excellence in every step.

Courage always goes hand in hand with compassion. This is what Indian Army has – unlimited courage and undying compassion for country. This is what I strive to achieve

Development through Cooperation

2009-06-19T11:02:00.078+05:30

On a daily average, how many of us spend time in reviewing our core values? Even though we know that our character development is dependent on it, it’s an investment that many have never given a thought to – and when we come in contact of others, we seek cooperation. The practice of ‘self realization’ begins when you start giving appointment to yourself.

From the moment we get up, ‘things to do’ dominate our mind and the whole day is spent in doing duties towards home and work. Have you ever wondered that how with time, we have changed from ‘human beings’ to human doings’? Taking care of ourselves physically, running off to office, socializing with friends and colleagues, attending to family matters, eating out, going for vacations – we are doing everything to keep ourselves busy but are unaware about what to feed to our mind, emotions and feelings?

I am not aware about the other countries but in India, stress is definitely on a rise. Not many people today are left untouched by anxiety, depression, insecurity, jealously or anger. You can be called lucky if you don’t feel these extreme sentiments frequently.

Overall development occurs when we cooperate with each other and with ourselves, have an attitude of forgiveness towards those who have hurt us, intentionally or unintentionally, and start seeing the BIGGER picture of being extraordinary in every activity – this world is full of those who are ordinary, so how are you different? Let’s begin with a ‘change in attitude’ and witness an overall development.

Best Way to Deal With People

2009-06-06T11:26:00.077+05:30

The thumb rule in dealing with people is ‘Respect’. To gain respect, you have to give it first.

The character of a human being works in two ways- either you elevate the people you communicate with by understanding their true worth or you are minimising them. There is nothing in between when it comes to celebrating the essence of ‘human touch’. People are giving you best years, months, days or hours of their lives and it’s your duty to treat them with passion and let them know that their opinion is valued.

If we wish to develop a culture of successful people around us, we have to learn the art of nourishing every human talent. It is THE BEST WAY to deal with people.

Acne Care

2009-06-02T14:38:00.019+05:30

Acne Care is like clockwork. Every time you turn your head, there is a new skin care product being launched that promises to make your skin acne free. You can see the display of cosmetics at every store, mall or mart. However, the most difficult part is to choose the right kind of acne care for yourself that gives you a spot free glowing face.
Here are some useful tips that can surely help you in keeping your face glowing amongst every kind of weather.

1. Wash your face 3 times during the day:
A very common yet most ignored ritual in our lives. Washing face with mild soap helps in keeping the pores clean and throws out the dust particles from the skin. You can also use the Acne Body Wash to get better results.

2. Avoid squeezing a zit
When you see a pimple, avoid the temptation of popping it. This can cause the infection to spread underneath the skin or would leave a permanent mark on your face.

3. Exfoliating your skin everyday is not a good idea
The skin of face is very sensitive and can develop harsh reactions if rubbed with scrubber too often. Skin experts suggest exfoliating once a week as a normal practice.

4. Choose a healthy diet
In most of the acne related cases, having improper diet is the main culprit. Avoiding oily and junk food can do wonders for your skin. Also, include as much fruits as you can in your daily eating regime.

5. Selecting right kind of product
Never ever buy a cosmetic without taking into consideration others’ opinion about it. You can speak to your friends, neighbours, relatives or read reviews in magazine, or log on to net and find what other users are saying about it.

If even after taking these precautions your skin develops acne, consider using Acne Products that offer world class care. Some people may need to take professional Acne Treatments to get rid of spots on their skin. For women aged 40 and use of anti aging cream is recommended. Resurgence from Murad is a very well known product and can be tried if you are looking for a cream that can take out years from your face.

Are you FHP?

2009-05-30T16:14:00.022+05:30

I can't help observing people in action, understanding how they bring contentment to life and what keep them on the path of doing good for society! At every point of interaction with others, I like to know how they fuel their mind cells or if they don’t bother at all.There are three simplest attributes of becoming the best in life:

Friendly
Helpful
Excellent

Friendly is for ‘smile’, never let it go. It shows a great attitude and communicates the raw energy within you!

Helpful is all about initiative, not only at work but at home too. We all love to pass the buck instead of aiming for results. I am trying to learn too, so can’t say much on this!

Excellence: - Ah! I love this word. For me, it carries the essence of working – seeing things from behind your eyeballs and then doing whatever it takes to make you gasp "wow".

So let’s devote some time to become BIW (Best in World) at what we do. About handling a family, entangled relationships, rough love life, work stress, playing a game or working at office – Let’s be brilliant in the work we’ve been blessed to have.

The Art of Saying 'No'

2009-05-20T23:24:00.009+05:30

Every time you say yes to something that is unimportant, you are saying ‘no’ to something important. “Yes sir” and “Yes madam” has never created anything great. There is a huge value in getting good at saying ‘no’

Say no to a colleague who wants to discuss useless office gossip with you, say no to a friend who wants to go out for shopping with you at the time when you are not willing, say no to those who spread cynicism, say no to relatives who laugh at your dreams and make you doubt your capabilities. Learn to say no to the social obligations that drain time from your life’s work.

You can never be all the things to people. It is absolutely okay to give your work more importance than useless time spent with others. Instead spend some quality time in doing introspection that will help you to reduce stress. Let your each day be full of positivity of life. Sure, some people will get upset if you choose to follow your wishes instead of theirs – but who cares?

Life has to be lived at your own conditions, don’t you agree?

Weekend Thought

2009-05-15T20:29:00.043+05:30

Sometimes you get points of wisom from the most unexpected places. I found this written in the text book for third standard students.

"No matter how bad people may seem, they possess at least one virtue. Be like the humming bird and pick out the sweetness of everyone's character."

Great thought to practise, isn't it?

Let the Fire Burn from Inside

2009-05-06T10:53:00.023+05:30

I was going through linkedin.com and was amazed by reading the responses of people who have been laid off due to recession. The positivity some exhibit is worth praising. Many understand that success doesn't come easily and you don’t have to be the most intelligent/gifted/strong to taste it.

You only need a ‘free spirit’ to feel it. Let the fire burn inside you, let the desire of doing something ‘GREAT’ motivate you, let the passion grow wild in the belief that wonderful things have happened and will happen again. On the stage of the world, we all are actors. So let’s play our part to the fullest. Say no to regrets.

Life is ‘happening’ now; it’s not the time to get lost in minor issues of jealously, anger or feelings of the wrong doing. Work intelligently to upgrade every element of your life – from relationships to career, from health to wealth and from thinking big to making IT big.
So light up your fire – don’t bend under the stress of responsibilities, enjoy them. Look in the mirror and remember who you are. And all that you've dreamed of being. And then act. And when you get knocked down or discouraged or afraid. Get back up. Light up the fire again. And stoke it until it blazes. It is time to move on

Simple Meditation

2009-04-29T17:29:00.051+05:30

In today’s world where everyone is running around to get “more”, how peaceful are you? Are you confident that if something unpleasant happens tomorrow, you will be able to maintain your composure? How strong you are internally?

I had these doubts among others when I began on the path of meditation . With time, I have learnt a lot – I have learnt to stay happy and at peace with myself– I have imbibed the values of forgiveness, punctuality, politeness, peacefulness and off-course love. I have understood that contentment comes from within.
I am sharing today a simple formula for meditation which you can include easily in your daily routine to experience a tranquillity that each one of us has.

Each morning before beginning the journey of the day, practice to sit still in silence for 10 minutes. Use the time to sow the seed of peace.

Give yourself these few minutes and see its effect last 24 hours.

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‘Miracles do happen’

2009-04-23T10:35:00.047+05:30

Do you believe in miracles? Have you seen hostile situations completely taking a 'U' turn in your favour? I have - not because my work never gets struck but because I believe in 'happy go lucky' attitude.

Being lucky is not like a divine interference in all your works so that your life moves smoothly; it is a feeling that I can do anything. How would you feel if somebody does a forecast for you that 7 years down the life you will be a much successful person in personal and professional life, you'll have more comforts, healthier relationships, better equipped to handle tough days – you’ll instantly feel relaxed knowing that your future is secure.

My point is: ‘forget about tomorrow’ – enjoy your today, do every chore with responsibility and spread the positivity around. If your today is good, tomorrow will definitely be better. Let go of your stress and feel free.

People worry so much about the future that they forget to enjoy the present. Whatever you desire, you will get it - simply focus on what you are doing now. See every setback as a stepping stone and every problem as a blessing in disguise. Contrary to what critics might say, these are NOT corny aphorisms. They are timeless truths of humanity. (And critics are just people too scared to grow their dreams anyway - pay no attention to them. Our world today needs people lifting each other up rather than those who put others down).

About the Lessons of Life

2009-04-16T09:13:00.032+05:30

“Why do people lie?” “Why are they afraid to accept responsibility of mistakes that they have done?” – These questions struck in my mind while I was on morning walk today.

From the experiences of elders I have learnt that learning from mistakes is important to stay vibrant, otherwise a human being becomes stale. It is not the sign of wisdom if a person doesn’t understand the significance of lessons of life. A weakness that most people have is that they don’t analyse situations from analytical blend of mind.
To let go your past and to see every day as a new day, you need to spend some time with yourself – not to count how much you earned or what good/bad happened during the day, but to analyse how is each day helping you to become a better person.

‘Conversation with self’ reduces stress drastically as it gives you a chance to see an open door of opportunity that you would have otherwise missed. Today can be the first day of your new life; you can shine with all your might – it’s all about choice.

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Live Life to its Fullest

2009-04-14T10:38:00.029+05:30

Here is something which is not very new but since like stuff like this, I am posting a piece on philosophy for your reading pleasure.

A person asked God:
"what surprises you most about mankind"

God replied : "they loose their health to make money & then loose their money to restore their health.

By thinking anxiously about future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor for the future.Life is all about uncertainties
Never know which way it will turn, like a wild horse

--- So Live Life to its Fullest –-

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Look For Goodness

2009-04-06T19:23:00.031+05:30

In everything, goodness is there, our goal is to find it.
In every person, the best is there, our job is to recognise it.
In every situation, the positive is there, our opportunity is to see it.
In every problem, the solution is there, our responsibility is to provide it.
In every setback, the success is there, our adventure is to discover it.
In every crisis, the reason is there, our challenge is to understand it.

By simply seeing the goodness we can manage our stress issues to a great extent and can stay enthusiastic and experience a contented life.
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Managing Stress

2009-03-31T22:10:00.012+05:30

On the occasion of my friend’s marriage, I met a finance professional who has recently been asked by Coca Cola to be its Asia-Pacific head. As many people understand, it is a huge opportunity for anyone who aims to be CEO someday. This person is however not happy. Beyond the courtesy smiles he is a hollow person. He tells painfully that in his quest of becoming professionally big, he lost his family. His wife left him as he couldn't handle office stress effectively and children barely know him as he never had time for them.

Putting family, along with health, should always be the top priority for each one of us. Family matters too much and some people realise that only after they chase their dreams to reach a level only to find themselves along there.

Devotion to work is good but it shouldn’t cross the line to become stress. As adults, we teach our children to view the world and they will follow our leads. So let’s make a smart choice today. Let us have a look at our priorities again and restructure our lifestyle a little so that we can have a happier today as well as tomorrow.

Power of the Mind

2009-03-27T11:06:00.011+05:30

What is your ultimate competitive advantage? How can you do things differently than others?

To be successful, one needs to control his/her mind. It is said that “Wars are fought between the minds of great men”. Everything we see today was an idea some time back. Edison fancied luminosity, so created bulb, Gandhi wanted to see equal rights for everyone, so started ‘Non Cooperation Movement’, people wanted to stay connected while on move, so mobile phones were invented, BMW thought of making a car that could change shapes automatically and designed GINA......

It’s the ideas that keep the human race going. People like us make the difference in history of mankind and we know that everything begins with a small step. The mind has to be focussed enough to follow dreams, otherwise what is the fun of living? Live an extraordinary life, do what you dream of doing, take risks and be a person who has tried a lot of different things.

I know that you know that there is no joy living a dull life.

Loving What you Dislike

2009-03-26T06:02:00.005+05:30

The things that drive you crazy are the biggest opportunities for you to prove yourself. The people who press your buttons are actually your great teachers. The issues that make you angry are actually your biggest gifts – be grateful for them – love them and learn from them.

The people or circumstances that take you out of your calmness have extraordinary value. They are the test of your limitations and your beliefs. They make you think of values that you do not stand for. I know people who pay huge amount to a complete stranger, called psychologist, just to pinpoint what is keeping them away from success and people like us get a chance to experience that everyday but we fail to recognize the opportunities.

They don’t say ‘Love your Enemies’ just like that – this phrase has a very strong meaning and only those who understand it appreciate the fact that your enemies have the power of taking out the best from you!!

Start Something New Now

2009-03-17T12:54:00.008+05:30

Last night I watched a program on Discovery channel. It was on U2 (Early days of their career). Do you know that they drew only 9 people to a gig? 9 people. U2.

We often refrain from living our dreams thinking that Those Great Ones are different from us. This is not at all true. The people we admire - whether in entertainment or professional lives, or society - started from a dream and nothing else. But what counted is that - they started. And each day – without a break - they promoted their vision, worked towards making it move ahead. From few audience to hundreds, to thousands - to become one of the major rock band in the world.

So start attempting to move your closely cherished ideals forward. Start somewhere. And start now. Do that please - The world needs you being at your best. Can’t think of anything better right now than R Kelly’s popular song ‘I Believe I Can Fly’.

Gaining Life out of Lost Moments!!

2009-03-15T18:48:00.019+05:30

A philosopher once said: “Most people take the limits of their vision to be the limits of the world. A few don’t – join them.”

This is surely a superb point. The life that you see this very moment isn’t necessary the life of your future. May be right now you are viewing situations with the eyes of fear, rejections, limitations and false assumptions and you would be able to see a clearer picture once you wash off the stain from the glass window.

One of my good friends lost her life partner last month. Though she is a strong person and has her family supporting her completely in this moment of grief, she sometimes feels lonely and depressed. I don’t know what to say except – “this too shall pass”. I know it is difficult to face a situation like this but we all have to see some tough days, may be these are hers...

As Robert Frost says “one thing that is learnt about life through experience is that it goes on.”

No one is born with a guarantee of having a wonderful life – our attitude makes all the difference and this girl is certainly trying to cope up with the loss. I have seen many people who are filled with uncertainty and negativity; however there are still so very many great human beings out there – those who carry deep wisdom, who have big hearts and do not give up easily. We need to salute them and learn from their spirit as they gain life even out of lost moments.