Thoughts after a memorable weekend..

1) Friends are special. Period.

2) Spending time with friend’s parents while visiting them is one thing. Having fun is quite another. We had a lovely dinner organized thanks to Vik and family and watching the parents sing, dance was an amazing feeling. Heart-warming to see them break barriers..

3) Was very nice to have a change in environment. We’ve had lot of fun times in Singapore but generally the fun is a variation of the usual. This was a different environment with parents around, new territory(home for most..) and brought out a different side in people – a fun side!

4) Money doesn’t buy class. Money can never buy mental peace. I hope I always remember this..

5) Love is all it takes to break barriers. It takes time to love people but its important to give them that time. I saw an important barrier break and it was heart-warming..

6) All this talk about breaking barriers reminds me of the quote – ‘Some things take time, 9 women can’t make a baby in a month..’ :)

7) Recognized a few wonderful things to learn from people. Especially KD, who has this ability to fit in without effort, without any detractors. Blessed to have a friend like him.

8) Probably the best 2 things I did was recognize I was losing my cool after hours and hours of driving and take some time off and then also catch some sleep before morning.. Made it a good mix and gave me confidence that I can become more self-aware and sensitive. It has to start with being sensitive to myself.. else I will always stay the thick skinned buffalo.. :)

9)Important to change environment with your loved ones.. loved the change!

10) Parents are the reason we are who we are. It’s nice hanging out with a bunch of people but meeting the parents brought us all to realize the primary drivers behind all of this. Bringing a child up is the toughest thing in the world and the importance of parents can NEVER be overstated..

11) Cows rushed in when we were driving down the east coast road. I was lucky to swerve away. Had we been travelling slightly slower or had there been a car on the other side of the road, I shudder to think what would have happened. And reflecting back, I am still uncertain how it could have been avoided. I guess some things are best left at the hands of god..

12) A lot of things will change will time. Hence, the present is really a gift..

13)It’s nice to understand how people work and what makes them tick. Once we do understand them, it is easier to live and work with them..

14) The importance of simple courtesies(like a please, sorry and thank you) can again, never be over-stated. In our teenage years, we sometimes tend to think these are unnecessary. Unfortunately(or fortunately), communication, or the lack thereof, is the only reason why relations break..

15) Falling in love is heart thing. Staying committed is mind thing. It is easier to get into a football team than to survive 15 years in it, training day in and day out, accepting the highs and lows without quitting. It is the same with a relationship.. We all have the power of choice.. And I know that, in my heart of hearts, I’d rather be a Paul Scholes than a David Beckham even if it means missing the allure of Madrid and Los Angeles..

16) Football365 does 16 conclusions. I guess this has turned out that way without me meaning to. A lot of these are very simple thoughts that occurred but writing it down itself has been great as it helps me revisit this weekend..

There are many more learnings. Maybe more some other time.. :)

Chelsea did win..

A few thoughts..

1) It’s the Chelsea way to find a way. They were by 2nd best this game. Peppered in balls around the box but lacked the tooth. Changed this in 2 and a half mins..

2) Didier Drogba is on current form probably the best striker in the game. He is the talisman in Chelsea’s team of stars.. Will be interesting to see how they cope without him. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a crucial goal NOT go through Didier Drogba..

3) Chelsea showed that they are a top team – winning a game when they were 2nd best.

4) Fulham taught Chelsea a lesson in organization(as mentioned in the post below). They lacked the quality to fight back. A mark of Fulham’s improvement is that 2 years ago when Roy Hodgson took over, Fulham were facing an improbable fight to survival..

5) Probably Roy Hodgson’s only fault was to send the team to defend in the 2nd half.

6) Chelsea look very shaky with crosses and set pieces. Pretty astonishing for a team with mostly 6 footers. One wonders what happened to the impossible-to-score-off-crosses-side that played under Mourinho. If anything, it also shows that the manager stamps his personality. Chelsea are a tad more flambouyant under Ancelotti..

7) A lot of players find it very difficult to come back after a tough injury. Seeing it now with Eduardo and I wonder if Cech has mentally recovered from the skull injury he had a couple of years ago..

8) Nice to watch a non Man-Utd game once a while.. Would’ve obv been nice if Chelsea lost but I think in a way, it does justice. We haven’t done enough to deserve to go on top..yet :)

Can’t wait for the 2nd half of the season.. Hoping for Dimi Berbatov, Obertan, Valencia and co. to sparkle..

One day I decided to quit…

One day I decided to quit… I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
“God”, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?” His answer surprised me…

“Look around”, He said.. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?” “Yes”, I replied.

When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.

“In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. “I would not quit..” He said. “Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant… But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots.

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.”

He said to me. “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots.”

“I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. ” Don’t compare yourself to others ..” He said. ” The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern … Yet, they both make the forest beautiful.”

Your time will come, ” God said to me. ” You will rise high! ” How high should I rise?” I asked.

How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return. “As high as it can? ” I questioned.

” Yes. ” He said, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can. ”

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. He will never give up on you. Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you happiness
Bad days give you experiences;
Both are essential to life.

A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity. It does not happen by chance. It happens because of our choices and actions. And each day we are given new opportunities to choose and act and, in doing so, we create our own unique journey.” Keep going…

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you Human, Failures keep you humble , Success keeps You Glowing, but Only God keeps You Going!