Archive for the ‘ Emotions ’ Category

Random Ramblings

I had a tumultuous time in the past couple of months. Probably life came full circle for me then. Whatever had happened, probably happened for the good only. I have had a very wonderful new year so far and I consider myself lucky for my current situation in life. I had even wondered if all the decisions that I took in life were worth it or not, but then, I also discovered a lot of things that I probably had never noticed earlier.

  1. I have quite a lot of well wishers who try desperately to help me (or atleast, show to the world that they are helping me)
  2. Amongst these well wishers, there are just a few people who are actually trying to help you and guide you in your endeavors and they are worried for your future as much as they would be for their own – It is this group that I can be proud of and can call them as Friends.
  3. For a few people, your bad time is more to their happiness and they would be secretly happy that you are in the situation that you were in, and at times, they would not even bother to hide their happiness in front of you. These are the people that you had considered friends during some or the other stage in life.

Now, the above things are those that made me ponder about the “help” of social networking. Enough of rants, let me move from the negatives to the positive.

I joined a company which was, is and hopefully, remains my kinda place to pursue my passions. I would not be interested to work in a place which is for employment and for a job, it should be something that I can associate my deepest desires with, and this place is one of them. I get to meet a lot of people, exchange thoughts and ideas and then, travel a lot.

When 2010 dawned, something dawned upon me too.. and that, IMHO, was the power of rational thoughts. I realized that everyone has their own logic to back their actions and it would just be fair to think from their point of view and not remain yourself and have misunderstandings / assumptions leading to something else. So, there was a new Suksy who was born then.

With the new Suksy came in new challenges and opportunities and it made it worthwhile to have undergone those tumultuous times during the last weeks of 2009. In fact, a long time ambition of mine, to visit North India, came true in an unexpected way. I took my first flight, went to North India, stayed at a resort near Manesar, made some amazing friends, had some equally amazing meetings, trainings, sessions, fun and masti and did not realize that I had spent a week without even stepping out of the resort. When the time came to step out of the resort, we did not have time to spend on anything else. We could not visit Delhi, and I could not visit even a book stall to buy a book. I have actually pissed off a couple of friends in Delhi to whom, I had given an assurance that I would be meeting them in their hometowns. I am sorry folks… There is definitely going to be a next time.

I have transformed into a pukka sales manager and forget the designation or the actual “work” I am supposed to do, I am doing evangelism of technology in education. Education is a field that I was always interested in, and getting this opportunity to evangelize it, is more like a dream come true. Thanks to my current employers for making this dream come true. It is always told that where lies your passion, lies your best efforts and where you put your best efforts, the world recognizes u.

As Baba Rancchoddas Chancchad mentions: “Don’t run behind success, run behind excellence. Once you achieve excellence, success will automatically come to you”. So true.. right?

All izz well!!!

Quarter of Life

This is yet another mail fwd.. here goes!

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn’t know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren’t exactly the
greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don’t recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren’t really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job… and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn’t. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure.

You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can’t meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you’re doing this because you know that you aren’t a bad person. You want to settle down for good because now all of a sudden that becomes top priority. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You begin to think a companion for life is better than a hundred in the shack and for once you would not mind standing tall for that special someone which otherwise you had never thought of until now. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself… and while winning the race would be great, right now you’d just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that every one reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out. Share this with your twenty-something friends…. maybe it will help someone feel like they aren’t alone in their state of confusion…

We call it the “Quarter-life Crisis” :-)

Posted via web from Suksy’s posterous

Change

My 200th blogpost had to be special.. and so, am blogging on a topic that is very close to my heart.. Change!

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.

I have always felt that change is constant. In fact, the feeling is so much so that I have to experience change at least once in a quarter. It is not necessary that I experience change in something so major that all of my stakeholders are affected. Change can be as minor as changing your footwear (buying new and stopping wearing the old ones – the emphasis is not on buying new, but on stopping wearing the old ones) or something very irrelevant to the normal life.

Change should not be forcefully brought about.. as IHM says here. I completely agree to her thoughts.

In the recent past, there have been the following incidents where change played its part:

  1. Changed my system’s OS from Windows XP to Windows 7, thanks to my good friend Prashanth. (I have been taking his help / suggestions about blogging and OSs. In fact, had installed Ubuntu on his suggestion only, and thanks to XP getting crashed, lost Ubuntu! :( )
  2. Thought of changing my cell phone from the Sony EriccsonW810i that I am currently using to either a fundoo model (touchscreen) or a basic model (to be used only for talking/smsing), but it asked for some investment and I was not ready to invest any more.
  3. Bought (or should I say binged money on?) 4 pairs of footwear (3 pairs of shoes, 1 pair of sandals)
  4. Thought of changing my network connection from the Sucky Airtel to either Docomo or Idea or Vodafone or even BSNL. But realized the basic fact that when the nations largest service provider has failed to satisfy you, it is going to be the same story with all other service providers.
  5. Alternated between being socially active to getting into my sweet shell. Realized that being affected by Bipolar disorder or being not affected by it is all in my hands. Played with manic depression and excessive happiness and realized that both extremes are not worth my time and effort and would just affect my stakeholders (mom, sis, friends, relatives and well wishers)
  6. Became active on blogging, again realized that it is again not necessary that a blogpost should be only 2000+ words. It need not be any personal topic, nor a technology topic. My blog is a general blog and it would continue to remain a general blog.
  7. Thought of changing my plan from a postpaid connection, having to pay a bill of 750/- plus per month to a prepaid one – Airtel’s new 1p per second plan is drawing me to this.. and I am still considering this.

People might get addicted to cigarettes, drinks and other material things.. I am addicted to change. Am I the only person who is addicted to change? Is it worth it? Should I care if it is worth or not? Should I get out of this addiction? I dunno.. but still I remain…………

Driving Ethics

I have been having an amazing experience while coming to the office in my cab. As can be generalized, all my previous cab drivers were scumbags. Trying to squeeze their cab into a place which would be tough for even a two-wheeler… (okay, am exaggerating.. but you know what I mean) . This particular driver, who was assigned our route is completely opposite to the other cabbies.

He is more CONSIDERATE! Yeah, that is the word.. considerate. He considers people, dogs, cats, squirrels, other vehicles and also the people inside his cab, their schedules, their timings etc. It is a pity that he is assigned only the night shift and only a pick-up to office during the day shift, but this kind of driving is really to be praised.

Just a few points that I observed and I feel I have to mention here:

No honking et all: Not even necessary honking.. forget unnecessary honking. The realization that no matter how much you honk, if the traffic in front of you is not moving, you cannot move. And also, the realization that no matter you honk or not, you will move in your own pace and cannot fly on the streets of Bangalore.

Go and let go: Go when you have space on the roads.. go fast.. but not rash, let others go if they want to go fast and you realize that you are obstructing their path

Consider every other being while driving: Today morning, There was this person lifting some 12 Nandini milk crates and trying to cross the road. There were 3 BMTC buses coming, none of them cared to stop and let this person cross the road. There was a Govt. of Karnataka car which had a minister sitting inside (I recognized the minister, but I dont want to mention his name) and the driver narrowly avoided bumping into this man. There were people driving their kids to school, there were school vans filled to the brim with school kids and none of them stopped, or even paused to let this guy go. Our cab driver, Manjunath, did not bother about the traffic behind him, he stopped, asked this guy to cross the road and then, we came to the office. This is just an example. The same attitude was displayed towards a very old man driving a scooty near Forum Mall, and a small kid crossing the street at Adugodi.

These small minute acts are very much needed in life. I am fortunate to have the experience of interacting with some such people in life. This cab driver is the third driver who is so considerate, the other two being in Mysore.

I am actually wondering something…. Almost daily, I come across some “educated” and “well settled” folks fighting with each other over some accident and all of them being in their own rush hours without having the time to enjoy their surroundings, but not realizing that whatever they do, they would reach their destination at the time that they usually reach. Even if the roads are free or they are choc-a-bloc with traffic. If they are destined to go to some place at some time, that is what they do. If that is the case, why hurry?

These folks would be in mid-management or senior management positions having sedans and SUVs and would be competing with cab drivers and BMTC bus drivers over the ownership of the road and over who is going to reach the destination faster. What they miss out is that no matter what they do, it is the same time and it is not only their own lives but also the lives of the passers by and their families that would be in danger. Instead of rushing at the last moment, what major loss would happen if they leave the house about 15 minutes earlier? I am sure that every 5 minutes makes a lot of difference, esp. in namma Bengaluru Traffic. If they leave their houses 15 minutes earlier, they have ample time to enjoy their surroundings as well as reach office in a tension free way.

Life is a similar journey.. all are traveling. If you hurry towards the goal, you would miss on all the beautiful things in life. So, better relax and let things happen at their own pace. At the end of it, everyone reaches the same destination…. Ain’t it?

Have a goal, work towards it and make it a reality, but at the same time, do not lose out on life’s small pleasures and offerings.

GM Diet

For all those people who know me, I am not one who would go in for any diet or weight reduction or exercises. I am fitness conscious, but not at the sake of my happiness or time or desires!

Having heard a lot about this diet, I just wanted to try this out once and incidentally, a cousin of mine from chennai sent the mail to me about the diet and how it works. Since the both of us are vegetarians, the mail contained the diet in the eyes of a vegetarian and I am reproducing the same here:

GENERAL MOTORS WEIGHT LOSS DIET


The program was developed in conjunction with the grant from the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was first tried at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors of General Motors Corporation at a general meeting on August 15, 1995. This program is designed for a target weight loss of 5-6 Kgs. per week. It will also improve your attitude and emotions because of its systematic cleansing effects. The effectiveness of this seven day plan is that the foods eaten burn more calories than they give to the body in caloric value. This plan can be used as often as you like to without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well being. After seven days you will begin to feel lighter by atleast 10 pounds. You will have an abundance of energy and an improved disposition.

During the first seven days you must drink 10 glasses of water each day.

DAY ONE

All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consists of all fruits you want. It is suggested you consume lost of watermelon and cantaloupe.

This is how it works:

You are preparing your system for the upcoming program. Your only source of nutrition is fresh fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food. They provide everything you can possibly want to sustain life except total balance and variety.

DAY TWO

All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the new and cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the account or type. Avoid oil and coconut while cooking vegetables. Have large boiled potato for breakfast.

This is how it works:

Start with a fix complex carbohydrates in the form of a boiled potato. This is taken in the form of a boiled potato and taken in the morning to provide energy and balance. The rest of the day too consists of vegetables which are virtually calories free and provide essential nutrients and fiber.

DAY THREE

Any mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet and no potatoes today.

This is how it works:

Eliminate the potato because you get your carbohydrates from fruits. Your system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. You will have cravings, which should start to diminish by day four.

DAY FOUR

Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. You can also have I bowl of vegetables soup.

This is how it works:

Bananas and milk. You are in for a surprise. You probably will not be able to eat all the bananas allowed. But they are there for the potassium you have lost and the sodium you may have missed the last three days. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets and you will be surprised at how easy this day will go.

DAY FIVE

Today is a feast day. You will eat 1 cup of rice. You also have to eat six whole tomatoes and drink 12 glasses of water today to cleanse your system of the excess uric acid you will be producing.

This is how it works:

The rice is for the carbohydrates and the tomatoes are for
the digestion and the fiber. Lots of water purifies your system. You should notice colorless urine today. Do not feel you have to eat one cup rice, you may eat less. But you may eat six tomatoes.

DAY SIX

Today is another all vegetables day. You must eat 1 cup of rice today and eat all the vegetables you want cooked and uncooked to your hearts content.

This is how it works:

It is similar to five. Vitamins and fiber would be from the vegetables and carbohydrates from the rice. By now your system is in a total weight loss inclination. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look today compared to day one.

DAY SEVEN

Today your food intake will consist of 1 cup rice, fruit juice and all the vegetables you care to consume.

This is how it works:

You may celebrate with champagne. You may also have white wine instead of champagne, but in al practical programs, and in all surveys done to measure the success of the program, General Motors employees have always preferred champagne to white wine.

Tomorrow morning you will be five to eight kgs. lighter than 1 week ago. If you desire further weight loss, repeat the program again. Repeat the program as often as you like, however, it is suggested that you rest for three days before every repetition.
You have your system under control now and it will thank you for all the purging and cleansing you just gave it. Even more than a diet program it is good to follow this diet once in a while to clean your digestive system and remove toxic substances that have accumulated in the system.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The most important element of the program is the 10 tall glasses of water a day. You can also flavor the water will some lemon to make the drink easier. While on the program,
take only black coffee and never more than one teaspoon of oil. Preferably do not use oil because the high calorific content. No fruit juices before day seven.

More than one cup of coffee with milk is especially forbidden. Milk and oil add empty calories to your diet. Avid coffee lovers can console themselves with black coffee. However, after the first week, it will help your digestion and set your stomach. The key think to remember is that if you are hungry at any time, then you are not following the diet correctly. Almost all people give up the diet when they are hungry because of dieting.
The secret of this program is that you should never hungry. If it is a vegetable day, eat so much vegetables so that you are never hungry. If it is a fruits day, eat so much fruits that you are never hungry. You may be bored of eating vegetables all day, but you should not be hungry. You can take any amount of General Motors wonder soup on any day.

GENERAL MOTORS WONDER SOUP

The following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to drink large quantities of
this soup.

23 oz water
06 large onions
02 green peppers
03 whole tomatoes
1 cabbage
1 bunch celery – add herbs and seasoning as desired.

Remember folks, never be hungry. Just keep hogging, without any idea of the quantity or the quality. Just ensure that you drink loads and loads of water, clear your bladders regularly and are never hungry.

Did this work for me? If that is a question that you might have in mind now, lemme tell you that it did! I lost 6 frikkin kgs within a week.

Now, I would have remained so if it was not for my bloody ten tonned tongue.  On the 7th day, I binged on ghee, sweets, rice, oil, pakodas, bajjis etc and screwed up all the week’s efforts. Needless to say, the weight loss was compensated within a couple of days!

Most of you would be interested in knowing how would you probably survive in office or if u r alone at home following the diet. Though it is difficult, it is do-able. All that you need to do is to keep your emotions under control, get lunch (the day’s diet) in a lunch box to your office or prepare the same at home and keep hogging.

However, lemme also tell you this that due to our inflation / economy, this diet would turn out to be a damn expensive one, esp. if you follow this diet just a week before a festival, assuming, like me, that you diet for a week and enjoy during the festival!

I would be undertaking this diet again sometime soon. Will keep you guys posted. Till then, happy binging!!!