No nomad stays!

Sometimes the pain of being alive makes you wants to do things you donot want to do.

But why is that my pain making me feel alive today?

You donot know me and if you think you do, I don't want to know you. 

It is not that I want to hide. I don't want to be empty. 

They say the glass is never empty. It is always filled with air. It is all about perspective. 

What if the positive perspective of being alive is just one big lie? What if there is no hope?

When I was a kid, I read the story of Pandora whose curiosity made her open the box of everything disdainful and horrible. After crying a lot, she found some relief when the Fairy of Hope came. Where there will be despair, there will be hope.

What if that hope has been crumbled and it's only the horrible things which are making you feel alive?

It's ironic. I am sitting in my room with all my hair being messy hoping for the pain to engulf me. 

I can hear every sound. I can hear the birds tweeting somewhere. I can hear an automobile moving on the roads outside. I can hear the clock tick every second. I can hear myself inhale in air and giving it all out. I can hear some stray dog bark somewhere.

I have nothing going on in my head. It's complete silence there, yet very peaceful. It is as if I am waiting on a train station of Solan waiting to board the train for somewhere, yet I don't want to leave as yet. 

You can always come back here. This is home, he said. 

Every traveller must leave. No nomad can stay, he does not understand.

Till then, let's wait for the train together till we board our own trains.

Don't worry! Be happy

They say happiness is a state of mind.

Amongst the number of people I have interacted with, nobody wants to be sad and depressed.

We’ve all known that one person who is always happy, even while going through the worst phases of life. 

Everybody has a different way of being happy. Some smoke their lives, some do photography, some travel, some make trolls of people they work with(if you are in my class, you know what I am talking about),some shop till they drop.

I just thought and borrowed a couple of ways by which being happy can become a habit.

1. Appreciate Life

My corporate governance teacher's mantra of life is that be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. There should be a sense of wonder towards life. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Coming to the class and getting marked for your presence is just a way people survive,not live. Question everything. Curiosity kills the cat but doesn't stop her to get a thrill.

2. Choose Friends Wisely

My closest friends have probably the highest self esteems. By surrounding yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals, you make your life worth living. Those Friends that have the same ethics as you ,will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.(plus they accompany you to the newest eating spots and share the experiences..even if it's unhealthy)( yes,Richa and Ankita,I am talking about you both and Sahil too)

3. Be Considerate

This is something which Gurravi and Richa think. We should accept and respect others for who they are as well as where they are in life.. Touch their hearts with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.

4. Learn Till you die

Find a hobby. We must try new and daring things that has sparked our interest. It can be anything such as dancing, skiing, learning music,reading or even bungee jumping.

5. Don't pity yourself

Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge ,get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right. This is borrowed from my mom who believes let's not dwell on problems,let's find solutions.

6. Do What Thy Love

Can you imagine a finance guy developing a advertising idea or a marketing guy taking capital budgeting decisions? Everybody is not an all rounder like Farhan Akhtar who can act,sing,write,direct,produce,make music and dance at the same time. 

Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.

7. Enjoy Life

Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future. Sit in a car with your friend and listen to groovy songs on the radio and see people walk by.

8. Laugh

Don’t take yourself  or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself. No one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh). Most of my class mates are really good at this.

9. Forgive

Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself. This is my best friend Ishani telling me while watching how I met your mother when robin starts dating Barney.

10. Gratitude

Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life. 

11. Invest in Relationships

Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive. Direct quote from mom.

12. Keep Their Word

Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones. Sometimes people will call you names. Let them. It is only possible for them to make you feel small unless you allow them.

13. Meditate

Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily. I tend to have a virtual sleep phase everyday where I don't literally sleep but I am actually sleeping.

14. Mind Their Own Business

Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you. So the next time, somebody tells you that you are living the wrong way, smile and just start talking about bjp, congress and aap. It will distract them and anybody can comment on them.

15. Optimism

See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought. The number of people who say this are Ankur, Gurrav, Tapsi, Sahil, Richa, Ankita, etc etc etc. 

16. Love Unconditionally

Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them. This is what has been taught by all the classic writers.

17. Persistence

Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.This is what dad says.

18. Be Proactive

The word 'proactive' has been used by my mom since I was in school. One day, I just asked what she meant by it. Trust me, till my sixth semester of Engineering, I had no idea what she meant by 'being proactive'.

This is what she told me. Accept what can not be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.This is what my mom says. 

19. Self Care

Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical check ups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges. This point credits to Ankita Bhasin. She works outs everyday you see.

20. Self Confidence

Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself. My closest friends know who I am talking about here.

21. Take Responsibility

Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.har

Begin today by taking responsibility for your happiness. 

Most of all: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

Shut up

Two years before!

Question: Where do you see yourself after 5 years?

Answer: I would probably be working in an esteemed organisation and finding my potential and blah blah blah 

Present Day!

Question:Where do you see yourself after 5 years?

Answer: I would probably be working in an esteemed organisation and finding my potential and blah blah blah 

So it's that time again! The same time when a few friends get a job, some don't and some "abstain".

Have you ever known the kind of person who would say that he doesn't want to get a job in some XYZ company and yet sits for the same company? Yes, these are the same persons who speak non stop for the same company's GD/PI process and yet claim that they are not interested.

Honestly they are the most annoying people. I know we have our own preferences but please donot shower us with any knowledge because we don't want to know.

 

This Placement rant is in association with the activities being held these days in colleges and is an effort to tell the ones involved that we don't appreciate it and we are smart enough to see through you( we have cleared the CAT too).

The Most Underrated things in life

I have been having quite a frenzy already. I have so much to think about,so much to do.

What do I do first?
I switch off my phone. Grab Richard Branson's autobiography and go outside in the main garden grounds. Look for a tree and just sit under it. Its scorching hot and others may feel that one is trying to get roasted up.
But you just do it anyway.

I open my book and then after a few vacant seconds, I give up. I close the book. Its yellow somewhere and green at some patches in the park. There is some natural hue around at places. Many birds are tweeting around. I then try to look at the sky above through the tree branches. It was as if the branches were the new "sky".

I tried thinking of the things happening all around me before I came here. It was not that I have forgotten about it. I just thought that they will find their own space and time. It was as if I felt at peace with myself. The same "peaceful" feeling when I had gone to the temple before leaving for Delhi during my internship.

I guess sitting under the tree and and closing your eyes, while trying to forget the ants who might attack, brought things in a different perspective.

It was like driving home after a long day from college or like lying on your bed staring at the ceiling and thinking about nothing.

Like a morning dream, which is forgotten as soon as you open your eyes or finding that cool spot under the pillow when its hot.

I am not being preachy but sometimes we have to stand for what is right. The "truth" probably is the most underrated things in life. There are people who can try to hide it but I feel even the truth now is relative. The truth may be different for me, a bit different for you.

I think even the quest of finding yourself is an underrated thing. It is as underrated as using a new toothbrush for the first time or closing your eyes falling asleep instantly.

You know what else is one of the most underrated things in life?
Sitting under an old tree with nothing to do but just sit and forget the world for sometime(at least, till the heat eats you up).

I love F-O-O-D.......Do you?

Have you ever used the "insert button" on your keyboard, or even Num Lock, Screen Lock and Pause button? They are just there on every keyboard I have seen. I have never ever used them ever.

In case, you are wondering why am I talking about this, I just have to say, "I AM TRYING TO MAKE A LITTLE CONVERSATION.PLEASE CHIP IN AND INTRODUCE A NEW TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT".

I hate forced conversations. They are as clichés as "Opposites attract" and "When you have lemons, make lemonade" kind of things.

The point is what do you do then. Well, if the other person is sensitive to your dilemma, he/she helps out and thinks about something you can speak about. People talk things like "weather", and stuff about "pet dogs" and "nephews/nieces"(guys....this is like an instant icebreaker with most of the girls). I even once spoke to a guy who told me his sad story for 45 minutes non stop about his messed up love life and how he is the "poor guy". (The "poor guy" in question had by then, in fact dated around 5 girls, after puberty hit him. I feel hopeful for his quest of "true" love).

Everybody has icebreakers. I know a few people who would kill to talk about football. I dont watch football. Imagine, if somebody starts gushing about "Gossip Girl" when you are not even an iota interested, or well talking about the Bohemian Rhapsody when you have ever listened to it.

I talk about "food". Food is something which everybody consumes. Everybody has his/her likes and dislikes. There are some who are vegetarians and if you mention "chicken" they make a face. They then, start with a parody of benefits about "wholesome, nutritious vegetarian food." They even quote how Kareena Kapoor's sex appeal has an innate connection with her being vegetarian. 

You can talk about the street food you love. You can talk about the Chinese food you love. You can talk about roadside chowmein wala you favour the most.The conversation keeps flowing and by the time, its over you have discussed all kinds of foods, and new food joints you should try. The awkwardness vapourizes.

In India we even talk about the failing economy with conversations ending with "bharashtachar in politics" kinds of things.

We talk about movies. Some fancy people make a face and scoff at bollywood movies. you then simply talk about hollywood movies.

Anyway so sports, movies and politics is a normal icebreakers for us Indians. I personally prefer the "food talk". After all "Food maketh the man".

This post is kind of making me hungry.

PS: I am listening to Chariots of Fire these days a little too often. What are you listening to?

Confessions of a Marketing Student studying Finance!

The class was supposed to be at 10:50. I enter the classroom at 11.

The teacher is already in the class.

You sit quietly on the second bench with your friend.

You look at the presentation. 

The person sitting in front asks a question. You do not understand the question. You do not understand the answer. You fuss with your hair and then look completely blank. 

You are trying to study finance in the class and you suddenly want to get up and run away from the classroom, outside the building, outside the university outside the city, outside the state, outside the country, outside the planet........................well now that is like running up till too far.

You want a light years away of distance from you and the classroom. 

But what do you do?

You sit in the same room, with the same people around you, trying to understand what is happening around. You try to make sense out of what the person standing in front of you is trying to say. You maintain an eye contact, then you look at the projector pointing towards the powerpoint presentation. 

You then look at your watch and then look for a water bottle.

You then, check your watch and start looking at the person speaking in the class, who is trying his level best to make you understand. He speaks English yet it sounds Greek to me. I do not understand Greek, a bit of French, a bit of English Rap( it's tough to understand that), even some of Honey Singh's Songs. I even, understand a bit of transactional analysis but I definitely cannot make an iota sense what is going on in the class.

 

One of my class mates ambles in the class at quarter to twelve. He sits on the last seat. I look at him. He winks at me. I look at the black board.

I am considered to be intelligent. Though, I might consider myself a bit quirky. I do not go out on night outs with friends neither I am into getting wasted with beer and partying. I do not really date. The only talent I think I have is that I am curious and I want to understand many things. 

The class in a chorus asks the Professor to stop. He keeps on speaking as if nobody has said anything.

He suddenly asks somebody to stop using his mobile phone. The student reacts and suddenly the class wakes up for some time.

The drudgery of the class starts again in an uninterrupted way. The monotony opens its wings and engulfs every body just the same. 

During this class, I question my existence. Have I turned dumber by sitting in the class? Have I lost the feeling? Are things that tough?

I look at the person sitting next to me. He just asks for water. I oblige. Is he understanding what the teacher is trying to say? He says with a lopsided grin. "I do not get it too".

I smile at him and then try again to listen.

"Its a losing battle not a case of losing war." I tell myself that.

The clock strikes noon.

Everybody wails again. The Professor tries to explain "the last point". The students groan more effectively. He has to stop. Some of us put our heads down.The Professor takes pity on us and closes his presentation.

 

Everybody wakes up and attends the Roll call. 

I question the system. I question everybody else. I question myself. Did I just spent an hour wriggling out of this class? I could have done something quite essential and probably chalk out a new plan for myself.

 I could have probably gone home and slept a while.I could have read Al Ries and Jack Trout's Marketing Warfare.

I could have even sat at the ICH and had a vada sambhar with Pepsi.

I could have even socialized.

This was pointless or did I witness something eventful? 

They say we learn from everything we do but aren't pointless things supposed to be fun?Are we not supposed to feel revitalized after doing that. 

I should have run away when the thought struck me but I would never do that. Isn't this the way it all begins? Start considering life a burden and then living becomes a chore.

 

I put my thoughts away as the next teacher comes and then the class starts. The monotony soon vanishes away as I try to call out "Present" when my name is called again.