Thursday, May 31, 2012

Inspiration


If I hadn’t been inspired by quotes, movies, music, books, people, art and more, I might not be the same person I am today.

Inspiration is a funny thing isn’t it? We feel powerful, happy, even on cloud 9 when we’re inspired by something and when we set goals for ourselves that are just out of our reach – at least that’s how I feel when a wave of inspiration hits.

But how do we find it?

Inspiration and the feeling of being inspired is what push us to do great things. I have my  own places, people, art or books that makes me to drop everything and do something incredible or wish to be something even better.

Some of my favorite sources are: music- be it listening and singing, reading, green fields, travelling, going for a quiet walk, volunteering, cooking and of course tasting new culinary creations too, long & deep chats with lots of laughter (not necessarily in that order). Lately, I’ve been inspired by the people who follow their dreams and do what makes them happy – even if it might not be the conventional path.

Sometimes, I find myself inspired by everything around me. Inspiration can be that little nudge we need to turn a thought into an action.

What inspires you? Chime in with your thoughts, ideas, books, movies, blogs…you name it!

Friday, May 25, 2012

A Traffic 'jam' tale...


I wonder why many ineligible persons insist on VIP clearances every time they are on the road. Some of us may actually be in a hurry to reach the airport, hospitals or offices but they do not compromise on anything less than the full fledged VIP status even if they are on their way to attend birthday parties.

Traffic jams try our patience, waste our time and worsen the quality of our air. It bores and frustrates me.

Traffic congestion could be every Hyderabadi's biggest woe, but today morning it hit a crescendo when YS Jaganmohan Reddy went around for CBI investigation..

Today, the road I take to office was blocked and the traffic was diverted the other way. It will take me less than 10 minutes to reach my office from my house everyday...But today I spent more than half an hour on the traffic jam to reach office.

The fact that time is precious for all is never reckoned.

I just detest this!!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Practice makes perfect


My music teacher talks too much!! J I don’t think it’s their intent as teachers to talk so much. But I sit passively listening to him, but yet times he says some good. Phew!!

Most of the things he says is Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice and Practice...Yeah practice makes perfect he says. I'm repeatedly told that the more you practice, the better you get at something...which is very true… It sounds simple, even obvious, but it’s something most of us avoid or maybe I avoid!!

He says practice is the best way by which one can achieve perfection. The last day he went further and said, if you’re not practicing deliberately (the important thing is not just practice but deliberate practice, he saysJ) — whether it’s a foreign language, a musical instrument, a vocal music or any other new skill — you should not take them up at all. I was astonished. But yeah he is one hundred percent true.

He makes it clear that a dutiful daily commitment to practice is not enough. Long hours of practice are not enough. And noodling (to improvise music on my instrument) around on the Violin or idly taking some swings with your singing is definitely not enough. “Deliberate practice,” The teacher declares sternly, “requires effort and is not inherently enjoyable.”

Seems a big lecture, Isn’t it? Even I felt the same when he was saying; he didn’t pause for an hour and continued saying me these things yesterday!! But when I went home and hark back, every word of him sounded like a manthra and may be that made me to write this post.


Monday, May 14, 2012

Change- Inevitable!!


As days passes on many people begin to reminisce on what has happened over the past days. I am no different and recently have gotten into multiple conversations about how days used to be and how they are now!!

It seems a bit funny that how we tend to enjoy clinging onto the past. But why do we look back with such fondness?  Is it that the present and perceived future won’t be bringing the same kind of fun and happiness?  Is it because we romanticize what has happened, so we remember primarily the good things?

I feel it both ways; it can be taken as a good trait and can be destructive as we try to mould our future to match those apparent past happiness.

But how about the not so good (bad) things happened? Will they help us to be constructive in the future? If you ask me I would say a ‘Yes’. After all it is said that “Failures are the stepping stones to success.”  And we shouldn’t leave no stone unturned. J

There is nothing permanent in this world except change. Change is the only thing that remains true...

When we ponder on what we have right now...be it is sorrow or happiness...when we think on it...This too shall pass. Think of all the moments of joy and victory we had in our life. Think of that moment of sorrow and defeat we may have faced. Are they permanent? no the moment has gone and we are healed. They all come and pass away. Life just passes away...

Life comes and goes. Sorrow was here and gone... Happiness will come and may go...

The great thing about life is that it goes on – so that eventually what brings us to our knees now might get us to our feet tomorrow; because with every minute that goes by – life is happening whether you consent or not.

Regardless of what happens, life goes on – and so do I.Live in the now, and aim high, dream big, and allow the future just unfold…


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Influential??!!


Ever since I catch out people, they have thought differently, acted differently, and fared differently from each other. There is a question which haunts me time after time, why people are multifaceted (multi aspects) why some people are smarter or more moral, why some people are unfair or very insane – and whether there was something that made them permanently different.

I suppose people around can really influence our thoughts, it can be both positive and negative effect on our lives. Not only people but our televisions, newspapers and in fact some meager poster. We all like specific clothes, foods and drinks, we all have strong opinions on subjects like education or the economy but do we really understand how much of our opinions, tastes, and behaviors are our own and how many of them are simply influence by others?

But how can we be deceived very easily??

We get influenced almost every day and to a certain extent we are unable to resist it but at the same time it can change our behaviors, it will only be long lasting once we make it as an integral part of our attitudes or beliefs .There is hope to all of us as long as we keep paying attention and questioning our motives!

Am I making any sense!!! Wondering, why am I swaggering out like this??!!! Yeah, something has been really striking me out. Let me figure out in the coming post. ;)

Friday, May 4, 2012

Back to school :)


I loved school!! School days are one of the best periods of life when one does not have any tension of salary, expenses and blah, blah of adult life. It's simple: go to school, play, study and then play again. Oh yes, no one forgets their teachers, their scolding and exams. But then you get so many friends for whole life. And these friends were not chosen on basis of status, class or any other social criteria but on pure innocence of kids and may be destiny. Most of us think during childhood that once we will be out of school, we'll be so happy, but it’s the other way round. It's only later that we realize the value of those innocent years.

When I was talking to my colleagues this afternoon, everyone has their own special memories and it’s been many years from now and they are still cherished in a special way. School days are really awesome!! I feel, at any age, school memories will be there, hidden in a corner of our mind! I have noticed the happy faces of my colleagues and friends when they talk about their school days...their whole faces lighten up and voices raise!!!

School was the first place where I made friends. We shared many moments together and at the age of 15 we all moved in our own ways.Even as many of us have gone our own way, those friendships at school were my first and will never be forgotten. As I think back to those who have helped shape us, it has to be our parents and teachers who probably have the biggest influence in shaping my character.

I didn't study in the same school throughout...did my primary school in Bharathi Vidya Nilayam and my high school at National Public school. My primary school is a bit of religious type where we used to have our morning and evening prayers everyday and they used to be very long which lasted for an hour or so. We had prayers in a huge hall, special prayers in a small temple inside the school where Krishna Jayanthi, Ganesh Chaturti etc. were celebrated with special songs (I was always there in the music team!).and may be this is the place where I learnt about spirituality.

 And my high school is entirely different from my primary one, we knew nothing except studies. We didn’t even had a play ground .We never had a music class, a PT period or a craft period L .The class rooms were quite big. I remember the class strength as 33 - 35 (I can imagine the classroom board - date, the strength and no. of pupil present were written on the top right side corner!). I was an above average student every time. But used to be in the good books of teachers. One day or the other we used to have a surprise slip tests, surprise inspections, etc...And punishments for coming late, for being absent, for not putting up the books properly, for not securing good marks and what not!! J These all seems funny when I recollect now. Suddenly, memories came alive.

Despite my minor irritation I was reminded of how much I loved my back-to-school shopping experiences. On the final day of classes, I loved receiving the school supply list for the next grade. But being young at home, I never had a chance of getting new text books. L. I used to get those from my sister and cousins.

At the end of the summer, I looked forward to my mom taking me to the store. I would eagerly look at the school supply list and think about what my mom would buy me. Each year, I had an idea of what backpack I wanted and what type of pencil case I wanted to use throughout the year. Despite my less-than-satisfactory artistic abilities, I would always have my mom buy me a box of crayons J. From my school days to engineering, my excitement for school and school supply shopping has never waned. JJ

Well, I think I should conclude this part of my school story with this. I hope that when I have children they’ll love school that much and more.:):):) Phew!!


Thursday, May 3, 2012

Procrastination :The snitcher!!


Going back over the last few months, okay the last two months I have been very inconsistent on many things.

It’s been a while since I took my music classes. Procrastination is the thief of time. I always keep saying myself that I have enough time; I will do this and that later on. But that time never comes and the things never move. I make lists upon lists of all things I want to do in the near future. But when the future time comes I end up doing something, instead doing what I want to.

And then…I get out with..Oh no!! There is no enough time and well I should start doing it tomorrow now at any cost.

Tomorrow comes. What happens? History repeats itself J what a waste if you ask me.

Brilliant reminders about ‘doing’ rather than ‘thinking of doing’ have been popping up all over for me in the past few days.

I'm taking it as a sign to spread the word. If you were thinking of to take yoga classes or join gym, rather than today, or thinking of waking up early everyday or whatever it might be… perhaps you should re-consider and do it today. I sure am. Hope beyond hope J

There are many ways to avoid success in life, but the most sure-fire way to fail is procrastination. – Simon Preacher

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Life as it is...


The first blog post is always the hardest, isn’t it? You start setting out, all excited, and mostly write into this big vacuum.

It looks just yesterday I was out of college and not knowing what to do next with life. Life had been so cruel I thought...Years passed away, yes it's been two years and I am somewhere now..but I still consider that there is something yet to happen and this is not what I wanted. Lot many things ponder in my mind. But my thoughts tend to change frequently often with some apparent or cogent reason.

Well I think I will take some time to write all that I want.