Monday, May 29, 2006

A Sour Weekend

Hi,

The last weekend was one to remember, despite of working on saturday. This one was rather boring and long. Though dint feel like coming to office on a Manic Monday morning.

The talking point of the weekend for me was the way Michael Schumacher cheated in the Monaco Grand Prix. I wonder how desperate some people can get for success! They lose the battle with their ethics in that split second.

Socrates was once asked how to be successful. He took the person who questioned him by the river. Socrates held the person's head and pushed it under water. Took him out and pushed him again and again. After a couple of minutes, he asked the person what was it that he wanted when he was under water? The person replied "Air". Socrates smiled and said that to be successful, he should want success that badly.

However, I wonder if it is right to be so desperate for anything in life. For one, I believe absolutely nothing is worth such desperation. I believe the less we ask for in life, the happier we are. The lesser the expectations are from others, the more satisfied we are!

I dont say that one should not have ambitions or aspirations. Ofcourse one should. Else, there is no point of living. But to look no further beyond it or to see it as the end of your life if you dont achieve it is wrong. Rather, not worth it!

Read a beautiful line from J. W. Mariott in the morning. It said:
Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind, the stronger are the trees!

Cheers!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Why am I human?

Why am I a human?
Why can I breathe?

Why cant I be the cloud?
That keeps moving, from one place to another,
floating over the world

Why cant I be the sea?
Playing with the shores and the sand,
Creating waves which in an instant die

Why cant I be the fire?
That keeps burning and burns out,
That gives the warmth in the cold winter nights

Why cant I be the Star?
That shines each night,
Knowing the dawn will kill it

Why cant I be the sun?
Strong and full of light,
Giving light and energy to the world

Why cant I be the pigeon on the roof?
Whose only work is to fly,
And gather grains to eat and feed its little ones

Why cant I be a plant?
That gives rise to flowers,
That glorifies the nature

Why cant I be the rain?
That brings joy at the end of summer
That makes little children play in puddles

Why do I have to be a human?
Why do I have to think?
Why do I have more life than the birds and plants?
Why do I have more power than the Sun and Stars?

Sunday, May 21, 2006

A week, weekend to remember

Hi,

Past two weeks had been really hectic at office. First the earlier project implementation took a toll at my patience. Later the current project brought forth its challenges and pressures as well. It was a little stressful, but part and parcel of the game and the learning process which I am here for.


The work front at TCS is not too impressive. Apart from a few people who stand out, the chunk of people have that laid back attitude. I cant see the organization stand out from the rest. I cant see sparks of excellence and brilliance here. A lot can be blamed on management, but very few get to work under good leaders. I have been lucky on that front though. :-)

I have also been pondering a lot over the usual aspects of life again. How every thing can be anticipated. How everything can be premeditated. It does not take a great psychologist to predict the result in most circumstances. However, we do not think and dont see the future which is eminent and later crib!

This brings me to one of the deepest lines I have come across - "Perception is reality"

Many might question this, and many might disagree. But, I believe it. This itself proves the line.

The reason being that everything depends on how you take the situation. On how 'you' decipher the things which cannot be seen straight from the eyes.

I have a beautiful example, which might sound bad, but then again, Perception is reality!

Picture this, you are being kissed by someone you love. You feel great.
Now picture being kissed by your pet, say your dog whom you love. Do you feel that great?

The wet tissues are present in both the situations. The fact that it is a loved one is present in both situations as well. But, does the perception not change? Does it not depend on how we take it?

Then why do we not implement the same intelligently? Why do we speculate the people we love? Why do we speculate the one we trust?

This is all too deep, and depends a lot on the shoulder that bears the head. Let me move on to a different topic..

Life has blessed me indeed. I have realised that the uncertainities of life have brought me a lot of joy. Whenever I left to God to make my decision, I was blessed big time.

Its like when I ask God for something - I might get it. But when I dont ask, I get more than I could have asked.

The luck that I had during my trip to north last october, the way i met Aishwarya Rai on my birthday at Siddhivinayak, the way I got into my junior college, degree college, the way I applied for TCS, the way I got to go to Hyderabad, and the way I joined my ILP at Pune. These are small incidents, but I felt a hand that blessed me. Thats why at times I dont like to plan about life! God makes the best plans for me!

I think I would like to reach a stage when I can say, give me anything, I can face it! You are with me! If you bring me to it, I know you will bring me through it!

I met an amazing person on orkut - again unplanned. I hope to carry the friendship for long.

May god bless us all.

Cheers!!

Saturday, May 20, 2006

What I am!!!

I'm an angel, I'm a devil
I am sometimes in between
I'm as bad it can get
And good as it can be
Sometimes I'm a million colors
Sometimes I'm black and white
I am all extremes
Try figure me out you never can
There's so many things I am
I am special
I am wonderful
And powerful
Unstoppable
Sometimes I'm miserable
Sometimes I'm pitiful
But that's so typical of all the things I am
I'm someone filled with self-belief
And haunted by self-doubt
I've got all the answers
I've got nothing figured out
I like to be by myself
I hate to be alone
I'm up and I am down
But that's the thrill part of the plan
Part of all of the things I am
I'm a million contradictions
Sometimes I make no sense
Sometimes I'm perfect
Sometimes I'm a mess
Sometimes I'm not sure who I am
If you tell me that I can't I will, I will, I'll try all night
And if I say I'm coming home
I'll probably be out all night
I'm not perfect, but please don't think that I won't try
I'm not perfect, but does that mean that I can't live my life?
I'm not perfect, but please don't think that I can't cry
I'm not perfect, but does that mean that I won't fly?
I'm not perfect yet but I am getting there..

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Mumbai Humidity is KILLING!!!

Hi,

The temperatures have not soured too high, but the humidity makes it irritating. I am awaiting the monsoons real soon!

The training yesterday was very boring. Caught up on some afternoon TV at a friend's place during the lunch hour. I also got to see a video of Shiv Khera, with his inspirational talks.

A few lines which he mentioned:
Sow a thought and you reap an action,
Sow an action and you reap a habit,
Sow a habit and you reap a character,
Sow a character and you reap a destiny.

It seemed one of those well said lines which make little sense. But, his explanation to it was good.

Ofcourse, I cant explain it as well as him, but our thoughts can decide our destiny - and it is true.

But, after the optimistic talks, I was struggling to keep my optimism high. I had a little headache and that should have been a sign that the day will be challenging. I left from office early for a change. I called for idli for din din and then was online chatting all the time until i went to sleep.

Today, it has been a lazy day. I got my passport after a long wait. After that, I have been just sitting on the computer reading mails and chatting! I thought of writing other things, but I will keep that for later now that am in a better mood.

Cheers!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

An Interesting Training

Hi,

Yesterday was a long boring day. A lot of time was spent on reading the PJ's in the orkut community and sending it to people. In regards to work, another couple of meetings, and some deliverables, all of which is getting mundane by the day!

Today, I had a training which turned out to be pretty good for me. It was boring, but worth it as at the end of it I won 50 bucks :-)

Guys who came late were fined, and the money collected sponsored us for a chocolate treat. The remaining money was split up for guys who would answer questions, and I happened to get lucky then!

Beyond the training, back to mundane work!!! Though its not bad, but looking forward to something more challenging. Hope my PL does not read this, or rather I hope he does!!

I am planning for a trip to Vaishnudevi in Mid-June - hope that turns out well!!

These days I am hitting to those string of questions again - what next, MBA or no MBA, starting something of my own, realizing some of the crazy ideas that I have, the one strong aim of my life - these too will pass with time for sure, as it is one of those phases again!

Pramod Mahajan passed away yesterday. Not too good a news as he was one of the decent guys among the corrupt!

Cheers!

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

The Week Starts..

Hi,

The week started casually. I completed the work carried off from last week and updated the cases in the usual pattern. The work is becoming too routine and the excitment and thrill of the job is slowly vanishing. Ofcourse, the challenge and motivation remains, but I wonder till when.

A friend reminded me of the David Sasoon Library today. The long lazy days, where the only work was digging deep into the books. Nihar, Nishit and myself were regulars at the library, and spent over 10-11 hours each day. Yet, those days were fun, the pizzas at Mamma Mia, the Samosa Sandwich across the road, the tea at the Irani Hotel all made up for a plesant day. The Midday crossword was a routine break just before or after lunch. There used to be loads of cats in the garden and we fed them with the rotis we got. The best part is that none of us were a member, yet, the Watchman and the staff used to greet us.

Those days were such that there was no time to think about other things, but yet mind does wander at times. It did wander a lot more during the final year, for a number of reasons that were in my mind then.

My earlier project is finally going live next week. I hope things turn out well!!! Two projects at the same time can be diffult, but it keeps the challenge alive. Though it does not stop me from using orkut, and sending mails to friends. :-)

I need some music!!!

Cheers!

Monday, May 01, 2006

Labour's Day

Hi,

Labour's Day at the start of the week might have brought joy to many people who had some interesting plans for the extended weekend, however, for workaholics like me, who dint bother making a plan, it was a rather boring day.

I read most of the book 'To Kill A Mocking Bird - Harper Lee' today. It is a decent book. It written from a 9 year old's point of view. There is a statement in the book, which says that children should be a part of the Jury, as they would make better judgements (excuse me for the absence of the exact words).

I firmly believe this to be true. Infact in my response to a topic on orkut, the perfect age of dying, was 5. This might be a really small age for some, but its the most beautiful and innocent times of our lives. The purity that we have at that age is difficult to find in people thereafter.

Tomorrow there is bound to be loads of work in office. I better start getting a decent routine to keep myself fit!

Cheers!