Category: Everything else

When it’s done, it’s done.

Done is not inking in the last letter in the 11th hour.

Done typically translates to a 3rd draft (ideally) submitted with time to spare.

Yes, this is NOT how we are accustomed to doing things in school/university.
That’s why the ‘real’ world is called what it is called I guess.

Because here, when you say it’s ‘done’, it better be just that – DONE.
PS: Build in ‘slack time’ into your plans

Digging Deep

I mulled.

Dug deep.
Half eager and half anxious about what I would find.
For digging deep ensures not a result that might enthrall.
Often what I see is not what I want to see.
But what I see is not too far from the truth.
That, I cannot deny.
This time, I saw a tinge of sadness, a tinge of reluctance and a tinge of pain.
It was a reminder to myself.
That change is not always pleasant.
‘You gotta do whatcha gotta do’ – I told myself.
As I let myself get sucked in to the whirlwind with a smile.
That whirlwind.
Called life.

Heidi

There are many benefits of falling sick (as crazy as it sounds). Three of the top benefits are as follows –

1. You get time to think. And this need not be about anything in particular. It could just mean an eclectic mix of stuff.

2. You are FORCED to take a break. I don’t know of anything else that can force me as effectively..

3. You get time to pander to those crazy ideas you ignored from time to time. And this story is about a not-so-crazy-idea.. but an idea that I didn’t probably explore..
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I woke up all of a sudden remember Heidi. Heidi was a cartoon I watched on Cartoon Network (India) as a kid and I simply LOVED it. I had tried finding Heidi for a long while but hadn’t been successful and after some youtube searching, I finally found an edited version of the whole series. As I saw bits of the edited versions –

1. I first found myself wondering how the little kid found so much happiness. Given I think of myself as a reasonably positive person, I found myself wondering if such happiness, thrill and joy could even be real. She seemed thrilled at a bed of hay, at fresh water from the mountains and a lot of very little things. And just as I was beginning to wonder if the creators had pushed her happiness to overkill…

..I stopped myself. I realized I was probably making the same mistake Albus Dumbledor e(of the Harry Potter fame) accused adults of making i.e. ‘Forgetting what it is to be young.’

And one part of me also felt ashamed that I was questioning happiness and unabashed joy at the little things. Big lesson to learn from Heidi..


2. My mom spoke of a movie she had seen recently where, instead of the traditional theme of the kid being stubborn, uncontrollable and hard on the elders, for a change, it showed adults to be hardened and cynical and the kid to be forgiving. She said that depiction was closest to the truth.

As I saw Heidi, I couldn’t help but agree.

3. I now know where my fascination for the Swiss Mountains comes from.. I can’t wait for my next trip.

4. It was nice revisiting my childhood. Very nice..

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Check the 1st little episode here

On the man who loved to complain

Brian Tracy narrates the story of Joe, one of his colleagues early in his professional career. Every afternoon, when they all sat down for lunch, Joe would begin by complaining loudly about the food his wife packed for him.

‘Corn beef. I hate corn beef’ – he would say one day and it would be ‘I HATE beef casserole’ on another. He would blame his wife for not catering to his taste EVERY single day.

One day, however, as he began lunch with the usual complaining, Brian stopped him. ‘Joe, didn’t you say your wife is away at her parent’s house for a holiday?’
‘Yep’
‘I hear you complaining about your sandwiches. Who made them today?’
‘I did..’

Brian realized that Joe was so entrenched in his habit of complaining that he had lost all perspective. Ever since, Brian has been a huge advocate of consciously developing positive habits.

Often, we don’t realize how we make a habit of complaining about some things repeatedly eg: the bad weather, bad boss, bad business environment, bad food etc etc. The best quote I’ve heard that best describes it’s effects is ‘Complaining is like vomiting. It makes you feel better and the others around you feel worse.’

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