~ Reflections ~

Our parents are the single biggest influence in our lives... But if we believe that they the only ones, its untrue... We are all like sponges... observing things around us, and absorbing what we like... The rate of absorption might reduce with age, but I doubt it ever stops... Since our school teachers are the people we observe most, when we are kids... they are the other set of strong influence.... To all those who taught me... knowingly & unknowingly.. Thank you... for doing what you're doing.. the way you are doing it.... Because atleast I've learnt from it....

I've heard some wise man say that a pessimist looks both sides while crossing a one way road... What would you say if not being a pessimist turns into your worst nightmare ?!? Taking a turn on the NH8 without looking out on both sides of the road could be fatal...  What is worse... you begin to feel stupid for not looking both sides before taking the turn (on a 1 way road !?!) The question is not whether what is being done is right... or wrong....  It is more to do with the implications.. if you are adamant about following the rule book.... But again.. if I were to address the larger question... where should one be drawing the line ?

Most of us feel guilty once in a while... if not most of the time... It would be interesting to dwell on the reason we feel guilty... If we look beyond what seems like an innocent emotion... we'll find that its a vicious thought our mind propagates in order to calm our conscience.... The inherent nature of the emotion is a cover-up.. and eyewash... for ourselves...

I have a specific complaint with Indians (pardon my targeting citizens of just the subcontinent... but here is where I've witnessed it !) Whether it is a bhajan/kirtan session.. a puja to celebrate a festival.... or a call for that day's namaaz ... or a sermon being given by a famous priest.. we have learnt to use microphones to the most....  It's as if we want to tell everyone around us what we are upto...  I always thought connecting with god, or atleast attempting to, was a very personal intimate thing... which is why it amazes me when all of us attempt to advertise these dialogues with god... I understand, that in today's world, everything needs publicity... from a tiny chewing gum to a man's ego... But I am always left wondering if the communication would have been more effective the other way... Afterall, how will you get peace of mind, when you are disturbing the peace in other people's lives..... PS: I am sorry if I hurt anyone's sentimen

All of us love our parents... But I doubt, if even once in our lifetime, we tell them how much we love them... ya ya.. I get it... that some things are understood, and need not be said... but once they start getting old... these are the things that keep them going... to know that they are loved... that we'll take care of them... Afterall, life comes a full circle.. from their holding our hand to walk... to us holding theirs....

Our mind is a funny thing.. Lapping everything up... But then, all it takes it the tide..  to change....   and  we start revealing some... concealing some... and then... sometimes things just show up.. on the shore... Photograph Source: Google Images

I guess all of us have noticed the recent advertising Google is doing for itself... Needless to say it's trying to reinvent itself (again) through Plus... It just goes to show that the best of us need to showcase our abilities once in a while... Gone are the days when people try and take the time out to "notice" different new things... Now, one needs to showcase the different side, even if that means you take the most common way to tell the world !!

All of us have sides..  Is it the good.. the better.. and the best... or  Is it the good.. the bad.. and the ugly... PS: If you haven't already guessed.. this is one of the many masterpieces created by MC Escher . If this has intrigued you enough, you'll find more of his stuff here .

As far as I could remember, one would always wish to do things the right way... the underlying assumption was always that the way is being sought for doing the right things :) I guess doing things wrong doesn't need directions (unless you are seeking directions while circling the roads of delhi ;) But as things progress from the mono-colour world of black n white to the land of grey's.... discussions about "the right way for the wrong thing" shouldn't have come as a surprise... I mean... haven't we always known that there is only 1 unique right thing - right way combination... imagine the confusion in picking the "right" way to do the "wrong" thing... So if I had to choose simply, isn't it easier to pick the right thing - right way option... easy on the brain you know !!!

What happens if you are crossing the road and a bike suddenly rams into you.... Besides the fact that you'll probably be unconscious (or maybe you wish you are), what is the first thing that will come to your mind... Thank god I am alive !! But what happens if you've just witnessed someone getting rammed! Whats your first impulse ? Wonder what the sign means ?

There is a fine line between praise and flattery... What sounds like music to our ears needn't always be true... But what if the words are well meant, and you think its flattery... What is worse... believing flattery.... or hurting someone you love... Where do we draw the line.... Or do pessimists always assume the worst !!!

History (from Greek ἱστορία - historia): "inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation" If we dwell deeper in the word, it brings out the past - the good, the bad, the ugly... and so, is a strong tool to develop opinions.... Needless to say, most poeple are "taught" history as children.... I remember pouring through books of history in school to scrape through my history test. However, almost 20 years later (goodness, its been very long !!), I realize that history should not be taught... poeple should be allowed to explore it for themselves, and the society should just provide the tools... to explore freely, whichever aspect we wish to... Though my liking for history stems from school, it is more due to my teacher, who acted like a narrator of the events that have gone by, rather than someone trying to preach a moral outcome.... school only touches the tip of the iceberg... History is unbound, and growing every moment... even as I write this blog...

Decisions are part of all our lives... Some are taken by others on our behalf... and for some, we manage to summon the courage to take the leap ourself... But each and every decision taken has a bearing on our circle of influence.... So when we take the plunge (I mean when we try and decide for ourselves), do these people figure in our consideration set at all.. And having said that, didn't we always dream of being independent people, where our mind and thought was free from any other constraints... 

What do you find easiest to concentrate on.... some would say god... some would say themselves... but somehow, whenever I make an attempt to concentrate on something is precisely the moment when my mind begins to wander.... Maybe our subconscious loves playing the Devil's Advocate...  trying to challenge us to not let us do what we have set out to do :) Isn't that the case always... for everything.... I wonder how people concentrate on anything ;)

In our busy lives nowadays, we seem to spend most of our time in office, and the remaining time on the roads (driving, i mean)... Its interesting to observe how people react to different situations on the road... I've come to believe that it has a direct correlation with our actual behaviour (or maybe our closet behaviour)... For instance, what would be your instantaneous reaction when you see an ambulance, with a blowing siren coming behind you... don't bother clearing the passage for it - a  dumb ass who doesn't bother about rules, not even when it's a matter of life and death for someone else clear the way, and the immediately follow it - an opportunist who has found a  way to beat the traffic clear the passage, wait for it to pass by, and then proceed with wherever you were driving to - normal bahaviour (or so I thought) of a cool headed individual clear the passage, and remained on the sidelines - laid back individual, who is not bothered about pace Disclaimer

People like us, i mean those living in metros, have a tendency to seek calm and peace... we search for an environment that would soothe us... But most of us (or maybe all of us) tend to miss such gifts of nature right in our backyard... The early morning sunrise (though m sure all of us stake claim to having watched sunrise at a hill station :)) the twitter of birds (not celebrities!!) after sunrise the early morning dew, and the smell of grass wet because of it the smell of wet mud after the first rainfall in summer where are we when all this is happening..... neatly tucked in bed ?? or working in those concrete jungles?? Is it worth it????

Its appraisal time... so would enjoy appraisal of the blog too... So bring it on... The good, the bad, the ugly.... What should be changed, what should be retained.... Or should I just stop blogging and head to the Himalayas and make peace :)

Interesting mail I received recently.... A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. On the day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the moth for several hours as the moth struggled to force the body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. It just seemed to be stuck. Then the man, in his kindness, decided to help the moth, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the moth because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled body and shriveled wings. It

Wrinkled faces... young at heart... Youth rising.... antiquated thought.... Identity of age.... tautness of skin ?!? Beauty of age.... the spirit of the mind Lets just hope that as our body gathers the dust of age... our mind sheds all the age... after all there has to be a balance !!!

Most of us believe in signs... Signs people give.. Signs life decides to show us... So what does it mean, when in a single day, I almost ran over someone... almost fell from a staircase.... and then got jacked at work... I guess it means that I should treasure what I have, and not take it for a ride.... Or is it that I'm living life on the edge and could fall any moment.....