50 posts and 70 comments later, this blog has permanently moved to NotSoOutstanding.blogspot.com. The reasons why I did this are:
- URL: I realized that a-glorious-gift was not easy to remember. This one's better.
- I ain't so outstanding: Exactly. I want my posts to be received as coming from someone average, someone just wishing to exhibit their thoughts and not give out any gyan.
- Change: Exactly again. I needed a new look, a new identity, and here it is!
All the old posts will be here and on the new blog. I couldn't move the IntenseDebate comments, which is why I'm saving the posts here too. From now on, all new posts will go directly to NSO (:D).
Please update your subscriptions/bookmarks/memory. :)
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Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience.
P.S. Some issues still have to be worked on. Pardon me if you have to face any ugliness over at NotSoOutstanding.blogspot.com.
Showing posts with label happy stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happy stuff. Show all posts
No, I Don't Miss Wi-fi
For almost two years now, I've been used to living near a laptop, connected to the internet till eternity, with at least a couple of browser windows and some apps dancing around my screen when I press Win + Tab. (Yes, I'm a Windows person. Sigh)
And now suddenly, sitting in a cutely gorgeous house in Chandigarh, having been here for a month and intending to bug Uncle and Auntie for another half (at most), I'm actually relieved that my life is so offline.
I use the internet a few days a week for a few minutes. Well, not really my kinda internet—just blogger, google reader (only to mark all items as read), gmail and a few seconds on facebook.* And you know what? I was seriously, honestly satisfied with that. Now it is purely by choice that I almost avoid going online. Some of you who know me well might be giggling right now, mostly in disbelief. The others would think this is natural, or crazy or anything in between. Whatever it is, I'm totally serious here. There's suddenly so much more time. I still cling to this laptop a lot, but end up doing lots of offline stuff, invariably very productive or happiness-generating activities. I've been reading and writing a lot more than usual lately, and catching up with some movies.
And yes, I am missing out on truckloads of things that I enjoy doing, but those can wait. It's good to be relatively disconnected at times. Wonder if I can ever survive without a cell phone. (Now you must be laughing your heads off. :P)
*Although on my weekends home, it's hard to not go back to the same old routine.
Popcorn Kernels
I like popcorn kernels. Most people think it's time to toss the popcorn bag when the fluffy bits are gone; I think that's when the fun part begins. I love the challenge of having to exercise your teeth hard to extract taste from those hard grains.
Everyday inspiration! :D
Things that Make Me Happy (Updatable)
In no particular order:
- Rain
- Babies
- Wet grass
- Dew drops
- Good food
- Cheese
- Coffee
- Flowers
- Writing/blogging
- Typing
- Cameras
- thxthxthx.com :)
- Shades of purple
- Being so busy with something, you involuntarily forget about lower-order needs
- Long phone conversations
- Smiling
- RAOKs (directed from or to me)
- Good stationery
- Clean desktops—real and virtual
Life Lessons from a Theatre Director
If I start it, the story will be use up a million words, so I'll directly skip to the point(s):
Make it fun
Nobody enjoys injecting effort into something that they don't relish. I'd be sorry for you if you were one of the people who are stuck doing something they inherently don't enjoy, but the point is that even in activities we revel in, light moments are always welcome. Create an atmosphere around that is light, humorous and fun.
Acknowledge your role as the team leader...
and make sure that you always give out positive vibes and stay optimistic. Don't let your negative thoughts rub off on the team and get you all down.
Welcome criticism, but know where to draw the line
Be open to ideas from people who might not be authorized or asked to help. Genuinely consider ideas that may turn out to be for the greater good. Nevertheless, know that you'll have to put your foot down at some point and take decisions that not everyone will appreciate. The director may be "only just a director" but in the end it is her call.
You're never too prepared
No matter how far the big day seems, you never have too much time to prepare. Stay focused, do not be delinquent, and work hard.
Trust spontaneity
Preparation sometimes comes in the way of excellence. True, you can never be too prepared, but the line has to drawn somewhere. Put in a sincere effort; and leave the rest to the D-day eustress.
You'll have to surrender control at some point
No matter what, your duty will be over at some stage, where you have to have faith, trust your cast and crew, and God, and hope everything works out well. And guess what--if you've put in an honest effort, it will! Loosen up!
Look for the positives
During the performance, keep track of all the positives. (The goof-ups won't need conscious tracking. :P) And once it's over, congratulate yourself and your team on the good work. When you start working on the next performance, be sure to use the feedback constructively.
Thank you, Lovneet, for being the in/direct source of wisdom.
Winter Wonders!
As North India shivers its way through a cold wave, and some unfortunate people succumb to it, I sit here talking about the wonders of winter... Heartless? Maybe I am.
But no matter what, I'm loving the fog outside. Or maybe not exactly outside; because it's actually trying its best to come barging right into my hostel room. On the way I walked right through a thick foggy curry.
And even within the hostel, which normally carries the aura of a safe and enclosed open space, I can hardly see the breathing souls more than a few inches away! And what to say about the aura—it's just... Well, fogged up!
Here are two interesting facts:
1. While most of us hardly have a directly visible square inch of skin even indoors, there are a few out on the terrace, busy on the phone. (I don't know how to react.)
2. The entire day was clouded/foggy, and the only times the sun was visible, it took everyone a moment to realize it's not the moon that got yellower and farther—IT'S THE SUN! And the weather forecast for the entire week was that it'll be sunny, with single digit positive temperatures (Celcius) and highs around 20 degrees. I can now tell why looking up the weather hasn't really caught on in India. Or maybe this is the reason the forecast doesn't come after enough research. And then again... Oh well.
But no matter what, I'm loving the fog outside. Or maybe not exactly outside; because it's actually trying its best to come barging right into my hostel room. On the way I walked right through a thick foggy curry.
And even within the hostel, which normally carries the aura of a safe and enclosed open space, I can hardly see the breathing souls more than a few inches away! And what to say about the aura—it's just... Well, fogged up!
Here are two interesting facts:
1. While most of us hardly have a directly visible square inch of skin even indoors, there are a few out on the terrace, busy on the phone. (I don't know how to react.)
2. The entire day was clouded/foggy, and the only times the sun was visible, it took everyone a moment to realize it's not the moon that got yellower and farther—IT'S THE SUN! And the weather forecast for the entire week was that it'll be sunny, with single digit positive temperatures (Celcius) and highs around 20 degrees. I can now tell why looking up the weather hasn't really caught on in India. Or maybe this is the reason the forecast doesn't come after enough research. And then again... Oh well.
Welcoming 2010
Happy new year, everyone!
It's a great feeling to welcome a new year--a representation of a new dawn, new beginning, new hope... and the rest of the clichés. I genuinely hope that 2010 brings for everyone, joy, success and satisfaction.
2009 has definitely been the best year of my life. It's been a wonderful concoction of happiness, wonderful people who brought wonderful experiences, and lessons, of course. Kind of like a few drops of a bitter drink that make you grateful for every crystal of sugar that would otherwise just sit around on the kitchen counter. (What am I saying? :-/)
Anyway the point is just that I hope we all have a great year ahead. Wishing that everyone can take baby steps towards living their best lives. :)
It's a great feeling to welcome a new year--a representation of a new dawn, new beginning, new hope... and the rest of the clichés. I genuinely hope that 2010 brings for everyone, joy, success and satisfaction.
2009 has definitely been the best year of my life. It's been a wonderful concoction of happiness, wonderful people who brought wonderful experiences, and lessons, of course. Kind of like a few drops of a bitter drink that make you grateful for every crystal of sugar that would otherwise just sit around on the kitchen counter. (What am I saying? :-/)
Anyway the point is just that I hope we all have a great year ahead. Wishing that everyone can take baby steps towards living their best lives. :)
Appreciation, gratefully received :)
My Intellectual Property Rights prof at the university, Mr. Apurva Bakshi, took the time to go through this blog, and has very generously said the following: (This is his reply to one of my comments on his blog*.)
I'm probably being childishly over-excited, but hey, that actually is important--finding joy in the little things of life...
Thank you, sir.
I hope I continue to get enough of such good stuff, but not so much that it doesn't excite me anymore. ;)
*Wasn't trying to conceal anything by deleting the comment. I'd forgotten I had said the same thing here. (For the ones who don't trust me at all. :P)
Sudeep. Thanks very much for all comments. I think your blog 'Life's a glorious gift' has some highly readable, very fine and interesting posts. Appreciate the remarkable clarity of thought and the beauty of expression. Have already read all your posts and will soon comment on each of them on your blog. Was great reading!! Keep writing and all the best!!
I'm probably being childishly over-excited, but hey, that actually is important--finding joy in the little things of life...
Thank you, sir.
I hope I continue to get enough of such good stuff, but not so much that it doesn't excite me anymore. ;)
*Wasn't trying to conceal anything by deleting the comment. I'd forgotten I had said the same thing here. (For the ones who don't trust me at all. :P)
The Pleasure of Discipline
Every time I enter my room, a sign on the door stares me in the face and shouts out loud: "The price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret." The price of discipline, or rather the reluctance to pay it, is the reason why so many of us do not reach the heights of our potential. Discipline is often the difference between being successful and being regretful.
However, I think a more relevant concept is that of the pleasure of discipline. If that sounds foreign to you, you're not alone. The first time I developed this idea, it took some time to put pleasure and discipline together.
Before getting up this morning I'd been lounging around in bed for some minutes. Then I said to myself, "You have two choices--continue with the bad routine, or get the discipline juices flowing. Put mind over mattress." That was enough to propel me out of bed. I almost sleep-walked to my washroom, and happened to look into the mirror. What I saw was a sleepy face, with a slight hint of reluctance and irritation. I hardly paid any attention and took a shower--something that would ordinarily happen hours later. I cursed myself as the cool water made me shiver. That lasted a couple seconds, and after stepping out, I saw myself in the same mirror again. Spontaneously and impulsively I gave one of my biggest, brightest smiles. It was big and bright and most importantly a genuinely happy smile. I was so happy with myself, feeling utter delight at having snapped out of a bad habit (or at least having started the journey). And the happiness was anything but short-lived.
After getting ready, I went to the Gurdwara, took a walk around the block, and came back home, feeling great. The next few hours were enthusiastically productive--there was some revision to do before I wrote an important exam later in the morning--and I enjoyed the studying way more than ever. Not only that, the exam was great, and now, hours later, I'm still excited and happy (and it's rubbing off on the ones around me), not tired at all, and smiling days worth of smiles sitting here.
AND it doesn't get close to ending here either! Tomorrow morning when I think about how great today was, I'll have another reason to shoot out of bed and give myself the same experience all over again. Again, it doesn't end there. The chain reaction this day will hopefully initiate, will keep getting bigger and better and bring more happiness and contentment into my life!
The moral of the story: Once you overcome the initial resistance of trying out something new, or developing a new habit, or shedding an old one, you can't help thanking yourself for it. The circumstances we've always lived in have a way of trying to pull us back when we try to escape. It's painful to resist, but once you pay the price of discipline and overcome the force of gravity, the investment pays off and the profit is all yours--The Pleasure of Discipline.
* "Put mind over mattress." and "The price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret." are ideas from Robin Sharma. *
However, I think a more relevant concept is that of the pleasure of discipline. If that sounds foreign to you, you're not alone. The first time I developed this idea, it took some time to put pleasure and discipline together.
Before getting up this morning I'd been lounging around in bed for some minutes. Then I said to myself, "You have two choices--continue with the bad routine, or get the discipline juices flowing. Put mind over mattress." That was enough to propel me out of bed. I almost sleep-walked to my washroom, and happened to look into the mirror. What I saw was a sleepy face, with a slight hint of reluctance and irritation. I hardly paid any attention and took a shower--something that would ordinarily happen hours later. I cursed myself as the cool water made me shiver. That lasted a couple seconds, and after stepping out, I saw myself in the same mirror again. Spontaneously and impulsively I gave one of my biggest, brightest smiles. It was big and bright and most importantly a genuinely happy smile. I was so happy with myself, feeling utter delight at having snapped out of a bad habit (or at least having started the journey). And the happiness was anything but short-lived.
After getting ready, I went to the Gurdwara, took a walk around the block, and came back home, feeling great. The next few hours were enthusiastically productive--there was some revision to do before I wrote an important exam later in the morning--and I enjoyed the studying way more than ever. Not only that, the exam was great, and now, hours later, I'm still excited and happy (and it's rubbing off on the ones around me), not tired at all, and smiling days worth of smiles sitting here.
AND it doesn't get close to ending here either! Tomorrow morning when I think about how great today was, I'll have another reason to shoot out of bed and give myself the same experience all over again. Again, it doesn't end there. The chain reaction this day will hopefully initiate, will keep getting bigger and better and bring more happiness and contentment into my life!
The moral of the story: Once you overcome the initial resistance of trying out something new, or developing a new habit, or shedding an old one, you can't help thanking yourself for it. The circumstances we've always lived in have a way of trying to pull us back when we try to escape. It's painful to resist, but once you pay the price of discipline and overcome the force of gravity, the investment pays off and the profit is all yours--The Pleasure of Discipline.
* "Put mind over mattress." and "The price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret." are ideas from Robin Sharma. *
A Rainy Day!
Thanks God, for the beautiful weather today. This rain is a delight for the soul, a treat for the beating heart.
Today I saw the clouds swivelling past more swiftly than ever. I could look up directly at them and see the interplay of the coming and going, the composing and dissolving of the dark and the white clouds.
The cool breeze, the breathing earth, the pair of birds gliding against the misty backdrop... it all made me feel so one with You!
Rain is pearls falling from the brink of heaven, pearls that wash away the pains of the body.
Today I saw the clouds swivelling past more swiftly than ever. I could look up directly at them and see the interplay of the coming and going, the composing and dissolving of the dark and the white clouds.
The cool breeze, the breathing earth, the pair of birds gliding against the misty backdrop... it all made me feel so one with You!
Rain is pearls falling from the brink of heaven, pearls that wash away the pains of the body.
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