The Ash-cloud Dilemma

Ash Cloud has spooked all the travelers to Europe since last month and it continues to do so. I, with my wife is travelling tomorrow to London. For a middle-class Indian it’s once in a life time event and of course we were thrilled. Now, we are anxious.

My wife was adamant, come what may, we will carry on with the trip. One reason, she loves exploring new places. Second, the news has spread all across and it’s an embarrassment when the trip is cancelled. Every time she saw the news report on BBC, a kaleidoscopic expression was taking turns on her face.
I too, was not in mood to cancel the trip, but for a different reason- with cancellation, money used for non-refundable Eurostar and TGV tickets with get death sentence.

Despite my wife’s insistence and possible loss of Euros, I could not forget the tribulations experienced by travelers last month which I saw on TV. So, I kept my fingers crossed. Deep inside I was making up my mind, not to start the trip, if things are not in order. Trust me, what I was trying to prepare myself for, was not easy, assuming the imminent World War at home.

Many times in life, we have to take tough decisions, we have to dishearten people. Not because we don’t love them, but because we love them more.

All the flights to London were on time yesterday, hope it continues till tomorrow.
Cheers! My next hi to you will be from the Eiffel Tower.
Vivek

Are You Like a Flower?

Guys! Yesterday I came across this beautiful poem. Tried hard but could not track the author. Does it teach some lessons to a better life?

Vivek

I am like a flower
Not sure of when I will die.
Not sure of when I will grow back again
When I am crushed with pain and cry.

What do I do when I'm not given enough water,
to make it through the day?
What do I do when I look up in the sky?
And the sun doesn't show a ray?

I stand as tall as a flower would,
As long as I possible can.
I will stand and show my colors,
That is what I plan.

I may droop and my petals may fall,
But that won't stop me from growing.
My love, honesty and beauty,
I will keep showing.

I am like a flower,
Strong and supreme.
I may be trampled on,
But I will never lose faith in my dreams.

Keep Swimming

Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl.
One was an optimistic soul.
But the other took the gloomy view.
"We'll drown," he lamented without much ado,
and with a last despairing cry,
he flung up his legs and said "Goodbye."

Quote the other frog with a steadfast grin,
"I can't get out but I won't give in,
I'll just swim around till my strength is spent,
then I'll die the more content."
Bravely he swam to work his scheme,
and his struggles began to churn the cream.

The more he swam, his legs a flutter,
the more the cream turned into butter.
On top of the butter at last he stopped,
and out of the bowl he gaily hopped.

If you can't hop out, keep swimming around!

When the Elephant Walks, A Thousand Dogs Bark!

This centuries old adage from Indian countryside was never before more relevant.

The flood of ideas, the courage to start new ventures, the confidence to jump all the barriers and the passion to create a new world never happened in the history of mankind like it is today. Thank God! I’m privileged to have taken birth in this era and so are you. The most noticeable point is- it’s not limited to Europe or America, it’s happening everywhere from San Francisco to San Diego and from Beijing to Botswana.

You will come across hundreds of soothsayers (as they proclaim to be) to stop you from trying a groundbreaking invention. Not to forget the universe is full of cynics who aspire to outdo you. Many of them would not be far away but in your own home or just nearby. But, are they wrong in their own way? No! Not at all. It reminds me what Paulo says:

“People see the world, not as it is, but as they are.”

Most around us live ordinary life. They have long back forgotten to dream and accepted Life by default. They can’t tolerate anyone designing his destiny. They want you to be one of them, not to stand out.

Should it stop you? Are you ready to relinquish your dream? Have you decided to play the victim of others ineptitude?

I know, it’s not easy to stay immune. Many a times they appear to be correct, particularly when the wounds of failure are apparent. It pains when you hear— I told you. Stop! Ponder! Refuel yourself and go unstopped, because I know you are going to do it.

The Fighter

A beatifully written and truly inspiring poem. It does deserve five minutes of yours.

Love

Vivek

The Fighter

I fight a battle every day
Against discouragement and fear;
Some foe stands always in my way,
The path ahead is never clear!
I must forever be on guard
Against the doubts that skulk along;
I get ahead by fighting hard,
But fighting keeps my spirit strong.

I hear the croakings of Despair,
The dark predictions of the weak;
I find myself pursued by Care,
No matter what the end I seek;
My victories are small and few,
It matters not how hard I strive;
Each day the fight begins anew,
But fighting keeps my hopes alive.

My dreams are spoiled by circumstance,
My plans are wrecked by Fate or Luck;
Some hour, perhaps, will bring my chance,
But that great hour has never struck;
My progress has been slow and hard,
I've had to climb and crawl and swim,
Fighting for every stubborn yard,
But I have kept in fighting trim.

I have to fight my doubts away,
And be on guard against my fears;
The feeble croaking of Dismay
Has been familiar through the years;
My dearest plans keep going wrong,
Events combine to thwart my will,
But fighting keeps my spirit strong,
And I am undefeated still!

By S. E. Kiser

The Thrill of Insecurity

Do you see a connection among these questions?

1. Why a man gambles?
2. Why People love travelling?
3. Why suspense stories sell more than self help books?
4. Why don’t you enjoy a movie second time as much you do first time?
5. Why are the guys crazy about sports?

The common point all these questions indicate to is- Unknown excites everyone.

Life is boring if you know everything that’s going to take place. It’s no different than watching the movie second time. We are crazy about sports because of the twists and turns it brings every moment. Because we don’t know what will happen next!

A part of each one of us loves adventure. We want to explore the unexplored. We want to see the places we have never been to. But, when it comes to life everyone wants security. WHY?

Assume that you are not going to lose job.. come what may.. will you still be excited about work? Will you still be passionate about bringing new ideas? Will you still exceed your targets?

Imagine right before the interview you know that you have been selected, will you still take time to prepare and find out more about yourself?

Unknown excites us! Unknown keeps us moving forward. Unknown stretches us to a new level. Unknown makes us more efficient.

The fear of unknown always compels us to come out of comfort zone and do something we have never done before.

If You Need Me..You're not Weak...You're Just Human

I was going through Paulo's blogs and this post caught my attention.

We as species do depend on others and ther's no wrong if you show it. Living like an island serves no one. It might create a illusion that you are stronger, that's it.

You must not miss this. Kudos Paulo! for sharing such a profound insight.

Vivek

Emotional Independance

“At the beginning of our life and again when we get old, we need the help and affection of others. Unfortunately, between these two periods of our life, when we are strong and able to look after ourselves, we don’t appreciate the value of affection and compassion. As our own life begins and ends with the need for affection, wouldn’t it be better if we gave compassion and love to others while we are strong and capable?”

The above words were said by the present Dalai Lama. Really, it is very curious to see that we are proud of our emotional independence. Evidently, it is not quite like that: we continue needing others our entire life, but it is a “shame” to show that, so we prefer to cry in hiding. And when someone asks us for help, that person is considered weak and incapable of controlling his feelings.

There is an unwritten rule saying that “the world is for the strong”, that “only the fittest survive.” If it were like that, human beings would never have existed, because they are part of a species that needs to be protected for a long period of time (specialists say that we are only capable of surviving on our own after nine years of age, whereas a giraffe takes only six to eight months, and a bee is already independent in less than five minutes).

We are in this world, I, for my part, continue – and will always continue – depending on others. I depend on my wife, my friends and my publishers. I depend even on my enemies, who help me to be always trained in the use of the sword.

Clearly, there are moments when this fire blows in another direction, but I always ask myself: where are the others? Have I isolated myself too much? Like any healthy person, I also need solitude and moments of reflection.

But I cannot get addicted to that.

Emotional independence leads to absolutely nowhere – except to a would-be fortress, whose only and useless objective is to impress others.

Emotional dependence, in its turn, is like a bonfire that we light.

In the beginning, relationships are difficult. In the same way that fire is necessary to put up with the disagreeable smoke – which makes breathing hard, and causes tears to pour down one’s face. However, once the fire is alight, the smoke disappears and the flames light up everything around us – spreading warmth, calm, and possibly making an ember pop out to burn us, but that is what makes a relationship interesting, isn’t that true?

I began this column quoting a Nobel Peace Prize winner about the importance of human relationships. I am ending with Professor Albert Schweitzer, physician and missionary, who received the same Nobel prize in 1952.

“All of us know a disease in Central Africa called sleeping sickness. What we need to know is that there is a similar disease that attacks the soul – and which is very dangerous, because it catches us without being noticed. When you notice the slightest sign of indifference and lack of enthusiasm for your similar, be on the alert!”

“The only way to take precautions against this disease is to understand that the soul suffers, and suffers a lot, when we make it live superficially. The soul likes things that are beautiful and profound”

Source: www.paulocoelhoblog.com

Don’t have an idol? You don’t need one!

Nobody is perfect! Period.

We are human beings bound to commit blunders and learn from them. None in the world is error-free.

During childhood I always looked up to the elders and wanted to be like them. I assume it’s customary around the world to compare kids with elders in the family and expect them to behave like the older generation. It helps both ways. It’s the best ego massage to the elders at the same time it recognizes the kid’s effort.

When I attained teens, I upgraded my idol to film and sports stars, which did improve my dressing and hairstyle and a few catchy phrases which they often used on screen.

After studying in best universities and armed with a couple of professional degrees, I got opportunities to brush through some the celebrities in the field of art, business and cinema. During my close encounters with them, I experienced they were no different than me. They had their own complex, fear, and insecurities along with the outstanding qualities which pushed them to top. Time has proven that the biggest sports star can be just as bad at relationship.

While idolizing someone, we are swept with the person’s success, wealth and charisma and of course some extra-ordinary traits which we love or aspire to acquire. Gradually our obsession gets stronger that we start following everything the person does- good or bad and stamp a lifetime visa to commonwood.

After experiencing thirty one summers and winters, I have realized it is a brilliant idea to acquire qualities from celebrities, not the persona. There are uncountable people and objects which inspire me right from a sweeper to Socrates, and from a toddler to Times Square.

I don’t have any idol although I love the James Bond movies, Paulo Coelho books and some qualities of my mom and dad. Don’t be shocked if I share some day that YOU inspired me.

One Man With Courage Is A Majority

This quote by Thomas Jefferson struck me hard when I saw it on my friend’s status board on facebook.

Everyone aspires to maintain high level of moral standards in the beginning. The person experiments, struggles and finally embraces words like pragmatism, worldliness as an escape. Not all, some of them stick to the principles or truly what they believe in and they make many sacrifices, still they carry on relentlessly. They are the men with courage.

We pass through injustice every now and then and undeniably, the time-proven way to follow is SILENCE, which we do, until we are the victim. Every so often, even we are the victim still we feel silence will cure things in course of time. It does, but we spend a life full of guilt and frustration.

Now the question is what prevents us from standing up and voicing what we believe in? Fear. Fear of losing job, fear of annoying someone, fear of revenge, fear of adding trouble in life, fear of being ostracized or fear of just losing our comfort zone.

The men with courage are not without fear but ones who feel their silence is like trading the soul.

Caution: I advocate voicing at any given time what you stand for. But Remember, the harshest of the things can be put in nicest way and vice-versa. So, gauge your language and tone, not to forget the context, that’s what I consider pragmatism. There is always a way you can retain your job or lessen the intensity of annoyance despite expressing courage. This art is not easy to acquire, but unquestionably you’ll stand out without trading your soul.

Dive Deep Down-D3

I read newspapers, magazines, newsletters, blogs, stories, novels, poetries, emails, letters, brochures, numbers on excel sheets etc. I watch news, music, reality-shows, youtube, keynotes, interviews etc. I listen to podcasts, songs, opinions, advice and hear whispers, growling, laughter etc. You must be thinking.. So What?

I just wanted to start my blog differently.

What I wanted to infer is- in this age of cutting edge technology we still rely on watching, listening and reading different sources of information, which shape our thoughts. Most people trust a limited number of sources and show allegiance to the information gained. Hardly few of us try to question the source and authenticity of information.

Jessica- a friend of mine felt Panasonic is the best phone. You must have questioned her technological awareness by now. But she had a reason- She liked Panasonic because she had one. Now she feels Sony Ericsson is the best.

We are no different than Jessica. Each one of us has our favorite film star, newspapers, magazines, and web sites. More often than not information is presented with facts, and sound so convincing that we end up believing and spreading them. Lest we ever question the authenticity of information despite many website and columns clearly mention that the article is a personal opinion of the author.

The only way to untangle the ravines of information is to question them. Question everything that matters to you. Question every piece of information you watch, hear or read. Try acquiring different point of view about the same topic. Doubt every piece you come across. Else, unknowingly you will end up carrying or spreading misinformation. And not to forget,question every email before you forward them to benefit your friends.