Bliss of Happening!!

Moments become memories! And some become our core memories!!

It was at that point in time that memory became a core memory for me. I am not sure, but I have received a few reviews over my school days that my voice is good and I should try singing.

Till then, I had never been fond of songs. So, It all started when I completed my 11th standard. Slowly I was falling in love with music. Till that point, I was the one who always skips songs and ads any day. This slow, sweet transition occurred graciously without me noticing. And my singing journey started then.. (bathroom singing 😜)

Only my family knows how good I sing at showers (shout enough!)

More about music and my taste, I was falling in love with classics and old songs. I’m a huge fan of sweet, calm and lovely melodies! And my playlists are topped with songs from 90s and early 2000s. FYI - I’m not an old champ yet 🤪

Songs I listen to are majorly in Tamil (till now) as that is my mother tongue, and I understand the lyrics better. But every new thing/change needs a start, right? And that new change came through my roommate during my hostel days at college. I had a wonderful roommate who is a crazy English grammar nazi who always loves to point out my grammar mistakes at any forum loud! And this guy likes to listen to English songs mostly (exactly opposite to me). After few months of reluctance we gave up and we came to a pact. One English song for every 2 Tamil songs, as I had majority of 3 votes compared to 2 in the room (yes we were 6 people at one room, while 1 fellow is a lost case with earphones). Oh, I got carried away! Cutting short, the credits for me listening to different language songs goes to this friend.

So, back to this memory, my first core memory for singing happened when I was at my send-off party from the Godrej company. That is the first time I sang before people and I had almost 26 there who witnessed my singing. I’m not sure how I sang, but a few people told me it was good, and that became my first unofficial stage performance. I thought that is the first and last one and very happy that no one commented that it was the worst one they ever had listened to. 

I thought this was the first and last opportunity where I sang and it became my core memory for singing for me. I was sure I will not be singing anymore and if I sing, that will be to my wife on my wedding reception! 🤓🤩 

But life gives you multiple opportunities, and that is true! I took a beautiful opportunity (which I was aspiring) at IIM Bangalore and joined for my MBA. And first year first term there was an event, Pehel, where first years come together to celebrate us and our diversity. This year we did a signature performance “Acapella” and I signed up to sing there! See, life gave me an opportunity… 

Firstly I was very hesitant to do this and worried I might bring down my team. But I got a good team who compassionately told me you don’t sing good but you can make it better. And that became a motivation to take this up! Now, the second time was massive - 250+ people in an auditorium!! 

This is one beautiful core memory I will cherish throughout my entire life! And this gave life to my aspirations of singing and to my guitar dying in my room corner...

A Wrap up!

       This post is going to be a mix of different thoughts & stories wrapping me up as a whole! What you’ll get? A perception about how I view the world, what I value, and how you can see life through my lenses. And this marks my first and last blog post of 2023!

What makes this year better or best? Nothing!! Only our perspectives and mindset with which we approach it.

Looking back at myself a few years ago with different glasses (not the rose-tinted one!) shows me a lot of change in perspectives, growth, and progression. But one thing remains the same. These are the values that I believe in, want to respect, and follow! And this blog remains a better place to view myself at different phases of my life.

Every now and then, I ask myself a few questions, tell myself a few things to remember, and focus on a few things to follow. This list won’t change drastically every year, but yes, most of them will be rearranged with priorities, and there will always be a few additions and rejections at different points. This year was another wonderful one, with lots of focus and growth, new experiences, and priorities mainly focused on health and passion.

For me, this year marked new experiences with new cities, people, and food. Jaipur, Udaipur, Noida, Kolkata, Kumara parvatha, Dal bhati churma, Ganga, and definitely some beautiful people!!

And there are a handful of new people whom I want to thank and a few old ones to whom I want to apologize.

Unlike the Few HundredSteps! in 2018 & 2019, I did a few thousand one, and I saw a drastic shift in my end goal compared to the last one in 2018. This time it was not about successful completion but about persistence, bringing belief around, and completing as one. And in the end, we succeeded together as a team and as a family! This juncture helped me realize the quote, “There are friends, there is a family, and there are friends that become family.”

And I have progressed in Falling in Love! too. I started learning new things, explored new passions, and advanced towards my last name. Cycling became my best hobby after some great touch of nature around my route. Clean air to breathe, wind to pat, birds to sing, and breeze to make you feel lit! What more to ask for a beautiful life!!

I don’t have much to say, but I'm not a fan of resolutions. I’ll wrap up with a few questions that I ponder now and then. Try to answer these questions to understand more about yourself.

What do I value most in life?

Am I prepared for the worst in my life?

What makes us humans and differentiates us from animals?

Why does being a leader matter, and how to become a good leader?

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year :)

What’s your purpose?

 A long solo ride, lonely room, sky watching, staring at the moon and sometimes a few minutes of meditation arise many thoughts in me. Instead of thoughts, I can call them questions as most of them start or ends with Why, How, What or When. And I love to ask myself many questions and answer them from my perspective so I get to know what kind of person I am. This is my way of self-realization you can say.

So, as many thoughts or questions popped out inside my head, this one badly wanted my answer – “What is your purpose?”. During my school days, I have felt I don’t have a purpose. But my spiritual mindset always mentions people are here for a purpose. And I used to think “Is finding one’s purpose is the purpose of their life?”. I don’t know if all live with a purpose.  

But I think I have defined this from my own perspective and I know it’s susceptible to change based on my future experiences. So here is what this man thinks about the purpose of his life.

There are many people born, became great and achieved a lot. For me, Abdul Kalam is one of the exemplars. But in my perspective, not all human beings are born with those great purposes. Our purpose can be as simple as bringing hope to someone or living by discipline or being helpful to someone. It can also be as simple as feeding a pet or keeping your home clean or gaining insight into something. For me,

“Purpose is living my life the way I want (without hurting anyone) and bringing positive change to my surroundings”

But do you know how these things are determined? By your direction and choices

Our life is a journey and it is dependent on a lot many factors where our decision makes the turn! Whatever decision you make, don’t regret or worry about it. If you have done wrong, try to change it in future. As the saying, it’s the journey which makes thing fruitful than the destination, be at your own pace and enjoy your life!!

Here is a reflection of a person I don’t know but I think - helping the street dogs may be her purpose. Referring to my old post – The Guardian of Dogs

Let me dream about

 What makes me a human? I have this big doubt for a long time. Whether the sixth sense or my emotions? And my mind voice says, "Arre, both don't count! You don't do/utilize anything better from that". 

When everyone can have their own answer, I thought of my own. I want my own perspective to define myself. And here is my one on few! 

"Dream"

Yea, dreaming makes me human. I dream! I dream a lot. I dream of different things. I dream of fiction, I dream of love, I dream of change, I dream of possibilities and I dream of actions. And these dreams are the ones pushing me daily, towards my improvement and success. 

When my personal dreams help me learn and grow, how about the collective dream's effect? 

The world has noticed these many times! 

When Martin Luther King said, I have a dream, When Gandhiji said, I dream of Ideal India, when Nelson Mandela mentioned, I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself! These are great collective dreams composed and delivered by individuals which altered and changed the whole course of history!

Dreams have great potential and it depends upon individuals will power (In my opinion). So lets all dream of great things and make it happen. 

On this great day, come lets dream of Gandhiji's ideal India, where there is no race or religion, no high class or low class, and tears from every eye should be wiped. Let us all make this our collective dream and achieve an Ideal India what we dream of!

If I have learned that, I would not be here!

I don't know whether people use these kind of phrases to express their emotions.  But I always use this phrase more often when there is a deep technical conversation going on and I don't have a clue about it.

 

Don’t look at me silly. I never hesitated for confessing my lack of knowledge on a particular domain. I am very open to that now and glad I am. But it's been three years that now only I really understood what I am doing wrong all these days.

 Whenever I was asked something technically deep apart from my current domain, I just say I don't know and move on. But that is the place I left a big void and forgot to fill. Every now and then when I utter this phrase, "If I had known about this, I would be in better place" I missed the point of what I left without learning.

 I never questioned myself on this phrase and that is one of the worst things I have done to me. I never tend to result in asking myself, why I haven't learned that thing? When can I learn that thing? From where I can learn about these? These questions don’t sound obvious if you discuss a topic you are very passionate about. Because you push yourself to learn what you don’t know about it. But there are many things we are not passionate about but we need to learn that to get going.

 As per psychology, we always come up with reasons to support our thoughts and cause. But this question when you ask yourself, you get to think! I haven't explored this thought for this long while. I think looking life from a different perspective from our own is a key to explore the other possibilities to grow. Let’s critically analyse and introspect our thoughts for making ourselves better than yesterday!

COVID-19 - It' something you have to fear

Dear Friends,

Coronavirus - COVID-19

It's something you have to fear. Please take responsibility. Not for you, but for your loved ones. Bcoz you don't get affected (die) but people around you can. 

Yes you need to buy many things for the home, yes you need to go home, yes you need to meet your friends, but it's not the right time. Stay where ever you are, stay in, stay safe!

Here are a few data which you need to read first.

WHO has been updating info about Corona on their website. You can access it here - WHO
Here are some snaps of information.

Countries affected - WHO 

Current Stats around the world

So, is this the end of the world? No, it's not like that the world is going to end. But if you are not following what the government is saying you then that will happen – The world will end!

Well, this is not about who is ruling and what they're saying but whatever they're saying it's for the health of every individual. Because the disease you're concerned with is not something that can be stopped with a pill. It’s spreading like a forest fire right now and the only way to stop is to break the chain.  

As this day, if you are reading this, then, definitely you should have learned about what is the chain and how to break it. The only option to break the chain is to stay away from all the people. Stay inside home.

Personally, I state a few precautions to follow which is not said to general people who are going out now

1. So, if you are going out to buy groceries or important things and you are returning, stop at your door. Don't touch anything in your home. Directly go and have a bath. It is also better to wash all your clothes.
2. Don't go for panic shopping to buy things and stock it up for weeks. If you have food for the next seven days that's enough. You can get through this.
3. Always avoid the crowd. If you are going out anywhere to buy something and found a large crowd on the stores just step back and give distance between each. if there is no one to guide other people please take the lead and guide them to practice distancing.
4. Don't spend too much on a mask. Just have a kerchief to cover your face. That is to protect others from you. And a kerchief can do the same.
5. Yes, you can also follow our traditional practice of spraying turmeric water in front of your house as that will act as an antiseptic. 
6. Wash hands frequently. You don't have sanitizers. That's fine. Use salt water and washing soap to wash your hands. That will do the required.
7. And please watch news frequently. At least 2 times a day. That will help you!

 

According to experts, we are at the early stage as of now and if you're not controlling it right now then it will become very difficult to control this disease. I think you have never witnessed this kind of curfew anytime in your life in your nation. So if they're stressing out this much then think of how tough the situation is.

Above all - Please educate the people around you! That's very important right now.

Here are a few links that help you to learn updates about the disease.
 - WHO Whatsapp Bot - Link
 - India Whatsapp Bot - Link 
 - WHO Statistics - Link

From Pongal to Sankranti

Lured by the south Indian practices and with a keen sense of celebrating the festivals, I was brought up. Every year Pongal and Diwali are the most sought festivals which I keep an eye on. These are the festivals where we all get a long pause from work and spend time with family happily. I never realized the essence of love, the importance of family and being with them, until I joined my colleagues in a different city. Being away from home taught me many things. The values, family's importance, relationship, love and what life is all about. There is always a debate about whether money is an important thing in this world or not. Even I debate with myself many times about that. But no one never thought about debating whether family and their love is important or not! why because, we all know, damn that's a very important one.

So every year I was used to be with my family during this festival season. And I always reminded myself, wherever I go, I should be present at home for these festivals. But this year, the situation was not like that. As different travel needs emerged up, I was forced to cancel my festival trip to my home. This is the first year in my life, I am away from my home on the festival season. That gave me shivers over my spline whether this will become like this forever. Even I didn't know the next day is Pongal. My colleagues mentioned tomorrow is a holiday. Then only I remembered that.

This Pongal started as usual as another normal Sunday spent in the room. But here in Pune, the people were celebrating Sankranthi here. So I planned to witness the Sankranthi celebrations. I learned that kite flying, going to the temple and sharing sweets is the tradition here. As I observed, only women went in groups to temples. All the kids were enjoying kite flying. So, I thought I can also indulge in the Sankranti celebration. I flew kite with kids, well, almost after 8 years I did this. That gave me nostalgia for past memories. I thought the day will end as it is and I am satisfied over the kite flying. Then at night, to my surprise, my neighbour flat people gave sweets and rasam (I don't know what that is) but I enjoyed that. Well, this season, finally the day ended dropping down my regrets of not being at home.