Time to be jolly

“We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.”

Swami Vivekananda




Just one of those days . that gets you thinking .
Have your experience of life made you what you are today or
did you choose this life , brought it forth by letting your thoughts create your reality .

Just a way of looking at things . Some thoughts just make you more cheerful than others

Merry Christmas .. :)

Flying Moments

While looking below from a high rise terrace
watching ant size men
walking the street
And all of a sudden
I take a leap ..

and wind whooshes past my ear
Suddenly I look up
and see those clouds
Shining behind them
something orange
something bright

then it disappears
and it all turns dark
the loud noise of crashing
I feel the drops , cold and harsh
Looking down now
its all hazy
the greens, the browns
and the yellows
merging together
blurring my vision
going round and round
in circles again
my heads spinning
my heart is thumping
I'm moving too fast
and as I'm struggling
all of a sudden
in that life altering moment

it all becomes clear to me
the light is white and
every thing's bright

All I have to do
is flap my wings ...
the sky is mine, the clouds are mine
the ground is what Ive left behind
I belong to the sky
I belong to the clouds
I belong high up where the bird sings
If not so then tell me why..
tell me why
God has given me wings

Men who crave power look back over the mistakes of their lives. Pile them all together and call it destiny.

I wonder if that true .It makes sense in a way, I guess. I wonder if we all do that , not just men who crave power. I wonder ... well never mind.. I have things to do . Ill let it pass

The Glass Palace and other stories

"Every life leaves behind an echo that is audible to those who take the trouble to listen "
Amitav Ghosh author,The Glass Palace


Its incredible how much we urban folk depend on electricity. Id almost forgotten my good habit of reading fiction, but thanks to the 48 hour unnecessary blackout caused by the cyclone Phylus or Phlegm whatever, it was revived.(hopefully not to be lost again).Much better use of time than aimless browsing and television watching. I rather enjoyed reading "The Glass Palace" by Amitav Ghosh, which was lying untouched on my shelf for the past year or more. I have a liking for Indian authors or writing based in the Indian context for fiction.Like Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri etc. Its not only because of the context but because of the writing style and the emotional connect as well.

The Glass Palace is probably one of the few books Ive read based on such a real historical event. Its very real, the depiction of the colonial era. I think what struck me was the way he has built the characters of the story. The women especially, who are not gentle .Reminds me of my grandmothers stories of the freedom movement and the beginning of the modern era as she told me.

I miss my grandmother suddenly. She was way ahead of her times and a free spirit to say the least. Some may argue that she neglected her family in her forthrightness and independent nature, but I have always looked up to her. Maybe Ill write her story someday . Or use it as an inspiration.Just like Ghosh converted his family stories into this novel.

Well,to summarize this weekend Amitav Ghosh has inspired me. and that is a sign of a true artist.

I became an atya of an adorable baby girl yesterday. I was so excited , drove to the hospital as soon as my brother called.And there she was , all wrapped up and sleeping soundly. What an adorable sight. Babies have this content look on their face. And its admirable how they can demand attention just by crying . One wail and there are five people at their mercy , whether its feeding time or diaper change or just plain tantrum for no apparent reason.

Anyways, I know something for sure. Life is a miracle. Babies are a blessing and God exists.

mau and her newborn

mau and her newborn
Originally uploaded by sanguine seeker

They are just adorable......
:)

“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”

Albert Einstein

It only sums up my thoughts on schooling and education .

Expectations

Expectations are the culprit ultimately, I have noticed, when it comes to emotions connected with people.
You form opinions of people based on your past experience, or some preconceived ideas, others experiences or even superstitions. And there you form an imaginary datum line. Some people fall short and you are disappointed, or angry or hurt even. Others exceed it and you are happy and content .Then the datum line shifts higher and your expectations increase. And then as you get more and more impressed ,it shifts higher consistently and you assume this is probably heaven. And then,suddenly as if something exploded , you are let down .Its a terrible moment to imagine.

If there's anything to wish for in that moment , its the wisdom to understand that people live by their own choices. And not by your expectations. And I realise that if they did live by my expectations just to see me happy, it would only make sad.

Hmm..Did I just contradict my theory.? maybe not...Thoughts can be complicated.

I miss him all the time .

But especially, Ive noticed, randomly, in the most absurd moments I think of him. When I'm deeply engrossed in doing something.When frustrated about not getting something right and breaking my head on something , I suddenly lose focus and turn away to see the reality around me. That is when I remember the old happy times. In that refreshing pause.That reassuring moment....that real life is just fine. I feel nice about that. That its all okay. Everything is just fine.

I feel happy about feeling that feeling.
And I'm glad that he chose the life he did because that created all those pleasant memories that I keep falling back on today. He taught me this one thing among countless others , not to lose focus of reality.


Today on the site , with all the construction going on, this labourer woman was busy piling bricks on her head struggling to meet the deadline I had imposed on her and the other workers. Her 10 month old child was playing in the sand. And every break she took she spent playing with him and holding him. I noticed that today. Until yesterday I only felt bad , felt pity..I even got from home a old worn out chaddar for the poor child to make myself feel better (I believe charity is a selfish act done to feel good about oneself)
But today I saw them so happy , playing and laughing just like any other family.
And I smiled .. and I missed him yet again ...

and I smiled.

Edmond Dantes: I don't believe in God.
Abbe Faria: It doesn't matter. He believes in you.


The Count of Monte Cristo

Being Me

I loved Rita.Yes I mean not just the movie, but her character as well . A simple movie , and such a real story. She could have been anyone....you .. or me.

It brings you to so many realities.That sometimes people who show you the way, your mentors ,turn out to be the very reason for your misery.

That after a point its not love that counts, its about living with self-respect.

And sometimes your own thoughts and actions enslave you.

In a nutshell , Life is all about being free .... being Me!

Pretence

I guess Im just pretentious. I haven't been updating my blog , or my flickr album. how can I ? when I haven't been giving it much time . Writing or photography... or any of the artistic skills I claim to have.

Its time to make a resolve. Maybe sharing your thoughts isn't so bad after all.


I read something nice. Seems to make sense.

"You can't escape roots
in search of an identity"

happy holi!

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