Thoughts and Quotes
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The Hockey Stick – Lessons on Physical Aggression
Yog runs to me with urgency and purpose in his stride, his chubby legs trying to keep pace with the thoughts running in his mind. Concern is evident all over his red face. I am certain he has a very important matter to discuss with me. Huffing, he exclaims, “Big boys are beating small children on the road. I told them to stop but they are not listening.” I sigh. Not again. Why do boys fight? Calmly, I tell Yog, “You did a good thing by telling them not to fight. I am happy that you didn’t get into the fight, yourself.” Yog’s expression quickly changed from concern to frustration.…
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A Gym tops my list of Most Positive Places
Gym is perhaps the most positive place on this planet. This is why I think so: If you are there, it means you already have a goal/purpose in your life You feel inspired (and not jealous) if someone is doing better than you Pain is associated with having done things right You know there are no shortcuts to success. You will have to sweat it out in order to receive the benefits. There is instant gratification from your own body, when you push your own limits No one cares how good looking you are or what clothes you wear to the Gym. All that matters is what you can achieve…
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Father and Daughter
Today, during my morning walk, I saw a father driving his teenage daughter to college. She sat upright holding the back of the motorcycle for support. In the rear view mirror, she adjusted her hair and checked her red lipstick. She would have been prettier without them, but then teenagers don’t really think like me anymore. Her eyes said she was ready to face her friends. They said she was planning to skip a few classes to catch up with the latest college news. She looked cool, confident and ready for her day. At the same time, I couldn’t help but notice the expressions on her fathers face. Even though…
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Matching Intent with Actions at Terrassen Cafe
I don’t endorse places or products quite often. I believe all businesses are trying their best in their area of expertise and it is rare that I associate a personal experience so closely with a Business that I decide to write about them. But then, a few days ago, I chanced upon a small restaurant in the nook of Hyderabad’s most happening place (Banjara Hills) that compelled me to write about it. The place, in itself, was a little difficult to spot as there was no blingy sign outside. We almost turned back without spotting it amidst all the green cover that surrounds it. But then, I guess it was…
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Why should my daughter focus on Career when she may end up being a Full Time Mom, like me?
After a long and fun summer holidays, school started today. With both kids out for more than just a few hours, I seemed to have all the time in the world for myself. By the time I completed walking, yoga, meditation and breakfast, it was only 10 AM. Without a second thought, I packed my laptop and headed to office. I had not planned for it, but it felt like the natural thing to do. For most working women, it is not a choice, but a routine to get to office. They finish their morning chores in a rush and are in office at the designated hour. For me, it…
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Believe in Yourself
This picture says a lot more once you catch the spell error. The artist, my daughter, did the background painstakingly over 3 hours. She then took a short minute to scribble the title. Irrespective of the error, she is proud of her painting and rightfully so. If this isn’t the power of belief in oneself, then I don’t know what is.
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World of No Lies
We are all guilty of lying. Sometimes we lie for the good of others, like when I crush Flax seeds inside a fruit smoothie and completely deny it when the children ask. Sometimes we lie for our own good, like when Pavan and I go for a date telling the kids we are off to a business meeting. Yes, we could convince them that Mama Papa need time, etc, etc, but sometimes it is just simpler and faster to lie. No one remembers the exact date or year they learnt to lie. In my experience of bringing up children and seeing nephews and nieces grow, I think by age 5…
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Mind before Heart
One rotten apple on a tree does not mean all apples are rotten One bad father does not mean all fathers are bad One bad Guru does not mean all Gurus are bad Don’t eat an apple with your eyes closed Don’t accept exploitation even from your own father Don’t follow a Guru leaving aside your own logic
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Whose Side are You?
We are all looking to blame someone for everything wrong happening in the world today – blame Muslims for terrorism, blame Hindus for rapes, blame Modi for economy, blame Congress for corruption, blame Trump for IT slump, blame blame blame… It is so easy to generalize segments, brand them and blame them. It gives us a false sense of security. It makes us think the problem is not with us but with someone else. If we want to solve the problem, first step is to stop segmenting ourselves into brands. There should only be two sides – human and inhuman. It is time to really choose.
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Rape 101: Conversations on Rape with Teenage Daughter
Rape is in the air! Sad but true! The only good thing about Rape being in the air is that everyone is talking about it. Unlike multiple generations till now, it is not being silently brushed under the carpet or hidden inside dirty laundry never to be seen or cleaned again. My daughter and I had our first conversation about rape, 4 years ago when the documentary on Nirbhaya was released. These days there are many more – Kathua, Unnao, Surat, Indore. The list seems endless. Each act more horrifying than the other. Each day, as my daughter reads about one more case, her faith in humanity diminishes a little.…