A life without challenges...
it is like going to office with no work to do
it is like going to school with no lessons to learn
Challenges come not to depress or get you down,
they come to grow us as a person
they come to teach us the ways of life
they come to make us feel good of ourselves
they come to uncover our abilities
they come with a reason... let us not question that reason
Let us rather relish the challenge and work towards winning it!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Trek to Matheran
After a long time, I am going on a trek on Friday 19th Jan 2007.
The following is the itinerary:
* Leave from the Powai office @ 17:00 IST
* Catch the fast train for Khopoli @ 17:58 IST from Ghatkopar.
* Reach Neral by 19:15 IST.
* Start trekking around 19:45 IST and reach Matheran latest by 23:00 IST. The plan is to take the road while climbing.
* Sleep over at Matheran.
* Sight seeing the following day
* Start back by around 1530 IST.
We are coming back early on Saturday as we have to be up and running (literally) early on Sunday for the Mumbai Marathon.
It is going to be a PACKED schedule this weekend with the trek, marathon and other things planned on saturday and sunday nights.
The following is the itinerary:
* Leave from the Powai office @ 17:00 IST
* Catch the fast train for Khopoli @ 17:58 IST from Ghatkopar.
* Reach Neral by 19:15 IST.
* Start trekking around 19:45 IST and reach Matheran latest by 23:00 IST. The plan is to take the road while climbing.
* Sleep over at Matheran.
* Sight seeing the following day
* Start back by around 1530 IST.
We are coming back early on Saturday as we have to be up and running (literally) early on Sunday for the Mumbai Marathon.
It is going to be a PACKED schedule this weekend with the trek, marathon and other things planned on saturday and sunday nights.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Charity
Like last year too, I have enrolled myself as a part of the corporate team for the Mumbai Marathon. Besides the fact that I have a chance to participate in the marathon itself, it gives me an opportunity to contribute to the funds that would be donated for charity by the firm.
The new thing this year is that the participants are also required to take a few pledges from the general public and collect donations for a charity of their choice (In my case the employer decides, and I dont disagree!).
I had a few apprehensions. This was like my experience as a Boy Scout. I would take part in collecting money for charity. Or the time in Sanvedna where we collected money for the disadvantaged children!
The corporate environment has its own challenges when it comes to requesting for donations. First of all, the fact that I have to request those people to donate whom I work with is a tricky situation. Asking is not the problem. The problem lies with their discomfort. Since it is for a noble cause, most people cannot be seen to be not donating. Hence, many of them feel compelled to pay. While the money is important, my thoughts are that any money that is not given from the heart should not be collected.
I try to ensure that people do not feel compelled to pay up. I throw the idea across and then gauge the enthusiasm. If there is no enthusiasm, I do not pursue the matter any further. In fact, I make it a point to request only once. Only if the person has shown a strong desire to donate would I get back to them.
Another thought is that people judge others based on their donations. I have had instances of people commenting on the amounts donated by others. Personally, I believe that it is the thought that counts. Another point to take cognizance of is that we are unaware of their participation in money and/or kind in other charitable causes. They may make it a point to have a token gesture to participate.
I made it a point to explain whatever that I could with regards to the Non-Government-Organization (NGO) that the proceeds would go to. The NGO in question is one named Magic Bus. I explain all the work that it does for the children and how we as a firm have been associated with this NGO for the past 2 years. It is important for people to realize that the money that they are donating is going into the right hands. I do not blame them for that as I would probably have done the same.
Anyway, there has been a notable collection of INR 5000/- (and counting) as of now! I have a total of 20 or so pledges. And I am yet to add my money to this! :)
It feels nice that a lot of people have donated!
I used a different strategy from the others. Instead of mailing and requesting others, I gathered the attention of a group of individuals and addressed them. This gave me a better attention span. Having explained the basic process, I would wait until the individual showed some enthusiasm!
On a personal note, I realize that I am 1500/- INR away from matching the person with the highest contributions that was cited in the booklet that we were given!
That sure is great going!
The new thing this year is that the participants are also required to take a few pledges from the general public and collect donations for a charity of their choice (In my case the employer decides, and I dont disagree!).
I had a few apprehensions. This was like my experience as a Boy Scout. I would take part in collecting money for charity. Or the time in Sanvedna where we collected money for the disadvantaged children!
The corporate environment has its own challenges when it comes to requesting for donations. First of all, the fact that I have to request those people to donate whom I work with is a tricky situation. Asking is not the problem. The problem lies with their discomfort. Since it is for a noble cause, most people cannot be seen to be not donating. Hence, many of them feel compelled to pay. While the money is important, my thoughts are that any money that is not given from the heart should not be collected.
I try to ensure that people do not feel compelled to pay up. I throw the idea across and then gauge the enthusiasm. If there is no enthusiasm, I do not pursue the matter any further. In fact, I make it a point to request only once. Only if the person has shown a strong desire to donate would I get back to them.
Another thought is that people judge others based on their donations. I have had instances of people commenting on the amounts donated by others. Personally, I believe that it is the thought that counts. Another point to take cognizance of is that we are unaware of their participation in money and/or kind in other charitable causes. They may make it a point to have a token gesture to participate.
I made it a point to explain whatever that I could with regards to the Non-Government-Organization (NGO) that the proceeds would go to. The NGO in question is one named Magic Bus. I explain all the work that it does for the children and how we as a firm have been associated with this NGO for the past 2 years. It is important for people to realize that the money that they are donating is going into the right hands. I do not blame them for that as I would probably have done the same.
Anyway, there has been a notable collection of INR 5000/- (and counting) as of now! I have a total of 20 or so pledges. And I am yet to add my money to this! :)
It feels nice that a lot of people have donated!
I used a different strategy from the others. Instead of mailing and requesting others, I gathered the attention of a group of individuals and addressed them. This gave me a better attention span. Having explained the basic process, I would wait until the individual showed some enthusiasm!
On a personal note, I realize that I am 1500/- INR away from matching the person with the highest contributions that was cited in the booklet that we were given!
That sure is great going!
Monday, January 15, 2007
I have a dream
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the US.
But that is not what this is about!
Long long time ago, he famously said "I have a dream".
I too thought of this in my mind and set out to achieve the dream.
Piecing block by block, I am building the puzzle. The road is not easy and there are obstacles aplenty! But that has not deterred me.
That has not stopped me from dreaming! That hasnt stopped me from trying!
Try and try till you succeed!
After a while, even faith will lose patience!
All that matters is who is the first person to blink...you or fate!
There is another school of thought that says that our destiny is in our own hands! We need to mould the clay and shape it like a potter!
But that is not what this is about!
Long long time ago, he famously said "I have a dream".
I too thought of this in my mind and set out to achieve the dream.
Piecing block by block, I am building the puzzle. The road is not easy and there are obstacles aplenty! But that has not deterred me.
That has not stopped me from dreaming! That hasnt stopped me from trying!
Try and try till you succeed!
After a while, even faith will lose patience!
All that matters is who is the first person to blink...you or fate!
There is another school of thought that says that our destiny is in our own hands! We need to mould the clay and shape it like a potter!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Land!
Land is now in sight!
Land is now in sight!
The future for now
is looking very bright!
Feel happy, relaxed and relieved.
Not crossed the finish-line, but inching steading towards it!
Land is now in sight!
The future for now
is looking very bright!
Feel happy, relaxed and relieved.
Not crossed the finish-line, but inching steading towards it!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The end in sight
On and on we go...
the end not in sight...
its like a ship at sea
water till the eye can see
but the hope of land
keeps us going
for the land is where
we want to be
for the land is where
we want to be...
-Max
Overheard
'Try and try till you succeed'
- Prince Arthur
Ditto!
- Max
the end not in sight...
its like a ship at sea
water till the eye can see
but the hope of land
keeps us going
for the land is where
we want to be
for the land is where
we want to be...
-Max
Overheard
'Try and try till you succeed'
- Prince Arthur
Ditto!
- Max
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Calling
Its not always that you get a call from a number that is unrecognizable and that results in a pleasant conversation.
The tele-marketing menace has reached alarming proportions.
But this call was not from a tele-marketeer. it was from a number that read +86...
I wondered who it was. I had never seen that country code before. and not a lot of my friends were in unrecognizable country-code countries.
It was a pleasant surprise to realize that it was an old friend who was currently in Guadong, China. He is a sailor and serves as the 5th engineer on one of the international maritime routes.
He routinely calls and talks of his travails...it feels nice that he chooses to keep in touch with me. i feel guilty as i have been unable to reciprocate the same with a few of those lost friends.
this friend taught me a valuable lesson.
I hope that i can learn something from the lesson...
The tele-marketing menace has reached alarming proportions.
But this call was not from a tele-marketeer. it was from a number that read +86...
I wondered who it was. I had never seen that country code before. and not a lot of my friends were in unrecognizable country-code countries.
It was a pleasant surprise to realize that it was an old friend who was currently in Guadong, China. He is a sailor and serves as the 5th engineer on one of the international maritime routes.
He routinely calls and talks of his travails...it feels nice that he chooses to keep in touch with me. i feel guilty as i have been unable to reciprocate the same with a few of those lost friends.
this friend taught me a valuable lesson.
I hope that i can learn something from the lesson...
Temptations
Its tough to not do what you know is wrong when your heart is urging you to do it. Your mind plays games of the funny kind. Deep down, you know that you have taken a decision. Deep down, you know that you are right. And yet, every now and then you hear a voice. A voice that tests you like no other test ever can. It tests your resilience and it tests your patience. Most important of all, it tests your conviction and your ability to resist temptation.
As I am often heard saying, it is easy to run with the herd, but its tough to swim against the tide. And it is times like these that are a true test of character. The rewards are pleasing and it is an enriching experience. What you have to do for it: resist and not cave in.
Anybody who can say assertively that he/she can resist temptation is either lying or is blissfully unaware. Assuming that the temptation is enticingly sufficient, it is difficult for anyone to keep their head above the water at all times. If you do, you rise within your own eyes. That for me is the biggest victory. Personally, winning isn’t about awards, rewards, money or certificates. All these definitely help! But what matters is that winning is about feeling good of yourself.
Knowing that you have resisted temptation is one of the most wonderful things in life. The temptation could be anything. That is not the point. The point is the resistance to the temptation.
Resisting that craving for extra bit of cheese on your pizza, resisting the laziness prevelant on a chilly winter morning. Resisting that sarcastic caustic comment at someone. Resisting in doing the wrong thing at the workplace...
Its tough!
But the feeling of having achieved it: priceless!
As I am often heard saying, it is easy to run with the herd, but its tough to swim against the tide. And it is times like these that are a true test of character. The rewards are pleasing and it is an enriching experience. What you have to do for it: resist and not cave in.
Anybody who can say assertively that he/she can resist temptation is either lying or is blissfully unaware. Assuming that the temptation is enticingly sufficient, it is difficult for anyone to keep their head above the water at all times. If you do, you rise within your own eyes. That for me is the biggest victory. Personally, winning isn’t about awards, rewards, money or certificates. All these definitely help! But what matters is that winning is about feeling good of yourself.
Knowing that you have resisted temptation is one of the most wonderful things in life. The temptation could be anything. That is not the point. The point is the resistance to the temptation.
Resisting that craving for extra bit of cheese on your pizza, resisting the laziness prevelant on a chilly winter morning. Resisting that sarcastic caustic comment at someone. Resisting in doing the wrong thing at the workplace...
Its tough!
But the feeling of having achieved it: priceless!
Winning thought
This is a winning thought!
You don't quit at half-time!
And you don't score until you have scored!
May make sense to some...may not to others!
Source: American Wedding - The movie.
Moral: Good thoughts and ideas can come from the most unlikeliest of sources!
You don't quit at half-time!
And you don't score until you have scored!
May make sense to some...may not to others!
Source: American Wedding - The movie.
Moral: Good thoughts and ideas can come from the most unlikeliest of sources!
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