Quite often we visualize blocks. Our mind is trained to do so. Every new thing or activity that we plan to start, the first thing that comes to our mind is the people who may oppose/criticise or reject it. And this is precisely what Robin calls invisible fences. For an instance try and feel that no disparities/blocks exist in this life and you are free to do whatever you like. Anything!! This will set a new energy flowing within you - positive energy and you may be able to get over the invisible fences!
a newspiece
I was sipping my first morning tea, when my eyes landed on this small piece in the newspaper - Government planning to legalize consensual teenage sex in India.... and my brows went up, reassuring myself that I was reading Indian newspaper in an orthodox south Indian city. The article was supported by musings of a couple of parents, Ministry of women and child development and a social worker.
Lip locking scenes/obscene acts in teenagers are becoming a reality in Indian metros and people who look for some decency in public spaces are left to ramble to themselves... While I would take some time to come back on this development (after some research & monologues), it clearly is an indication that the Indian society and cultural norms are at cross roads and the path ahead is difficult! And whether we are prepared or not the debate has begun!
On cloud 9
Today, I got a comment from D that my blog is amazing and inspiring..:-)..............And needless to say since then I am on clould 9 and have been floating! (For those whom I have failed to present some good readings, kindly forgive me & ignore this post)
I have promised D & H to arrange a get together soon, so that we can refresh memories of old college days! And I am gonna bring both the buzy mother's together... Wish me luck!
(ps: when was the last that you got in touch with your old friends just to say hi... I have been thinking about you and I think we must meet...... Believe me it helps)
Feel like giving up ?
One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light. I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more
vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the
bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would
not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo see.
I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong
And gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"
"How high should I rise" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise" He asked in return.
"As high as it can" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never Give up..
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light. I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more
vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the
bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would
not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo see.
I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong
And gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"
"How high should I rise" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise" He asked in return.
"As high as it can" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never Give up..
Will Globalization deliver?
I have been inundated with the subject “globalization” and it seems to have been the talk of the town for quite some time. So I was not at all surprised when Friedman (one of my favorite American journalist) was in India to explore what outsourcing means to India in the changing context and how is it benefiting. The sneak peek of his findings was telecasted on Discovery (30th April, 8 pm IST). Friedman deserves an appreciation to be able to compare what effects it has on India culture, society and of course economy. (in a simple layman’s language without using the lengthy statistics, so that non economists like me who claim a pie of development planners don’t shy away due to lack of economics/social science background) He is also able to put forth the disparity in the benefits and highlight the plight of the poor who seem to have missed the cake.
When we put forth the above question, the opinion is polarized between those who want to push it through any means and those (at the receiving hand) who hold the prejudices about it. What we lack is a balanced mind that can weigh the pros and cons and devise a win-win strategy. But a strategy that considers social, economic or physical factors in isolation is definitely going to fail disastrously or face a public outrage. This is what happens to the current government’s proposition for increasing OBC quota in higher education. We may argue that the heterodoxy in the Indian society (amongst the educated/activist class) is increasing and the handful benefiting from the globalization will stretch out to protect their interests. So what happens to those (so called orthodox) who are not able to find out a voice for themselves? You may argue that they have been finding their voices being heard, thanks to the NGOs in the Indian context. But such a voice always lands the risk of opinion being influenced by the NGO interests. The last few years has seen a never ending war of words/debate on the same. What I am looking for is some balanced models that will benefit all!
When we put forth the above question, the opinion is polarized between those who want to push it through any means and those (at the receiving hand) who hold the prejudices about it. What we lack is a balanced mind that can weigh the pros and cons and devise a win-win strategy. But a strategy that considers social, economic or physical factors in isolation is definitely going to fail disastrously or face a public outrage. This is what happens to the current government’s proposition for increasing OBC quota in higher education. We may argue that the heterodoxy in the Indian society (amongst the educated/activist class) is increasing and the handful benefiting from the globalization will stretch out to protect their interests. So what happens to those (so called orthodox) who are not able to find out a voice for themselves? You may argue that they have been finding their voices being heard, thanks to the NGOs in the Indian context. But such a voice always lands the risk of opinion being influenced by the NGO interests. The last few years has seen a never ending war of words/debate on the same. What I am looking for is some balanced models that will benefit all!
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