Practice before you Preach

While Aamir was never my favorite actor, I always appreciated him for the way he stood up for causes, standing up for what he thought was right. Though I may not have always agreed with his causes.. but as a public influential figure he spoke out; made a point to address causes that just were not related to his field, that was noteworthy.

Sometime last week, Aamir announced the addition of a baby boy to his family. Just for a moment I was put off by tht news [I’ll explain] & as immediately it was out of the mind as well. But then the media space, [more of print media] got me to read the news at quite a few different places, frequent times; that really got me to write this.

Since we all know the baby has arrived thro IVF, I was wondering that when Aamir stands out for what’s right & had gained a name of being one of the most thinking actors.. a perfectionist actually; I was wondering how did he miss the count of his kids & went ahead to have one more? That too thro IVF? I know its a personal matter BUT when you stand up for national causes & voice your opinion strongly; its but natural that you would come under the line of scrunity as well.


For whatever reasons his wife was unable to go for a normal pregnancy, if there was a baby to come in the picture, why not through adoption then? No, I’m not following some fancy trend.. I have always supported adoption. If one really wishes to have a baby, apart from having one biological one, I always thought adoption was a great method. There are hordes of babies in India who, for no fault of theirs are abondoned..uncared. They could do well by being adopted; especially if they get such  a comfortable home.


In Aamir's case, except that maybe the wife wanted her genes to be passed on for future generations, or whatever it may be; I do not understand any reason for the baby. No flak for the the baby ofcourse! But when our country is bursting with population & we are oozing out to our limits.. how can someone as intelligent as Aamir ignore this fact? Just becoz it was from another wife? God, forbid, if he re-marries again tomorrow at some date, will he have more from that marriage too?? I wonder.

Maybe he thinks that since he can afford to give the best to his kids, he can have as many as he wants [I’m not going to talk on Sarah White’s claims…]

So, that makes his really like the other many average citizens of India & not some intelligent celebrity he’s made out to be. Coz when one chooses the smaller personal picture, then one blends among the average. One needs to walk your talk to become really special.

Some might argue that in other fields he is bringing the country’s name up..etc.

For example lets take the ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ ad for which Aamir is the brand ambassador. The ad shows us how we need to behave with our tourists. That is good. If we start following that, we would become good for ourselves in the long run.. more than just for the tourists. If Aamir is the brand ambassador for the tourism department of our country, then he's connected to the welfare committee of our country in some way & population curbance is the biggest concern for the welfare of India. Maybe he didn't think it was important enough problem.
 More than anything what I found funny was the hype over his son's name, the way it was on papers. All year round we are clued into the happenings of our dear stars, irrespective we consciously follow it or not. In all the years we've known Aamir, there's never been a mention of him being related to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad [Atleast I haven't really heard it] & now its suddenly all over everywhere. Crazy.


Unfortunately, I could not seem to ignore the line of thought all this publicity over 'his' new baby brought nor could I help myself sharing it.


I go back to my primary thought. Why don't we, the general public think before getting carried away in a sway??

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Someday...I'll trust, this too shall pass...

Someday... I shall heal.

13 to 30

13 years old's when act stubborn, its because of naivety & innocence of not understanding.

Whereas when 30 year old's act stubborn, its mainly got to do with the festered sense of superiority & higher Ego!

Where do we lose that innocence... & why don't we drop that ego?

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Think Over!

Had written a note for my page on facebook for my most active friends there to pass on a message. One that I believed would be reach out more quickly there than here.

Posting it here too as this IS the original address to my all posts. :)

 

Been to People's plaza at Necklace road thrice in support of the IAC movement.. & see the crowd fading by the day. As days go, the crowd should only
increase.. not decrease! The people genuinely interested are there..but the in- between ones get restless too soon.. & then there are many cynics
who don't even believe in this!

An old man is fasting there for a cause which he will most probably not even enjoy. That's Big! How many of us will even think of it.. let alone do it?
Does his cause not even deserve support by showing up at the given respective places for an hour or two?
Its not a social gathering where one shows their face once & their attendance is done. Its a social Cause which needs a little more attention & 
attendance than that.
Think Over.


I'm asked what will I do there? Burn candles, shout slogans? Wave the Tiranga? Its not important what am I going to do there, what I am adding there...
Me being there is important. I am a head count.. I make the crowd. I represent my aware conscience.  Think Over.


We like to wish each other 'Happy Independence Day', we like to pour out our patriotism by what not means on that one day... & we also would love to
enjoy the fruits of a correct governance; would love to enjoy the maybe benefits this draft will set rolling.. once passed, at some future date; but we do
not want to/have time to/feel to spend a little effort towards what's happening in our now. When the time has really come to do something & we got a
chance to be a part of a real struggle, we do not wish to care more. Then why do we wish each other "Happy Independence/Republic day", I fail to see.
Think Over.


If 'what is this draft going to do'...' nothing can happen in this country...' mindset was true, then we probably would never have attained Independence.
Imagine Gandhi standing up against the Britishers [who were believed to be brutal & violent towards their treatment towards Indians] & saying, 'I shall fight for
Indian Independence the Non Violent way'; how many people must've laughed or discounted him? Had today's junta been there, then I guess we would
still be struggling!! But People had more faith then... & by that very non- violent movement we started a whole new movement for our Independence then.
Think Over. 

Have Faith. Come Join. Think Over.

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Aaj Phir....

 आज फिर दिल ने एक तमन्ना की.....

आज फिर दिल को हमने  समझाया..........

Happy Independence Day

I'm just glad people still feel a little partiotic on couple of days atleast. That says we still feel & are affected by the country & its happenings. Coz the day indifference sets in, then there's no hope for us!

Happy Independence day India.

None to Replace this 'Junglee-Jaanwar'

Today's morning brought the news of Shammi Kapoor's passing away.

A legend of Hindi cinema... he was  one of the few earlier days stars who charmed people by his very presence.

One of the main face of his such persona were his exuberant songs. Known as the Dancing star of the 60's,  his songs were sprightly & full of life!

There'd be a rare person who wouldn't have enjoyed his songs.

Putting up one of my personal favorites.. not a 'Yahoo' type of vivacious one, a beautiful number nevertheless.

You shall forever live in the memories.

DEMO-CRAZY

A week or so back, I read an article on the Sunday times regarding the voting system in our country.
That I found Samata Party’s ex member Jaya Jaitleys statement in that article ludicrous is the least to say. [A few of her & others opinions on the voting system on the country were shared in that article.]

According to her, though she theoretically believes in the policy of compulsory voting, she also thinks it is impractical implementing it in a democracy. She goes further to state that if voting was made compulsory too, then it would be coercion of a democracy.

& that was the point that made me write this blog.

Democracy means, freedom of speech, freedom to choose. Democracy also means , ' government by the people or their elected representatives ' & 'government by the people or their elected representatives ' [Source: Dictionary.com]

If this much is understood, then how is it coercion to bring a law where its compulsory that people DO choose?? Afterall, the Government IS for the people & by the people. Right?

But if democracy means total freedom, then why do we have LAWS too? [however 3rd grade they may be] Why do we have courts & jails & parliament too? There too, someone or the other IS ruling us right?? Someone dictating/pronouncing to us whether we are right or wrong!

We have all those so that there is a unit for the welfare of the country.. [Supposedly!!]

So if we have those units that govern our actions, then by NOT protecting the country [by NOT voting, in a way we ARE harming the country] what kind of democratic freedom is expressed???

Is there no defined definition for the protection of democracy itself? How do we define it? I don't mean those constitutional definitions made 100 years back or so… but a more practical approach. A more progressive approach.

When these definitions of democracy must’ve been put inplace that time; the time, the era… the POPULATIONS of the country also was at another level altogether. So these laws were applicable THEN!

When we have everything upgraded.. & want rather demand for the best for our personal use.. why do we not think, support & demand for the upgrading of our constitutional definitions??

Why don’t the courts/government understand this is another of the baffling questions of our country’s political scene.

Democracy too should have some defined boundaries. In the name of democracy, we cannot not value the privilege that we struggled to achieve... a privilege which is absolutely free to use now.

If we have the right to be a democracy, then should’nt we protect THAT freedom & cherish it? If compulsory voting is considered coercion, then how do we plan to safeguard the country that runs on limited votes.. [in which most are sold!] Even if our politicians are corrupt…then too voting would bring a consciousness among the voters to elect someone whom they know about a bit atleast??

I mention that coz unfortunately, in our country most non voters do NOT even know who the candidates at the national central govt level are… forget the local constituency candidate. Such is the poor response & pathetic state of awareness & interest.

If not for any other practical & but obvious reasons, just becoz India got her independence after such a struggle, that is enough for some strong safeguarding laws to be in place.  & by that I mean, laws of voting, laws against people entering politics…rebates for educated people forthcoming regarding entering politics etc..

Afterall, we’ve won this freedom after some serious bloodshed & struggle.. so we better be responsible towards it.

As for the now situation with politicians like Jaya Jaitley & her similar lot, whose brains are anyways somewhere ... probably on thier hip bone;

I hope those hipbones collapse so that these damned psychos & selfish politicos are never able to even get up on their feet.. forget being able to sit on a political seat again!!

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What Women Want

What Women want.. What do Women want??!!

Time & again this question is raised; in lighter arguments as well as heavy discussions. Since I find it amusing, I have often read about it at different pages.. different books; in different contexts.
Discussed it with friends when in the mood for fun..[Fun coz we do know what we want. Not the whole rigmarole maybe...but we're very much aware of what we basically want. ]

I've even been asked these questions by a few guy friends who are interested for whatever their reason -- getting married, recently engaged, interested in wooing a girl, just curious.. they all want to know the answer to this one.

& I must say that I am still surprised that this one is not figured out yet!

So, OK. Here's the answer to this one. Read carefully:

All that a woman really wants is to just let herself BE. Not what others want her to be.


All that she really wishes is to be free from stereotype. Not the image she's expected to live upto in the name of society or peers or traditions or culture or religion.
All that she really wishes is to be accepted for what she is, what she stands for, what she believes in.
All that she wants is not always diamonds or chocolates or flowers only... what she looks for is the way it is given. it wouldn't mean a thing to her, if those are given just because they were expected to be given.
All that she really wants is to let HER be able to choose whether she wants to be a wife, a mother, or a homemaker, a career woman, a balancing superwoman or whatever. Not to be dictated to or be spoon fed.

All this sounds like a little too much freedom to you guys? Does SHE tell YOU ever, you need to be a homemaker or a millionaire?
Does she ask you to care for her parents & then cater to yours too? Does she ever tell you you need to cook & clean & be sociable too? No, She does not. So why stereotype her? Let her BE..& then see what the results are. Your world be definitely be a happier place to live in.

[P.S: Give a woman a choice to decide for herself & most of the time she will end up doing what you want!

I know it. ]

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Creative Freedom Or Creative Affront

M.F Hussain passed away.

I seriously wasn’t surprised when I heard the news. I mean comeon, the man was 95, what’s to get surprised there. But the next day paper reviews definitely surprised me. Most of the creative people, socialites shared their word or two of what they felt about the demise of the celebrated painter. & Most of the people were feeling bad that he died in exile.

That was the part I didn’t understand. He didn’t go into exile yesterday! He’s fled the country a good 5 years & more.. so why are these people suddenly awakening to the fact that he died a sad death & much more blah?

5 years back he WAS indeed 90! Did these people think he was going to live forever?? Hypocrisy at its top performance comes from these socialites & public figures!!

If I am sounding like I have disrespect for the late painter; I admit I was not too fond of him.
I was very respectful towards him once upon a time. Being a creative person myself, as any other normal person I used to like such a huge artist. But the day I read & saw his nude paintings on Goddesses.. be it Bharat Mata or any other Goddesses, I lost all respect for him.

Now please don’t start off mentally chiding me if you think I'm thinking petty [??] .. nor please start off a lecture how creative people should be allowed to express! I can hear it till here.. so stop!

Just becoz a person is creative, THAT DOES NOT GIVE HIM LEEWAY TO GET DISRESPECTFUL! In any culture, by any medium!!

& its not becoz I belong to the religion whose goddesses he portrayed nude that I am provoked. [ That is there too.. but it is another topic altogether! ] India is a country where there is reverence given to the homeland.. hence the 'Mother' tag in Mother India. People will rarely have pictures of Bharat Ma, at home or on their mantles at home... nor do I personally too practice some over patriotic stuff in regards to idolizing that; but if she is a embodiment of the land called Bharat, then that is enough reason for me to respect it. & I am not going to appreciate anyone insulting it.

In the name of creative freedom if anybody is allowed anything, then I don' t even want to think of what all kind of scenarios that can crop up. then there's no telling where these 'artists' will stop! [If they do!] Coz there'll always be one there to up the creative freedom quotient!]

Every established individual becomes liable for some responsible social behaviour. When the society give you that established status, the individual too by default becomes accountable for his/her actions, whether s/he accepts them or not.
Artists are considered slightly huffy people... & 'artists' [esp with such standing in the world] like M.F Hussain just put a stamp on those ridiculous beliefs! [Remember I mentioned, I am an artist too.. Hence the clarification! ]


Every person, every action, every profession, every relation, just about everything in life is defined by some boundaries. In the name of freedom, creative or otherwise, one cannot belittle another's sentiments & try to jump the boundaries & worse, later feign ignorance about it!

When one attempts that, then all roads lead to one destination -

- Fleeing!

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9 Things I Don’t like about Travelling Solo

If there are things that I like about travelling... then there are also things that I don't like that great! Being a female traveller, a few of my dislikes are based just on my experiences & what I don't like about those situations.

Here's 9 things I Don’t like about traveling solo. Will start off with the thing I dislike most...

1. You need to carry your own luggage always!! Be it a backpack or a suitcase or even a handbag, there's no one to share the load at any point of time!

2. The cost is definitely more...& that quite pinches when planning a week long trip or longer! Even if I try & go moderate, there are some things I cannot compromise on.. esp being a female traveller.

3. No one to take pics…esp good ones! How I wish at someplaces that I'd manage a good pic taken... but alas..! :(

4. While there are helpful people, some acquaintances whom one meets on the journey, at times try & get too friendly.. even after you are back to your routine world. [friend requests on Orkut/FB??!!!?? How cheap or desperate!!] Shrugging them off is a task!

5. In regards to the above point, one has to keep the alertness quotient at full range.. can't afford to let it drop any bit. Its like looking over your shoulder & managing to have fun too! Quite a balancing act that is!

6. As a female traveller, people get all curious about you. They ask questions.. personal too; which annoys the hell out of me!!

7. You cannot cannot go out at night. Could be restricting, but that's a point I stress on even to the bravest of girls. A new place is not the place one should be choosing to let your hair down, even if its your holiday.

8. When you travel between destinations, you have to give in to be dependent to public transport facilities.. like buses, trains.. Taking a private transport like a taxi is not only expensive, but not advisable too. So at times you end up losing a bit of time over this, which can cause upheaval; throwing your carefully planned scheduled off balance.

& lastly,

9. There are moments when you really wish that you had a companion who'd understand your tastes, your frequency... with whom you'd love to explore all these places. The one with whom you can share the experiences & whom you know will be all there with you when you recollect & re-live a place visited by, in just the way you experienced it...... At such times I don't appreciate the travelling solo bit anymore....

Guess its not possible to have all things at all times...

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9 things I Like about Traveling Solo

This year I've travelled quite a bit. Not one was any of the places I had planned at the start of the year... but things that I hadn't even thought of for this year, I got to visit! That's why those trips were all the more fulfilling!! :)
& not that I planned them that way, but all the places I went worked out as solo travels.

Since I have now been travelling solo for a few of my last trips, I'll list 9 good things I like about travelling thus. Why 9? Coz I plain like the number silly! :D

Here's giving my 9 likes :

1. I am my own boss. The best reason of all! I get to decide my destinations, which path I wanna explore, which places I want to skip.

2. Once I start my travel, I decide my own timings. My own timetable. I like a place, I stay back there for a while until I wish.. I don’t have to worry for anyone else & move on.

3. I meet new people…make new acquaintances. & interacting with them, I learn a lot A LOT!

4. It gives me a sense of freedom to go on my own & follow my own responsibility. It also makes me feel independent within myself & interdependent on the people & place I am visiting., hence connected.

5. I don’t have to match my calendar with anyone to decide a trip. I can take off whenever my timetable is fine enough to travel. Nor have I to worry about pleasing anyone about adjustments. I'm all I need to fend for.

6. People come forward & help you. Seeing a single female traveller, quite a few people offer help if needed...especially if there are families who are travelling around too.

7. The confidence! Every new place is different & every new place give you a new experience. A growing sense of confidence - that yes, you can make it on your own.

8. Your memories are yours. No one else can live those unique experiences with you. Walking in the beautiful mist in the enchanting hills of Munnar... or the view of the Golden temple first thing in the morning... or the bus ride to Jammu & feeling a sense of awe looking at all those cantonments which protect our nation...all those are my experiences. Its like my own secret getaway, which people would hear from me.. but only I would know how it felt.

& the bestest of all;

9. The silence & the introspection. In a new place, in a new land, the way my soul connects to me —THAT is the thing that makes me love solo traveling so much!

Have I tempted you enough to try one for your own too? :)

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Sunday Thoughts...

There are a lot of things we deny facing for the fear of rejection. & then there are lots of things we dare to do & feel good about, once done.

Sad is when we constantly start living in the fear of what we love the most. Then we neither love it fully.. or are never over it fully.

Thought to Emulate

The kind of faith I put in the 11 men in Blue... if I put 3/4th as much of faith on my own self to battle a few of my doubts...... I'm sure I'd do miracles! :P

[P.S. - The WC Final is on now & it looks very open .. actually fluctuating a lot .. but I'm ever optimistic about them. Win the Cup Boys! ]

Being a Woman

Some thoughts on being a woman collected over the years; quotes have stayed with me from the moment on I've read them.

I don't have attributions to all of them so am not adding credit to any of the quotes. These are all some wonderfully expressed thoughts from women who weren't scared to express & said it the way it was.

I'll start with the one aptly suits me best at the moment:

1. I think, therefore I'm single. [Cheeky no? :P]
2. Whether they give or refuse, it delights women just the same to have been asked. [:)]
3. A woman's whole life is a history of the affections.
4. Can you imagine a world without men? No crime and lots of happy fat women. " [Lol!]
I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a door mat or a prostitute. [More true in the Indian society]
If women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning. [;)]
Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, “She doesn’t have what it takes.” They will say, “Women don’t have what it takes.” [Absolutely!]
The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.
Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths.

SAGS!

So I have come across this SAGS [Sins Against Gender Stereotypes] page on facebook a couple of times now.. & thro' that I got to read a few interesting SAGS too. What is it? It is about the things that are supposedly against the gender you are & yet you have gone ahead & tried it OR wished to try it. From random observations I have noticed that a girl with books or a laptop is considered ungirly! Reallly??? Since when??? I can't do without my books & I went & bought myself a Lappie too! Though the tag there seemed a bit old now, these observations got me interested in attempting to take a try on the other sins I maybe commiting. ;) The deal is I have to list atleast ten things which go against my typical gender stereotype. I can sure do better! Keep counting! :D

1] I am a tomboy & an adventurer at heart. I love trying adventure sports!

2] Travelled alone. Backpacked & travelled alone.. in Tamilnadu too! [Yes, I'll specially mention it, as language really IS a problem there! ] It's an awesome feeling to backpack on your own.

3] I can't get wimpy & all coy to get my way. Infact I will cringe to even attempt that!

4] I love to hoot & whitsle during cricket matches or during occasions! Not just the typical style.. but in three different ways!! It also comes to mighty use during Sankrantris. :P

5] I love watching cricket. Ok, am not a crazy over it, but I love following India's matches atleast. I cheer & shout & totally enjoy them! Ungurly?? Naaah!!! :D & I watch Tennis too!

6] Love taking pictures! & I take my own time in taking them.

7] I can definitely paint a room & change a bulb & fix minor things!

8] I can't fuss over make up all the time! Infact I prefer the natural look most times. After all that's who you originally are! So, I've absolutely no qualms about roaming about with 'no-makeup', even at work.
9] I have an opinion & I express it where I need to. & I am clued to Politics, sports, & happenings around the world. & I'm not averse to gizmo's too!

10] I am not scared of the dark around the house.. or staying alone.

11] I don't gossip. Period. I do listen when it comes.. but the urge to spread talks has never been there.

12] & Most importantly, I do not believe the need to fall in the routine about getting married off just because All my friends have OR coz I have crossed the typical stage. I need a better reason than that. I have a mind as strong as a bull on that.


Saying all that, I'd also like to add that I absolutely dig my feminine self too. I absolutely believe in love & all that mush..; love to dress up when my mood strikes.. & I revel in the fact that I can make heads turn when I want them too :P I can be totally color co -ordinated, matching my outfits with the perfect matching earrings, bindi & bangles too!! I love colours.. & my dictionary of colours will have sunset oranges ..to muave pinks to frosted blues.. to simple ol' plain red, whites & blacks too! :))
I also enjoy collecting lipsticks, bags [though I don't have the patience to transfer contents from one to the other every week! ] I love the fact that I enjoy my cooking; whenever I get to do it. I am again totally a typical girl as I remember dates to the T! Rarely miss birthdays, anniversaries & occasions. & yes, I love flowers .. & chocolates & my floral perfumes too! Phew!! I guess I scored off with my girly girl things against all my sins alright! Now the fun part. I need to tag 12 friends..uh uh.. I don't know how many from my blogroll would do it....So, Please tag yourself. & don't forget to let me know when you are done! [I'd love to read Mayuri, Reshma, Till25 & Chai Biskut with Vrij's Sins! For the friends who are not on blog sphere, I'll await your emails. [P.S: You better reply, else the deal is, "you will be cursed to wear blue clothes pants if you are a woman and pink shirts if you are a man – for next twelve years." Choose your pick! :D

Five

There are things about Secunderabad [Hyderabad] that I love.. & then there are things that make me want to just run away from this city. These annoying things aren't small quirks that I can't digest. Ofcourse, no thing, no place is perfect. But these are serious things that have plagued the twin cities for so long that at times I really think these things are enough to sometimes make me just wish to leave & not return!!

The top 5 annoying of those are:

1] Traffic: There is ABSOLUTELY no civil traffic sense here. ABSOLUTELY. I have seriously contemplated many a times what the red/orange/green lights mean to those who keep jumping them irrespective of what light is glowing there! Nor do the people drive well..nor are the traffic cops anything to rely on. Even though I've been driving since a dozen years now, my head swirls at the absurdity of it all! Its an utter chaos!

2] The Govt bodies: Chandrababu went & others arrived. & those jerks who don't know to sit well on their pots are sitting on the Govt seats - with NO basic manners, no sense of honesty- no sense of anything! Period! People are harassed & often so wary of entering those Govt offices that it is ridiculous! I mean what are Government offices if not for serving the public in a better way????

3] Autos: The menace. The horror. the anguish. Yes, anguish, for the senior citizens when they look to hire one, the horror when they open their mouths to the exorbitant fares.. & the menace at the dadagiri they exert! Autos in the twincities are a true nightmare for those who are new to the city as well as for those who have been here all life long. Why is there not a check on them??

4] The current government!! The twin cities was going on a progressive path till about the present Govt came to reign..& since then its less said the better. For garnering the farmer votes, it does NOT have to mean that you distort the current stability of a city. The twin cities were doing just fine.. & could do OK with no progress for a while too. But the infrastructure damage [In the name of repair, re-repair & re-re repair of roads & what not! ] , the civic nuisance caused by the current Govt is just disgusting! Gone... & still going to the dogs is a better put descrip!

5] & the last but the the most maximised pain in the ****; the recent Telangana jerks! Even if I was ever trying to understand their side of agitation as I am a believer of a united Andhra.. the drama, the animal approach has left not an inch of sympathy in me. They better first convince people that they are worthy of creating a new place & making it good; if still the demand has not been met, only then they can even think to think of destructing anything & everytihng that suits their fancy. & for Heaven's sake, they better STOP misleading the college students with whatever it is they are offering them!!

Ofcourse as it IS my hometown I do love it for innumerable reasons.. & quite a few would be genuineness of the place.... [ maybe I should write one on that too! ] & a few would go on basis of the plain partiality everyone has for their hometown. :)

But the above top five are the things which are going out of hand... If not acted upon, the twin-cities beauty will be marred forever.

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Baby's Day Out

Technology may be moving at a lightening pace, leaving us no option but to eventually catch up with it.
I'm having a thought here for the new Born's entering the world daily.. who don't seem to be given any catching up option.
No soon must the baby had a moment to look at his/her Mom's face, flash - flash does the camera go on him/her.. & pronto they're all over the Internet!!



Poor thing would have had no idea, how s/he would have to rightaway face the world within minutes of entering it!!

I just hope we do not reach a day, where the ultrasound scan pics are also put up as status messages & comments are made as what or whom the baby is going to turn out to be like.

Phew! Scary!!

I dislike.... naah... I 'unlike' it!

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Faith

Faith is not always a good thing.
In the hope that Reality is not what it is, at all times ... we resort to faith.
Faith's glasses are coloured & you wear them in the hope to let them stay on, till you are in the shade.

But, sometimes, prolonged wear blurs your vision of the reality & makes you hope for something which could just not arrive -- turning fatalistic that way.

The Sun may be harsh.. but I'd rather face it that way.

No... Faith is not always good.

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Thoughts while Driving

When you know where your destination is, its easy to navigate & change lanes accordingly.

When you don't know where your destination is, its always chaotic not only for you... but the others driving around you as well.

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Why Celebrate?

The fist decade of the second millennium has gone by [not my phrase..read it somewhere] & I reflect by on what I lived in the past 10 years.
As I'm chronicling the decade gone by in my personal notes, one thought occuring to me is, why do we take stock of things around the new year only? Why do we resolve to do/achieve/give up things only on the new years? After all, its only as good as any other day.

Sometimes I do feel its much ado over nothing.. the Sun is going to rise the same, the day is going to be as long, my relations are going to be the same too... Yet why do we go all childlike gooey over this then?

As I think over this, I get a prompt in my head in reply...
That however ordinary the day is, there's something about new years that has most of us excited...

That something could be put as: Becoz it is defined. Becoz it marks the beginning of new. Becoz it puts a proper end to something. Becoz it gives us hope to start fresh. Becoz it gives us a chance to reflect yourself in a timeframe. Becoz it makes us resolve. Becoz it makes us count. Becoz it helps us move on. Becoz it psychologically makes us feel better about growth.

Few reasons these, but they all count somewhere.
There just a whole lot of things for everybody in 'that something'; Right?

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Resolutions 2011!

Its making resolutions time again! While I go back to my 2010 resolutions to check how I fared, I'm glad to tick off quite a few things of the list.

This year too there have been some additions.. some subtractions & some resolutions which I need to go consistent with. Infact, this year there were rather quite a few additions, but I'm toning them down to keep it achievable! ;)

Some are just cut copy pasted from the previous years.. & will continue being so every year.

& some are just pulled back.... they caused more harm than otherwise.

In the things I'd say I did achieve were:

I did travel a teeny weeny bit... not extensively, but did manage three short weekend getaways, which is comparatively better than the no-travel of the last 2 years..

I did get back to gardening!! Though growing veggies is yet to happen...There're flowers; colourful flowers, blooming in my garden!! :)

Got back to reading.. & how!! I've been reading pretty good the last few months & that makes me feel so good! :)

& I did learn to speak decent [definitions can vary! ;)] Telugu!

What I didn't do were:
Didn't paint, didn't exercise, have not stopped feeling guilty of being vulnerable...haven't found 'that' peace yet... :(

What I did do on & off was :

Returned missed calls... procrastination....publishing posts the same day... these are constant work!! .. & the progress is ongoing!! :P

So, putting all the revised resolutions in one order, here's my list of 2011!

1] Start exercising: What I didn't do & need, really need to start doing is, start exercising & lose a little weight! [Why is there NEVER a constant here! :( ]

2] Eat well: My food habits have totally gone for a toss... & I do see the bad results of it... Will need to strictly regularise this.

3] Sleep well & drink 8 glasses water per day: Sleeping well is another thing I need to work on. Drinking water was something I used to do.. a good habit which I glitched last year.

4] Become Assertive: I've always known I'm a little vulnerable. & overall its been kinda not that great, so becoming assertive is this year's mantra.
5] Travel Travel: Yep have to keep up with that! Will sure do better this year!!! :)

6] Start valuing my art/services more: I shall unwaveringly charge a nominal fee for my services, Tarot & Reiki.. I've realised its true, 'Value is only realised if its value is valued' ..even amongst friends.

7] I shall get back to painting: I've been away from it for quite a long while now. Need to see some colours on my canvas....

8] Learning something new: Would like to learn something new this year. Be it anything.. a language or an art form. There are quite a few things I have been interested in.

9] Will stop worrying: This is going to be tough.. but will need to train the mind to stop worrying over petty things as well as bigger things. Its not going to change the situation anyway!
10] Stay focussed & get decisive: That will get more closer to my goal. [Can't reveal it just as yet! :) ]

11] Clean away my clutter: There are things we get around collecting every year which we sometimes don't end up using.. from clothes to the files on the laptop. [atleast its true for me] I will not let clutter pile up before I've no option but to give/clear them away.
12] & last but very importantly, I have to learn to believe in the word "Trust" again. In me, for me. Made a few wrong turns last year.. that kind of shook me off. :P

Among all this, I shall consistently never stop: to be more conscious for the environment & reduce my carbon footprint wherever I can...; strive to be a better person...; follow what I believe in, even if the odds are against it...; lose hope when things look bleak...; leave my good habits. I shall also not stop expressing to my dearest people, in deeds & words, that they are most loved.

Lets all have a good year ahead.

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