Memories and Distance

Some people say ‘Memories get weaker and fade away as distance increases’. Sometimes the opposite in true, ‘Memories get stronger and come back to life as distance decreases’.

I found it easier to not miss my family when I was seven seas apart. I’m finding it difficult when I am two hours away! That’s life.

I think I am forgetting my previous post. I am here to create happy memories and share happy moments. That’s the goal.

Isn’t it strange that at times we feel, we can not live without some people and at other times, we feel ‘Oh sure we can’ and we keep switching, trying to keep ourselves strong.

Memories are a reflection of time – the journeys we undertook, the smiles and laughter, the emotions and tears. Memories are the only possession you have about your past, because the past is long gone!

Memories are in no way directly or inversely proportional to distance. They get stronger when you get weaker and they get weaker when you get stronger  – and by stronger I just mean practical, realistic and to some point unconcerned.

Distance makes you helpless and slowly our mind accepts the situation and we find happiness in our surroundings.

Physical distance can never distance you from your loved ones. That’s a bond that is formed during childhood and can never be shaken.

Bonds of the heart and stronger than bonds of the practical mind.

It’s true that people who are more practical, real and live for the present moment do not feel as much and maybe have long forgotten memories trapped somewhere in their mind. They are not better or worse than those who are emotional. It’s just a perception. It’s just what your heart and mind open up to!

Our heart has the power to reduce the distance between us and our memories.

Our mind on the other hand has the power to increase the distance between us and our memories.

Maybe that’s why balance of heart and mind is essential! Not sure if anyone can ever get perfect at this! 🙂 We live with the imbalance. 🙂

One journey ends…and another begins….

Life is a journey. When you travel from one place to another, do you remember the ‘start and end points’ OR ‘the things in between’?

Sometimes we even forget, how ‘it’ started or when ‘it’ ended…. All we remember is… It happened sometime and we had fun! We remember the beautiful moments in between.

When one journey ends, another one begins that very moment.
It is important to value each journey and understand that journeys are fun when they are full of surprises! (Some good and some not so good)

Journeys have the power to create memories. Journeys teach us a lot of things.

It is important to enjoy each journey and it is also important to disconnect from it and connect to a new one, when the time comes.

We may remember the people we meet during these journeys. Many of them could be strangers, some of them friends and some of them acquaintances.

The lady in the cafetaria, the librarian, the store keeper, the teacher, the student… these may be our co-travellers in the journey.

We don’t even know for how long, we will know them or stay in touch with them. However, we can remain in their memories since we share the same journey. These memories stay alive even when the journey is over.

Down the line, they may think about us and say, “Oh! I have met him/her before! and he was…….(cute/funny/sad/happy/angry/furious/nice…)”

We are not related to all the people we meet, but we do travel together for a period of time.

I read somewhere that “We are all traveling towards the future at the rate of 60 minutes per hour!” and we all need to make the most of every minute.

It is important to mark each journey with smiles, laughter, fun, joy and giggles. These emotions shall later transform into memories and stay with our co-travellers! That’s how they may remember us and we may remember them.

Are you ready for your next journey? How are you planning to enjoy with your co-travellers? Are you ready to create happy memories?

When one journey ends, another begins. That’s life.

Blessings of Elders….! :)

Blessings of elders hold a lot of meaning in my life.. they are probably most significant and valuable for me, as compared to all the other expensive things in life!

Fun in the family, teachings of grandparents, unconditional love of parents, cheerfulness of kids and so on…….I’ve not enjoyed anything else …more than these little things!

I’m living so far away from my family that I miss these even more! 🙂

When any elderly person gives me blessings, I feel I have a connection with god. It’s a different kind of feeling….

When I am able to bring a smile to my family member’s face,  I , in turn feel happy.

In today’s world, the concept of family is losing its value. We are forgetting the wisdom and the lessons shared by our previous generations. Maybe, we just don’t have time for them.

I never consider talking to an elderly person, a waste of my time. No matter what the conversation is about, I’ve always felt there is some hidden lesson for me.

It’s a blessing to have a loving family… It’s an honor to have people around you who love you and respect you…who are there to wipe your tears and hug you when you need it!

It’s a beautiful emotion…..

I don’t know, if anybody can ever see god……but if you can respect your elders the same way… there’s really nothing else left to do. I feel sad when I see old people sitting all by themselves, in an old age home or when there’s no one around them to ask , how they are? 

Respect the elderly people because you will get old too! Take out time for them, no matter what.

Each wrinkle on their face recites the story of a decade! Those lessons are more precious than diamonds. Those are the pearls I’d like to collect throughout my life!

Testing Times

Life is a roller coaster ride. We all go through ups and downs many times in life! The testing times teach us to remain calm and patient. Those are the times when we reflect back on our mistakes, our weaknesses and take a moment to learn from them.

One should not be scared of testing times because fear will only make the journey more difficult. It’s important to appreciate the change these times bring in you! It’s important to realize that you become a better person, just because of these moments.

I’ve encountered many people who choose easy paths, who are scared to do wrong, scared to make mistakes, scared to innovate! They need an affirmation on every action they take. Half of their life is wasted in the hope that others will affirm their actions.

I have a very good mentor whom I respect a lot. If I ever ask him, “Did I do it right? Was I good enough?” He responds by saying, “You’ve not made enough mistakes. There’s a lot to learn!” 
And, I am inspired to make more mistakes by trying new ways of doing things! 🙂

It is important to encourage yourself and push your limits, so that you become a better individual!

It’s easy to praise other people, it’s even easier to praise yourself. However, it’s very difficult to critique other people positively. It’s even more difficult to critique your own self positively!

We have our own beliefs and convictions and sometimes, it’s difficult for us to convince ourselves that ‘We may be wrong and it’s ok to be wrong!’.

If I look back, I realize that my greatest strengths showed up in my most difficult moments. That’s when you rise high up!

Do not fear failure and do not fear people. Challenge yourself each moment, each day. 

If you’re scared to go to a new place, for once, just go…
If you’re scared to ask a question, for once, just ask…
If you’re scared to face an audience, for once, just face it…

Sometimes we wonder, how many more testing times will we have in life? How many more tests and how many more battles? The truth is, it’s never enough!

Stay calm during the trials of life, be positive, believe in yourself, do not give up…..Find new ways….Explore new places…Experiment with new roles….Keep trying!

Once u find your goal, stick to it wholeheartedly. 

Exude confidence and enthusiasm. Consider yourself smart enough to handle new challenges and humble enough to not boast about them.

Carve your path and do not stop. Just do not stop until your last breath!

Look up to the testing times. They will only make you stronger.

Career or Success?

It may sound ironic but it’s true – “Your career need not be the key to your success.”

Career is something we choose to pursue, in order to earn a living. People who are able to get into their ‘dream careers’ are lucky, but the ratio is very less.

Career decisions may be influenced by circumstances, family pressure, social standing, academic grades and several other things. For some, career is not a choice but a responsibility. People may or may not get successful in what they pursue as a career.

However, it’s important to understand that success may not always be driven out of your career choices.

Success is a state of mind – It can have many definitions – Being popular, being wealthy, getting liked by everyone, being content, being healthy or being able to fulfill the needs of the family and so on.

A lot of people pursue side businesses (besides their main careers) and become more successful in them. Many people get lucky in winning lotteries and consider that as success.

If a person is in a particular job role, should he stop looking at other avenues of being successful? For example – pursuing a hobby, starting a side business, doing charity work etc.

Doesn’t this imply that we all should be flexible to take up different roles and see what makes us most content and most successful?

I am always impressed by people who are multi-talented. For example – They may be engineers but pursuing a cooking course alongside. Isn’t it amazing to see how flexible they are with life and the possibilities it offers?

Before trying various options, it is important to define what success means to you and how important are the roles besides your main career stream.

Keep your eyes and ears open and look out for your dream role! – A hobby, a passion! – Plan to pursue it. You may have to plan your finances and time accordingly. But, we have only one life – it’s now or never! Do what you like and see if you want to keep doing it…!

Be flexible, be energetic, spread enthusiasm and inspire people! Be successful in what you choose to be ‘success’ for you!!

And just when I was writing this article, one of my colleagues came to my desk and told me about all the work she has been doing besides her main job. She takes writing classes, song writing classes, travels for conferences and a lot more! Wow!
I told her, that her words are an inspiration for me and many others as well.

Success is not necessarily driven out of your career!

Rediscover Yourself….Every time you are lost…!

Every time you try to be someone you’re not…even if you enjoy it for sometime… later you’ll want to come back to your own self… ‘YOU’.

I don’t know if we all have a purpose to fulfill or we are here just to enjoy life… but there is one thing which is definitely true….

Every person is unique in some way! Even identical twins are not mentally alike!

Don’t you think, it is important to retain our identity throughout our life?
Do you think your principles are strong enough to not deter you?
Are you happy being yourself? If not, why?

If god was happy creating you the way you are and put you on this earth, just the way you are…. why aren’t you happy with what you are? Aren’t you in agreement with God?

We all waver and try different different paths of life…different ways of living…different personalities, different ideas…but imagine, if God were to discover you, wouldn’t he be able to?
He can probably easily identify you from a crowd… he can probably identify every individual on this earth. (At least it’s my belief!) 😉

What’s so special in you that God can identify you among millions of people? What is it that you have which others don’t? If you see yourself through the eyes of God (!!), you can identify yourself!

Make a list of what you like, what you do, what you are comfortable with, what gives you peace, what energizes you, what makes you smile, what makes you believe in God.
What do you like to do repeatedly to keep yourself content and in sync with god?

Again, make a list of things you do not like, which dampen your spirits, which take you far away from peace….and …don’t do those things! You don’t have to. You are not answerable to anyone except yourself.

Stick to your beliefs. Stick to being yourself. That’s the greatest possession you have throughout this journey!

You don’t have to ‘fit into’ this world or a particular society. You are an integral part of this world.

Keep rediscovering yourself, until you discover yourself completely and then polish that soul… that ‘You’ in you.

Do not get lost …Do not get influenced….Do not try to impress others… Do not be scared to fail…. If you fail by just ‘being yourself’, it’s fine…because at least you did not lose yourself in the process!

I am happy being myself because that’s what makes me comfortable! I am rediscovering myself to make my beliefs stronger.

There are too many illusions in life, the ‘make-believe’ things which make you feel good only for a few moments. And…then you later regret the moments when ‘you weren’t you’.

Find yourself, that’s the only possession we were born with and the only possession we have until we die.