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 :)

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!

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. 

Few Hundred Steps!

It continued to rain heavy & heavy and we started losing our hopes and adrift. It was an epoch of love and courage to travel and nature was slowly degrading it down on that day. All started on a delightful evening when I was thinking about the next day which is a holiday. A holiday between the work gives an immense pleasure and I was strolling on the balcony thinking of how could I spend it. The whole day turned up with a ring from my phone.

Friend: Dai where are you?
Me: Where nowhere else except my room?
Friend: Tomorrow?
Me: Holiday :)
Friend: We are going to Velliangiri. Come fast. Book an Ola and reach Ramanathapuram.

Fast Fast Fast!!
Me: With whom? When? ....
cling.., Cling..,

Phone Hanged up.

Called him again, Doi how many of us are going and when should I reach there?
There is an Ola micro near, book it from your room and reach soon here. Already a batch is gone! Cling.., ing.,

Okay fine, I can't get any more answer from him. Bragging some things I headed out booking an Ola. As usual, when we are in need, we don't get them fast. Ater 15 mins it reached me and I boarded. It was my first time to Velliangiri and I even don't know where it is. Just heard stories about the 7 hills and the Lord Shiva idol at the top. With no more information about the trip or the people who are joining me, I was heading. After 10 mins of waiting in Ramanathapuram, he came and we started towards Velliangiri. It was around 8 when we started. Trailing towards the destination, in few kilometers trees started to wave their hands and chill breeze hit our splines. My heart recited "It's gonna be a lifetime experience" and I was thrilled towards the travel to the top.

Hope you know about Velliangiri. If not read about it here. It's the par compared spiritual place next to Mount Kailash.

Okay, We 10 people, my 4 friends and 5 friends of friends gathered at the bottom of Velliangiri hills and was preparing for our travel. No one had ever thought that it could happen. We don't even have a clue. Everyone grabbed a bamboo stick which may help in climbing. With a great belief in myself, I rejected having a stick (maybe due to laziness to carry it throughout the journey).

Happily started with the blessings of Lord Vinayaga and Shiva at the bottom, we started climbing. One by one, Step by step we started moving. It's usually said that First mountain and 7th mountain are toughest while 5th is the easiest. I personally enjoyed the climbing. Decomposing leaves, aged trees, creaking branches, beetles squeaking, insect music, the soil smell and here and there small openings on the roof where moonlight reaches the ground, everything fascinated my travel towards high rises. When almost the first mountain is going to end, it happened.

The clouds started crying. It started slowly and it was a drizzle. And this is the point where the second thoughts on travel started arising in everyone's mind except me. I believe its (Rain) a blessing by God for us. Slowly we moved up and up and the clouds started pouring high and high. As soon as I reached the third mountain I was fully drenched and it started shivering. We all were separated and I was with my three friends. One wants to return back and we tried to move him up. But at last we failed and he returned down. Continued my journey from the 3rd mountain. Reached the 4th one and the rain was heavy and almost everyone returned who were climbing before us stating the path was very slippery.

Almost half past the 4th mountain, my hope disappeared and the questions of surveying started to hit. Of my four friends, only two continued with me and we started thinking more practical and we are questioning ourselves on every next step. Few hundred steps already crossed. Half past I am standing. But with no hope! The climate continued to stay as it is and I forced myself to return back. Everyone who came with us returned back. I fell down two to three times on return due to slippery path

It was one of the nicest experience in my life. Even though I am adrift still I am happy to visit that place on that day at that time. It was morning 6.15 when I returned. Almost spent 7 hours in the hills and reached an altitude of about 3500 ft. Lifetime experience!! Few Hundred Steps!!!

The Guardian of Dogs

Few situations and happenings are always rememberable and it impacts us in a positive way. Those experiences change a person partially/completely, the way he views life. Like "A Hungry Stomach and Empty Pocket" some happenings make you learn the life. That day, there happened an incident which impacted my life.

It was, as usual, a pleasant morning. But something was different. I just woke up wondering where I am. Oh, I was in my cousin's room in Chennai. This was my second time visiting Chennai, after my Anna University counsellings. This time I came here to attend a workshop. My cousin told me - it's 6.40 now.

Err., It's getting late. Few mins let me get ready. I took a quick shower and found my way out dressed in a short span of time, around 20 mins. The session starts around 9.30 a.m. But my cousin has a different plan and he mentioned a travel for about an hour. We took breakfast on the way at a hotel. He dropped me in Tharamani in front of the spot where I wanted to go. I viewed my watch, long hand striking at 8 while small hand moves past 8. I was too early there!!

I thought of waiting for my juniors to join me instead moving in. So I found a small corner on the side road to rest and started surfing the internet. As it was Sunday, I just saw two or three vehicles passed by. After few minutes, I saw an auto stopped near me around 10 meters gap.  The auto driver parked his vehicle nearby and got busy with his phone.

A lady dropped out from the auto. She had tangled hair and a normal attire. I can't go through her face clearly. But I assume she is one of the most beautiful souls in the world. She carried two bowl-like plates and a big carry bag. She moved near an empty space at the road corner and unpacked the items in the carry bag.

She kept the plates on the ground and started pouring milk on both. The street dogs around came near her and started having their breakfast. There were around 7 to 8 dogs and she fed all. As soon as they gathered, she unpacked a few packs of rusks from that carry bag and started distributing them to. She also poured some water after the milk vanished from the plates. Among those people, who see street dogs with fear and as enemies, she was very different. She caressed them and fed them.

From their condition, I can say, those dogs won't get food properly, maybe a one-time meal per day. But that day, they were blessed to have a great breakfast because of her. I saw the happiness and love she showed towards those dogs.

Then she carried on her journey from the same auto. That big carry bag had some more stuff inside. I am sure she was going to another place where these kinds of dogs are left uncared.

Life has many things to teach. The people around you teach you everything. Your environment makes you grow what you are. My mother has said once, "don't show grace to unknown people these days. they may cheat you". But I don't think so!!

She, her kindness towards animals made that day. Yes, she is the Guardian of Dogs. An unforgettable incident in my life, that made me think. May God bless her :)

_____________________________________________________

(I wanted to go and talk to her that day, but I don't want to interrupt her. So I took a photo of her for my memory. Whenever I see, few thoughts plunge into my head about humanism and charity. Here is that pic for you. If you know her/came to meet her do say thanks in regards to me)

Learning Experience

                Everyone is indeed to learn something. Every day, every time we learn something. We can’t say everything is useful for us. But some things are quite, very important. I got an amazing learning experience from a workshop conducted in my college before a day ago. I want to share my thoughts and learning experience with everyone.

It’s an entrepreneur workshop conducted by Amirthatbi (Technology Business Incubator). I wanted to be an entrepreneur after finishing my studies. But I don’t have any clear ideas to achieve my goals. But I have founded it after this workshop.

                 The workshop taught me few things which is going to be very important for me. How to get ideas....? First think of problems!! Then you end up with solutions….. Convert your solutions for a best idea. Bring out your product. Be Unique & out of box. Bring uniqueness to your product. Make your prototype.Marketise it. Sell your best ideas for great capital..

                More than that it’s a new experience for me like running a company. Thanks for everyone for this great timeand for this arrangement.

I would like everyone to get this kind of learning experience……..!!