Happy Life

300 Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Sun, 6 Sep 2009 07:19:00 -0700

No dream is too big. When one of my smaller wishes don't come true and I foolishly feel that my world is coming down (!), I think of people who seem to have impossible dreams that they persist with. 300 Dreams is a presentation that I created one day when I was feeling particularly low. It just made me feel silly to fret over one lost hope when there is so much more to life than fretting! This presentation is about Empowerment International and particularly Kathy. Her courage and optimism are inspiring. Hope you like it!

300 Dreams

View more presentations from Empowerment International.

Remember Me?

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:16:00 -0700

This is the new presentation I created for Empowerment International-the organization that works tirelessly for the poverty stricken children in Nicaragua. It is kind of a follow up on the presentation I created last year on slideshare. If you like this presentation, please vote!

Remember Me?

View more presentations from Empowerment International.

The Story of my Life

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:19:00 -0700

Here is a presentation I created for Empowerment International. It was selected as the top 8 slideshows out of thousands by Slideshare in its World's Best Presentation Contest this year!

The Story of my life

View more presentations from Empowerment International.

Who is the happiest of them all?

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Mon, 5 May 2008 03:43:00 -0700

Photo Courtesy squeakymarmot
This morning I read a story about the happiest countries in the world (Denmark, says the survey, followed by Switzerland and other Scandinavian countries) and how an organization faithfully conducts annual happiness surveys to learn what constitutes real happiness.

A little later I read about a list of happiest people in UK (don't know how one can narrow down the list to just 100) and another one that provided tips to keep one's kids happy.

Now, either I am attuned to pick up happiness related stories or, finally,the world is waking up to the need to be happy!

I don't really think you should have to try too hard to be happy. Just enjoy what you have been handed by life and things should be fine. Of course, we all want to make our lives better and complacency cannot be mistaken for contentment. However, my point is that even the process to get better should make you happier.

Since different people want different things in life, what provides contentment to one may not be enough for another. After all, the richest and the prettiest people are not necessarily the happiest!

So the fact remains that it is difficult if not impossible to create a model for perfect happiness.You just know how you feel when you feel it. Perhaps, if we consciously try to live every moment, we will enjoy every single one of it. Also, if we try to seek positive out of every situation, no matter how grim, we just might find a perfect antidote to all our worries.

Faster and faster we go..

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 03:51:00 -0700

Photo Courtesy chris gin

Most of us love the quick service and easy availability of goods that technology provides. It is not that hard to see why web surfing has become the main pastime of people. Where else could one hope to get information about any topic under the sun while chatting with a friend, listening to the latest Beyonce number and buying a GAP tee shirt at throwaway price?

The ease with which anything gets done may be to blame for the replacement of things that show love and care with things that are less time consuming. How many people, nowadays, count letter writing as their favorite pastime? How about walking to the neighbors' home for a little chat? Internet, hi tech phones and an increasing number of time saving gadgets have changed our lives considerably.

When I was a kid, only an important function necessitated new clothes and prompted a tour of the local market. For little kids, today, visiting the neighborhood malls for random purchases has become an everyday necessity. Filing nails was a simple task before the compulsory manicures and pedicures came along.

Elders would ask the giggling kids to jump up and down their backs for an easy back massage; but that was before the ubiquitous spas dotted the streets. Why play with noisy children when a little cash could provide a heavenly rub down in sound proof spas? In another era, mommy's painstakingly prepared dishes were the favorites of every child, now they are replaced by the fast foods at Pizza Huts and Mac Donald's.

Most people of the older generation are concerned about the lack of patience, care, time and contentment among young people. They feel that in our attempts to be faster, better and richer, we have lost our abilities to seek simple joys. They cringe at how the changed times have cost us our peace of mind. Don't you agree?

Before and after pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:22:00 -0700

Photo Courtesy laszlo-photo
If you have gone through pregnancy, you will probably remember the wonderful times the whole world cared about you and looked at you with awe.

Complete strangers gave you their seats, slacker hubby helped with house work, concerned relatives asked about your health and even your workaholic boss asked you to take it easy! Those rosy days of pregnancy lasted just nine months. And even before you settled into the life of the 'chosen one', things took a U turn.

The baby came into your arms and you went back to being the normal, neglected woman!

Here is a light hearted look at the differences between then (during pregnancy) and now (after delivery):

Loads of Advices: If advices came in fits and starts during pregnancy, they come in huge explosions after the baby makes his appearance. People make it their birth right to let you know about every aspect of parenting; even when they have never been within a holding distance of a baby.

Change of attitude: So you were the queen during pregnancy. If paparazzi failed to trace you because you did not resemble a pregnant star, your friends and relatives made you feel like one. You were the most important person on earth. Alas, the myth shatters as soon as you deliver. Now you are a nobody, and the reality hits harder after nine months of stardom.

Physical discomfort: I know a huge belly was tremendously uncomfortable. But at least, people were sympathetic then! Now you have all kinds of invisible pains and no one asks about it. You are incredibly weak and still no one seems to give your plight a second thought.

Physical appearance: The thing is when you were chubby and pregnant, you got great compliments on being healthy. But if you are overweight and not pregnant, the reversal of opinion shocks you. Then, a large midriff was a sign of hope and now it is a symbol of a lazy, unfit woman.

No help: God knows new moms need all kinds of help. Pregnant women have the situation in some control because the baby does not cry for milk, and diaper changes, and definitely does not wake up at nights. In spite of this, while pregnant women are offered all kinds of assistance, the new moms get overlooked by partners, friends and relatives. People, volunteer!

Happy pregnancy!

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:10:00 -0700

Photo Courtesy farbfroh
Pregnancy can be the sweetest and the most relaxing time. If the hormones play it right, your face is suffused with glow, your hair shines and your mien takes a soft, even saintly allure. In fact, in spite of the growing belly, you end up looking very delicate and complete strangers might start giving you a second look.

But, of course, all this comes with a huge baggage, impossible to ignore. Depending upon your luck, you may or may not suffer from varicose veins, hemorrhoids, gestational diabetes, high or low blood pressure, frequent vomits, and fatigue, not to mention sleeplessness. I had quite a few problems myself, though on the positive side people did comment on my better complexion!

Apart from the usual physical issues that pregnancy seems to trouble you with, there is the added concern about the state of pregnancy itself. I was constantly worried about my unborn child's health and reviewed the "what not to eat" list a dozen times every day. Loud noise, extra cup of coffee, fish, cheese, cosmetics, chocolate - all those things I never thought twice about became sources of grave concern to my paranoid self.

Anyway, it is undeniable that pregnancy is an incredibly fascinating journey. I definitely had more fun during it than after it when the whirlwind activities related to newborns began!
What about you?

Ain't I a woman?

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:10:00 -0700

Photo Courtesy aloshbennett
Women are a harassed lot in most societies and more so if they are economically weak. While the women in educated and moneyed classes often get a lot of respect, those who are poor and illiterate get the short end of the stick. In India, where manual labor is given very little importance and poverty is rampant, women of the poorer sections are treated unfairly on a regular basis.

Are the poor women suffering from malnutrition but still working hard to give their family hot food, not to be respected? Why is it that women from so called upper classes are quickly given seats in trains and buses, but their poorer counterparts left standing?

The very strange attitudinal problem that many seem to be suffering from could be very well solved by this stirring piece:

"That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?"

Sojourner Truth (1797 - 1883), Women's Convention, Akron Ohio, 1851

Motherhood rocks!

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:20:00 -0700

Photo Courtesy Photo-Mojo

Recently I wrote a guest post for an awesome blog called TwentySet. Check it out here!

In the post I wrote about how motherhood teaches you things that you rarely learn from books or your job. Since I am a young mother (by today's standard at least), I have often been asked why I chose motherhood over my career.

It always surprises me that people actually think being a mother is the end of life. For me this has been a beautiful and fruitful beginning!

I have become more active, focussed, organized, confident, ambitious, responsible and definitely happier. I admit, this is not an easy ride and the kind of worries you have to deal with could drive you insane sometimes (as James from another great blog Men With Pens pointed out). But that is a small price to pay for a joy that is incomparable and too well described universally to need more of magniloquence from me ;-)

So all you mothers and fathers out there, enjoy your parenthood! A more beautiful bond is rarely to be found!

Better memory, better life (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:41:00 -0700

The brain boosters that I listed in my previous blog are easy to follow and ensure that you stay mentally active throughout your life.

Naturally, if you are really interested, you should do more of your own research and find out as much as possible about brain and its functioning.

Here are a few of the changes that most doctors prescribe for mental fitness:

Photo Courtesy Mike "Dakinewavamo n" Kline
Learn something new to stimulate mind - As long as we keep learning, we keep growing. I was very happy when I received my Bachelor's as I was convinced that this was the end of exams, course books and brain taxing sessions! Now I could live a peaceful and relaxed life with no mental tensions.

Little did I know that such an attitude was disastrous to my brain's health. Education should not end with a degree, it must continue as a life long process. So, a new language, new skill, new subject, new sport, new book - in fact anything that offers novelty to the mind is going to help you and your brain get better.

Interact socially to improve brain's inter cellular communication - No man is an island and if he tries to become one, he is certainly leading himself to a life of misery and deterioration. Since relationships are some of the most complex aspects of our lives, maintaining even a few ensures that we jog our brain very hard. The nuances of social interactions, dealings with (often) unfriendly people, altercations with partner and many more of the twists and turns that we face while interacting with others make us smarter.

If you have trouble finding friends, you could try volunteering or joining clubs or traveling, all of which will force you to become more interactive and socially active.

Try mental exercises (like puzzles, crosswords) to dust mental cobwebs - Many researches have emphasized the importance of Mathematics in keeping our brain in top form. If you are not into numbers, exert your brain by trying out new puzzles, crossword, scrabble and scores of such games that force mind to think creatively. Not only will you spend time doing something more useful than watching an inane program on the idiot box but will also improve your thinking abilities.

Exercise the body to preserve your mind - Since exercise improves blood circulation throughout the body, it definitely increases the blood flow to the brain too. This means that exercise makes our brain more active. Moreover, it keeps you from diabetes, high blood pressure and many other diseases that could quicken cognitive decline. In fact, I have noticed that I get most of my best ideas after an energetic workout!

Eat healthful food to prevent cognitive decline - In India there is a general belief that people who eat a lot of fish tend to have the brightest minds. (Case in point: People from Bengal are considered intelligentsias and most of them eat fish daily! ) While I am a fish lover anyway, after I read the latest research eulogizing the umpteenth benefits of mind foods, I have taken to them with renewed enthusiasm .

So salmon, sardines, tuna, green leafy vegetables, blueberries, legumes, nuts, yogurts have become bigger priorities than ice creams, burgers and fries. And if you have trouble forcing all these foods in big enough portions, consider taking supplemental pills like fish oil pills which are touted to fulfill all omega 3 fat requirements.

Reduce stress to increase brain longevity - This cannot be emphasized enough, according to every doctor I have ever met or read (and with a family of doctors, the number I have talked to is high). No matter what your profession or daily schedule, being light hearted will keep you mentally strong.

You could use meditation to reduce stress hormones. Or you could turn into your own stand up comedian. Making happiness your best friend can make your memory a life long companion too. Another great reason to be happy, isn't it!

Better memory, better life (Part1)

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Sun, 9 Mar 2008 23:10:00 -0700

Alzheimer's is one of the most dreaded diseases of all, for me at least. While other conditions that make one physically weak or bed ridden are equally bothersome, what sends innumerable chills down my spine is the fear of losing memory.

In the past, I would consider my inability to remember names or phone numbers, an amusing personality trait. Not any more though. After watching my grandfather succumb to Alzheimer's disease, I have developed a very healthy respect for brain and memory.

I realize that letting my memory slip can be disastrous in the long run and not remembering simple things is definitely not funny. Overlooking minor memory lapses means that I am courting a lifetime of more memory slips and lesser brain activity. By neglecting to exercise my brain enough, I am actually helping it transform into an empty box.

Photo Courtesy Violator3
While there are people born with photographic memory, I am certainly not one of them. In fact, I am sure I have a particularly low number of brain cells and am genetically disposed to using even lesser of those :(

Hence, it is up to my will power to make a difference to my brain if I intend to avoid its total decay. Doctors have found that it is not given that memory decline with age. There are several ways to keep our brain sharp throughout our lives and, perhaps, avoid mentally weakening conditions like dementia. What truly amazed me is the finding that you can actually increase the number of brain cells if you spend time exercising them. This totally reverses the traditional suggestion that our brain deteriorates with age.
Age, at least in this case, is totally in the state of mind!

There are many methods proposed to give our brain the much needed boost. While, unfortunately, there is no way to predict that these methods will keep one from developing mental illnesses like Alzheimer's, what they can certainly do is give us a head start in training our brain to be smarter and sharper.

Here is a list of brain tonics that promise to keep us mentally agile. The description of each comes in the next blog.

Learn something new to stimulate mind
Interact socially to improve brain's inter cellular communication
Try mental exercises (like puzzles, crosswords) to dust mental cobwebs
Exercise the body to preserve your mind
Eat healthful food to prevent cognitive decline
Reduce stress to increase brain longevity

How to use writing as a therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Thu, 6 Mar 2008 20:41:00 -0800

Photo courtesy jefield
Very few of us can weave fascinating stories with our words. But, I believe, everyone can express his thoughts through writing. Just as talking is a great way for many women to convey their anguish and feel better, writing can become the perfect way to give vent to one's feelings and feel lighter.

I have used writing to ease my worries, get rid of my insecurities, plan my future, celebrate my achievements and a lot more. Every time, reading my written words has given me new perspectives and feelings of worthiness.

Here is how you can use writing as a therapeutic tool:

To let out steam: We humans are an egoistic lot. We get angry and frustrated if we don't get what we want in the way we want it. The result of our hotheadedness is always negative, for us as well as others. The simplest way to avoid this is to write about the issues troubling you. So you hate the way people comment about your looks; let it out in writing. You may just realize that you were wrong to give importance to other's irritating jibes in the first place.
To understand another perspective: Who knows, that person who disrespects you, might have issues of his own. That friend who teases you is secretly jealous of your achievements. The street kid who harasses you for money has been hungry the whole day. Writing often lets you see beyond where your eyes take you.
To overcome your insecurities: Oh the bane of my life - insecurity. I cannot stress enough how many of my inner demons I have squashed through writing. The best part of writing about your hidden fears is that you get a perfect chance to analyze and overcome those monsters. What thinking, taking advices and reading cannot achieve, writing can do in a few minutes. It really exorcises the monsters for good.
To feel better: If you have gone through a life shattering moment and have no one to console you, writing can come to your rescue. Just expressing your sorrow and reading it makes you feel you are getting a great shoulder to cry upon. Your writing becomes your best companion as you pour out your heart. It makes you realize that you can, at times, be your best company.
To share your achievements: So you have pumped your fists in the air, given innumerable treats and literally walked on cloud nine. But if you want to add immortality to your triumph, just write it down. One day, ten years from now, when you read about your exuberance in your achievement, you will live that moment again. It will become your best mood lifter for lifetime!

5 ways to spread happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Wed, 5 Mar 2008 23:25:00 -0800

Photo Courtesy tony's pics

A perfectly easy way to be happy is to make others happy. They could be anyone - your family members, friends, co-workers or complete strangers. It is really weird how a few good words and a little extra time for others make so much difference in your life. As is expected from lazy bones like me, I was definitely not above considering volunteering a waste of time. It wouldn't help me, now would it? So why bother?

Well, one day I decided to bother, and have been hooked ever since. No, I don't make extended trips to poverty stricken areas or other such troubled zones. But spend a few hours to spread awareness about my pet issues and believe me, it has changed my life's perspective. Importantly, it gives me great satisfaction to think that I am making a difference.

How can we spread a little happiness and consequently gain a lot? Here are a few pointers:

Volunteer in non-profits: There are sevaral around and are generally short of staff. You can always ask them if they need some help. A few hours each week should be good enough. You can use whatever talent you have. If you are a born leader, organize fundraisers. If you can write, spread the word. If you like to teach, help out in schools.

Help monetarily: I still battle with my conscience about giving money to beggars. However, it is definitely possible to help out those who are genuinely working and still suffering. So if your housemaid is still getting the salary she got 3 years back, you can give her a raise. Or maybe, that gardener or car washer needs more than just 20 bucks for his work. Look at the work and pay fair.

Encourage the victims: If you keep your eyes and ears really open, you will see a lot of problems around - problems you can help with. Unsafe deliveries, neglect of girl child, no education, child marriage, child labor, violence at home - you see all this hapening every day. You can help by talking to the victim. A few words of encouragement and genuine concern can change a person's life.

Be empathetic: Not everyone is born with empathy. I, for instance, had to come out of my little cozy cocoon to really understand the problems of others. This trait may come naturally to you. So use it to understand why your house maid wants to be absent on a particular day you cannot do without her. Or why your husband prefers to be quiet when you have a thousand things to share. Or why your friend is still sulking about that no good boyfriend of hers.

Be polite: I really like people who watch their p's and q's and so, conclude that others will like me to be polite as well. Saying a "thankyou" or "sorry" may appear factitious to some, but it can be a source of happiness to others. A polite word of gratitude to the busy cab driver or the harried cashier can make him feel better. A little smile and small talk can make life's troubles more bearable. So go on, be sweet to others - you'll be surpirsed at how much they will like you for it.

Spreading joy through empowerment

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Wed, 5 Mar 2008 07:06:00 -0800

Imagine a house with walls made of cardboard boxes and plastic pieces and roof made of tin sheets. Imagine a stream of dirty, smelly water on one side of this house and burning garbage on the other side of it.

Now imagine a little girl stepping out of that house; the stream's dirty water making her feet wet. She walks barefoot to the local market and stands for hours in the relentless heat, trying to sell the tortillas her mother prepared that morning.

If she fails to sell them, her family might have nothing to eat - she is the only earning member in the family of four. Photo Courtesy kathyadams

The grim reality

The description above might not be completely accurate for it is too tough to explain the grim reality. Impoverished children who need to work to stay alive have incredibly sad lives.
Often they do not have proper families and even if they do have guardians, they do not get the kind of facilities that kids in developed countries take for granted. They do not have proper health facilities or a safe neighborhood or even clean playgrounds.

Not that they get a chance to think about this. They have far more important concerns of food and housing to consider everyday. Education is simply not an option for them as they cannot afford to go to school instead of trying to earn a few bucks.

Empowerment International
Around the world, several organizations are working to improve this unfortunate situation. One of such non- profit organizations is Empowerment International (EI).
Started in 1998 in Costa Rica by Kathy Adams, Empowerment International soon reached Nicaragua. It has a number of volunteers who work directly with the kids in Nicaragua. Aneilka, a former school teacher, heads the team of volunteer staff that monitors the program.

The unique approach of EI or Empowerment International is to deal with the root cause behind the plight of children in the slums and to bring changes in their lives. Often education in public schools is free, but the families are too poor to afford even the mandatory uniforms and school supplies. Besides, many families do not consider eduction important for their kids as they feel it would be far more beneficial if the kids start earning. EI, therefore, addresses not only the monetary concerns but also the emotional ones.

It aims to help the children “to stay off the streets, find better jobs, and eventually break the cycle of poverty that has haunted their families for generations”

Work so far
Initially, 76 children from Villa de Esperanza (appropriately meaning Village of Hope), a small slum outside Granada in Nicaragua, were provided with uniforms, shoes and other supplies so that they could participate in the state sponsored program.

Today, more than 300 children are enrolled in schools and the number is expected to grow fast in the coming years. Currently, children receive support up to the 11th grade which is considered the end of primary school in South America. One of the biggest achievements of Empowerment International is that it has succeeded in inducing parents to form committees to check the progress of kids.

In the beginning, parental attendance hovered around 30% but today it is almost 98% ! Thus, Empowerment International is trying to spread awareness in the community and encourage the slum dwellers to be responsible for the education of their children.

Volunteers in slums
Volunteers working for EI, visit the families and encourage them to continue sending their kids to the educational programs. They advise parents on how to help children with their school work even if they have not received much education themselves.

In case any family needs support that goes beyond the scope of EI, it is connected to the appropriate NGO or government agency.
Sam Oulavong, an art teacher from Chicago, who came down to Nicaragua to teach digital photography to these kids, mentions, “I’m excited about working with these kids. In the midst of what seemed to me, one of the dirtiest places to live in, I saw people of great beauty, integrity, and with a heart to match their outer beauty. ”

Health for happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Tue, 4 Mar 2008 22:06:00 -0800

Calling myself a health expert or even a healthy person would be a huge exaggeration. I am a truly ordinary woman seeking more energy and fitness every day. In my quest for good heath I have discovered the joys of actually being healthy.

The fitness bug hit me in my teenage and hasn't left ever since. I love the exuberance after a good exercise session and the lightness after a healthful meal. Photo Courtesy ldcross
These two - exercise and food, in no particular order - affect fitness and consequently, happiness.

In my earlier post I talked about positivity being the number one factor for happiness and going by that, I would say that good health is the second most important component. Its simple, really. If you take a little time out everyday to focus on some core requirements for health, I think you will find a vast improvement in your outlook on life.

A sick body, at least in my case, leads to a weak mind. I tend to get mercurial and muddled up when sick. Recently, I was down in the dumps after a horrible case of flu and I noticed that I was uncharacteristically moody and emotional. Conclusion - increasing your ability to fight diseases or avoiding them altogether can make each day fruitful and bright.

A few ways I try to stay fit and avoid getting cranky are:

sleeping enough, which, unfortunately, for me means 8 hours :(
eating healthy breakfast (means nothing too fatty or sugary)
avoiding caffeine (sometimes I do give in though)
eating salad along with carbohydrates in lunch
munching a handful of nuts, mostly almonds each day
exercise, even for 10 min, each day
trying to be on feet as much as possible (not easy, as I am a born sloth)
adding more turmeric (which is said have antioxidant properties) to my food
eating proteins which often translates to eggs (I know, I know its bad for cholesterol but I just love them)
and, drinking lots of water

No.1 way to be happy

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Mon, 3 Mar 2008 22:40:00 -0800

I know, I am no expert at this, but I do try to be happy and so thought of sharing, what I consider, the no. 1 way to be happy.

I could think of many things that are very important for a person's well being. Energy, fitness, money, comfort, family, relationship and many more of these were jostling to get the numero uno status. But, somehow, I think it is optimism that shines the brightest. Moreover, perfectly healthy, rich, in love and educated people, often, complain of misery in their lives. I guess, they are missing this all important positive outlook to get happy.
Photo Courtesy Frazzled Jen

Here is why I consider a positive outlook to be of prime importance for happiness:

Makes the darkest day livable: Positivity is a trait I was definitely not born with. I would brood over the silliest comment and worry myself sick about the trifles of life. Until I discovered the joys of positive thinking. I learned it from my kid sister. I noticed that, no matter what, she would wait for something good to come out of even the worts scenarios. And you know what? It always did! She inspired me to look at everything positively and this new found hope has made many a failure easily bearable for me.
Keeps you away from unnecessary worrying: I guess women are genetically programmed to worry. I am the type that can worry about a college exam even before joining classes. I worry about falling sick when I am perfectly healthy. I even imagine horrible future scenarios and worry about them. In short, I am a true blue paranoid. Anyway, after discovering optimism, I tend to see brighter things in future. So, I see myself as a fitter person and actually hope to have better life in the coming days.
Helps you achieve your goals: This one is easy. If you believe you can do something, you almost surely will be able to. No rocket science for sure, but the 'believe' part can be tricky for many. So, instead of fearing that I might goof up and fail, I now believe that I can reach the target. Not surprisingly, I do.
Keeps you healthy: By the laws of deduction, if you think positive thoughts, then you do positive things that lead to a positive life. This works out very well for the health department of your life. If you are optimistic, you will get healthier faster (not cheating from a research paper, felt this phenomenon myself) and will stay that way longer. Perhaps, this has something to do with believing in a healthier you and working towards it or maybe one of those 'good' hormones secrete when you are positive. Whatever, the reason, the final result is definitely great.

5 reasons for happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Mon, 3 Mar 2008 04:16:00 -0800

Photo Courtesy Tub Gurnard
Happiness is important to me, as I am sure it is to all of you out there. The question is why is it so important. While different people may want it for different reasons, I believe I like happiness because:

It helps me behave better with others.

I have noticed that if I a in a sour mood, I inevitably become obnoxious, rude and all of the really nasty things. No matter how hard I try, I end up hurting others. This could be because I want to be left alone or worse, I want to pass on my grumpiness to others. Anyway, the conclusion - if I am churlish, I become a mean monster.

It leads to more happiness

This one is really simple to understand. If I am in a good mood, I generally try to stay that way. This means I do my utmost (unknowingly) to keep myself in a happy state. For instance, if I have slept well and wake up feeling fresh, I try to eat well to keep up the good feeling and may even end up doing something productive to continue my happiness streak!

It helps me take care of myself

In general, I am a moderately lazy person and care for my health oft and on. The "on" times are those when I am happy. Depression leads to overeating, little sleep, sloth and many worse health blunders. In the days I am feeling good, I exercise, take the trouble to cook healthy food and actually stay in shower long enough to wash all the chemicals off my hair.

It inspires me to make others happy

Yeah, tough to believe, but I could actually take the trouble to make someone happy if I am in a euphoric mood. I might cook something nice for my hubby or talk to one of my friends who has been mailing me to call her or do other goody-two-shoes deeds and surprise myself.

It makes me work more efficiently

I know too much excitement is not good for me as I tend to get overwhelmed by the euphoria. However, when I am contented and serenely happy, I focus on my work and get a 4 hour job done in 2 hours. No seriously, I have noticed that work looks a lot simpler when I am not nursing a hidden desire to kill someone ;-)
For instance, I am actually writing this blog, instead of waiting for another work free day, because I somehow feel like that guy in the photo!

MDG - 8 goals to be happy about

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:55:00 -0800

BTW, have you heard of the MDG? AFAIK, it is not another LOL acronym created by the SMS crazy people but a reference to very serious issues that seem to have escaped most of the world's notice.

If it hadn't been for the links sent by Kathy who spearheads the wonderful NGO – EI - that I wrote about here, I wouldn't have known about MDG s either.

MDG refers to the Millennium Development Goals – a set of eight goals ranging from reduction of extreme poverty to providing universal primary education to improving maternal health – that need to be achieved by 2015 as decided in the 2000 UN Millennium summit.

Photo Courtesy kathyaadams
This is a global initiative at the highest level and all countries around the world have participated in the hope of making this world a better place. The basic idea is to help the poorest in the world and if you think it is a simple task, just check out some mind boggling statistics here.

According to this report, there are more than 2.6 billion people, roughly 42 percent of the world's population, waiting in line for toilets that just do not exist. How sad is that? Now get this, for every dollar spent on improving sanitation, it is estimated that at least three dollars, and as much as 34 dollars, are saved in costs related to health, education, and social and economic development. Thats obviously because most of the health issues like diarrhea and malaria are caused due to lack of hygiene. The UN has declared 2008 as the International Year of sanitation and aims to halve the number of people without access to sanitation facilities by 2015.

If we talk of education, consider the fact that to achieve universal primary education, the amount required (around $ 10 billion) every year would be half of what America spends on ice cream alone! (ActionAid)
I could inundate you with more of such surprising data and all of it would point to just one thing : we need to come out of our luxurious cocoons and help our fellow beings.

Imagine every child on earth will be able to read and write, wouldn't have to travel miles just to get drinking water and will be able to avoid going hungry everyday if we just wake up to the new goals and do something about them.

What is surprising is that the kind of wealth and prosperity the world is seeing now is unprecedented and yet every second child born is poverty stricken. It is not inevitable for so many people to be so heartbreakingly poor. The UN's MDG aims to halve the world poverty by 2015. Not just that, the Millennium Development Goals intend to do away with illiteracy, hunger, environmental damages and spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. So many organizations and individuals have come together to work for this noble cause. You can read about it all in details here.
What we can do is become partners in this global war against poverty. We can spread the word and do our bit in helping the unfortunate among us.
Lets make MDG a cool acronym to be talked about and worked upon with interest and enthusiasm. Lets show our TLC to the needy by doing something for them.

* For all those who are not crazy about shortened phrases, here are the full versions of the acronyms I have used -
BTW - By The Way, MDG – Millennium Development Goals , AFAIK – As Far As I Know, LOL – Laugh Out Loud, SMS – Short Messaging Service, NGO – Non Governmental Organization, EI – Empowerment International, TLC – Tender Loving Care

India is changing!

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:04:00 -0800

Photo Courtesy utpal
Yesterday I started comparing the India I see today to the one I lived in, just 5 years back. Boy, was I surprised! So many things have changed that it is silly to try to write about each in a little blog here. But still, just so to keep an account which might serve as a good reference point when I sit and think about the country 5 years from now, I am writing about the changes. Here goes my discursive piece on a changed India.

The People

Indians still love to dress ostentatiously and express feeling exuberantly, but most will agree that there is a change in attitude. People feel free and have more modern ideas. For instance, sex may actually be discussed in homes and schools. Women expect their husbands to help in household chores and (surprisingly) men do not mind.

Nuclear families have become a norm and couples do not consider baby production their sole concern. Fewer Indians depend on their parents to find a “suitable match”. Women have a wider choice in dressing and occupations and working late nights does not have a stigma attached.

The Jobs

This is the area that has seen a huge change. Thanks to outsourcing, Indians are enjoying an unprecedented job boom. Call centers are ubiquitous and young, old, graduates, non-graduates, homemakers, engineers – all are rushing to be a part of this industry.

India is already a leader in IT. It will suffice to say that companies like Microsoft, IBM and Google are not only eager to hire Indians but are wary of the indigenous IT giants like Infosys, Wipro and TCS. Besides, health sector, financial market, aviation industry, content management, HR and many other fields are seeing a boom that has lured many expatriate Indians back home.

The economy

The news of strengthening of rupees against dollar may have created trouble for export industries but it definitely has warmed a number of Indian hearts. Indian economy is on a rise and the whole world has grudgingly started acknowledging that.

Though the inbound foreign investments still leave a lot to be desired, the kind of ruffles Indian companies are creating globally is the stuff business dreams are made of. Acquisitions, whether by TATA, Birla, Wipro or Vijay Mallaya, prove that India is no longer ready to be a wallflower in the world economy.

The young crowd

The new generation watches MTV, reruns of Friends, Shakira concerts and listens to the latest hip hop and Justin Timberlake records. The young crowd reads Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire and sports GAP tees and whatever style is the latest to hit the global fashion scene. They profess love over a mocha latte and spend Saturday nights in discos. Career focused and fun loving, these young guns are a far cry from the obedient but confused generations of yesteryears.

The Shopping scene

When one sees yet another article titled “7 ways to deal with shopping addiction” in an Indian magazine, one can safely surmise that the shopping scene has seen a tremendous change here. Malls are everywhere and are packed even on weekdays. They have become everyone's favorite hangout.

Pretty Young Things shop and the guys ogle, couples walk around hand in hand without the fear of moral policing, housewives enjoy the change from the drudgeries at home, men delight in the convenience of mass shopping and the older generation look muddled but pleased at the comfortable shopping experience. No questions about it – malls have proved to be total people magnets in India.

The phones

This discussion cannot end without a few words about the telecoms revolution. Mobile phone is probably the only thing that has finally brought some uniformity in the completely disparate sections of Indian population. While only a few years ago, mobiles were merely a status symbol of the rich, today, they have become a symbol of India's growth. Now, if only,the politicians took a cue and did something for the education sector.

Conclusion

With the license raj easing and global interest increasing, it is the correct time for India to show that it can rise above the bureaucracy and corruption and blast off its economy. There is a lot to be done as the unbelievably indisciplined traffic situation and shoddy infrastructure clearly proves. India may be changing but to really stand out it must change fast enough.

Pictures of Udaygiri caves

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:21:00 -0800

Here are a few of the pictures I took at Udaygiri, the place I talked about in my previous blog. To see my post on Udaygiri-Khandgiri, just click here.

That is a monkey I saw immediately upon entering the Udaygiri caves. He was sitting all be himself on the huge structure at the entrance. The place, in general, has many of these animals and you'll love seeing them lazing around and doing their monkey business!

Here is a picture of Udaygiri caves taken from the top of its twin hill, Khandgiri. Doesn't all this greenery look soothing! The caves themselves have an aura of sagacity - I know, rocks are not supposed to be wise, but try visiting these hills to get an idea of how even stones seem to talk if you try getting somewhat philosphical.

This is a carved out section of the hill. It has great work on the inner walls. Many carvings depict the stories of the lives of kings and the monks. I was mesemerised by the lovely works on stone.

Here are a series of tiny caves in Udaygiri hill. Notice how the rocks are placed, making any attempt to climb dangerous. I tried, of course, and still worry about those head bumps I got!

Thoughts about ancient monks

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:25:00 -0800

Recently, I visited an extremely ancient and fascinating site called Udaygiri-Khandgiri, located about 8Km from Bhubaneswar in Orissa. Here the term ancient is not an exaggeration at all- the structure I traveled to was more than 2000 years old. And why was it fascinating? Read on to find out!

Udaygiri and Khandgiri are twin hills that possess such wonderful remnants of the bygone era that the archaeologists must have been ecstatic on discovering them. The interesting aspect of these hills is that there are many caves – more than 30, I think- that are said to have been created in the 2^nd century BC by a powerful king named Kharvela. These caves were supposed to serve as the perfect seclusion sites for the austere Jain monks who had given up all worldly pleasures (the very few that there were then) to live a life of penance.

After getting a few bumps on my head while entering the smallish caves, and suffering from my first bouts of claustrophobia, I realized that the monks must have been very brave in deed to live in these incredibly simple caves. I cannot imagine how the Jain monks must have taken all the trouble to climb up on all those rocks in order to reach the tiny chambers that had no other furnishing barring a few carvings here and there.

My herculean efforts to cover every hidden cave of the hill were rewarded with severe leg cramps and sightings of lovely statues and inscriptions. After climbing the dangerously placed rocks of the hill in the stifling heat, I could hardly keep my balance and that gave me an even better idea of what the monks must have endured each day in order to maintain their penance.

At the most hidden angles, I spotted caves that could test one's physical limits- so difficult they were to reach and so compact in size and structure. The whole structure was made of coarse grained sandstone and the inside of the caves were quite cool. There were statues and exotic carvings that conveyed stories and gave a fantastic glimpse into the general lives of the past residents.

The place itself seemed very serene, just like those monks must have been. While driving away, as I gave a last look to the caves, I realized that they looked so peaceful and wise, totally without the chaos and ostentation of our modern lives.

All the time I was in the caves, I kept thinking of what a tough life the monks chose for themselves, but it was while leaving that I realized that the lives they chose must have been totally without fears, insecurities, sleeplessness, greed and the other worldly troubles that our “easy” lives seem to be plagued with.

First thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Learner) — Fri, 7 Dec 2007 04:35:00 -0800

What should one write in his very first blog?
Truth or made up stories.

Truth is easy to write, it is something you know for sure; but is it something you are ready to share?
Is it something your readers are eager to know about?

Perhaps your life is too average to be chronicled in a public journal.
Perhaps it is too risky to blatantly bare your soul in front of total strangers.

But isn't that the point of writing a journal- to reveal all your secret desires, anger, fear, love, hate and everything else you cannot say aloud. Photo Courtesy nettaphoto

So are blogs journals? But aren't journals supposed to be hidden and meant for private viewing only?
So what do you we compare blogs with?

Perhaps they are just a web book full of random notes. A modern way of broadcasting, in which every blogger is given a chance to air his views. What views he chooses to blog depends upon his concept of personal zone. A shy person might take pains to hide his thoughts or at least his real persona behind euphemisms while an extrovert may bask in the new found way of interacting and letting his steam out.

So where am I going with this taradiddle? Nowhere specific. I am just trying to organize my first thoughts about blogging in order to decide the course my blog is to take hence forth.

I guess I'll take a safe course and pursue those trains of thoughts that keep popping into my silly brain from time to time.