Dew

Committment adds more value to life at large. To have a committment means to adhere. If you do not have a committment, you would not feel like waking up, every morning. Rest takes meaning when you work towards a committment. To know your strengths and abilities, get committed to a mission or task. Principles have meaning only till people are committed to it. Knowingly or unknowingly each of us is committed to ourselves, if not to others. If we don't, then we are probably like a ship that lost its direction. You have no choice but to commit. If you want to live free of committments, then what are you doing here in this world? Committment takes a role everywhere - Relationships, Work, Self-discipline, Social welfare are only a few important ones. Have a mission, and commit to it till your last day on earth. This way, the others do not have to worry about you.

- You must know to manage your time. - There is always an uncertainty that you must deal with. Two big truths I learnt over the last few days of freelance writing experience. I like to manage my time and work plans. I didn't really think that I needed to work with a manager. As it happens in a work place, you are generally assigned to a manager and you have to go with the hierarchy. Over the years, many managers have taught me a lot on work and people management, but to appreciate all of that, I needed to see this day. I have no manager to boss my work, no office to keep the peer pressure on, no team to chat with, but I have immense responsibility than ever before, in the form of my own work committment. No matter how careful you are when you respond to an assignment, no matter how much regular work experience you have, it still is not easy to work as a freelancer. It is easy to get distracted or too engrossed when you are working from home as a freelancer. The idea of managing yo...

I saw this advertisment that has a child talking about the free things that you get along with the childrens' health drink. So, the idea of buying that health drink is to get that Free of cost item? At least that is what the advertisement seemed to say. Made me wonder.. Why start educating the children about the free-of-cost things, so early in life? This generation will grow up with the same expectation..of trying to pick the easy way out in life, trying to get maximum benefit without spending any of their resources. The idea of promoting a product using this 'Free-of-cost' strategy by the marketing folks has penetrated so deep into the markets, that it almost drives me crazy to see people buy 24 bottles of sauce and cartons of biscuits just because they sell it at a lesser rate or for free.... The same concept takes a slight make over in different walks of life. In work places, people expect high paying jobs, but do not want to work hard. In restaurants, people expect hig...

My writing has taken off again as a freelancer. I have not yet got too many projects to work on, still, it is definitely nice to get back into writing. A nice lesson in this journey of break and make in my career : When you are feeling bored, go on a holiday or simply switch off your computer for a few hours. Often we do not know how important or interesting a job actually is until we take a break. I had needed a break badly, but I didnt quite know. There were times I had felt super-bored at work, but with timelines and meetings and planning hovering above me all the time, I didnt have the time to realize that I needed a break. One of life's interesting moves gave me a break from work. I moved to a new country and took time to settle down. It was then that I realized that I was missing something.. Started trying to find projects on my own and didnt see much progress. Then, some friends gave their helping hand and I finally got back into writing again. It surely feels nice to be abl...

And along with this question came up another: Can you give away money just like that to someone? I went to the temple with my sister-in-law and two year old nephew. Just as we were entering the temple, an old lady was distributing Mango Bite candies to children. My nephew was happy to receive the priceless Mango Bite. The smile and cheers on the child's face was priceless for us onlookers. He gave the candy to be kept inside his mother's purse until after he finished his prayers in the temple. After the joyful and cheerful Darshan of the Godess Devi, we sat on the alloted bench, as per the customary practice in the temple.My nephew suddenly recalled the candy. My sister-in-law gave it to him immediately. She pointed to another kid who was watching us, and asked my nephew if he would give away the candy to the other kid. You must have seen the reaction on the child's face. He was totally confused and definitely didn't want to let go of the candy. I don't remember see...

Death : No matter how much you know the practicalities, no matter how old the person is, no matter how much you are attached or distant, the saddening feeling inside you, when you hear of a death, is incomprehensible. Just heard of one such news and the incomprehensible feeling is prevalent. Not that this is happening for the first time, but every time, with the intensity variations, the feeling still keeps coming back. While the practical mind says it is inevitable, the sentimental mind makes you feel at loss. Whoever comes to this world MUST go is the norm, the practical mind says. Whenever it happens, wherever it happens, however bad a situation the person is in, the sentimental mind says, "It is not fair". Makes me question, Has life seemed fair all the time ? Is that why death also seems unfair? Incomprehensible. I am going to pray for the departed soul. That is the best I can do, from across the miles. They say, prayers give strength to everyone of the departed's de...

சிறகுகள் - ஒரு அமைதியான அருமையான திரை படம். விக்ரம் மற்றும் ராதிகா இருவரின் நட்பு, அதை நிச்சியமாக புரிந்து கொள்ள முடியாத இருவரின் வாழ்கை துணைகள், அந்த நட்பு நீடிக்க வேண்டும் என்றும் என்று நினைக்கும் இருவரின் குழந்தைகள், எங்கோ ஒரு மூலையில் தனது நட்பு காதலாக இருக்க கூடுமோ என்று கண்ணியமான தோரணையில் நினைக்கும் விக்ரமின் கதாபாத்திரம், தனது கணவர் திருந்தி விட்டார் என்று ஒரு நிமிடம் பூரணமாக நம்பும் ராதிகா, ஒரு ஆண் ஆதிக்கவாதியின் 'சிறகுகள் வெட்டபட்ட புறா' போன்ற மனைவியாக இருப்பதை விட தன் குடும்பத்துக்காக நிமிர்ந்த நன்னடையும், நேர் கொண்ட பார்வையும், நிலத்தில் யாருக்கும் அஞ்சாத நெறிகளும், சுதந்திர சிறகுகளும் உள்ளவளாக, தன் குழந்தைகளுக்கு என்றும் ஒரு சிறந்த தமிழ் அன்னையாக இருக்க எடுத்த முடிவு, விக்ரமின் மனைவி திருந்தி வீடு சேருவது, இவை எல்லாம் அற்புதம். இந்த கதை லண்டன் மாநகரில் படமக்கபாடுள்ளது. அதிகமான கதாபாத்திரங்கள், கதைக்கு சம்மந்தம் இல்லாத நகைச்சுவை காட்சிகள், தேவை இல்லாத நடன காட்சிகள், இவை எதுவும் இல்லாமல், குடும்பம் கட்டு குலையாமல் இருக்க கணவன் மனைவி இருவரின் பூரண ஒத்துழைப்பு தேவை என்...

அதிகாலை வானம்; இரவின் விண்மீன் காலை சூரியன்; சந்த்யாகால நிலவு மழையுடன் கூடிய வானவில்; பனித்துளியுடன் காணும் புல்தரை மலர்கள் நிறைந்த சோலை; பாசி படர்ந்த பாறை இளமையின் வேகம்; முதுமையின் அமைதி குழந்தையின் சிரிப்பு; அதை காணும் பெற்றோரின் முகம் தமிழின் பண்; அதை ரசிக்கும் மண்ணினம் அன்றும், இன்றும், என்றும் அழகு.

What we cannot understand becomes known as nonsense What we cannot perform becomes known as impossible What we cannot be becomes known as eccentricity What we cannot follow becomes known as philosophy What we cannot practice becomes known as theory What we cannot believe becomes known as non-existent What we sometimes fail to notice is that : "It is just us.. There are others who can understand,perform, be, follow, practice and believe things that we cannot". In their specific situations and contexts: They can understand things. They can make it possible. They can be sensible. They can follow philosophy. They can practice. They can believe. 'Cannot' and 'Can' can co-exist where many minds are working their way through the maze of innumerably paramertized life. It is perfectly okay to disagree with things but definitely required to give the other side, a thought too. Just because you disagree, you cannot rule out the existence/possibility of the controversial v...

It has always been nice to receive a 'Happy Women's day' wish on this day, the 8th of March. Never stopped wondering why declare a special day for Women, given that the world would not exist without women. Reminded of one song in one of the Women's day celebrations : Lately I've been wondering whatever could we do, if we hadn't any women in the world.. Every blessed fellow would be looking very blue, if we hadn't any women in the world.. True.. the world will cease to exist without womenfolk. There have been umpteen write-ups, forwards, poems, and stories on the various achievements and capabilities of women. We have all known, seen, heard, read, and probably realized too. I had one such realization recently. I was on a train to Mumbai from Chennai. I love train travels for the reading, the chips and snacks, the window seat and the beautiful scenic views that sweep past you in a bearable speed that makes the train travel totally worth every minute.. And most...

Keep redefining your identities; Discard what is not very much like you; Keep up your principles; Discard what doesn't work for you; Keep your inner self; Discard what is disturbing your peace; If all these sound complicated, here is a simple trick to keep up with these principles : Just be yourself as long as you know it doesn't hurt someone else. Well if it still hurts them, remember to be as nice to them as possible. This came up as an after thought of a recent discussion with a friend. Thought the talk was worth my while and hence put the content here.

You must be wondering whatever could be making me write the title as Bathtub Blues!! I have always liked the idea of a Bathtub. Never stopped wondering why there is no standard practice of a bathtub fixture in Indian bathrooms. Again this never mattered really because, I never got a chance to see one in most houses. Our house in Muscat presently has a bathtub. Wow!! was my first reaction. Then, when it came to the practicalities of filling up the tub with unimaginable volumes of water, we decided not to use it at all. When you live in places where water is billed, you must understand that it is only prudent to use resources frugally, especially resources like water. It may seem like we are contributing to keep treated water resources intact for the country, but honestly to spend on water ( still unbelievable) is very difficult for us India-bred people. So, that said, the bathtub remains where it is and we are going about using the rest of the fixtures in the bath room. One day, I looke...