“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way. And there are always choices to make.” One might find these words very idyllic and, perhaps, impractical. But as they say, there’s always a story. A…
Tag: life
Love in the time of Covid-19
Bursting with life, happy, opening up to the promise of a new day – those lovely lotuses float casually in the morning breeze, life’s philosophy shining amidst its dew.
How I became Hanuman: My life & times
My story is simple, and ordinary. At every step, I acted for my Lord. Yes, even before I was born as Bajrang.
A silent change
I remember the hurt, pain, anger and the high-pitched voice. Traveling over the water to a pair of puny, giggling schoolboys. The setting was unusual. Although I was a spectator that scene has not left me for over 25 years. It all started with a simple swimming class. An old-fashioned cork float with heavy ropes…
Why the Chhichhore engineers make us question inner peace
The basketball is tipping around the edges (slow motion!), and you desperately want it to go in. It’s a Bollywood film you think, of course the ball will go through the net. But the wait is tantalizing. They say cinema and literature hold a mirror to society. The movie Chhichhore holds one such mirror for…
When a warm popcorn kernel hits you in the eye
And how to recover from it People often say: a penny for your thoughts. How about popcorn instead? How many bagfuls of popcorn can you pack! My machine runneth over. Let me explain: I decided to do a little experiment. Each time, my mind harkened a distant memory, squirmed at the thought of the future…
Some ancient secrets to stay motivated
Let’s face it. It’s not easy and is not going to be. It’s not possible to stay happy all the time. It’s not possible to have faith in yourself every day. And, it’s not possible to always believe in your dreams. Reality kicks in, obstacles surface and life is not as hunky-dory as we would…
A surprise discovery at India’s only Pashupatinath temple
Sometimes we get unknown perks just by flying by. A chance journey and a last minute plan. Well, that’s another story. But what happened was this. We decided to go on a road trip from Maharashtra to Rajasthan. As providence would have it, we passed by the little town called Mandsaur. I confess, I’ve never…
Why everyone needs to dive into the ocean
It is said that the ocean is a metaphor for many aspects of life. One could decide to explore the ocean by simply gazing at its beauty, sitting afar on its sandy shores. Hands buried deep in the sand, a few grains flickering on the hand, and a gentle, salty breeze caressing the face. One…
Letter to my younger self: Don’t eat your will power. Pump it up.
To the one-who-resembles-a-puppy-staring-at-a-treat, Time can play many tricks, and here I am. You might not recognize me, but I am your reflection. Just an older one. Look at my greys, and wrinkles, and all. I still look beautiful, just 25 years older. I see you going about your work, your day with the energy that…
How I survived the Everest climb
Should we turn back or inch our way towards camp 4, the proverbial death valley and attempt the Everest summit? It had been a long journey for me. A 26-year-old civil engineer from Jomlo Mongku in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh to scaling Mount Everest, the highest peak of the world.
Give yourself a life performance review
Many corporates do an annual or half-yearly review to understand their employees, examine performance, and align themselves for the rest of the year. While the methods and nuances of such corporate reviews could be up for debate, there is no harm in simply examining ourselves in our personal space.
And like the wise said: life is not what happens to you, but for you. And only you can make it happen.
Begins with me... 