For the restless spirit!

"There is something extremely valuable and yet intangible in receiving heartfelt thanks for supporting the dreams and interests of others." I read this as part of an article I was browsing this morning and it hit a chord. As part of my "inner circle", I have a handful of friends with whom I have built a strong bond - so much so that their dreams, challenges, life interests have become very close to me!  As much as a people's person as I may be, membership to this elite club of mine is by invitation only...and I have stringent "house" rules!!! But what is common to this small club is that each of the members mean a lot to me and I feel I am an important part of their lives, in however small a way. I have not known all of them for long, some since my childhood, a few since my early career and some as recent as the past 1-2 years. Yet, I feel a strong "connect" and keep in regular touch with them, mostly through technology.  All of them...

These are indeed difficult times. There seems to be a common phase of tough times going around .....almost like a viral....affecting many that I know or see. Antibiotics are a desperate need but those available do not seem to be working effectively or even uniformly. It may seem to be increasingly difficult to keep the spirits radiant or positive in these times ....for most lesser mortals like me....despite all our valiant efforts to look for the half-full glass. But can we afford to give up? Do we actually have a choice? I think not. Instead, during these times, I look more and more, for moments of joy, happy moments, moments that bring a smile to my face, moments that lift my spirit, peaceful moments. Yes, they may be really hard to find at times....but I believe that if one really looks long and hard, one can even find a needle in a haystack....you can still find small and simple pleasures that remain in your life, despite the gloom that seems to be seeping into the spaces ...

July 12, 1997 - 10.12 pm, Kolkata After a lot of medical emergencies, a very tiny bundle of joy came into my life and pretty much turned it around yet again.....the first was on Jan 26, 1995, when I embarked on another journey that actually brought about this bundle...but that, another day! Today is my daughter's day. As she turns a sweet 16, I look back at the road that has brought me so much love, happiness, joy, fulfillment, focus that no other can come close.... But has it been only that? No, it has also brought its share of pains, some disappointments, a lot of frustrations and many mistakes on both sides - hers, which are acceptable as she is the child - but mine too, which should also be fine. As I keep saying to all who listen, parenting is a learning curve - a never ending one; a new road altogether for first timers, where there may be signboards easing navigation, but there's no saying when an unexpected twist or turn puts you off track and you need to wor...

I watched a Hindi movie last night "Lootera", partially inspired by a story by O'Henry - "The Last Leaf"- last read when in college, I guess...... I liked the movie. It was different from the mainstream Bollywood masala movies and reminded me of an era where "graciousness" and "finesse" were ways of life. Very old school! And I know that makes me fall straight into an age bracket that most would not like to brag about :) but I am ok with that.....it's not that I have anything against the new age and its way of living, infact I am all for it... but I do like the way it was when people around showed a little more finesse and grace...and I love those amongst us that still fly that flag! Don't get me wrong .... the new generation excites me with their energy and zest and tech-savviness and all of that ...but I must admit I love much more: those times when the world did not rush by and people actually had the time to stop and wa...

I have realized something - Amir Khan (or Chetan Bhagat)  in the movie "3 Idiots" was right after all.....always had a nagging feeling about it and now I am convinced. If we keep saying "All izz well" to our hearts and minds, they kind of start believing the same and act accordingly.....idiots hein, right?? Now that I read up some stuff about it, there could even be a science to it.....a logical explanation about "feel good hormones"like Oxytocins, Serotonins and chemical reactions within our bodies that cause us to feel good, happy or positive. Won't go into the research behind all of this (please Google if you have to) but it seems solid! I have seen for a fact that when things go wrong, as they often do, if we can keep our minds distracted with the good stuff, things no longer seem to be as wrong as before - atleast mentally, you are able to cope better. So for example, here I am getting deeper and deeper into irritating and nagging health iss...

"Where there is a will, there is a way"  Yet another teaching from my school days that has stayed with me .......challenged many a time over the years, more recently than before, but still mostly unshakeable! There is always a way - may not be the way we want, or even the conventional (or in some cases, even legal) but there is  almost always, a way....and it is for us to find it through perseverance, patience, resilience. But most important is to believe in this - that there is a way out - only then can our minds gain the strength to persevere, to be patient, to bounce back..... Situations sometime seem hopeless but as they say - you either sink in these kinds of whirlpools in life or you gather yourself, believe there is a way out - through faith or science - and give it all you have to burst out of that downward cycle. The last thing you need in these times in self pity - or in fact the pity of others ....that is like tying weights around your feet and expecting t...

It takes all kinds ...to make the world...thank God! I love people - literally, I do!  I love meeting people, befriending them and appreciating how different we are from one another and yet how similar. Those who know me well enough, will understand - I can talk to anyone that can make reasonably decent conversation and even with some, who usually don't..... a dear friend once said I could make a dumb man speak!!  And that's because of my genuine interest in people - in their lives, where they come from and where they are going.  Through the course of my life, I have had the good fortune to meet and interact with all kinds of people - different colors, cultures, behaviors, belonging to different economic backgrounds, the works. Never have I failed to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, if the person either seemed interesting enough or (and I have to admit it) if I was terribly bored - in trains, airport lounges, metros, public buses, offi...