What burns a man besides the pyre?

Rohit was reading a book, suddenly he asked me “Amma, what is the meaning of Pyre?”. When I answered him, I got curious to know what he is reading, I found that it was Birbal stories. In that story, Akbar asked a question “What burns a man besides the pyre?”, you know what was the answer of Birbal. It is “Worry”.

What a coincidence? I was reading a book by Dale Carnegie “How to stop worrying and start living”. When we had Book fair in CDC5, this topic attracted me so much. I am very good in worrying !!! L A friend of mine used to say that if I continue to do like this, I might end up searching for reason to be worried about. At subconscious level, I might start enjoying being worried, which in turn will affect my physical and mental health. So I decided to pick this book and learn to stop worrying, let’s see how it goes….

Would like to share some key points which I read in the book. Author talks about a magic formula to stop worrying. This formula has 3 steps:

1. Ask yourself, “What is the worst that can possibly happen if I can’t solve my problem?”

2. Prepare yourself mentally to accept the worst, if necessary

3. Then calmly try to improve upon the worst, which you have already mentally agreed to accept.

You know what, all these steps are very much known to us, it is nothing new, but the problem is we have to implement and that too at the right time. That’s where many of us fail. The book also talks about so many health issues which might come and join us without any invitation if we are worried all the time. On a lighter note, when I read this statement, I was worried what disease I am going to get as I am very good in being worried J.

Friends, please share with me if you have any better techniques you know to stay away from “Worry”. And also feel free to catch me when I look or sound worried J

Roller Coaster Ride ....

My happy days are starting. Rohit exams are over. Next two months are going to be free from Maths, Science, Social science etc. Time for me and my new books J. Thanks to ISD for arranging a book fair at the right time in CDC5.

For a moment, let’s think about Roller coaster ride. How many of us like it? I think, except for very small kids and adult with some major health issues, others all like it. I had been in it few times. What actually happens in that ride? Once after we put on our seat beat and the ride starts, we start experiencing all possible twist and turns, everybody starts screaming out of fear and/or joy. At every unexpected moment, we get a turn or a deep fall etc. OK, now the ride is over, once after we step out, what do we see in each of our faces? Little fear and more happiness. We talk about how each one of us felt and even we joke about each other’s experience. Nowadays they have hidden cameras to capture our emotions during the ride. Whether we buy it or not, we take few minutes to see how we had reacted during that ride.

Why am I writing this? I am not going to take you all in any roller coaster ride, as we are all already in one. I read this line in some book "Life is like a Roller Coaster ride"` Yes, I hope we all agree to that. We experience every possible unexpected twist and turns in life. But do we enjoy life as we did in a Roller coaster ride. May be yes - when something good happens and No - when something bad happens. Is it because many times we are forced to come out of our comfort zone ?

Most of us are worried about Change. If you are also one among them, please read the book "Who moved my Cheese?". Very small book and good story line and above all it reveals profound truths about Change. It talks about the following

·         Anticipate Change

·         Adapt to change quickly

·         Enjoy change

·         Be ready to change quickly

After reading tell me which character you are? "Sniff and Scurry" or "Hem" or "Haw"?. Let’s try and enjoy the roller coaster ride “our LIFE”. J

Women's Day...

I know many of you used to tease me for being feminist. Yes, I get worked up whenever I hear people talking with disrespect towards Women. That doesn’t mean that I blindly support women. All I am saying is, please don’t generalize.

You will be surprised rather shocked to know that in formal meetings and discussions, people make very causal comments about working mother and her leaves and timing to office. We should not forget that there are committed souls in both the genders similarly there are people who are non-performers in both sides. Let’s talk about performance and not about person and their roles in personal life. Let’s avoid disrespect to women in common forum.

Working mothers go through a lot of struggle in their life which cannot be understood by others. We are not asking for motivation from you, we are capable of gaining motivation from internal and from external sources. Sincere request is not to use disrespectful language. Though such words might disturb us for a moment, I am confident that we will bounce back pretty soon.

Having said that, I would like to personally Thank many good souls who are very supportive to me by providing their help, support and guidance at work place. Without all such support it would be tough for me to manage both critical roles.

Happy Women’s Day J J J