Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Words do have Power

(Inspired by an essay from Jim Rohn's, - Your Achievement.)

You might just feel that this is an over statement. What have words got to do with our life. It is all in the thinking. Absolutely right, what the mind thinks, it says, and within you it's the words that convey the message which then prompts action. They say wars begin in the minds of men, which result in words and then action follows.

Over the years I've been seeking out ideas, principles and strategies to life's challenges, I've always tried to simplify things and so I even try to use simple words along with power words and I have come across four simple words that can make living worthwhile.1. Life is worthwhile if you LEARN.

What you don't know WILL hurt you, at some point of time or the other. You've got to be well equipped. You have to have learning to exist, let alone succeed. Life is worthwhile if you learn from your own experiences - negative or positive. We learn to do it right by first sometimes doing it wrong. We call that a positive negative. We also learn from other people's experiences, both positive and negative. Learning from other people's experiences and mistakes is valuable information because we can learn what not to do without the pain of having tried and failed ourselves.We learn by what we see so pay attention. We learn by what we hear so be a good listener. We learn from what we read so learn from every source; learn from lectures; learn from songs; learn from sermons; learn from conversations with people who care. Always keep learning. It should become a daily-ritual.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY AND TRASMIT THAT LEARNING TO SOMEONE ELSE TOO ON A DAILY BASIS SO THAT YOUR LEARNING GETS STRENGTHED BY REPETITION.2. Life is worthwhile if you TRY.

You can't just learn; now you have to try something to see if you can do it. Try to make a difference, try to make some progress, try to learn a new skill, try to learn a new sport. It doesn't mean you can do everything, but there are a lot of things you can do, if you just try. Try your best. Give it every effort. Why not go all out?3. Life is worthwhile if you STAY.

In cricket there is a standard lesson all coaches will give you STAY @ the wicket for a while and you will see runs flowing. You have to stay till you harvest. If you have committed for a game or for the project - see it through, till the end. Sometimes unforeseen things may happen, then it is worth wrapping it up. And that's the end, but just don't end in the middle. Maybe on the next game or project you pass, but on this one, if you signed up, see it through.
And lastly,

4. Life is worthwhile if you CARE.

If you care at all you will get some results, if you care enough you can get incredible results. Care enough to make a difference. Care enough to turn somebody around. Care enough to start a new enterprise. Care enough to change it all. Care enough to be the highest producer. Care enough to set some records. Care enough to win.Care enough to train and help others win and of course taking CARE of your own self and all those around you.

Four simple but very powerful little words: learn, try, stay and care.

What difference can you make in your life today by putting these words to work?
Punch Line for the day : "Treat people right and they will eat nails for you."

Where is your mental track taking you


  • "One who works with his hands is a laborer. One who works with his hands and head is a craftsman. One who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is a master" - Anon

    All of us have a mental track we run on all our waking hours. That track is created by (and creates) the constant conversation in our minds, mental pictures, feelings and to a lesser extent, smells and tastes, both real and imagined.
    This mental track gives meaning to your experiences. Every hour of the day your brain and body is recording what you think, say, hear, feel, smell, taste and do.
    This constant recording process creates your memories, not just in your brain but in every cell of your body.
    It is also creating the track you will "run" on forever. This track can also be called your habits.
    You didn't think habits were just actions you took *on the outside*, did you?
    Hope not! Because all habits are first on the inside, which then get transferred to your action habits.
    Everything you do well now... that you may have done, say... 5,000 times in the physical world, you've probably done (imagined/visualized) that thing 50,000 times or more in your mind. This mental rehearsal of the entire sequences that take four to five seconds in the physical world might take only four or five thousandths of a second in your imagination.
    That's why mental practice, while being easier, is also faster than "real" practice.
    Look at yourself - Batteries not included.
    Yes, that's a great description of your life. You have to create your own energy, your own momentum, your own drive. You have to power your own dreams. You have to take your plans into your hands and make them happen. Don't wait around for someone to lift you up on his shoulders and take you to your castle, because it won't happen. You have to supply your own batteries.

    EXPERIENCE


Life is like parenting. Have you ever noticed that when a child comes into your life, he/she does not come with the manual. And the manufacturer doesn't seem particularly helpful, leaving it up to you to learn how to parent on the fly. And just when you think you are finally starting to get the hang of it, your "child" says he/she is moving out.
And it doesn't get any better with the second or third or fourth child, because each model requires a different missing manual.
Life is like that. As much as we read, as much as we listen, as much as we observe, there is no manual for life, and just when you think you are finally starting to get the hang of it, you will be ready to move out.
So keep reading. Keep listening. Keep observing. Keep learning. But don't ever expect to know it all. Enjoy the ride, every last minute of it, even without the manual.


LIST


Today's to-do list:
Smile
Laugh
Love
Care
Think
Share
Imagine
Wonder
Relax
Live

Punch Line for the day : It's not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us Integrity." Anon

Sunday, July 29, 2007

I want to go back to the time when...

For a few days now I have been rewinding my mental tape and visit my "childhood" days. It gives me immense pleasure and bliss. I have made a small attempt to capture the past in "just a few lines" and am sharing it with you. I'm sure this will lighten the "stress" most go through during a "hectic routine working day."
If I am able to give you that little pleasure and relief, I'll consider my day as done. enjoy reading this.
I want to go back to the time when...
It was early to bed early to rise.
We revered our elders and they showered their blessings
We were loved and were pulled up We were kissed and hugged, and we were whacked too, very often
Being a good student was a "default" expectation

We would go over to spend the weekend with our friends
And we were looked after as if there was no difference between us and them

We had the gardens we had the rains everything was in abundance
No one talked of any scarcity, or pollution

If anyone was caught accepting a "bribe" he would be shunned in the society
Decisions were made by no one but the elders and none would dare disobeyMistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!" Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in the game called "Monopoly."
Even little things like watching butterflies in the day and fireflies in the evening could happily occupy any free time we got. It wasn't odd to have all "best friends." Being old referred to anyone over out-of-school, and it didn’t matter what he was doing..

The only dates we knew were in the "calendar" or the "dry fruit" that came from Kabul or ArabiaThe net on a tennis court was the perfect height to play volleyball and rules didn't matter.
Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a catapult. Nobody was prettier than Mom and no one more handsome than Dad. Falling and getting hurt was a common occurrence
Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" bicyclesGetting a drive to the zoo was a dream come true. Abilities were discovered because of a "dare-devil" attitude No shopping trip was complete unless a new toy was brought home. We did not know what "hijacking" was, we could go into the "cockpit" of the plane while on "land" or in "air"
We would go in ruptures to meet and speak to the flying crew, we would listen to them intently when they told us about the instruments and the panel

We would love to watch the steam engine to tug along "chook, chook, chook ........We would dream to be in the engine along with the driver when the train was hurtling at high speed.

We didn't know what "terrorism" meant

The whole nation would be shocked if the hear a murder. It would make "headlines" in newspapers. There were a few of them at that time and almost everyone would feel involved in the case, wanting the accused to be punished severely

Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles. The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
War was a card game. Water balloons were the ultimate weapon. We didn't know what "Drugs" meant And for us medicines would be some "white tablets - one BIG ONE, AND ONE small one, and orange-flavored pink mixture which tasted "sweet, or a maroon coloured one which was slightly "bitter.
We would skip anything but a "break-fast," drink a lot of milk in any form, and swallow chocolates, eat a lot of sweets and candies, fruits and fries.
We would listen to the Radio – Vivid Bharathi and Radio Ceylon for our favourite songs and on Wednesday Nights it was always “Binaca Geet Mala” from 8.00 PM to 9.00 PM and Amin Sayani the host was magnificient and for the "hot news" it was always the All India Radio 9.00 – 9.15 PM .

We would love to read the "newspaper" as it gave us a lot of "worldly information. " We always enjoyed reading every word on the "sports page" particularly and would get pulled up very often for remembering only "sporting news"
Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest protectors.
Now that I have "Grown Up" in Life!!!!!!!! I can remember most or all of these, and I believe we have LIVED!!! and really LOVED IT! If you feel you've missed out on something, remember you might also have some good moments to share when you've grown up like we have - LIVE EVERY MOMENT.
To Whom It May Concern!
I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult.

I have decided I would like to accept no adult responsibilities but yes the responsibilities of a 8 year old again. I want to go to an ordinary Dhaba close to my house and think that it's a four star restaurant, have my faourite rajma chawal or go to an Irani Restaurant, ask for bun-mask, khara biscuits, along with a garam chai.

I want to go across a fresh mud puddle especially after the first monsoon rain, and make ripples with rocks.

I want to think M stand for "majaa" and not money, because you can enjoy them.

I want to play gilli danda during breaks or when it is raining and scribble on the walls with colour crayons and splash watercolors on white walls with balloons filled with colours and I throw them on a white wall to create an inexplicable piece of art.

I want to lie under a big papal tree and drink lemon juice, mango juice, pine apple juice, sugar cane juice, grape juice, lassi, with my friends on a hot summers day.

I want to climb the highest hills and want the clouds to brush past my face, I want to know if it feels cold or warm.

I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, and building vocabulary. We never knew the words like terrorism, hi-jack, and so many of the vulgar words that are used so blatantly these days - in the head lines of news papers too. But that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care. When all you knew was to be happy because you didn't know all the things that should make you worried and upset.

I want to think that the world is fair. That everyone in it is honest and good. I want to believe that anything and everything is possible. When we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took your jump rope from you or picked you last for kickball?

I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by little things once again.

I want to return to the days when reading was fun and music was clean. When television was used to report the news or for family entertainment

I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find.

I would spend my afternoon climbing trees and riding my bike.

I want to live simply again.

I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, or how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, the advancement of mankind and making sand castles on the beach sand.

I want my father to take us out on weekends, and treat us to good simple lunches, take us to the lake, take us for walks on the banks of the river, eat peanuts, popcorns, drink tender coconut water, eat raw mango with salt and chilli powder, and my mother making all of us sit around to play or to sing or to feed us all from her hands.

So....no more cheque book, no more cars and the traffic to worry about and I want to reduce me credit cards to ashes.

I am officially resigning from adulthood.

And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first, cause.............

You will have to also resign from adulthood and become a "child" again..
.