Exam Fever

 

Many a times appearances are deceptive. There's always the invisible power of mind which can defy what people perceive about your physical visibility(weakness).

I studied my high-school in an esteemed convent which was on record for 100 % pass results in boards.

It was during such an milestonic exam i was seriously ill. Always in and out of hospital with a lot of absenteesim months before the exam and a physically fragile looking me gave the school authorities an impression that they wouldn't be able to continue with 100%record.

Me and my parents convinced the authorities to allow me to give a chance showing them the proof of my previous academic records. After days of discussion, finally we won and  received the hall ticket for my exams. That was the first sweet victory of that season.

The second hurdle came in the form of the location of the exam room. It was in the 3rd floor of the school without any lift services. I was so weak that I would sit and rest for 10 mts after each flight of stairs. It almost took 40 mts to reach my seat. By which time I was drained physically fully. 

The third and the final  was on the day of exam when the results were eagerly awaited by not only me but even the school management.  I had passed with a first class.

That day taught something to everyone even to me that 'Minds power' shouldn't be taken for granted. When you have a clear goal in mind and you put your 100 % to it with unwavering dedication anything can be achieved. Despite all the other forces which are pulling you away from your goal.

Gods Messenger

I strongly believe in the adage 'When theres none to help, God sends his messenger'.

Here's what made me a strong believer of this prophecy. 

It happened while I was in 2nd year college. My house was very far from the bus stand and my college was roughly 20 kms from home. Those were the No-uber days, when middle class only relied on buses as the sole means of transport.

My best friend offered to drop and pick me up on her scooty everyday to and fro college. It was one unfortunate day that we met with an accident on the busy roads of MG Road. I fell off and was unconscious for several minutes and also bleeding. People had gathered by then, and my friend was dumbstruck and was in a state of shock even to cry for help. 

A car just stepped beside and with the help of people gathered, the 'God sent Man' carried me to the close by hospital( Hosmat) . And the best coincidence was that the God sent Man was a 'Next to God' person, A Doctor. I was still unconscious when my parents arrived and by then they had treated my wounds and was kept in observation. 

After all these years I sincerely would like to Thank him for giving me the another leash of life(Administering first aid on time). He just melted away in the crowd after admitting me into the hospital. My saviour had walked away after this life saving task as if it was just another mundane task in his life.

There was also another silent collateral damaged person and that was my best friend. Though my damages were visibly seen and was recovering with medical help, my friend was mentally shaken. 

It took a lot of time for both of us to recover. But we are ever grateful to the man who appeared from nowhere to save and left without a trace.

Sincerely Hope this message reaches him.

Light at the end of tunnel

There's a phase in everyone's life, when u feel like you don't know where you are headed, feeling of being in a dark tunnel, desperate to know what's next?

There may come many small crossroads enroute which.might look like better way out of the darkness. Furthering the path with more anxiety, questioning everyday on whether 'Would it have been better if I had taken the other path'. 

Still holding on to my tiny little undeterred hope on getting a Software job, I treaded along the path. The path that took 5 years when I finally landed on a job at an MNC(where i have worked for 15 years)

Now standing in this phase of life i thank God for not taking all the cross paths. Though I would have ended up working, I wouldn't have been happier. 

I'm happy that I didn't comply to the societal pressure of a 'Working' tag taking up many small jobs that came along and followed my littlest hope on a Software job.

Patience paid the day I landed a job at HP. And I cherished that job for 15 beautiful productive years.

Bridging gaps

You wake up with energy when you have a purpose, when you feel needed. 

In a recent study it was found that people developed depression, physical ailments after retirement. You work hard with a purpose and when the purpose ceases to exist the feel of worthless engulfs you fully leading to reduced life span.

On the other side, we have certain class of people who thrive for love, a supporting hand, a shoulder to cry, a feel to be loved.

The town planners, government can come up with a system which bridges these two classes. An old age home and an orphanage can be housed together.

Each group of people have something to look forward everyday, kids have an experienced hands to hold and guide them and the aged ones have somebody to fill their void life with laughter. 

Waste Management

 Waste management 

Managing waste efficiently is an integral part of a town administration and protecting our nature.

If managed carefully, it would act as an excellent example on town planning by reducing landfills and saving nature and energy.

Education begins at home and so does waste management.  We at home have a lot of categorical wastes like mildy used things , which when channeled properly can serve a needy less affordable class. Every house does have some clutter which doesnt know where to go. 

Here are some of the suggestions which might encourage people to clear the waste/clutter

1.Manned Kiosks can be placed for donations like clothes, books and toys. Later these could be distributed to the orphanages.

 2.We have seen in places like Amsterdam,  there are stipulated places for waste newspapers, glasses and plastics. This allows a sense of gratification for each one of us for having thoughtfully disposing off the waste.

https://beewiseamsterdam.com/blogs/blog/amsterdam-waste-sorting-what-goes-where?srsltid=AfmBOoqKrxzSwyNsno_FJRmGU_F9hm3FSolbnBw-kTqkN8ClzekHTIhW

3.Also in places like Korea, a small token of gifts are given inexchange for the collected waste plastic sheets, Milk, Oil bottles etc..The municipal office takes in charge of all the waste collection.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/20/south-korea-zero-food-waste-composting-system

The existing system of collecting door to door waste is a commendable step which requires a lot of commited and a strict messages to the people. It's revelling to see that it has worked to a great extent.

We can not only preserve nature by reducing landfills, but also will be able to help the ones who are in real need.

Sometines penalty and strict rules work and at times a better encouraging, easy accessible systems helps people segregate wastes. Singapore is an example for the former, with fines and signboards indicating the amount of penalty for all the non adherences.

 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes in one of her talks titled 'Creativity ' about a Poet who works in a farm. When creativity strikes her, she rushes to her house to collect her thoughts and jot it down. If she ignores the call and continuous working, it seems it takes a very long time for her to catch the wtiters spirit. She strongly advises people on the verge of creative borderline to catch the spirit and not feign ignorance. It seems the idea searches for the right mother. Hence when it strikes you, you might have anxiousness, various emotional signs. 

Mine is one such experience.  I was in a hurry that day to complete my daughters drawing just before 30mts of her drawing class. I just finished right in time, when I looked at it something awesome happened. The picture looked so perfect. The bug caught me then. I allowed it and started it to use me as a medium. I drew my first drawing of my second innings( The first was in my youth). I took time almost 3 days to select the perfect debutante pic.

The portrait of Windows always caught my fascination. The interface to the entire outside world squeezed into a small frame offering a plethora of inputs for your creative mind even as as you stay within your comforts. 

My motto was not to allow any feedback to dampen my spirits. 

Here as the ancient Romans used to address it as a separate entity, not mixing in with their individuality. So, not only can you attribute your success to it but also can blame 'it' for the failure. Allowing artists to move on with a next work.

And 2nd, 3rd , 4th....

Travelogue

I wish there were mandatory reasons for Indians to visit the widely scattered architectural wonders mixed with mythological history manifested into a awestruck temple.

We chose Trichy to discover the temples. Discover is an understated word, most accepted decent way of pointing our reason. We had other reasons which pulled us all out of our normal routine.

Started from Chennai at around 11, reached Bramhapureeswara temple by 4.

History: Bramha mocks Shiva. Shiva curses and former loses all the creation power. Realizing his folly, Bramha performs penances here with 12 lingams begging for forgiveness.