Everytime we step out of our houses, the mind senses a bizzare euphoria. Each step forward... and the burden of expectations keeps increasing. If it's a walk towards temple, the expectation to commit less sins increases. If it's a walk to the park, the expectation to stay fit increases. If it's a walk towards our work places, the expectation to achieve better results increases. If it's a walk towards meeting our friends and families, the expectation to make them feel special increases. And so on... But I always hunt for an answer, how much do we strive hard to keep fulfilling our expectations.
"Fulfilling expectations is not just about achieving targets. It's more about mastering the art of balancing the many facets of day-to-day activities. It is more like walking across the Niagra falls on a thin rope with a pole stick of expectations in hand. The finishing end depicts the goals while the rock deep bottom depict the people or elements that want to pit you down." - (ref. The Pink Slip)
While writing this blog I came across two particular words that got etched in my memory. "Passion" and "Compassion". The meaning between both these words are miles apart but somewhere down the line they are interconnected.
"Shower your compassion with passion and follow your passion with compassion." - (ref. The Pink Slip)
If I have to choose the best line I may have written or the best lesson that I have learnt till date then the above statement tops my charts. Consider the following scenarios to justify my statement.
Shower your compassion with passion.
There are people in our lives whom we love more than ourselves. We categorize them into family, friends and lovers. It's natural that we shower our affection and love for them till fullest. But to be honest enough, our affection and love for them lasts only till they live upto our expectations. And to be more honest, we raise our bars of expectations from them skywards with every passing time. But the flaw is that the compassion, the affection and the love fizzles out with them being unable to live upto it.
Consider this: A parent showers compassion generously on its child by giving materialistic gifts, worldly pleasures, etc. with a hope that the child will study well, get good marks, top the grades, studying in IIMs and IITs, etc. But once the child fails to carry the burden, the compassion turns into hatred, agony, angst and many degrading emotions. A sportsman wins sports, wins laurels for the country, becomes an idol for his/her country fellows and carries a burden of expectations of billions of people. Suddenly, he/she hits the rough patch. His admirers turn into the people who loathe him/her. And soon, the national hero turns into a villain.
The result: The child lacks motivation during his/her testing times and loses the way. The sportsman's life goes haywire. Negativity engulfs the child and the sportsman. And the rest is history.
What needs to be done is being passionate above motivating the child. What needs to be done is being passionate about stemming the faith in the sportsman to hit the purple patch.
I am glad to see parents and sports coaches who say, "I am proud of my child/student even though he has failed. Atleast he/she has given me a proof that he/she has tried." Success and Failure are temporary. Attitude is permanent."
Follow your passion with compassion.
Let us be honest to ourselves, most of us feel about being at a wrong place at a wrong time. Most of us are trapped in doing wrong jobs for the wrong people. We work as a slave of money. Instead of treating money as an incentive, we treat money as a motive. At some point of time, we get exhausted and we realise that we lacked passion in our work. Sometimes being over passionate backfires. They say too much is too bad, being too much passionate leads to obsession and fatal finale. It is better to keep our passions into check.
Consider this:It is my personal experience. For me, doing business was an incentive but writing was a passion. But juggling between both the activities took a toll on my health. I became over passionate to earn enough bucks as fast as possible. At the same time, I became over passionate to churn out articles, poems, stories as fast as possible.
The result: I couldn't achieve my business targets. My graph as a writer went downwards. And I hit a recession and a writer's-bloc almost at the same time. I lacked passion in expanding business. I lacked passion in writing again. The reason... For being over passionate and mainly for turning passion into obsession.
It's three years since I got out of my worst phase. I am thankful for my failures. It taught me some valuable lessons. It taught me how haste is waste. It taught me how jack of all traders makes master of none.
One simple way of beating the worst phase is TAKE A BREAK. If you know you cannot do it, just don't do it. Like our body, our soul too needs a break. STAY SILENT AND CALM. Like sportsmen say, form is temporary but class is permanent. Don't feel ashamed of failing. Feel proud of not giving up.
I hope these candles of passion and compassion stay lit forever in your lives.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
What is this chaos all about?
Ok. So by now, most of us have so many issues in our lives for what is happening around us. We are fighting in our compound for parking spaces. We are fighting with our parents for not fulfilling silly demands. We are fighting with our employers or employees for not achieving desired results. We are fighting with our spouses for same old crap reasons like bad dressing, choiceless food, arguments with elders, etc. etc. We are fighting. We are fighting. And everything that we are doing is all related to fighting.
Forget about decreasing the number of reasons of fighting, the figure isn't stable at all. These bloody 'reasons' don't have stability at all. As if we had lesser reasons that now we are fighting for other reasons like fighting with neighbouring countries for a piece of land. Slaughtering the goodwill of filmstars for their statements. Holding demonstrations for reasons that are baseless. Playing mudslinging matches with each other like politicians to prove that we have balls in our bodies to (mis)rule our country. Misinterpreting the meanings of freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of press.
Today, it is not Bhavin Shah, who's writing this statement. It is me, the common man highlighting the issues that I am facing because of tug-of-war played by the people who are governing my area, city, state and country. It is I, the Indian, who is actually trying to put down my grievances on this post.
My history and geography teachers have been teaching me about India ever since I was a kid. My civics and economics teachers taught me about my rights and making optimum utilisation of those rights and resources. But now I find that those teachers made a fool out of me. They taught me all crap, all wrong things. And that is the reason why I am suffering till this date. My teachers taught me about Gods like Mahaveer and Buddha who preached about peace. My teachers taught me about greats like Gandhi who chased Britishers out of the country through non-violence and satyagrahas. My teachers taught me about Ambedkar who wrote the constitution and making me, the common man realise about my rights and duties. My teachers taught me about Kashmir, Taj Mahal and glorious things about rest of the states that made me feel proud to be an Indian. My teachers taught me about how every problem (may it be related to area disputes, inflation, deflation) has a solution that needs to be carefully assessed before being implemented. The only thing they failed to teach me is a sour fact that the real world is different than the one that I learnt in theory. Let me get you across the problems that I am facing:
1. Politicians are given more security than me, the common man, inspite of the fact that it is me who has chosen them.
2. I am facing day-to-day problems while commuting, may it be by trains or by roads due to various reasons like megablocks, traffic jams, bad conditions of roads, ongoing constructions.
3. I am unable to provide basic necessities of life to my family because of over escalation of prices.
4. My future generations are unable to get qualitative education because of the 'donations' asked by education institutions of my choice.
5. I am not provided good entertainment because of the ongoing wars between national icons and national thugs (read: worst politicians. I believe not all politicians are bad. Some are worst too.)
6. My practical life and the one which I learnt in theory is exact the opposite.
7. As if I could live peacefully, I am not even allowed to die because attempt to suicide attracts jail and mercy killing is a crime according to the Indian Law.
8. I can't walk safely on roads because of drunk drivers.
9. I have to live without water and electricity supply because most of my share goes to the politico bigwigs. (Read Mumbai mirror newspaper for details.)
10. And my list goes on...
All I wish to ask is whether there is a solution for the problems of me the common man. Or like always, do I have to assume that my precious vote got wasted? We fight for silly statements, we motivate violence in our speeches and thoughts, we damage our reputation among most of the nations because of fighting among ourselves. Today we are blaming Marathis, Biharis, UPs, Gujaratis, Rajasthanis, Tamils for snatching jobs, lands, blah blah blah. Today we are blaming each other for spreading terrorism even though the third party takes the advantage by invoking hatred amonst us. Today some of us wants Vidarbha, Telangana, Bundelkhand, etc. Tomorrow we will demand Mumbai, Kutch, Rajputana, etc. It's like cutting your mother into pieces and telling your siblings to take away the share.
Is this what we want to teach our future generations?
Is this what we want to feel glorified about?
Is this what we call as our values?
I would like people (specially those idiots getting motivated by politicians who apply divide-and-rule policy) to stop complaining about the untidy neighbourhood even though our own doorsteps are dirty. I am a pro-SRK even though he's a Muslim. I am a pro-Tendulkar even though he's a Maharashtrian, I am a pro-Ambani even though he's a Gujarati, I am a pro-Big B even though he's referred as a Bhaiyya. I am a pro-Indian.
I know most of us will just read this blog, then will feel motivated to change the system, then excuse ourselves from really working towards achieving the goal of "One India - United India", then act as if we are sleeping and then we will wake up from the slumber and say "What is this chaos all about???"
Forget about decreasing the number of reasons of fighting, the figure isn't stable at all. These bloody 'reasons' don't have stability at all. As if we had lesser reasons that now we are fighting for other reasons like fighting with neighbouring countries for a piece of land. Slaughtering the goodwill of filmstars for their statements. Holding demonstrations for reasons that are baseless. Playing mudslinging matches with each other like politicians to prove that we have balls in our bodies to (mis)rule our country. Misinterpreting the meanings of freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of press.
Today, it is not Bhavin Shah, who's writing this statement. It is me, the common man highlighting the issues that I am facing because of tug-of-war played by the people who are governing my area, city, state and country. It is I, the Indian, who is actually trying to put down my grievances on this post.
My history and geography teachers have been teaching me about India ever since I was a kid. My civics and economics teachers taught me about my rights and making optimum utilisation of those rights and resources. But now I find that those teachers made a fool out of me. They taught me all crap, all wrong things. And that is the reason why I am suffering till this date. My teachers taught me about Gods like Mahaveer and Buddha who preached about peace. My teachers taught me about greats like Gandhi who chased Britishers out of the country through non-violence and satyagrahas. My teachers taught me about Ambedkar who wrote the constitution and making me, the common man realise about my rights and duties. My teachers taught me about Kashmir, Taj Mahal and glorious things about rest of the states that made me feel proud to be an Indian. My teachers taught me about how every problem (may it be related to area disputes, inflation, deflation) has a solution that needs to be carefully assessed before being implemented. The only thing they failed to teach me is a sour fact that the real world is different than the one that I learnt in theory. Let me get you across the problems that I am facing:
1. Politicians are given more security than me, the common man, inspite of the fact that it is me who has chosen them.
2. I am facing day-to-day problems while commuting, may it be by trains or by roads due to various reasons like megablocks, traffic jams, bad conditions of roads, ongoing constructions.
3. I am unable to provide basic necessities of life to my family because of over escalation of prices.
4. My future generations are unable to get qualitative education because of the 'donations' asked by education institutions of my choice.
5. I am not provided good entertainment because of the ongoing wars between national icons and national thugs (read: worst politicians. I believe not all politicians are bad. Some are worst too.)
6. My practical life and the one which I learnt in theory is exact the opposite.
7. As if I could live peacefully, I am not even allowed to die because attempt to suicide attracts jail and mercy killing is a crime according to the Indian Law.
8. I can't walk safely on roads because of drunk drivers.
9. I have to live without water and electricity supply because most of my share goes to the politico bigwigs. (Read Mumbai mirror newspaper for details.)
10. And my list goes on...
All I wish to ask is whether there is a solution for the problems of me the common man. Or like always, do I have to assume that my precious vote got wasted? We fight for silly statements, we motivate violence in our speeches and thoughts, we damage our reputation among most of the nations because of fighting among ourselves. Today we are blaming Marathis, Biharis, UPs, Gujaratis, Rajasthanis, Tamils for snatching jobs, lands, blah blah blah. Today we are blaming each other for spreading terrorism even though the third party takes the advantage by invoking hatred amonst us. Today some of us wants Vidarbha, Telangana, Bundelkhand, etc. Tomorrow we will demand Mumbai, Kutch, Rajputana, etc. It's like cutting your mother into pieces and telling your siblings to take away the share.
Is this what we want to teach our future generations?
Is this what we want to feel glorified about?
Is this what we call as our values?
I would like people (specially those idiots getting motivated by politicians who apply divide-and-rule policy) to stop complaining about the untidy neighbourhood even though our own doorsteps are dirty. I am a pro-SRK even though he's a Muslim. I am a pro-Tendulkar even though he's a Maharashtrian, I am a pro-Ambani even though he's a Gujarati, I am a pro-Big B even though he's referred as a Bhaiyya. I am a pro-Indian.
I know most of us will just read this blog, then will feel motivated to change the system, then excuse ourselves from really working towards achieving the goal of "One India - United India", then act as if we are sleeping and then we will wake up from the slumber and say "What is this chaos all about???"
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Guilt and Regret
It's 4 am while my hands shakingly kiss the keys of my laptop. By the time I post it, it maybe 5 or 6 or who knows if I shall ever post it. Eyes are blurred. Body is sweating. Legs have given away their strength. And mind is nostalgic. Nostalgic... Nostalgic... Ummm... Nostalgic. Somebody please tell me why am I repeating this word 'nostalgic'. I have no answers right now. I am writing this post to kill boredom, frustration or maybe to kill the inner demon of guilt and regret that has been breeding inside me like a leech. I realised one particular thing. Most of the people fall ill due to depression. But the root of all evils i.e. depression is regret and guilt. Let me get you across various reasons that breeds regret and guilt.
1. Regret for failing in exams.
2. Regret for a broken relationship.
3. Regret for mulling over past.
4. Regret for not stand up for something or someone during testing times.
5. Regret for things happening in the surroundings.
Same applies for the reasons of guilt.
1. Guilt for wasting time rather than studying for exams.
2. Guilt for not trying to mend a broken relationship.
3. Guilt for misdeeds done in the past.
4. Guilt for acting like a coward when somebody need you the most.
5. Guilt for not taking actions against anti-social or anti-peace work in the surroundings.
All we want to do is blame either ourselves or others. But we don't want to just get over it. I mean why the 'fuck' should we be doing it, right? He'll do it. She'll do it. But nobody says I'll do it. A few days I can across an sms.
"Japanese proverb: If I can do it... You can do it.
Indian version: If I can do it... Let him do it. If no one can do it... Leave it!"
What makes me write in the middle of the night is the resentment that I have been experiencing. Sheer bitterness. Maybe for some of the above stated reasons or maybe for most of the above stated reasons. I want to tell you something. This mind is the biggest bastard that I have ever come across. Like I posted in my previous post "Rendezvous", it makes you remember those things that you wish to forget. And that's how it gives birth to guilt and regret. I wonder how beautiful life would have been if these two villains were never born! I want to share an experience right now. While being asleep I faced my created characters Roy and Aditya. Let me put them as my alter egos. Sounds funny though. Roy is full of sarcasm, stone-hearted, a loser kind of a guy and Aditya is like any irresponsible person with a who-cares attitude. Being the creator of these two characters I can spot the differences (and hopefully you too could spot after reading 'Complications Simplified' and 'The Pink Slip') in their lifestyles and attitudes. But there are two similarities between them. Guilt and Regret.
As usual, there was a tug of war between them where I was the prized possession they were waiting to claim. And the war of words acted like a rope. There have been so many arguments which I don't wish to emphasize. But at the end of the dream, it got me thinking... Is this really me? Man is the architect of his own fate. Is this what I created for myself? There's a certain amount of nostalgia breeding within us when we come across the moments of past. But do they really matter now? Why do we want to go back to those sad moments? I know most of us will read it like any other boring thesis by a pyschology lover. But think about it. I fancy a debate over this topic. Are you ready for it?
That's it for now. A small post but with a deep thinking. Ciao!
1. Regret for failing in exams.
2. Regret for a broken relationship.
3. Regret for mulling over past.
4. Regret for not stand up for something or someone during testing times.
5. Regret for things happening in the surroundings.
Same applies for the reasons of guilt.
1. Guilt for wasting time rather than studying for exams.
2. Guilt for not trying to mend a broken relationship.
3. Guilt for misdeeds done in the past.
4. Guilt for acting like a coward when somebody need you the most.
5. Guilt for not taking actions against anti-social or anti-peace work in the surroundings.
All we want to do is blame either ourselves or others. But we don't want to just get over it. I mean why the 'fuck' should we be doing it, right? He'll do it. She'll do it. But nobody says I'll do it. A few days I can across an sms.
"Japanese proverb: If I can do it... You can do it.
Indian version: If I can do it... Let him do it. If no one can do it... Leave it!"
What makes me write in the middle of the night is the resentment that I have been experiencing. Sheer bitterness. Maybe for some of the above stated reasons or maybe for most of the above stated reasons. I want to tell you something. This mind is the biggest bastard that I have ever come across. Like I posted in my previous post "Rendezvous", it makes you remember those things that you wish to forget. And that's how it gives birth to guilt and regret. I wonder how beautiful life would have been if these two villains were never born! I want to share an experience right now. While being asleep I faced my created characters Roy and Aditya. Let me put them as my alter egos. Sounds funny though. Roy is full of sarcasm, stone-hearted, a loser kind of a guy and Aditya is like any irresponsible person with a who-cares attitude. Being the creator of these two characters I can spot the differences (and hopefully you too could spot after reading 'Complications Simplified' and 'The Pink Slip') in their lifestyles and attitudes. But there are two similarities between them. Guilt and Regret.
As usual, there was a tug of war between them where I was the prized possession they were waiting to claim. And the war of words acted like a rope. There have been so many arguments which I don't wish to emphasize. But at the end of the dream, it got me thinking... Is this really me? Man is the architect of his own fate. Is this what I created for myself? There's a certain amount of nostalgia breeding within us when we come across the moments of past. But do they really matter now? Why do we want to go back to those sad moments? I know most of us will read it like any other boring thesis by a pyschology lover. But think about it. I fancy a debate over this topic. Are you ready for it?
That's it for now. A small post but with a deep thinking. Ciao!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Rendezvous with 2009
Ok... I am bored of writing my blogposts in the same style. How about some change? Today, I plan to have a rendezvous with the year 2009.
Meeting time: Whenever you get to read this blog.
Meeting place: Your computer screens.
Ok, so here we have a tete-a-tete with Mr. 2009.
Ok! So the interview is over. Don't ask me how it ended. I never wrote this stuff to teach you or preach you with goofy shit teachings. I also don't want to make this sound as if you are reading some motivational book. I have written this post to thank you all for the good memories that you have gifted me through your presence in my life. I want to thank you for not I was without you but for what I am with you.
Now this one's meant for "the missing piece of the puzzle"... I AM GOING TO FIND YOU SOMEDAY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING MY INSPIRATION TO CHURN OUT READABLE POEMS, BLOGS AND NOVELS.
SOMEDAY, I KNOW, YOU SHALL BE THE ONE WHO'LL HELP ME COMPLETE "THE PINK SLIP"!!!
Happy New Year!
Meeting time: Whenever you get to read this blog.
Meeting place: Your computer screens.
Ok, so here we have a tete-a-tete with Mr. 2009.
Me: Hello 2009.
2009: Wassup man! Howz you?
Me: Happy (chuckles)
2009: Oh yeah (sarcastically)? What makes you so happy?
Me: Well.. For the simple fact that you shall be dead within a span of minutes and never come back in our lives.
2009: Huh! Big deal!
Me: That's you! Arrogance at its best!
2009: Well.. It isn't me who's actually replying you. It's you who's having a debate with your own conscience.
Me: Lol.. A case of sour grapes. Do you think I should believe you when I know that you shall get vanished of my life after a few minutes?
2009: Well.. It's upto you to decide whether you wanna be a believer or non believer. Because, like every human, you have been given a power of choice.
Me: Give me one good and valid reason to prove yourself.
2009: Ahem! You are what you are because of some of my contribution.
Me: (silent)
2009: Don't you get me? You are what you are because of the events that you imprinted on me.
Me: Hah! How the hell did I imprint something on you when I don't even have a proof of your existence?
2009:You never needed my existence. I was always with you for the whole year, inseperable from you like soul and body.
Me: I don't get you.
2009: I was with you in the form of memories. I am with you in the form of memories. And like always, I shall always be with you in the form of memories.
Me: Duh! Can't you just simplify your talks and explain me the connection between your presence and memories?
2009: Ok. How about this one? Do you remember your first day with me?
Me: You mean 1st January, 2009?
2009: Yeah!
Me: How can I forget it! You took the first step in my life and I started weaving a web of lies.
2009: Now how does that involve me in your misdeeds?
Me: Simple boss.. I had to fool my friends to avoid late night party, celebrate and welcome you. My ass was in the line of fire (like always) that day and I had to keep my face straight without others knowing that I was in a real bad mood for not being able to live on my terms. And the next morning I had a big fight with parents and the whole schedule went haywire.
2009: Can't you think of any positive stuff?
Me: Had you given me any optimistic feeling on your first day of arrival? On contrary, you scared the hell out of me, making me wonder how will I deal with you for the next 12 months.
2009: Well, I did give you one positive thing that day.
Me: (scratching head) And what was that?
2009: Your diary that you start with Dear Diary.
Me: Rofl.. How does it make you think that you shall get the honours of my hobby of writing?
2009: Simple logic. You wouldn't have written it without my existence. Ok let's make it more simple. If I hadn't walked hand in hand with you this far then how would you have recorded all your good and not-so-good memories?
Me: Huh! Good memories. I doubt if I can remember any. All I remember is the not-so-good memories which according to me are worst to be called so.
2009: Why do you always crib?
Me: Why don't you just keep your mouth shut and fuck off? I have had enough of you anyways.
2009: (laughing) That's the problem. Not only in you but in all the humans living in this world. All you people want is to take good things for granted and spill the bad experiences in my name. How can you guys be so selfish in taking away my laurels of giving you good memories? All you people do is force me to take the credit of bad memories.
Me: But that's the only thing I remember.. The bad ones. Even if I try to forget or erase those memories, I simply cannot.
2009: (laughing furiously) Human minds are the biggest hypocrites and the biggest bastards in this world. All they want to do is remember things that they wish to forget. May it be bad days, bad relationships, bad experiences or bad memories!
Me: (eyes down with embarrassment)
2009: Ok. I wish to ask you readers. Why do I take the blame for your misdeeds? Why do I take blame if something did not go according to your plan? If I gave you the power to become the architect of your own fate then why did you underuse or misuse it? All you guys wish to remember is the day you failed, the day you fought with your loved ones, the day when somebody broke your heart, the day when your closed ones bitched about you, the day when you underperformed, the day when things didn't go well. In short all you guys want to remember are the times that you crave to forget. But you don't want to remember the days when you smiled after seeing your loved ones happy, the day when a member entered your life in the form of your kids, your friends, your life partner, your soulmate. You don't even wish to remember the day when you got appreciated for your smallest of efforts, the day when somebody (who matters the most, parents, teachers, bosses) showered praises on you. You don't wish to remember the day when your favourite sports team or sportsman came back victorious just to make you beam with pride. Grow up guys! I wont be able to come back to repair your 'yesterday'. Why not welcome 2010 'today' wholeheartedly and build a better 'tomorrow'?
Ok! So the interview is over. Don't ask me how it ended. I never wrote this stuff to teach you or preach you with goofy shit teachings. I also don't want to make this sound as if you are reading some motivational book. I have written this post to thank you all for the good memories that you have gifted me through your presence in my life. I want to thank you for not I was without you but for what I am with you.
Now this one's meant for "the missing piece of the puzzle"... I AM GOING TO FIND YOU SOMEDAY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING MY INSPIRATION TO CHURN OUT READABLE POEMS, BLOGS AND NOVELS.
SOMEDAY, I KNOW, YOU SHALL BE THE ONE WHO'LL HELP ME COMPLETE "THE PINK SLIP"!!!
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunshine In The Autumn Rain
Your presence in my life
At an unexpected hour
Makes me believe
In God's miracles and power.
Your sweet little smile
Drives away my pain
Like daffodils blooming in sunshine
In the autumn rain.
You wave your magic wand
When I expect the least
You change me into man
From a confused beast
All I can say is that
Your love makes me insane
Like darkness driven away by sunshine
In the autumn rain.
Your absence keeps me waiting
I feel like zillion years
Your presence in my life
Curbs down my threats and fears.
With your love around me
I have everything to gain.
With us in the umbrella and sunshine
In the autumn rain.
At an unexpected hour
Makes me believe
In God's miracles and power.
Your sweet little smile
Drives away my pain
Like daffodils blooming in sunshine
In the autumn rain.
You wave your magic wand
When I expect the least
You change me into man
From a confused beast
All I can say is that
Your love makes me insane
Like darkness driven away by sunshine
In the autumn rain.
Your absence keeps me waiting
I feel like zillion years
Your presence in my life
Curbs down my threats and fears.
With your love around me
I have everything to gain.
With us in the umbrella and sunshine
In the autumn rain.
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