2009 Vs. 2010

Again a year is gone and I am all ready with my enthusiasm and energy to grasp a new year 2010. As in last year, I have something new to achieve in this year too, both personally and professionally... To remind me for the years to come, let me point the things that I wanted to do in 2009 and how it really went...

1. I wanted to read lots of Technical books, but I ended up reading lots of Novels... Well, the word was "reading" and I think, I did it...
2. My mother wanted me to buy a house for us, but landed up buying some land... Hopefully, some day it will shape into my dream house... So, in a sense, it will come true some day and I think, I stepped the first step towards that...
3. Wanted to watch all hindi movies being released this year, but missed lot of them managing to squeeze only some of them into my busy schedule...
4. Had lots of load at office, which forced me to drag myself away from my friends, that later became one of my achievements to some extent (Though lot of friends kept on complaining me asking the very reason of the detachment, and for them, I always had a lame answer "I was very busy with official work")
5. Somewhere down the line, I did realize that I should do some exercise daily, and hence started "Morning Walk" as first step towards that... Though it started late in this year, I am thinking to carry forward this in the new year 2010.
6. Made holy trips to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Shiridi and places like Delhi, Pune, Nasik, Bangalore this year with my mother... For the first time, my mother flew from Chennai to Delhi and from Pune to Bangalore... This was a happy achievment for me... Hope to do some more holy place visits in year 2010...

Happy New Year 2010

Here are My Wishes for You...

Hours of happy times with friends and family
Abundant time for relaxation
Prosperity
Plenty of love when you need it the most
Youthful excitement at lifes simple pleasures

Nights of restful slumber (you know - dont' worry be happy)

Everything you need

Wishing you love and light

Years and years of good health

Enjoyment and mirth
Angels to watch over you
Rembrances of a happy years!

--Chinmaya Achary

The Secret

The Secret Revealed

1. The Great Secret of Life is the law of attraction.

2. The law of attraction says “like attracts like”, so when you think a thought, you are also attracting like thoughts to you

3. Thoughts are magnetic, and thoughts have a frequency. As you think thoughts, they are sent out into the Universe, and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to the source – you.

4. You are like a human transmission tower, transmitting a frequency with your thoughts. If you want to change anything in your life, change the frequency by changing your thoughts.

5. Your current thoughts are creating your future life. What you can think about the most or focus on the most will appear as your life.

6. Your thoughts become things.

Secret Made Simple

1. The law of attraction is a law of nature. It is as impartial as the law of gravity.

2. Nothing can come into your experience unless you summon it through persistent thoughts.

3. To know what you’re thinking, ask yourself how you are feeling. Emotions are valuable tools that instantly tell us what we are thinking.

4. It is impossible to feel bad and at the same time have good thoughts.

5. Your thoughts determine your frequency, and your feelings tell you immediately what frequency you are on. When you feel bad, you are on the frequency of drawing more bad things. When you feel good, you are powerfully attracting more good things to you.

6. Secret Shifters, such as pleasant memories, nature, or your favourite music, can change your feelings and shift your frequency in an instant.

7. The feeling of love is the highest frequency you can emit. The greater the love you feel and emit, the greater the power you are harnessing.

How to use the Secret

1. Like Aladdin’s Genie, the law of attraction grants our every command.

2. The Creative Process helps you create what you want in three simple steps: ask, believe, and receive.

3. Asking the Universe for what you want is your opportunity to get clear about what you want. As you get clear in your mind, you have asked.

4. Believing involves acting, speaking, and thinking as though you have already received what you’ve asked for. When you emit the frequency of having received it, the law of attraction moves people, events, and circumstances for you to receive.

5. Receiving involves feeling the way you will feel once your desire has manifested. Feeling good now puts you on the frequency of what you want.

6. Starting with something small, like a cup of coffee or parking spaces, is an easy way to experience the law of attraction in action. Powerfully intend to attract something small. As you experience the power you have to attract, you will move on to creating much bigger things.

7. Create your day in advance by thinking the way you want it to go, and you will create your life intentionally.

Powerful Processes

1. Expectation is a powerful attractive force. Expect the things you want, and don’t expect the things you don’t want.

2. Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you already have, and you will attract more good things.

3. Giving thanks for what you want in advance turbo-changes your desires and sends a more powerful signal out into the Universe.

4. Visualization is the process of creating pictures in your mind of yourself enjoying what you want. When you visualize, you generate powerful thoughts and feelings of having it now. The law of attraction then returns that reality to you, just as you saw it in your mind.

5. To use the law of attraction to your advantage, make it a habitual way of being, not just a one-time event.

6. At the end of every day, before you go to sleep, go back through the events of the day. Any events or moments that were not what you wanted, replay them in your mind the way you wanted them to go.

The Secret to Money

1. To attract money, focus on wealth. It is impossible to bring more money into your life when you focus on the lack of it.

2. It is helpful to use your imagination and make-believe you already have the money you want. Play games of having wealth and you will feel better about money; as you feel better about it, more will flow into your life.

3. Feeling happy mow is the fastest way to bring money into your life.

4. Make it your intention to look at everything you like and say to yourself, “I can afford that. I can buy that.” You will shift your thinking and begin to feel better about money.

5. Give money in order to bring more of it into your life. When you are generous with money and feel good about sharing it, you are saying, “I have plenty.”

6. Visualize checks in the mail.

7. Tip the balance of your thoughts to wealth. Think wealth.

The Secret to Relationships

1. When you want to attract a relationship, make sure your thoughts, words, actions, and surroundings don’t contradict your desires.

2. Your job is you. Unless you fill yourself, you have nothing to give anybody.

3. Treat yourself with love and respect, and you will attract people who show you love and respect.

4. When you feel bad about yourself, you block the love and instead you attract more people and situations that will continue to make you feel bad about you.

5. Focus on the qualities you love about yourself and the law of attraction will show you more great things about you.

6. To make a relationship work, focus on what you appreciate about the other person, and not your complaints. When you focus on the strengths, you will get more of them.

The Secret to Health

1. The placebo effect is an example of the law of attraction in action. When a patient truly believes the tablet is a cure, he receives what he believes and is cured.

2. “Focusing on perfect health” is something we can all do within ourselves, despite what may be happening on the outside.

3. Laughter attracts joy, releases negativity, and leads to miraculous cures.

4. Disease is held in the body by thought, by observation of the illness, and by the attention given to the illness. If you are feeling a little unwell, don’t talk about it – unless you want more of it. If you listen to people talk about their illness, you add energy to their illness. Instead, change the conversation to good things, and give powerful thoughts to seeing those people in health.

5. Beliefs about aging are all in our minds, so release those thoughts from your consciousness. Focus on health and eternal youth.

6. Do not listen to society’s message about diseases and aging. Negative messages do not serve you.

The Secret to the World

1. What you resist, you attract, because you are powerfully focused on it with emotion. To change anything, go within and emit a new signal with your thoughts and feelings.

2. You cannot help the world by focusing on the negative things. As you focus on the world’s negative events, you not only add to them, but you also bring more negative things into your own life.

3. Instead of focusing on the world’s problems, give your attention and energy to trust, love, abundance, education and peace.

4. We will never run out of good things because there’s more than enough to go around for everyone. Life is meant to be abundant.

5. You have the ability to tap into the unlimited supply through your thoughts and feelings and bring it into your experience.

6. Praise and bless everything in the world, and you will dissolve negativity and discord and align yourself with the highest frequency – love.

The Secret to You

1. Everything is energy. You are an energy magnet, so you electrically energize everything to you and electrically energize yourself to everything you want.

2. You are a spiritual being. You are energy, and energy cannot be created or destroyed – it just changes form. Therefore, the pure essence of you has always been and always will be.

3. The Universe emerges from thought. We are the creators not only of our own destiny but also of the Universe.

4. An unlimited supply of ideas is available to you. All knowledge, discoveries, and inventions are in the Universal Mind as possibilities, waiting for the human mind to draw them forth. You hold everything in your consciousness.

5. We are all connected, and we are all One.

6. Let go of difficulties from your past, cultural codes, and social beliefs. You are the only one who can create the life you deserve.

7. A shortcut to manifesting your desires is to see what you want as absolute fact.

8. Your power is in your thoughts, so stay aware. In other words, “Remember to remember.”

The Secret to Life

1. You get to fill the blackboard of your life with whatever you want.

2. The only thing you need to do is feel good now.

3. The more you use the power within you, the more power you will draw through you.

4. The time to embrace your magnificence is now.

5. We are in the midst of a glorious era. As we let go of limiting thoughts, we will experience humanity’s true magnificence, in every area of creation.

6. Do what you love. If you don’t know what brings you joy, ask, “What is my joy?” As you commit to your joy, you will attract an avalanche of joyful things because you are radiating joy.

7. Now that you have learned he knowledge of The Secret, what you do with it is up to you. Whatever you choose is right. The power is all yours.

Merry Christmas !!!

Let Go and Let God …

As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,

I brought my broken dreams to God,
Because He was my Friend.

But then, instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,

I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried,
“How can You be so slow?”

“My Child,” He said, “what could I do?
You never did let go.”

-Unknown

Found Today !!!

I shot the door on yesterday
And threw they key away.
Tomorrow has no fears for me
Since I have found today…

Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do

Principles of Problem:
1. Every living being has problems
2. Every problem has a limited time span
3. Every problem holds positive possibilities
4. Every problem will change you
5. You can choose what your problem will do to you
6. There is a negative and a positive reaction to every problem

12 Principles for Managing Problems Positively:
1. Don’t underestimate
2. Don’t exaggerate
3. Don’t wait
4. Don’t aggravate
5. Illuminate
6. Motivate
7. Bait
8. Date
9. Sublimate
10. Now dedicate
11. Communicate
12. Insulate


Taking Charge and Taking Control:
1. Don’t surrender leadership to outside forces
2. Don’t surrender leadership to faces
3. Don’t surrender leadership to farces
4. Don’t surrender leadership to fences
5. Don’t surrender leadership to frustrations
6. Don’t surrender leadership to your fantasies
7. Don’t surrender leadership to fears
8. Don’t surrender leadership to fatigue
9. Don’t surrender leadership to faults
10. Don’t surrender leadership to facts
11. Don’t surrender leadership to frenzies
12. Don’t surrender leadership to fates
13. Don’t surrender leadership to forecasts
14. Don’t surrender leadership to foes
15. Don’t surrender leadership to friends
16. Don’t surrender leadership to fracturing experiences of life
17. Don’t surrender leadership to the flattering-out experiences of life
18. Do surrender leadership to one thing – faith…

Ten Commandments of Possibility Thinking:
1. Never reject a possibility because you see something wrong with it!
2. Never reject a possibility because you won’t get the credit!
3. Never reject an idea because it’s impossible!
4. Never reject a possibility because your mind is already made up!
5. Never reject an idea because it’s illegal!
6. Never reject an idea because you don’t have the money, manpower, muscle or months to achieve it!
7. Never reject an idea because it will create conflict!
8. Never reject an idea because it’s not your way of doing things!
9. Never reject an idea because it might fail!
10. Never reject and idea because it’s sure to succeed!

Five Phases of Faith:
1. The Nesting Phase
2. The Testing Phase
3. The Investing Phase
4. The Arresting Phase
5. The Cresting Phase

Handling a good idea:
1. Don’t hibernate
2. Don’t luxuriate
3. Don’t commiserate
4. Don’t procrastinate
5. Dedicate yourself to that idea

Alphabet for Action:
1. A – Affirm. Affirm that you can do it.
2. B – Believe. Believe that somehow, some time, somewhere, through someone’s help, you can achieve your heart’s highest goal.
3. C – Commit. Commit yourself to a dream.
4. D – Dare. Dare to try. Dare to take a risk.
5. E – Educate. Educate yourself.
6. F – Find. Find the talent, the possibilities, the time, the money, and the way.
7. G – Give. Have giving attitude.
8. H – Hope. Hope is holding on, praying expectantly.
9. I – Imagine. Possibility thinking is in actuality the exercise of dynamic, creative, sanctified imagination.
10. J – Junk. Junk the junk food of your mind.
11. K – Knock. Knock out depression, discouragement, all kinds of forecasts of gloom and doom.
12. L – Laugh.
13. M – Make it happen.
14. N – Negotiate.
15. O – Overlook and overcome.
16. P – Persevere.
17. Q – Quit. Quit complaining.
18. R – Reorganize.
19. S – Share. Share the credit, power, and the glory.
20. T – Trade-off.
21. U – Unlock. Unlock faith, hope and love.
22. V – Visualize. Visualize the dream before you.
23. W – Work.
24. X – X-ray.
25. Y – Yield.
26. Z – Zip it up.

Risk ...

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your feeling is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

-- President’s Newsletter, Nov. 1982

Don’t Quit ...

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have you sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must – but don’t you quit!

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometime learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out,
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow –
You might succeed with another blow…


Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt –
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be bear when it seems afar;
So stick to the flight when you are hardest hit –
It’s when things get worse that you mustn’t quit!

- Edgar A. Guest

Self-doubt !!!

We are all entitled to self-doubt. There will be moments when you feel you are at a crossroads; times when you question the very meaning of life and the existence of God. You are not the only one to feel this way. It is a rite of passage. People who create great impact suffer from moments of great soul-searching. In itself, it is a good sign because from the depth of our self-doubt we learn to let go; from that emerges a conviction and with it comes the capability to go kiss the world...

-- Subroto Bagchi

The Professional...

One more wonderful book by Subroto Bagchi, that I completed last weekend. Last weekend, I visited my uncle's place where he asked me, "Which book keeps you busy these days?" and I replied "The Professional". Then he replied, "Do not go deep into professionalism, then you will miss the real life". Actually I do not believe so, I think, being professionalism is tightly attached to being a good person and possessing good attitude. To him and to the readers, I want to put some excerpts from the book that says all about professionalism and "being professional" ...

‘Profession’ is defined by Dictionary.com as ‘following an occupation for a livelihood or gain’. It is a ‘vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science’. The Oxford Dictionary of English describes it as ‘a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification’. It defines the word ‘Professional’ as ‘relating to or belonging to a profession’.

Actually being a professional is nothing short of a religion and that the capacity to serve is indeed a blessing of life.

Ten attributes of a professional:

1. Integrity
2. Commitment and ownership
3. Action oriented and goal seeking
4. Continuous learning
5. Professional knowledge/skills
6. Communication
7. Planning, organizing and punctuality
8. Quality of work
9. A positive attitude, approachability, responsiveness
10. Being an inspiring reference to others; thought leadership – Tomorrow’s professional must have a beacon-like presence in a world that will ask for memorability. Because being ordinary will no longer be considered professional.

Self-Awareness: This is inevitable quality that each professional should have. Qualities of self-aware people build on the foundation of integrity and ethics.

Knowing who you are: Do not let yourself carried away; do not start believing in the myth about yourself and your achievements. The self-aware understand what their true strengths are; they know exactly how much of their success is because of their inherent strengths and how much is situational.

Being Authentic: There is no point of being inauthentic and insincere. A true professional has no need for unnecessary embellishments of experience, mentioning ‘connections’, or being put-on or plain fake. Being authentic might sometimes get us a ‘no’, but that is better than the ignominy of being unmasked, because we live in a small world where everything is connected, and the hollowness of our sincerity will eventually be revealed.

Being comfortable: If you cannot add value, then you must not add to the problem with your pretence. The more you pretend, the more naked you become. Sometimes, starting your ignorance can be the simplest solution. Others then take it upon themselves to explain complex technical jargon in easy-to-understand language. Concede the ground and wait, emotionally secure. The team will come back to you when they need you, and then you can truly add value.

Seeking Help: Seeking help is not always about solving an organizational problem. Sometimes we may have a personal problem – an emotional issue, an awkward health matter – which we keep to ourselves. Sooner rather later, it will adversely affect our work. There is no shame in signing up for help – in matters of work, or in matters of mental and physical well-being.

Not suffering false Comparisons:

Having a reasonable view of the Future:

Looking beyond money: The day you feel empty, shift the attention from yourself to others – go and spend time with a bunch of colleagues who have just joined the organization, help an intern with his work, write a series of how-to articles based on your experiences, take on pro-bono work with your industry association... See how the pitcher of emptiness begins to fill again…

Being deeply self-observant: Observing yourself on a daily basis and replaying your actions and reactions does not mean you cease to be natural, or lose spontaneity. Just as the player on the sports field is unconcerned with the camera recording the game, the professional is able to go with the flow, be natural and normal, but has the capacity to record events and faithfully reconstruct them to the smallest detail. Such people do not suffer from illusions.

Reining in Reactions: In extremely high pressure situations, often the best emotion to express is control… And a true professional has a calibrated thermostat which prompts the degree of reaction and control required in any given situation.

Welcoming Feedback: As you practice the art of listening to feedback, you begin to pick it up when it is a whisper, like the sound of your own breathing, and you pick it up from unusual sources.

Not suffering false Attractions: Flirting with false attractions makes us lose affection for what is on hand. If you do not have a serious need for the offered job or assignment, do the professional thing and resist the temptress.

Doing something for yourself:

Being proactive: Someone who is proactive in the workplace is more likely to be proactive with his health, and in his relationships with friends and family…

Taking charge: Developing the power within, to have the confidence to take charge in the most difficult and dangerous of situations, is the hallmark of a true professional…

Courtesy and Humility: A professional does not take respect for granted, but is one who actively cultivates respect and understanding for people who are way below him.

The Big Picture: Only the big picture, the context in which we live and work, makes the facts relevant. And it is only when we understand and actively look at the big picture, will we develop into grounded professionals.

Professional Qualities:

Of Time, Body and Soul:

Doing more by doing less:

The to-do list:

Saying NO:

Quit Whining:

A long view of Time:

White Space:

Creating Reuse:

What is your touch-time? :

When paths diverge:

The power of vision:

Affective Regard:

Commitment to Commitment:

Be prepared:

Ask pertinent Questions:

Intent Listening:

Human beings First and Foremost:

The responsibility of Dissent:

The rewards of Transparency:

The Inauguration ...

The day was 25th Nov, 2009. I was invited to inaugurate Z.S. computer center in a village near Chandwak of Jaunpur District, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located near Banaras (40 KMs). Below are some of the photos of the occasion:

Yeh Nayan Dare Dare ...

One good song I came across yesterday night... Liked the lyrics and music very much... Hindi Movie/Album Name: KOHRA and Singer: HEMANT KUMAR. Here the lyrics goes:

Ye Nayan Dare Dare, Ye Jaam Bhare Bhare
Zara Peene Do
Kal Ki Kisko Khabar, Ik Raat Hoke Nidar
Mujhe Jeene Do
Ye Nayan Dare Dare...

Raat Haseen Ye Chand Haseen
Tu Sabse Haseen Mere Dilbar
Aur Tujhse Haseen, Aur Tujhse Haseen Tera Pyaar
Tu Jaane Na
Ye Nayan Dare Dare...

Pyaar Mein Hai Jeevan Ki Khushi
Deti Hai Khushi Kai Gam Bhi
Maein Maan Bhi Loon, Maein Maan Bhi Loon Kabhi Haar
Tu Maane Na
Ye Nayan Dare Dare...

Right Fit, Wrong Shoe!

Yet another Indian novel by Varsha Dixit, "Right Fit Wrong Shoe" that I finished last weekend...

2 States ...

"2 States" - The latest novel by Chetan Bhagat. I completed the book last weekend. The name of the book is little confusing as I remembered the question that I had been asked many years before:

"Which state Bay of Bengal is in?"

And the answer to the question (as told by the questioner) was:

"Liquid"

So when I got the book in my hand, I wondered, if Chetan is talking about states like, Solid, or Liquid, or Gas or something...

Well, "2 states" alone was not the book's name: It read fully as "2 States - the story of my marriage"

Hmm..., that made me to worry again as to find what could be the relation between Liquid, Solid states to some one's marriage!!! ... The write-up on the back side of the book cleared my doubt: 2 states was 2 states of India, Delhi and Tamilnadu.

So the book is about "Love Marriage" in India. It is an Indian love story about a couple coming from two different states of India, who faced the conservative parents and how they finally persuaded them to get themselves married. The novel is a fiction, but is said to be inspired from the real story of the author and his wife Ananya who are from Delhi and Tamilnadu respectively.

Not as good as his earlier writings, but a good time pass for weekends :)

I told God ...

I told GOD : Let all my friends be healthy and happy forever...!
GOD said: But for 4 days only....!
I said: Yes, let them be a Spring Day, Summer Day, Autumn Day, and Winter Day.
GOD said: 3 days.
I said: Yes, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
GOD said: No, 2 days!
I said: Yes, a Bright Day (Daytime) and Dark Day (Night-time).
GOD said: No, just 1 day!
I said: Yes!
GOD asked: Which day?
I said: Every Day in the living years of all my friends!
GOD laughed, and said: All your friends will be healthy and happy Every Day!

Happy Diwali...

As the candlelight flame,
Ur life may always be happiness' claim;
As the mountain high,
U move without sigh;
like the white linen flair,
Purity is always an affair;
As sunshine creates morning glory,
fragrance fills years as flory;
with the immaculate eternal smile,
attached to u mile after mile;
All darkness is far away,
As light is on its way;
Wish all of u a very happy diwali.

Gratitude & Patience ...

Once there was a small kid on earth. One fine day it came to know that god is distributing apples to humans in his place at heaven. The kid was so happy to receive that news and it went with lot of enjoyment to heaven to get the apple from god. There was a big queue standing to get apple from god and this kid also joined in that queue. While it was standing, it was fully excited and thrilled for the fact that it is going to receive in person from god's hands. Its turn too came and the kid showed its both the hands to receive apple. God gave the apple but unfortunately the tiny hands couldn't hold that big apple. Apple fell down and got wasted in mud. The kid got so disappointed. The ministers near the god informed that if the kid likes to have an apple from god again then it has to again follow the queue. Having waited for so long the kid didn't want to return back to earth with empty hands so it decided to wait again in the queue.

This time the queue has become even longer than the previous one. While waiting in queue, the kid could see lot of people who returns back with apple in hands and utmost satisfaction on their faces. The kid was so much disappointed and thought why me alone didn't get the apple in hand when all others were easily able to get it. What is the sin I did that I alone should suffer like this. Now the kid was so scared that it should not miss the apple again. Again its turn came and god gave the apple to the kid's hands and after giving the apple god spoke to the kid.

"My dear child, last time after giving you the apple only I noticed the apple I gave to you was a rotten apple and that's why I made that to fell down from your hands. Having given you a rotten apple, I felt bad for you and I wanted to give you the best apple in the farm and that time the best apple in the farm was growing and that's why I made you to wait such a long time in the queue. Here it is. Now the apple that you have in hand is 'The Best' apple in the farm till to date. Enjoy."

MORAL:

Friends, sometimes it so happens, as even after we put our 100% dedication and commitment things may get delayed or things may go wrong. Believe that god has something great for us and that's why this has happened. Always say, 'Gratitude & patience is absolutely the best way to bring more in one's life'.

Missed First Love ...

It was quarter to one at night when I hit the door bell. My wife opened the door. She had been awake as usual. Waiting for me had become a daily routine for her. Unlike I expected, the house looked normal. I put my laptop on the recliner and went straight into my bedroom, freshened up and got busy with the book - "An autobiography of a yogi."

My wife came in with a piece of cake in her hand. "We waited for you till 9. But it was getting late and your parents pushed to carry on and finish", she said handing over that cake to me. Something stung me deeply for it was my daughter's first birthday. I had almost forgotten that I had a daughter and a feeling of guilt told me that I did not deserve that piece of cake; it felt heavy when the first bite went down my throat.

"Karthik," she used to call me by name, "look at me", she said. I turned my gaze away from the book onto her face. I saw tears in her eyes. "Have I, in the last two years, ever asked you why you come home late every day? Have I ever asked you to take me out with you, even to the temple that you go alone every weekend? Have I ever told you how it feels to attend family functions without you?" I turned back to the book. "Karthik, please look at me, will you? I need an answer today."

I always knew that I would have to face this sometime. "No, you wouldn't understand even if I tell", I replied. "Really? What is it? Please tell me. I know that you agreed to our marriage only because you did not want to disappoint your parents. I know that I'm your wife only for the sake of it. But why should Gaargi suffer because of all this? Doesn't she deserve to be called your daughter? What is her fault?" my wife asked with tears running down. She had never cried in front of me. I looked at my one year old daughter; Gaargi was special to me, for her name reminded me of a very special person in my life.

"Srishti, I am really very sorry. I don't know how to tell all this and I'm not sure how you'll take it. You are not my first love. I had never liked any girl in my life until I met a very nice person who, I decided, would not only be my first love but also the only love in my entire life", my eyes started to fill up, "I can never imagine my life without." "Your mother told me. I know everything but I wanted you to tell", she interrupted. I wasn't surprised; two years is a very long time for a secret to be kept in a family. It looked like she wanted me to somehow raise this and then she started.

"Karthik, have I ever made you feel that I had been betrayed by someone who I thought would be the only person in my life?" Her question confused me for a moment, 'Is she talking about me?' I asked myself. "He, not you, was the first man in my life and I too had dreamt that he will be the only one ever. But our relationship collapsed after 5 months of our engagement when I came to know that he was already married. My parents were more than broken when they found this out, for they were the ones who had found this person through some marriage bureau. I went into depression and had attempted suicide twice, but somehow survived. See, even God does not want me. So I decided to live on as life takes me, although I knew that I will not be able to forget any bit of it."

It took some time for all this to sink in. I was perplexed.

"Karthik, I know that you too had given all the love of your life to her. I also know that she never reciprocated your love and that she was never ready to accept you as her man even though you were ready to sacrifice yourself for her. But don't you think it should always flow both ways? Don't you think that it is not worth crying over someone who cannot feel your love? Is it fair on your part to ignore someone who is craving for your love and actually deserves it? Look into my eyes. Don't you see anything which suggests that I deserve to be loved by you? I know Karthik, I know that there's some space in your heart that has been made for me. I can see it in your eyes too. When I look into them I do not feel sad that there's a lot of pain in it. Instead I see that part of it which tells me that I'm not completely unwanted. So I ask you the same thing that you had asked her, 'Please give me a chance'. Don't tell me that you cannot love me even a little. I know you do and Gaargi is the proof."

I could not speak more. Srishti too could not. She rested her head on my shoulder. For the first time I kissed on her forehead.

I guess that is what one has to learn. First love is very special. It is something to be remembered for a lifetime but not something for which an entire life can be wasted in grieving over it.

Sometimes you get what you want...

Sometimes you get what you need...

Apologising doesn't mean that you are wrong & the other person is right; It means that you value the relationship more than your ego...

Me and Mahi ...

Some of the Best Moments in Life ...

* To laugh until it hurts your stomach.
* To find mails by the thousands when you return from a vacation.
* To listen to your favorite song on radio.
* To go to bed and to listen while it rains outside.
* To clear your last exam.
* To receive a call from someone, you don't see a lot, but you want to.
* To find money in a pant that you haven't used since last year .
* To laugh at yourself looking at mirror, making faces. :)))
* Calls at midnight that last for hours. :))
* To laugh without a reason.
* To accidentally hear somebody say something good about you.
* To wake up and realize it is still possible to sleep for a couple of hours.
* To hear a song that makes you remember a special person.
* To be part of a team.
* To watch the sunset from the hill top.
* To make new friends.
* To feel butterflies! In the stomach every time you see that person.
* To pass time with your best friends.
* To see people that you like, feeling happy.
* See an old friend again and to feel that the things have not changed.
* To take an evening walk along the beach.
* To laugh .......laugh........and laugh ...... remembering stupid things done with stupid friends

Cleaning...

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash outside.
That laundry is not very clean, she said, she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.
Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."
The husband said: "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows!"
And so it is with life: "What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge. "

Aim of Education...

The aim of education is not the acquisition of information, although important, or acquisition of technical skills, though essential in modern society, but the development of that bent of mind, that attitude of reason, that spirit of democracy which will make us responsible citizens ...

Making Breakthrough Innovations happen ...

The book name is "Making Breakthrough Innovations happen - How 11 Indians pulled off the Impossible". Wonderful book narrating 11 touching innovations in India. Porus Munshi has put all these 11 stories in a beautiful manner that once you start reading the book, you will be tempted to complete the book.

Following are the 11 stories and people (or team) around that stories:

1. DAINIK BHASKAR (No. 1 From Day One) - Agarwal Family - Rameshchandra, Sudhir, Girish and Pawan
2. ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL (Making A Dent In Global Business) - Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy (Dr. V)
3. CAVINKARE (Giving Giants Colds) - C.K.Ranganathan
4. ITC-IBD (Blowing Up The Business Model) - Y.C.Deveshwar, Chairman of ITC and S.Sivakumar, Head of IBD
5. BOSCH INDIA (Innovation Blowback Into Europe) - Whole Bosch India Team
6. TRICHY POLICE (Shifting Police Paradigms) - J.K.Tripathy, an IPS officer of 1985 batch
7. CHOLA VEHICLE FINANCE (Removing Escape Buttons) - P.N.Vasudevan
8. TITAN EDGE (Beating Deference) - Xerxes Desai, MD of Titan
9. SHANTHA BIOTECH (Unleashing Biotechnology In India) - Varaprasad Reddy
10. THE SURAT TRANSFORMATION (Urban Renewal) - S.R.Rao, Municipal Commissioner
11. SU-KAM (Creating An Industry) - Kunwer Sachdev

As others see me...

The day was 4th-Sept-2009 (Friday) and we, office team, were out to Chariot Resort, Mahabalipuram to celebrate some achievement of the team. HR arranged a game where each individual is given a paper (attached to the back of the person) and all others were to write good comments about the person. So, here are the comments that got listed in the paper on my back:

- Great guy, good blogger, always ready to help
- Fully charged and Friendly
- He is a cool guy and intelligent
- Energetic
- Committed and Dedicated
- Good professional who has good attitude
- Good team worker
- Friendly
- Authenticated source to share/discuss professional matter
- Very friendly and hard working guy
- Very good guy
- Passionate developer
- Friendly attitude
- Reliable and helpful
- Nice next-door guy and possess good technical knowledge
- Helping and happy boy
- Good and sincere individual
- Nice guy with good attitude
- Best person with good sense of humor

Thanks to all for these wonderful comments. Hope, I do stand to all of these. If not, I will try to... [:)]

Softwarism !!!

Gandhism: You have two cows. But you drink goat's milk.
*******
Indiraism:You have two bulls. You adamantly consider them as cows.
*******
Lalooism: You have two cows. You buy Rs. 900 Crore worth of cattlefeed for them.
*******
Rajnikantism: You have two cows. You throw them into air and catch their milk in your mouth.
*******
Rajivism: You have two cows. You paint them both to get colourful milk.
*******
Softwarism: ( Ultimate. ...):
Client has 2 cows and u need to milk them
1 . First prepare a document when to milk them (Project kick off)
2 . Prepare a document how long you have to milk them (Project plan)
3 . Then prepare how to milk them (Design)
4 . Then prepare what other accessories are needed to milk them (Framework)
5 . Then prepare a 2 dummy cows (sort of toy cows) and show to client the way in which u will milk them (UI Mockups & POC)
6 . If client is not satisfied then redo from step 2
7 . You actually start milking them and find that there are few problem with accessories. (Change framework)
8 . Redo step 4
9 . At last milk them and send it to onsite. (Coding over)
10. Make sure that cow milks properly ( Testing)
11. Onsite reports that it is not milking there.
12. You break your head and find that onsite is trying to milk from bulls
13. At last onsite milk them and send to client (Testing)
14. Client says the quality of milk is not good. (User Acceptance Test)
15. Offsite then slogs and improves the quality of milk
16. Now the client says that the quality is good but its milking at slow rate (performance issue)
17. Again you slog and send it with good performance.
18. Client is happy??? By this time both the COWs aged and cant milk. (The software got old and get ready for next release repeat from step 1) !!!!!
*******

Ahead of the Curve ...

If you don’t have a plan (goals) for what you want, then you will probably find yourself buying into someone else’s plan and later find out that wasn’t the direction you wanted to go. You’ve got to be the architect of your life… - Jim Rohn, Philosopher

Strategy: Sometimes defined as a plan and sometimes as a future goal… Being strategic means being an active force in creating and shaping your future. Hence, strategy is very personal. It boils down to seeing the future and creating choices for yourself. Being strategic means having the desire and capability to help create the future of your choosing and not limiting yourself to forces and dynamics that act upon you. The whole point is that you can be more effective if you look to the future and think about where you are headed and what you want to accomplish.

ZONE1: Operator (Time - Present, Imagination - Narrower) – Expedient, Efficient, Reactive…

ZONE2: Planner (Time - Future, Imagination - Narrower) – Anticipate, Prepare, Preempt…

ZONE3: Inventor (Time - Present, Imagination - Broader) – Discover, Improve, Refine…

ZONE4: Strategist (Time - Future, Imagination - Broader) – Innovative, Entrepreneurial, Proactive…

Applied strategic thinking has the following characteristics:
Practical: It is a thought process that can be applied to any job and can be used to examine our role and projects with the goal of becoming better equipped in the future to deliver exceptional results. Applied strategic thinking is not designed for exclusive use by senior leaders or for the annual corporate planning event. However, applied strategic thinking should help support and be aligned with “grand” corporate strategy.
Personalized: We can and should think like a business. In fact, we are a business, albeit small. If we are to maintain a competitive edge, we must personally take responsibility to adapt to the future, bring maximum value to our function, and outperform others who occupy similar positions in competing organizations. Remember, the timeline or size of the strategic task is irrelevant; the key is that we are thinking ahead (even a little bit helps).
Simple: Strategy at a personal level doesn’t have to be a complex, daunting exercise. A few principles and concepts can be kept in mind and be used collectively or individually. We are not talking about a huge formal process, although there are some helpful tools and a road map to help you put the process down on paper. In reality, many strategic thoughts that enter your mind will be unexpected, sudden, and very natural as you begin to tune into the whole idea and discover that strategy is for you as well as for corporations, the military, or the government.
Future Focused: It seems like nearly everything you do is evaluated on immediate results or payoff. With applied strategic thinking, you are concerned with getting better positioned to deliver outstanding results in the future. The future is a very relative concept; so strategic thinking can be focused on the next week or next year, such as the next step of a project, your next personal development move, or your preparation to take advantage of new technology coming your way.
Aligned: Even though applied strategic thinking is very grass roots, it can and should be aligned with strategy coming down from the top. If strategy isn’t being formulated at the top, it is even more important that you attempt to establish some direction and put some strategic targets in your sights so you are nit caught off guard by disruptive forces that can threaten corporations as well as individuals.
Emerging: Applied strategic thinking is simply figuring out what you need to do before you need to do it. This means you stay alert for incoming information and signals to help you anticipate. Strategic thinking at any level means being an active agent in the way the future unfolds and not sitting back until the future hits you between the eyes. It usually doesn’t come as a big bold stroke of genius; it often emerges very incrementally and very intuitively. You need to tune into the data and intuition when it hits, and then muster the courage to take pre-emptive action before it seems obvious or logical to others. If you wait until you have no choice about your course of action, you have not seized the opportunity to be proactive.

Cultivating success means thinking ahead and involves seven essential strategic skill sets. These seven skills can be used separately (as stand-alone skills), or you can link them together and create a top-to-bottom process.
Tame the Beast: Develop habits and skills that will strengthen a strategic mind:
Be curious, Be self-motivated, Be reflective and dream, Be playful with ideas, Be collaborative, Be flexible, Seek out knowledge and information, Observe and study others who operate strategically, Find a mentor who helps you think and who asks tough questions, Go on a learning journey
Acquire the Target: Look for the following strategic dashboard: Customers, People, Products, Resources, Processes, You, Sponsors/Stakeholders.
We should have a C.L.E.A.R target.
· C = Controllable
· L = Linked
· E = Energizing
· A = Actionable
· R = Result Oriented
Gather Intelligence:
Analyze the Forces:
Define Scenarios:
Chart a Course:
Mobilize and Sustain: Principles: Overcome fear of failure, Take incremental steps, Make a commitment, Pick up speed, Be responsive, Demonstrate resolve, Instill teamwork

Get Ahead ...

Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves; to break our own records; to outstrip our yesterdays by our todays; to bear our trials more beautifully than we ever dreamed we could; to give as we never have given; to do our work with more force and a finer finish than ever. This is the true idea; to get ahead of ourselves… - Carl Holmes

Happy Ganesh Pooja...

Dhruba's Birthday ...

Happy Birthday Dhruba:Preparing for cake cut:Feeding him the cake ;)Now, its our time to eat the cake (Me and Anil)Group eating now (Anil, Me, Aditya and Limasri)Continue to have the cake...Still continue to have the cake...Now, we 4 only for a snap (Picasa changed the color of the photo...)Last, the gift time...

Indeed, it was a great celebration. Forgot to mention that, Dhruba had prepared delicious food for all of us. Had a great dinner, photos are missing, as all of us were busy eating food that did not get time to capture one moment of that... Thanks to all for coming by and enabling for a great evening of Aug15th, 2009.

Hum Paanch...

From Left to Right: Limasri, Aditya, Dhruba, Chinmaya and Anilkumar (On Dhruba's birthday - 15th Aug 2009)

Maula Maula ...

Arziyaan Sari Mein, Chehre Pe Likh Ke Laaya Hoon
Tumse Kya Mangu Mein, Tum Khud Hi Samjah Lo...
Ya Maula..., Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
(Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula) - 2
(Maula Maula Maula Maula) - 2
Dararein Dararein Bandhein Pe Maula
Maramat Mukdar Ki Kar Do Maula, Mere Maula..
(Tere Dar Pe Jhuka Hoon Meeta Hoon Bana Hoon) - 2
(Marammat Mukdar Ki Kar Doo Maula..) - 2

(Jo Bhi Tere Dar Aaya, Juhkne Jo Sar Aaya
Mastiyan Piye Sabko, Jhoomta Nazar Aaya) - 2
Pyaas Le Ke Aaya Tha, Dariya Woh Bhar Laya
Noor Ki Barish Mein Beeghta Sa Tar Aaya
Noor Ki Barish Mein.. Ooo
Noor Ki Barish Mein, Beeghta Sa Tar Aaya
(Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula) - 2
(Maula Maula Maula Maula) - 2
Dararein Dararein Maathe Pe Maula
Maramat Mukdar Ki Kar Do Maula, Mere Maula..
(Jo Bhi Tere Dar Aaya, Jhukne Jo Sar Aaya
Mastiyan Piye Sabko, Jhoomta Nazar Aaya) - 2

(O Ek Khusbu Aati Thi) - 2
Mein Bhatakta Jata Tha, Reshmi Si Maya Thi
Aur Mein Takta Jata Tha
(Jab Teri Gali Aaya, Sach Tabhi Nazar Aaya) - 2
Mujhe Mein Woh Khusboo Thi, Jisse Tune Milwaya
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
(Maula Maula Maula Maula) - 2
Dararein Dararein Hai Maathe Pe Maula
Maramat Mukdar Ki Kar Do Maula, Mere Maula..

Aaa Aaaa...
Tut Ke Bikharna Mujhko Zarur Aata Hai
Hoo, Tut Ke Bikharna Mujhko Zarur Aata Hai
Varna Ibbadat Wala Ssarur Aata Hai
(Sajde Mein Rehne Do, Abb Kahin Na Jaunga) - 2
Abb Jo Tumne Tukhraya To Sawar Na Paunga
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
(Maula Maula Maula Maula) - 2
Dararein Dararein Hai Maathe Pe Maula
Maramat Mukdar Ki Kar Do Maula, Mere Maula..

Sar Utha Ke Mene To Kitni Khwahishe Ki Thi
Kitne Khwaab Dekhe The Kitni Khosishe Ki Thi
Jab Tu Rubaru Aaya...
Jab Tu Rubaru Aaya Nazarein Na Mila Paya
Sar Jhuka Ke Ek Pal Mein... Ooo
Sar Jhuka Ke Ek Pal Mein Mene Kya Nahi Paya
(Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula) - 2
(Maula Maula Maula Maula) - 2
(Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula) - 2, Mere Maula..
(Maula Maula Maula Maula) - 2, Mere Maula..

(Mora Piya Ghar Aaya, Mora Piya Ghar Aaya) - 6
(Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula) - 2
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Mere Maula Maula Maula Maula
Mere Maula Maula Maula Maula, Mere Maula...

The Future...

“The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created; created first in mind, then in will and next in activity. The future is not someplace we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths to it are not found but made and the activity of making them changes the maker and the destination.” – John Scharr

Are you happy?

There was a guy who was always happy, at least, thats what he was showing outside, always carrying a smiling face. He used to say, "Happiness is not the absence of problems; but the ability to deal with them". When people used to ask him the reason of the same, he used to say, even though I am sad, I donot want to make others sad by being sad before them. So spread happiness even though you are not. Somtimes, a small smile does that. It is infectious. A smile is the universal welcome.
Once he was caught in a big gathering, where he was interviewed on his happiness:

Are you happy?
Yes, I am.
How can you be so sure?
Because I have got too much to live for...

And the last line told everything of his happiness; there were no more questions and there was only huge applause around...

Hey Friend, Please... !!!

Note: All characters in this story are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental :P - Chinmaya

I am very sorry that I did not realize that you did care for me a lot. I remember the day when I did not have any interest in life just because all my past happiness came to an end, life for me shattered and I was thinking I am nowhere to lead a life, you were the one who helped me to get out of that situation and lead a normal life. I did not ever formally thank you for that. I thought we two know each other now so closely that a “Thanks” would sound too formal and that may create problem, however small it could be, in our present relation status. Now I realize that, even in close friendship, we should have respect for each other. I know, I have taken all the help from you whenever I required and now that I am settled little in my new life, I nearly forgot you. Now I realize, I am not good for a holy relation called “Friendship”. I am really sorry. It makes me really insane that I could not value the relation that we had, so silly I am. Forgive me my dear friend, please forgive me. I am no good even to myself now, and I surely can see, how it could have anguished you. But, I know, you are good, you might have continued with your life spreading happiness in other lives. I know, you are capable of that and you have been doing that as you did for me. It was only me, who could not understand you. I took you as granted. Every help and every step towards my good life after the shattering of my past life was with your esteemed help. You did help me without any selfishness and it’s only me, silly me, who had selfishness in every step. I did seek help from you only when I thought; it’s you, who can help there.

Please don’t make me cry… Please say something…
Silence…
Please for God’s sake, say something. Say that I am selfish; say that I am good for nothing. Say that I do not value friendship. Say, please, say…
Again silence…
I know you are so anguished, it is nearly impossible for you to forgive me, but please do forgive me. Without your forgiveness, I can not have this life. I will go back to my old life, don’t know what will happen to me. It was only you who have guided me to this new life, so please just forgive now to enable me to lead this life…
Silence…
Please, please, please….
Silence…
Silence…

Cring… Cring… Cring…; the table alarm clock started sounding… She opened her eye and saw the fan above is rotating in its slow sizzling sound. She did stop the alarm and thought where she was until now, what she was doing late night and when she slept…

It was too late in the night. She was busy in internet and that made time to fly. When she got a glance at the watch that was settled not very far on the same table where her lovely lappy was, it was 2:00 AM. She got surprised that till 2 AM, she is glued with WWW and then the sudden thought of taking a nap came into her mind when she did shut down her lappy and rushed to the bed that was lying just beside the table.

Oh… So, was it a dream? Silly! No, no, wait… It can not be a dream. It is reality of my life. I have done so. What should I do now? Thank God, at least in dream I did seek for forgiveness and I said “Sorry” from the core of my heart. But, he did not reply… How could he, I was dreaming… No…. I have to be real now, It is the time to say in real…

She again rushed to her lappy, started it, logged into yahoo messenger and looked for him… It was 7 AM, and he was not online… Still her inquisitive mind did not stop her to open chat window of him in offline mode. She just cleaned her eyes and started typing all that she wanted to tell him in hurry... With all the eagerness that she was typing there, only tic-tac keyboard stroke sound was coming out of her room while the fan was still doing its job of rotation and rotation around...

A Sunny Shady Life...!!!

The subject line is a novel by “Sachinn Garg”. There is a chapter called “A Theory of Intelligence” in the novel that I feel is the sole reason for Sachinn to write this novel. I liked that chapter and following is the summary of that chapter where Narayanan (A character in the novel who is his friend) has explained knowledge, learning and intelligence.

Sometimes in life, on our way to big things, hindrances hinder us and direct us to bigger things. Most of us do not realize the range of learning capacity that the human mind can take up. Wikipedia says learning is the acquisition and development of memories and behaviors, including skills, knowledge, understanding, values and wisdom.

Let us compare the process of building intelligence to that of building the prowess to sing, an art in which the perished are as un-mourned as the successful ones are revered. A singer metamorphoses from a throat capable of only speaking and eating to gaining an omnipresent magical voice which can change moods in split seconds. The creator is serving a noble cause. It is all too analogous between the brain and the talker turned singer throat. Initially, the throat is just a passage of wind or food, as potent as a household pipe, ready to be worked upon by the possessor. Similarly, the brain is a piece of blank canvas, on which, inadvertently, the brush would be picked up and a drawing will be made, on its own, right from the first second after it is born. And then begins round two. A beginner pledges to car e the insides of his throat to achieve a final product which is a listener’s delight. It had started as a simple passage capable of not much pleasure to a third person. Just like a human brain is capable of fifty words as a toddler among a few other activities, with dismal dexterity. But then, the possessor spent hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades doing practice with deep concentration, working on the problems which would increase the potency of his throat at every stage. The more the time spent on the throat by the possessor, the better it became as it developed from a passage to a beautiful singer’s throat.

The analogy is obvious in humans. As a person gathers experience, dramatic or otherwise, intriguing or otherwise, stimulating or otherwise, thought provoking or otherwise, he is sharpening his intellect as a desired byproduct or otherwise. The more he thinks, the sharper he becomes.

Man is progressive by nature. Instinctively, he seeks progress and a higher goal towards which he can work. The direction of this goal can have infinite possibilities, levels, spheres, definitions, time lines. As a kid, you aim to complete two rounds of the block on your bicycle without falling off. As an adult, one aims to earn ten thousand euros per month before the age of thirty. Walking on the road, one aims to reach the destination before five thirty p.m. The definitions have no end.

A one minute old baby is dumb. Forget about walking or crawling, he cannot even sit. What an adorable but pitiable state, one might think. But then he sees, hears, observes people around him and out of nowhere develops an ability to sit up. In the process, he is exercising his brain and sharpening his intellect to the next level and keeps on doing it until the day every one of these activities settles into his subconscious and he does not need to think before doing them. These are grooming years where the demarcation between a genius and a less intelligent person has already started in a rather nondescript manner.

A genius: person with great analytical and social intelligence, whose thoughts run like France’s fastest train, TGV.
An idiot: person with highly unstructured stream of thought; that too, very few and slow.

But what sort of insights into their early years of upbringing can be made which can be generalized on a much broader scale, as broad as the whole world?

Starting at the very root, the very first school of an individual, which is common to almost everyone, is the home and in fact, the home takes up a few of the most crucial building up years of an individual. The demarcation has already started at this stage.

A hard working peasant who ploughs the field for sixteen hours a day automatically programs his son that ideal number of working hours in a day is close to sixteen. An avid reader automatically programs his son that reading is a cool thing to do. A foodaholic programs his son that eating is important in life. An alcoholic automatically kills the stigma attached to drinking. It’s a constant process. I am not saying that this is the case everywhere. But still, I truly believe this is the most general classification there can ever be. Initially parents rub off their own selves on their kids because they themselves constitute a major portion of the environment of the kids, but slowly, the term environment becomes a lot broader and several factors come in and hence the sum total of all those factors begin to contribute and the situation becomes a bit too complex to be understood.

But the bottom line remains unchanged. It is all about the mental exercise that one has to go through. The harder the brain works, the stronger it becomes.

Much has been said about the role of genes in the determination of several features like obesity, character and other personality traits like intelligence, conveniently ignoring the role of the environment in the determination of the final product, a fully functional brain.

It is the process of learning which is more important than the possession of knowledge itself. There are 3 stages of every activity namely, learning, mastering and the third is when it has entered sub-conscious.

The learning stage is when we have to concentrate the hardest, our brain grows at the maximum rate; we are sharpening it at the fastest pace in the course of learning that activity.
The mastering stage is the stage when we begin to bring in factors like efficiency and time limit and quality. We try to do better at all these factors and even though it still needs us to concentrate and think; the level is definitely a little lower than the learning stage.
The third stage is when the activity has entered our sub-conscious and we can do it when half-asleep or watching TV. We have sucked the juice off the sugarcane and nothing more is left to be had from the activity. We need not concentrate on it further for its smooth running and are doing it purely for the sake of career, philanthropy or worst of all, momentum, inertia.

Finding meaning in life is a luxury and before having this luxury we need to have the license to look for it. And before looking for the license, we need to have a desire for it. And if we have all this, we need to have the resources and the drive to move out to find the meaning. No wonder very few people manage to succeed in this arduous task.

Education is the most basic exercise that a brain can have. It makes us concentrate, think, analyze, understand, grasp, reject or accept whatever comes in front of us in an ideal manner. Thus in the process, our brain grows. It has to grow. It grows inadvertently.